Fading Suns: A New World

by David Silver

First published 2nd of May, 2017

A new jumpgate is discovered, or rather a very old and decayed one that had been brought back online. House Hawkwood sends a bold explorer through to discover what riches await on the other end. He did not expect equines to be the result.

A new jumpgate is discovered, or rather a very old and decayed one that had been brought back online. House Hawkwood sends a bold explorer through to discover what riches await on the other end. He did not expect equines to be the result.

This is a Fading Suns/MLP crossover. Did you need to know Fading Suns? Nah, learn along with our pony friends.

Done as a patreon reward!

1 - Laud Mountbatten, Reporting

Laud checked his instrument panels, his eyes roaming over the many dials and readouts. His right hand was playing over the hilt of his sword. It would do him little good in the depths of space, but its presence was always a calming one to him. Before him, through the transparent material of his cockpit, he could see that yawning void. Small in it, but growing larger, was the restored jumpgate.

A voice crackled through his radio, "The gate will be ready for your arrival. You will be out of communication. Near as we can tell, we can get you there, but getting back will be harder. The destination gate isn't something I'd trust to start the process. As it is, we barely trust it to get you there."

Engineering was not his forte. Laud frowned a little. "Tell me there's a plan."

"Of course. It just requires time. That's one thing you should have plenty of. Most gates weren't placed idly. There should be a world, possibly several, to explore. That is your mission."

"Right." Laud thought back to his acceptance of the mission. It had been a tremendous honor, but faced with the reality of it, he questioned if his past self had considered the matter fully. It was too late to back off. He would never live it down if he cringed away in fear at the last moment. "I'll have a full report ready for the first ship to follow me."

"Provided it's one of ours," spoke the voice. "Good to hear you're still with us. I'm sending the coordinates now. Match up with the gate and be ready for the call to proceed. Do not deviate from the flight course."

Preparing for the jump was standard enough. It was almost comforting. He just had to not think about the unknown gate he was going to appear at. He gave his console a light patting. "At least you'll be with me." He had his ship, and his sword, and his ideals. They would have to see him through.

The signal came, and he nudged the ship forward as directed. The gate flickered into life, a deep thrumming felt all through the ship as tremendous energy swirled in it, ready to send him soaring to a new place. It was far from the first time he'd jumped, but it was the first time he didn't know where he'd land.

Everything was gone.

He came to in front of a deceptively earth-like world. It had blues and greens. It had stretches that looked like mountains and deserts. It was a world. It had clouds. If its atmosphere was right, it could even be a nice place. There was only so much he could tell, gaping at it from so high above. He swiveled the ship around to see the gate he had come through.

It was a wreck. Fresh smoke billowed around it. Sparks jumped fitfully. It was no small miracle that he had even arrived safely. No, he would not be jumping home through that, at least not until it had gotten major repairs. The jumpgate was just a hollow reminder that he was alone. He was alone with a world to explore and document.

Laud took a slow breath as he pivoted the ship around slowly, looking for other worlds. The world had two moons, one much larger than the other, and also on fire. It was very rare to see a moon burning like a tremendously small sun. To make matters worse, he could find no sun. There were also no other planets. The world was floating free in the void with only its satellites to keep it company.

What matter of apocalypse or madness would create such a thing? The idea that it happened naturally seemed beyond impossibly against all odds.

He would get no answers simply looking. His ship informed him that the atmosphere of the planet wouldn't kill him. The balance was unique, but every planet was a little different. It was well within the bounds that meant he wouldn't be wearing a suit for his entire visit. That was good, really good. Considering it was the only planet he had a prayer of reaching, he could only thank God that it was a good one.

He took hold of the controls directly and eased the ship down. He'd done re-entries before. A gentle touch and a good feel for the ship brushing against the atmosphere had let him land without issue on many worlds.

Most worlds didn't have sudden gravitational waves. Several panels went red and the interior began strobing as alarms began sounding. A monitor showed that both moons were moving far more quickly than they had been a moment prior. The force of the motion slammed into his ship and he hit the atmosphere wrong. Flames erupted from the front of his ship.

"Blast it all to Hell," he swore as he pulled hard, trying to undo the damage, but the controls were sluggish to respond. The world was coming at him uncomfortably fast. He eased the ship to a horizontal path, cutting through the atmosphere in a bright fireball, moving far too quickly for how far down they were. He was twisting knobs wildly, trying to brake the ship and avoid becoming a crater on the new world. That would be too ignoble a start to his assignment. It would also be his end.

His ship wasn't responding the way he'd have liked. Had it taken damage arriving in the failing gate? There was no time to consider that too deeply. He did the best he could as the world spun by beneath him. Too fast. He was still too fast.

He struck.

The ponies of Ponyville all gazed up at the sky. There was a star in the middle of the day, well, more morning. It streaked past, leaving a brilliant trail of smoke behind. Even the uneducated among them started gossiping wildly at such a huge meteor coming in like that.

Starlight glanced aside at Twilight, then back up at the sky in the direction it had gone.

Twilight nodded to the unspoken question. "Pack your bags."

"Already done." Spike popped up with two filled saddlebags and slipped them on Twilight and Starlight. "Are we getting the girls?"

Starlight nodded. "Probably a good idea. I'll go get Trixie."

Twilight gave an uncertain smile. "This isn't exactly her kind of adventure."

Starlight frowned at that. "What is her kind of adventure?"

Spike rolled a hand. "One where she gets to show off?"

Starlight clopped a hoof in annoyance. "Stop that! She's a friend and she's been learning magic. She can help us."

Twilight let out a weary sigh. "Alright, go ahead. I'll get the girls. Come on, Spike."

He saluted and off they went to recruit the others.

Laud awoke to the sound of warbling sirens. Smoke was filling the cockpit. That was bad. He moved without thought. He popped it open with a hiss, allowing the air of the world to come in and greet him. It smelled fresh, though that wasn't hard compared to the scent of smoldering electronics.

He scrambled free and fell the short distance to the ground. The landing was far smoother than it had been for his ship. He hit and rolled, coming to a smooth halt and springing back to his feet. He spun around to look at his ship, or what was left of it. It was a crumpled mess. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was even in one piece after it. It was on fire. No extinguisher would make a difference. Barring a divine ritual, his ship was thoroughly lost. He reached for his side and realized his sword had been left inside.

He could write off the ship, but his sword? Never! "This damned world isn't taking that." He got to climbing, sticking to rocks where he could, they were less heated than the still smoldering surface of his ship. He had been wearing his flight suit, thankfully, which provided some heat resistance.

Pain flashed through his fingers as he put too much pressure on a sharp flap of metal, but he pressed on. A small gash wouldn't stop him. He crested the opening leading to his cockpit and waved at the smoke that had filled it. His sword was in there. Laud jumped in and reached around wildly. He heard the tink of its metal bouncing against his gloves. He grabbed it up and strapped it properly into place. He couldn't see. He couldn't breath. They said you should always wear your flight mask, always. That was one rule he regretted not following.

He was cooking, blind, and choking. He jumped. The second landing wasn't nearly as graceful as the first. He slammed into the ground roughly with a pained wheeze, but he was alive, and he had his sword. He rolled over and pushed up to his hands and knees. There was his ship, burning brightly. He would get nothing else out of it. "You always wanted some adventure, Laud."

He turned his hands to look at the cuts he had felt before. A sharp and narrow gash ran right along the underside of his fingers on his right hand. Painful, but not terminal, he decided. Unless the world had horrible diseases waiting to come get him. He couldn't do much about that but keep his hand clenched and wait for it to clot.

It was only at that point that he actually took in where he was. It appeared to be a mountain side. His ship had been sailing so fast, it failed to be surprising that it had smashed into the first thing tall enough to stop it. Moving away from his ship to get a better view, he could see he was fairly high up. The rest of the unknown world spread out before him away from the mountain. He had no idea what direction that was. He didn't have a compass, and he couldn't trust magnetic north could be geographic north anyway.

"You're off to a good start," he sighed out to himself.

The entire crew had been gathered. All of the Elements, plus Trixie, Starlight, and Spike.

Twilight pointed off towards a nearby mountain. "It landed on the same mountain where we had to talk that dragon out of sleeping."

Pinkie peered at it, and the smoke that could be faintly seen drifting up. "Do you think it's some kind of crazy space dragon? Maybe it's taking a nap too. See? It's smoking."

Applejack shook her head. "Ah ain't no dragon expert, but that didn't look like no dragon t'me."

Spike nodded in agreement. "Dragons breath fire, they usually aren't on fire."

Rarity considered it a moment. "Twilight, dear. You know I want to support you, but this isn't really an emergency. It's not a threat to Ponyville."

Fluttershy gave a soft noise that sounded agreeable. "I mean, it's a space rock."

Trixie put a hoof to her chest. "Very well then. Trixie will claim the honor of recovering this cosmic meteor!"

Starlight flashed a bright smile at that. "That's the spirit! I wonder what kind of rock it is."

"Wait, it's a rock?" Trixie looked confused.

Starlight blinked. "We just said that. It's a rock, from beyond Equestria."

"Trixie has had enough rocks." She waved the whole thing away. "Good luck!"

Trixie departed, but she was not alone. Pinkie remained, ready to help Twilight and Starlight. "If this is a rock," noted Pinkie. "I know exactly who would be a huge help, and she's right here in Ponyville!"

Pinkie was gone in a streak and back almost as fast, holding up Maud, who didn't look surprised at all. "Behold, Ponyville's resident roctor!"

"Roctor?" asked Twilight.

"I have a doctorate," explained Maud.

Spike snickered. "A doctorate in rocks, a roctorate. So you're a roctor. Um, congratulations though. What are you doing now?"

"Being asked to go with you."

Starlight nodded. "Good to see you, Maud. Did you see the meteorite?"

"That wasn't a meteorite."

Everyone blinked at her.

"Its flame signature was entirely off. It was composed of metal and unknown materials." She put on a hard hat. "I'd like to examine it."

Author's Notes:

And so the adventure begins! Laud makes a rough landing, and he missed the Everfree entirely. Shoot, that's where they're supposed to land, right? This story's already full of typos...

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2 - Surviving the Wild

Laud had not noticed in his initial daze that he was not lost in an entirely wild world. It was clearly visible, once he had calmed down a little. Right there, a town! Lazy wisps of smoke in the far distance hinted that the beings that lived within it had at least mastered fire. He could say almost nothing of the construction from so far away.

Life...

But was it life he would be safe around? The odds seemed poor. Humanity had reached many species, and existing peacefully beside them seemed to not be the end result more often than not. "I arrived with a bang," he said to himself, looking at the smoking ruins of his ship. What if they were already swarming to see what had caused the commotion? What if they were immediately hostile?

The odds they could even communicate were vanishingly small.

He patted his pockets and pulled out a small device that he began to finger. "Fat good you'll do..." It was a translator. It worked great, if it knew the two languages involved, the one the person wearing it was speaking, and the one it would translate to. Even if it were programmed to replicate the noises of the locals, it would be a one way communication. Better than nothing... which is what he had.

This all assumed the locals wanted to chat. He found his hand squeezing the hilt of his blade. That was one thing he could be certain of. "Keep it easy, Laud. Let's take this one step at a time." He decided he had to assume the locals wouldn't ignore the great fireball he had made. He decided ascending was the best idea, to find a defensible position and get out of direct sight.

Twilight and her friends sang a song of hiking as they went.

"Every step I take, I can hear the rocks say--"

Maud tilted her head. "Rocks don't say things."

The song came to an abrupt halt. Maud seemed to sense some of the tension. "Did I say something wrong?"

Starlight nudged her gently. "That isn't true. Boulder says things, doesn't he?"

Maud gave a placid blink as she walked. "You have a point. Can you hear him?" She pulled out boulder into view.

Starlight leaned in a little closer, ears trained on the stone. "He says... He hopes you find interesting rocks today."

Maud slipped Boulder away. "That is very likely."

Twilight let out a nervous laughter. "Maud, you have such an interesting way of seeing the world."

"Isn't it the best?" Pinkie was grinning ear to ear. "It's so nice Maud lives closeby now. How have you been liking Ponyville?"

They were ascending the mountain, trail by trail, slowly ascending the stony paths towards the still smoking thing that was above them.

"You know," said Spike, perched on Twilight's back. "You could just fly there."

Twilight tilted her head. "I could, but we'd be leaving Pinkie and Maud behind. It doesn't look like it's running away."

Starlight nodded softly. "Maud's insight could prove quite important. It can wait until we walk there."

Laud scrambled up away from any trails. He went until he could fall down behind a large rock that hid his presence from any curious onlookers that were coming from the direction of the settlement he had spotted. There were other issues to be concerned with. Most of his rations were being overcooked in flames. He was on a mountain. The vegetation was sparse at best. How edible any of it might be, or toxic, was completely unknown.

"I'll have to figure it out the hard way." Namely by sampling the smallest bits possible and hoping to not be dead a short while later. If only he still had his ship... "Times like these..." If he was a godless sorcerer, he could wiggle his fingers and make dinnner, and maybe a house to go with it? He didn't know the full measure of sorcery, besides that it was heathenous and foul work.

He might die, but he'd do so a Hawkwood.

Laud decided to handle the immediate situation first. He looked down at his burning ship, sheltered by his rocky hiding place. He'd wait and see what might show up.

He was eventually rewarded for his patience. Four brightly-colored equine creatures ascended from below. On the back of one was a reptile of some sort. Shantor? They reminded him of the equine species he knew from home. They were humanity's first contact... He couldn't place the lizard. Was it in charge? Were the horses slaves to it? It rode the largest of them and seemed to be doing the least work.

They spoke. He had to focus on the speaking to hear any of it, but he couldn't decipher it. It all sounded like horse noises. Even the lizard was making horse noises. He'd never heard a lizard make equine sounds before without the help of a translator, though he supposed if they were living together, practice could allow many things. Could he make horse noises?

The grey one in a frock approached his burning ship and spoke what seemed to be maybe two words at best. She reached for the hot metal and tore a sheet right off and threw it to the side. Laud threw himself down, new terror thumping through his heart. No being should have been able to just tear apart his ship so easily!

Maybe the fire had weakened it? It had to be! The very concept that any normal creature could just sink its teeth into metal, then rip off a huge portion like that? It was beyond reckoning. He said a soft prayer to God. He wasn't the most faithful man around, but it seemed the right time to make sure things were straightened upstairs.

He reminded himself that he was a Hawkwood. He wouldn't cower in fear. He peeked his head up to see again. The larger equine had spread her wings (what horse has wings?!) and was flying above and around the wreckage, speaking quite quickly those alien words. She... sounded excited?

The pink bouncing one seemed equally excited. If he ignored the fact that she was pink, she and the grey ones seemed the most normal. They appeared as Shantor, if you ignored that their hooves weren't split. The pink/purple one had a horn. The large one had a horn and wings. Were they demons? That was silly. They lived here. Demons don't usually... just live somewhere.

"Ow." That was one word Laud knew. The reptile had dismounted his ride gracelessly and bounced off the hard rocks of the mountain. He said some equine things, looking... cross a moment before it passed.

It seemed clear they were communicating back and forth. They were a social species.

The large one held her horn up and closed her eyes. It began to glow, dimly at first, then it flashed. Ice appeared all over the ship in a sudden frost. The fire guttered and began to die, choked by the magic. It was magic. Or maybe psionics? A naturally psionic species? It wouldn't be the first Laud had heard of... It was no less terrifying for it.

The strength to tear metal apart without obvious stress. Psionic power. Flight. This was no minor species. Laud considered his options with a severe frown. Even revealing himself would be opening himself to immediate attack by possible very deadly combatants. On the other hand, if he remained hidden, he would have to always hide. He would have no allies, no respite on a hostile world. His life would be little more than an intelligent rat, scrabbling for survival.

"You're a Hawkwood," he muttered to himself lightly. "Lead."

He would face them. Better he die nobly than live like a wretch. It was his right to stand tall and proud. He patted his blade, but left it secure in its sheath. To draw one's blade was to invite battle, unless in very specific situations.

"It's taken extensive damage," rambled Twilight with a giddy smile. "But it's clearly of alien make. The pieces are melted and bashed, but even from here, I can see this is the work of a very advanced species!"

Starlight waved it off. "You're leaping to conclusions, Twilight. It could be from somewhere else right here on our own planet. What if it's a crashed Minotaur thing?" She hiked a brow. "We can't prove it's not."

Maud tapped at the metal she had ripped free. "The composition is wrong. It's not steel. I specialize in rocks, but metals are a kind of rock."

Pinkie clopped her hooves together. "You think it's from outer space!?" She thrust a hoof up into the sky. "Woosh!" She waved her hooves with growing excitement. "I wonder what it looked like before it got all beat up."

A strange noise drew all their attentions uphill to a bipedal and clothed creature. The creature was saying something. It sounded serious and formal. It clasped a fist over his chest, then nodded its head at the group.

Spike peered at it, as everypony else did. "Uh, you all see that, right?"

Twilight was filled with excitement. "Ah-ha! I told you!" She vanished, only to appear in front of the being. "Hello!"

Laud stood stiff and tall. "I am Laud Mountbatten, of house Hawkwood. I come in peace if that peace is returned." He knew none of his words were understood. He knew it, but he said it anyway. It comforted him, and let him stand there in plain view without displaying fear.

At least until the large one made an excited noise, vanished, only to reappear directly in front of him, startling him.

He staggered back, hand falling to the hilt of his blade, ready to defend himself. "No closer!" She peered at him with her enormous eyes.

She made a little whicker of a sound and tilted her head him before slowly raising a hoof and offering it towards him.

Starlight called to Twilight, "He looks scared. Maybe you shouldn't go teleporting around him?"

Twilight nodded as her head tilted. She slowly raised a hoof. "I'll be slow. I was too excited."

The slow offering of a hand, hoof, or other limb, was not usually a sign of aggression by most animals, intelligent or not, that he knew. Laud dared to take a breath. Perhaps the powerful psion before him did not mean him direct harm.

A soft wicker came from directly behind him!

Maud brought up her hooves just in time to catch its blade. It had come out with amazing speed, only matched by Maud's defensive pose. She caught the weapon between her mighty hooves and blinked at its owner. "This is made of the same rock as the ship."

Pinkie squeaked, but then she brightened. "I know what will make this right. A song!" She took a deep breath and began a little ditty.

Laud faced the grey pony. He had struck without thought, a failure on his part, though one that could have saved his life. Instead, it just let the equine best show its skill. Only in tales had he heard of men so well trained that they could catch naked swords with equally unclad hands, clapped between hands as his own blade was between the hooves of the beast.

The pony did not pull, twist, or otherwise try to take advantage of the situation. It just looked at him and the sword.

Then the noise began. The pink one was making quite a racket of sounds. Were they words? He guessed they were. They had a certain melody to them, but the meaning was far beyond him. "Can I have this back?" He pulled the sword away, and the grey equine allowed it without resistance.

Twilight waved at Pinkie. "I don't think that's helping." She cleared her throat, then pointed at the creature. "You. From Stars?" She pointed up at the sky, then back to it.

Laud sheathed his blade as he turned back to the larger one's noises. It pointed at him, said something, then pointed to the sky, and back to him.

Was it asking if he was an alien?

He nodded.

It smiled. It pointed at itself and made a noise. Then it repeated it and the noise. It pointed at each person and gave a different noise for each, then at itself once more and repeated that first noise.

Laud was no fool. Names. He was being given names. He returned the gesture, pointing at her and attempting her name. He was sure he butchered it terribly. He had little practice trying to sound like a horse.

"Yes!" cried Twilight. She pointed at herself once more. "Twilight."

"Twrlo," he said. His words were so thick and strange, but the fact that he was trying to say Twilight's name filled her with joy.

Contact had been made.

Author's Notes:

If she's psychic, why didn't she just rape my mind and learn what she wanted to know? Maybe these equine aliens don't work like humans...

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3 - Welcome

The strange creatures walked on either side of him. They were not animals, at least no more so than he was. Animals did not make so much sound without purpose. He was fairly certain they were speaking, likely about him as they walked. One said something, another replied. Without understanding it, it was all so much bleating, but Laud struggled to keep a kind of perspective. How would human chatter sound to something that didn't understand?

The largest of them waved a hoof at the town they were approaching, bidding Laud look at it. It said a word, he guessed, then nodded. The name of the town? It pointed then, sweeping across to the large crystal tower that seemed to dwarf the town. It pointed to herself, then the reptile that used her as a mount, then to Laud.

Laud suddenly realized. The largest of them, with an exotic species attached. Was it a figure of import, or the mount of one? Was that tower its home or office? Of course, size wasn't always a measure of rank, but combined with living in the largest building did paint a particular picture. Was it or the reptile a local figurehead, or did their culture have more ornate ranks? So many questions buzzed in Laud's head.

Spike leaned in towards Twilight's head. "He looks a little overwhelmed."

Starlight shrugged lightly. "He's new here, and he doesn't understand us. I'd be overwhelmed too."

Pinkie pronked up beside the new guest of Ponyville. "Don't you worry even a little bit! I'll introduce you to everypony." It did not understand her words, but it did grasp that she was speaking to it. A hand reached and dared rest on her head. Pinkie was thoroughly amused, giggling. "Nice to meet you too."

Maud's eyes rested on its blade. Behind her, she dragged a cart with most of the remains of the thing they had come to investigate. It was heavy, but the wheels made the difference.

As they went through town, they began to split off. Maud went towards her underground home, taking the ship with her without a word. Starlight glanced after her and back to Twilight. "Do you need my help with the visitor, or should I be helping Maud?" Both seemed like fine ideas to her.

Twilight lifted a hoof to her chin. "Thinking about it, it may be best if we avoid overwhelming our guest."

Laud watched as the purple/pink one went off in the same direction as the grey one with some statement or another. His group was diminishing. The pink one and the large one and its rider were left. Of course, they were also in their village. Unsurprisingly, the creatures they came across that noticed him, and most did, looked uncertain about his presence.

More important than that was the simple fact that none of them charged him or made obviously angry noises. They eyed him like the strange thing he was, relative to them, but seemed to trust that he meant no harm... or... they trusted the large one and the reptile to keep him in line and protect them? That seemed far more likely than the town they were walking through just idly trusting something as alien to themselves as Laud without reason. He was being given an escort by someone of import, even if he still wasn't sure if it was the reptile, the large one, or both.

The pink one remained close to him. It was speaking at him animatedly, not that he had any idea what it was saying, but they sounded happy. They also emoted it, which was comforting in a way. A smile seemed to still be a smile. It had the mannerisms of a human, even if all the words were lost. It also helped that it had expressed the least amount of psionic power, so far.

"What is that?!" Sweetie Belle had been rushing towards something but came to a skidding halt on seeing the strange thing that was with Twilight, Pinkie, and Spike. Scootaloo bumped into her from behind and Apple Bloom came rushing up beside them.

Twilight waved back at the bipedal creature. "This is, um. I don't think I caught his name properly. He doesn't speak our language well."

It was looking at the smaller ponies with some nervousness. Scootaloo noticed this and tilted her head off to the side. "Why's it scared of us?"

Apple Bloom came out and asked, "Is it a stallion or mare whatever it is?"

Spike snickered softly. "Twilight hasn't checked. My bit's on a stallion."

Tiny versions of them arrived and gaped at him. They began asking questions. He didn't need to know their tongue to know that much. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity. How young were they? Not too young to speak, clearly. Young were a risky place to be. Threaten a young creature and even docile beasts can be turned hostile. He tried to stand still and not give off any threatening postures.

It worked, perhaps too well. One of them came right for him. It squeaked some words, a question he guessed as it looked at him, clearly hoping for answers. But what answer could he give to a question he didn't understand? "I am Laud Mountbatten," he tried. An introduction seemed a safe place.

Twilight pointed. "There, that's his name. I'm sure of it."

Apple Bloom extended a little hoof. "Nice t' meetcha, Loud. Ah'm Apple Bloom." She pointed to her friends. "Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo." Each of them nodded at it as their name was called. "Welcome to Ponyville!"

The large one spoke, perhaps guiding the small ones. The one with a ribbon in her(?) mane said his name, sort of. It was an admirable attempt. It introduced itself and its small friends, then all three of them said something to the larger pony and dashed off just as eagerly as they had approached. Were they satisfied with an exchange of names?

Spike shrugged from atop Twilight. "Tell me you have some kinda translation spell in all those books."

Twilight shook her head. "Between ponies, easily. I could, perhaps, let him understand us, but he is an alien, a real one. He just isn't made to speak our words."

Pinkie pronked forward. "So why not make him a pony so he can talk?"

Twilight frowned at the idea as she climbed towards her castle. "I will not perform such invasive magic on an alien species. We can't even be certain it would work properly. What kind of guests would we be if we hurt him while trying? Speaking of which, why are you so sure he's a he, Spike?"

Spike shrugged softly. "He has a beard, and he sounds like one when he talks."

Pinkie glanced back at Laud. "Maybe all of those have beards? And without hearing a mare one, how can we tell?"

Twilight nodded in agreement with Pinkie. "You're jumping to conclusions. I want to know as much as anypony else, but I also want to be a good host, and good hosts don't rush to asking their guests to strip and allow for examination."

They arrived at the great crystal edifice. Unless crystals were far more numerous on this world, which was possible, he guessed its mere existence was a huge symbol of the wealth of its owner. The trick remained, who was the owner? What if it was none of the creatures with him, but instead something else that resided within? The large one could be a local guard, the reptile a knight of sorts, and he was being brought to the actual owner of the land for judgment.

It was not a comforting thought.

He lifted his head high and walked properly. He would meet whatever came for him with dignity. If they attacked, he would meet them with steel and give them something to remember before he went.

However, instead of being led to a courtroom, he was instead guided up some stairs and to a room that looked like a bedroom. It had a clear bed, with pillows and blanket. It had a window to the outside world, unbarred. It had no bathing area or toiletries attached. It was a perfectly pleasant bedroom as they went.

The reptile hopped to the ground and hiked a thumb out into the hallway, saying something, then waving for Laud to follow it.

Laud did follow it, growing all the more curious. He discovered what he was being led to quickly, a bathing room. It had a tub, and a toilet, a mirror, and some hygenic supplies. It was all... amazingly mundane. If he forgot who owned all of it, it could have fit in on a noble's estate easily. Despite all the differences between them, they both brushed their teeth, and had to take care of mundane day to day needs.

That was when he realized that he really could use the bathroom.

The reptile gave a thumbs up, an uncannily human gesture, and dashed off to give him privacy. He closed the door and there was no resistance to his being alone. He was being trusted.

Spike returned to Twilight. "He looked like he had to go, and I think that's what he's doing."

Pinkie giggled. "When ya gotta go, ya gotta go."

Twilight looked less amused. "Good thinking, Spike. Even alien species have to take care of... those things." A brow climbed. "You really are stuck on referring to it as 'him', aren't you?"

Spike shrugged. "How much do you want to wager?"

Twilight seemed to be considering a moment before she shrugged. "If it turns out to not be male, you have to clean the windows early."

Spike shuddered at the idea of it. "But if he is, then you have to do it this time!"

Twilight returned the expression, tongue poking free lightly. "It's an explorer, like Daring Do. It's probably a mare. Just be ready to do those windows."

Pinkie looked thoroughly amused by the exchange. "I really should get back to the bakery, but he looks like he's getting comfortable. What kind of cake do you think he likes? I have to plan his 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!"

Twilight's face turned to worry. "Let's not rush ourselves. Being surrounded by a room full of strangers may not be the way we want to work our guest into things. Let's keep things low key and slow."

"Aw." Pinkie pouted. "Can I at least throw one with the girls? They should meet him at least."

"You're siding with Spike," noted Twilight dryly, noticing Pinkie using male pronouns. "I'm telling you, it's almost certainly a mare."

Pinkie shrugged at that with a grin. "Maybe, but I don't like calling him an 'it', so he it is until then. I'll make something nice and quiet, with the girls." She squinted a little. "I'll go with chocolate. Chocolate's a safe bet for cake flavors. If you get to ask him what he likes, let me know."

Content with her place as a party planner, Pinkie pronked off to take care of her job and prepare for the festivities to come.

Laud washed his face with the water the sink provided in both cold and hot varieties. He dried his face with a hanging towel. He had been provided tools enough that if he were a prisoner, he was an exceptionally well treated and trusted one.

He had been invited into their grand home and given a guest room. That is what he was. He was a guest. Perhaps all his worry was needless. Maybe these people were just that trusting and cordial.

That worried him. If that was true, they were practically waiting for the harsher elements of the universe to find them and crush them. To be so accepting was admirable enough, but they really had no reason to trust him. God damn it, he had attacked one of them. Only that creature's lightning reflexes had prevented him from cutting it, possibly killing it. They really should be at least cautious enough to request his sword.

Not that he wanted to part with his blade. His emotions were torn between gratitude and a sincere belief that the kindness being extended to him was not wise.

Author's Notes:

Another day at the con, another chapter is produced! As if a convention could slow me down, muahahahaha.

Written for a patron. You could also have you story written by joining the atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

4 - Reading is Fundamental

Laud emerged from the bathing room. He could have returned to his given room, but saw no reason for that. Relaxation was far from his mind. He strode with cautious determination through the crystal halls of his temporary new home. If his hosts trusted him, and they certainly seemed to, he would take advantage of it to learn of his new world.

None of the doors had any markings, not that he imagined he could read the local language. Did he dare to see what may lay behind one of many doors? He did. Behind the door he selected at random he found a stately sitting room of sorts. He walked inside and looked around curiously. There were shelves lined with... Something he wanted to see. He reached for one and pulled it free, confirming that it was a book.

God be praised.

"They do write and read," he said to himself. That was a huge relief that he didn't even realize he was worried about in the back of his mind. Even without a programmed translator, words could be worked through the most alien of throats when put to paper.

He carefully opened the book and examined the literally alien words that filled it. They didn't resemble English words at all, but they were words. There were illustrations as well, but they weren't enough to put any meaning into any specific word present. It was then that he realized that the pictures were referring to some strange equine sorcery. He dropped the book in alarm.

A soft voice came from the door. He turned to see the larger horse there, regarding him with a curious look. It said something chastising as its horn glowed and it casually used its psionic power to lift the book and set it exactly where it had come from.

Was he not allowed to read, or was it annoyed at his treatment of the heretical tome? He decided to find out. He pointed at the books and went to reach for another, though his eyes never left it.

Twilight shook her head a little. "Magic books aren't for irresponsible use. Can you even use magic?" She didn't know, but she didn't want to find out through random experimentation either. "This way." She waved for him to follow her.

Laud could see the horse wanted him to come with it. It sounded puzzled, but not angry. It turned and began to walk away, seemingly confident that he would follow. He decided to not be a rude guest and see where it... she. A glance confirmed that. Where she wanted to take him.

"Where are we going?" He was pretty certain she wouldn't understand him, but being silent didn't feel right.

Twilight twitched an ear back at her strange guest as he asked a question. It was a marvel to her how similar they were. His expressions were perfectly readable, and his words, though alien, had the same inflections for emotions. It lifted up in a questioning way towards the end, and it was clear he was asking something.

The odds of a true alien species with that many similarities boggled Twilight's mind. She had so many questions, but, perhaps, answers would be coming. Since it had spoken, she decided to reply, "Since you like reading, why don't we get something more useful? It may be for foals, but it might help you understand things." She began to descend stairs. "If you managed to build that thing and travel between the stars, you're probably clever enough to learn to read and write."

She was speaking. She sounded cautiously optimistic about something as she went. Laud followed her down some stairs as she spoke for likely the same reason he had, to break the awkward silence. It was then that he realized that the reptile rider wasn't present. She was acting on her own initiative, which put a little hole in the idea of the reptile being her master. Then again, they trusted him, a stranger and alien, with a blade at his hips. Maybe they were just not a very strict people?

They went down the way they had originally came and were heading out of the tower. Where was she taking him? He asked as much, futile as it might have been. "Are we going somewhere specific?"

She replied in her strange equine noises. He liked to think she was answering his question, and maybe she was. It wasn't as if his question was hard to guess. A forehoof lifted and pointed towards a building in the distance. More impressive was the fact that she switched gaits from four to three-legs without slowing down.

He looked where she was pointing and saw it appeared to be some kind of gathering building. It had a bell on top. It had some hearts on its trim. He couldn't be sure with the distance, but he was pretty sure that was a pony-shaped bush near the entrance. To the left, there was a large sign that showed a book and some other things he couldn't pick out. Was it... a library? Why would a library have a bell.

"A church," he decided out loud. The book must be their version of the bible. If those hearts meant the same thing as they did for humans, these people's religion was extremely welcoming, which matched how he had been treated so far. Then again, it could all be a cheerful march to something terrible. Assuming alien religions were happy places for him felt foolish at best.

Twilight glanced over her shoulder. "There's a very kind and skilled educator that works here. Her..." She trailed off. It looked worried about something. But what? "What's wrong?" She turned back towards him. "Cheerilee will help you read and write far better than I could. I'm not a proper educator, ask Rainbow." She rolled her eyes in memory of her attempt.

"Though I did eventually get that right..."

Her words were not comforting it, but she was not sure what was the source of its discomfort. "Are you embarrassed?" She smiled gently. "It's alright. It would have been beyond comprehension for you to understand us or our words from another world. I mean, it's not like the mirror worlds. They basically are our world, just a little different. I'm rambling. Back to the point, you're fine, and you'll have this under control in no time at all!"

She was speaking animatedly. She sounded consoling and trying to comfort. While she was speaking, another horned horse was approaching them. That one had light-green fur and was eyeing him in particular. She said something that sounded like a greeting.

The larger horse looked to her and nodded, saying something back, then pointing at Laud.

The mint-green horse raised a hoof and waved at him in greeting as she spoke before approaching. The larger horse said something in a cautioning tone.

Laud had the sense to feel guilty. She was probably warning not to make any sudden moves, considering his reaction to being approached before. The green horse was coming from ahead of him, and it looked happy enough. He offered a hand towards it, assuming it was a friend of the larger horse. "I am Laud Mountbatten, of House Hawkwood, and you are?" His words would be lost, but speaking still had its uses.

The green horse replied with its strange noises, then reared up onto it... her... hind legs and thrust out a hoof to meet his hand. He wasn't sure at first, but decided to just treat it as a hand. He took the hoof in a solid grip and gave a shake. She matched it almost instantly, giggling as she did so. She looked over her shoulder, saying something to the larger horse, then returning her gaze to Laud. "Laud," she said, almost acceptably clearly.

Laud smiled. Hearing his name spoken basically properly brought more joy than he was expecting. "Yes, I am Laud. You are?" He drew his hand back just enough to point at her.

A soft series of equine noises was the reply. The larger horse pointed at herself and repeated her own name. Laud was certain they probably had meanings, in their own language, but to him they were just horse noises. He made his best effort to repeat the green horse's name even as she fell back to all fours.

She bobbed her head in approval, then turned to the larger horse. They spoke back and forth as the larger horse pointed at the church.

The green horse made a dismissive sound and approached closer to Laud, speaking in a friendly chastising way.

Laud realized what she was saying. She was making light of his concerns. A part of him was riled by it, but another cautioned. Perhaps he was being worried over nothing. The horses had given him almost nothing to be worried about, besides their concerning acceptance of psionics and potential blasphemies. Alright, that counted for something... Still... He had to face things, not hide from them.

They seemed to realize he was ready to proceed. The green horse gave a friendly wave at the larger one before she trotted off. She said something, but it had the word 'Laud' clearly in it. Had she said goodbye? He could only guess, but he returned the gesture. "See you later, " he did his best with the strange equine sound.

She giggled joyfully as she left.

"You made a nice impression with Lyra," Twilight spoke as she resumed leading the way towards the schoolhouse. "If you like her, you shouldn't have a problem getting along with Cheerilee. She's kind and caring, a perfect teacher. You've been to school before, I imagine? They wouldn't send the uneducated to explore space, would they?"

It didn't understand her questions, just that she was asking something. It replied in its strange tongue. "We need to get you reading." Why hadn't she thought of that before? She quietly chastised herself for not realizing the ultimate answer to most of life's problems, namely books.

They proceeded inside and its attitude shifted almost instantly as it looked around the interior of the schoolhouse. Had it not realized where they were going? Twilight couldn't even guess what else it had thought it would be. "Cheerilee?" she called out as she emerged into the main room with all the schooldesks.

There was the teacher. Cheerilee appeared to be grading papers. She looked up at Twilight and smiled. She let her quill drop from her mouth. "Twilight, what brings you here?" Then she spotted what was right behind Twilight. She went tense with surprise. "I... assume it has something to do with that?"

A school? He wouldn't have guessed that! It was so very obvious from the inside. Schooldesks, books, a playground, chalkboards. Yes, it was a school. The school teacher, or so he assumed, looked surprised to see him, eyeing him suspiciously as it spoke with the larger horse.

The larger horse waved back at him, saying something that included a lightly mangled 'Laud' in it.

The schoolteacher nodded uncertainly, then rose up to its hooves and trotted over to a shelf of books. She reached out and grabbed one in her teeth, then set it on her desk, open towards Laud. She waved him closer and spoke gentle words as she tapped at the book, clearly trying to direct his attention towards it.

Laud had thought his days of being schooled as a child were long over, but he hadn't planned to learn an alien language without anything native to base it on, so there was that. He stepped forward to see what she had. It was an apple, big and red and perfect. It had a word under it. That word was almost certainly apple.

Alas, he couldn't say the word out loud.

She provided that part, speaking its name clearly, then looking to him.

Well, it was clear to the horses. To a human, it was a horse noise. It was different than the horse's names he had heard so far, but it is still a strange noise, a bit of a whicker. He did his best.

Cheerilee's snout wrinkled a little. "Not a plum, an apple. Apple." She tapped the book gently.

Twilight shook her head. "We're dealing with a fundamental difference in speech. At best, he'll have an almost impenetrable accent. I'm more interested in him learning to read and write. There's nothing standing in the way of his communication through words."

The alien turned to the next page on its own, then the one after that, but then back. It was clearly focused on the task.

Cheerilee looked less certain. "Learning a language that different from what you know will not be easy."

"Which is why I brought him to the best teacher I know."

Cheerilee blushed softly. "I thank you for your vote of confidence, but even foals come to me with the ability to understand most of what I say. I just teach them to read and write the words they're already using. I expand their vocabularies, certainly, but I don't teach them what the language is from the start. That's a whole other challenge."

Author's Notes:

We'll bust that language barrier! Maybe... Nopony promised this would be simple or easy.

Written for a patron. You could also have you story written by joining the atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

5 - Growing from Basics

Basic objects were too advanced, so they went back a step.

Letters. Every part of the equine language was shared one by one with the writing that went with them and how they could be combined. An alphabet was required to get anywhere, and Cheerilee was happy enough to provide that. As out of her depth as she seemed, she tried her best to coach the alien along.

Laud was determined to make the best of the situation, even if that meant learning to give a whicker on command. There was more to it than the brute noises a wild horse would make, of course. It was a language, full and rich and wonderfully complicated, like any functional language had to be.

Diamond Tiara shook her head slowly as she glanced to the left where the strange alien pored over a book. "Teacher, does it have to be here in the middle of class?"

Cheerilee snorted softly. "We've been over this. They're not bothering anypony, and are a guest. We should help them, not begrudge them."

Snails raised a hoof. "What are they readin'?"

Snips snorted softly. "Ya should be asking what they're saying." An ear directed at the strange creature. "They haven't stopped making noises."

Cheerilee saw the class was not going to be easily put back on path, so rolled with it. "Our friend, Laud--" The strange alien glanced up when his name was spoken. "--is learning our language, and they have a special problem. Twilight has informed me that their throat is not naturally designed to imitate our words, but, all is not lost, much like us, they are very flexible. We are very confident they'll get this, with practice and effort." She stood up. "Which is why--"

Scootaloo hopped up from sitting to practically standing on her chair. "We're gonna help an alien!"

"Yeah!" Exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Let's get it talkin'!"

His name had been said, the one bit of familiarity amidst the foreign noises. The teacher was speaking to her students, and they were looking at him. One of the smaller ones hopped onto their desk suddenly with a cry, then... he was swarmed.

A crowd of little horses were grinning at him while speaking encouraging words. Some were holding up cards with a single letter or word and a picture on them. The entire class had decided to try to help him learn. It was... overwhelming, and kind of cute, he had to admit.

He wasn't sure he learned all that faster with the entire class involved, but it was a welcome change of pace, and, perhaps, just knowing they were eager to help was comforting.

When lunch time came and all the little ones ran off to get a bite to eat, he decided to make himself scarce. As amusing as that was, it was clear him haunting the schoolhouse was distracting from any other lessons being given there. He thanked the teacher as best he could. She didn't seem to mind his keeping the book with the alphabet in it for practice, and he ventured back out towards the castle to the tune of the class waving and, he assumed, wishing him luck.

He could see his host's tower, it was hard to miss. It also did not fit the aesthetic of the rest of the town very well. It was hard and crystal and dark purple while the rest was all sorts of bright hues and largely made of wood where it didn't occasionally look like it was made out of candy. If he hadn't met its owner, he would think they were some kind of harsh overlord.

Speaking of that, he had come to a conclusion on that reptile. It wasn't the master. It was more like a hawk that a noble might carry on their arm. Sure, the hawk got a free ride out of it, but the noble was the one in charge. The reptile was the largest horse's pet. He was fairly sure it was a relationship with warmth in it, helped by the fact that the reptile spoke better horse than he did, but on the hierarchy, the horse was higher. Was she the top? He wasn't sure of that yet. She was the largest of them he'd seen, but size wasn't always the start and end of social hierarchy.

It would be a strange universe if all intelligent species opted to follow the biggest at all times. Heck, Laud wasn't the physically most massive member of his holdings, but he was still the leader by right of title and birth. He sighed softly as he went. Would he ever see home again? Would he even see any part of the known universe? Odds weren't looking so hot.

Even if he didn't, he still had a job. His situation was stable. Learning more about the locals was certainly a valuable thing to do, but he had to start surveying the world if he wanted to be able to hold his head up when, and if, they came after him and found him.

"Hi."

Oh, he... actually understood a word. It was so strangely thrilling. He turned towards the speaker to see that green horse had returned.

She said something else, sounding happy to see him.

"Nice to see you too... Rose?" He said the name in their tongue, mangling it.

"Rose? (odd noises) Lyra. I (slowly said words) Lyra." She put out a hoof, saying something but it ended with another word he had decided was very important, "you."

Speaking in parts English and, uh, equine, was odd, but his syntax was anemic, to say nothing of his vocabulary. "Lyra. You, Lyra." He spoke each syllable slowly, doing his best to get it right.

Lyra seemed delighted, bobbing her head. "You, Laud." she returned before she pointed at herself, saying a simple word he hadn't learned yet but guessed was likely 'me', "Lyra."

Smooth and placid words came from behind Laud. He started, but turned without his sword to find it was the horse that seemed best at sneaking up on him. The grey one with the frock. She always wore that, it seemed, an oddity in the largely nude equine society.

She nodded at him. "Hi." Her word was clear and slow.

"Hi," he returned. "Me, Laud. You?"

"Maud."

Lyra was pleased at the exchange, clopping her forehooves and saying something far too fast for Laud to have a prayer.

Maud nodded at Lyra and replied in her slow direct way.

Laud had an idea. Though the words were strange and alien, Maud's way of speech was so very precise and slow, she would be perfect. He held out his alphabet book towards her.

Maud tilted her head at it, then reached a hoof. He wasn't sure how she took hold of it with a hoof and could only blame it on a subtle psionic power. Their entire people seemed heavy with the stuff. It was... just what they were. He could scream and wail, but that wouldn't make them suddenly stop.

She opened the book and started reading each letter slowly.

Lyra interrupted with a few questioning words.

"Why are you saying the alphabet?" asked Lyra with an arched brow.

"Isn't this what he wants?" Maud looked at Laud, then Lyra. "He was listening." She resumed reading the letters.

Lyra gave a shrug and a smile. "Well, have fun with that. If he needs any help, just call. I like him." She trotted away, allowing Maud to finish her reading of the alphabet. Maud set the book down and looked at Laud patiently.

He said something in his own strange language while gesturing. Maud hoofed his book back to him. He quickly flipped through it as he sat beside her, speaking more strange words. He sounded thankful. He pointed to a letter.

Maud said it.

He tried to say it, but it wasn't right. Maud repeated it.

They spent some time going through the book. As great was it was just reading, having someone slow and patient was a godsend. Maud seemed to have no end of time to speak the letters.

By the time they had worked through the alphabet a few times, he felt indebted. Here was this alien that owed him not a thing at all that presumably had things to do that just gave up hours of its life to go over the alphabet. It wasn't even like she was a teacher. What she did for a living, Laud had no idea, but it was still a kindness. He owed her, but what could he give her?

Ah, yes. It would be useless on the alien planet, but perhaps it would have some sentimental value for its oddity. He fished out a firebird. It was a coin used by their people. He displayed it to her, the phoenix side facing her. "For you," he declared, the first word in English, the latter in equine. "Thank you," he followed up in English, wishing he could say it properly.

She leaned in and sniffed the coin, then slurped it right out of his hand. In her mouth it was swished around as she kept her placid expression. Laud wasn't sure what to make of it. Was it tasty? She spat it out into a hoof and said something odd before tapping the moistened coin with her other forehoof. She tucked it away and said some other equine things in a clear question, but it was one he didn't understand. She stared at him for an uneasy moment before she nodded and pointed to his book.

Did she want to continue with the lessons? He could only assume she liked the gift, or... she had questions that could only be asked once he could actually hold a conversation with her. Both seemed likely, and neither were a bad reason. He accepted her offer, and the study resumed.

Twilight's gaze drifted from alien bit to alien bit, their strange metal glinting in the light. She had chalkboards filled with observations and calculations, but the exact composition of half the things before her were beyond her. Many weren't any single elements. Alloys of metals she wouldn't have dreamed of combining, or strange chemical brews that seemed like rubber, at least the small parts of it that had escaped the fire, but it wasn't rubber. It wasn't rubber at all.

Intricate patterns that she would have guessed were magic were made of other strange combinations of things. The whole thing spoke of an incredibly advanced people. People she couldn't ask questions of. She grunted loudly in frustration. If only she could talk with Laud clearly. Surely it would have answers to some of her questions!

"You really shouldn't talk to yourself."

Twilight jumped. Spike had entered the room.

"You get pretty loud when you're worked up," he explained. "Everything alright?"

Twilight threw a hoof across the scattered and labeled pieces and the ruined craft it came from. "I'm more than alright! If I could just figure out how half of this works! Is Laud back?"

"Where'd you take him to anyway?"

"I brought him to school, to learn how to read and write. Even if he never speaks proper Pony English, there's no reason he can't communicate that way."

"Yeah, I doubt that's how that'll work." Spike rolled his eyes. "Want to up that bet?"

Twilight crossed her forelegs. "You're awfully confident about this alien."

He rolled a claw. "We've seen things like him before. He's like a slightly misshapen pony from the mirror world where Sunset is. Remember them?"

"How could I forget them?" asked Twilight defensively.

"And you didn't notice a difference between stallions and mares there?"

Twilight looked clueless.

"Something every mare there had that most stallions didn't?"

The staring continued before she shook her head. "Get to the point, Spike. What did you notice?"

He put a claw over his face. "You really missed it? The mares have fat up here." He pat his boyish scaled chest. "It's really kinda obvious."

Twilight blinked, thinking back to her time in Canterlot High. Every female... "The cutie mark crusaders didn't have those."

Spike's eyes dropped halfway. "Congratulations, you just discovered biped puberty."

Twilight's hooves fell to the floor. "I... How did I not notice that?"

"You were focused on getting your crown back?" Spike flashed a smile. "So, since Laud doesn't have those, he's a dude, and I expect you'll get to cleaning those windows, the same way I'd have to. I'll show you where the rope and pulley is."

Author's Notes:

Spike gets his sweet sweet reward for actually paying attention. Relish in this victory, little dragon.

Meanwhile, Laud and Maud bond over the alphabet, and Laud said a few things that could be mistaken for sentences! PROGRESS!

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6 - Speech

Despite one odd evening when he returned to his new home to find the larger horse doing the windows without help of her psionic power or wings, Laud fell into a sort of routine. He met the grey horse somewhere quiet and they would go over letters and words, trying to expand his grasp of the horse language.

His speech was impeded. It always would be. When the pink one was there, she explained it as if he always had a sickness. His face was flat, compared to theirs. How surprising was it really that his words would come out with an accent if nothing else. That mattered little compared to the simple fact that he could actually speak something, and understood more than obvious emotions.

"You sister help me," he said to the pink one.

She smiled quite happilly. "Maud is the best!"

"At what?" challenged Maud with a straight face, which was about her only expression save for the occasional lifted brow.

"At everything," reported the pink one.

Speaking of pink ones, Laud pointed at her. "You name?"

"Pinkie, didn't I say that?"

"What mean?" His words were far from eloquent, but he was saying it, dang it, and that felt good.

"Mean?" She tilted her head. "Pink. Color?" She reached out a hoof and pointed at it with the other forehoof. "With a little 'ie' at the end. Pink, Ie. My full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie."

Her full name was beyond comprehension, but he held onto the simpler common name she seemed to prefer anyway. "Pinkie. I am Laud Mountbatten." His own name was spoken in English. What would the Equestrian translation be?

Maud nodded softly. "Maud Pie. Do you wish to continue the lesson?"

"I questions." Perhaps it was foolish to try, but he had to. "Who..." Uck, he didn't have the word. "Pony above ponies."

Maud looked curious, but Pinkie was bouncing up and down. "Do you mean a leader?" Laud looked confused. "A pony that tells other ponies what to do."

"Yes!" He beamed with gratitude that Pinkie had understood. "Leader. Who Leader?"

Pinkie tapped at her chin. "Well... There's (unknown) Mare. She's tells ponies in Ponyville what to do. There's Twilight." She thrust a hoof at the castle. "She's a princess! So she can tell ponies what to do. But there's a pony above her. Princess (unknown) and Princess (unknown). They're (unknown) and they're in charge of alllllll Equestria."

That was getting somewhere. Laud's caretaker had a position of some authority, which made sense, but was not the highest. He felt it would be prudent to eventually meet the top of the social chain, but perhaps he could start lower and work his way up. Few rulers appreciated others skipping the ranks, so to speak. But before he could do that... "Learn more." He settled with Maud.

Maud opened the book, as patient as ever. "Did Pinkie say anything you didn't understand?"

Oh, plenty, and Laud happily tried to repeat the words. The lessons would continue. He would compose himself as a proper noble.

Twilight nodded at Spike. "Did you get all that?"

Spike's eyes ran over the thick scroll in his claws. "Think so. Should I send it?"

"Please." Twilight bobbed her head. "I had thought to keep this to myself, but that may be irresponsible. What if Celestia already knows what this is and has a plan for it?"

Spike rolled the scroll up tight. With a soft puff, the scroll was consumed by flames, the magic that made up his breath and the paper rushed out of sight, bound for Canterlot. "She'll get back to us quickly. She usually does."

"I hope so." Twilight's eyes fell to the pile of scrap she had managed to create organized piles out of. "My attempts to decipher this on my own have been... slow at best."

Spike crouched down and prodded a discarded bit. "So, why aren't you just asking Laud?"

Twilight blinked at that. "I would if I could, but he doesn't speak our language, and may never. Cheerilee said he stopped coming by for lessons."

"Oh, yeah, he's with Maud." He sounded as if that were common knowledge, nothing to speak of.

"Maud?!" Twilight practically pounced Spike. "Why is he with Maud?!"

He shrugged helplessly. "I dunno, he seems to like listening to her. They talk over letters and stuff and I think he just likes her more than Cheerilee. Why?"

"Why?!" She shook him a moment before letting him back to the ground. "This is huge! It means he hasn't given up on learning. In fact, if he's chosen a teacher, it may very well mean he's farther ahead than I would have hoped for. Where are they? Do you know?"

Spike dusted himself off lightly. "I bet Pinkie'd know."

"She knew?! Was I the only one that didn't? Don't answer that." Her wings unfurled. "I'm going to look for either of them. Let me know if Princess Celestia responds while I'm gone."

Twilight launched out a window, soaring towards Ponyville. Descending the stairs came Starlight. "Did I just hear Twilight having a meltdown?"

Spike smirked at that. "Starting to recognize it?" He pointed both fingers at Starlight from either claw. "Welcome to the club. She's out of her head about that alien guy."

"The human?" asked Starlight. "I've been checking my own things off and on. What if he's actually from a mirror world? Maybe he wants to go back home."

"Maybe," said Spike with thick uncertainty. "But didn't he come in this thing?" He waved over the great collection of junk. "Why would he need all that if he just stepped through a mirror?"

"Maybe it wasn't a normal mirror?" argued Starlight with a little snort. "I don't know, but you can't rule it out. So what has Twilight worked up today specifically?"

"She just heard Laud--" He stopped when he saw Starlight looking confused. "The human, his name?"

"Oh, right, sorry. What about Laud?"

"He's stopped going to Cheerilee for language lessons and has been going to Maud instead." He shrugged. "It doesn't surprise me all that much."

Starlight's head tilted a little. "Maud's a great pony, but a teacher? Why?"

Spike hopped over a small pile of stuff, making his way free of the room. "Well, to start, she isn't a teacher of foals, which maybe a grown person feels awkward being taught by."

Starlight winced as she followed after him. "I hadn't considered it from that angle, but what makes Maud a good choice for that, instead of just 'better than a foal teacher'?"

Spike extended a finger just to count on it. "She speaks slowly. She speaks directly. If she's willing to do a thing, she's very patient." He pivoted in place to face Starlight. "And! Most importantly, she wants to, really bad."

"Why?" Starlight looked Spike over curiously. "You sure seem to know a lot about this."

He shrugged. "I pony watch sometimes. She's a rocktor, he has a lot of new rocks." He jerked a thumb at the room they had left. "She wants to ask him questions. So, if she can get him talking, she wins. She's not being entirely selfless, even if Laud probably appreciates it."

Starlight shook her head as they approached the kitchen. "When you put your head to it, you really can understand ponies. So, how's he doing? I mean Laud, with talking. Can he?" Her brows went up together. "Didn't Twilight say he wouldn't be able to?"

"She did, but Twilight isn't always right." He hopped up onto a stool and started grabbing ingredients. "He sounds like a pony with a bad cold, but he's learning. I ran into him this morning and he said 'Hi'."

Starlight sat down beside him, helping him casually with a glowing horn, grabbing what it seemed he wanted. "Is that all he said?"

"He's still learning." Spike shrugged as he began to assemble food out of the parts. "I said 'hey' back. He asked what my name was, so I told him, then he said hi again with my name. He seems polite at least. Oh! He did ask for something that confused me at first."

"Yeah?" Starlight's eyes went to the bowl and the sprinkle of gems that went into it. "Are you making a gem cake?"

Spike's tongue went over his scaled lip. "You betcha! Want some?"

"Oh, uh, thanks, but I'll pass. This is all yours." Starlight was in no hurry to test her intestinal fortitude with gems. "What did he ask?"

"He asked for 'sharp metal'. I pointed at the sword he always kept on him. That wasn't what he wanted."

Starlight's eyes shone with curiosity. "So did you find out what he wanted?"

"A razor, for grooming his face fur." He grinned lopsidedly. "Most ponies I know just use scissors."

Starlight shook her head. "A razor's only good if you're taking it all off. No wonder his facial fur looked so specific. In a way, that's a relief. Any creature that takes time to look right must not be entirely stressed out. I mean, I'd be a little bent out of shape if I were in his position."

Maud had excused herself, leaving Laud to Pinkie's care. He did not attempt to continue the language lessons. Pinkie seemed kind, certainly, but perhaps too kind and energetic. She spoke excitedly and often ran her words on themselves, making her a poor target for learning new words from. Still, she was a friendly pony. "So!" She started, bouncing on her hooves. "Now that we can talk a little, it's long past time we had your welcome party."

He understood most of that. "Party?"

She tilted her head left then right. "You know, when a lot of ponies come together and (unknown) something?" She threw her hooves wide. "We haveta say 'Welcome Laud!'. You'll get to meet (unknown) of ponies and play games and have fun. Doesn't that sound great?" She leaned in, her face a scant inch from his own.

It was a gross violation of personal space. It was also expected of Pinkie. She did it to Maud constantly, and Maud handled it stoically, even if Laud could see, just subtly, that Maud would prefer her space respected. He wouldn't mind having his own space respected, but shoving her away in the midst of her friendly words didn't seem well-timed. He wouldn't insult the sister of his teacher.

The idea of a gathering intrigued Laud. It would be a chance to meet others, and maybe begin introducing himself to those in charge, starting with the mayor. He hadn't seen a single police force since he had arrived. How did these ponies defend themselves? He had a lot to discuss, but was he ready? "We party when Maud says I ready."

Pinkie pouted at that. "Aw... You can already talk (unknown) good."

With a bright flash of sparkles, Twilight appeared with the disruption of powerful magic. "There you are!" She was facing Laud directly, her expression somewhat strained. "You can talk?!"

He had hoped to unveil that when he had more practice and at least the start of elegance, but lying would not serve him in the situation. "Hello. Nice to see you, Princess Twilight." He gave a formal half-bow.

Her expression became one of outright shock. "O-oh! Um, hello, Laud."

"Laud Mountbatten, of house Hawkwood," Laud corrected. The words to say his name properly were of high priority, even if 'house' came out more as 'family'. The ponies didn't have the same political structures.

"Oh, um." Twilight glanced at Pinkie and back at him. "I don't have a formal 'house'. A pleasure to make your proper acquaintance, Laud Mountbatten. If I'm a princess, what are you?"

There was a question he was not yet ready to answer. "I don't know word. Below prince or princess, above mayor."

"Well, (unknown), you are welcome to Equestria." She dipped her own head with some formality. "I heard you were learning from Maud?"

"You betcha!" piped up Pinkie. "Maud's been a (unknown) good teacher! Why, I (unknown) they--" She said much more, but it began to run together in a confusing mess as she gushed on and on about her sister.

Twilight nodded softly. "I'll have to thank her, next time I see her. Laud, we should (unknown) talk, if you're up to it?"

Author's Notes:

The language barrier has a hole in it, and Twilight is eager to peek through it. What manner of typos will result?

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7 - Interrogation

"How did you, I mean... I (unknown) for sure you (unknown) (unknown, maybe part of the first word?) be able to read." Twilight was rambling energetically as they went, seeming excited and confused in equal measure. "But, here you are. You must have so many questions."

He did, but he was operating with a dulled and cracked blade in this battle. It was not one he was ready for, yet, there he was. "I not read yet. Can read my speak." He felt like a buffoon, speaking like a child in the new language. It was an accomplishment, he knew. Picking up a language was never a small feat. That fact did little to make him feel eloquent as he strung together basic nouns and verbs like a damned cave man.

"Read your... oh! You have a (unknown) (unknown) of your own! I'd (unknown) to see it! Can you (unknown) me?" She was facing him, a quill hovering beside her, and a paper not far from it. Where both had come from, he couldn't say, just blame it on the powerful horse's innate magic.

He put the pieces together. Why would he be offered a paper after, clumsily, speaking of languages? Right, she wanted to see his language. There was little harm in that. He took the paper from the air and it ceased glowing softly with her magic. When he took the quill, she released that as well. At least she gave him room to hold and use it properly.

"(unknown)... It is nice to meet you." she prompted, rolling a hoof excitedly and not sounding like she was greeting him at all.

Was she a bored noble eager to be amused, or a scholar of strange things, maybe even languages? In either event, he wrote. He had worked with a quill before. For documents with that special touch, knowing how to use a proper quill was just mandatory for proper nobles. A little calligraphy was called for when making decrees that commanded respect. So he made his English greeting for her, embellished with stylish markers and dignified in all the ways his speech currently was not.

Twilight's ears perked up as she looked over the result. "Your (unknown) is pretty." She gave a firm nod as the paper began to glow, lifted up and pulled closer. "(unknown) I keep this?" When he didn't refuse her, the paper vanished, puff, simply banished from the world to wherever she wanted it, he assumed. "Thank you."

Her power, divine or profane, was terrifying. Of course, that made it all the more important that he not flinch. "Is what you want?"

She started. "I have (unknown) many questions!" She looked to a door and it opened, glowing with her power. "This way." She led him into the room where the ruins of his ship resided. One great portion was still there in a vague shape of what his vessel once was. Most of it was in small organized piles. "We (unknown) all we (unknown). Can you (unknown) me what this is?" She pointed at a piece.

He knew what it was. It was a motherboard, a circuit from the deep innards of his ship. Could he say what that specific circuit did? No. He was a warrior and a noble, not a technician. Moreover, he hadn't yet learned the word for 'circuit', if they even had circuits to begin with. He stared at it, struggling to find even a single word to start with. "Make work." Smooth. He colored with shame.

"(unknown), yes... Can you be more (unknown)?" She looked at him with hope shining in her eyes.

His right fist balled tightly. "Learning speak."

"Yes yes, right..." She trailed off, looking disappointed. "I (unknown), I (unknown) (unknown) you." Her pout turned into an unsure smile. "You're (unknown) very (unknown)."

"He can't (unknown) you." The reptile had arrived. "Poor (unknown) (unknown) learning. Talk simple." He looked bored, as if he was saying what he thought was obvious.

Twilight snorted at him. "Spike, I'm (unknown) to be a (unknown) (unknown)."

"Good, (unknown) with (unknown) you talk." He crossed his arms and gave her a stern look.

Who was the master, and who was the pet? Laud suddenly wasn't entirely sure.

"Fine fine." She rolled her eyes and turned back to me. "I talk small word."

On one level, by God above, being spoken to like that by a noble, of any species, made him want to scream in fury... On the other, he really did kind of need small words. Dignity. He had to hold onto dignity. "Thank you. I learn more word, speak better."

Spike's expression brightened. "See? Stop (unknown) to (unknown) him. (unknown)."

"Patience." Spike turned to Laud. "It's alright. Learning a language isn't easy. Hey, are you hungry?"

Laud accepted the offer, which Spike assumed was partially to get away from Twilight's technical queries. "Well, as a courteous host, I will now get Laud something to eat."

Twilight could see what was happening and frowned. "Have fun," she said with mildly grit teeth, but she didn't stop the two males from making good their escape.

Spike led the way with a smile. "Maud is teaching you, right?"

"Yes," he replied, keeping pace with him easily. Spike's smaller footing may even have been slow for him, though Spike couldn't be sure.

"She is good pony." Spike couldn't help but giggle ever so faintly. Speaking like that was funny. "A little..." Uh oh, what was a simple word for stoic. "Not... smile or frown?" He made each expression as he said the word, then adopted a mask of neutrality. "This."

"What word for that?"

Oh thank Celestia. "Stoic." He pointed at his neutral face. "Stoic. That is good word for Maud. Good pony."

Laud didn't seem to argue either sentiment.

When they arrived in the kitchen, Spike got to putting together a sandwich when he paused. "What do you eat?"

Laud lifted his shoulders, then frowned. "Not learn words." He came closer and began to look around. He started picking out foods. Eggs, sugar, flour. He didn't pick a single gemstone. Good, Spike wouldn't have competition there. He also didn't select a single flower of any variety.

He found the lone fish in the ice box and put it beside the eggs. Cheese and milk were apparently also on his edible list. "What word?" He pointed to the eggs.

And an impromptu language lesson began as Spike called out the name of each thing as he pointed to it, going over kitchen vocabulary. Laud came back to some things more than once. Spike didn't find that too odd and played along. "Now, we eat." He put the extra things away and made some cheese omelettes.

Just to test, he put a few of those flowers that weren't picked beside the eggs, where they could be decorative, or edible, to see if Laud tried any.

Laud sat at the table where the food was placed. "Thank you."

Spike hopped up across from him at the small dining-room table and nodded. "You're welcome. Time to eat!" Laud looked confused. "Eat," repeated Spike, leaving off the other words.

"I learn more words," spoke Laud, though it sounded more like a swear, an oath. He seemed so very determined to get past it. He was also hungry, the way he eyed the food, but he didn't attack right away. He said a few words in an alien tongue, hands clasped and head lowered. Only after that strange ritual did he begin to eat. "Eggs good," he said in compliment. "You good..."

"Cook," provided Spike with a smile. He noticed Laud did not touch the flowers. Oh well. He made a mental note to scratch that off the human diet. "Thanks." He reached over and grabbed a shaker. Laud looked at him curiously. Curiosity turned to shock when Spike shook it and dusted his food with some ruby dust and granules, still shining and sparkling.

"You eat rock?" His voice sounded incredulous, to say nothing of his expression.

"It's a dragon thing." Spike saw Laud looked confused. He hiked a thumb at himself. "Dragon. Rawr." Spike wriggled his claws a moment before returning to eating.

Laud let it drop and focused on his own, soon finished, meal.

Spike hopped free of his chair and got to cleaning up the plates.

"Thank you."

Laud sure seemed to say that a lot. Spike nodded. "No problem." He took the plates over to the sink. "So... What do... not with Maud?"

Laud seemed to consider that. "See pony." And off he went, walking determinedly.

Spike had to admit, the guy sure did seem to have that, determination that was. He wondered what pony it was that Laud wanted to see. Twilight? That seemed unlikely. It was just then that he started to get worried. What if some pony that didn't understand the situation started hassling Laud and being a jerk?

He left the dishes behind and went dashing after the human. He would play foalsitter. Celestia knew he'd done it enough with Twilight at times.

Laud strode with large even steps out of the castle. Twilight was his host, but also overwhelming to be around. He had to focus on destroying that weakness. "When they understand, I can move forward," he spoke in English. "They have so much to learn." Sure, they may also want to teach him a thing or two, but he wasn't going to start using heathenous magic.

Besides, the gate far above the world was, in theory, being fitted for eventual travel. The world of horses had to be prepared to be a part of the universal community, or be crushed by houses far less inclined to civility than House Hawkwood. Maybe they could become vassals of his house? That would be nice. He would gladly oversee them and look after their needs. "It is a noble's duty," he proclaimed to no one as he hiked towards town.

Author's Notes:

Laud, not a man to sit idly by. His vocabulary slowly grows. We'll bust that wall down, given time. Spike would like Laud to not get into trouble. Spike is a good dragon.

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8 - Musical Interlude

Spike darted from cover to cover. Sure, he had originally meant to just march up to Laud, but then.. "Where is he going?" he muttered to himself as he trailed after the human. The desire to see what he was up to, without knowing he was being watched, was too much. "Besides," argued Spike to himself. "He's a proud fella and he doesn't want to be foalsat, so I'll just get involved if I have to."

He watched as Laud moved through the town. Ponies gave the human odd looks, but he said 'hello' whenever one crossed his path and never made a rude gesture. For the most part, he was left to his peace, though some whispered behind him. Spike mosied up to a few of them.

"Hey, Spike," greeted Carrot Top. "Did you see that thing that walked past? It belongs to Twilight, right?"

Spike put his claws at his hips. "That 'thing' is called Laud, and he doesn't belong to anypony."

"O-oh," she stammered, looking flustered. "Is... he safe?"

One of the rose mares nodded her head as she gestured in the direction Laud had went. "I never saw such a thing. I thought he was a polite monster."

"Do monsters usually stroll through town?"

"I did say polite." She gave a smile just a bit too wide. "Are you keeping an eye on him?"

"Y--" He cut off, realizing his quarry had gotten away. "Uh, see you all later!" he dashed after where he had last seen Laud.

Laud had discovered that getting directions was a challenge with his limited vocabulary, but he made his way slowly through the town, finally arriving at what he hoped was his destination. It looked like a cozy little store. It was two stories, made of wood like most of the other buildings in the town. Unlike the castle, the door was sized closer to that of the horses that live there, which meant he had to stoop down to enter. Fortunately, it did raise a few merciful inches after the door frame, but he was still a bit confined.

The pony inside blinked up at him but her stance shifted quickly. To the unaware, they would think she was recovering from surprise, but Laud did know better. She was ready to fight. It surprised him. The horses seemed so benign so far, aside from their terrifying magical abilities. Here was this standard one, no wings or horn, that was ready to engage in combat. "How (unknown)(may?) I help you?" she asked, her whicker tense.

It was a defensive posture, Laud decided. She was reacting to an alien in her store. He would not be well at ease either, were the situation reversed. He could find little fault in her suspicion. It was stranger that the other horses seemed to not have that. She had assumed he spoke, however. Were speaking strange creatures normal for that world? "I look pony. Green. Music." He tried to remember the specific phrasing of Lyra's name and said it as best he could.

The pony frowned faintly. "She isn't here."

Laud had been lied to. It was shocking. He hadn't heard a lie spoken to him on the world of horses, but there was one. The tells were there. The way she glanced away as she said it. The delay in her words. It was very clear. As alien as their words and bodies might be, the expressions were identical and undeniable. She just lied to him! "I am Laud Mountbattan of House Hawkwood," he said, voice a tense mixture of pride and annoyance. "I not hurt."

"I (unknown) (unknown) not." She gave a soft snort. "Do you want (uknown) else?"

"(Unknown)!" came a call from upstairs. "Have you seen the (unknown)?!" It was Lyra.

The horse put a hoof to her face, caught in her lie. "What do you want?" she asked through grit teeth.

"Talk." Laud tried to keep his voice even. "Just talk."

"(Unknown)!" Hooves were heard on wood before Lyra entered from the back. That's when she saw Laud and broke into a wide grin. "Laud! Good to see you. How are you? Have you met Bon Bon?" She gestured at the other, suspicious, horse in wild excitement. "Bon Bon, this is Laud, oh, I (unknown) you (unknown, 2-3 words?) that, but yeah, wow, how did you find me?"

Bon Bon muttered something quietly and sat down, watching Laud as if ready for him to do something rash.

How were they related? Laud couldn't tell by looking at them. Did colors show relations? If so, they were not. One being mint green and a unicorn, the other was a regular horse, cream colored with brightly colored mane and tail. In either event, there was the horse he wanted to see. "I learn speak," he reported. "Still learn. Maud help."

"Maud? (unknown). Good! It's (unknown) to be able to talk to you. Still learning? That's alright. (unknown) makes (unknown)." Wait, did she just use a human term?

"Say again?"

"It's (unknown) to be--"

"After."

"(unknown) makes (unknown)?" She tilted her head. "It's true!"

"What first word?"

"Uh.... (unknown). To... do something again and again." She pointed at the other horse, Bon Bon. "She (unknown) (unknown) every day." Her horn glowed and pulled a brightly colored thing from the display case that dominated the room and floated it over towards Laud.

Both Laud and Bon Bon tensed. Laud had no idea what was being offered to him, and Bon Bon didn't agree to giving strange creatures her candies. Lyra remained blissfully unaware of it. "Try it! It's (unknown) tasty!"

He took the floating thing from the air, just so that it didn't have to keep glowing. Whatever it was, his suspicion was true. Practice makes Perfect. "Other word. Mean to be better?"

"Yeah!" Lyra bobbed her head. "You're good at this, and you'll get better."

Bon Bon coughed into a raised hoof. "This is all very nice, but (unknown) when were you a teacher?"

Lyra sat up tall and proud. "Since ever! Everyone's a teacher if they try. You teach me things all the (unknown)."

Bon Bon glanced up at Laud, then at Lyra, and back. "I (unknown)." She dipped her head and ears splayed out. "Welcome to Ponyville." Her stance adjusted in that subtle way. She wasn't prepared to engage Laud in physical combat, and Laud could see it. Still...

He pointed at her. "You..." Crap, he didn't know the word for fight. He slapped his hands together, knuckles first.

Lyra peered at the expression. "I don't get it."

Bon Bon, on the other hand, seemed to get it. "Are you asking if I (unknown)?"

"What word?" He had to be sure, or misunderstandings could crop up easily.

Bon Bon walked over to Lyra. "Nothing personal."

"Wha--?" Is all she got out before Bon Bon gave her a shove, almost knocking Lyra over with a squeak. "Hey! What was that for?!"

Bon Bon gestured to the recovering Lyra. "Fight."

Laud was pretty sure the meaning had been communicated. "Yes. You fight?"

Bon Bon's expression darkened. "Do you?"

"When must." He patted the blade at his side.

Her eyes homed in on the thing dangling there. "Let me see?"

Laud was not so quick to draw it. There were only a few times that was proper, though showing one's skill to another warrior could qualify as one of them. "Outside." He jerked a thumb.

She nodded and they both moved for the door, with a confused Lyra trailing behind. "What are you two doing?"

Bon Bon moved to the fore and led the way around the building into the back, past a locked fence. "Here." She pointed to a stuffed pony that stood in the center of the little field.

Was it a target dummy? It was. A target dummy for a horse to use when practicing against other horses. What life did Bon Bon lead that would make her desire such a thing? Of course, he could ask, why didn't more of these horses concern themselves? It would do as an example. He drew his blade free in a smooth motion. It wasn't as fast as he could have drawn it, but it was more for show.

Bon Bon tensed at the sight of it, as if just realizing what a weapon it was. Lyra remained clueless. "That's pretty (unknown)." She clopped her hooves. "What do you do with it?"

"Fight," replied Laud before he gave it a swing. He angled it upwards as it went and it cleaved through the thin wooden support of the dummy's neck, beheading the dummy. That was showing off, and not a move one wanted to rely on in an actual confrontation.

Bon Bon shook her head. "Can you fight (unknown) that (unknown)?" She pointed at the thing in Laud's hand.

He lifted the blade a little higher, repeating that last word.

"Yes, sword." Bon Bon nodded. "Fight (unknown) it."

Was he actually being challenged to fisticuffs with a horse? He wanted to know the true measure of Bon Bon, and that certainly seemed an expedient method. He sheathed the blade, letting it rest safely. "Fight without it," he repeated, grasping the word she was using. As alien as their words were, their grammar was no different than English. Now that he had a foot in the linguistic door, picking up new words was becoming less of a daunting task.

Bon Bon rose up to two legs. "Fight (unknown) give up or (unknown)."

He didn't know all the words, but these were the words of battle. He could guess pretty well. Fight until someone gave up or was knocked out.

Lyra gaped at the whole thing. "You're kidding! Don't hurt each other! C'mon, I thought you two were becoming friends and stuff."

Bon Bon ignored her, and Laud did as well. It was a matter between two warriors, and one he didn't plan to back away from. Here was a horse that worked without magic or trickery, who challenged him plainly to an honorable fight. He would not, could not, refuse.

Lyra shook her head as her eyes darted between the two prepared combatants. She heaved a dramatic sigh and moved between them. "Alright, if you two are set on this, I'll be the referee at least. You start when I give the signal, and stop when I say so, alright?

Spike barely managed to scale the fence to see Lyra between Bon Bon and Laud. Bon Bon and Laud looked pissed at each other. "Fight!" came Lyra's cry as she ducked out the way of the two. Spike's mouth peeled back on both ends. He had failed spectacularly. Twilight was going to be so mad...

Author's Notes:

Next chapter, some action! Bon Bon is not accepting Laud so easily, but Laud isn't backing down either. Lyra thinks both are being silly. Let's see this typo as it's drafted.

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9 - Crossed Swords

Bon Bon gave a gesture that surprised Laud. She bowed as any other biped might, folding over in her two-legged stance. She fell to all fours immediately afterwards in a smooth transition. None of the motions were specifically for combat, but they spoke quite a bit to Laud. He returned the gesture, one hand folded over his chest as he did so, eyes never leaving her.

To the side, Lyra tilted her head. “You two were ready to tear each other (unknown) a (unknown, 2 words?), now you’re making nice?”

Bon Bon circled to the right. “He understands.”

Laud felt certain he did, turning with her and considering how to start the match properly. Chivalry was not what it once was, but the horse in front of him was, supposedly, a female candy maker? What life leads a candy maker to that of being a warrior? It was the wrong time to ponder that too deeply.

Bon Bon made the first move, lunging for him with hooves ready to bludgeon him as readily as two clubs. He dodged to the left and took hold of one of her legs as she went, trying to throw her off balance. She recovered athletically, performing a cartwheel as she hit the ground on one leg and coming down facing him, unhindered by his attempt. “Can you fight?” she asked.

Was that a mocking question? No, it was a goading one. She wanted him to make a move. He would not deny her. Her front seemed less dangerous than risking the buck of a horse, so he closed the distance, fists balled in readiness to attack or deflect. In a true battle, there were often other things that could distract one party or the other. It made things chaotic, gave opportunities to succeed or fail outside of raw skill. The arena they were in was mostly still. It was just them... and Spike? When had he arrived? Laud shook free the distraction before it became the factor in his defeat.

With a sudden lash, he did not attack with those fists. They were also a distraction. He kicked out at her. She didn’t expect it, her eyes fixed on his hands. He scored a satisfying thump against her side as she twisted away at the last second, but she did not crumple. She was forced back a step and winced, but seemed quite ready to continue.

Spike hissed at Lyra, calling her closer. When she came within quiet speaking range, he pointed at the two. “What happened?! Why are they fighting? Why aren’t you stopping them?!”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “You don’t know Bonnie like I know Bonnie. That look on her face, nope, no way I’m changing her mind. Besides, look at him.” She pointed at Laud’s determined expression as they circled. Bon Bon suddenly moved in, ducking under his swing to come up, hoof catching him on the chin. He gave a grunt of pain and staggered back, but recovered quickly, grim resolution returning. “They’re both into it.”

Spike shook his head slowly. “Did she say something bad? Did he? Why are they so mad at each other?”

“I’m not sure they are.” Lyra shrugged softly. “I think we’re watching the first pony versus human boxing match.”

“Wait huh?” Spike blinked softly, watching as Laud got a grip on Bon Bon from above and literally hurled her aside, but she came down on all fours and bounced back towards him. “You mean... it’s a game?”

“Yeah, I think?” Lyra’s horn glowed as the instrument on her rump came into being over her head and began to play a lively battle tune. “All I can do is be a good friend.”

“Twilight’s gonna kill me if I bring him back all beat up...” He hung his arms over the side of the fence dejectedly.

“Hey, that doesn’t look comfortable.” She lifted Spike with her magic and set him down beside herself. “May as well enjoy the show.”

Laud brought down his fists together in a haymaker, bashing Bon Bon’s exposed skull. She swayed a little, a trickle of blood seen from her mouth. Had she bit her tongue? She spun around in place all too quickly and struck with her back legs. It was just what he had been trying to avoid. He collapsed backwards under the tremendous power of those legs, breath knocked clear of him for a moment.

By the time he could move again, she was on him, one hoof raised high. “(unknown)?”

Give up? Hardly. He delivered a rapid series of strikes to her exposed belly, battering what he hoped were softer parts. He was rewarded with a startled cry of pain. She went limp, just a little, just enough for him to shove her off of himself and scramble back to his feet. Their exchange had been fierce. Both were starting to show signs of it, but neither wanted to give up yet.

Something dripped painfully into his left eye, forcing it closed. Blood? sweat? He didn’t have time to check. While she was still reeling, he went in for a brutal spinning kick. It was a flashy move. Too flashy. She was not nearly as dazed as she appeared. As he spun towards her, she ducked under the flying limb, grabbed it, both of her arms wrapped tight around it and wrenched it away from him and down. His balance could not dream of compensating. He fell towards her, at her mercy.

She let him fall. He hit the ground on all fours, and she jumped, pouncing on him. He felt her legs squeeze around his midsection as she put a forehoof at the top of his spine. “(unknown)!” She squeezed at him painfully.

It was then that he realized he had been mounted by a horse in a humiliating reversal of the usual process. She was probably telling him to get moving. He rolled over. She scrambled away before she could be pinned by him in turn and the two were soon on their feet, glaring at one another.

“You can fight,” she said, spitting a red mixture to the earth.

“You can fight,” he agreed.

Her posture softened. “(unknown)?” She extended a hoof, not in battle. It was too slow, and it just hung in the air.

Was she surrendering? Or... was she just calling it off? Would it matter which she was doing? The fight had taken a lot out of both of them. He reached out and clasped her hoof as he would a hand. She shook firmly, even if she couldn’t grasp him in return. Did the ponies have the gesture of a shake? How did that work?

Lyra came dancing over in a lively trot, her instrument left behind and Spike at her side. “All friends now?”

Bon Bon nodded. “I’m not (unknown) we’re friends, but close enough.” She shook her head. “He fights like a (unknown, a monster?).”

Spike approached Laud, looking him over. “Aw... There’s no way we’re hiding this.”

“Hide what?” asked Laud, wiping free his left eye. The motion tugged painfully on what felt like broken flesh. Red came away from the gesture. “It is not...” His limited vocabulary came to bite him again. “Thing not do because told not to.”

Lyra shook her head. “You mean a law? Nah. Two ponies want to tussle, that’s their business, mostly... Especially in their backyard.”

“Good, then nothing to hide.” Laud wanted to find a mirror to assess what damage he took in the match. He could only feel the aches and see what he had inflicted on Bon Bon, marring her pelt.

Bon Bon let out a slow breath, slumping a bit. “You made me work.”

Lyra suddenly punched Bon Bon in the shoulder. “You did that! I just wanted you two to meet and stuff. Laud, Bon Bon. Bon Bon, Laud. There. Now come on.” Her magic wrapped around Laud and tugged him towards the house. “You didn’t come here to fight my violent friend.”

“Please stop that,” he objected, trying to be polite. She released him, thankfully.The horses may wield their magic freely among themselves, that didn’t mean he wanted to be in the middle of it. “That what I want talk about.”

“What?” She looked over her shoulder. “Magic? I’m no (unknown, expert? master?), but I can try!”

They walked off together into the house, leaving Spike and Bon Bon. Bon Bon looked down at the dragon. “Hello, Spike.”

“Oh, uh... hey. So... that was... something.” He rubbed behind his head with a claw. “Could you not, uh, fight with him again?”

Bon Bon snorted, nostrils flaring. “It’s not up to you what two adults choose to do together, Spike. He’s living with you and Twilight, right?”

“Yeah. He’s kind of Twilight’s guest, you know, and she’s going to flip her lid when she hears he was in a fight.”

“Nopony was seriously hurt, in the end.” Bon Bon raised a hoof to her snout. “I’ll be sore for a while. So will he, I imagine. Is this the first fight he’s had?”

“Um, well, with us? Yeah?” He shrugged softly. “Actually, he did swing that big sword of his once.”

Bon Bon’s expression hardened into a scowl. “Was anypony hurt?”

“Nah.” He waved it off. “Maud’s tougher than that.”

That expression softened into confusion. “I know the Pies are tough, but she just shrugged off a sword?”

“Oh, not like she got sliced.” He winced at the idea of it. “She caught it.” He brought his clawhands togethers in a loud clap. “Pow, just like that.”

“And how did he react?” She circled the young dragon that had become a source of information. “Was he angry?”

He shook his head quickly and gestured where Laud and Lyra had gone. “Nah, more surprised than anything, then he put it away and that was the last time I saw it outside the thing at his belt.”

“Sheath. That is a sword sheath,” educated Bon Bon. “Good... So he isn’t... usually violent?”

“Naw.” He put up his hands placatingly. “He’s harmless. How did you even get him to fight?”

Bon Bon looked quite unconvinced at the idea of the human being harmless. “Look, Spike, be careful. If he wanted, he could hurt you, or Twilight, or anypony else really badly.”

Spike’s eyes widened a moment before they fell half-open. “Bon Bon, you realize Twilight could probably do terrible things at any moment, but she doesn’t, because that wouldn’t be her. I don’t think Laud’s a bad person. Hay, I saw how you were fighting. I bet you could do some painful things, but I’m hoping you’re not... up for that.”

Bon Bon reached up and pat him gently on the head. “I’m not going to hurt you, Spike,” she said in warm tones. “I’m sorry for scaring you. Just keep an eye open, that’s all I’m asking. We don’t know him, yet. Hopefully he’s just as good as you say.”

Lyra led her guest to her room. She set her instrument aside next to her cabinet before she hopped up onto her comfortable looking bed and turned to face Laud. “What did you want to ask? And sit down please.” She pointed to the carpet just beside the bed.

Laud sank down close to her. “What can unicorn do magic?”

“With it?”

“Yes, that.” He watched as a napkin approached, glowing with Lyra’s magic. He tried to bear her cleaning stoically, even if it stung as she dabbed and worked around his injuries. “What can unicorn do with magic?”

“Oh, (unknown, god? an expletive?), there are a lot of answers to that.” She pointed back at her rump. “Do you know what this is?”

He looked at it, the picture of a harp-like instrument. A ritual painting, a tattoo of sorts? He couldn’t say... “No.”

“This is a (unknown).” She saw his confusion and repeated the word. “Two words, (unknown) mark.” She saw some confusion remaining. “(unknown), like (unknown) with an extra ‘ee’.” She frowned then. “(unknown!) You know, something nice and... Like a kitten, or a foal?”

Oh. Cute? A cute mark? What a strange name.. “I understand.”

Author's Notes:

Some part of me worries I didn’t put enough time into the blow by blow of this exchange. How did I do?

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10 - Destiny

Lyra nodded. "Alright, so cutie marks, they represent." She saw his confusion and went over what represent meant. "I want to complain about that, but, on the other hoof, you're picking up the language pretty fast, so anyway! We get them when we realize what our destiny is, our purpose. The reason we are."

That was deeply fascinating on several levels. Far from being creatures of chaotic power, they were literally subservient to a higher power without even thinking about it, as if it were a base biology. These horses who had no church were pious creatures without noticing or realizing. But was that higher power a good one or ill? Was it God? That would make the whole situation infinitely more palatable. But first... "How get?" If they just had it penciled in when they made a decision, that wasn't nearly as interesting.

"It varies from pony to pony, but for most, a nice sparkly flash, poof! They have their mark." She threw her arms wide at getting to the flash. "But that's just working to what I was saying. So they get a mark. For unicorns, magic about that mark comes easier. Mine is about making music, so music magic is a snap for me." She clopped her hooves together briskly. "But some unicorns get all the luck. Twilight's is 'magic', as in plain magic, so all magic is open to her to use." Her eyes rolled. "She'll cast spells I can barely dream of using."

And she is considered a noble for it? "Is Twilight princess for magic?" He rolled his two hands over one another. "Is all princess for magic?"

"Huh, not exactly?" Her head canted to the left a little. "Twilight is known as the Princess of Friendship. Celestia is the Princess of the Sun, she raises and lowers the sun every day. Her sister, Luna, is Princess of the Moon, guess what she does." She shrugged as she turned in place. "Oh, then there's Cadance, She's an exception. I mean, she's not a princess of 'insert talent here' at all. She runs a smaller country, the Crystal Empire. Nice place, shiny."

Memories of his sharp descent towards the planet and the moving celestial bodies that caused it resurfaced for Laud. He was literally downed by the reigning rulers of this strange horse land. Wait, friendship? "She is not friendliest pony I met. No offense."

Lyra waved it off. "No one said she was perfect at it. But she's always trying and getting better. You're the first real alien she had to host before, so she's off balance about it. Does that answer your question?"

Not entirely... "What can magic do?"

"Sheesh, more?" She tapped her chin. "You know, this kind of question would be better asked of a magic pony. I'm a music pony, remember? Twilight fits the bill, but there are others. Moondancer pops into my head right away, but she lives in Canterlot." She pointed up towards the mountain city. "You'd have to ride the (unknown) to reach her.

"Ride what?"

She repeated the word before making chugging noises and shuffling forward in a straight line. A train?

The technology level of the horses seemed wildly off-kilter. There was no way their civilization grew into such a state on its own. He had seen something electric before, a simple light, which implied they had a way of supplying that electricity. They had trains, but clearly never opted for automobiles as a thing, perhaps because they moved quickly enough? But then why would they need a train? To haul goods? But it hauled people just the same. He struggled to place their development in line with what he knew of the human timeline.

Lyra could see he was focused on something and suddenly walked for the door. "Want a snack?"

He surfaced from his thoughts. "Do you have..." Darn vocabulary. "Town, bigger. Very bigger."

She spread her hooves. "A (unknown)? Lots and lots of ponies in a small place?"

Yes! "City, yes. Have city?"

She nodded as she resumed her walk with him trailing behind. "Oh yeah. There's Canterlot, Manehattan, Baltimare... Plenty." She stepped down the stairs easily, a feat he knew normal horses had issues with, and ambled into the kitchen. "Something sweet or a main course?" She asked.

He remembered the eggs he had been given shortly before the fight. "A snack is good, thank you."

"One snack coming up!" She popped open a barrel with her magic and grabbed a handful of small wrapped packages in colorful wrappers. "Bon Bon made these, and she's good at it." She floated the candies over to him. "Get to know her sweet side."

He had learned of her harsher side well enough. She was clearly a warrior. "Why candy maker fight?" he asked as he undid the wrapper on one, wondering how a winged horse or a normal horse dealt with the wrapper without magic to make it go away. For that matter, how did Bon Bon put the wrappers on in the first place? There were too many questions.

"She has reasons," deflected Lyra with a lack of subtlety. "Look, she's a good pony, and you're a good... you. Human, right?"

He couldn't be a hundred percent sure that was the right term for him, but it was the term used for him so far, so he had just started assuming it meant human. "Right." The candy was acceptable. Sweet, tasty. He tried not to partake too much in them. A warrior did not live on candy. "Can you fight?"

Lyra spun around at him. "No! I mean... I guess, but I don't want to. Sorry. If you're looking for another (unknown? fighting, sparring?) partner, you're going to have to find someone else. I would rather we be friendly friends."

"That is good." He nodded at her. "You do not need fight." That was what nobles and those who serve with them were for, protecting those who didn't want to fight.

"Phew, alright. If you... Nevermind." She shook her head as she lifted a sandwich of her own and got to chewing it even as she walked. "What do you do, besides fighting?"

That was a fair counter-question for what he had been trying to get, but how to explain it. "I am... like mayor, higher. Lower than princess." Did they not have princes? He hadn't heard mention of one so far. A matriarchal society. Would they be offended if he, a male, attempted to take a place of dominance? It would be for their benefit, but they might not see it that way. That could become a problem.

That was when he reached out for something that had no business in a world of horses. A door knob. His fingers curled around it gently and it struck him how insane its presence was. Only one third of the population, at best, could make easy use of it. What would inspire a horse to engineer such a device? Why not something more easily manipulated with their hooves? Despite that, it was universal. Every door had a knob.

There was only one reasonable solution... "Who..." Arg, vocabulary. "First to make something..." He rolled his hand, hoping to prompt the word. "Who first to make this?" He tapped at the door knob.

"Invent?" provided Lyra helpfully. "Wow, I don't know... You'd have to look that up." She thrust a hoof up at Twilight's castle through a window. "She has the most books of anyone in town, try asking her."

They had trains and electricity, but not computers, clearly. Or were they at the point where they occupied entire rooms? He didn't know, but he would have to learn. "Miss Heartstrings, thank you."

Lyra colored. "I'm not a 'miss'!" She protested, giggling. "Just call me Lyra and we're fine. Oh right, magic, you wanted to know some stuff, so let's do some examples." She sat on her haunches. "Teleporting, messing with time, making the whole town want a doll." She saw the look of confused horror on his face. "It wasn't that bad, we cleared that up with the help of Princess Celestia." She giggled as if it were nothing. "Let's see, turning a frog into an orange, that was a weird one..." She tapped her chin. "I think it's still living in the swamp."

Oh sweet merciful God. Their magic was beyond any reasonable measure. They could influence the mi... Wait... "If magic work here." He pointed to his own head. "Why not use?"

Lyra tilted her head left and right. "What, like a spell to make you talk better? That would be nice, but I'm not a magic pony, remember? Ask Twilight if she has a spell like that." She blinked suddenly. "Wait, do you mean, like, why don't we... just zap you." She threw a hoof at Laud, her horn glowing. "I mean, I guess we could... but that would be rude. Only the meanest of bad people would need a (unknown, mind?) spell."

"What spell?" he asked, keeping his fear in check. He had to know more.

"Oh, uh... make bad person to good person." She flashed a big smile. "You're a good person though, so we don't need that."

They could reform their criminals with magic, and saw nothing wrong with the idea. They were on a dangerous cliffside, waiting to give out beneath them. "What about magic to make friends?"

Lyra stuck out her tongue. "I mean, sure, I remember hearing some spells like that are out there, but that's a lousy friendship. We're friends without magic, and that's way better." She firmly bobbed her head. "Even the awkward parts. We have to learn about each other and stuff, but that's half the fun, right? Friend spells just means you get two people who are just... happy to be together for no reason. Boring."

"So... no use magic because not want to."

"Yep." She seemed entirely unaware of any terrifying implications. "I'll take one real friend over a thousand fakers." She offered a hoof towards him. "I mean, I know we're still getting to know each other, and that's alright. Hey, speaking of that, what do you like doing? Besides fighting."

That wasn't a bad reason, no, but it meant they could, if they thought he was a 'bad' person. He had been walking on a much more dangerous razor's edge than he had known. "Like to do... I often busy with... things must do. When not, art, music, horse riding--" Did he just say that? He just said that. He looked to Lyra for a reaction.

She didn't look disgusted. She looked fascinated. "You ride ponies?" The word for 'horse' and 'pony' were the same word, at least he didn't know a different word for the two things. They were horses, right? "You're too big to ride me." She squinted a little. "But if you ride ponies, why can't you talk like a pony? What kind of ponies do you have where you come from?"

He felt a frown coming on as he considered that answer. "Big." He held up a hand at the level where he would expect a horse's back to come to. "Not talk. Strong, fast. We care for them."

"They're your pets?!" She burst into laughter. "That's too much! Oh wait, wow, this must be so (unknown) for you. We all look like little pets. Well I'm nobody's pet. Except maybe Bon Bon, but that's (unknown)."

Bon Bon stepped in as if summoned by her mention. "Twilight's on the way. Let's get you cleaned up." She looked past Laud to Lyra. "He's been good, I hope?"

"He's a real treat." Lyra bobbed her head. "I mean, strange, sure, but isn't everyone until you get to know them? Did you know he rides ponies?"

Bon Bon got a wry smirk. "Does he now? It seemed more like ponies rode him. That aside, this way. We'll get you looking proper, for Twilight's sake."

That was a low blow. A humiliating jab. Laud wanted to fire a witty retort, but his vocabulary was failing him entirely. He could make a physical retort, but that might get him marked as a 'bad' person. Perhaps... he could take it as the poor humor it was? He would have to, for the moment.

Author's Notes:

Laud is creeping closer to deciphering this mystery. How close are you?

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11 - Duty

Twilight burst into the candy shop and came rushing up to Laud, who was looking far better than before, but still not perfect. The way her features turned from annoyance to shock showed that much. "Are you alright?" she asked. "I am so sorry!"

An opportunity was present, but he wasn't sure how to leverage it. "What pony do if not-princess hurt princess?" That was awkward, but the point was carried.

Twilight blinked at that. "They'd be taken to jail, I mean, unless... Celestia might forgive them, depending on the circumstances." She pointed to herself. "Come to think, plenty of ponies have hurt me, on accident in the end. We worked it out."

They were a peaceful people, despite terrifyingly potent magic at their finger, er, hooftips.

"Why, are you mad at someone?"

He shook his head. "We fight together." He gestured away from himself and back at himself. "Good fight."

Twilight blinked at that. "It really was a boxing match? I thought Spike was being (unknown)... Well... if you enjoyed yourself and so did Bon Bon, no harm there, in the end... Come on. Let's go home." She turned to lead the way back to her castle, and Laud didn't fight the idea.

Laud had things he wanted to read up on. A shame he had barely gotten started with reading. "Princess Twilight?"

"Mmm? Oh, you can just call me Twilight if you prefer." She smiled over a shoulder before nudging the door to her castle open with a glowing horn. "What's up?"

"I... do... not mean to... bother." He spoke slowly, trying to get out a proper sentence. "Can you read... to... me?" No wait, that's not quite right. "For me."

Twilight's ears went up as they went inside and she closed the door behind them. "I'd be delighted to. What boo--"

The door they had just passed echoed with a knocking from the other side. "Twi? Ya in there?" A female voice, with an accent. Laud had to work to decipher the words.

"Come in," called out Twilight in response. "We're right--"

The door opened to admit an orange pony inside with a quaint hat on her head. "We got trouble!" Her eyes strayed to Laud. "Oh, there he is... huh, anywho, Trouble, real trouble. Th' cave worms are (unknown). Ah already asked Fluttershy and she says there ain't no stoppin' them."

Twilight lifted her shoulders, an act no normal horse could accomplish. "So let them (unknown)?"

"Well, normally we would, but this year they're goin' right through Ponyville, dead center." She sat down just to bring an arm down across the opposing hoof to emphasize the dead center.

Twilight stiffened at the news. "Get the rest of the girls."

Laud knew that tone of voice, even if it was horse noises. A battle was coming. He would not, could not, stand by. He rested a hand on the hilt of his blade. "I will help protect these people." Even if they had horrifying magic and should be able to defend themselves.

Twilight tilted her head at Laud. "I really don't want you getting hurt, more than you already have."

Laud dropped to a knee to be on Twilight's level, looking in her eyes. "You will not ignore this."

"No, I can't."

"I can't," he echoed back at her. "I am with you."

She was still a moment before a nod came to her. "If it means that much, than alright. Please, be careful. Applejack, get the girls and we'll meet in the square." She saluted crisply and took off at a gallop. She was one of the horses without extra parts, so running quickly was the best she could do. No flying or magic.

"What's going on?" asked Starlight as she descended the stairs, Spike just behind her.

"The cliff worms are going to attack Ponyville," spoke Twilight with a determined tone. "We have to stop them."

Starlight vanished, just to appear beside Twilight. "You're not planning on going without your student, I hope?"

Twilight smiled. "Not if you're offering. Laud's coming with us too."

Spike didn't look quite as eager to join. "I'll... protect the castle."

Twilight didn't seem to have much mind set on him. "We should get going." She trot with purpose to the front door with the two that were ready to march with her.

Starlight looked aside at the human beside her. "I know you can fight. You plan on using that sword of yours?"

"If there are beasts, yes." Laud so no reason to spare rampaging animals from his blade. "You will use your magic?"

"Of course," she half sang out, her horn glimmering. "We'll protect Ponyville."

Twilight glanced over her shoulder. "You two sound way too happy about fighting. You do know what we're up against, I hope? They have teeth this big." Her horn glowed as she made an image of a great tooth. "And they have plenty to go around. But it gets better. They prefer (unknown) their (unknown) whole if they can."

Starlight's confidence diminished a little. "Oh, well... still, we'll all be there. Some worms won't stand up against all of us."

Twilight turned around and walked backwards. "This isn't 'some' worms. We're talking about basically all of them, together. This is no laughing matter."

Laud was distracted from the walking battle a moment just watching Twilight walk backwards a moment. These magical beasts were not horses, no matter how artificially they resembled them. He made a quiet promise to try to stop calling them that. "Is there a ... group fight ponies, besides your friends?"

Twilight looked confused a moment before she shook her head. "There are some guards." She turned back around. "They'll help with the... ponies not fight." She clearly dumbed down her words on purpose. Frustrating, but also helpful. "We will fight."

Alright, no backup from whatever the local militia was. Laud patted his blade. He would fight side-by-side with magical equines. Sure.

Starlight pointed ahead. "I see them!" Ahead, in the center of town, was all of Twilight's friends, gathered and ready. Mostly. The white unicorn looked least pleased to be there. Fluttershy, the yellow pegasus, looked terrified. Rainbow and Pinkie spotted them coming and moved to intercept. One flew, the other bounced.

"So here's the big guy that threw down with Bon Bon?" asked Rainbow, appraising Laud. "I coulda taken him."

Twilight raised a hoof between Laud and Rainbow. "We're not here to fight each other."

"Yeah!" piped up Pinkie in a chipper tone. "We're here to fight big mean worms that tried to eat my sister once. Buncha big meanies."

"Maud?" asked Laud, startled.

"Uh huh. She wasn't paying attention and snap! I had to pry it open to get her out and she was still studying her rock." Pinkie turned mid-jump, having never stopped bouncing. "They're on the way right now!"

Everyone looked where Pinkie did, but no worms were in sight, yet.

Fluttershy coughed into a hoof. "It will take them a few hours to get here."

Laud frowned at that. "I know late to ask, but no defenses?" No fortifications of any kind, really?

Twilight shook her head. "Ponyville isn't a very large town. We don't have a wall, if that's what you're expecting. We don't need one, usually."

Rarity snorted softly. "Except that rabbit (unknown)."

A few chuckles murmured through the group, leaving Laud wondering. "What rabbits do?"

Rarity looked up at Laud. "Oh, pardon. How very rude of me. They came rushing through town, scared some ponies half to death, but didn't cause any harm in the end. I don't believe we've had the (unknown) of an (unknown)." She offered a hoof up at him. "My name is Rarity, pleased to meet you. I'm told you're (unknown)?"

Laud met the hoof with a balled fist, but she looked subtly displeased. The way she spoke... He uncurled his fingers and took her hoof in hand. That got her attention. She was watching him intently. He dropped to a knee and gently kissed the hoof. She colored brightly and let out a string of tittering giggles. "A proper gentleman! It will be a pleasure serving at your side." She reclaimed her hoof.

A faint rumbling met their ears. Twilight frowned in its direction. "Let's meet them at the edge of the town instead of in the center." Noises of agreement rose from the crowd and they set towards the incoming shaking. "Fluttershy, any advice for dealing with them?"

Her eyes darted left and right. "Oh, well... they're very pack-oriented. If you make enough of them (unknown), all of them should go away. They don't like to... talk much."

Rainbow clopped her forehooves together. "Got it. Smack enough of them and the rest follow. Easy! They've tried to chomp me before, but I'm way too fast for 'em." She dropped down in front of Applejack. "Bet I smack more of 'em than you."

"Yer on!" They met, hoof to hoof, with a loud clop and mutually shared smirks of confidence.

Pinkie drew a cannon. An entire cannon. She clearly had no space to be holding it, but she pulled it free from the void itself. Its wheels were painted bright and cheerfully, but it was still a cannon. "Nopony's getting past me!"

It seemed even the 'normal' ponies were still ponies, which meant they had magic. Magic was simply part of their being. They didn't even question it. Laud's own questions were forced to wait as the first worm burst from the ground like a dolphin from the waves, arcing to catch Fluttershy on its way down. Applejack shoved her friend out of the way and gave a tremendous kick, her hooves catching the beast's nose and arresting its charge with a pained cry.

It was far from alone. The sky darkened under the mass of fanged worms cresting up and over the defenders. Laud drew his blade free. It was time for it to earn its keep. The first that tried to catch him directly met its cruel edge on equally sharp teeth, but the reinforced blade proved tougher than what nature had provided the beast, and with a grunt of effort, Laud severed several of those fangs with a shove. The beast collapsed, mouth held shut against immense pain.

Its defeat left no time for victory as others moved to fill in the ranks, snapping viciously. Pinkie fired her cannon with a loud report, but instead of a cannon ball, or even a beam of magic, as Laud would have accepted, there was... glitter. She had shot them with glitter.

His moment of distraction cost him, as a jaw closed on his leg. He spun his blade and brought it down on the head of the biting beast. It sank wetly into the skull of the beast, only meeting resistance in that first instant before he pressed into what he assumed was its brain. It spasmed and shook, but ultimately fell limp, another victim of battle.

A muffled cry echoed out. It was Fluttershy. She wasn't being devoured. She just looked horrified. She was also staring at Laud and the worm he had dispatched. Was she worried for him? That was nice. "I am alright," he assured as he moved to rejoin the battle. Their ranks were already losing cohesion. It seemed the cost of taking the town was quickly reaching the limit of the price they were willing to pay, and some of them were breaking off.

Ponyville had been defended. Its citizens would not be hurt or killed, not that day. Not while Laud had any power to prevent it. To allow anything else would be admitting he was no true Hawkwood, and he'd rather die than accept that possibility.

Twilight was heaving, her own magical attack having taken some stamina on her part. "Is that all of them?"

Starlight blew smoke off of her horn. "As if they had any chance against all of us. Hey, Laud, you alright?" Her eyes were on his lacerated leg.

Author's Notes:

Laud fights against a true foe, and does not hold his punches. Fluttershy may not approve.

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12 - Reap What You Sow

Laud shook free the mess from his blade before drawing out a cloth to finish the task. "You all fight good." Not as eloquent as he would have preferred, but those were the words he had to choose from. There was so much more he wanted to say. "Word for great doing? Like doing. Need doing."

Twilight turned to him, letting out a final huff before her breathing stabilized. She said three or so words, but without context, it was difficult to tell which was the one he was fishing for. "You did well."

Rainbow landed next to the dead worm. "Well? What'd you do to this guy?" She nudged the deceased creature with a hoof.

Fluttershy was shaking her head. "I didn't realize..."

"Realize what, darling?" Rarity was brushing out her mane and trying to restore her pristine appearance.

"Laud is a (unknown)." She pointed at the worm. "He (unknown) and that is his dinner."

Laud had missed most of that, but the tail end was easy to grasp, and difficult to comprehend. "What?" The thing looked far from wholesome. Sure, if he had to, it was likely meat, but it was far from his first selection.

Pinkie hopped up suddenly and threw a leg over Laud's shoulders, yanking him towards the ground. At first he resisted, making her dangle, but the urgent look on her face compelled him to drop to a knee slowly. "Laud," she harshly whispered. "Don't hurt her feelings. She's very (unknown, sensitive?)."

Fluttershy was circling the downed beast. "Do you eat it raw? I suppose you do, most predators don't cook..." She shook her head slowly. "If you had wanted some (unknown), I could have gotten some for you."

Laud stood up straight. If he was going to eat a big fanged beast, he wasn't doing it that way. "No, cook." A way out came to him. "Bring castle. Spike help cook."

Twilight's horn glowed as it began to hover up off the ground. "I'm not sure how good he is at meat dishes, but if you want help, alright."

Applejack leaned to the side towards Rainbow Dash. "Ya think he might find a pony t'be tasty?"

Rainbow gave her friend a wicked smirk. "Why, ya scared?"

Rarity flipped her mane as she regarded Laud. "He may be a predator, but he's a gentleman first. Even with his limited vocabulary, he has been seeking ways to be more (unknown) and polite."

That was when Laud noticed that his felled beast was the only body left on the field. How had the others deterred them? Were their defenses entirely non-lethal? He had so many questions that would come out awkwardly at best. He had been focused on his own battle and trusted them to handle their own, which they did. It had been a grand battle with an awkward finish.

The group split apart. Pinkie came along with Twilight and Laud towards the castle. As soon as Fluttershy had left their sight, Laud dared to try to get more information. "Pony not..." Kill was not a word given to him yet. "end living?" Close enough, he hoped.

Twilight blinked as if the question confused her. "Eventually. Why?"

Pinkie proved to be better at getting the hints. "Silly, he's asking about why what he did was so special."

Twilight rotated the floating body around to be in front of Laud as they walked. "While far from pleasant, the cave worms do have some (unknown). Thought." She tapped her head. "Most creatures do. To... (unknown), end life..." She shook her head. "That's not something I try to do."

They were pacifists, or at least they didn't like finishing a battle with true finality. It was... charmingly naive. "They not afraid to end pony life."

Twilight nodded. "That's true. They're hungry, and we're, well, food. That's what makes them a predator." She opened the door to the tower and stepped inside. "I know Fluttershy made up her mind, but I have to ask. Are you?" She set the dead thing aside. "Are you a predator?"

Laud frowned softly. "Is only two things? Predator or not?"

Pinkie tilted her head. "Are you something else? Tell us!"

Twilight sat on her haunches. "Yes, please. I don't mean to throw (unknown) at an alien race, so, please, tell us."

"Humans--" He pointed at himself. "--can eat almost anything. Plant, meat, many thing."

Twilight seemed to sag with relief. "Alright, but then... why did you end life?" She pointed at the corpse. "And why do you think Spike can help cook it?"

Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, Twilight. He doesn't want to eat that, do ya?"

Laud would have asked if they knew it was actually good to eat, but he had a good idea they would have not a single clue about it. "Would rather not. Not want hurt feelings."

Twilight raised a hoof to her chest. "Well, thank you then. Fluttershy can be like that sometimes. So, why? Why end life?"

Did they seriously have no concept of killing in combat? "It fight." He gestured at his leg and the crusted blood on his leg. He would have to get his pants laundered and repaired. "In true fight, life end. Mine, or it." He pointed at the felled beast. "I pick not mine."

Twilight gave an uneasy nod. "Were you... did you try to kill Maud, when we first met?" She used that unknown word again, but he had guessed its meaning by that point.

He remembered the moment, when she had caught his blade. She had seemed unimpressed and stoic, as she usually did. He had tried... He could see Twilight had figured it out. "I move with fear," he confessed, a drastic admission, to say he was scared at all. "Have learned. Ponies are friends. Maud is friend. Maud is teacher." He clasped a fist over his shoulder. "Would fight for her, not against."

Pinkie was far less grave about the matter. "Maud can take care of herself. I swear she's better at it than I am, unless she's distracted by a rock." Her eyes fell to Laud's sword. "Actually, I think she was. She talks about your sword, says it's made of something weird." She suddenly burst into giggles. "I wonder if she thought you were just giving it to her to look at."

Twilight put a hoof to her head. "Yes, well... I'm glad that didn't go... the other way. Laud, you must promise."

"Pinkie Promise!" squealed Pinkie, suddenly looking excited. She rose to two feet and began showing her strange ritual, ending with putting a hoof over an eye. "And that means you really really promise."

Twilight hiked a brow at her friend. "I don't think he holds a Pinkie Promise as his highest promise." She looked at Laud. "What is your highest promise?"

"What promise make?" Laud asked. He wasn't going to go promising things blankly. There was little honor in that.

She thrust a hoof at him. "Never end pony life. No matter what. Even if they fight. Never."

That was a most severe promise. "What if pony try end my life?"

Twilight frowned. "That would be a very sick pony, that needs help. You are a warrior, win, but... not end life." He could see talking 'down' to his level was just as annoying for her.

Pinkie bobbed her head. "How can you teach lessons to that?" She nudged the dead worm. "Oh right, should I get rid of this?"

"Please." Twilight let out a grunting whicker of a noise, not a word, Laud didn't think. "Laud, do you promise?"

If he didn't, he would be a murderer waiting to happen. He would lose any trust he had earned so far and gaining any in the future with the ponies would be quite difficult. He decided to accept it as a challenge. Could he uphold order without killing? As a Hawkwood, it was but one challenge among many. He would rise to it and prove superior, for his people. As Pinkie trotted off with the corpse, he took a stiff stance and spoke in clear English, "I, Laud Mountbatten, do swear on my house, the honorable House Hawkwood, to not slay a pony on the field of battle." Not that he hoped to face many ponies on such field. They needed his protection more than to face him.

Twilight's ears danced. "I did not understand most of that, but it sounded serious. Was that a yes?" Laud nodded and she smiled. "Thank you. Now..."

"Are you back, Twilight?" Spike came from deeper in the castle, walking along. "Everyt--Woah, you alright, Laud?" He pointed at his injury.

Laud shook his head. "I'm fine."

Twilight seemed less certain. "I'm sorry. I was so caught up in the predator thing, here we are being terrible hosts." With her horn glowing, several rolls of gauze appeared from nowhere. "Let's get you bandaged."

"You can take care of hurt?" Laud asked with some surprise. Was she trained as a nurse or a doctor?

"I can bandage someone," she assured, stepping closer. "Would you prefer we go to... place hurt ponies go? The hospital." She added the more complicated word after the simple words. "We can go there."

Was he that hurt? He had been standing and walking on the leg. Sure it stung, but it was nothing he wouldn't recover from, he thought. Still, there are those who thought the same thing, then fell to serious illness or complications later. He could try to be stoic and put on a tough show, or he could tend to his people, starting with himself. "Alright. We go to hospital."

Spike fetched a wheelchair from a closet, which was confusing. Why did ponies have what seemed like a clearly bipedal wheelchair? Why did they have door knobs?! The mysteries were growing. Regardless, he accepted Spike's kindness, though it ended up being Twilight that propelled the chair. Even if it was questionable magic, it was becoming hard to imagine that the ponies were capable of true evil. They were shielded from the corruption of magic by merit of innocence. It was like the stories. Witchcraft was bad, but an angel could grant blessings and never fall from grace for doing so.

Was that what they were? He wasn't ready to make that leap just yet. They were kindly creatures, with a naive innocence seemingly baked into them, but to call them servants of the almighty was another thing entirely. Besides, they were not perfect. They could become angry, confused, or even jealous. They were not a mythical archetype. They ate, drank, shat, pissed, and did all the things living things did. Angels? No. Something else.

His thoughts surfaced as they drew close to a one of the taller buildings in the town that wasn't the town hall or the castle they had come from. Made of brown wood, it had a large white sign out front with a pink cross in a red circle with four hearts arranged around it, pointing towards the center. A red cross, it was a universal symbol... among humans. It seemed it carried across to ponies as well?

Inside was a pony seated behind a counter. "Hello, Princess," she called as soon as she saw Twilight. "Who, or what, is that?" Her eyes settled on Laud.

"This--" she gestured with a hoof "--Is Laud. He was hurt defending Ponyville from cave worms."

The white pony rose up and quickly came around the counter. "Poor thing! Don't you worry, you're in good hooves now."

Laud attempted to stand, only to be gently nudged back down by the nurse. "I'm not that hurt," he protested. "Just a bite."

"I'll be the judge of that." She gave a firm nod, then pointed at herself. "I'm Nurse Redheart. Nice to meet you, Laud. Now just relax. Curious, the cave worms usually prefer to snap ponies up whole." She looked him over a moment. "But I guess you aren't a pony, or maybe it missed. This way." She reared up behind him and began pushing the chair away from a waving Twilight and Spike.

Author's Notes:

Predator! You can be a predator too, hunt those typos!

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13 - Life Settles

Redheart was a kind and caring pony that ensured his speedy recovery. "Just like a pony," she had remarked as she worked.

The thought tickled at the same part of Laud's brain that had been bothered by other things. Even their health professionals saw similarities. The anatomy of a pony, an alien species, had every right to be drastically bizarre compared to that of a human, and yet she had seen nothing that had surprised her.

In the end, he emerged with a splint and bandages to help support the healing. He hadn't broken anything. It was, apparently, just in case. He wasn't going to fight her about it, and off he went, mended. Life went on. He learned from a patient Maud and expanded his vocabulary each day.

Fluttershy proved to be interesting. She would stop by without warning at times and offer up different things. They were all dead things. "Do you like this?" She would ask, wielding a plate of stir-fried fish slices on a bed of greens.

Fortunately, they were tasty dead things. Still... "Thank you." Laud did accept them with the good intent he thought she had. "But why?"

"Oh, well, it's important for everyone to eat well." She smiled at him without guile evident. "You aren't a pony, so I'm trying to figure out what it is you prefer."

Laud set the food down in his lap as he sank to the ground, plate at the ready. "That's easy. Humans eat basically anything."

"Anything?"

"Almost. Good cooking helps." He nudged the food with a fork. "Which you seem to have."

She colored at the compliment. "I learned a few tricks for my animal friends."

"But I am not an animal," he noted.

"Yes you are." She nodded with certainty. "We all are."

"Point..." He speared a slice and gave it a try. It was salmon. It wasn't like salmon. It was salmon. Why did they have salmon? The entire world was too close to be coincidence. "But I'm not a wild animal in need of help."

"But you are a friend." She nodded. "And... if you don't mind... I am curious. Could you tell me more about yourself, about humans? Are you a mammal?"

Laud found himself suddenly glad he had never had occasion to be naked in Fluttershy's field of view. Her curiosity could lead to awkward moments. Then there was the fact that the world had mammals. They had all the defining traits of being a mammal. That wasn't as big a red flag. Several worlds had mammals. It seemed to be a popular convergence, evolutionarily. But it did stack with everything else. "Yes, but let me ask a question in return. Do you know of the creator of everything? The--" he had to slip back into English, there was no equine word for it. "--Pancreator?--"

Fluttershy tilted her head back and forth. "I'm afraid not..." She hopped to her hooves. "I should get back. It's almost lunch time for all the others, and I wouldn't want to miss that, or they'll get hungry."

They exchanged polite waves as she trotted off, leaving Laud to enjoy the given meal.

A form settled beside him. It was Maud, but he hadn't heard her coming. It was a talent she had. She was so calm in action and thought, she gave almost no impression until she wished to. It was a talent he envied. Stealth had never been a strength of his. "Maud," he greeted. "Nice to see you."

"Hey." She put a hoof on his shoulder while she leaned in to look at what he was eating. "Did you buy that?"

"Fluttershy brought it."

"That was nice of her," she noted in her flat tones. "You are ready."

"Ready?" He hadn't finished his meal. Most of it remained on his plate.

She pointed at him directly. "You can speak well now."

Oh, right. Laud hadn't even noticed over the passing days. Like many things, it had been a gradual process.

"Pinkie won't wait any longer."

"What?"

"Your party is at sundown," informed Maud. "Be ready."

"She had mentioned wanting that..." He had hoped she forgot about it in the meanwhile, but clearly not. "Do you know who she's inviting?"

Maud pointed at herself.

Laud let out a little half-chuckle. "Besides you."

She reached casually for his plate and took a bit of the green. "Her friends. You said you wanted a small party."

How did ponies hold things on the end of their flat hooves? Magic? Probably magic. That felt like a cheap answer. Surely there was some scientific explanation for it, but he was no biologist. "Thank her for me for baring that in mind. I do appreciate it." He ate his meal and Maud sat patiently while he did so. The fact that she didn't wander away was a hint. When the last bite vanished into his mouth, he set the plate aside. "Something on your mind, Maud?"

"Yes."

An awkward silence built. "What is it?"

She pointed to the sword. "That is made out of rocks I do not recognize. I want to know more about them."

He was no smith either, or metallurgist. "Good steel, forged by good people." He rose to his feet and drew it free. He held it out for display. Maud was not scared by the motion. She didn't even flinch, and he trusted her not to.

She reached out and began touching it without asking. It was an impropriety, but she had indirectly beckoned, and he had displayed it. He knew it was coming. "It is just steel? Your people make steel strangely." She tapped at the sword twice, ear perked at it. "No, different steels, put together. I never saw that before."

A layered alloy? Seemed as likely as anything else. "I admit, I never asked my smith for his secrets. He did good work for me, and I thanked him for it."

Maud nodded. "Ponies do not fight with swords as often as your people seem to. You had more practice." She stood up on all fours. "Do you know about the rocks in your egg?"

"Egg?"

"The thing you came in."

Ah right. "All of it is made by people who specialize in their craft. I don't mean to deny you, but I can't share what I don't know." Maud frowned faintly, which was more expressive than she usually was. He imagined she was very upset. "Let's go take a look. I can at least identify some of it. You went through all this trouble to teach me, I'll do what I can."

Her expression eased to neutrality and she nodded. Following after him into the castle and towards the resting place of the ship, her eyes remained straight ahead. "As a rocktor, it is in my professional interest to identify new rocks."

Laud nodded as he reached for the doorknob that had no right to be there. "I can appreciate that. The trick is that most of them are made secretly even among my own people, and with specialized tools. All I can do is give some names and maybe some purposes."

Maud did not object. She rarely did.

Laud began sifting through the orderly piles of the bits of his ship. "Plastic--" Ponies seemed to have plastic, that had been surprising. "--copper wires..." He held up each thing as he found it. "Armored hull, couldn't tell you what that's made of. Kept me alive, in the end, but didn't stop the ship from busting apart." He picked up a circuit board. "This is a board that gives our machines some thought."

Maud raised a brow.

"It's a circuit board. It has... what was it... silicon?" It made sense why Maud had insisted he learn rock names. "The flow of electricity is what makes it work, but this one's broken."

She tapped at a chin. "Interesting," she said in her level way.

"What are you two doing?" Twilight came in from the hallway.

Laud put the board back down. "We were going over the parts of the ship as best I could, which isn't nearly good enough for this particular purpose." He was a noble, damn it, that had specific skill requirements.

Twilight's ears perked. "I'd like to hear this as well, if you don't mind?"

Two witnesses wasn't any harder than one, and he moved on. "Glass, also plastic."

Maud held up a hoof. "That appears nothing like the other plastic."

That one Twilight got. "Oh, plastic is a very broad term. Depending on how its made, it can take on many different appearances and uses. Do go on, Laud."

"Right, you weren't here when I went over this." He picked the circuit board back from the pile.

"Ah, the thaumic circuit," said Twilight with a smile. "Once I figured out it was built differently, it made complete sense."

"Thau... What? It's a circuit, yes, but not thaumic anything." Thaumic was a word for magic. He did not have magic in his ship, he was sure of that. "It runs on electricity."

Twilight rolled a hoof. "Electricity is just one of many energy sources one can use to complete a thaumic circuit. I recognized its use right away. There's even one in here that's still operational." Her horn plucked a small display from the pile. "Watch." Her magic crackled around it, producing electricity. The display lit up, showing all its lights at once. It looked sort of like '88888888888', all its faces on at once. "If I focus just... so..." The display became ''88288883888' but they kept changing in spastic little ways. "It's difficult to control."

Maud brought her hooves together in a single clap. "The rocks being used are designed to channel electricity in very specific ways."

She wasn't wrong. The two were clever, very clever. Thinking ponies to be simple creatures was to underestimate them, and that could cost a warrior or a noble dearly to do. "Right," agreed Laud. "I would like to show you more, but we're at about the limit of my knowledge."

Maud nodded. "Thank you. May I examine these further?" She waved over all the parts. "I wanted to ask you earlier, but you were not ready to be asked."

"That... was very kind and considerate of you, Maud. Thank you." He gave a formal partial bow towards her. Surely, if she wanted to, she could have just asked Twilight, the ranking member of the community, but she had waited until he could be talked to properly. "Try not to hurt anything more than it already is, not that I expect this ship will ever get off the ground again." He nudged a small pile with a booted foot. "There are other things to bring up, but that can wait, just don't make any exact copies." There were jealously guarded monopolies involved.

Maud approached the piles. "I look forward to starting. Laud, you should prepare for your party."

"Ah, yes." Twilight looked to him. "Rarity said to stop by her store. Do you know where that is?" He did and said as much. "Great! She said to come before the party, so as soon as you can, please."

"I'll help!" came a new voice as Spike appeared at the door. "Wouldn't want you getting lost," he said in obvious falsehood. "Besides, I should check if she needs any help..."

Laud was unaware of Spike's adoration of the lady, but saw no reason to deny his presence. "Very well, if you wish to visit her alongside me."

"W-what? I mean, nah, I'm just... being helpful."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You two have fun. I'll see you for the party, Laud."

Laud looked to Spike. "You'll be there too, right?"

Spike blinked in surprise. "You... want me there?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He was a friend made.

"You said you preferred smaller parties... so Pinkie didn't invite me..."

"Well I am inviting you," insisted Laud, clapping Spike on his back, avoiding fins. "You are no stranger. I would be delighted to have you there."

Spike brightened up. "Alright! But first, to Rarity." He sighed as he said it, getting lost a moment in his own love-smitten thoughts.

Author's Notes:

I have put aside the language barrier, as you may have noticed. As amusing as watching Laud stumble through this, I feel it's done its purpose for the story. Am I wrong? Am I right? Is this all a typo?! Let me know.

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14 - Are You Ready to Party?

They cut through Ponyville in a direct line towards the boutique that Rarity resided in. "Hey Laud!" called a waving Lyra. "Where ya going?"

Laud returned the wave, with more fingers involved. "To Lady Rarity's. She has business that requires me."

"How fancy." Her eyes fell to the smitten Spike. "And you brought Spike."

"Should I not have?" That was the second pony to imply he shouldn't keep company with Spike. Was there something he was missing?

"No no! Just, uh. Hey, Spike?"

"Yeah?" He snapped out of his little reverie. "What's up?"

"Tell Bonnie I'll be a minute late, please?" She flashed a big smile.

Spike grunted softly, but went running off. With him gone, Lyra stepped forward. "He has a little baby crush on Rarity. It's kind of cute, but also kind of distracting. Just keep an eye on him. Rarity can usually keep it in hand on her own, but it's something to bear in mind."

That was far less troubling than Laud had worried. For a moment he had thought perhaps Spike was some sort of outcast he had not noticed, someone he would have to avoid if he wanted any social mobility. "How young is Spike, as a dragon?"

Lyra lifted her shoulders. "If it helps, Twilight hatched him when she was already about six."

That was not as helpful as it could be, not knowing Twilight's age. Still, six years younger than her was a start. Spike came dashing back, his mission complete. "Alright, we should move on. Be well, Miss Heartstrings."

Spike asked as they continued, "What was she talking about? Trying to set up another fight between you and Bon Bon?"

"Nothing of the sort." He looked around the street, noting the ponies had no reaction to him anymore. He had become another part of their town. He supposed being outside with Maud, learning Pony English probably helped with that. Yes, Pony English. It was the best way to describe the equine noises that had the syntax and grammar of English. That reminded him. "Spike, do I have an accent?"

"Well, yeah?" He lifted his shoulders in a helpless shrug. "I mean, we all do. Applejack and Rarity's are the thickest of the girls, while you get the honor among my guy friends. Nothing wrong with that. I mean, I understand you, and so does everyone else." He pointed ahead as the boutique came into view. "Here we are. You can ask her if you want, but she'll say the same."

He strode to her door with purpose and rapped on it. Pony doors, the ones not built for castles, were a bit shorter than he would have liked, but so were ponies, being on all fours all the time.

"Come in," sang a voice from inside as the doorknob glowed a soft magic and it swung open to reveal the fashionable interior.

Spike and Laud entered to find Rarity running some fabric through her sewing machine. "You caught me just as I was finishing up, darlings. Please, a moment." She guided the clothing with her hooves even as her horn glowed, multitasking to get the job done right. She pulled the cloth through and held it up, letting it open to reveal it to be a dress suitable for a pony to wear. "It still needs a few finishing touches, but it can wait. Sir Laud, a pleasure." She set the garment on a hook and hopped off the stool she was on to face them. "And Spike as well! What a fortunate day, bringing all my gallant gentlemen at once." She gave a little light-hearted giggle. "But you didn't come to listen to me ramble. This way, darlings."

She trotted on light hooves to a curtain. "You've been made to suffer, Sir Laud. No noble should be forced to subsist on one set of clothing." With a tug of her horn's magic, the curtain fell aside, revealing two sets of clothing sized quite specifically for a human, not a pony. "I present, the Hawkwood Line!" She cleared her throat. "Please do forgive my using your house's name, darling. It's for you in the end."

Laud stepped forward slowly, a little bedazzled by the smart-looking suits. One looked fit for a ball, a little floofier than he would have liked it, but quite formal. It spoke of elegance and nobility. "You are a true craftsman," he breathed out, running a finger along a sleeve of the suit, admiring its pleasing texture. "And I see you understand the duality of my responsibility." His attention slid to the other suit, built clearly for rougher times. It still had the subtle touches that spoke of refinement, but the sleeves were straight and there was not a hint of poofiness about it. The texture was a bit rougher and he imagined the fabric was tougher. It was a fine suit outside of formal settings that might even see battle.

He approved of both. "Lady Rarity, this is--"

"Before you say it, no, this is not 'too much'." She tapped a hoof as she smiled at him. "You are our guest, an ambassador from a foreign land in dire straits. Besides, don't you worry, I can bill Twilight, who will bill Celestia, and everything will work out. I have my ways."

Rarity's admission of having a line to be paid was amusing, but also comforting. "It's good to hear you aren't setting aside your business for me, Lady Rarity."

Spike waved the idea of it away. "Rarity knows her stuff." He was peering at the suits. "Do you really like this?" He poked at one of the floofy bits. "She's made me wear stuff like this."

His displeasure was clear to Laud. "Being a noble means wearing to strike an image. Different situations may call for different images." And it hit him. Why were pony signs of nobility anything like human ones? Why wasn't this wonderful gift a strange blend of alien cues and signals? Instead it looked lovely. That mystery had to be solved... "Lady Rarity, thank you."

She fanned herself with a hoof. "You just keep being you, darling, and we'll have no troubles at all. Now, the fitting room is just over there," She pointed to a curtained off area. "Do me the honor of preparing yourself for the soirée Pinkie has planned."

Laud carefully plucked the clothing free of the mannequin that held it and went off to try it on. Rarity nudged Spike gently. "See, that is a true noble. He understands that appearances do matter."

Spike rolled his eyes. "I guess if you're going to a 'frou frou' party, but this is a Pinkie party, it's, like, the opposite of that."

Rarity lifted her shoulders. "I have no doubt she will attempt to inject levity into the proceedings, but this is important. It's Sir Mountbatten's first true time to greet us all formally, and to be greeted. It's so wonderful he can speak properly now. To think, that refinement, hidden under ignorance. It was simply unbearable."

Spike crossed his arms as he leaned back against a cabinet. "He isn't much a noble of anything right now."

"That's where you're wrong." Rarity began cleaning up around the shop, putting things away and tidying. "Nobility is as much in the way one behaves, dear. Besides, if one of those things he used to come here exist, why not more? Why, just imagine, this new line could become a 'thing' as it were. I could sell to other humans that come to Equestria."

Spike thought of it. "Yeah... what if they aren't as nice?"

Rarity rolled a hoof. "Spike, we can't think that way. Opportunity does not wait for those too timid to reach for it. Unruly customers are a part of the business, but one must move past them. You saw how much he appreciated what I made. If even one out of ten of his peers thought the same, why, that would be a victory, Spike dear."

As if summoned, Laud emerged, garbed in his new outfit. His sword hung at his side, his personal effects transferred to the new attire. "You measured me while you were repairing my other suit, I imagine?"

"Guilty as charged," sang Rarity. "How did I do?"

"Quite nice." He flexed one arm and the other, testing how it held up in various positions. "You have a good eye for your craft, making something that... accommodates." He was proud for remembering that word. "Considering the differences in our builds, that is."

"There are other bipeds." Rarity picked out a hat and floated it over to her own head. "Minotaurs, younger dragons, all manner of creatures that may wish for a touch of style, and who am I to deny them? Why, I've quite happily made some outfits for Spike-Wikey here. You will be dressed properly, I assume?" She gave Spike a rather pointed look as she said it.

"O-oh, of course, Rarity." He bowed towards her. "It would not do for a gentleman to disappoint his lady."

A titter escaped from her. "Yes yes, go on then. Put your other clothing away and be ready."

Laud and Spike left the boutique, the larger with clothing draped over an arm. "I should have predicted that, considering the lady's profession."

Spike hiked a thumb back at the boutique as they went. "She loves making new designs. When she can make a few bits doing it is even better, so this was what she wanted." He let out a soft sigh. "Lady Rarity, that's a nice way of saying it... So, uh... does that make me 'Sir Spike'? That sounds pretty cool."

Laud did not want to crush Spike's feelings like an egg, but neither did he want to imply that using 'Sir' freely was a thing one should do either. "Among... my people, the title of 'Sir' carries specific meaning. From what I hear, you could become a 'Sir'. You need only become a knight, perhaps to your royal companion, Twilight Sparkle. If you were her knight, officially, you would be a 'Sir'."

"Huh, really?" Spike's eyes were on the tower/castle they were heading towards. "I gotta talk to her about that. 'Sir Spike'..." The taste of the title seemed to be pleasing to the young dragon.

"Do not reach for a title simply for the honor of bearing it. It is a duty." Laud put his free hand over his heart as he walked. "To be a lady's knight is to be her sword and shield. It is a duty, an honorable one, but it is a duty, and one you should seek to do well if you do it at all."

Spike lifted his shoulders. "Hey, look, I've been doing that since before Twilight was a princess. Why not make it official and get the respect that goes with it?"

Laud could hear some bitterness there, and it poked at him. "Do the others not regard you highly?"

"Well... sometimes?" He glanced away. "It's complicated... but... sometimes I'm just 'that baby dragon', or 'the help'. They don't look at me like a pony sometimes... Has that ever happened to you?"

It had not, not to Laud. He had been instructed from a young age to be proud and to take his nobility with the utmost certainty and conviction. He knew better than to just say that, however. Spike didn't need to hear that. "You are not a pony, but neither am I. You should not try to be either."

"Then what should I be?"

"Spike. You should endeavor to be the best Spike you can be." He waved a hand up at the tower. "Now let's see the outfit Rarity made for you. She clearly likes you, even if not in the fashion you would perhaps prefer. She is a friend, and that is a treasured thing to have."

Spike's cheeks warmed. "Y-yeah... Yeah." He slumped. "But what if I want to be more than just 'friends'?"

Did he dare to give dating advice to a young dragon, one that at least one pony called a 'baby'?

Author's Notes:

Laud's looking good and feeling great, but then there's Spike... What should he do, if anything?

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15 - Hello

Laud opened the door to the castle and felt something was... off. It was quiet. He was being watched. He felt sure of that. He held up a hand, the back shown to Spike to slow him down. He pointed ahead then took slow measured steps forward. He would not have expected an attack in the castle of all places, but if one was coming, he would be ready for it.

Spike came in behind him. His confused expression was unseen by Laud, who was looking just about everywhere but at him. "Uh, is something wro--" Laud's hand went up again. "Alright..." He went quiet, peering at him as he stalked through Twilight's castle.

Laud approached the room where the sensation was greatest, the map room. He slid in, back against the wall, eyes darting around the room to take in the likely ambush points. If someone was there to attack, maybe they would hurt Twilight, and it would be shameful if he allowed that. Hardly a show of Hawkwood values to be such a poor guest.

He had to fight a smile. He saw it, a tail peeking free from around one of the thrones. It was an orange-brown color... And then it hit him. It was the color of the pony to whom the throne belonged. It was Applejack. He was not being ambushed. Well, he was, but hardly in a malicious way. He slumped with relief before he strode directly into the room.

"Surprise!" came a communal cry as Twilight and her friends popped out of their hiding places. That part was not surprising, the fact that the full decorations of the party dropped from above into just the perfect place was far more startling.

Pinkie was dangling from a rope that hung from the ceiling far above. "Welcome to Ponyville!" she called with a jubilant smile on her face. She undid the knot that held her and flopped to the ground just to bounce back up. "It's so nice to be able to say that."

Applejack, nodded towards Laud. "Reckon yer overdue for a proper greetin'."

Spike was slipping past as if fleeing, but Laud would not have that. He grabbed the skittering dragon by the shoulder. "Where are you going? You were invited, don't forget."

"Oh, yeah, uh, well someone has to put away your new clothes and I'm not dressed properly yet."

Laud could tell Spike was making an excuse in part, but he wasn't wrong. "Thank you, and come back once you're ready."

Spike offered a sharp salute and dashed off with Laud's clothing.

Reminded, he took in the dresses of those before him. They were all wearing their best, which was quite a difference from their usual standard of nudity. Even their hooves were garbed, and not in any horseshoe one might put on a horse. They were full slippers or even boots in the case of Applejack. They were as fetching as horses could be, which was a pretty significant barrier.

Twilight came forward and dipped her head towards Laud. "It is my great pleasure to formally welcome you, Laud Mountbatten of House Hawkwood, to the kingdom of Equestria. May there be peace between our people." She had to say his name and that of his house in English, since they were names. There was some small pleasure in watching her struggle to do as he had to do every day, but she pushed through it without stumbling.

He clapped his hands together and gave a light bow, eyes squarely on Twilight. "I, Laud Mountbatten of House Hawkwood, accept your generous offer of hospitality. Your kindness will be returned. There are many things to discuss."

Pinkie swept a hoof over the map table, which had been covered with various foods, drinks, and one large cake that she was bringing attention to specifically. "Now that the stuffy things are out of the way, let's get this party started properly! Laud, would you like to make the first cut?" She produced a cake knife from nowhere in particular and held it out towards Laud.

He accepted the knife from the hoof that should not have held it so easily. Cutting into cakes was far from a new thing, though he paused to actually look at the cake first. "Welcome to Ponyville!!!" it read with a little picture of Twilight and her closest friends all smiling. It was adorable, and not very professional. He carved into its softness and made a thin slice that he set on a plate beside it. A flash interrupted it as a picture was taken of the slicing.

The party began in earnest. Music began playing with no obvious source, and ponies began to talk, eat, and wander about freely.

"Hey," came a flat voice. Maud had snuck in right behind Laud, as she had proven many times she could do.

Laud turned to her, a glass of something sweet in a hand. "A pleasure to see you, Miss Pie."

"Maud works." She nodded. "Pinkie can be 'Miss Pie'. I think I figured a bit about some of the rocks in your egg. I'm going to try making some myself. Would you like to see it when I'm done?"

"It... hasn't been that long," he said, tone dripping with a lack of confidence and a little amazement. "Are you really ready to imitate it that quickly?"

Her hoof raised to her chest. "This is my specialty. Metals are just a specific kind of rock. So?"

Ah, right, the question. "Yes, I would like to see it." If she could pull it off... "Are you here to enjoy the party?"

"Nah. Parties are not my 'thing'. I let Pinkie handle them."

Pinkie was suddenly there beside Maud, throwing a leg over her withers. "Aw, don't be like that, Maud. You're the life of any party! Besides, you and Laud are buds, right?"

It was somehow pleasing to know Maud could be crept up on, but it also meant that stealth was a Pie trait, shared in their family.

Maud looked up at Laud. "Are we 'buds'?"

"We are associates of mutual respect. I feel we would need to learn more about one another before we could properly describe one another as friends."

"That's fair." She nodded, and a little smile curled her lips. "Thanks. It's nice to not be pushed like that."

Pinkie looked between Maud and Laud. "I don't get it..." She turned and walked off, not questioning her sister's decision.

Laud watched her go before looking back to Maud. "Tell me if I guess poorly, but I presume she would prefer people consider themselves friends if they so much as know one another's name."

She tapped her nose.

On the nose. How did so many sayings translate so perfectly!? "I value your time, and appreciate the work you've done to let me speak clearly. You are obviously a mare of talents. I would not mind learning more about you."

"But you're not rushing to call me a friend." She glanced where Pinkie had gone. "She would say that's not very nice. I think that's... honest." She pointed up at his cup. "What are you drinking?"

"It tastes of pineapple with some berries?"

She nodded. "Pinkie's favorite party drink. Do you have a favorite?"

"A finely crafted wine or a gut-punching liquor is a fine way to celebrate an occasion." He rubbed his chin. "You have the words for those, but I haven't actually seen them."

"You should talk to Berry Punch." Maud turned half away. "Enjoy your party, Laud."

Twilight approached next, Starlight beside her. "Laud, we wanted to talk to you."

Starlight nodded. "You wanted to meet important ponies, right?"

Laud tensed. "Are more coming tonight?" He was not prepared.

Twilight shook a hoof quickly. "Not tonight, promise, but we were thinking of giving a sort of tour, starting with Mayor Mare. She's been eager to meet you for some time, but avoided making contact since I had asked her to give you some space."

If word of some strange alien in his own demesne had reached his ears, he surely would want to know more about it. He could hardly fault Mayor Mare for wanting to meet such a strange creature and ensure it was safe for her people. "It would be an honor to meet her. I've had thoughts of introducing myself to her already."

Starlight brightened. "Great! I had a feeling that might be true." She pointed towards the town. "You've seen the city hall, she's in there as often as she isn't."

Twilight brought in a hoof in front of Starlight. "Let's not be hasty. Mayor Mare has a busy schedule. We'll plan a proper meeting at a set time and place."

"Sure sure." She lifted her shoulders. "Hey, Laud, so how are you liking things, now that you're talking like a pro?"

"It is nice to not be hobbled that way." He frowned at the memory of gibberish flowing freely around him, a cacophony of equine sounds. "Maud was the right teacher for me."

Twilight rolled a hoof. "Funny thing about that, technically she'd only be qualified to teach mineralogy, being a doctor on that subject. Still, you can't argue results in the end."

Starlight rolled her eyes at Twilight. "We all know English. Teaching is the important part. Finding the right teacher, in this case, just as important. Say, you tried Cheerilee first, right, what went wrong there?"

"She focused on reading." He lifted his shoulders. "I'm sure if I was a child that already spoke the language, it would have been quite fine, but I wasn't. We needed to tackle spoken words first, long before reading."

Twilight's ears pricked. "This reminds me, can you read? I mean, not your language, I'm pretty sure you can do that. I mean ours."

He fought the sigh that wanted to emerge. "Not as well as I would prefer. It's a work in progress." He could devote more time to hitting the books, but there were other things to do... "Twilight, do you have time for a few questions I had in mind?"

She tilted her head. "We're already talking, and this is your party, of course."

"Right." He looked around and spotted a door that had the feature he needed. He led the two over to it and took firm hold of the knob. "Why do you have these?"

Starlight squinted at it. "To separate rooms and the inside from the outside? I don't get it."

"Not the door." He jiggled the knob. "This. This is made for a hand, which is a thing ponies do not have. At best, one third of your population can make easy use of this. I'm struggling to think of what the thought going through a pony's head would be when designing this."

Both stared at it as if they had never even thought of the idea before. Starlight raised a hoof. "Maybe it was a minotaur thing first and ponies just copied it?"

Twilight tilted her head either way at it. "I... never researched architecture very deeply, but that is an interesting question." She reached up and tapped her horn. "Being part of that third you mentioned didn't encourage me to think about it. It works quite well for a unicorn."

"Why are y'all starin' at a doorknob?" Applejack was trotting towards the group. "Is it stuck? Ah can fix that."

She seemed a fine pony to ask about it in addition. Laud tapped at the doorknob he stood beside. "Applejack, how useful are doorknobs, to you?"

She blinked with wide eyes. "They're mighty fine fer getting from one room t' the next, ah reckon... Why?"

"And you don't mind putting your mouth where others have touched with their own mouths and hooves?"

Applejack shrugged softly. "Some hoity toity types carry a napkin around, but ah ain't afraid of a little dirt none. Healthy livin' on the farm keeps me strong."

Starlight and Twilight shared a look between themselves. There would be no answers that evening, but Laud could tell he had at least inspired some questions.

Author's Notes:

Those doorknobs... They are the true mystery!

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16 - Local Leader

Laud had decided that his clothing made for functionality over pomp would be proper. He would introduce himself as a man of action, not a social flower. He considered his sword. Would bringing it sour the atmosphere? The ponies seemed quite insistent on their pacifism, with most of them seeming to prefer being passive and relying entirely on their few warriors to even consider the very notion of actually fighting.

Well, it just wouldn't do to present a false face. He strapped his blade belt on, though he doubted he would be using it that day. "But I am ready to." He nodded at his reflection before moving with purpose. His meeting was coming.

"Hey Laud," spoke Starlight who was descending the stairs as well. "Ready for your chat?"

"I hope it will be more than a casual conversation." He had high hopes that he could start his social climb. "Tell me, do you know how Mayor Mare obtained their position?"

Starlight seemed to consider it a moment. "Mmm, I think I remember someone saying she was elected?"

An elected leader? Well, that could work for a local leader, perhaps... "What if someone very popular, but unfit to rule, were to receive the winning votes?"

Starlight's shoulders lifted in a gesture a normal horse could never replicate. "Then Ponyville gets a bad mayor and people learn their lesson. Why? How do they do it where you come from?"

"One earns leadership in two ways, most of the time." He held up one finger. "One is by birth to another leader. You are instructed in the art from a young age and are ready to assume the mantle when the time comes, ensuring a smooth governance." He raised a second finger. "The other is by virtue of deed. A person can be given leadership for proving the strength of their character, ability to lead, and other positive traits and a greater ruler may make a lesser ruler of them. For instance, if your Princess Celestia selected a specific pony to be mayor of this city, one would think she would select carefully and well."

"I'd hope so," she agreed as they reached the bottom. "Still, I haven't heard anyone complain about Mayor Mare. She's been mayor for a long time. Good luck with your meeting." She reached up to pat Laud on the side before she trotted onwards to her own destination.

Laud proceeded out the door to find a short figure waiting for him, Spike. "Good day, Spike."

"Hey, uh, just thought I'd show the way." He flashed his too-wide-obviously-lying smile.

Laud glanced down into the city, where the town hall projected clearly from the smaller buildings around it. "I don't think my chances of becoming lost are very high. We're meeting to discuss matters of state and governing. Is that something you have interest in?"

"Oh, um... yeah..." he said in an entirely unconvincing way. His posture suddenly straightened. "Look, you're a stallion--" Ponies liked to refer to all males as stallions, despite living in a multi-racial world. Pride? "And you're in charge. I mean, you expect it. I want to see how you work."

Laud could not argue the fact that ponies seemed to err on the side of a matriarchy, in defiance of his own ways, still... "I'm seeking to make a good impression with the mayor."

Spike put up a hand, eyes closing. "And you'll look all the better with the assistant to the local princess at your side. I know Mayor Mare, and she knows me."

Laud gestured towards the large building that was his target. "Very well then, do you know what would be the ideal gift for her to show my eagerness to move together, as rulers, for the betterment of our people?"

Spike's head tilted a bit as an eye cracked open. "Wha? I mean, nobody around here is 'your' people, right?"

"Is that your answer?" He hiked a brow and looked down on Spike. As he had predicted, the small drake quickly changed his approach.

"No no! I mean, uh, lessee, good gift... Not hair dye!"

That caught him by surprise. "Does she have need for it?"

"Oh, well, um, no? She isn't a natural grey though."

A pony dyed their hair. Grey? Laud struggled with the concept. "Alright, no dye. What do you suggest?"

"Honestly... nothing. I think showing up with anything physical will make the wrong impression." He shrugged helplessly as he said it. "But maybe I'm not so good at this."

"Nonsense." He slapped the smaller male on the shoulder. "That's a fine answer, and encouraging as well. Those who come calling to me with gifts too grand set the tone that they want something from me, something I might not want to give. Come on then, we'll greet her with the gift of our company."

Spike let out a little laugh at that, rubbing the lightly-thwacked shoulder. "Now there's a gift..."

"Presence is a gift." There was a pun there. What boggled Laud was that the pun was still there in equine sounds, though his untrained hearing could only barely make it out. "Let's not keep her waiting."

They strode into town. With permission given, much of Spike's tensions faded away and he started ambling along easily. "So, hey... you know how being royalty works, right? Think you could teach a guy?"

"That is a long task you're asking," he warned, looking aside at the young dragon. "And you are not royalty. Still, there are lessons you could learn about comporting yourself around them, but I think you know most of that. I've seen you do it, but you're not consistent. I think that's your weakness, Spike."

Spike put a hand behind his head. "Yeah, y'see, the girls don't... We'll talk about that later." He rolled out the same hand towards the town hall. "Here we are."

Lyra waved from a bench she was seated on in a very humanoid way beside Bon Bon. "Hey! Getting something from town hall?"

Laud dipped his head faintly to the pair. "A social visit, and one I don't wish to be late for. A pleasure seeing you again."

Lyra let him go, even waving him and Spike along. Bon Bon eyed them subtly, but not too subtly for Laud to notice. She was watching them with an intensity that she hid decently.

There was little time to deal with her, however. He ascended the few stairs that led to the main doors of the building. A glance showed Spike was at his side. This door had no knob. It had no bar or anything else. He presumed that meant it was pushed and gave it a nudge. It moved quite easily on well-oiled hinges. Inside was a low din of activity. Ponies were working hard, typing on keyboards that appeared to defy all logic and somehow work with two keys, scribbling notes with quills held in their mouths, and scrambling around putting things in filing cabinets while taking other things free of them.

It was, ultimately, a haven of governing. He had been to such places in the past, and it was comforting in a way to return to one. The back of the door, he noticed, had a handle. The handle was a small curved bit of metal that looked perfectly functional... if one had fingers to wrap around it and give it a pull. He shoved aside the mystery of pony architecture for the time being as he rose to his full height, towering over the ponies. It wasn't fair, he knew.

They were on all fours.

Despite that, he took advantage of his height. He meant to make impressions. Spike dashed forward and waved for him to follow. Laud nudged the door shut behind himself and they wove their way through the activity.

A pony with large glasses looked up at him as he walked by. "Are you here for the mayor?" Her eyes moved past him to find Spike. "He knows where she is. Welcome to Ponyville." Her attention fell right back to her work without a pause.

Laud had to silently commend the administrators on their work ethic. He followed Spike into an adjoining hallway where he scampered to a door and hiked his thumb at it. "This is her office." He started patting himself down, as if his scales could be straightened out and organized with the mild effort.

Fortuantely for Laud, his clothing could be, and he took the time to do just that, fussing over his clothing a moment before he strode up to the door and rapped on it twice with the back of a hand.

"Yes?" came a mature female voice before it opened, revealing a grey-maned mare with blue eyes and a pale amber coat. "Why, hello. A pleasure to meet you... Sir Mountbatten was it?" She stepped to the side to allow them in. "And you've brought Spike. Hello."

"Heya Mayor," Spike greeted with a friendly wave, walking past her.

Laud crossed an arm over his chest and offered a proper bow towards Mayor Mare. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Mare." That sounded so very odd to say to him. "I hear you are an excellent manager of the city, and have come to introduce myself, and perhaps learn more about the governance you oversee."

Mayor Mare's eyes lit up. "Is that a passion of yours?" She trotted away from the door and hopped up into a chair just behind her desk. "It would be a pleasure, but I must point out that I am never entirely off-duty, especially while I'm here at Town Hall. Any moment, a pony could come in with a matter needing my eyes and input, and I do apologize for that, but I take my position very seriously."

Her warning only sounded like a good sign. She took her role seriously. "It's good to know you take your responsibility with the gravity it deserves." He closed the door behind himself and approached her desk. "There is a matter of politics that will soon crash on your shores, and I hope to have your country ready for its happening, so it can proceed with efficiency and minimum disruption."

Mayor Mare's smile eased, a careful frown replacing it. "That sounds very dire, indeed. Can you be more specific?"

Laud waved upwards with one hand. "I came from up there, and I am the representative of but one of many houses that might seek to take control of this land, for its resources. It's a wonderful world, ripe for human habitation, which means it's not a matter of 'if', but 'when'."

Mayor Mare was quiet a moment. She gave a faint nod. "And you are another, who would control the world entire?"

Laud raised his hands. "Not the way you are likely thinking. You, for instance, are a model manager. There would be no reason to get in your way. Ideally, everyone would stay where they are, but there has to be something that speaks for the world as a whole, and will defend it against others that will come and take what they think is undefended. I will be frank, because we are both people of leadership."

Spike's eyes moved to each person as they talked, looking just a little lost.

"I appreciate your forthrightness, but, forgive me. What evidence do you have of your words?" She gave a little smile. "You're hardly the first to come into my office with words of doom and gloom, you see. It's become something of a task of mine to sift through it all and throw most of it aside."

At that, Spike raised a claw. "Well, we do know he's from the sky, past Equestria, somewhere... out there. Twilight has all the parts of the thing he rode on, Maud has the rest."

Laud nodded lightly. "My ship was small, but the ones that follow could be much larger, with enough people to mount a proper offensive. If it came down to a war, which I do not want, it would be long, brutal, and hopeless."

Mayor Mare brought her hooves together without a sound. "You underestimate ponies. Your people would be far from the first to try and take what is ours, and we've fought them all off. We may... seem weak, but our heroes have all our hopes and strengths. They will turn your people back."

"I don't want them to need to be turned back," countered Laud. "You will become part of the larger society. Let's do it elegantly, with battles of commerce and culture, instead of on the field of war."

Author's Notes:

Laud could have just waded in a little, but no, little hot-headed youth of a noble he is, he dives right in. This one went a smidge long, but I could not end at 2k, not at that point of dialogue.

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17 - Chain of Command

Mayor Mare lifted one hoof up and to the right as her shoulders lifted. "Very finely said, but I wonder why you've brought it to me. Even if you speak the whole truth, by your own words, I am a 'manager' of the city. What do you hope I'll do?"

A fair question, Laud figured. "There is a matter of propriety. I could go marching directly for the highest office in the land, but that would make me a brute, an intruder, and unliked deservedly." He put a hand down on her desk. "You are the local leader. If you see merit in my words, you can direct me with a reference to the next higher, until I arrive properly where I need to be, instead of clumsily forcing my way there."

She lowered her hooves and took measure of Laud for several silent moments. "How very interesting." She pulled a paper over and grabbed a quill in her mouth. "As you have undoubtedly heard, we are a monarchy. Technically a diarchy, but everyone knows which of the two makes the final decisions. She loves her sister, but this much is obvious." She scrawled something on her paper that Laud couldn't quite make out. "Which is why I'm sending you to see the lesser of the two. She has a greater affinity for what lies outside this world we know."

Spike scratched at his right cheek. "Luna?"

"The same." She put the quill down, grabbed a stamp and thud it against the paper, making an ornate seal. "I presume Twilight can arrange transportation. Good luck."

She sounded cheerful enough, but Laud could read between the lines. She was washing her... hooves of him, whisking him along as quickly as possible to be handled, one way or the other, by more powerful people. Still, it was exactly what he had asked for. He couldn't be too upset at that. "Thank you, Miss Mare." He reached for the paper and she did not stop him from claiming it. It was a letter of introduction, but he wouldn't read it in front of the mayor, that would be testing patiences. "I won't take up more of your valuable time with that, but I do wonder if you could tell me what Ponyville's main exports and imports are?"

The question seemed to perk up the politely dismissive mayor. "Our primary export remains agrarian in nature. Have you visited the orchard? It's what started this town, and we've grown since then. Many other farmers have added their output to the basket, as it were. With our growth, we have developed a healthy commercial and service sector, but as far as direct exports go, food is the number one by a healthy margin."

Spike raised a claw. "What about Rarity's clothes?"

"Ah, yes." Mayor Mare gave a slight nod. "She is a jewel of the community. Her business has expanded outside of Ponyville, however. Still, she does make one of the closest competitors for foodstuffs. Ponies pay quite a bit to have one of her outfits. You would do well to speak to her, Mister Mountbatten. She is a well-connected pony." She pushed her glasses up as she smiled. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Laud was impressed by how cleanly she got his name each time she said it. He wondered if she had spent time practicing to get it right. "Thank you, for your time. If you need to reach us, you know how to do so." It had been made abundantly clear that the mayor knew exactly where he was staying.

"Good luck." She raised a hoof in a wave. "Do let the front clerk know you're leaving."

They departed. The moment the door was closed behind them in the hallway, Spike let out a breath he had been holding. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That?" He waved at the closed door. "You came to ask questions and suddenly went full war face, then you're back to harmless questions again. What was that?"

Laud turned for the exit and began walking. "I do not know how much time we have before the gate is properly repaired, but it scarcely pays to assume more time than there is, so I plan to move this as swiftly as I can without breaking decorum. I don't think she believes me, at least the gravity of my words, but she's done exactly as I asked." A better response than many local leaders he knew, who would have rebuffed him, possibly angrily. He had been ready for a fight, and was met with simple dismissal in the direction he wanted.

"How was your meeting?" asked the same clerk that they had passed on the way in. "Everything go well?"

Laud could see she wasn't actually looking up. She was endeavoring to be polite in a half-assed fashion. "She said to mention she was done."

"Thank you." She grabbed a folder in her mouth and dropped it in a filing cabinet. "Busy day."

Laud saw no reason to disturb the machine that seemed to be serving its people well enough and led the way to the light of day. "Did you learn anything from that, Spike?"

"Uh... not really." Spike rubbed at one arm with the opposing hand. "I mean, how can you tell when it's a good time to stick to your guns, or a good time to play it safe?"

"That's a fantastic question." Laud raised the paper he had been given. His curiosity was getting the better of him, and the mayor had not closed or sealed the letter in anyway, so there seemed little harm in a little peek. "Much of it comes down to practice, but you have to learn to assert yourself and have confidence in your own decisions before you learn when to yield in the face of other qualified opinions. Ultimately, that is what we both did. I said my part, the mayor said hers, and neither of us, in the end, changed our mind. She was mature in passing the situation to a person better able to make a decision on it."

Dear Princess Luna,

The holder of this letter, a tall bipedal stallion of unknown species, has a matter he would like to discuss with you. I'm unsure what to make of it, save for perhaps being another issue that the girls could take care of, but he is rather insistent. If you can afford a moment of your evening for him, it may prove enlightening.

Humbly Yours,
Mayor Mare

"The girls?" What had she meant by that? "Spike, do you know of 'the girls?'"

"Oh yeah, Twilight and her friends." He was bobbing his head as he walked along with Laud. "What about them?"

"Would they be able to handle a full invasion of armed aliens?"

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "They'd figure it out. I mean, best case scenario, it's fixed with a musical number. They do love their musical numbers."

A... musical number? Laud shook his head slowly. "I should imagine it is difficult to sing when being stabbed or slashed."

"Hey, you'd think so... You need to get to know Pinkie better." He hiked a thumb towards the building that seemed like a huge gingerbread house. "We could visit her, actually. Might not be a bad idea. We can get some victory snacks to celebrate your meeting since it went so well. It did go well, right?"

Laud neatly folded the paper to tuck away. "It went as well as it could have, save for her arranging a meeting to the top, though that might have had its own downfalls. No, this was a success. Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you speak to Twilight, about formalizing your place?"

Spike looked confused a moment before he slapped one balled hand against the opposing palm. "Oh, right, the knight thing! I mean... wouldn't that officially make me under Twilight?"

"You already are," countered Laud. "Being a knight will not change that, between you and her. Being a knight would make you higher compared to many others. For instance... Lady Rarity."

Spike began to pinken.

"You favor her, do you not?"

Spike squirmed in place. "Uh... we should--"

"--Finish this conversation," finished Laud with a firm nod. "She clearly fancies those of title, a common trait among women, and men, come to think. If you rise to the formal station you are already living, it could aid you in your... romantic quest."

"R-really?" Spike frowned a moment before he nodded. "Hey yeah, you do have a point. She does! If I... I'll have to talk to Twilight about it, but..." He looked up at Laud with a serious expression. "You said I shouldn't do it unless I plan to do it right."

"I'm glad you remembered that." The little dragon was... easy to like, in his opinion. It was like the son he hadn't had yet. "Do you fully intend to serve as Twilight's knight, to be her sword and shield, her eyes and ears? Her commands would be your reason for living, and her success would be yours. Though one hopes against it, should it prove needed, your life would be forfeit if it meant protecting her. It is a heavy task, but a sacred one, to be admired and respected. Even I can tip my head towards a loyal knight and would be honor-bound to afford them respect and some deference."

Spike's claws interwove, fidgeting among themselves. "I mean... I already love Twilight. Not... like Rarity... you know? She's... I would do almost anything for her, even if I complain sometimes." His eyes went downcast. "I mean... she made me..."

Laud stopped his walk. "Did I mishear that word?"

"What word?"

"Made. She... created you?" Was Spike a golem of some kind?

"Well... I mean..." He looked everywhere but Laud. "It's kind of complicated. So... I was an egg, like most dragons are, but I wasn't hatching... Then Twilight's asked to make it happen, with magic."

"Were you... struggling to hatch?" He could imagine an egg rocking around, the drake inside being too weak to escape. A sad fate.

"N-no. I was... just an egg..."

"She was tasked with making life from an otherwise lifeless egg?" He boggled at the very notion. "Is that possible?" And even if it was, was it right?

"Well... she didn't do so good at first." He waved his claws as if trying to do magic. "She was about to give up when she was startled and all her magic spilled out. Pow!" He punched his own palm. "I hatched."

A sudden new presence dropped down right between the two. It was a pink presence. "Hey! Are we talking about how we all got our cutie marks? I love this story! Can I go, huh huh?" Pinkie was smiling, as she tended to do, bright and cheerful. "Did I ever tell you about the rock farm I grew up on, Laud?"

"A quarry?" Laud could not imagine rocks being 'farmed' in the traditional way one farmed anything.

She waved it off. "It's more than that! Spike, tell him!"

Spike blinked at the command. "I think it's more of an earth pony thing."

"Exactly! And that's what I am." She pointed at herself. "And so is my whole family! I saw you guys out the window, looking all serious so I thought I'd come over and put some smiles on those faces." Her fore hooves raised, a cupcake balancing on either. "A little sweet to sweeten the day?"

Laud accepted the gift with a brief nod. "You are a thoughtful friend, Pinkie. Are we distracting you from your duties?"

She gasped with sudden alarm. "Thanks for reminding me!" She dashed off in a wild springing gait back into the bakery.

Spike reached up and took the cupcake she left behind that still hovered in the air a moment until just before he got to it, falling into his claws. "For an earth pony, she sure seems to have magic at times."

Author's Notes:

Letter get! The mission can proceed!

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Join my discord to chat!

18 - Hitting the Books

Cheerilee set down the letter. "You read that quite well. I'm glad to see our lessons are paying off."

"I'm in a better place for them." Laud clasped his hands together a moment. "Do you know Princess Luna?"

Cheerilee shook her head slowly. "I only met her, mmm, twice come to think of it." She reached out with a hoof and pulled over a small book. "I'd like you to read this. It will be informative as well."

Laud accepted the book from the pony that seemed to be utterly devoid of any magic, psionics, or other supernatural gift but that of education. He put his new equine reading talents to work on its cover. It appeared to be a book of myths and fables. "Why would this be relevant?"

"You should start on page one hundred and twenty two." She pointed at the book with the end of a hoof. "It is quite relevant to you."

He flipped quickly towards the target page. "Tell me, how far back does your history reach?"

"Oh, that is a pointed question." She frowned with the thought of it. "I'm no history expert. I teach enough to get the foals on their hooves and not making fools of themselves... Mmm, the oldest thing... maybe a few thousand years?"

Another mirror! His own people had trouble recalling much that happened more than a few thousand years prior. "I see..." He did not feel the need to share his discovery. He found the named page. "The tale of the Mare in the Moon." He hiked a brow at it. "I don't recall seeing any such shapes in the moon."

"There used to be." Cheerilee pointed up at where the moon could be. "It was quite obvious. Twilight knows about it if you doubt me, but it was part of the sky for a thousand years before it stopped being so. Read the story. That's your homework." She made a little dismissive wave of a hoof, signalling an end of their lesson.

Laud rose from his seat, which didn't seem like it would be that comfortable for the ponies that usually enjoyed it. "Thank you. I will have to pause our lessons while I go to see the princess."

"Just let me know when you come back." She was trotting over to the chalkboard and picked up a bit with her mouth. She began dutifully drawing with it.

Laud couldn't help but watch her work. She was much more how what he would expect, if that word could be used, an intelligent horse to behave, like the ones he had actually seen behaved. She made do with her limited biology. "Miss Cheerilee?"

"Mm?"

"May I assist?"

She set down the chalk and turned to him, looking perplexed a moment before a smile appeared. "If you'd like."

Laud got in some more penmanship training in the equine language and assisted the teaching pony. It seemed an efficient use of his time for the moment.

He emerged from the schoolhouse later, confident that the chalk fit more comfortably in his fingers than it did clenched between her teeth, even if... it meant he had to pretend to not notice it had been slightly dampened for the time it had spent in her mouth. He had his book to read, or at least one tale in it. He wondered what it could have to do with the current Princess, even if her name seemed to be related to moons.

"Hey." A calm voice brought his attention down to where Maud stood beside his path. "I want to show you something." She turned away from him and walked as if completely confident he would follow her without further prompting.

She was, in the end, correct. He did want to see what she was offering. He hurried to reach her side and matched her pace. "What have you managed, Miss Pie?"

Her lips twitched faintly, as if considering a smile, but it never came. "Not many call me that. Maud, or Doctor, or Rocktor, will do. Pinkie will be happy if you use that last one." She led the way to her cavern that rested just outside of town. She was a bit of a hermit, preferring solitude much of the time, but she liked company as well, in controlled doses. "I decided to start at the beginning. Before I can understand the nature of your metal, I had to master its creation." Ah, mineralogy. It was one of the only things that could get her talking energetically. "So, I built a forge for the project." The heat of the forge could be felt, warming the caverns noticeably.

It also wasn't silent, like a slumbering dragon, breathing softly but so loudly. She turned the corner into what was clearly the forge room. "Look." She trotted right past the burning metal oven and plucked up a length of metal and swung it around towards Laud. It had no edge. It was literally a long bar of metal. "It matches your sword."

Laud crouched down to have a better look at it and he reached for it much like Maud had once done to his own blade. It felt firm, but it would take more than a casual touch to know the quality of steel. It appeared right. It glistened in the light, but how could he properly test it. "May I?" She released the block and he stood up fully with it in his grip. It was roughly the size of a sword, but it was a simple length of metal. It was not made to serve the purpose. He was no smith. He could only think of one test. He stepped towards the closest wall and gave it a swing, wincing in preparation. There was no way the collision of metal on stone would feel nice on his hands.

The sound was a great crashing clang. He was forced to drop the length to the ground, his fingers throbbing from the violent impact. The bar was mostly intact for the effort. Some damage had occurred, but that was hardly a mark against it. No sword should be used against stone. It hadn't cracked or bent, simply scored with where the stone had refused to give up to the approach of entirely blunt metal. "Very nice, but can you actually make things with it?" He nudged the bar with a foot. "Bars will only get you so far."

Maud approached and picked up the bar with a hoof in the unnatural way that some ponies did without effort. With a casual toss, she lobbed it into a bin. "I am not a smith. I will get other ponies to do that. The other rocks I found are more... particular." She reached for a second block and set it down in front of Laud.

Laud had no idea what metal it was... It looked far more like a brick than an ingot. It was stone-like but had a bit of shine to it. It had a rough texture. "What manner of rock is this, and why did you make it?"

"Your ship used a lot of this." She sat just in front of it. "Especially in the parts Twilight thought were magic." She rested a hoof on it. "I couldn't say exactly what purpose it served, but knowing how to isolate and create it was the first thing I did. Much of the other parts used obvious things: gold, copper, and other simple metals. Some parts I am still working to decipher." She tapped at the block in front of her. "This is one thing, silicon. I had thought it might be an alloy, but it wasn't. Its natural form is an alloy, and it must be refined to get the silicon out." She blinked her large lashes. "Do you understand?"

He didn't. He was no metallurgist by far. "You've come a remarkable distance in a short amount of time."

She pointed at him. "You have too."

"Mm?"

"You learned our language quickly." She nodded her head as she rose up to her hooves. "That's all I have to show right now. I will continue working. With luck, I will build you a new ship to replace the one that broke."

He wanted to say that that was impossible. He wanted to. He couldn't. She just might do it. "I look forward to seeing what you manage. Do you know Princess Luna?"

"Only a little. Why?" She lifted the metal cube and set it down in the bin where the steel had gone.

He gave his hands a shake, the ache fading from his, perhaps foolish, test. "I'm to meet her to discuss a grave matter."

"Good luck." Her voice didn't rise or lower, which was normal for her.

He would get no help on that non-metal issue from her. It didn't involve rocks, so was beyond her immediate knowledge. That was fine, she was a specialist, and good at what she did. "Thank you, Rocktor, for showing this to me." He waved towards the flaming beast of a machine. "I look forward to seeing what else comes from your efforts."

"Rocks." She turned to the machine and trotted over to begin using it, as if she had answered the question admirably. "See you later."

He left the place of warm humidity back into the crisp air of the afternoon. What season was it? He guessed it was late summer or early fall. The sun felt nice, and the wind was cool. It was a good time of year, by his estimation. He set his sights on taking a short walk through the town. After learning, a little time to unwind seemed the right course of action.

The ponies he saw seemed to be warming to his presence. They waved when they saw him instead of avoiding eye contact. Some even called out his name in greeting with varying levels of success. He did not hold their stumbles against them. Even hearing their equine throats trying their best was enough to please Laud. Besides, he was a source of equal awkwardness with every single word of their language. It would not do for him to be overly expecting in return.

He thought of his translator, left to collect dust in Twilight's castle. If he had any programming skill, it would do quite well to reduce his stumbles over the inhuman sounds.

"Hey!" It was the same word Maud had used, but used in an entirely different way. Lyra had found him and looked happy to see him. "You're not running to or from anywhere, are ya?"

"I am enjoying the day." He smiled at the perky unicorn. "Is something on your mind?"

"Only my horn," she said in a joking tone. "What's that?" She pointed a hoof at the book he held even as her horn began to glow, forming an image of a human hand, a finger extended at the book.

"When did you learn this sorcery?" Laud's eyes were fixed on the spectral hand that pointed in his direction.

"Oh this?" She reached up and the hand came down, balling into a fist and giving her a hoofbump. "You inspired it! Isn't it great? I mean, I didn't invent it or anything, if that's what you meant, but I asked Twilight and she found it for me. Turns out this was just laying around without anyone using it. Now that's a crime if you ask me."

"Twilight has... many sorceries then?"

Lyra gave a short half-laugh. "You don't know the half of it. I mean, I did ask her, then she pointed me to her student, Starlight. You know her? Well she dug this up really quick and we learned it together. Turns out Starlight loves learning new spells." Lyra sat and tapped at her chin as the spectral hand moved to tap at the other side of it. "Oh, wow, that feels weird. Anyway! What's in the book?"

Before that unnerving hand could get to pointing again, Laud showed the cover of the book to Lyra. "A book of fables and myths."

Lyra clapped her hooves together and the hand snapped its fingers in unison. "Oh, right! I remember that one now. We all read that back in the day. It's practically a requirement for any foal. Wow, it's been a long time. You're a little old for that though, aren't you?"

"One is never too old to learn." He tucked the book away. Then, an idea, a delightful idea hit him. "It's been a pleasure speaking with you, but I need to talk to Starlight."

"Can I come?"

Author's Notes:

Oh Lyra, I love writing you. What do you figure Laud's idea might be?

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Join my discord to chat!

19 - Clear Diction

Laud led the way with Lyra as his companion. "This is unlikely to be that interesting to watch, I warn. I simply need some assistance with something."

"Something I'd like to know about, if it's not a big deal." She trotted along, tail swaying in obvious good cheer. "I mean, if you want to. I don't want to be a nosey jerk about it or anything."

She was clearly nosey, but a jerk? "It isn't a secret. It certainly won't be if Starlight can do what I hope she can." He pushed open the door of the castle and passed inside, the mint green pony kept at his side as he began to hunt for Starlight. "Starlight? Miss Glimmer?" The castle felt at once massive and homey at times.

Finding other ponies was usually when it felt at its largest. Laud suddenly realized what was missing. There were no servants to fetch the ladies and lords of the castle, help keep track of where they may be, or any of the other countless chores that needed doing to keep any castle running properly. It seemed like no small miracle that Twilight could keep the place going with her staff of one and a half. It was less than a skeleton crew.

Starlight's head emerged from one door among many as Laud and Lyra explored. "Someone shouting for me?"

"Ah, Starlight, good to see you." Laud approached her with purpose. "Do you recall the device I've left in my room, about this big?" He made the circular gesture by placing his fingers together from both hands to form a wide circle. "It's meant to make sounds outside the range that humans can normally make."

Starlight tilted her head to the left, vanished, then just as abruptly reappeared, holding Laud's translator. "This thing?"

Lyra grinned at the thing. "That looks pretty cool to me!"

"It warms quickly." Laud missed the saying. "The problem is that it is not..." He did not know the word for 'programmed'. "It does not know the pony language, so it can't help."

"Right?" Starlight turned it around in her magic's grip, eyeing it suspiciously. "So, what do you want me to do with it?"

Laud pointed at Starlight's horn and its glow. "Lord forgive me, but your magic, or psionics, or whatever it ultimately is might be the key. Lady Sparkle said that you can influence the electronics inside it."

Starlight's face brightened. "Right! She was going on about that, but even she can barely make anything happen, and she's practiced it more than I have, so far. Why are you asking me instead of her?"

Lyra's tongue poked free of her snout. "Even I can answer that. First, our man Laud here tries to be polite, and Twilight is a princess, so asking her to do things isn't the first thing he'll think to do."

Starlight quirked a brow. "So my time is less important?"

"I do not mean to imply that." Even if was true, Starlight was a person of common birth so far as he could discern. "I am told by Lyra here that you enjoy magical challenges."

Her expression eased from its wary edges as she smiled. "As it happens, I do." She brought the translator to almost touching her quivering nose as she turned it this way and that. "I'll do what I can. Is it safe for not-humans to wear?"

"Entirely." Laud relaxed a little, knowing Starlight had accepted his reasoning. "It was originally meant for inhuman throats to make human sounds, so that those we met could speak with us."

"Is that so?" Starlight opened the collar and slipped it around her own throat, turning it around until it felt right and closing it. "Test?" The device spat out a seemingly random word, as if it had noticed speech but was unable to figure out what was actually being said.

Lyra looked quite amused by it. "That is just amazing! I'd wear one of those if it meant I could talk your crazy language. Speaking of that, could you say a few things in it?"

"Such as?"

"Oh, I dunno... how about a stirring war ballad. I bet you know a few of those." She swayed a little as she made her plea. "Or maybe a nice poem. I wonder if it'll sound right."

Laud considered before he spoke in the clearest English he could, "We stand on the precipice of war. Though the sky may be stained red with those that may fall in the future, we must plant our feet on the ground and face the future with unwavering resolve."

Lyra's cheeks went a deep red. "Nice! Was that a love sonnet? Was it for me? It sounded so romantic!"

Starlight shook her head slowly. "I doubt that was a love poem. He looked a little too serious for that." She quirked a smile. "Besides, why would you want a poem from an alien anyway?"

"Why wouldn't I?!" Lyra blew a raspberry at Starlight. "Can you fix that thingie." She pointed at the translating collar. "It's making all kinds of funny words, but I don't understand a single one of it. Laud, can you understand it."

Laud made a single wave. "It's nonsense. My language, yes, but random nonsense. It does not understand what Starlight is saying."

Starlight pulled it free easily with her magic and brought it to Laud. "How does it work when you use it?" Laud didn't fight her, so she slipped it on him and clasped it shut. "Alright, let's hear it."

Speaking in the pony tongue would just get more nonsense. He reached up and fiddled with the settings. He knew how to turn it towards three particular languages it was programmed with, and turned it towards the equine sounds of the horses he knew previously, the shantor. He spoke in English, "This is a test." What emerged was equine snorts and noises.

Both ponies looked appalled a moment before Lyra fell over laughing. "Oh wow! What a tongue!"

Starlight looked away, her cheeks warmed. "I don't think you meant what you said, but please don't say that again."

Laud frowned as he undid the clasp of the translator. "What did it say? There were no pony words that I recognized."

Lyra rolled back up onto her haunches. "It has the thickest accent I ever heard, and it came out a bit garbled, but it sounded like you were making a very lewd proposal. I'm flattered, really, but we're still getting to know each other."

Starlight reached with her magic, reclaiming the translator. "I see it already knows how to speak a little like we do. That should make this a touch easier. Look, I can't make any promises. What happens if I break it trying to make it do what we want?"

"Then I will lose a thing that serves no purpose in its current condition." Laud shrugged. "Whereas if you do succeed, I will gain something valuable. It is a risk, but the benefit is worth it."

Starlight slipped it away into whatever pocket space it seemed all ponies had. "What if I go the other way? I mean, if I teach it our language, there's no reason we can't make it so a pony wearing it can talk your language, just like you want to speak ours without your accent."

"What's wrong with his accent? It's cute." Lyra sat up properly. "It's 'you'. No reason to rush to be generically good. When I hear that nasally pitch, I know it belongs to a brave human stallion."

Laud did not like being referred to as nasally in any context. "It is better to be understood clearly. As for ponies speaking English, that would be great, but I only have one of those, and there are many more ponies than that."

Starlight got the most wicked of planning faces an instant before she vanished away.

Lyra peered at the spot she had once occupied. "That mare has something up her sleeves."

"When does she not?" He turned towards Lyra, the only conversational presence left. "Do you think she can do it?"

"With that expression? She'll keep trying until it explodes or she gets it, I bet. It'll be fun to see either way, but she ran off before we could." She rolled her eyes. "She probably poofed to one of the many labs hidden in this castle to get to work."

It was all Laud could ask for. "I need to speak to Lady Sparkle next."

"Lady Sparkle," echoed out Lyra with an amused tone. "I bet she looks flustered every time you call her that."

"She does. Do you know why?" The idea that a noble would show any aversion to being addressed with a title confused Laud.

"That's easy." Lyra stood up and began walking. "I knew her for the longest time, since before she had wings, or a crown. She was just a nerdy little unicorn, a runt really, but here she is now, bigger than most of us with a castle that dwarfs the town."

Laud walked with her, wondering if she knew where Twilight was at that moment. "About that. You say she was purely a unicorn?"

"One hundred percent." She pointed up at her own horn. "Just the same as me. She earned her wings, became a princess, pop, just like that. I was so excited for her! I couldn't stop giggling and bouncing for days."

Laud had little issue imagining Lyra doing just that. "Was it a sorcery that allowed it?"

"It was! She, what was it... She learned a new kind of magic, of friendship." Lyra nodded firmly. "Yes, that was it, for sure. That's why she's the princess of friendship."

That idea was less easy to grasp. "A magic that forms friendships?"

"Nah, we've had those forever, as lame as they are." Lyra waved that idea away. "More like... harnessing friendship, of making the strength of our bonds into a thing of magic. It's pretty special. I've seen her go all rainbow power with it, literally. It's a wild show. Her and her friends fwoosh around like a bunch of super-ponies."

Friendship turned into arcane strength? It threatened to get close to the oddest concept he had heard on their planet so far. "Does it drain that friendship?"

"Not that I can tell. I mean, they're all super close friends still. Bunch of oddballs, really. A fashionista, an excitable extrovert socialite, a reclusive introvert scholar, a hard-working laborer, an almost painfully shy animal expert, and a dare-devil athletic walk into a bar..."

"Is that a joke?"

"It is! I was wondering if you'd get it. Still, a crazy group that loves each other so very much. I get jealous at times before I remember I have my Bonnie and it's alright." She pointed up at Laud. "And maybe you, maybe. We're working on that, right?"

They emerged into a small library where Twilight was poring over a book while taking notes on a floating piece of parchment, a quill that glowed with her magic scribbling on it quietly. She must have heard them enter and twitched an ear towards them. "Laud? Who's that with you?"

"It's me," called out Lyra. "Which you'd know if you just turned around. What's up?"

Twilight finished what she was writing and set it aside before she turned. "I heard Laud's shoes easily enough, but hooves are not as easy to identify from one another. Lyra, good to see you." Her eyes moved to Laud. "And you as well. How can I help either of you?"

Before Laud could ask a question, Lyra jumped straight in, "He was wondering how you became a princess and got your wings. Knowing him, he probably wants to know what sort of strange magic was involved that made you get bigger and grow wings. Did that hurt, by the way? I bet it had to, I mean, how could it not?"

Laud put a hand over Lyra's face. It was an inexcusably rude thing to do among humans, but he'd seen enough ponies do it to one another to know it was considered normal for them to cut one another off if two were familiar. "While fascinating, I have more pressing questions."

Author's Notes:

Questions, answers! I do enjoy Laud's journey into pony world, and I hope you are as well. How well will Starlight do in tinkering with the translation collar?

20 - An Important Date

Laud was walking with Lyra towards the exit. "Now is a matter of waiting. There isn't much more to do to help Starlight on her task."

"Suppose not," agreed the mint green unicorn before she frowned. "Except wonder what Twilight is doing."

Laud heard hooves and turned to see Twilight approaching with a pair of tickets hovering in her magic. "Glad I caught you two before you ran away. Here." She floated the tickets over towards Laud. "Two tickets to Canterlot."

He accepted the tickets, plucking them free of the magic field that had held them up. "Thank you, but?"

"You didn't forget, did you?" Twilight hiked a brow. "That's where Princess Luna is. She's eager to meet you."

That made sense enough, but... "Why two?"

Twilight pointed at Lyra. "I figured you'd take a pony with you to help you get around."

Lyra's grin stretched wide, but she didn't say anything.

Laud considered over the list of ponies he knew well. There was Spike, though he was no pony. Playing servant to Laud would do him no particular favors, though Laud doubted he would refuse if asked. There was Maud, but she was hard at work with her metallurgy, which could have incredible dividends in the end, no, best to leave her be. Starlight was in the same category. Twilight was a princess, he would not request her personal company, especially to visit a peer of hers. It would send many messages, some of them poor.

There was Cheerilee, but she was employed fairly constantly in the education of the town's young. It would be quite a burden to tell her to stop. Pinkie?

Twilight had left while Laud made his considerations. "Good luck!"

Lyra, on the other hoof, grinned up at him, almost bouncing in place. "So, when are we going?"

It seemed like a decision made for him, which he did not like. Still... "Do you know Canterlot well?"

"Well?" She gave a pfft. "What a question. Me and Twilight were classmates when she was there. I moved to Ponyville basically the same day she did. There isn't a pony in this whole town--" She spread her forehooves wide, balancing on her hind legs well. "--that could be a better guide." She came back down to all fours. "Besides, I understand you, Laud. I'll make sure you get where you want to go."

Lyra turned for the door and started trotting for it. "So let's get to it. The sooner we're on the train, the sooner we get there."

Though no expert in Equestrian navigation, Laud had seen the train coming and going and strode to be at the front of their little group. "Tell me, what powers this train? Is it magic?"

"Nah." Lyra waved a hoof as she trotted. "Usually they use a big coal engine, but when that's not feeling so hot, they strap up four to eight of the biggest earth ponies they can find and get 'em galloping."

"Galloping?" Laud considered how heavy the trains appeared from a distance. "More of a slow walk?"

Lyra giggled at the very idea. "No one wants to wait while they walk. No, they make them gallop. Why would they walk?"

Laud decided to hold his tongue until he could see himself. He knew where the station was and moved for it quite directly.

"Nervous?" Lyra bumped into Laud, side-to-side. "Luna's a softie from what I hear."

"And how much have you heard?" They were approaching the station itself. There were ponies waiting on the platform, and others forming a queue to buy tickets. Laud already had his tickets, which he looked over as he went. They were clearly stamped as being from Ponyville to ... He assumed it said Canterlot. He was still working on his reading ability in the equine tongue.

Lyra was joyfully talking still, "She's a little awkward. Being trapped on the moon for a thousand years does that, I guess. She's adjusting nicely and so long as you don't get scared by her, which is easy to do, there shouldn't be a problem."

"Scared?" Well, she was a princess... "Is she known for harsh punishments on those that find her displeasure?"

"The way you put that." Lyra sank to her haunches on the station platform, peeking back and forth along the lines. "I mean, no, she hasn't had anyone executed or banished or anything that I know of. Oh, right, you don't know the tale of the Mare in the Moon."

Laud suddenly remembered the book he was supposed to read that he didn't quite get to. "I presume you know it. Perhaps you can share it with me as we travel?"

"Gladly! Oh, here it comes." She pointed a hoof down the rails. The ground began to tremble softly as the great engine emerged over a hill and began powering towards the town. The color scheme was... interesting. Bright pastels gave the impression of being an art piece, or a child's toy. The rumble it made as it came closer, spewing smoke into the air, implied it was built for power and speed. "The Friendship Express!"

Laud frowned with thought. The idea that such a great thing, rumbling as it did, could be pulled along by a few ponies, at a full gallop? That was... worrying. How strong did ponies get? Was that seemingly harmless school teacher perhaps the most immediately powerful of all the ponies? Was it truly magic that was worthy of being nervous about? While Twilight could weave blasphemous magic, perhaps Cheerilee could simply reach out and snap him in half, if such a desire came to her.

"Look alive, Laud. Time to board." Lyra was waving excitedly at one of many boarding ramps into the train. "If we miss it, we'll have to wait like half an hour for the next one."

Was he protecting the ponies, or would he serve as shield to the rest of the universe against them? He let out a little breath as he got to walking. In the end, any country worth talking about required both. He would be their shield, their restraint, and their voice. Such was the lot of royalty.

As he stepped onto the train, he gave the side of it a rap. The deep reply was that of solid metal. It was no flimsy thing. The sound from his footfalls said the same thing. He was on a massive beast.

"Ticket?"

Laud looked down at pony with a hat and impressive facial hair. The stallion was holding forward a hoof expectantly. Laud surrendered the pair of tickets he had been given. "This will get us to Canterlot." He said it as a matter of fact, even if there was a question in there.

"Sure will," replied the conductor as he ripped off a bit of both tickets and handed them back. "Get yourself comfortable." He strode past, not even asking what Laud was or questioning his presence beyond having a ticket.

Lyra pointed to an available bench. "Let's get a spot."

Laud agreed with the notion and soon set himself down on window-side seat. "He didn't seem alarmed by me."

"Should he be?" Lyra shrugged. "You had a ticket."

While that was true... "He is very well trained if nothing can bother him so long as it follows the protocols." He doubted any of his manservants would have returned the favor if a pony made an appearance, even with all proper paperwork. "So, about that story?"

"Oh yeah!" She cleared her throat. "Alright, so, a long long time ago, there was Celestia and Luna, princesses and sisters. Celestia raised the sun, and Luna raised the moon. They ruled over their half of the day." She rose and lowered her forehooves to emphasize each part. "Problem. Luna's ruling over the night, when most ponies are busy sleeping. She doesn't get half the attention Celestia does. All the parades and parties and stuff were on her. Luna, who? Oh, that mare we never see." Lyra wriggled her nose. "So she got pissed off eventually."

"It is a thing of less glamor, but still of importance to be alert when the sun has set." Laud typically avoided night shifts, so he was not entirely without sympathy. "What did she do with her anger?"

"She attacked Celestia." Lyra shrugged. "Don't hold it against her, they've worked it out, now, but she did. Celestia hit her with a big magic kapow." She punched a hoof ahead. "Off to the moon she went, becoming the Mare in the Moon for a thousand years."

And that was who he would talk to? "So she was in a state of suspension for a millennium?"

"Basically, yeah." Lyra shrugged softly. "She's been back for a little bit now. Ponies stay up a lot later these days. I blame lightbulbs. She gets a fairer shake, and the sisters are reunited. Happy ending!" She clopped her hooves softly. "I mean, really, it could have gone so much worse if you think about it."

"Did she just... emerge from her lunar stasis a reformed person?"

"As if." Lyra waved the motion away. "She was angry and ready to go all out again, but that's where Twilight first had a chance to shine. She was just a unicorn at the time, but she made her friends, the ones she's glued to now, and they went off and confronted her and literally blasted the bad thoughts out of her."

That... did not sit well with Laud. "They forced her mind, with magic?"

Lyra shrugged. "I mean, yeah? Kinda? They cleared out all the icky junk so she could see what was going on with a clear head and she realized she was being a huge jerk. She apologized to her sister and became our princess of the night again. Hurrah for that!" Lyra pointed at Laud. "Speaking of that, what are you going to ask her about?"

Laud leaned forward a little, his hands on his knees. "Is there a defense against this? I don't fancy the idea of my mind being 'cleared', altered, or in any way influenced by magic. I will admit it is a bit baffling that you are so comfortable with the notion."

Lyra rubbed the side of her head with a hoof. "You could get a fancy helmet. If you have some bits, we could shop around Canterlot before we go say hi. Still, unless you plan to do something crazy, I don't think anyone's going to do anything that bad."

Bits... He did not have many of those. As royal as he was, he only had what his hosts provided. It was galling on some levels. "This conversation cannot be delayed." If he was appointed to proper station, overseeing the world and its relations with the greater universe, finances would fade as a limiting factor. "Is there something we could get that would be... frugal?"

"Frugal mind protection..." Lyra looked left and right before her horn glowed and she plucked up an abandoned newspaper. "Maybe there's a sale!" She held the newspaper fully open and scanned over the many little lines of equine writing. "News... obituaries, funnies, oh, haven't seen this one yet." She giggled a bit at the joke she was reading. "Oh Punch Line, you always know just what to say..."

"The mind protection," gently reminded Laud.

"Right right." She flipped to the next page. "Here we go, sales... Oh! There's a big one going on at a department store I used to go to all the time when I lived there." She pressed her hoof to the page. "Stallions and Bucks. Don't let the name fool you, they got plenty of things for boys and girls. It's a big place with a little of everything. They might have something sitting on a shelf, just waiting to be picked up."

A marketplace seemed as fine as any other to seek answers. "We'll take a look there, but we press on whether we find it or not. I have little doubt that Princess Luna knows we're coming, and to tarry long would speak ill for us."

Lyra folded the paper up even as a portion of it came free and floated into her grip. "There was a coupon. It might come in handy."

Author's Notes:

We're off to see a princess! You know what this means, right? Shopping!

You could have your story written by joining the atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

21 - City Life

The train slowed as it pulled into the station atop the mountain Canterlot called home. Laud stepped out with Lyra at his side, admiring the view of the wider Equestria afforded by the great height. "Your world is a good one. Let's do our part to protect it."

"You sound so serious." Lyra shook her head. "Relax. We have good ponies to do that for us. Now, where is it..." Her eyes scanned over the city before thrusting a hoof out. "There we are! Stallions and Bucks." She was pointing to a three story structure about a city block away.

It drew Laud's attention to the city itself instead of looking away from it. He could see that Canterlot was a city. It emphasized that Ponyville was not. Ponies were everywhere, mostly unicorns it seemed. Many were dressed, also unlike Ponyville. Refined culture? "Why doesn't the seamstress, Rarity, operate here, where her talents look more immediately in demand?"

Lyra wriggled her nose as she began to trot forward. "You want to visit Rarity's Canterlot shop? We could do that."

"No need, that explains my question nicely." Laud easily met her stride, walking swiftly with her. He watched the road and the situation. Ponies had noticed him, but were not reacting, not overtly. He could see them subtly avoiding crossing his path. They were doing their best to not interact with the strange creature while not making a scene about it.

At least until a young pegasus flew directly at him. It seemed the youth of the ponies lacked much of the 'innate' fear of the unknown of the adults. That was a trait humans shared at times. "Heya!" the flying colt squeaked out at Laud, looking excited. "You're a funny looking minotaur. Where are your horns? Did something happen to your tail? Did that hurt? Are you hurt?" His speech was rapid and energetic and his little wings buzzed, allowing him to hover as he spoke.

Laud smiled at the child. What else was a proper reaction to the innocence of the young? "Hello, little one. I am afraid we have urgent business. To answer your query, no, I am entirely well."

Lyra waved him away. "Nice to meetcha, colt, but like Laud said, we gotta go, appointment with a royal sister and all."

"Ohhhhh." It seemed the concept of a royal appointment wasn't entirely foreign to the young one. "Good luck!" And off he went, buzzing over the crowd.

Fortunately, that was the only obstacle between them and that store. The building was well-lit, with a bright sign that advertised itself in bold and clear letters. It proudly proclaimed the ponies to be operating at a technology level of at least 3. That matched most of what Laud had seen. He had seen no aircraft more advanced than a slowly drifting balloon and not a hint of a computer. Still, they had electricity and weren't afraid to use it. They had steam technology, medicine, and other conveniences that they used to build their peaceful world with.

A pity his own people made use of up to level 10. "Miss Heartstrings--"

"--Lyra," she quickly corrected. "Friends don't go tossing 'misses' and 'misters' around. What's up?"

"Your people seem to be well advanced, commercially." He stepped towards the front door of the place, his eyes wandering over the items being offered in the windows. Most were household items. "Do you know where in here we'd find the protection?"

"Nope, but I know how to find out." She skipped ahead, the door opening with her glowing horn. "Hey!" Her sudden call summoned a waitstaff, dressed in a stiff-looking outfit. "We're looking for a little something to protect the ole' noggin' from unicorn magic." She pointed at her own head as she spoke. "Whattaya got?"

The mare gave a thoughtful hum of consideration. "That would be on the... second floor." She pointed up. "Would you like me to show you there?"

"Please." Lyra bobbed her head before looking back at Laud. "We're off."

It turned out that ponies had escalators. The pegasi avoided them more often than not, but since most of their customers were unicorns, that seemed like a non-issue. Laud would have strode up the moving stairs, but their help seemed in no hurry, so they waited for her to arrive at the speed of the transportation. The shop-tending unicorn mare trotted away on the second floor. "Let's see here. Home security--" She pointed down aisles as she went. "--personal security, jokes, ah, unicorn protection." She entered the aisle with a little smile. "Are you new to Canterlot, sir? As a rule, we mind our magic. You must have heard some wild tales."

Lyra waved the idea away. "He's not scared of unicorns. He just likes being prepared, is all."

Laud gave a slight nod in agreement. "Unicorns have, thus far, been polite." So far he could tell... That was the worst part about magic, especially anything that reached into one's skull. Could you even trust yourself to know when it happened? "Thank you."

"A pleasure!" She gave a bright smile. "Just call if I can assist in any other way." And off she went, pleased with herself for a job well done.

Lyra rose up to two hooves, her horn glowing as she started plucking down boxes to inspect. "Oh wow, they have way more options than I was thinking. Here I was, imagining a few circlets and helmets."

Laud was doing much the same, turning boxes this way and that to read what they claimed to do. "The quality of some of these seem... dubious." He saw too many key words that implied, to him that they were being marketed towards the gullible and paranoid, rather than someone with a legitimate concern. "While others look outrageous." He held up a box that had a picture of a nervous-looking pony covered from their fuzzy ears down to their hard hooves in a crazy matrix of glowing lines. "Rated at 900 thaums of protection?"

Lyra pointed at the box Laud was holding. "900?! That's some serious gear you're holding. That means it takes 900 thaums of magical pressure from a unicorn, like me, to get one thaum to apply to you. That's a lot of roadblock to anyone thinking about doing anything magic to you." She squinted at it. "You'll make a sour impression if you show up looking like that though."

"This I agree with." He set the box down. While having firm protection against magic would be ideal, he had contacts to make and positions to secure. "At least I understand the labeling. What would you say then is 'adequate' protection?"

Lyra fell to all fours. "Mm, well, Two will annoy a unicorn, four or five will make sure both you and they know something's going on and give you a chance to react. Ten and up is where you want to get to actually stop stop a unicorn, though it depends on what unicorn. I mean, Starlight or Twilight? They're going to blow through most of this, and that shouldn't even be a surprise." She flashed a grin at Laud. "All you need to stop me is to ask nicely. Buds don't use magic on buds when it's not wanted." She peered up at where he had picked up the last box. "Also, that is way out your budget, probably."

Laud glanced at the price before quickly agreeing. "Yes. Let's aim for something in the five to ten region. Knowing someone is attempting to enchant me and having a chance to react would put me at ease." He saw a much smaller box that showed a prim and proper unicorn mare with a necklace around her neck. She looked calmly confident with a little smile. "This one is rated at eight, and looks far less obvious." He looked down at its price and saw that it was more bits than he had... "Pancreator above..." The first word was in English, it had to be. The ponies had no word for God.

Lyra peeked where he was looking. "That looks nice. How much do you have? I can help." Her horn glowed as she pulled free a bag of jingling coins.

A noble borrowing money from a commoner? What a situation he had found himself in. Still... "Thank you." He pulled out half the money he did have. "I will return it when I am able."

"Don't even worry about it." She fished out enough coins to make up the difference. "Consider it a gift, between friends, maybe more?"

Laud paused. The hints were too many and too obvious. Lyra favored him. How deep did that favor run? Was she courting him? Was she simply being friendly? Was it polite to ask? "Lyra, I am a stranger in your land, unused to its customs. Allow me to be forthright and hope that you will be in kind. What manner of friendship are you desiring?" She was turning a deep shade of red right through her mint green fur even as he asked. Her nonverbal reply was quite a statement.

"Oh, you know... I mean..." She waved a hoof in the air a bit wildly. "You know..." She was entirely tongue locked. Suddenly she let out a loud laugh. "Well, we should go buy this little bauble!" Her horn snatched at the box, making it float over her. "We don't want to keep Princess Luna waiting!" She half-shouted, clearly deflecting the situation.

On one hand, Laud wanted to press on that, on the other, perhaps that was unwise... "Yes, we should focus on our meeting." There was time to confront Lyra with personal affairs when they were not engrossed in matters of the state. They approached the counter and Lyra set the box down. Laud nudged it towards the smiling stallion that stood there. "I'd like this."

"A fine choice." He didn't seem to be looking at it particularly closely. He collected the bits for it and deposited it into a mechanical cash register. "Did you find everything you were looking for?"

Laud snapped his fingers. "I had almost forgotten. I would like a small trinket, a gift for Princess Luna. Nothing extravagant, just a polite gesture."

Lyra hopped at that, her ears training on Laud. "I almost forgot." She fished out the coupon she had snipped earlier. "Here. Good for a few flowers with a purchase."

The stallion reached for the coupon and nodded. "Well, here's your receipt. Go ahead and pick out a few. Good luck." He gave a soft nod and his eyes wandered to the next pony in line.

Laud did not further intrude on the busy pony, nor did he rush for the flowers. He took a few steps away from the register to let it be used, then ripped into the package he had just purchased. Inside, in a velvet box, was the necklace. It had a fine silver chain and the crystal was teardrop shaped. It was an off-blue color that Laud didn't mind terribly.

"Let me get that." Lyra's magic wrapped around the necklace, but doing little else. Lyra frowned at it. "Wow, it works..." She visibly struggled, grunting as she undid the latch on it and slowly snaked it around Laud's neck. She sagged, panting. "That is way harder than I thought it would be."

It was hanging limply around Laud's neck, not latched. He quickly remedied that with his deft fingers. Fortunately, the magic of human fingers did not qualify for interference. He felt better already, seeing Lyra struggle to just affix the necklace to him. "I feel as if I had been naked all these months. It is good to have that resolved. Lyra, will you help me select the proper flower?"

Lyra blinked softly. "Well, I don't know Luna's personal tastes... We should get her something light and tasty."

Tasty? He opened his mouth to ask about that when he remembered who, or what, he was talking to. She was a horse. She was a very intelligent and magical horse, but still a horse. The flowers were not decorational. They were a snack. "Right." It wouldn't be too odd. To arrive with some finger foods or sweets was far from an unknown gesture. Its reception could be valuable. If she ate it without delay, she trusted him, or her own fortitude. If she shied from it, she feared poison.

Author's Notes:

I have fun with shopping trips at times in my stories. Let's go shopping!

You could have your story written by joining the atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

22 - Moonrise

Laud walked briskly towards the castle. It wasn't hard to find, being one of the larger structures in the city and placed such that it caught the eye to any within it. It wanted to be seen. Laud quietly commended its construction. It appeared well-built and of sturdy construction even from a distance, with more than enough ornamentation to gloat of a highly-successful nation. The splashes of stained glass windows drew his eyes along with the touches of gold trim that ran along many of its edges. It was a palace, not a defensive castle. It was made to scream to the world that Equestria was a prosperous place, and this was the seat of its power.

He could only hope to one day have a palace as opulent as a mark of an equally successful demesne.

"You look impressed." Lyra was matching his pace, though her eyes were on him more than the palace they approached. "It's quite a sight, huh? I used to live around here, before I moved out to Ponyville. I wonder if any of the guards I knew will be at the front door."

Laud allowed his gaze to roam around the city in a quick sweep. Much of it followed the aesthetic style set by the palace. Was that enforced, or did the ponies do that on their own, wanting to match the opulence and style of their rulers? Either was a compliment to the people in a different way. "Is there a specific entrance we should use?"

"The front gate?" Lyra trotted ahead towards the wide stairs that dominated the front of the castle. "I mean, unless you're here for a gala or you work here, this is where most people come and go."

The look of it confirmed it for Laud. The palace was built to impress, not defend. Having the majority of the traffic, flowing through a criminally under-protected front door did not speak for security being of a very high priority. That sent its own messages, some of them positive. They did not fear. They strode up those stairs, approaching a couple of golden-armored guards. They appeared to be unicorns.

They lowered their spears in unison, held in their arcane grips. "Halt." Their eyes were set on Laud. "Who, and what, are you?"

Lyra frowned at them. "Celestia would tan both of your hides if she saw you treating a royal guest that way."

"Noble," Laud corrected. "I am no king or emperor. I have come at invitation." He produced the invitation smoothly from a pocket. "I'm here to see Princess Luna."

One of the two stepped forward to get a better look at the invitation. "Looks right, follow me." He nodded to the other, who raised his spear back into idle position. "This way."

Laud got a chance to see the stained glass windows from much closer. They depicted scenes of presumed importance. Images of important ponies doing important things, though he had no context for them, at least until he spotted one of Twilight being coronated. That was hard to not recognize. Laud filed it away. It meant the prosperity of the kingdom was ongoing if they could afford to continue having new windows made, and selected to do so to celebrate a new member of royalty. Many kingdoms he knew would not go to the expense.

They were led into a dining room of sorts. The guard gestured with a hoof at the long table. "Princess Luna will be with you shortly. Help yourself." He dipped his head, then trotted away, leaving them alone.

Lyra hopped right up onto one of the wide-bottomed chairs and, with a glow of her horn, snagged a cupcake from off the table and took a big bite out of it. "Glad to see some things haven't changed." She took another eager bite. "Mmm, tastes just as good as I remember it. Celestia loves her pastries."

Laud opted against partaking. Instead he sank into a chair, or tried. He could not sit in it as a chair, but the solution came quickly. He pulled up his legs and sat in the chair as if it were one big cushion. It was made for a larger horse, and it worked better when he abandoned the idea of a human chair. He set the flowers he had brought with him down on the table. "Now, we wait. The amount of time has meaning."

Lyra perked an ear at him. "It tells you how busy she is?"

"In part." Laud brought his hands together, fingers weaving through one another. "She knew we were coming. Our shopping delay means, if she cared to, she had plenty of warning that we had arrived in her city. Most delay at this point would be a power display on her part, showing that she will not be cowed or impressed by what I have given her, so far. It would not be unreasonable."

"Or she's tired."

Laud was about to ask what Lyra meant by that when the door opened.

Luna stepped in, yawning in a tremendous display. "Hello and well met. I apologize, but you've come during my sleeping hours. Such is the way of things. I am the princess of the night, after all."

He tensed from top to bottom. He had erred on the very first step, and it was an easily avoidable misstep at that. "My apologies, princess. If you would prefer we return come the evening, I will not further inconvenience you."

Luna sank into a seat directly opposed to Laud. "I will not require that. You. Your name is Laud Mountbatten if I am told correctly?"

Lyra thrust a hoof up. "I'm Lyra Heartstrings!"

Luna and Laud ignored her outburst in silent agreement. He dipped his head towards her. "A pleasure to meet you, Princess Luna. A gift; consider it a token of what I hope will be a positive relationship." He offered the bundle of violets towards her.

Luna's great horn glowed dimly as she took the offered flowers and made them float across the table towards herself. "I accept your token. Now, let us get to the heart of the--" She paused to yawn. "--matter. Princess Sparkle has been most... verbose in her reports. She seems to think you represent a much larger culture?"

"I am a member of House Hawkwood. We are one of several competing houses, to speak nothing of other interests in the greater universe. We span--" He made grand gestures as he spoke, trying to impress on the sleepy princess the magnitude of his words "--multiple planets across dozens of stars. Most of us are as you see me, human." That last word was in English. There was no equine word for it. "But we are far from alone. Other races have been found." He considered mentioning the Shantor, the equines, but that was a sad tale that would bring no benefit.

"Grand stories." She leaned forward, her eyes falling on Laud, then specifically his chest. "Mmm?" Her horn glowed as she seized Laud's necklace a moment before releasing it. Had it warded her attempt? Laud could not be certain. "I would ask for proof, but we have some of that in the form of your strange carriage. By what means did you travel here? Did you simply sail between the stars blindly, hoping to find us?"

"That would take... an unreasonable amount of time." Laud cringed internally at the thought of sailing for countless years between star systems. "We make use of jumpgates between systems. Used properly, the transit is basically instant, provided there is a gate both ends.

Luna sat up suddenly, looking much more awake. "Then there is a jumping gate present? Where?"

Lyra pointed up. "Somewhere that way?"

She was guessing, but she wasn't wrong. Laud nodded in agreement. "It is in a stable orbit around this world. That is an odd p--"

"Show me." Luna stood up, her wings spreading. "Do you know precisely where it is?"

"I am afraid I do not." Laud steepled his fingers. "I was forced into a landing soon after arriving. As I was--"

"--No." Luna folded her wings back. "No, no no no!" She stormed off with a great frown, repeating her mantra as she fled, abandoning the meeting entirely.

Lyra tilted her head left and right. "It could have gone worse."

Laud set his palms flat on the table and lifted himself to his feet. "I fear asking, but in what manner are you imagining?"

Lyra lifted her shoulders in a powerful shrug. "Well, we're not arrested, or banished, or executed, or... Really any of that, see, could be worse." She hopped off of her seat. "What are we doing now?"

Laud mulled over his options. They were in the royal palace. He could attempt to speak to Princess Celestia, the acknowledged true ruler of the kingdom. Would attempting to do so be seen as rashly bold? Better bold than meek. "Which way to the courtroom? Do you know?"

"Oh yeah, this way." Lyra trotted ahead of him, guiding the way with a swaying tail. "You want to see ponies arguing about stuff? I guess you're a politician too, come to think. No offense or anything. I bet your arguments would be exciting and about important stuff."

The guards they passed seem to pay them little mind. As watchful as the ones at the front had been, those within the palace seemed happy to assume the average visitor had already been vetted.

"Miss Heartstrings?" asked a male voice as a well-dressed pony approached. "And... I'm afraid I don't know your name... miss?"

A pony just tried to guess his gender, and failed. He felt some annoyance, but also some amusement. They could be just as strange to him. "Sir Laud Mountbatten, of House Hawkwood," he offered in introduction. "And you are?"

Lyra hopped up onto two legs and waved at the point. "This is Prince Blueblood. Bluey, this is Laud, as he just finished saying." She fell back to all fours. "Ole Bluey and I were friends, back in the day."

That captured Laud's interest. "Prince? Of the same peerage as Princess Celestia and Luna?"

He smiled, more of a beaming really. "Oh, yes. I am auntie's nephew. A pleasure to meet you. What title do you hold?"

"I am a baron by right of birth." Laud crossed a hand over his chest. "Of course, my kingdom is not your own."

Lyra shook her head. "Be honest, Bluey."

"Whatever do you mean?" The white unicorn's eyes darted about. "I have been nothing but forthright."

Lyra reared up and leaned against Blueblood. "Prince is a nickname, not his official title."

Blueblood shoved her free. "Miss Heartstrings! Well, yes..." He glanced away and back. "I am a Duke, if it must be known, but Princess Celestia is my aunt."

"Like a gazillion times removed," sang Lyra. "Don't get me wrong, Bluey here is a good pony."

Laud nodded to the aristocratic equine. "A pleasure to meet you. It is my wish to serve your people."

Blueblood's ears went up. "Is it now? Don't your own people have need of you?"

"In serving Equestria, I will be serving my own people." It wasn't a lie. The trade and prestige in taking the world would be an immense boon. To do it without a single death would make him a legend. "We were hoping to speak to your aunt, Princess Celestia. I don't suppose you could arrange that?"

Lyra nudged up against his side. "Yeah, give us a hoof. We'd really appreciate it."

Some ponies read as plainly as books. Laud could see that Blueblood was reacting to Lyra's playful advances. "Look, Miss Heartstrings, I am aware you were, once, a royal student, but no more." He turned to face her directly. "You abandoned that. You are nothing but... a commoner now."

Lyra thrust a hoof over at Laud. "That's not true. I'm escorting a baron around, so I'm back on the noble foodchain."

Author's Notes:

Oh Lyra, never stop being you...

What haunted Luna so much she ran off?

Will Blueblood give a hoof or become another obstacle?

How many different ways can Lyra's last statement be taken?!

23 - Eclipse

Blueblood fixed Laud squarely in his sights. "You understand, I presume, that favors come with prices."

"A favor for a favor," replied Laud easily. "I will not compromise my virtues, but the returning goodwill is a basic thing. Besides, this is a great opportunity for you." He waved a hand to the side. "Just imagine it, countless new markets suddenly available, hungering for the product of your people. It will take talented ha--hooves to see it done right."

Blueblood turned his eyes skyward a moment before returning them to Laud. "Princess Twilight has been most... verbose about her theories and thoughts on the matter. I'm sure she would love to be the very first, preaching friendship to each new visitor as they arrived." His lips turned up into a faint smile. "But that won't be why they're here, I imagine. No, they'll want to get to business. So, all you have to do is have me be one of their first contacts, before Twilight. We can get the proper business out of the way before she and her friends make fools of themselves."

Lyra blew a raspberry at the whole thing. "What's wrong with Twilight? She's a good mare, and gets results."

Blueblood frowned at the interruption. "What 'results' are you referring to? She's done precious little in the capacity of her new role."

"What about the yaks?" Lyra rolled her eyes. "They don't count?"

Blueblood burst into laughter. "There is a reason no one else bothered with them. They are allies now, yes, but to what end? They export basically nothing, and import even less. As trade partners, they may as well not exist. Their culture is backwards and aggressively insular. Their leadership is a running joke with no punchline." He swat her across the withers. "As amusing as you may be, allow the adults to speak here. What say you, Sir Mountbatten?"

Laud had no ill will towards Twilight. She and her friends had been pivotal to getting him as far as he'd come. Still, she did not strike him as a business... mare? Maybe Rarity. "I will speak highly towards Celestia in regards to you being given first bid for the position. If they grant my request, then I can give you proper consideration myself. Have you dealt with interracial commerce before?"

"Oh, I have." He smiled confidently. "And I look forward to doing it on a larger stage. Let's not waste further time." He turned away and began trotting. "If I know Auntie, and I do, she's enjoying a moment to herself between hearings." He perked his ears at each interaction they passed, swerving them around. "No... No...." He stopped and turned. "Here we are." With an energetic trot he approached a door, cleared his throat, and called through it, "Auntie, dearest, I have a most interesting guest for you."

"Blueblood?" came a female voice through the door. "Come in."

His horn glowed and the door opened at the bidding of his magic. "Good afternoon. I apologize for troubling, but this is a guest that deserves it, I should say. Princess Celestia, meet--" He waved at Laud grandly. "Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods."

Celestia leaned to the side, her long neck coming into view as she peeked at Laud and Lyra both. "I've heard so much about you. Please, come in. Good to see you as well, Miss Heartstrings. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Laud stiffened. Celestia was large! She was larger than any other pony he had seen so far, and he thought Big McIntosh was as large as they came. Large, likely physically powerful, with a horn and wings. Luna had these traits as well, but she wasn't as large. Still, it wasn't the time to quail. He stepped forward. "A pleasure to meet you, your majesty. Your people speak highly of you and it is nice to put a face to the words."

Lyra trotted alongside Laud. "Heya Celly. Good to see you too."

Her impertinent words got a smile from Celestia instead of summary punishment. "I see you haven't changed. Are you still practicing as a musician?"

"When I'm not being an alien guide." She waved at Laud. "I dunno, it's growing on me. I could get used to this."

Laud took advantage of his proximity to consider their ruler. She wore a crown and a large necklace. She had ornate horesehoes at the ends of her legs. Most striking was her hair. Both mane and tail wafted with an unfelt breeze, giving the impression of a sunset, or perhaps a sunrise? He took a seat across from her. "What do you already know?"

"Straight to business?" She looked him straight in the eyes. "I know you represent a sizable potential economic interest that could come with, or be, a military presence. You are not of the hooved races, but we have been friends with others who aren't. You've met Spike, our envoy with the dragons."

"I have." He did not know he was an envoy to anything. "You don't... seem bothered."

"Should I be?" Her horn glowed as a cup rose from the table and was swiftly filled with tea. "Would you care for some?" She set it in front of Laud on a little saucer. "I know this must be overwhelming. There is a reason I left you to your own devices. If Twilight was reporting accurately, it seemed a sure thing you would come here, eventually. I saw little reason to rush it along. You have caused no harm to my little ponies, and have even aided them at the risk of your personal safety. I do appreciate that." She made a small dismissive wave of her hoof and Blueblood took the hint, making himself scarce. "Now, tell me of yourself. I'm to believe you're a noble of your people?"

Laud could hear the question there. She had little reason to assume any random strange creature that claimed rank. He would be just as suspicious. "Until my people finish repairing the gate that leads here, my rank means comparatively little, but they will. It's a matter of when, rather than if. Once they do, they will see a world filled with natural resources, with a pleasing temperature and breathable air. Clean water and arable lands, what more could one ask for?" Laud rolled a hand at her. "But it gets better. The land is populated by intelligent creatures that will make a fine workforce."

Celestia's smile faded almost instantly. "Your people are slavers?"

"Mine, no, definitely not." He set a hand on his chest. "To be noble born is to know the weight of the needs of your people. To see them succeed is to know success yourself. House Hawkwood believes that power is responsibility. The Pancreator saw fit that I be chosen--"

"--Pancreator?" She raised a fuzzy brow at Laud. "Who or what is that?"

"The Pan--"

The door that had been closed quietly by Blueblood was thrown open with a flash of darker magic. Luna stood there with a frown. "There you are!" She was looking at Laud. "You won't escape me that easily." Her magic wrapped around Laud abruptly, only to recoil away from his necklace. "Damn toys." Her arcane grip focused around it, tearing it free and casting it aside like the unwanted thing it was.

Lyra scrambled to her hooves. "What the hay?!"

Laud rolled back and came up to his own feet, sword drawn. "I don't want this to turn to violence, but I will defend myself."

Celestia's wings unfurled as golden magic sparkled into being between Laud and Luna, a wall of sunlight. "Luna, sister, please tell me why you've attacked our guest." Her voice was calm and even despite the tense situation. Laud's estimation of her increased.

Luna stalked towards the barrier. "You are everything we don't need in Equestria." Her wings were unfurled, spread wide as she growled like a threatened animal. "Go back where you came from, and tell your kin to stay away."

Celestia arched a brow at her sister. "None of that is telling me anything, Luna. Start speaking."

"What is there to speak?!" She stomped a hoof on the ground, her horseshoe making a loud metal ring. "It is just as it was promised. You believe your dreams without delay, well, these predate them by quite a degree." She lifted a hoof to level it at Laud accusingly. "When the sky opens and stars become woven, this world will be lost in a grand web, to become spider or fly. Shadow without form, darkness to the light, one world learns the sorrows of many." She glared at Celestia. "Does that sound like something you want, sister?"

Celestia glanced to Laud. "And your side of this?" Her magic wrapped around Luna, drawing her towards a cushion. "Sit and speak like an adult. We do not attack our guests."

Though Luna was still glaring at him nastily, he felt the immediate danger had passed. He put the blade away, lest the wrong impression be made. "Some of that is easily seen as truth." He crossed his arms. "When the gateway is restored, your world will become part of a 'grand web', the network that allows us to travel from star to star. Humanity will arrive, and it will seek to colonize this world." He gestured at Celestia. "I would rather the mistakes of the past not be repeated."

Celestia's ears swiveled to Laud entirely. "What mistakes, pray tell?"

That was when Laud realized he had said more than he should have. "There have been other... less than graceful encounters with other species, but others have gone quite well." He brought his hands together in a soft meeting of palms. "I would rather the latter. I came to offer my services, not issue any ominous threats or proclamations. If this world was already being administered by a Hawkwood, insofar as the rest of the systems were concerned, then there would be nothing to colonize. It would, simply, be already taken. Allow me to be your shield, sword, and mouth and I will protect this world."

Lyra suddenly began clopping her hooves together in a wild applause. "Look at you! I'd vote for you in a second. Is this a vote? He has mine."

Luna brought a hoof down hard enough to crack the table they sat at. "Simply make you the ruler? Is that truly your 'benign offer'?! Why are you even listening to this?" She gave her sister a nasty glare. "Why are you so calm?"

Celestia raised a hoof towards Luna. "He did not ask to rule. He asked to administrate, and a very specific administration at that. You do understand that this is not a unified world, do you not, Sir Mountbatten?"

Luna let out a petulant huff. "Far from it. As if you could administrate a thing for the world that the various nations would agree to."

Laud smiled at that. That, he was prepared for. "Which is why they won't deal with them. Equestria will be the nation with an operable receiving station for their trading vessels. Equestria will be the nation equipped to accept and deal with accepted currencies. Equestria will be the gateway between the rest of your world and the universe-at-large." He steepled his fingers, "Your people will profit immensely. I have other projects in progress that may put your nation in a unique position to compete directly with some of our oldest, largest, and most powerful guilds. This may be a fractured world, but Equestria will be the only nation that captures the eyes of those that matter."

Luna lifted an ear at him, her features softening just a little. "And you would have us charge our allies, and enemies, should they wish to take advantage of our expanded trade network?"

Laud snapped his fingers. "Precisely so. For allies, a simple and modest fee. A mild tariff to help fund our operations. Those that are in active opposition to Equestria's interests may have to pay more, if we permit them at all." He looked to Celestia directly. "Consider this another lever, a pressure you can apply to those stubborn souls that don't recognize the good example you're setting for them."

Author's Notes:

Laud is using the snippets he picked up. Will it work on Celestia and Luna? His magic protection did its job, giving him a second, but not much more than that.

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24 - Sunrise

Celestia considered Laud for a moment as her magic wrapped around a cookie and lifted it up towards him. "Have one, they're quite delightful."

Laud hesitated a moment. It hardly seemed the time for baked goods, but to deny it would be rude, and Celestia gave off the feeling of a kindly mother rather than a scheming plotter. The cookie was almost certainly just a sweet treat. He took the cookie from the air and nodded at her. "Thank you. What do you think of my proposal?"

"They're not here, yet." She waved gently, a dismissive gesture. "What would one of your vessels require to land safely instead of creating a new fireball across the sky?"

Luna bristled a moment before going calm. A smile spread on her lips. Something about that question seemed to please her.

Laud saw little choice but to be frank in that moment. He chewed a bit of the cookie. It practically melted in his mouth into sweet butter and vanilla. It was quite nice. "The only thing that caused my... accident was the close proximity and sudden movement of your moon and what passes for your sun."

Celestia lifted a large white ear at that. "Passes for? What's wrong with our sun?"

"It's too small and too close." Laud held two fingers close together, pointer and thumb. "It is barely a speck compared to most, but it is also closer than any sun has right to be. The combination seems to work well for you. Your planet is neither too warm or too cold. Regardless, it moves very abruptly at times, such as when I tried to land. Like a large ship in water, this creates eddies that threw my much smaller vessel aside, and the crash was the result."

Lyra tilted her head a little, then looked up at where the sun should be. "It always looked pretty far away to me, all the way up there in the sky and all."

"And it is." Laud considered how to explain it. He'd seen suns, and how small they made everything else. "Your sun is a little past your sky. The sun of my homeworld was... here." He stood up and pointed to the center of the table. "Let us say a world is here." He moved the finger barely. "Your sun is here." He kept moving until he was at the edge of the considerable table. "Most suns are here, though much larger and, I should imagine, fiercer in their burning. I am no scholar on the principles involved, but I have seen solar systems, and yours isn't even that. Everything orbits your world."

Lyra only looked more confused. "Of course everything circles us. How would it work otherwise? Don't be silly, Laud."

Celestia gestured at Laud with a wing. "And yet, other worlds, other rules. This is not a foreign idea. I believe you, Laud. I feel we may proceed." She sat up fully, her long neck easily carrying her over the heads of all others. "What do you require? A flat parcel of land?"

Laud couldn't believe it. She was accepting, like that? "Y-yes, Your Majesty. That would be the start, then construction will need to begin. We'll keep it simple to start, but a level and clear area will already make it appealing to any visitors and allow us to begin. Warehouses within easy reach and other amenities will carry us the rest of the way."

A scroll appeared in a puff of magic. A quill sparkled into being beside it and began to write busily. "Since you have gained affinity with Princess Twilight Sparkle, I will keep you close to her. Ponyville has clear land beside it." She rolled the scroll with her magic, a hoof raising up to nudge it in the air towards him. "This will prove you have right to oversee its administration and construction. To be clear, the land remains sovereign to Equestria. You will operate as a gesture of kindness, as befits friends." She smiled that gentle expression that seemed to suit her. "I look forward to reports. Submit them to Twilight and she will get them to me expediently. If you have local concerns, she is your contact. She knows the ponies of Ponyville, and has the authority to act if needed, though I imagine an understanding ear will be required more often than any royal edict."

Luna was hiding something, Laud was certain. She looked far too smug and self-pleased.

Still, it hardly seemed the time to pry into that. "Excellent. I'll begin overseeing those efforts on our return to Ponyville."

"There is one more thing."

Laud tensed at those words. Was the catch coming?

"My sister damaged a possession of yours." She looked to the shattered necklace that had been tossed aside. "You are owed compensation for it." A small pouch appeared with much the same magic as the scroll before it. "Here. You may purchase another, and perhaps begin your project with confidence." She leaned forward. "Though I hope you will eventually feel comfortable enough around us to not need such things. The touch of my magic is a gentle thing, and would never be wielded against you so long as you remain a good person."

As the bag settled before Laud, Lyra snatched it up first, poking her snout into it and peering. "Celly! There's way too much in here for just that little thing."

Celestia rolled her eyes with a soft chuckle. "I know how much I put in there, Lyra. Kindly give that back to Sir Mountbatten."

Laud put a hand over Lyra's head, landing on it as if she were a well-loved pet instead of a person. "Take what you paid, Miss Heartstrings. I am true to my word."

"O-oh yeah!" She came out of the bag, a single coin floating beside her snout. "I'll have to get change when we get back." Her cheeks were faintly pinkened.

Luna suddenly leaned in. "Your moving was quite... graceful. Have you fought before?"

"Rare is the Hawkwood that isn't impressed on such skills." Laud slid the pouch off the table. "Administration and swordplay, two skills that help protect yourself and those that look up to you. A dead king is of no use to anyone, no matter how wise their edicts."

Luna raised a brow. "Mmm? And is that how you see yourself?"

"A king? I should be so fortunate, though that would be a mighty burden." Laud looked to Celestia and her tiara. "I feel certain you understand the weight of that on your head, sometimes overwhelming. It requires great strength to bear it, more so to wear it well."

Celestia stilled for a moment before glancing at Luna. Luna snorted in an equine way. "It is true. To be the leader of our people is no small task, but one we bear gladly. Tell us then, who do you serve? Do you serve those of your kind who will visit us, or do you serve Equestria? It seems impossible to serve both. Our interests will not align perfectly."

Lyra suddenly spread her hooves wide. "If he's in charge of something, he will do his best to do it right, that's what kinda person he is."

Laud smiled at his friend. "I would hope this is the case. I am a Hawkwood, but this would be 'my' domain, and I would see to its prosperity, as any other Hawkwood would their own. Any Hawkwood that fails to do that is no proper member of our house. Even should another Hawkwood have aspirations for this world, if it would hinder the lives or wellbeing of those within my demesne, it will not be tolerated."

Celestia reached across the table, her hoof hovering just in front of Laud. "My people will become confused if you remain aloof from our own politics. That you are proud of your native house is understandable, admirable even, you will eventually require something the people you work with understand. You met my nephew, Blueblood, did you not?"

Lyra bobbed her head as if she had been asked. "We ran into Bluey. He's the one that led us to you, remember?"

Celestia's eyes remain fastened on Laud, who got the idea his response was what was wanted. "I did."

"He, like many, lives in a very formal world. While I could emplace you as solely an economic role, there because I said you are, as an employee of myself, that lacks a certain... respect. Show that I can trust you with this, and we will see about moving past that. You will not want to be a person with the authority of commerce alone."

A merchant? He was becoming a merchant? The words she spoke became more clear in a terrible instant. Without a local rank, that was what he was, a merchant. He would be little more than a bureaucrat, overseeing the flow of goods and currency in the eyes of others. The thought did not sit well by him. Still, he had the permission he needed. "I will not disappoint."

Luna's eyes twitched towards Lyra. "You know, she is not as common of blood as she would have you believe."

Lyra lit up, face going dark as she went entirely silent.

Laud raised a brow curiously at Luna. It was enough prompt for her to continue, "She comes from a respectable family, even if she, herself, has little interest... If you return even half the interest she obviously ha--"

"--It's been nice meeting you both!" suddenly squeaked Lyra as she hopped up to her hooves. "We should get going so we can grab a train before it's too late. I'll make sure Laud writes you letters about how amazing it's going, alright? Cool! Bye!" She tried to tug Laud to his feet with her magic with little success.

Celestia sighed gently. "Sister, tact... Laud, please disregard that. It is not our place to speak on such things. This is not the dark ages." She raised a hoof to her snout to clear her throat into it. "That aside, I do believe we have covered the essentials. If you have further questions, ask Twilight. She will consult us if needed. I'm glad we have met now." Her wings fanned out slowly. "Welcome, to Equestria, my court, and, hopefully, as a friend."

Luna dipped her head. "My apologies for my... aggression, but as a warrior ruler yourself, surely you understand my emotions."

Laud placed a hand flat on the table. "Of that I do. Your fierce willingness to enter battle to protect what is yours is nothing but praiseworthy. I am not your enemy, and would be your ally." He slid up to his own feet and bowed to both rulers. "I will treat the land you are lending me with respect. I trust there will be no problem in paving it? Leaving it littered with underbrush will not do."

Celestia smiled gently. "I leave that in your hands. You may wish to speak to Twilight, and the local leader, Mayor Mare. Showing them proper respect will prevent other things from becoming an impediment in the future. I may rule the nation, but Miss Mare's word is law within Ponyville. She has served her people well, just as you hope to do."

That she had used the word for hands instead of hooves specifically spoke well for her. Still, the meeting was over, Laud felt. He turned for the exit and waved Lyra ahead. She scampered past and he followed her. "Thank you both," he parted with, and they were out of the room, leaving the diarchy to converse without their ears present.

Luna glanced after Laud before looking to Celestia. "I am no fool. You mean to protect ourselves, if such a need arises."

"I don't know what you mean," said Celestia with an impish face Luna knew. "It won't be my fault should the sun or moon prove to have ill timing." She nudged her little sister. "Next time, no attacking my guests, seriously. I don't care if I'm with Sombra himself, if we are speaking, that is to be respected."

Luna's ears wilted. "I was just trying--"

"--Listen first." Celestia nodded. "Nothing in that conversation could not be undone. Listen, then speak to me afterwards, and we may move with a unified face."

Author's Notes:

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25 - Triumphant Return

Blueblood found them just before they escaped the castle. "I trust it went well? You look pleased."

Lyra stuck out her tongue. "He's in--"

Laud put a hand over her mouth, blocking the other words. Oh how useful it would be if one could do that around other people without being presumed to be barbaric or mad. "I have been authorized to prepare. Until things proceed, there is little need for an administrator of trade."

"Hmm, yes." Blueblood tapped his chin. "We were perhaps a bit hasty. Overseeing a lack of trade would be defeating the point. You will send word when your people arrive, yes? The earlier, the better. They should be greeted properly and with trade goods close at hoof to begin." A smile erupted on his face. "Actually, if you would be so kind as to inform me when there is a proper storage point, we can move from there."

Lyra watched him trot off before looking up to Laud. "Why'd you cut me off? Was I saying something wrong?"

Laud resumed his walk, exiting the castle and descending the stairs towards the street. "You were speaking the truth, bare and uncensored. That can be a dangerous habit to be in. He only needed to be informed of a very specific thing. More is giving a weapon. Knowledge is power, is that a saying here?"

"Yeah? I guess that's a thing." She stuck out her tongue. "This is why I put that all way behind."

"So you are of noble birth?"

Her cheeks warmed as she looked away. "I'm Lyra Heartstrings, a performer and nice mare. Isn't that enough?"

He put a hand on her back as they walked. "All fine qualities, Miss Heartstrings, but they do not preclude you from being noble as well. I ... guess..." He wanted a better word, but the one he wanted was murderously difficult to pronounce. "--you are not close to the line of--" There was another one. He frowned. "There are other people ahead of you?"

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. My parents aren't expecting much out of me." She clopped a hoof on the ground. "Why the sudden interest? You were... kinda brushing me off before, but if I'm a noble then maybe you care?"

Laud could hear some hurt in her tone. She wasn't entirely wrong, was the issue. There was no way he would debase himself twice over with an alien that was also of common birth. A political marriage was an entirely different beast. If becoming wed to an exotic local helped secure the entire world for his house, well, that was a price he would pay. The fact that she was pleasant enough to be around was a bonus."I am thinking of the first contact. On first glance, you will appear as the last equine race we met, and they are not treated well. I do not want that."

Lyra's ears lifted from their wary position to face Laud. "And how is my being noble changing that?"

Some tension fled Laud. They were back in more comfortable standing. "If I greet them as a member of an advanced and refined culture, with titles and a... ranking order--" That was not the word for hierarchy. He'd have to keep studying, and he wondered if Starlight had had any luck with the translator. "--and this is most easily shown if I am already a part of that. With a local noble at my side, there would be less to doubt."

Lyra raised a brow as she trotted. "All I'm hearing is that you want to be able to say you're in with the locals, and hey, that pony you know has an in, and hey, doesn't she already like me? Wow, this works out."

That was a crude, but not entirely untrue, summary. "And this displeases you?"

"Yes!" she suddenly hollered, drawing peeks from other ponies of the city. She blushed and lowered her voice. "Yes... Stupid jerk. I wanted... to earn being a friend, not have it thrown at me because it's convenient."

Laud crossed his arms as he walked. "Did you only wish to be friends? We were that long before we came to this city. I had... perhaps incorrectly... thought you had desires that went beyond friendship."

"Beyond?" Her entire face began to darken. "W-what do you mean by that?!" She turned away and strode ahead towards the train station, going entirely silent.

Laud kept pace with her, taking larger steps to match her agitated fleeing. She may have been a horse, but her emotional hints were all so human. She was still interested, if confused. A political marriage was not what she wanted.

He decide to subvert the topic a little. Waiting until they were seated on the train, he let out a new angle, "So, about your other friend?"

Lyra perked up. "Wha? Bonnie?" She smiled with thought of her cherished friend. "What about her?"

"Are you two 'friends' or 'friend friends?'" He leaned back against the seat he was in. "Before you answer, know that such things are not unknown." Especially with a noble. Commoners had a harder time deviating from expected norms in that way. "I would not think less of either of you."

Lyra's eyes darted wildly. "We're friends!"

"You use that word." He rolled a hand at her. "Could you define it?"

"We... care... about each other, like a lot." She threw her hooves wide. "We have each other's back no matter what! I mean, sometimes we get on the other's nerves, but we apologize and work through it, 'cause that's what friends do!"

It was all very touching, but also avoiding the question. Laud gave a slow nod. "Admirable. Have you shared a bed?" Blunt, but hopefully to the point.

Lyra's heat grew to the point that he could feel her boiling like a lobster. "A f-f-few times, why?"

"Would you marry her?"

Lyra flopped over. She hadn't passed out, but she came about as close as one could. "She would never! I mean..."

"Do you want to marry her?"

She trembled with clenched teeth before she sat up with a sudden frown. She crossed her forehooves. "I would like that very much, but two mares do not get married. That's just not how that works. So we will be friends, best friends, and there's nothing wrong with that."

There was an angle... "Tell me, what people can marry which people?" He smiled at her, trying to give the impression that they were speaking of nothing untoward at all.

"W-well, usually it's a mare and a stallion." She brought her hooves together. "These days it's all that really. Back in the old days there were other ways." She wobbled a hoof as if she were rolling a hand, but she had no hand. "Like herds, those were crazy. A bunch of mares and one lucky, or unlucky, stallion between them."

Laud cocked a brow. "That does not fit what I know. Aren't mares in places of power more often than not?"

"You think they weren't in the herds?" Lyra grinned at that. "Poor fella, with a bunch of mares around him. I mean, good ones were like a big family, but the stallion was both the husband and the child. All the mares were the wives and the mother. They protected him. They were in charge, not him. If a stallion got out of line, the mares were within their rights to impose some discipline on him like a lost foal."

That was less appealing to Laud. He imagined the steely scowl of Bon Bon whenever she decided he was in need of correction. Still... "So... if I were to not move to be 'friends' with you, but both of you, you would say?"

Lyra looked blank all of a sudden before laughter erupted from her. She beat the cushion she sat on as she flopped back. "You and Bonnie barely tolerate each other. I can be a little daft sometimes, but I'm not that stupid. I mean, I hope you two will make up and become buddies eventually, but friends? Friends friends? I just don't see it." She sat up and threw an arm around Laud, suddenly pulling him closer, or trying. Her efforts pulled her closer to him. "I appreciate the thought though, and what you said, I mean, about us already being friends... Do you really mean that? I mean, even if I never say yes to marrying ever, we'd still be that, right?"

That was an easy question. "Of course. I would hope we continue to be friends regardless of the other matters. You have been nothing but a good ally, an easy companion, and someone I do appreciate having around."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Except when you're talking about noble stuff to nobles."

"Except perhaps then," Laud easily agreed. "It is a delicate act."

"Ugh, you don't need to tell me that. There is a reason I ran off to a tiny little town and am happy just playing my lyre." She rolled her eyes and sat like a human would on the train couch. "It's fine. You can do better for a wife than me anyway. Hay, Rarity is practically drooling at the chance of being hooked up with real royalty. I bet she'd faint right on her fainting couch, she has one of those, you know, if you asked. She'd probably say yes before or after, even money on either."

Laud considered the sophisticated mare. She had the look, but... "Is she of... Is she a noble?"

"Rarity?" Lyre shook her head quickly. "She wishes, really, she does. Oh wow, if I could just give her mine, we'd both be better off, but no, she's as common as they come, but she acts the part and she's done super well for herself. Most everyone likes her. She's a national hero! But noble, not so much."

If she were a hero of his own people, that might fly. Marrying the common hero of an alien species lacked the right... oomph. He considered a moment just allowing her to fake it. She probably would, and perhaps be good at it, but that would create a vital weakness. Others, like Blueblood, would know the truth, and they would have power over him if he attempted to live a lie. Blackmail and extortion were not attacks he wanted to deal with if it could be avoided.

"See, she'd be the better pick."

He held up the flat palm of his right hand. "I don't think so. I will consider, of course, but..."

"Hey, look..." Lyra glanced away and back at Laud. "Look... For now, we can be friends, right?" She flashed a bright smile. "It's all I want."

Laud still was not entirely certain how Lyra used that word. Was she asking to be friends, as he knew it, or asking for casual relations of a much more intimate sort.

When did he become alright with this idea? Why was he not screaming and running, or at least making a tactful retreat, from the idea of even approaching the... Was he hit with some of their magic while his necklace was removed? Was the idea of marrying a pony some subtle suggestion planted in him? He imagined Celestia's smiling face. She said the touch of her magic would be gentle. What more gentle way than to make an alien willing to find love, physical and otherwise, with one of her subjects?

Of course, it could have nothing to do with her at all. It could just be his own thoughts, casually considering a political marriage, with horses.

"You alright?" Lyra nudged him with a hoof. "I'm gonna get a bite to eat in the dining car, wanna come with?" she hopped to the floor of the rumbling train.

"Some drink and food may be just what we both need." Laud rose to follow her with a faint frown. On the other hand, if she had enchanted him to consider the idea, why not bewitch Lyra to return the proposal? She was not even trying to defend herself. How awkward would it have been if she had tearfully accepted, only for him to reconsider the notion later?

He needed some time to think.

Author's Notes:

Is Celestia guilty? How many typos await Laud's grand plans?

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26 - Under the Star's Light

With the talk of potential unions shelved for the moment, they traveled companionably back to Ponyville. Lyra trotted off to return to her business with a parting wave. "See you later, Laud!"

Laud raised a hand in kind and moved for Twilight's castle. He hadn't created an awkward wedge between them, that was a good step for the time being. He had other things to do. "By the Pancreator, I will do them," he promised to himself in English. Talking to oneself in a foreign tongue had the delightful advantage of assured privacy.

He opened the front door. It was never locked, and no one seemed to mind that he entered without pomp or announcement. The security of it was terrible. The fact that they survived with it spoke volumes about their people. The ponies were, as a whole, trusting that their fellows would bring them no harm, and they were right often enough that such fears never took root, even in their mightiest.

"Laud, there you are." It was Starlight, approaching with a smile. From nowhere in particular, she drew out the translator, though it had several new lights in it that shone bright colors, blinking without obvious patterns. "I have a gift for you," she practically sang. She looked quite pleased with herself, which could only be good news, Laud decided.

He returned the smile and crouched down to be closer to her level. "What have you managed, you brilliant unicorn?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far," she demured with a faint blush. "But, I did it!" She brought the translator to her own neck and slipped it on. "Hello," she spoke in the pony language. There was a delay before the device spoke softly in English, parroting her. "See? It knows proper Ponish now." Starlight bounced in place as the collar echoed her statement in proper English. "And your language too, 'Eng-lick' was it? Well, it already knew that one. I just had to teach it Ponish and how it was different from that other equine language. I would love to meet those other equines. I wonder what stories they have..."

Laud froze at that. A meeting of the Equestrians and the Shantor would be... problematic, mostly for the humans involved. "Well, we'll have to wait until communication is re-established with humanity before we can dream of speaking to the other races we've contacted." He reached for the collar snug about her neck. "Does it work the other way around?"

"Of course." Her horn glowed as she pulled the collar free of herself and held it up where Laud could take it. "It would be a bit silly if it only worked for ponies wanting to speak Englick." She was saying the word for English as best she could in actual English. "Don't worry, I have my own!" She pulled out a second collar.

Laud accepted his as he stared at the second. "How?" The ability to make those collars was a closely guarded secret of the guilds. Some argued they just couldn't be made, just upkept and repaired.

"How what?" She slipped the new collar onto herself. "There we are." Her words started being echoed into English, though hers was set to speak in a female tone. "Do you mean how I copied it?" He nodded at her and she just smiled. "Copying things isn't hard at all, once we know what's in them, and having one to play with gave me that. It's just a spell away and I can get another one, provided I have the materials." She thrust a hoof. "Which Maud, wonderful mare she is, can provide! I made one for her, of course. She said she wanted one and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have mine, so that was a no brainer."

Had his study been for naught? Well, no. If he hadn't been able to talk, the collar never would have been fixed. Maud would never be making the metals needed to enact the fix or the copies. And being able to speak Ponish without the collar on was a strength, not a weakness or vanity. Laud nodded, becoming more sure that he had done the best that could be done. "Starlight, thank you." He slipped the collar on and allowed his throat to relax back into English words. "Though your magic continues to unsettle me, its utility is increasingly difficult to argue with." He could hear the collar whickering, neighing, and whuffling out the Ponish words. He could understand most of it, which was a point of pride.

Starlight nodded. "Anything for a friend. So, how'd the meeting with Luna go? That's where you were, right?"

Right! "It went fantastically." Well, not the Luna part, but... "Celestia gave me this." He produced the writ he was given. "I'm authorized to begin construction immediately, but I would like to speak to Twilight and Mayor Mare before I do so."

Starlight leaned in, her eyes scanning the paper quickly. "Oh... Celestia must not know where Maud's living."

"Hmm?"

"This plot of land is right over her cave. I mean, she probably won't mind, but we should talk to her too." Starlight nodded firmly. "Maybe this will work out for the better for everyone." She trot around Laud, moving for the kitchen. "You're just getting back, want something?"

He hadn't realized it was just over Maud's dwelling. He wondered just how innocent Celestia was in that. "We should speak to Maud as soon as possible before we consider any other action." Of all the ponies, she was near the bottom of those he wished to offend.

"And we will." Starlight opened the fridge with a twinkle of her horn. "But she won't go anywhere while I have a sandwich." Their words echoed back and forth, making it sound like two humans and two ponies were chattering at once. "I'll make you one, Mister Serious." And she got about doing that. "No flowers, promise."

Laud calmed himself. It didn't do to be the frantic one when there wasn't a pressing need. He settled down at the table. "Thank you again, Starlight. You've been a fantastic help."

Starlight waved it away as two plates floated beside her. She set one before Laud before hopping up into a chair and setting her own down. "Eat up, then we'll go Maud hunting. She isn't usually too hard to find these days, with her forge keeping her busy."

His sandwich had less meat than he would have preferred, but the vegetables were fresh, and the tomatoes finely sliced. It was a perfectly good vegetarian sandwich. "Tell me, what meats, if any, do ponies partake in?"

Starlight perked an ear at that. "Fish. Mmm, eggs if you count those?" She devoured hers in no time at all, wiping her snout clean. "We aren't big on the hunting and, you know. Not really our style." She waggled a hoof at him. "Do these look like predator claws to you?"

That they did not, but neither did his fingers, from his own standing. "We have to make our own claws." He did feel better for eating. Perhaps he had needed that more than he would have admitted. "Does Ponyville have a fish market?"

"We have a fish... booth. Not quite the level of a market, but there is one gal that loves to fish." She leaned forward. "If you plan to become a regular, she might die of joy. The rest of us only stop by once in awhile." Springing to her feet, Starlight hopped down and began moving for the door. "Well, let's go find us a Maud."

Laud was quick to follow her and move beside her. He knew the way to Maud's dwelling. "How has she been? Any news I should know about?"

"Nothing I won't let her say herself." Starlight rolled her eyes mightily. "Let a girl be the bearer of her own news. I will say that you've given her plenty to do. Did you know she was once considering not moving to Ponyville to find more interesting rocks to study?"

"Is that so?" That would have been unfortunate. "It seems her choice was rewarded, with a treasure trove of alien minerals to document and reproduce."

"Exactly so." Starlight nodded as she trotted. "And she gets to be with ponies she knows and likes, instead of off in some forgotten valley, alone." Her nose wrinkled. "Glad that didn't happen. Stupid mare doesn't realize how amazing she is."

Laud made a quiet note to perhaps ask Maud about that. "Were you the one that convinced her to stay?"

Starlight shook her head as they approached the cave entrance. "It was her sister that got through to her. Of course, it was Pinkie that almost drove her away. A fair exchange in the end. Look, I love Pinkie as much as anyone else, but she can be... a little much, you know?"

Laud couldn't properly argue that. "She has a powerful personality."

"That is a very nice way of putting it." Starlight descended into the earth. "Maud! You in there? Laud's back." Her collar made no attempt to match her volume, so it spoke the words in the same monotone female voice it had started with.

That was important to remember. If he wanted to make an impassioned statement, he would have to use his own voice to do it. That made him feel better about the effort spent learning Ponish.

"Hello." Maud had snuck up behind them without a sound. "I cannot proceed."

Laud turned to get Maud in his line of sight. "Good to see you, Miss Pie."

"Maud," she corrected. "I see you too. I am ready to do more, but require much larger facilities and will need to create machines to assist in the task or it will continue to be slow at best."

Starlight pointed upwards. "Celestia just gave him right to build right on top of you."

That was not how he had planned to break the news, but it was done. Maud nodded. "Good. You can help me build the new workshop." She turned and trotted right out of the tunnel without a specific word to follow her, though the others did just that. "I can provide the basic specifications of the building itself. I will be constructing what goes inside myself."

Laud hiked a brow. "Not that I'm upset that you're agreeable, but to be certain, you're alright with my building a spaceport on top of your house, where vessels like mine, some significantly larger, might land and take off at any given hour?"

Maud tilted her head. "Should I not be? I will reinforce the walls and ceilings if you predict it will create strain." She tapped her chin with a hoof. "I should do that regardless." She seemed to remember something and pulled out a bar from her frock. It was like the others she had shown but was much more lustrous in its grey silver shine. "I've improved the impurity removal. I'm certain there are improvements to be had, but I won't accomplish this down there." She pointed with the bar-laden hoof back at her hole. "The heat was starting to frizz my mane." Her mane looked perfectly flat as always. "When do we begin?"

She was moving fast, quite fast. "Wait. You haven't even seen Princess Celestia's writ yet?"

"And?" Maud turned to face Laud directly. "Are you lying?"

"No! No, of course not."

"I didn't think you were. When do we begin?"

Such faith. For being godless, the ponies had huge reserves of faith, in each other, and their society. It was unnerving at times for Laud. "I need to speak to Mayor Mare and Princess Twilight. Let's do this right, instead of quickly and sloppily. I want this done right."

Starlight put a leg around Maud and another just behind Laud, pulling them together. "You two are a treat to see working together, did I ever mention that? Don't leave me out of the plans. I want to see what you're up to, and if I can help, well, it looks like it'll be interesting."

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27 - Community Effort

Laud returned home after a day of vigorous surveying as best he could with a discerning eye. He needed a proper builder, this he was certain of. He knew of politics, flying a ship, and swordplay. Was that not enough for one man? At least he had some idea of the lay of his land. His land... He smiled as he pushed open the door to the castle. It was land under his direct care. Thinking of that made him feel... Good. Satisfied? He would do well by what had been trusted to him.

"Laud?" It was Twilight, trotting from the map room. "I'm glad you're back. I wanted to talk to you." She had a nervous smile on her face. "There's something I have been neglecting to say, but mostly because I wasn't entirely certain of it, but I'm feeling increasingly so."

He tensed just faintly. So far, Twilight had been a source of nothing foul. Perhaps what she thought was concerning was a little nothing. "Whatever it is, we shall face it directly." Yes, perhaps it was simply something that worried little ponies.

Twilight smiled a little more easedly. "I'm glad you have that attitude. You see, We've, well, Starlight and I, we've seen things like you before."

Or maybe it was something that would worry him. Though it could be an answer to so much. "Where? 'Like' me? Were they human?"

Twilight wobbled a hoof in the air. "That's the problem. There are superficial similarities, but also so many differences. The proportions are all wrong, and they speak Ponish." She pointed at her snout. "I can understand them, and they can understand me without translation, spoken and written. They don't have your accent either. This is like saying a zebra is a pony is a cow, which is clearly not true."

Something like a human, but not? His interest was piqued. "Where do these not-humans live? Do they have friendly relations with Equestria?" He had to say 'Equestria' in their tongue, as there was no human word for it. Perhaps he'd make one up?

Twilight rubbed one leg with an opposing hoof. "They live on... another world, and most of them don't know about Equestria at all."

Laud's face fell into a sudden frown. "Wait. Are you saying you have star travel?"

Twilight rapidly shook her head. "Nothing like the way you do it. I can... travel to other variations of our world. A world that follows the same basic theme, with vital differences. In the world I speak of, there are no ponies. Everyone is bipedal, like you." She pointed at Laud. "They have fingers and smooth skin and everything, but I do not think they are the same species as you. The similarity is uncanny... But I feel you should know this."

"You said Starlight has been there as well?"

With a sudden pop of magic, Starlight appeared. "Someone call? I could swear I heard my name before." She looked up at Laud with a smile. "Hey, Laud, what's up? One moment." She fished out her translating collar and had it on in a jiff. "There we are, is that better?" Her collar obediently translated it to English.

Twilight's eyes went wide. "You have a translator and you didn't tell me?!" She rushed for Starlight, peering at the collar. "How does it work? Tell me you can make another one!"

Laud approached the two with his hands held up in front of him. "Wait, please. Starlight, you've seen these bipedal things Twilight has spoken of?"

Starlight perked an ear at Laud. "Biped--Oh! The Equestrian Highs! They have killer ice cream." She licked her furry snout in the memory of it. "What about them?"

Twilight looked aside at Starlight. "Their dessert is what you remember most clearly?"

"It was delicious." Starlight nodded. "Seriously, what about them?"

Laud lowered to a crouch. "Tell me, have you borrowed technology from them?"

Starlight looked lost and glanced back at Twilight.

Twilight shook her head. "In the interest of not destroying both worlds, I have tried to not take anything from their world to ours, or vice versa, so, no. I haven't even tried to imitate their technology. I would need more time than I typically have when I visit, and my royal duties become larger every day, it feels like."

Was it magic? "I gather you arrive at these alternative worlds through some sort of sorcery?"

Twilight laughed nervously at that. "Well... yes...? There is technology involved, but in the end, a healthy dose of magic is what enables this." She sat on her haunches and tapped her hooves together. "That was another reason I didn't want to bring it up. You have a very clear distrust for magic." She inclined an ear. "Did you actually wear an anti-magic charm to Celestia?" Her brows raised together. "She is the last pony you should be worried about, and that's a little paranoid, don't you think?"

Had he given the impression of fear? That was not one of his goals. "Better prepared than otherwise, besides, meeting Celestia was a pleasant turn of circumstance."

Twilight nodded. "So you were just wearing it for Luna then? That's not much better. I hope you don't think you need one of those around me." She put a hoof at her chest. "Oh, that reminds me. What did you decide, with Celestia? She said I should find out from you."

Starlight moved between Twilight and Laud. "Don't mind her. She just thinks Celestia is the best thing ever."

"Are you saying she isn't?!" Twilight's wings had extended in a pegasus display of worked emotions. "Look, we're... getting off topic. What did you discuss?"

Laud pulled out his writ and offered it to Twilight. "I have been given leave and stewardship over a plot of land that I plan to develop into readiness for when the gate is repaired and ships arrive. Do you know any construction experts?"

Twilight's magic took hold of the writ and her eyes wandered over it. "Hmm, yes. Will these be the, uh, traditional sort of buildings?"

Laud wasn't sure what that meant. "We'll need paved ground, firm buildings constructed of concrete or stone at least? Bricks would work. Preferably a lack of flammable materials."

Twilight bobbed her head. "Then I have the right ponies for the job." She let out a nervous little laugh. "I once sent them on a job that needed more landscaping and less construction, that didn't work out well. But what you're describing is exactly what they do. I'll have them contact you." She folded the paper and held it in her magic towards Laud. "That isn't, technically, in Ponyville, it's just beside it."

Starlight nodded. "We were just speaking to Maud about it earlier today. It's right on top of her house."

Laud pointed in its general direction. "She is as eager to move forward as I am, as best she displays such emotions."

Starlight suddenly grinned. "So, did you want to visit the Canterlot Highs?" She tapped her hooves together. "I'd love to show you around. You'll have a blast! They aren't even vegetarians, so that'll be a treat, right?"

That held promise, but... "Let's focus on the task at hand. We have construction to begin. Once it is proceeding satisfactorily, it will cease needing my direct input for a time. I am no foreman, so that may be a fine time to see this... Isn't Canterlot the name of your capital?"

Twilight shrugged at that. "I did mention the different worlds share the theme, so our important place is Canterlot, and so is theirs. It's also not the only place here, or there. It just happens to be where we find ourselves." She turned to Starlight. "Now, since Laud doesn't even belong to this world, the odds of running into a second Laud approach zero, but, just in case, both of you, avoid yourself, kindly." She gave a nervous smile. "Other than that, don't make a scene and... have fun, I suppose." She hiked a brow. "I'd tell you not to, but I know you better than that."

Starlight rolled her eyes. "Guilty as charged. I want to see what he thinks of them, and they might find him fascinating. I'll bring him straight to the girls though, not random other people."

The meeting dispersed. They all had work to do.

Twilight looked to Starlight. She was seated before her student, trying to give her sternest look, just as she imagined Celestia had given her at many times. "So, you really want to bring him there, hmm?"

Starlight trailed a hoof over the crystal floor. "Yeah? What's wrong with that? I bet the other Rainbow Dash will want to compete against him in every possible way."

"And that's your entire motivation?" She hiked a brow at Starlight. Something was being hidden, she was sure of it.

"Well... I might... also... be a little curious to see what happens if a human goes through a mirror portal." She smiled so hard her flesh squeaked. "Whatever it is, it'll undo when he comes back, so it's harmless."

Twilight let her head sag forward, a hoof catching her face with her grunt. "Starlight..."

"You know it's true! Even if he sprouts a second head, a quick shove back into the portal and it's gone." She hopped up to her hooves defensively.

Twilight rose up more guardedly. "Be that as it may, I think you may be forgetting who we are dealing with. He doesn't like magic, remember? Do you want to be the pony that disfigures him in a possibly traumatic fashion? Do you think he'll be quick to forgive that, especially if he figures out you knew it could happen and didn't even warn him?!"

Starlight's head sagged in shame. "But... I... Right..." She kicked at the crystal floor, not that it minded. "I'll warn him before we go through, promise."

Twilight patted her on the shoulder. "You know that's the right thing to do."

Laud stood before a busy field. Large earth ponies were shouting to one another as they lumbered around in their hard hats. They were on the case, and this pleased Laud. They had understood his intentions without a blink. They knew what paving meant. They understood the idea of 'fireproof'. They got right into it without delay, and he couldn't be more pleased.

"This will not match the appearance of Ponyville," spoke the refined tones of Mayor Mare. "Though I suppose we lost that effort when Princess Twilight's castle arrived. I would like a compromise that should assist in your efforts and help Ponyville look better."

Laud turned his head to her. "What do you have in mind?"

"A wall." She ran her left forehoof in a circle. "Tall, but covered in local art and frescoes. It will be an attractive sight for those coming or going, and minimize the view of the flat black surface you intend to have built here. Any visitors will be pleased as well, and know they are arriving at a place that values culture as much as functionality, not that the walls won't have a function." She put a hoof to her chest. "They will allow you to control traffic coming and going, limit sound pollution, and provide a barrier in case of catastrophe."

Laud began to see all the more how Mayor Mare had held onto her job for so long. "That is a fantastic idea. Do you have people you would recommend for that project?"

"I do." She pointed at the construction ponies. "They can erect the basic structure, but I'll have artists start to come by and add their touches to both sides as it comes up."

An idea came to him. "If we tell them their art will be the first thing visitors from other worlds will see, they may even be inspired."

"And work for less," agreed Mayor Mare. "Shrewd. I'll be sure to include that in my pitch." She took a step back towards town. "You've surprised me. When first we met, I had no idea what to make of you, but if the Princesses all agree, then there is obviously something to your words. I look forward to working with you."

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28 - No Time Wasted

Laud was ready to meet the day! He was clean, fed, and dressed sharply. There was one problem. Nothing required his direct intervention. The construction was proceeding smoothly. The artists had shown up and gotten to work eagerly, placing carvings and works that made it clear to anyone that ponies lived nearby. Many took the idea of a spaceport to heart, which meant pictures of helmeted ponies in space were a popular pick, with great glass fishbowls for those helmets. It was charming, and ridiculous.

None of that gave him something to do. His precious land was in a state of transition. He could attempt to micromanage, but that was the sport of men who thought they knew better than the souls they hired to do a specific task. The builders were building. The artists were fashioning art. They did not need him to tell them how to do that.

There was another option. He hadn't forgotten Starlight's offer and walked purposefully for her room. He rapped on the door with the back of his hand. "Miss Glimmer?"

"Mmm?" The door opened inwards to reveal Starlight, looking alert. "Good morning, Laud." She said in Ponish, with her collar echoing the statement in English. "What's up?"

"I wish to meet these not-humans. The 'Canterlot Highs', as you called them?" His curiosity had gotten the better of him. Starlight had not misled him so far.

Starlight burst into sudden giggles. "Great! Oh, one warning." She held up a hoof. "Going through a mirror portal ensures that you fit in with the locals, so far we can tell. Most likely, your proportions will be messed with to fit in. It undoes itself when you come back, so don't worry too much about it, and you're already used to two legs, so the hard part's done."

She was hiding... something. "Most likely?"

She wobbled a hoof. "Well, the last, uh, not-pony we sent through became another species entirely, but they could still talk and function, so it shouldn't be a big deal in the long run. You're not scared, I hope?"

He was being needled. Was she that worried that she felt the need to taunt him into proceeding? "What animal was that?"

"Oh, well, Spike went through and became a small dog." Starlight gave a nervous laugh. "It worked out in the end." She stood up tall and moved to trot past Laud. "If you don't like you, you can go right back in and you'll be back to your normal self, I swear."

A small dog? Laud raised a brow as he began to follow Starlight. "Mayhaps it is a mental thing?"

"Mmm? Not sure about that. I mean, there is a Spike on the other side, who actually is a small dog." She shrugged softly. "I turn into one of those Canterlot Highs. In theory there is another me there, but I haven't met her. I wonder what she's like... Regardless, there should not be another you there, since you're not even from this world."

That stood to reason with the logic he had been given so far. "How easy is it to return, since it's been brought up. Are we taking a potentially hazardous journey?"

"As if." She waved a hoof to dismiss the idea. "It's a mirror on our side, and a statue on the other. You just walk into the statue and you end up back here. It couldn't be much more simple than that. The place we're headed to is mostly a bunch of almost-adult colts and fillies. Don't forget that. They are still colts and fillies. They will be sure they know everything, as teenagers do, but they're still colts and fillies. Don't talk down to them, they hate that." She flashed a smiled as she went. "I turn into one of them, so it's just a chance to relax and have fun so far as I see. Oh! Right. If you meet Sunset Shimmer, which you likely will, she is an adult. She was a grown pony before she migrated there, so don't be fooled by her young appearance."

Right... "And I will know her by what features?"

"Fiery mane." Starlight nodded. "I'll also introduce her, of course. Oh! You'll like this. Most of the people there don't do magic. It's pretty limited to my friends."

That was a plus, though a small one. "I have plenty of other things to consider." He looked around as they descended into some kind of laboratory. "And this is where we need to be?"

Starlight trotted up to a cloth and pulled it free, revealing an ornate mirror with all manner of scrap and technology strewn across it seemingly in a chaotic mess. "This is our ticket to Canterlot High. Fortunately, I already have permission to use it, so..." Her horn glowed, undoing a locker and pulling free a book. "Here we are, the journal. Without this, we'd have to wait for a specific time to go through, and that's no fun at all." She set it down on top of the crazy device. "And now, with a pull of the lever..." She pulled it with a hoof and the whole thing began to glow and vibrate. The mirror ceased being a mirror, showing a swirling space within. "There we are."

She stepped up and poked a hoof at it, proving it was liquid. "I'll go first, so I'll be there to help, not that I expect you'll need any."

"Hold!" He held up a hand. "What of my clothing, and my weapon?"

She shrugged. "It'll be translated, or not, and go back to normal when you come back. Leave them on for now though, unless you want to come back naked. I'll get clothes when I go through, since naked Canterlot Highs are not normal."

He hadn't even thought to ask that, but was relieved to hear. He wasn't ready to enter a land of nudists, rather, one of humans or things like them. He had gotten accustomed to ponies having absolutely no shame in their bodies, nor the need to cover themselves outside of very cold times. He watched Starlight vanish into the mirror, her form engulfed by whatever strange magic was at play.

Laud realized he was crossing a threshold. It was one thing to tolerate magic around him. He was about to use it himself. He would be trusting and allowing it to encompass his entire being. It was a test. He would not fail it. If he was to be the mouthpiece of ponykind, he could not fear what they found so natural. As awkward as it was, his fear would only hinder his efforts. Either he trusted his new allies, or he would live in misery and be ill-suited for the role entrusted to him.

He gripped the hilt of his blade a moment before he took a step forward. History would not wait for him. He stepped into the vortex. Everything was distorted. He was distorted. His very essence was being drawn and spindled as he fell forward. He tried to be silent and stoic. He almost succeeded. He was thrown free and realized he had closed his eyes at some point.

He heard laughing, equine laughing.

"Starlight?" He opened his eyes and saw he was at the feet of some large person with immense legs. They had the proportions of a doll more than a person, and they had Starlight's fur color for their skin color, not to mention her mane color for her hair color. That was clearly Starlight, in a new form. "It is you." He could hear his words being echoed. Had he put on his collar? He didn't remember doing so.

Starlight slapped a hand over her mouth. "Forgive me. You are just... too cute."

Cute? Laud stood up onto all fours, then properly onto just his legs, but things felt wrong. He was wobbling in place instead of standing naturally. There was something blocking part of his lower vision. "I..." He had a snout. He could see the projection. "Am I a dog?" He didn't look at himself. Part of himself refused to do so.

"N-no..." Starlight looked around nervously. "Look, we should... get going, meet the girls. They will love you!"

He fell down to all fours and a clopping noise came as his hooves struck the pavement of the sidewalk they were on. Hooves. He had those. "I'm a pony?!"

Starlight nodded softly. "A fine one. No cutie mark though. Let's not panic. You'll go back to normal when we go back." She pointed at the statue they were beside.

A goodly portion of him wanted to leap back and return to humanity, but that would be admitting fear quite plainly. "Right... back to... normal." He took a slow step forward. "What kind of pony am I?"

"Why don't you look for yourself?" she asked with a hiked brow. "Checking out what I had become was one of the first things I did, and Twilight too from her stories."

So he did. He turned to look back on himself. He was a pony, a little pony that didn't even reach the crotch of the teenager he was standing next to. He was a perfectly standard shade of brown for a pony to be. He had stubby little legs, making it clear he was a pony, not just a small horse. He was male. He had a tail. It could swish left and right.

He also had his sword. It was strapped around his midsection just behind a large device that draped over much of his back. What was that? He pointed at it with a little hoof and asked as much of Starlight.

"I'm not sure." She reached for it and easily took hold of it. "It looks like it's made to hold."

As she stood there holding it, someone came jogging past and paused to look at Starlight, and Laud. He blinked, jogging in place. "Oh wow, is that a guide pony? I never saw one of those in person before!"

Starlight was fast to adapt. "Sure is! I don't go anywhere without this little guy."

"He's adorable. Can I pet him?" He stepped closer, hand reaching out towards Laud.

Laud's ears pinned back on his head. He did not want to be pet.

Fortunately for him, Starlight knew equine body language. "He's a little shy around people he doesn't know."

"Oh, well, have a nice day!" He jogged past on his merry way.

Laud watched him go a moment before turning to Starlight. "There is one positive to this."

"Oh?"

"Ponish has become easier to speak." His words came more naturally from an equine mouth. He could snort and chuff and do all the things required in a natural way. It was liberating, in a fashion. "So I've become a guide pony? I presume that is like a guide dog. You should keep a hold then, so people assume I am with you and are not alarmed."

"On it." She squeezed the metal bar that led to the harness around Laud's midsection. "Let's find the girls and show you off. You can talk around them, they're used to strange things by now. Nice job not talking to that other guy, would have freaked him out, I'm sure."

They advanced towards the school. In Laud's eyes, it was a place of opulence. Clearly only nobles would send their children to such a well-built, large, and stately place. The idea of tiles everywhere was somewhat impressive. They had lockers he normally only saw in military situations. "Do the students live here?"

Starlight hiked a brow. "Not that I know of, but I'll confess, I don't know this place that well. We'll ask the girls when we find them. Now where would they be...?" She turned slowly in place.

"Are you lost?" He perked an ear at her. "I thought you knew the way."

"Last time I met them at the statue! Just give me a moment. I'll find them."

A new friendly voice spoke, "Are you a new student?"

They both looked up at a dark-haired woman that was taller than Starlight. She had dark and light blue hair. She had a moon on her collar. "We haven't met. I'm Vice-Principal Luna." She offered a hand towards Starlight. "Are you vision-impaired?"

Author's Notes:

Suddenly, a wild Luna! What could happen to Laud during his visit to EQG land?

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29 - Saved By the Bell

Starlight smiled sheepishly at the human version of Luna. "Not completely blind," she said truthfully enough. She wasn't blind at all, and she quickly figured trying to say she was when she was looking directly at Luna would not work well. "I'm actually looking for a specific student."

Luna looked intruiged, crossing her arms. "These are school hours, miss...?"

"Glimmer."

"Miss Glimmer. Students can't receive guests at this time. What school do you attend?" The silent addition of 'and why aren't you there?' went unsaid.

Laud looked over the giant of a woman. He decided that Starlight's assessment was fairly accurate. They were almost human, but not. They were the closest a pony would be to humanity, and he wasn't sure if it improved them. He considered his options, but to speak or otherwise misbehave would ruin the illusion that he was a service animal. They were in no physical danger that he could discern.

"That's just the thing! I was supposed to meet and follow her. I'm going to be in town, and I don't want to miss school." Starlight was capable of spinning a lie, Laud saw. He would have to be mindful around her, but being able to lie when the situation demanded it was the sign of an intelligent person.

Luna accepted the falsehood easily, her guarded expression lightening. "Ah, I see. What student are you searching for then? She should have-- Nevermind that, let's get you to class."

Starlight winced faintly. "Oh, don't be mad at her. I gave her practically no warning. Do you know Sunset Shimmer?"

Luna suddenly looked down at Laud, then up at Starlight. "Does the word 'Equestria' mean anything--" She paused. She may have bought the original lie, but she saw the reaction of both at the word Equestria. She heaved a loud sigh. "Why are you really here?"

Starlight raised a hand, palm flat towards Luna. "We just want to see Sunset. We're not here to make zombies of the school or anything, I swear. She knows me, on good terms."

"These are still school hours," she sternly reminded. "Visitors from Equestria will, without doubt, be a distraction to her studies." Her frown eased at Starlight's defeated slump. "Why don't we find a place for you to wait until school is done? If you intend to stay more than a day, come see me first thing tomorrow morning and we'll arrange a schedule."

She knew? Laud quirked an ear up at her before daring to speak, "You are aware t--"

Luna jumped at his words, and seemed just as surprised when his collar began to speak what was gibberish to her. "Do you... Nevermind. I never saw an Equestrian in the fur before." She turned away and began walking. "This way. Let's get you both out of the hallways before another student takes notice."

Starlight followed, holding Laud's bar firmly. She leaned down to whisper, "I don't really know how much she knows and doesn't know. We'll have to ask Sunset when we see her."

Luna pushed open a door into what looked like a cafeteria. "You can wait here. Feel free to have a snack if you want. Will it... be a problem when the students come to have lunch?"

Starlight shook her head quickly. "No problems here!"

Luna arched a brow down at Laud. "Most of them are well-behaved, but they are not used to service animals. Please don't give them any reason to be alarmed."

Laud nodded without words. That was apparently enough for Luna, who strode off purposefully to whatever other duties she had.

Starlight looked slowly around the large room and its long tables and benches for seats. She saw an old woman behind a counter, working on something. "Hello there," Starlight greeted with her free hand waving.

Granny Smith looked up to see a student with a tiny horse attached. "Well ain't that just the cutest thing I ever did see? When'd they start makin' 'em so tiny?" She approached the counter and leaned up against it for a better look at Laud. It was only then she remembered some basic etiquette involving service animals. "Oh, look at me, just gushin' over a horse like that. She's on duty, ain't she? What's your name, miss?"

Starlight put her free hand over her chest. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, nice to meet you...?"

"Most just call me Granny Smith." She gave an elderly smile. "Right pleasure t'make yer aquaintence. Now when'd you sneak in here? It ain't feed time yet."

"Luna just left us here to wait until the end of the day," confessed Starlight with a soft shrug. "Not much to do in here."

"Sure ain't, 'less ya like cookin'." She squinted just a little. "Yer not, you know, blind, I guess?"

"Not completely." Starlight wove towards the gap in the counter. "Need any help? Cooking sounds more fun than just sitting around."

Laud gave a soft snort and refused suddenly to go past the gap, preventing Starlight's progress.

"Yer guide's well-trained. A kitchen's no place for a visually-impaired student." She grabbed a tray. "Ah can offer a snack to a nice girl at least."

Starlight was soon walking towards one of the many tables, her plan to waste time cooking dashed. She set the tray down carefully and sank onto the bench beside it. Softly she hissed out, "What was up with that?"

"You intended to leave me to simply watch you? How did you intend to prepare meals while leaving any scrap of doubt that you can see perfectly fine?" Laud shook his head. "No to that idea. We will simply wait, together."

Starlight frowned, but chewed on the fries and burger offered to her. "Huh, their burgers taste different than ours. Not bad, really, but different."

Laud remembered the pony burgers. They were made of pressed and cooked hay. If these were not that... "Slip a little to me."

Starlight broke off a bit of the patty and held it out towards Laud under the table. He reached a hoof up towards it before realizing he could do little with equine hooves. With a grumble, he leaned in and bit the food away from Starlight.

The greasy snack bounced around his tongue. Savory, well-prepared. Meat. It was an actual burger! "Despite the Canterlot Highs being more pony than human, they are omnivores, like me."

Starlight hiked a brow at that. "Yeah? Why do you say that?"

Laud swallowed the morsel down without hesitation. "Those are hamburgers, fashioned with beef." The word 'beef' had to be said in English. Equestria had no word for it. Speaking English was suddenly as much a challenge as speaking Ponish when he was a human.

"What's that?" She looked guarded, eyeing her burger as if it might suddenly attack her.

"Cow." That word he knew. "That is cow. Decently-prepared, though I can--" He was suddenly cut off, noticing Starlight looking ill.

She dropped the burger onto the tray, gagging. "I... ate a cow? Why would they serve that?!"

"it isn't that bad..."

She leveled an accusing finger at the rest of the food. "Is this all meat?!"

Laud circled around and hopped up beside Starlight, sitting on his haunches on the bench. "Potatoes, Corn, a dessert, milk."

She relaxed at the proclaimed safety of what had been offered to her . "Take the burger if you like it so much. I will pass, thanks."

So they ate together, even if Laud needed help afterwards cleaning his equine snout from the juices and condiments on the burger afterwards.

A bell echoed through the entire school, loud and rapid-striking. Laud hopped to the ground and had his sword drawn into his mouth almost instantly.

Starlight cocked a brow at him. "You should put that away. I'm pretty sure that was just for the students, not an attack."

"Right," he said, words slurred a little by the hilt he held firmly. He swung it back carefully and slid it away just in time for the doors leading to the hallway to burst open. The student body had arrived. Starlight quickly grabbed Laud's guide bar.

"Remember, you're a well-trained horse," she whispered as she smiled at the oncoming students.

They noticed the pony, as was inevitable. While most went to eat, a sizable portion gaped at the little equine visitor and the human attached to him.

"What's your name?" asked a faintly irritated Trixie. "And are you allowed to have a horse in school?"

Starlight barely held in a laugh, recognizing the human version of her friend. "He's my guide pony. He's also on duty, so no petting please." The students accepted this provision with some disappointment, but the crowd began to thin out.

A hand came down suddenly on Starlight's shoulder. "Starlight?" It was Applejack. "What're you doin' here? Wait." She looked down to Laud and back to Starlight. "First off, do you know me?"

"Of course I remember you, Applejack." Starlight waved a few fingers in a wriggling. "Nice to see you again."

Applejack let out a sigh of relief. "Landsake, Ah thought a moment ya were Starlight's copy, who was blind or somethin'. Speakin' of that..."

"Long story," deflected Starlight. "I really am glad to see you. Where's Sunset?"

Applejack pointed across the cafeteria to where Sunset and the others were seated and talking. "Ah just happened t'see the fuss and figured I'd see what--"

"Ohhhhh!" Fluttershy had joined them. "What a cutie!" She dropped to her knees close to Laud. "Hello there, little--" She paused, looking for something on Laud. "Guy?" Had she just sexed him without actually looking down there? "Nice to meet you."

Starlight coughed into her free hand. "He is a guide pony, and on duty."

"Oh. Right." Fluttershy gathered herself up. "Starlight?" It was as if she just noticed the human attached to the adorable little horse. She glanced at Applejack, who nodded. "When did you need a guide animal?"

"Long story, and one I'm eager to get into, once you all get out of school." Starlight gave a wry smile. "But there's not much we can do until that happens."

Applejack put two and two together. She whispered harshly, "Is he from Equestria?!"

Starlight nodded. "I'll go into details when we meet up after school, I promise. Until then, relax. We come in peace."

Fluttershy giggled softly. "You're a friend, why would we be worried about you? And if he--" She gestured down at Laud. "--is your friend, then he's ours as well."

"Exactly." Applejack nudged Fluttershy along. "We'll see you after school."

When things grew relatively quiet, Laud whispered, "Is there magic here?"

"Not nearly as much as Equestria, but some. My friends have more of it than most." She took a sip of the provided milk carton. "When there is, it can be bad news."

Their mirror world treated magic more like his own worlds? That was an interesting quirk of fate. Was it human nature to be distrustful of magic, just as it was pony nature to embrace it? He mulled over the philosophy while they waited for the day to pass. The human world had proven more boring than anything else thus far.

When the lunch crowd had passed on, Starlight stood up. "You know what? We don't need to wait here."

Laud stood up. "Where will we wait then?"

"At the mall!" Starlight grinned. "I've been there before. They have icecream."

Laud hesitantly nodded. "You have professed your love for that confection, but how will we meet your friends then?"

Starlight's smile faded. "You have a point there. Look, I don't wait to just sit here. We can at least take a walk around the block, get some fresh air, and move. Doesn't that sound better?"

Laud rose and shook his guide bar at Starlight, who took it in hand. "I will lead the way," he said confidently. He was her eyes, or so that strange world believed.

Starlight smirked at that. "Keep me out of trouble then."

Together, they left the school-proper.

Author's Notes:

Hello from Texas! I'll be here until November, basically. I typed this with a bluetooth keyboard and a tablet. I do hope you enjoy their adventures in EQG land.

30 - Man's Best Friend

Laud led the way, trotting on his short legs through the largely clean hallways of Canterlot High towards the entrance they had used. For as many students as he had seen during lunch, the school seemed almost abandoned. It spoke well, so far as he was concerned, for the discipline and order of the school. The students were learning, not wandering the halls, as it should always be.

Starlight was following him obediently, letting him blaze the trail they would follow. This was also good. A shame he was a comically small equine at that moment. His movements of alien muscles pulling equally strange bones was disturbing to pay active attention to. He was not human, all too far from it. The denizens of that strange world were also not human, but far closer than he was, on all fours with ears that insisted on turning towards any sound that didn't come from himself.

"How are you holding up?"

Laud turned an ear towards Starlight. It wasn't even a choice, just part of how his new alien form handled things. "I am fine," he stated confidently, perhaps with some bravado. He would not crumple, certainly not in view of others. "We are reaching the exit. We should not speak unless needed."

Starlight nodded. Despite her being almost directly behind him, he could see the motion. Horses saw the world through inhuman eyes. He could even turn his eyes in different directions at once, but that caused a swift headache. His brain was still a human one, and would not tolerate such things. Laud was happy for it. It was a mildly painful reminder that he was a human under the fur and hooves.

They emerged into the bright light of the day. Laud breathed deeply and many scents flooded him. What was oddest was that each one seemed separate, instead of all running together into a composite smell as was normal for people. He could smell freshly cut grass, the lingering scent of passing people, and automobiles. Automobiles were a thing reserved for the densest cities, and only for the use of those in power getting things done. The church had been quite successful getting most of humanity to return to their rural roots, with carts and horses and farmed fields.

He had driven one a few times before. It was a perk of being noble. Such technology was far from unknown to him. He shook off the thoughts in favor of focusing on where they were going. His hooves made clip-clop noises as they traveled along the sidewalk away from the school towards the band of it that circled around it. Looking left and right, it seemed clear and he guided Starlight towards the right side, turning to trot down the paved pathway. He was certain there was no equivalent church in that strange not-human world. They seemed to embrace technology. He could see their houses, each larger than the average commoner could dream of, lit with electricity and many with cars of their own.

It was opulence. Were they in an especially affluent neighborhood? That was a possibility he could not prove or disprove.

A new scent tickled at him. He couldn't place it, beyond fairly sure it was coming from a living thing, and was not a squirrel. He had already seen those dash by a few times.

The elderly woman from the cafeteria came around the corner up ahead, turning left towards them. She held a leash attached to a dog that out-sized Laud's small frame easily. That was the scent. The woman had been no threat. Her pet seemed unlikely to be one, so Laud stayed his course.

Granny Smith pulled her dog to the side as they approached. "Shouldn't you be in school?" she questioned of Starlight as they came close enough to ask without raising her voice.

"I start tomorrow." Starlight smiled a false smile. "I mean, if I'm still here. It's kinda up in the air."

The dog sniffed at Laud eagerly, as dogs tended to do. It barked at him in a few rapid yips. Laud tried to discern if they were aggressive sounds or more playful ones, but it was harder to tell. Was it his shorter stature? Was it his new equine form muddying it? He edged away from the canine as best he could while Starlight was talking.

"Huh, how're ya not sure one way or the otha? Somethin' wrong?" Granny Smith had a brow cocked. She looked concerned. "Ain't right fer a young one to just be wanderin' about in the middle of the day n' all."

Laud could see Starlight's smile turning into a smirk. She was an adult, he knew, clad in the form of a young-adult or not.

"I'm fine, promise." She squeezed the bar that attached herself to Laud. "I have a guide right here, so I'm not alone."

"I don't much expect mah dog to be the sense of us." She held out the hand that was holding the leash as if for emphasis.

The dog took immediate advantage of the slack provided and darted forward to inspect the smallest horse it had ever seen. It rushed for Laud with a wagging tail and buried its snout into his side, then further back, inspecting his scents without shame.

Laud had owned a dog once. This one was much the same in its complete lack of awareness of personal space. The elderly woman was not calling it back or pulling it away, so it was very unlikely the dog would on its own. If he was a full sized horse, he could defend himself casually against the small beast easily. As a man, he would scarcely need to, save perhaps to shove an overeager dog away. As a small guide horse, it was all different. The dog outsized him and did not respect his natural place of superiority as a human.

If he attacked the dog, it could easily inspire a fight instead of cowing the beast. The dog may even think Laud was a threat to its owner and a guarding dog could be one of the most fierce examples of their breed. Its probing wet nose was embarrassing, but was not directly harming him, unlike how it could go if he provoked a proper altercation.

"We should get going." Starlight pulled the bar away from the dog, nudging Laud to step to the side. "He isn't used to dogs." While no words were shared, she could see the distressed body language that Laud was using without thinking. His head was straight up. His ears were folded back. He was tense as if ready to fight or flee.

"Aw shoot, sorry." She tugged her dog's leash. "C'm here, Winona. Leave that poor pony alone." She soon had the dog back at her side, the dog completely unaware that it had done a thing wrong. "She's a good girl. She's used t' much bigger horses and she loves them almost as much as the rest of the family." She reached down with her free hand and patted Winona's head. "She's a mighty big help t' us, much like yer pony there is t' ya, though we have t' be the heads with Winona. She ain't much a thinker."

Starlight laughed a little awkwardly. "I would think not, but they seem like a good dog. Laud here's as smart as I am. Sometimes I think maybe more so."

Granny Smith shook her head. "Don't get fooled. Just cause they can see straight, they're still an animal. Tug to tug, y' gotta be the one in charge."

Starlight crouched just low enough to pat Laud's lower back. "I told you, he is my guide. I trust him. He hasn't led me astray so far."

Granny looked a bit befuddled, but she did relent, "Well, alright then. Can't say I ever had or needed a guide dog before. Maybe it's different then. If it's workin' fer ya, who am I t' say otherwise?" She gave Winona a light tug. "Say goodbye, Winona." The dog barked and began to amble forward. "Huh, sometimes..." Granny followed after her pet, traveling in the direction the others had come from.

Laud walked with Starlight trailing behind just long enough to turn the corner alongside the next side of the building. He spoke without turning his head, "Did you mean that?"

"Mmm?" Starlight couldn't get closer with the bar in the way, but did lean forward. "Mean what?"

"About trusting me?" He had an ear towards her, but kept the rest of himself carefully neutral. He was just a small horse. Small horses did not idly chat with their owners.

"Should I not?" Starlight shrugged emphatically. "You haven't given me reason not to. You wear most of your emotions out in the open, even worse now that you're a horse."

Laud felt as if he would blush, but horses lacked that ability. He wondered in what way he was revealing his embarrassment. "I am stoic," he defended even as the words sounded tepid at best to his own ears.

"Sure you are." she nudged the bar forward. "But compared to Maud? You're practically an open book, and I've gotten better at getting a read on her."

Laud thought of his emotionless teacher and then metallurgist. Few could match her even tone and unchanging features. She had the ultimate poker face. Suddenly, he wondered just how well she could play the game, if ever she had tried. Did ponies have poker? Surely not the exact same game as humans, but maybe they had something similar? His musings eased as they walked alongside a new exterior wall of the school. It was a large building that seemed just as stately and grand from the side as the front.

"Starlight, are your friends here wealthy?"

Starlight frowned faintly with thought. "That's kinda relative, and I don't even know how money here works."

Laud stopped. "How did you plan to get that ice cream?"

Starlight lifted her shoulders. "I would ask nicely?"

Laud peeked over his shoulder up at Starlight. "And that would work?"

"Maybe." Starlight flashed a bright smile. "We wouldn't lose anything for trying."

Laud felt a sudden intense twitch overtake his left rump. He could see a fly buzzing near the spot. When it tried to land on him, the twitch came back, discouraging its presence. It felt bizarre, having his body react with no input from him, but it was one alien impulse among others.

Starlight helpfully shooed the fly away as they walked, relieving him of the annoyance. "The look on your face... Are you alright, I mean, you know, being a horse?"

Laud held his course and pace. "I will not miss this body when I have my human one back." His eyes settled on a car speeding by. He had seen many parked and ready, but only a few in motion. "Are such automobiles frequently used?"

"Such what?" Her eyes moved to eye the departing car. "Is that what those are called? You know about them?"

"I do. They are a human invention."

Starlight raised her brows together. "Clearly not just humans."

"Clearly not." Laud shook his head, making the metal attached to him jingle and clink from the vigorous motion. "They are more rarely used where I hail from."

"Huh, not here." Starlight shrugged as she went. "I've seen whole fields full of 'em. They put them in big black fields, like the one you're making for the spaceships."

Laud's equine eyes widening imagining a parking lot filled with cars in active use. Surely that was a world with wealth beyond his easy measure. "Do you know if they traverse the stars?"

"Don't think so?" Starlight shook her head before tugging at Laud. "Someone's coming, remember you're a horse."

Up ahead, an adult approached, a male with a sweatband around his head and in the act of jogging briskly. Laud stepped to the side, forcing Starlight to follow if she wanted to keep a hold of his bar.

Author's Notes:

Jammed out in the earliest of morning on the last day of the last Nightmare Nights.

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31 - Just a Walk

They watched the man pass quietly. He didn't react more than a casual wave on the way past. Once he was gone, Starlight let out a breath. "People are going to think I'm strange."

Laud wondered how untruthful such thoughts would be, in the end. "Let us complete our walk." He stepped forward, drawing Starlight along by the bar attached to him. There was a small but real satisfaction in leading the way. For the moment, she was his people, and he would see her safely through unknown issues, to emerge whole and well.

His thoughts went back to home, to the castle he was raised in and his family. He had not gained a demesne of his own. If he had, he wouldn't have been flying risky exploration missions. The very idea of a landed noble daring such a thing? Beyond madness.

The rewards for such a thing would have to be immediately clear, which the broken gateway promised no such thing. There had been no assurances he'd find anything beyond it but more space. He was a young would-be lord. It had been a foolish risk, perhaps, hoping to find something that would earn him his land and proper responsibility.

He marched stoically even as he fought the urge to chuckle at the twists of fate. He would throw caution to the wind for the chance to be responsible. It was not right, and yet it had worked. He was becoming something important, to his house, and to the people that were starting to invest faith in him. It would be no easy task. He could see future attacks coming. The church... They would not rest knowing an alien species used magic casually.

His thoughts came back to the current situation as he heard something loud. He tilted his head left and right, swiveling his ears to try to track the seemingly ephemeral sound.

"What is that?" asked Starlight.

Laud looked back at her, then followed her gaze upwards. There was something in the sky. It was small, but also the source of the low roar. Was it small? No. He assembled the pieces swiftly as he studied its shape. It was a ship! A spacefaring one? It wasn't high enough to be in space, or he wouldn't see it at all. An atmospheric ship. A chill ran down his spine watching it crawl across the sky. "This world is quite advanced." It was truth and lie, depending on the perspective. If they could not manage more than an atmospheric ship, his people would laugh at their limitations. Still, the sheer volume and casualness of it...

"You know what it is?" Starlight crouched a little to be closer to him. "It sure is loud, whatever it is."

"It is a ship, like the one I arrived in. I imagine it is not capable of leaving the atmosphere." He tugged forward and they resumed their walk. "I only wonder at its purpose. Does it carry cargo, or people? Is it for observation?"

Starlight hiked a brow. "I couldn't tell you. Remember to ask the girls when we see them. They should have a clue." She drummed her fingers along the bar in her right hand. "At least I don't think there's anything to be worried about."

In that, Laud silently agreed. Such a craft was no threat to them, unless it came far closer. It had no interest in them, soaring away. He hastened his steps, as if that could make time itself march faster. He wanted to meet the actual natives of the world that confused and fascinated him. There was too much he didn't know.

They completed their circuit of the block to find students disgorging from the school in a great cloud. Starlight slowed in her approach. "Did we take that long?"

Laud kept his reply silent. There were too many people to risk speaking. He guided Starlight to the side, off the sidewalk. The students pushed past in a thronging crowd.

A younger student emerged from the mass with a big smile. "That's the cutest thing I ever did see!" exclaimed the ribboned girl. "I didn't know they made horses so small."

Starlight took notice of the girl's color, accent, and ribbon. "Apple Bloom?"

Apple Bloom blinked softly. "Have we met?"

Another girl popped free of the crowd, off-white of skin. "She's the one our sisters mentioned, remember?"

"Oh yeah." Apple Bloom nodded, seemingly put at ease. "Well any friend of mah sister's a friend ah mine." She offered a hand towards Starlight as she came around so there wasn't a small horse between them. "Is this your pet?"

"Wait up for me!" came the cry of a third girl to appear with red-purple hair and brown skin. "Woah, awesome." She grinned at Laud. "Aren't you a little thing?"

Laud remained still, at least until the girl walked right up to him and reached for him. He shied away, but his hint was not taken. She took ahold of his head and began to stroke him. "You are just super cute," she cooed.

"Aw, I wanted first dibs, Scoots," complained the off-white girl.

Starlight pulled back on the bar she held. "He's a guide pony, and on duty. You're making him nervous."

"Oh, sorry." Scoots released Laud's head instantly. "They make guide ponies? I thought only dogs did that."

The off-white one shook her head. "I heard of it. They're pretty good at it."

Apple Bloom thrust a thumb at herself. "Ah ain't giving up Winona for nothin', no matter what kinda little ponies ya try and bribe me with."

Starlight smiled at the three youths. "I don't suppose any of you three know where your big sisters are? We're supposed to meet them."

All three pointed in almost eerie unison towards the front of the school. Scoots was the first to speak, "They're hanging out by the statue, practically their favorite spot in the whole world! Come on, girls, we have work to do!"

The other two nodded in agreement and they moved off in a congenial mob towards whatever it was that had their attention. The off-white one waved in parting. "Good luck!"

The press of the departing students had dimmed with time, allowing them to proceed confidently. They could see their targets. Sunset and the girls were in a half-circle near the statue in plain sight. Starlight let out a soft sigh of relief on spotting them and, without words, they both agreed to hurry towards them.

Twilight saw them first, adjusting her glasses as she watched them approach. "Is that them?"

The rest of the girls looked over and were soon coming closer. Sunset took the lead, marching directly for Starlight. "What were you thinking?!"

Applejack glanced left and right as she came in. "Much as I wanna know the same thin', perhaps this should be saved fer a better place."

Laud examined the fiery-haired girl in front of him. There was something about her, and her tone. She had seen more years than the other girls that came to examine him and Starlight. Was she their leader? He kept his words to himself for the moment.

Starlight held up her free hand placatingly. "I'm with Applejack. Let's go somewhere out of the way and we'll get caught up, promise."

"Right." Sunset turned. "My house is pretty close, let's go." She began her walk, with the others not arguing the plan. "By the way, hey. You don't have to reply until we're not in plain view."

A dog approached Laud from the side. That one had purple fur and was much smaller than the first. It also seemed happier and didn't bark at Laud, which was a plus. "Hey," it whispered. "Welcome to the talking animals club."

Laud jumped with surprise. Talking ponies he had learned to accept, but that didn't make talking dogs suddenly acceptable. Not to mention that the canine was whickering and carrying on as a horse would. That voice sounded male.

"Woah, easy," whispered the dog as he walked alongside Laud. "I'm Spike. What's your name?"

"Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods." He had both his ears turned on the dog. "You are... familiar with magic, I gather?"

"Oh man, you wouldn't believe." Spike rolled his eyes. "But hey, it let me talk. It's been a big plus for me. Me and Twilight have never been closer."

Laud's pace wavered a moment. Spike. That Spike. That Spike's reflection was the dog? He was a servant, less than that. A servant served a clear purpose. He was a companion, a pet. Laud was a servant. He was ready to serve his people unwaveringly.

"What's with that look?" Spike cocked a brow as no canine he had seen before. "That one's Twilight." He pointed to the girl wearing glasses with Princess Twilight's hair coloring. "She's pretty nice, if a little nerdy."

"We should not speak, it will draw attention."

Spike waved a paw as if to dismiss the idea even as he walked. "Nobody pays attention to me, besides, I'm not being loud." He stepped in a little closer. "So are you from Equestria? Why didn't you turn into a human like the others?" He glanced back. "Don't ponies have pictures on their butts?"

Laud said a silent thanks for not having to endure that extra little degradation. What mark would such forces claim portrayed him in its entirety? He was quite happy making up his own mind as to his purpose. "I am not a pony."

"Oh? What were you then?" Spike's question was cut off at the end as hands came down and scooped him up. Twilight had him.

"Stop bothering him, Spike. We'll all have questions later, when we can all sit and listen."

An off-white hand came down towards his sword, a pointer extending and tapping the hilt. "A bold accessory," spoke not-Rarity. "I should imagine most will believe it to be little more than an adorable prop, but I doubt that's true."

Starlight laughed nervously. "It's what he came with, literally. He's protective of it, so I wouldn't mess with it."

Rarity withdrew her hand. "Simply admiring, darling. I wasn't speaking in jest when I said it was a bold accent. An interesting clash with the rest of him being so small and cute. Can he use it? He hasn't even hands to grasp it."

Sunset swept a hand she did have towards a small house. "Here we are." She had a key fished out quickly. "Everyone in. It's long past time for some answers."

They had formed a circle in the living room. Rainbow Dash was sitting on the couch and pointed down at Laud, who was seated beside Starlight. "So, you're not a pony, right? What are you then? Some kinda crazy monster? That'd be pretty cool."

Laud shook his head at the notion. "I am a human, similar to you all."

Starlight wriggled her fingers. "He had these before going through the portal. He has a funny language though."

Twilight leaned in a little from the wooden chair she had settled in, Spike in her lap. "May I hear it?"

Laud considered that before speaking English, slurred as it was coming out of the snout of a small horse and across the tongue of the same. "It falls on a noble to not focus on the luxuries of his position, but to those that rely on them for prosperity. Their happiness becomes yours."

Twilight slowly shook her head. "Fascinating... Your name is Laud, right? Are you comfortable?"

Laud felt an ear raising at the question. "I am not myself, quite literally," he spoke in the pony's tongue. "It is strange and unusual, but not painful. I will manage." He turned to Sunset. "Miss Shimmer, thank you for allowing me into your home and for your hospitality." He dipped his little head towards her.

Sunset cracked into a smirk. "Well, someone's polite at least. Welcome. My house is your house, as they say. What's with the getup?" She waved a hand at Laud vaguely. "Did you come with that harness and bar?"

Starlight raised a hand to her eyes, covering them. "They're just the thing for a guide pony to have, and he's not bad at it."

Fluttershy sank down beside Laud, looking him over with intense curiosity. "Is something wrong? You don't normally visit without a reason."

Author's Notes:

So why are they here? It is perhaps time to set a goal, rather than wandering randomly.

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32 - We Come in Peace

Laud stood as tall and proud as his small fuzzy form allowed. "Your world is in contact with the one I have pledged to watch over." The repetition of his collar in English finally got on his nerves and he flopped to his haunches so he could hoof at the collar, inching it upwards.

Starlight saw him working on it and quickly reached over, undoing its latch and plucking it free. "There you go."

Laud nodded in thanks. "As I was saying. This world must be treated as if it were another orbiting the same sun."

Twilight blinked softly. "That's a curious way to phrase it." She suddenly gasped. "Wait, are you a space traveler?" She was leaning forward, her eyes sparkling.

Laud perked an ear at her. "That is precisely what I was, before my vessel crashed on her world." He pointed a hoof at Starlight. His hooves could not move to the left or right very far, forcing him to turn his entire body to accomplish the task. "I--"

Applejack cut him off. "--Hold on a moment there. Are ya saying yer a bona fide alien?"

Laud tossed his head towards Starlight. "And she is not?"

Pinkie giggled airishly. "He has a point there. So, what sorta parties do they throw on your planet?"

"That depends on the matter being celebrated, the class of those doing the celebrating, and the wealth of the host." He arched a brow at the pink one. "You clearly have similarities with your equine counterpart. Do you have the same sisters?"

She bobbed her head quickly. "Oh for sure. Maud and Limesone and Marble. They're great!"

He hadn't met the other two, but at least one... "Is Maud also a 'rocktologist' here?"

Pinkie looked confused at that. "She's studying to be a geologist, if that's what you mean?"

Sunset put a hand between Laud and Pinkie. "We're getting distracted. What's this about watching over? You're doing what with Equestria?"

Starlight put a hand gently on Laud's head. "This little guy lives to serve. He wants to be the protector of Equestria."

Sunset's brows raised as one. "Don't we have Twilight and her friends for that?"

Laud clopped a small hoof on the ground. "They serve as reasonable guardians for terrestrial threats, but they know nothing of the greater cosmology, or the civilization I come from. No amount of raw magic, frightful as I have seen, will protect their world from direct invasion if it came to it. The losses would be staggering, but Equestria would fall. It is not even a question. It would be--"

Rarity rolled a hand. "That sounds like a threat, darling. It doesn't match well with your otherwise-adorable appearance."

"I'm not trying to threaten." Laud's ears went to the side a moment on their own. "It is a fact, and I don't want that. Your world, strange as it is, is a good place, with good people. As members of my house, there will be no invasion. You will simply join the greater culture." He left out other issues that would come up, seeing no point in confusing the matter at hand. "House Hawkwood is a good house. We will stand by our people, always."

Twilight's fingers danced, their tips bouncing off one another excitedly. "This is just like... Oh wow. There can't be just one house, right? There are... dozens? All angry at each other."

Laud blinked at Twilight. "Dozens is perhaps a strong word, unless you count the sub-houses within the major ones. I am a Mountbatten, which is part of House Hawkwood. For most, Hawkwood would be the important part. By what manner do you presume to understand this hierarchy?"

Twilight slid from her chair to her knees, lowering to much closer to Laud's level. "I've read plenty of science fiction, and this sounds like one of those. So you say you're the 'good guy' house? There's always one of those." She tapped at her chin. "But wouldn't anyone say their house was the good one?"

Laud was not prepared for genre savviness, especially not in a genre he had no experience with. "Excuse me? This is the real world, not some fictional flight of fancy. The threats I speak of will present terms that will not be solved with fiction."

Twilight gave a girlish giggle. "Of course, it's just... Wait, is there an emperor?"

Laud sank to his haunches. In a quiet voice, he admitted, "yes? How are you aware of that?"

"Some kind of powerful religious body?" She pressed.

Laud turned his roiling emotions into anger, scowling at Twilight. "Are you using magic to plumb my mind?"

Sunset raised a hand. "That's my trick, and I have to touch you. I don't do it without permission if I can help it, promise."

Twilight clapped her hands in a rapid series of strikes. "This is simply amazing! Last question. Inter-star travel. Do you have some kind of warp engine, or do you employ some kind of star gate system?"

"We have... jump... gates?" Laud sank in place, feeling a little lost. "How? If this is not magic, how?"

Twilight glanced around the room before jumping up to her feet and dashing off to grab a book off a shelf. "This is how. We, as in society, have written tons of things, including speculative works on a scientifically advanced future."

He was living in their speculative future? The idea was unsettling, but still... "Allow me to return these questions to you. Do you, rather, your people, have the ability to travel to distant stars?"

Applejack shook her head. "We done made it to the moon once, that count?"

Laud felt confidence returning. However prescient their literature was, he was dealing with a primitive society. He just had to remain calm. "So it remains entirely a speculation."

Twilight pointed at Laud. "An uncannily correct one, in your case. Why do you carry a sword then? Oh! It's to get past shields, right?"

Laud shuddered involuntarily, a ripple running down his spine. "While that is one use for blades over other weapons, this sword is a family keepsake, passed down to me by my father. One day, I will bequeath it in kind. You know what a shield is then?"

"In theory," easily agreed the smiling Twilight. "If swords can get past it, I have to assume it's kinetic based. A bullet would be easily detected and stopped, but tricky enough swordplay can confuse and--"

Sunset put a hand over Twilight's face. Pony or not, it seemed that was a shared motion for quiet. "I think you're overwhelming him."

Rarity nodded in agreement. "He does look a tad overwhelmed by all this. Would you like a drink, darling?"

A drink sounded lovely. "Do you have something hard?" They all looked at him as if he had asked something silly.

Sunset laughed nervously. "I have... a little something." The incredulous looks turned to her. "Look, I might be a high schooler, physically, but I'm old enough to handle a drink once in awhile. Wait here." She strode off towards the kitchen.

While she was gone, Applejack fixed Twilight with a look. "So yer tellin' me everythin' in those books of yers was right?"

Twilight shrugged, her eyes still on Laud. "Only he could answer that."

Laud found a new thing to latch onto, and his frazzled psyche jumped at the chance. "What did she mean, 'physically'? Does she have two ages?"

Starlight had that answer, and offered it quickly, "She was Princess Celestia's student before running off into this world. She was a young adult at that point, and that was awhile ago, so, yeah, mentally she's pretty adult."

Twilight approached Laud quietly, eyeing his sword. "Is that made of steel, or some kind of exotic metal blend?"

Laud hopped away from her, coming down facing her. "I would rather speak of something else. No offense, Miss Sparkle, but your knowledge is unnerving."

Twilight deflated and Rarity was at her side in a moment, patting her back. "He didn't mean anything by it, darling. Did you?"

Laud read the room quickly. "No, I was just surprised. I did not mean you were a bad person, Miss Sparkle. Perhaps you can answer this, if Equestria does not become part of the order, what other options are there?"

Twilight frowned with thought, giving a thoughtful mmm. "Well, there's really only a few options. One, they destroy the, you called it a jump gate? Destroy that. Were they built by some ancient race?" Laud tensed at the question, answering it admirably. "Sorry. Either way, if that's removed, then Equestria gets to keep doing what it does. The other option, one I don't see Equestrians doing--"

Rainbow suddenly slapped a fist into her opposing palm. "They take the fight and show them who's boss!"

Starlight's face twisted in disgust. "I doubt most ponies would be up for that, least of all Celestia."

Laud gave a soft nod. "Then there are only four options. Become part of things constructively, be overwhelmed and enslaved, remove yourselves entirely from the greater universal society, possibly permanently, or wage a likely losing war against a far superior force and risk extinction."

Sunset returned with a glass of dark amber. "I see we didn't miss the chance to keep on being gloomy around here. Laud, your drink?"

Laud sat and reached out his hooves, but they were quite unsuited for the task. Sunset crouched in front of him and held out the glass. After a moment of consideration, he dipped his snout to the glass and began sipping at it while Sunset held it.

Twilight shook her head. "Equestria can't be the first alien-filled world you ran into." Laud tensed. "What happened to the others?" she pressed.

Starlight hiked a brow. "That is a great question I want to know the answer to, Laud, if you please?"

Laud looked from one set of eyes to the next. It seemed there was little for it. "It depended on which species. The more human they were in appearance, the more they could be easily accepted in society. The more aggressive species are fought. Those neither aggressive or human are... usually subjugated." He clenched his teeth a moment. "I would prefer that be avoided."

Starlight developed a quick scowl, her hands going to her hips. "Where did the horses you mentioned fall in that line? Did they fight them or 'subjugate' them?"

Laud thought of the shantor, of which he vaguely resembled a tiny version of. "They are alive and well."

Applejack pointed. "That ain't the whole story. Try again, sugarcube."

Was he that bad at falsehoods? He blamed it on his alien body. Half-truths would not do. "They largely dwell on great reservations on their homeworld."

Starlight suddenly shoved him over, knocking him off his little hooves. "Is that what you have in mind for Equestria? Just round up everypony and lock them up?"

Laud rolled with the force of the shove, coming right back upright in an athletic bounce. "Do you believe that? Do I give that impression?"

Twilight raised a hand to her chin. "Was it House Hawkwood that owns the planet these 'shantor' are on?"

Laud shook his head. "It is owned by a smaller house, Al-Malik. One of the smallest, but powerful and canny. The conflicts between them and my own are frequent, but we are not in formal war. There are Hawkwood holdings on the planet, but they own it, not us."

Starlight crossed her arms. "That's pretty messed up, you have to admit."

"I do admit." Laud dipped his head. "But it is also beyond my ability to act on. Equestria, on the other hand, is well within my power to help, and I want to." He looked around at the other girls, and Spike. "Your world will be affected. If it came to violence, they would find your world next, and would not hesitate to come for its resources. As part of a Hawkwood colony, we get to decide when and where such efforts are focused."

Spike shook his canine head. "Twilight was right, this does sound like one of her books."

Author's Notes:

Twilight busts out the tropes, which Fading Suns has in abundance, breaking poor Laud's mind for a moment.

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33 - Sunset

Sunset crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. "That's pretty intense. Most of our big problems involved one specific monster, maybe three at the outside."

Twilight nodded. "Considering an entire space-faring galactic empire is a bit of a jump." She clapped her hands. "I want to know more!"

Starlight suddenly burst into a fit of giggles. "You really are Twilight." At her quizzical look, Starlight waved it off. "The other Twilight. I can see how you two are mirrors."

Spike hopped up into Twilight's lap and settled there. "This is my Twilight. I don't care much about the 'other' one. Besides, they smell different."

Laud sniffed in reply to those words. He could smell things that he couldn't before, but he had little experience sorting it out. He could smell Starlight vividly, being beside her. There were so many things he could identify, he was fairly sure. There was some denim, and some sweat, perhaps from their walk... A few other things were harder to place. Was that the raw smell of Starlight?

He blushed at the thought of it. A man did not learn a woman's scent unless they were already being quite personal, but a horse could detect it from a polite distance. "This is a very strange world, but so far seen, not an... inherently bad one. Let's not allow it to come to harm through no fault of its own." Besides, no matter what the church said, Hawkwood would want access to that world's technology and information. They would boost the productive knowledge of technological creation considerably and tilt the scales of balance in Hawkwood's favor. The church would be a thorn in the side, but not the first Hawkwood ever dealt with...

Starlight reached over and rubbed Laud between the ears and then along them, making them twitch and jump as her fingertips felt through the soft fur. "Are you alright? You look nervous."

He hadn't blushed. Horses don't blush. How had he expressed his moment of awkwardness? He couldn't remember, having internalized it as a blush. "O-oh, I'm fine. It is just different seeing a world with this body and this height, to say nothing of the other senses."

Spike rolled his eyes from his elevated perch. "You get used to it. Can't say I've tried being a tiny horse before, think I'll pass."

Pinkie suddenly grabbed Laud's handle. "That must be super cool, being all fuzzy and cute, but you can't really make a cookie or throw a party like that."

Laud directed an ear back at her, but said nothing in reply to what sounded to be obvious truth.

Applejack looked towards Sunset. "So, what do ya think?"

Sunset huffed gently, accepting the responsibility thrown at her. "I think our friends need to get back to their world and handle this. There's nothing here that will help them."

Laud raised a hoof. "I disagree. There is something you could provide that would give me leverage later."

Sunset hiked a brow. "And that would be?"

Laud rose to his hooves. "Tell me you have books with instructions of a scientific nature."

Twilight shrugged. "We have the Internet for most of that, but you can't take it with you."

Laud sagged. "Internet? Do you not have some books? The more, the better."

Twilight wriggled her fingers. "Internet, a grand connection of computers across the world."

Laud felt his entire body tensing. They had so many computers they had blanketed their planet with them and connected them all together? He had seen starships with similar networks, but an entire planet?! He sank to his haunches, feeling rapidly boneless in the face of it. "That is... astounding, but, please, have you any books?"

Sunset waved at her bookshelf. "Sure, but I'm not collecting the kind of book I think you're looking for. Twilight?"

Rarity suddenly raised a hand. "I have a collection of fashion magazines you could have?"

Applejack tilted her hat down in the front. "Ah kinda doubt that's what he's aimin' fer."

Twilight stood up, sending Spike jumping to the ground. "I know where we can get what you're looking for, but I can do even better." She put a hand at her chest. "I happen to be a whiz at putting things together."

Laud looked up at the practically grinning female that wasn't even a full adult yet. Despite that, she had knowledge he wanted. "And you propose...?" He knew what she would suggest, but left it in her court. Let her say it first.

"I'll bring one of my computers with me and we'll go to Equestria!" She clapped her hands together and looked down at Laud with a huge grin. "We'll get this sorted out in no time at all!"

Starlight suddenly hopped up. "No way! No no no no! None of this is 'no time at all'!" She pointed at Laud. "Nice guy, but his projects are not small, or fast. You're still in school, right?"

"Yeah?" Twilight shrank back a little before stomping a foot and leaning forward at Starlight. "But this is a chance of a lifetime, no, even smaller than that. Nobody gets a chance like this! If I don't take it, I'll regret it forever."

Starlight threw her hands down with an angry grunt. "I've heard Twilight, the other one, go off on rants about 'dimensional balance' and things like that. This is not a good idea."

Laud glanced between the two ladies. He had his opinion... "We will take every precaution to assure her safety." As if he'd allow any harm to come to what could make all the difference.

Twilight pointed down at the small horse that was Laud. "See? It'll be fine. You're worrying over nothing."

Spike raised a brow. "I'm coming too, right? You're not going anywhere without me."

Starlight put her hands to her head. "Enough. This is getting well out of hand. Twilight, you know this is a risky move, and is going to throw your class schedule right out of whack." She crossed her arms then, giving Twilight a look. "You're basically dropping out. I'm not telling you which way is right, but this is a huge decision and you have to give it the consideration it deserves."

Fluttershy shook her head slowly. "It sounds scary to me... Besides, won't you be a pony if you go through the mirror?"

Twilight's grin faded a little. "That's true... but I'll be like the other Twilight. What kind of pony is she?"

Spike waved a paw in the air. "I'm coming too!" he yelped insistently.

Twilight reached down to pluck Spike from the floor. "As if I'd even dream of leaving you behind." They pressed face to face in a moment of solidarity and affection.

Starlight looked to Laud. "She's a girl. She should be in school, not... this."

Laud looked up at Starlight in kind. "Did you remain in school?" Starlight looked puzzled, but Sunset flinched. He spotted it and turned to her. "You seem to have a story."

"W-what, me?" She laughed nervously before she sagged. "Look, I ran away from school when I was around Twilight's age, and it was a terrible mistake looking back on it. I don't want Twilight just rushing ahead into it."

She smiled then, some of the tension leaving her. "Besides, I was given a second chance, with a second school, and a great set of friends to help me through it." The other girls gave a soft aww and came together for a group hug without further prompting.

Spike popped free from the middle of the hug and landed beside Laud. "The other, you know, me. I heard he's a dragon. Does that mean I'll be a dragon, because that sounds kinda awesome. Can he breathe fire?" He rose his paws and wriggled his toes in a fierce display. "Rawr!"

Laud considered his words carefully. "He is the only dragon in Ponyville. Your presence would bring it to two. He can breathe fire." Truths were the best course of action. "He also has hands and the ponies there are not surprised when he speaks."

Spike clapped his paws together. "I can just talk to people? That sounds amazing! Twilight, let's go!"

Laud began to more easily see where the two Spikes diferred, and it was a powerful difference. Spike really was a dog, a loyal companion to Twilight. He would go where she went, because he literally could not envision a world where he did not. He was an extension of her, and, as a dog, this pleased him. Going to Equestria would be a strict upgrade in his options.

He wondered how Spike, the original, handled becoming a dog. He couldn't imagine it was with joy.

"So, what kind of pony is she?" repeated Twilight as the group hug faded.

Sunset gave a quirk of a smile. "I've seen her, in the equine flesh. She's an alicorn, which means she has the full package; Wings and a horn."

Twilight nervously giggled as she seemed to imagine it. "I could learn to fly, and I already know how to use magic to move things around."

Laud blinked. "You have magic?"

"It's a long story, but yes." Twilight reached out a hand, spreading her fingers as she stared at a remote control on a small table. It lifted into the air and began to float towards her until she snatched it. "See? I can't do a lot with it, but moving things around? Easy."

Applejack rose an arm into a curl. "Ah'm strong."

Rainbow Dash suddenly did a circuit around the room with a rainbow trail. "Fast."

Sunset held up her hands. "Now's not the time for showing off. Besides, I already told you, Laud, what I can do, and that's not something you just 'show off'." Her face twisted in disgust. "That's a horribly invasive way to show something, and I'd rather we be friends."

Laud felt his estimation of Sunset rising cautiously. She had the most obviously horrible magic, able to plunder a person's mind, but she was also showing restraint and even disgust at the idea of using it. She had decency, and that had to count for something. She had also been a voice of gentle reason, even if what she said ran counter to his own desires. She was a good friend to the others, it was clear. "If she came, could she not return when she wished?"

He tried to clop his hooves as he'd seen ponies do so many times before, but his body refused to let him bend his legs in that fashion. The best he could do was clop the ground. "Nobody said she has to stay on a permanent basis. Even if she only came during her off days from school, her presence would be a tremendous boon."

Twilight smiled so wide her face squeaked with the effort. "I can visit on the weekends! I'll get my homework done ahead of time and be there in a flash!" Her hands clapped rapidly with building joy. "I won't have to drop out of school or anything dramatic like that and, oh!" She leaned in on Laud. "Tell me you have a working spaceship!"

Laud's ears rolled back from her outburst, but he faced her evenly. "We have the parts of my vessel, currently being studied. Your eyes may lend new insights."

Twilight clasped her hands together. "Yes..."

Spike nudged Laud from the side. "Hey, that's great. I'll get to visit you on the weekends and try being a dragon. Are you friends with other-me?"

Laud suddenly wondered if the two Spikes had met previously or not. "We are friends." Not peers, but friends, surely. "I will introduce you to him if you haven't met before. I'm sure he could give advice on how to function as a dragon." He snorted softly. "I'm sure it is much easier with another of your kind around to lend a hand." He had to learn how to be a small horse mostly on his own.

Author's Notes:

Twilight promises to come visit weekly. Is this a good idea?

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34 - Double Science

The plan was made. The girls happily welcomed their new friend, but there wasn't much to be done in that world.

Well, there was, but Laud's mind was filled with what needed to be done back in his own, and what effect having human-Twilight's assistance might yield. "I confess. For teens, you are all relatively reserved." They all looked surprised at that. "You are guardians of a magical portal to another world entirely, and most of you have never been through it. Were it a dangerous place, I would understand this, but none of you have spoken ill of it. You just don't do it."

Sunset raised a hand quickly. "One, I told them not to. Two--" She extended a finger with each number. "--they have copies on the other side they should try to avoid interacting with. Three, we're all students and have things to do."

While that was all true, Laud could see their expressions. Some part of them clearly wanted to wander on through and see what was there. It was discipline and respect for their leader that kept them from doing so. It ran at odd with their scattered appearances. "Does this mean we should endeavor to keep the two Twilights apart?" Laud snorted like the equine he currently was. "What would happen if they did talk?"

Rarity shrugged. "I couldn't say, darling. They've met once before, if briefly. Nothing too horrible occurred."

Sunset crossed her arms. "Let's not put that to the test." Her voice sounded quite certain. "Twilight, this Twilight, will assist Laud at his project, away from the other Twilight." She fixed her gaze on the present Twilight. "You know you don't have to go, right?"

"But I want to!" Twilight bounced once in place. "I should go. I have a thousand things to get in place. Be ready for me." And off she dashed without looking back, the door soon closed behind her as if a breeze had done it out of kindness.

Starlight rubbed one of Laud's ears gently. "Alright, we've caused enough uproar, maybe we should head back? We can visit again, if you're up for it."

Laud nodded at Starlight before dipping his head at the other girls. "It has been a pleasure meeting you all. You have a fascinating world that I would like to see more of, perhaps on a day you are all less occupied?"

Pinkie formed her hand into the crude shape of a gun and pointed at Laud. "You got it! I've never hung out with a literal tiny horse before, but that sounds fun to me."

Applejack quirked a smile. "Love ta see their reaction and yours if ya came down to th' farm. We got real horses, race and draft."

Laud was unsure how much he craved the company of actual horses in his current state. "I appreciate the idea... Starlight, do we go back the way we came?"

"Exactly." Starlight was on her feet and took Laud's bar. "Ready to go?"

He was for multiple reasons. He was not going to handle business the traditional horse way if he could help it. "Let's proceed." Having the lead, he took it and began walking for the door. A hand came down on his shoulder. It was attached to Rainbow Dash.

"Hold up there, little guy. Nice meeting ya."

"Yes, do come back soon," added Fluttershy with a little smile.

The others joined in the chorus of goodbyes and they were permitted to make their way out.

Starlight asked as she followed Laud's lead, "everything alright?"

"Mm?"

"You're walking a little funny and you seemed eager to get out of there."

Laud swiveled an ear back at her without trying. He considered a falsehood, but he knew it would not work very well. "I need to relieve myself, and will not do so as an animal. Let's return."

Starlight burst into giggles. "I'm sorry! I'm not laughing at you, I swear. Really, you know we have to 'do it like an animal' all the time, right?" She didn't slow his eager walk towards the statue, down the sidewalk. "Come to think of it... how... do... they do that here?" She glanced left and right. "Today will not be the day I discover that. I am in complete agreement, let's go home."

Walking with intent clear and in harmony, they quickly slipped into the statue the moment there were no eyes on them. After a vortex of colors, they emerged as they once were, human and pony, roles reversed. There was no metal between Laud and Starlight. She was holding the back of his shirt instead, her hoof pressed to it.

She released it the moment she realized. "Sorry, well, how was it?"

Laud shook his head. "Fascinating. I'm glad you insisted on the visit. The assistance of the other Twilight is sure to yield amazing results. I can scarcely wait to see her and Miss Pie, Maud that is, speaking on matters of metallurgy." He turned to her, glad to be on human feet again. He put a hand over his heart and dipped forward towards Starlight. "Thank you. Now, as you recall, I have business to handle."

She may have tittered, but she didn't stop him from fleeing the room with what dignity he had remaining.

Twilight trotted easily through her castle. She sang an idle tune of what she had to get done that day, confident that all the pieces were in place for a change. "Hello Spike," she greeted, waving as she passed his room. She smiled as he waved back, but she would not need his direct service at that time.

She arrived at the bottom of the castle, tail swaying with each step. It was going to be a busy day, but she had it all double-planned out! She just had to...

Her motion came to a halt. In front of her, by the door and next to Laud, was... herself? A changeling?! "Laud, look out, that's not me!" she called in alarm as she broke into a gallop.

Laud jerked back in surprise, giving her just enough room to slid between him and the other-her. "Stay back, whoev... Twilight?" The other her was wearing very suspicious glasses.

The other Twilight gave a nervous little laugh. "Funny running into you here." She glanced away and back. "Hello?"

The original crashed to her haunches. "Why are you here? Is everything alright?"

Laud's hand came down gently on Twilight's withers. "She came to see my project and lend a hand."

The other Twilight laughed at that. "I'm all out of hands, but I can lend an eye or two. I also heard he has real spaceship parts lying around here and I want to examine them."

The original's posture relaxed a little. "I wish you would have informed me of this... but I suppose that isn't... too awful. Please, be careful." She pointed upwards. "Ask Spike or Starlight, they can guide you to the ship parts. Laud here knows the way to his own projects. Please don't confuse ponies into thinking you're me. You're not a princess." Twilight could feel her precious time table sliding off balance. "I really do have to be going. Laud, I'm trusting you to keep this under control."

"As you command, Your Royal Highness." His voice held not a hint of sarcasm, spoken with sincere respect.

Twilight went red. "T-thank you. Have fun, you two." She trotted past them, trying to dismiss thoughts of what could go wrong with her otherworldly self wandering around. She had a schedule, and she was going to follow it!

"I miss anything?" asked Spike as he wandered in. "Where's the other, uh, me, hiding anyway?"

Other-Twilight smiled at her transformed pet. "I'm sure he's hiding around here. Do you want to look for him, or shall we proceed to this space dock you're working on?" She suddenly giggled. "Oh, just thinking about a real space dock... Does it have anything cool and high tech in it?"

Laud shook his head. "We have to start simple. A flat and level place for ships to land will be enough to draw them. We will provide amenities and make this as tempting a place as possible to keep them coming, and begin trading for what else we may need."

Twilight frowned a little. "There isn't much for me to see there then, yet. We should start here." She waved a hoof, wobbling dangerously on her other three. "Let's find your ship parts and get to examining them."

Starlight's voice was heard before she came into view, "I thought you were scheduled to be out of here al--Oh." She tilted her head at the group of them. "Let me guess, not the same Twilight?"

Twilight lowered her hoof to her chest. "Guilty as charged. The other me said you'd know where the ship parts were?"

"And where the other me is!" quickly added Spike with a hopeful smile. "I wanna meet him."

Starlight turned in place as she laughed. "Both of them are in the same direction. Welcome to Equestria! I didn't turn on the portal though. I was going to do that later, and here you are?"

The other Twilight scurried to get beside Starlight, almost tripping along the way. "The portal was open on its own. It still does that once in awhile and I didn't see any reason to not take advantage of it."

Spike's eyes roamed the hallways they were walking through as he walked along. "Being up on my hindlegs all the time feels like it should be really hard, but it isn't. Kinda wierd." He glanced aside at Laud. "I guess you're used to it, huh? So this is you? You don't look that different from how Twilight normally looks, uh, except the whole being a guy, and taller, and an adult human I think?"

"What's going on out here?" Before Laud could answer other-Spike, it seemed the original was poking his head out of his room. "What..." He trailed off, peering at his other self and the other-Twilight that came with it. "What's going... on?" he repeated lamely.

Starlight turned to the guests and pointed at each of them. "This is Twilight, and this is Spike, from beyond the mirror. You've heard of them both, right?"

Spike hiked a brow. "Yeah, uh, hey?" He wriggled a few fingers at them only to hop back as the other Spike rushed him. "Hi?"

The other Spike began sniffing all over the original, making no allowances for personal space. "Nice to meetcha! Being a dragon is fun so far. We can breathe fire, right? Show me how! I wanna be a fire breathing dragon!"

The original gently pushed his doppelganger back a few precious inches. "Woah, easy there. Yeah, we can breathe fire, but I try not to. Twilight's castle practically doubles as a library, and fire and books don't get along. Trust me, I've seen it."

Starlight nervously laughed. "Yeah, let's save the fire experiments for when we're outside. Spike, come along with us. Twilight's going to be busy looking at Laud's ship parts, but Spike 2 would really like to get to know you."

Spike 2 bobbed his head. "So what's it like being a dragon?" He wriggled his new fingers. "Do ponies get scared of you when you growl at them?"

Spike 1 shook his head. "Nah, they know I'm a good dragon." He stepped free of his door and pulled it shut behind himself. "So, you're a dog normally, right?"

Spike 2 fell to all fours and wriggled his tail as a happy puppy might do. "Born and raised! Then a bunch of magic from this world came out and poof, I could talk and everything!"

Twilight gently tapped Spike 2 on the head. "Come on, you. Up." Spike 2 pouted but stood up. "If I have to be on all fours, you have to be on twos. That was the deal, remember?"

"Yeah yeah." Spike 2 rolled his eyes before sliding in against Spike 1. "So, does your Twilight boss you around sometimes too?"

Author's Notes:

Let's reverse these roles! Laud gets to show off what's left of his ship to an eager SciTwi.

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35 - Examinations

The two Spikes walked side-by-side as the group resumed its journey.

Starlight waved a hoof as they went. "It's not far now. Maud has stopped coming by daily. I think she's gotten engrossed in some other aspect of your big project, Laud."

Laud knew he had given her many things to think upon. "I imagine her metal research and refining have taken up the most of her time, where she isn't exploring her own ends." What did Maud do when not working on what he had put in front of her? He didn't know.

Twilight trotted forward, her gait light and bouncing in an awkward way. "I can't wait to see them." Her bounces made her bun jostle about, the other hint that she was not the original.

The original Spike, who revealed his tongue far less often, rushed for a door suddenly and turned his back on it. "Presenting... the ship from beyond the sky!" With a dramatic flourish, he cast the door open wide.

Twilight tilted her head at the piles of parts revealed, stilling a moment before she advanced with a slow but steady pace. "They really did tear it apart, didn't they?"

Laud followed after her. "Part of it was the violent entry, but, yes, they took it apart to examine once I gave them leave to do so. I will admit, I did not expect them to find much, but the people of this world are full of surprises."

Twilight sat down beside a pile of circuit boards. "They look almost familiar." She reached with a hoof and nudged one off the stack. "How do I use this horn?"

Starlight laughed awkwardly as she sat beside Twilight. "That's not as easy as it looks, but, then again, the mirror gave it to you, so it should come somewhat naturally. I'll show you how."

Twilight was pointing at the board she had knocked over and it began to lift into the air. "Nevermind, got it! It's just like my magic back home."

Spike 1 leaned to the side towards Spike 2. "Looks like Twilight doesn't change much. Wanna let them work and grab a snack?" Spike 2 bobbed his head in easy agreement. "C'mon." To the others, he raised his voice, "we'll be downstairs."

They left without anyone stopping them, leaving Laud to watch Twilight as she examined the complex boards.

"They're clearly of the same principle in design as the circuit boards I've seen, and made, but they appear to have been fashioned by far more precise mechanisms that allow for denser, smaller, and likely more delicate configurations." She turned the board about. "I can almost make out where each connection goes, except the processing units. I couldn't start to say what the inside of those are like and won't know until I pry one open and have a closer look."

Starlight shook her head. "You really know what that thing is?"

"In principle." Twilight set the board down. "But that's like knowing an animal is an animal, which is, itself, a wealth of facts about the unknown object, and yet so much still to be known. There are, after all, so many kinds of animals out there. Knowing that alone doesn't mean you're close to knowing everything about an object."

Laud reached out and took the panel that the original Twilight had forced to display numbers. "Do you know what this is?"

"An LED numeric display," reported Twilight 2 without delay. Her magic wrapped around it and pulled it closer out of Laud's grasp. "Charmingly simple compared to the boards."

Starlight smiled. "The other Twilight could make it spazz out and show mostly random numbers, usually 8s."

"Of course." Twilight turned it around slowly before she frowned. "I'm certain I could do more, but I'd need a source of electricity. Ideally within the limits of the display, or you could damage it."

Laud was certain at that point. This alien Twilight really understood the parts. "Are these--" He waved over the piles in a broad sweep. "--within your ability to make?"

"No." Twilight put the display down. "Well, some of them, like that numeric display I could. Others will take study, to say nothing of proper tools. I imagine I can't take these back to my lab at home, nor can I bring my lab here..."

Starlight shook her head. "Twilight was pretty insistent on only small things going through the portal, and most of those should come back eventually."

Twilight 2 flashed a big smile. "Small things? Like just one of these boards?" She grabbed one in her magic and lifted it from the others. "Just one would be enough to really pry it apart and determine the underlying principles at play. Oh, um--" She looked to Laud. "This is, of course, assuming you're alright with this?"

Laud quickly rolled a hand towards Twilight. "If you can properly examine it, you have my leave." That was why he had invited her. "Just return it when you are finished."

"Exactly." Starlight circled around the first pile. "I'm impressed. All of this looks right to you?"

"Basically." Twilight set her chosen board beside herself. "I can tell what basic category they fall into, but all the specifics, that's where the real mystery is. I can't wait to do proper debugging."

"Debugging?" Starlight turned to Twilight. "I doubt the other Twilight let bugs in here."

The visiting Twilight laughed gently. "Not that sort of debugging. I mean figuring out how it works."

"What's that have to do with bugs?"

Laud had heard the term before, once, by a guild technician without explanation. He had many of the same questions Starlight had, though he had been spared looking the fool. First by keeping his mouth shut, then by Starlight asking for him helpfully. "Approximately how long do you estimate it will take to complete your analysis?"

Twilight paused a moment. "Sorry? I didn't get some of that. You have a much stronger accent on this side of the mirror."

A translator floated over, held in Starlight's magic. "Here you are."

Laud took it, releasing it from its glowing cradle. He had it on quickly and repeated his question, just for the collar to echo it in a generic mare's tone. It was Starlight's. Of course it would speak with a female voice.

Twilight quickly bobbed her head. "Ah! I couldn't say with confidence. At a glance this all looks familiar, but once I start getting into the specifics, I'll really know. We already planned for weekly visits, so I can give updates as I go."

Starlight pointed towards the exit. "Now that we've gotten that squared away, did you want to take her to the big lot you've been working on?"

Laud considered that. There wasn't a lot there to be seen or done just yet, however... "Would you like to meet this world's Maud? She is quite talented with all matter of minerals, metal included."

Twilight lifted the board she had picked and waved it lightly. "Love to, but what do I do with this? I don't have... pockets."

"Yes you do." Starlight took hold of the board, the color around it shifting before it moved against Twilight. Twilight squeaked with alarm as it pressed into her body, passing bloodlessly into her form. "There you are. You can take it back out the same way. If you don't, it'll end up in your human pockets when you go home."

Twilight looked back at where the board had vanished. "That felt... interesting." She raised a hoof to cough into before turning back to Laud. "Lead the way, I suppose."

Laud had to amaze at the act that Starlight clearly held as banal. Ponies were innately magical creatures, he had to remind himself. They knew not the strangeness that was their everyday life.

Spike 1 gestured over two plates of ruby-encrusted eggs. "Eat up!"

Spike 2 looked less certain. "Why are there rocks mixed in with the eggs?" He nudged his plate uncertainly as if it may attack him. "Usually you try not to eat rocks."

Spike 1 raised a finger. "Unless you're a dragon. We love gems, and you're a dragon now, so try some. You'll like it, promise."

Spike 2's brows knitted. "Right, dragon. Rawr!" He made the fiercest face he could manage and lunged forward as if attacking his plate of food. The eggs were soft and fluffy, while the bits of rock were hard and crunchy, but that was the trick. He was crunching them, not smashing his teeth. They were far more flavorful than he expected a rock to be, the little flakes more like bits of candy than anything else. "Mmm..."

"Told ya." The original Spike gave a thumbs up before digging into his own plate of food. The two devoured their food with equal zeal, leaving naught but clean plates behind. "Ah, that's better." Spike collected the two plates and walked them towards the sink. "Loved it, huh?"

"It wasn't bad at all," said Spike 2 agreeably as he followed behind. "You ever try munching on a bone? Twilight doesn't like it, but it's just about the best thing as a snack goes."

"Bone, huh?" Spike 1 raised a brow as he set the plates down. "I'll bear that in mind." He had no real intention of trying it unless he was a dog at the time, and he planned to avoid that if he could. "So, uh, are you your Twilight's number one assistant too?"

"Number one assistant two? Which is it, one or two?" Spike 2 held up two fingers. "I'm not either of those really. I'm her friend and family. I couldn't even start to get what she works on, but I can keep her company and she likes that, and I like doing it."

Spike 1 blinked at the reply. "Huh. Wait, before you said magic made you talk, right?"

"Ahuh."

"What did you do before then?"

Spike 2 frowned a little. "Bark or growl?" He let out a sudden dog's bark with the skill only a dog could have. "Like that!"

"And Twilight understood you?" Spike rubbed behind his head as he asked, trying to imagine the situation.

"Not exactly, and I didn't understand her, not exactly, but we'd know how the other was feeling, and that was good enough. When I was happy, she was happy, and her being happy made me happy!" His tail wagged behind him with the energy a dog could have. "We were always super good friends. Also, she fed me. I liked that part."

Spike 1 shook his head slowly. "So... you were her pet?"

"Technically I still am," easily accepted Spike 2. "I mean, I talk now, and she does listen, but... yeah... I mean, what else would I be?"

"But a pet belongs to a pony," spoke Spike in a mildly whining tone. "Don't you want more than that?"

"You must never have really had a pet." Spike 2 shook his head slowly. "Besides, still a dog. If I talked to other people, they'd freak out, and if I didn't, I'd just be a stray dog. Nope, not gonna do that. Twilight's super nice and a great big sister anyway."

"Wait, big sister?" Spike leaned forward. "What do you mean by that?"

"You really don't know?" Spike 2 smiled broadly as he rocked on his new feet, looking dreamy. "Good pets and good 'owners' adopt each other. She's my family, and I'm part of hers. I'd do anything for her, and she'd do the same. We're like brothers and sisters, just from different parents. She's my big sister, so I listen to what she says."

Spike 1 rubbed the end of a claw along his chin. "Huh, I never really thought of it like that. That's kinda cool." He felt a mote of jealousy. As degrading as being a pet sounded, that other Spike knew without a shadow of a doubt what his relationship was with his Twilight and supported it with every fibre of his being. Still didn't make Spike 1 want to be a dog. "Hey, did you want to see the town?"

"With the other ponies? Heck yeah!"

Author's Notes:

Written on day 2 of Midwest Furfest! As if a convention could throw me off schedule.

Be wary though, hotel rooms are breeding pits for typos.

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36 - Seeing the Town

Spike 2 chased after the original with a happy smile and an energetic step. He didn't seem to want to casually walk anyway, even going so far as to circle around the first Spike to keep his momentum going. "So, what are they like? Are they nice, like Twilight?"

Spike's eyes followed his doppelganger as well they could without moving his head. "Most of them are pretty nice, yeah. In fact, I bet one should be arriving about--"

"Hiya!" Pinkie appeared from beneath a small rock along the path. "Did you get into the Mirror Pool?" She tilted her head. "I told Maud that was a bad idea, but she said--" She quickly redid her mane to match Maud's, flattening her voice as she said, "It seems harmless to me."

Spike 2 rushed towards the pink pony. "Hiya! My name's Spike."

Pinkie offered a hoof without hesitation. "Nice to meet you, Spike. I'm Pinkie, and I had a feeling a new pony was in town, but I already know you."

Spike 1 lifted his shoulders. "I didn't touch any Mirror Pools." He hiked a thumb at his double, watching the other-Spike sniff at Pinkie curiously. "He isn't me. He's from--"

"--past the mirror! I knew a mirror was involved!" Pinkie giggled with joy at figuring it out as she craned her neck to follow Spike's investigation. Getting into the spirit of things, she circled around and gave Spike 2 a sniffing at, leaving the original to peer at the two.

"So, uh, what do you... smell, besides a butt?"

Pinkie shrugged "Just a butt. I just wanted to be friendly."

Spike 2 shook his head. "That's because you don't know what to sniff for. You're healthy, well-fed, and secure. I can tell that you're not the lead dog, but you aren't the lowest dog either. You smell like you could be a friend easily."

Pinkie turned to face Spike 2 and bobbed her head. "I sure hope so. Here, as a welcome gift." She reached up into her mane and drew out a sprinkled cupcake. "Extra sprinkles."

"Ooo, thanks." Spike 2 gladly snatched the cupcake and took a big bite out of it. "Mmm. Twilight never let me have chocolate as a dog, said it was bad for me. It's alright for dragons though, right?" He looked past Pinkie towards Spike 1.

Spike 1 thrust his thumbs upwards emphatically. "Chocolate is A-Okay for dragons, though you probably shoulda asked that before you devoured that."

Spike 2 wadded up the wrapper of the already eaten cupcake. "Too late for regrets. So, uh, Pinkie was it? Where do you suggest we go to see the sights?"

Pinkie tapped a hoof on her chin before pointing into the town. "Well! If you want more where that came from, stop by the shop I work at, Sugarcube Corner. We have loads more, and plenty of other ponies come by all the time so you can meet them. Sweet, huh?"

Spike 1 put a hand on his twin's shoulder. "Twilight, either one, will get--"

"--there's another Twilight?" Pinkie was suddenly between the two Spikes, facing the first intently. "Where's the new one? I gotta say hi! Is she like the first one? Does she have wings?"

Spike 2, spared the direct fury of Pinkie's attention, managed an answer first, counting on his new fingers. "In the big tower thing. From what I hear, yes, and yes."

Pinkie twirled to face the second that seemed to have the answer. "Thanks! Oh gosh, if they both have wings, it might be hard to tell them apart. Do you have a secret password or something?"

Spike 1 pointed up towards his head. "The other Twilight has a bun in her mane. If you see that, it's the new one."

"Bun, got it." Pinkie nodded with growing confidence. "I'm off to greet a new pony then. Have fun!" She bounced away one great leap, waved at the both of them, and began pronking towards the tower.

Spike 2 chuckled softly. "She isn't that different from the Pinkie I know, but she smells different. I can tell she's not the same person." He tapped his nose. "Even if I can't smell half as good. How do you work like this? It's like I have a cold."

Spike 1's snout wrinkled. "It goes the other way around too. When I was a dog, it was like I could smell the universe. I mostly ignored it. I had no idea what any of it really 'meant'."

"Dragons can still smell better than humans." Spike 2 bobbed his head. "If my smelling was that bad, I'd freak out. Like I said, like I have a cold, not like someone just chopped off my nose."

Spike 1 stuck out his tongue a little. "Let's not dwell on that mental image. Onwards!" He thrust a fist forward and led the way into town. Their adventure had barely begun.

Starlight trotted ahead, leading the group towards the exit. "It'll be nice to see Maud. Since she finished poking around Laud's ship, we haven't been bumping into each other nearly as often."

Twilight looked aside at Laud. "Of all the people I've heard described, she may be the most different, if only because I never really met Maud, on either side. I don't know her."

Laud nodded faintly. "Have no fear. Your keen knowledge will be appreciated by her. She's a mare of few words, but she appreciates results and answers, both of which you have."

"She's a peach," promised Starlight. "I mean, once you get to know her. She can be a little... stoic? But that's not her being mean, so don't take it that way."

Twilight cocked a brow at Laud. "Cutting Knowledge? Oh! Your translator made an error. I get it." She squinted a little as they passed out into the light of day, only to scamper backwards as a pink presence dominated her field of view.

"Hiya!" Pinkie bounced forward to match the pace of her new hopeful-friend. "You must be Twilight, the new one that is." She pointed up at her own mane. "I was told how to spot you. I'm Pinkie!" She offered a hoof towards the dazed newcomer.

Starlight threw a hoof over Pinkie's withers and drew her close. The fact that the act drew her a small way away from Twilight being a side effect. "Pinkie! We were about to visit your sister."

"Oh, really? Can I come?!" She touched her snout to Starlight's cheek before bouncing back. "It's never a bad day for a dose of Maud hilarity."

Starlight's smile turned wry at the thought of most of Maud's jokes, such as they were. "Sure isn't," she lied poorly. "I don't see any harm in it, so long as you don't get between Twilight and Maud, they'll have to discuss some heavy things."

"With Maud, what isn't heavy?" Pinkie waggled her brows. "See, I can do rock puns too."

Laud set a hand down on Twilight's withers in a hopefully supportive way. "Pinkie is harmless, and quite friendly, possibly to a fault."

"Much like my Pinkie," agreed Twilight as she stood back tall, recovering from the greeting. "Hello, Pinkie. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Your Pinkie?" Pinkie offered a hoof and they bonked against one another with a soft clop. "Oh, right, there's one of all of us in there, isn't there? Is she just like me?"

"I don't know you well enough to say that for sure, but the first impression is fairly close to the mark."

That was enough to satisfy Pinkie, who turned and began walking towards Maud's. "Alrighty then! The proof is in the pudding, they say, but why would ponies prefer pudding when there are even better options?"

Laud remained at Twilight's side, allowing Starlight and Pinkie to go side-by-side. "Tell me, Twilight, if ever you feel threatened or overwhelmed. You are my ward while you are here, and it would be in poor form for me to allow any harm to befall you."

"That's very kind of you." She smiled a little before looking around. "Still, this is literally a magic land of colorful ponies. How bad can it get? Besides, I have my own... Where's Spike?"

Starlight and Pinkie turned as one to offer an answer, paused, look at each other a moment. Starlight pointed at Pinkie, who smiled brightly and took her opportunity. "He's with the other Spike, headed into town. They looked like they were having loads of fun!"

Twilight put a hoof to her face, looking like she might have been trying to chew the nails she didn't have. "Is he alright? This is an alien world!"

Laud couldn't help but notice Twilight's reversal when considering the danger that might befall her pet as opposed to herself. "He is in good company. The other Spike will not allow harm to come to him." It was a good chance for Spike, the original, to show his competence. "As you said, this is a land of colorful magic ponies."

"Yeah..." Twilight set her hoof back to the ground. "He's a good boy, and smarter than ever. I'm sure... he'll be fine away for a little while. The other Spike isn't prone to dangerous activities, I hope?"

Starlight waved that idea away. "As if. His usual 'activities' include reading comic books, snacks, and helping Twilight organize her ever-growing library."

Twilight resumed her walk forward, which prompted the others to move as well. "Those don't sound very dangerous. He should be alright."

"Besides," pointed out Pinkie as they went. "He's a dragon! Other-Spike was a dog before, I remember Twilight saying. Dragons are a lot harder to bother than a dog. I mean, he's fireproof for a starter."

Twilight shook her head as she went. "I'd prefer to not imagine Spike in any situation that he's glad to be fireproof."

The group made soft noises of agreement as they left the tower behind and approached the flat plane that was becoming a landing platform for spaceships. The ponies hired to work on it were present, as were some artisans, busily sculpting statues or even painting the forming wall directly. It all provided a din of activity.

A green pony with dreadlocks looked up as they approached. "Far out, it's the boss man." She trotted up towards the group. "Peace and blessings. Have you come to see the astronomical art we've created?"

Pinkie perked an ear at the green one. "Heya Tree Hugger. I didn't know you were an artist."

"I'm not," she admitted as she dipped her head. "I am a muse. I send righteous waves of inspiration into artists to help them do their thing." With a dreamy smile, she turned back towards the wall. "They've been making great progress. It's really far out how far everyone's coming in so little time. With such a stellar project, you can feel the positive vibes. We are ready to greet our neighbors of the stars and welcome them."

Laud looked along the wall. It was becoming quite a piece. Even if it never served as a star dock, it was quite a work. It seemed like each piece lead right into the other organically. There was a pony seated below a raincloud, but the drops did not reach her with the extended wing of the next piece protecting her, but that pegasus appeared to simply be showing off to some other ponies with cameras that led right into the next scene. It was a dazzling stream of consciousness, pony thought made physical. "I'm impressed. Do you know how the landing pad itself is coming along?"

Tree Hugger sedately nodded, in no particular rush as she waved vaugely over the wall. "Beyond the barrier of our love, they have labored to lay the field flatter than it has any right to be. I heard them say they are awaiting a shipment of concrete."

Logistics. Laud could appreciate that materials did not move instantly where one wished them to be. "Thank you, Miss Hugger. Please, continue your efforts."

"It's a total pleasure, man." She turned away. "Keep it real."

Twilight shook her head slowly. "She has not changed, not even a little bit. Where's Maud?"

Author's Notes:

We've made it this far without any typos in the visit. Everyone seems to be having fun even.

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37 - Rock Science

Things grew warm as they pressed into the newly formed building of stone. Laud nodded as he walked. "This is the metallurgy lab that Maud constructed. It's been quite rapid progress, considering what she has to work with."

Pinkie peeked around as she darted from behind one pony to the next. "She didn't let me come in here before. Wow, it really looks nice!"

Starlight cocked a brow at the pink one. "Did she give you permission now?"

"Nope! But I'm with you guys, and I'll be super careful, promise. I'll only look with my peepers." She opened her eyes wider than they already were, a feat for most ponies, Pinkie especially. "Lead the way, Laud."

Twilight stepped forward on unsure hooves. "This isn't like... what I imagined. Your Maud is very talented if she built this. Quickly, you mentioned? A few months?"

Laud waved the estimate away. "Closer to a few weeks."

"Weeks?!" Twilight hopped up to peer at a shelf with a line of metals in an orderly row. "How!?"

"Is someone there?" asked a flat voice as Maud emerged from the book. "Hello, Laud, sister, Starlight." Her eyes went to each as she said their name. She looked pointedly at Twilight, but did not say their name.

Pinkie lunged for Maud, hugging her tightly. "I knew you'd be alright with it, and I haven't touched a thing."

"Thank you."

Twilight brought up a hoof to cough into. "Yes, nice to meet you, Maud." She gazed into the tranquil pools of pony-Maud. "Some things don't change. So, I'm told you're a geologist?"

Laud gestured towards Twilight. "This is Twilight Sparkle."

"No, it isn't," argued Maud flatly. She approached the false Twilight. "Who are you?"

Twilight backed a step away nervously. "I really am Twilight, just not your Twilight. Has--"

"Are you from the mirror pool?"

Pinkie burst into giggles. "That's exactly what I thought at first too. Great minds, huh?"

Twilight smiled as best she could, her lips trembling faintly. "I'm from past the mirror, but not any pool. What is this pool that everyone keeps talking about?"

Maud shook her head. "I can show it to you if you want, later." She turned to Laud. "I presume there is a reason she is here. What is it?"

Laud brought his hands together to rest with a soft clap. "She has advanced knowledge in the use of metals. I had hoped she could lend a..." He hesitated. Hand was not the right word. "Hoof. She understands the principles of my technology."

Maud spun, three legs raising and pivoting on the one left easily to face Twilight. One could imagine a new interest in her eyes, if one deluded themselves. "You know how they work?" she asked in her usual monotone. "We should compare notes."

Starlight snuck up on her friend and got an arm around her, pulling the other mare close. "Hey Maud."

"Hello, Starlight," repeated Maud, the smallest smile on her snout the only sign that she approved of Starlight's presence, besides not fighting it. "Do you know not-Twilight?"

"Sure do. She's really eager to get to work, last I heard."

Twilight bobbed her head, her moment of paralysis ending. "Oh, yes. I'm taking a small motherboard home with me to analyze. I'd love to see what you've accomplished here. I've only seen the front and I'm already impressed."

Maud took everyone on a tour of her facilities, showing how she had refined the art of purifying silicon. "I did not think of it all myself." She pointed at a large metal barrel that dominated a room. "The technique has been used in other places. Using an electric current to produce heat, the rocks can be heated to the point that the impurities can be separated."

Twilight darted to the great device and began circling around it, mumbling to herself. She paused at a part. "The cord is just hanging out?" She gingerly nudged the strangely slender cord that came from the machine towards an outlet. "Isn't that dangerous?"

Maud shrugged softly. "It hasn't caused any problems so far."

Twilight's horn began to glow as she lifted the cord and affixed it to the ceiling, making it run along out of the way the long way around to the outlet. "See? Now no one will trip over it and cause an accident. How do you manage with such a slim cord? It must take an immense amount of power."

Starlight suddenly raised a hoof and affected her flattest voice. "It hasn't caused any problems so far."

Maud nodded. "That is what I was going to say."

Pinkie giggled at the interaction between the two. "You two know each other so well. Still, Maud knows her rocks." She pointed up at the cord. "If it wasn't good enough, she'd know."

Laud frowned faintly. "Is power freely available?"

Maud shook her head. "I have to pay for what I use." She pulled out a bag that jingled. "I am being paid for my research."

"Besides what I offer?" He wasn't sure, but he thought he head heard an unspoken addition in that flat sentence.

"Princess Celestia has offered to fund my research and development. I had no reason to decline."

Laud smirked. Of course she had. Celestia was a ruler worth her weight. She would make herself a part of an innovative new technology that could shape her kingdom and her people. "What is she requesting in return?"

"Only that I share what I learn." Maud leaned forward as if to tell a secret, but her voice didn't change, "I was going to do that anyway. As a rocktor, it is my duty to learn, research, and document what I find, for future rocktors to learn from."

Laud considered. There was no elegant way to make either Maud or Celestia back down on the matter. Should he even try? There was something to be gained, but a much more immediate amount to be lost. "I would ask that it not be shared with humans--" He put a hand on his own chest. "--that I don't personally vouch for. They are very sensitive about this. We don't need, or want, an incident about it."

Maud nodded easily before she approached a small pedestal with a big red button on it. "I could show you how the arc furnace works."

Twilight quickly raised a hoof. "No! I mean, thank you, but let's not. Arc furnaces are anything but quiet. So it really is an arc furnace? That's what I thought from what you described." She whistled softly. "Those things take hundreds of amps! Kilovolts of electricity!"

Pinkie tilted her head. "I don't know what either of those are, but you sound impressed, so good job, Maud!"

"Woah," spoke the new Spike breathlessly. "It looks like it really is made of candy. This blows the other one out of the water." He threw his hands wide. "Hey wait, do the same people work here then? The Cakes?"

Old Spike nodded quickly. "Yeah, nice ponies. Pinkie lives with them. Shall we head inside?" He made a grandiose wave to the door. It was just in time for it to open and a filly to trot free.

Sweetie Belle waved lightly. "Hi Spike, Spike." She slowed to a stop, her brain struggling to process what she just saw. "Um..."

The new Spike waved eagerly in reply to the small pony. "Hiya! Huh, you kinda sound like Sweetie Belle."

"That's because I am Sweetie Belle," defended the filly before she looked rapidly between the two Spikes. "Who are the two of you?"

Old Spike threw an arm around his twin and pulled him close. "We're both Spike, but I'm the one you know, and this handsome fella is the other me from past the mirror."

Sweetie burst into giggles. "That is remarkable! Nice to meet you both then, even if I already made the acquaintance of one of you before." Her eyes focused on the new Spike. "How are you enjoying Ponyville?"

New Spike bobbed his head before advancing beyond the reach of his twin to sniff at the smaller pony gently. "Nice to meet you, Sweetie. I didn't get to talk to the other Sweetie much. We were going to--"

"--Why are you smelling me?" interrupted Sweetie Belle with a perplexed expression. "I washed this morning, promise!"

"I can tell. Your shampoo smells nice." New Spike nodded with approval. "Wish Twilight used that instead on me."

Sweetie sank to her haunches. "But you don't even have any hair..."

Old Spike snorted out a brief laugh. "He's usually a dog, so he had plenty of hair to spare."

New Spike quickly bobbed his head in agreement. "Uh huh. So is this your favorite place?" He gestured at Sugarcube Corner.

"One of," easily admitted Sweetie with a bright smile. "I was just picking up some cookies for later." Her small horn glowed as a little paper bag floated out from within her fur. "A snack for the hike the girls and I are planning."

New Spike licked his lips. "Smells great! Nuts and vanilla?"

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Wow, you sure are good at sniffing things." She pulled the bag away and tucked it back into whatever ponies called their pockets. "I should get going. They're already waiting for me."

Old Spike waved amiably at the filly as she stood up. "Have fun, Sweetie. Tell the girls I said 'Hi.', alright?"

"You got it!" Sweetie waved at the two of them, and took off in an eager gallop.

New Spike ambled up towards the door with a big smile. "Let's get us some of those cookies." He grabbed the door and pulled it open. "Hello Sugarcube Corner!"

Carrot Cake looked up from the display he had been working on. "Oh, hello Spike. Always nice to... see... you..." He turned fully, gaping as a second Spike wandered in. "Is this another changeling attack?" His eyes darted nervously about the room.

Old Spike waved off the idea. "Nah. Twilight thing."

"Oh." He seemed to relax immediately, as if 'Twilight thing' was just an accepted explanation for the bizarre. "What can I do for the two of you?"

"Cookie please!" New Spike advanced eagerly. "I want to try one like Sweetie Belle had, with the vanilla."

Old Spike put a hand on New Spike's shoulder. "Before that, was this also something Twilight didn't let you have?"

"Oh, um... not always?" He smiled nervously. "I mean, once in a rare while? It's alright for dragons though, right?"

Spike poked his foreign counterpart in his belly. "I will not return you to Twilight with a bellyache, so you get two things, small things."

Carrot nodded as he went around behind the counter. "You heard the dragon. Two things." He knew better than to ever argue with that parental tone of voice in his store.

New Spike rushed the display and plastered his face into the glass. "There are too many choices!" Sparkling eyes soaked in the delicious spread of treats that he could choose from. "How do I even start?"

Carrot chuckled softly. The sight of a young thing being overwhelmed by his store's selection was far from a new thing for him. "Well, how about a small bag of assorted doughnut holes? Then you get to try a lot of little things, if Spike's alright with that?" He looked to the one that seemed to be in charge.

Old Spike held up a finger and a thumb close together. "If you have a small bag, sure."

New Spike clapped his hands together. "You two are the best! I'll take that please!"

As Carrot retrieved the selected sweet, the ground shook softly.

Old Spike went for the window to have a peek, the new one far too stuck on watching his treat be delivered.

"Uh, guys?" Neither replied to Spike. "Really, guys. I think... we might have company." He pointed up at an angle towards a strange thing in the sky. It was over the landing area, but despite that, it was large enough to easily see, and feel.

Author's Notes:

What's that? The plot won't wait for our heroes to be 100% ready?

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38 - Virgin Landing

Laud had turned first. For once, he was the first to notice a sound, but there was no way he'd not notice the telltale rumble of a spacecraft after so long. He could hear his various equine friends scramble to catch up as he moved with large and rapid steps.

He burst outside and craned his head up to remove all doubt. There it was, a frigate. Relatively small as the ship scale went, but it was also in the atmosphere, taking up an impressive amount of space. He quickly pat down his pockets. It had been some time, but he dug out his small communication piece. It had been useless for so long, he had almost forgot he had it.

"Hello? This is Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods." It was a dangerous gambit. If the approaching ship was hostile to the Hawkwoods, things would immediately be in a bad place, but the odds were against it.

"Laud? Please stand by." came the crackly reply. There was a noticable delay in speech, but that was hardly surprising. There was some distance involved.

Starlight was the first pony out behind him. "Laud! By... Celestia..." She took a staggered step back, bumping into the building she had just emerged from. "That is a lot bigger than yours!"

Twilight was next out, her eyes wide and focused on the ship. "Yes! Yes yes yes yess!" She raised a hoof towards it before it fell back down. "Wait, Laud? They are friendly, right?"

"I'd sure hope so," came Pinkie's reply as she pronked along to join the building crowd. "Wow, that is kinda big. I thought airships were already kinda big, but that makes them look kinda small instead, huh."

Maud stepped out behind her sister, shaking her head. "When do they land?"

"Laud Mountbatten," came the male voice in his earpiece. "Are you in a secure location?"

Normally he would not be, but none of the natives knew English. "Affirmative. Situation report?"

"We were about to ask the same. We were prepared to scour this strange ball for you, living or dead. Instead we identify an ideal landing spot, and who's on the comm? The scout himself. Your father will be overjoyed."

Laud sagged with relief. In Equestrian he relayed, "They're Hawkwoods." Even as they cheered, he turned away, trying to focus on the voice in his ear. "You have permission to land when ready. The pad's not entirely finished, but should suffice."

"Permission? Already claimed the world, have you? Permission received. We'll touch down shortly." The channel clicked as it was severed.

Twilight tilted her equine head. "Was that your language? It's very strange, at least on initial listening. Speaking it as..." She frowned. "This brings up more questions, but let's put that aside. Are they coming down?"

Maud sat on her haunches, looking up at the ship. "It appears composed of the same material as your ship."

Starlight hiked a brow. "I should really not be surprised that you could--"

The construction ponies came galloping towards them in a bit of a panicked pace. The one at the front came towards Laud pointedly. "Is that what we're building for?!"

Laud nodded as he hiked a thumb at the slowly descending ship. "That is it exactly. Everyone should clear the landing space. Ships land hot. Is there anything flammable between it and the walls?"

The construction ponies scattered, grabbing tools and other things on the way on their way off the pad.

Twilight tapped her chin. "As much as I want to witness this, but maybe we're too close to where that thing is going to land."

Maud pointed back at her workshop. "It's designed to be heat resistant. We can watch from inside."

Starlight scampered inside quickly. "Don't need to be told twice!"

They all followed her back into the thick-walled smelting and refining workshop. Maud had installed a window that she tapped at. "It's extra thick. We can watch from here."

The ship came in for a roaring landing, flame washing over the flattened ground. Without cement covering, the turf deformed from its approach and landing, but it didn't collapse. The ship touched down, sinking into the packed terrain under its immense bulk. It was not ideal, but it had landed.

A slender column descended from it like an elevator, carrying a small handful of people standing in a ready formation. Three of them were at rigid attention, and one had their hands behind their back, surveying the area as they descended.

Laud turned for the door. "I have to greet them properly." Without asking, he quickly realized he had a crowd of ponies following after him. "It would, perhaps, be better if I spoke to them first?"

Pinkie clapped her hooves. "They're newcomers and should be greeted properly. Besides, if they're like you, they're nice people, right?"

Maud tilted her head. "Will they show me their swords like you did?"

Laud flinched at the idea. "They might if you surprise them. Please let me go ahead of you."

The new humans could see Laud approaching, and his equine entourage. One of the men standing rigidly spoke quietly, "Is that him? With those strange shantors?"

Another standing at attention replied, "Don't look like shantors to me. Too small by half. Look at their colors."

The one in the center raised a hand, demanding silence. As their platform touched to the ground, he was the first to step down to the alien world. "Laud, as I live and breathe. We were worried!"

Laud strode towards the man, thrusting a hand forward. "Jack, it's been too long." Their hands met in a firm clasp before they pulled each other close, patting one another on the back.

Pinkie leaned towards her friends, whispering, "Aw, they're friends!"

Jack stepped back from the greeting before gesturing at the small equines. "Have you taken local pets? Who provided that one with glasses?"

Laud swept a hand back over his gathering of local friends. "These are ponies. They are extremely intelligent creatures with pre-space technology. They have working electricity, steam engines, and more. They understand the concepts of space travel, but have not performed it themselves."

All the humans looked surprised at Laud's words. Jack nodded his head towards them. "A pleasure to meet you all, on behalf of House Hawkwood."

Pinkie raised a hoof and waved it eagerly. "Hiya! What's your name?"

Alas, neither were speaking the other's language.

Laud held up his hands. "Their native tongue is fit for their--"

"Hello," spoke Starlight, echoed by the translator she had slipped around her neck. "It is nice to meet you."

Another translator slipped into Laud's hand when he wasn't looking, floated there by relatively subtle unicorn magic. He grasped it and brought it up, offering it to Jack. "It's programmed for the local dialect."

"Brilliant." He accepted it and slipped it around his neck, adjusting its fit before clearing his throat. "On Behalf of House Hawkwood, I greet you." The collar obediently whickered and neighed its reply.

Pinkie pouted. "I don't have one of those! Tell him I said hi and ask what his favorite flavor of cake is!"

Starlight smiled nervously. "A pleasure to meet you, though this isn't our first contact with House Hawkwood." She pointed a hoof at Laud. "He's made a good impression on your behalf."

The distant sound of a galloping pony was heard and its source became clear quickly. It was Mayor Mare. She was hurrying towards the meeting as quickly as her hooves could carry her. "Wait! Wait!"

Laud could see the tension building. "That is the local community leader. She is here to perform her duty. She is accepted and valued by the queen of this nation." He could have said princess, sure he could have, but that would have risen too many other questions. She was the female in charge with none above her. That made her a queen or empress.

Jack turned to watch Mayor Mare hurry up and pant and heave, clearly out of breath. "A pleasure to meet you, magistrate."

Mayor Mare snapped her head up, hearing the alien words, then the translated equine sounds. "A... pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Ponyville!" She gestured grandly beyond the walls the separated the landing area and the unseen town beyond it. "As Mayor, I hope your visit is a productive and kind one."

Alas, she was not wearing a collar, and Jack looked aside at Laud. "That sounded as polite as a horse could be." His collar obediently translated this without asking him. He colored, realizing his critical error.

Mayor Mare's ears perked up. "W-what?"

Starlight put up a hoof towards Mayor Mare. "One moment, let me help." She trotted over and pulled her collar off with her magic, offering it towards Mayor Mare.

Jack eyed the exchange intently.

Laud could guess what was being watched so intently. "They are an innately psionic species." That did not calm them. "They have a strict code of ethics about using it on others."

Jack put a hand over his collar, muffling any words it might say. "That's easy to say, but they could have scrubbed you clean and you wouldn't even know."

Mayor Mare pulled her collar into place with her hooves and Starlight helped tighten it properly. She raised a hoof before her mouth, coughing politely. "As I was saying. I am Mayor Mare, and on behalf of Ponyville, we welcome you and your people. We hope your visit is pleasant." Her words were echoed to English and her ears danced, hearing the alien words. "If your people have special needs, please inform us and we will do our best to accommodate."

Laud gestured at Mayor Mare. "If it helps, only the ones that have horns even have the capability for anything external."

Maud already had her collar on. "May I see your sword?" she asked one of the rigidly standing men. "Is it built of the same metal composition as Laud's?"

The man looked down at her quizzically. "So, you don't have magic then?" She did not reply, as he had no collar. "Right. Permission to display my blade?"

Jack glanced between the man, Maud, and Mayor Mare. "She wants to see his sword. That isn't against local law, is it?"

Mayor Mare shook her head. "Provided no harm comes of it, there's nothing illegal in displaying weapons. I appreciate your checking first."

With a subtle gesture, Jack approved action. The man drew his blade and held it out.

Maud looked over it with an intent stare before reaching up and tapping it, an ear perking to listen to the sound it made. "Similar, but not identical. Thank you." She turned away and trotted back to her friends, seemingly satisfied.

Jack covered his collar. "Laud, come back with us. Let us give you a full rundown. You've been here for too long anyway. A thorough inspection'd be good for you regardless."

He held up his hands. "I'm ready to talk, but this is my demesne. I have been given royal authority over this space dock in progress and the trade it results in. I have the locals practically ready to join the house, Jack. You know how important this is. It means too much to the house."

"You've landed yourself!" exclaimed Jack, his hands moving to throw themselves wide in surprise. "Bloody hell, we turn around and you've gone full noble?" He turned as the elevator began to rise. "More are coming down. Look, Laud. Sir Mountbatten, we need to catch things up."

Mayor Mare squinted at the two of them. "I apologize if I'm prying into a delicate situation, but I will want to speak to whomever is in charge con--"

Laud waved a hand in front of her, silencing her out of surprise. "You should speak to me, and I will relay. Ponyville is yours, good mayor, but the trade and movement through this dock is mine. We will work together, assuredly."

Mayor Mare looked surprised a moment before she nodded. "I see. Princess Celestia did say as much. Very well." She turned away. "I will be in the town hall. Be sure any humans stepping out of this area are instructed in the local laws."

Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me get Paul. He's the only one that could have this little chat. I assume the men are allowed to move freely within the landing area?"

Twilight quickly zipped around the mayor, grinning. "May I have that now?" She pointed at the collar. "I have a thousand questions for them!"

Author's Notes:

Contact is established. If Laud can't make his own house at ease, what hope does he have going forward?

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39 - Theories and Ideas

Mayor Mare had little reason to withhold the collar. "Of course, Princess. Here you are." She popped it free and held it out towards the Twilight with a curious mane style, not speaking on it. "Do tell me if you find out anything I should know." She trotted away then. "Wonder when she began wearing glasses...?" She shook her head, turning her thoughts to other matters.

One of the men that had come with Jack approached Laud. "Sir."

"Permission to speak," spoke Laud formally.

"Thank you, sir. No offense intended, but how are these not just like the other horses?"

"Besides their psionics? I have a few theories, but put all of that aside." Laud waved a hand over the ponies. He wasn't wearing a translator, not was one technically needed for him, but he could only speak one language at once. Going in English, the ponies couldn't understand him. "They have a working industrial society, starting with running water and ending with electricity. You can't ignore that."

The man looked impressed, casting curious eyes over the lot. "Are they friendly?"

Laud looked where the man was pointing. The construction ponies, bulky and heavy-set, were returning. "They work for me. They helped build this landing pad, but it's not done." He sighed, looking at the deep divots that ship had carved into the landscape. "Maybe this will be valuable information."

The elevator touched bottom, allowing other soldiers off and Jack to board. The new soldiers eyed the aliens with a mix of curiosity and concern, but no swords were swung and no shots were fired. Laud considered it an optimistic success.

The head construction pony ambled up towards Laud. "You've found friends. Uh, we didn't know those, uh, what'd you call them? Ships? The ships are heavier than we thought they'd be."

Laud gestured at the dug out terrain. "Then it's for the best you got to see this before proper pavement was placed. Adjust your plans and be ready to receive ships like this, and possibly slightly bigger. Anything much larger than that won't dare to land. There is a limit to that."

"You got it." He raised a hoof in a bit of a salute before turning to bark orders at his stallions.

Twilight got her collar into place and cleared her throat before speaking to no one. "It is a pleasure to meet you. May I ask you a question?" The collar echoed her statement in English and a few soldiers looked toward her. She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I was just ensuring it's operation. Since I have your attention, I really do have some questions. I'm not bothering you, am I?"

Laud was overseeing the revision to the plans for the dock, unaware of Twilight's actions.

One of the soldiers proved braver than the others, taking a step forward. "Only if you answer mine."

"Sounds fair," easily agreed Twilight. "We'll trade, one for one. First question." She pointed up at the ship. "How are those made?"

The soldier nervously shuffled in place, his sword swaying on its sheath. "Afraid I can't properly answer that. It's a secret, miss. I don't know."

Twilight frowned a little. "I thought that may be the case... Your turn."

The soldier brightened, hearing his lack of answer wouldn't disrupt the proceedings. "Ah, alright... Do you..." He trailed off, as if unsure what to actually ask. "What's your name?"

Twilight brightened. "How silly of me. I'm Twilight, Twilight Sparkle, and what's your name?"

Laud turned to spy Twilight engaging one of the soldiers and moved to intercede swiftly, but a thought struck him. "Twilight," he said in English. "How do you understand him?"

Twilight looked towards Laud. "Oh, uh..."

Laud scowled. Had she? How could she not have. "Use of psionics is expressly forbidden on any visitor."

Twilight blinked with wide eyes. "What? No! I'm just learning it."

The scowl deepened and his arms crossed. "You've barely heard any English."

"The syntax is identical," argued Twilight.

"You shouldn't have any vocabulary." He pointed at her accusingly. "What's going on?"

"It's the truth." Twilight reared up to cross her heart with a hoof. "Speaking it is uncomfortable, but once you gave me an example, I couldn't think of much else, besides star travel and advanced alien species." She threw her hooves wide. "You're still talking in English, I remind."

Just how intelligent was Twilight that she could glean a language like that? Laud had required weeks of tutoring to become comfortable, and he had thought that was an admirable pace. Before the evidence placed in front of him, he felt like a child, dumb and inexperienced. Then, it hit him.

He turned suddenly on Starlight, who was looking guilty and shifty. Ponies were not the best deceivers. "You."

"Who, me?!" Starlight said with too much stress. "What about me?" She grinned sheepishly.

"You gave her a translator."

Starlight shrank back a few steps. "I might have... let her borrow one? Was that bad?"

Laud let out a bit of held breath, some of the tension fading. "By the Pancreator, now this makes sense. You spoke to yourself with the translator and listened and--"

"--took a lot of notes," agreed Twilight, bobbing her head. "I tried to fool it, but it seems our languages are basically identical except for the actual sounds."

The soldier that had been doing the interview glanced between the two of them, but did not dare to cut in with someone so much higher ranked than he.

Twilight produced a small book and held it up in her magic, floating there. That got the soldier to back away, bravely repositioning. "The notes, if you want to see," reported Twilight, smiling at Laud.

He reached for it and flipped it open with a flick. It was a Rosetta Stone, with things written in both languages. However, it was all written in Pony English, in the end. The English parts were phonetic. It was an incredibly valuable book, Laud knew, but only to ponies. It was the perfect tool for allowing a pony to learn English.

"Can you have this duplicated?" He offered it back to her. "I want a dozen more, for the staff of the port here. Not requiring translators would be a boon." His ire had faded away in the face of practicality. "Do that, please, the next time you go home."

Twilight nodded in a rapid bobbing.

"Hey!" called Spike. Both Spikes were running towards them in hurried scampers. It was impossible to tell which was which.

Laud thrust a hand out in front of the soldier that was standing beside him, speaking loudly in English, "They are friendly." His words did much to ease the rapidly mounting tension that had built at seeing strange reptiles charging towards them.

Twilight brightened. "Spike, there you are. I was worried about you." One of the Spikes came in for a hug and she gladly gave it, patting him on the head with one hoof. "Have you been having fun?"

Doggy-Spike bobbed his head. "It was really nice. Being a dragon is kinda cool, but I'm looking forward to being a dog again." They spoke Pony at one another.

Original-Spike slowed to a walk, approaching Laud. "These are your friends?"

Laud shook his head. "These are my kin, and subordinates. It would be improper to call most of them 'friend', but kin-hood runs deeper than that. They are all members of the house."

"The reptiles make horse noises," pointed out the soldier a bit dumbly.

Twilight gestured to the new spike with a wave of a hoof. "This is Spike. This is also Spike." She pointed to her own. "Uh, not all dragons are named Spike." She rubbed her cheek with the end of a hoof. "As we were saying, you can ask another question now."

"That's quite enough of that," said Laud with a tense smile, moving to stand between Twilight and the soldier. "Twilight, you have plenty to work on, and there are countless things to be done here."

Twilight frowned a little, but turned away. "I get it. Say hello to your family. I'll be back though." She pulled off her collar with a glowing horn and set it on the ground beside herself. "Come on, Spike." Both looked to her. "Um, my Spike. We have things to do."

The elevator touched down, depressing the ground beneath it slightly. Soldiers spilled off, but a cluster remained tight, approaching Laud. It parted, allowing a man to stride forward with the greatest poise of them. "Laud! It's been some time."

Laud stiffly turned and dipped over into a formal bow. "It is an honor to see you, Sir."

He waved the formality away. "I am a visiting dignitary in your demesne, or have I been misled? You can call me by my name."

"Very well then, Paul. I am preparing a fine gift for our house." He turned slowly. "It's a fine world, with countless resources, and people. Both are incalculable in value, and I mean to bring them without expensive war."

"A fine ideal..." He reached out, placing a hand on Laud's shoulder. "But first, we talk." Without hesitation, he drew Laud in close like an affectionate older brother. "Away from prying ears."

Laud glanced back at the others. Spike and Starlight were speaking, and Maud was closeby. None of them seemed too bothered. He allowed Paul to guide him away, until they had a circle of armed men to themselves. "Paul, I understand this must look--"

"--You haven't even the slightest idea." Paul prodded Laud in the chest. "You are a young noble, but noble still. You're far from the front of the line of your father's succession, and most expected you to be an entitled thrillseeker for most of your years, however long or short that'd be." He shook his head slowly. "It came at no particular surprise when you signed up to plunge through an unknown gate." He leaned in. "There was a pool going for if this would be the end of you." He beat Laud's shoulder in one firm slap. "You cost me, I'll admit, but I'll accept that for underestimating you."

Laud trembled faintly, but kept himself largely still. "I never tried to risk without proper consideration... Paul."

"I'm sure you didn't, from your view. Look, I'm not here to chastise you, just explain." He turned towards where construction ponies could be seen laboring beyond their ring of men. "What are they?"

Laud's tension ebbed. "I have a few ideas. I don't think they're aliens at all. At least, not in the truest sense."

"I'm listening." His arms crossed and he tapped a foot.

"They are humans." Laud tapped his chest. "In here. They are Changed."

Paul's sudden flinch was hard to miss, especially for Laud. "That's a serious accusation. What makes you sure of that?"

"Their civilization." Laud threw down his hands. "Everything about it is littered with tells. They use doorknobs despite most of them having no way to use them gracefully. Their language is, word for word, identical to our own, if you forgive it being composed of horse noises."

With clenched teeth, Paul developed the faintest frown. "And their magic?"

"They are the ideal magic users, if such could exist." Laud drew himself to his full height. "They have a strict moral code, and condemn any that stray too far from it. They consider it a priority to bring such people back into line, or remove them entirely."

"And this makes you think you can trust them?" Paul stepped lifted a hand, flatside up. "They could have already rotted your brain, and you wouldn't know. Worse, they may not have, but what happens when an inquisition is called, and it will be. You know that. There is no way we can avoid it. Do you think they will smile on you, or them?" He waved the lifted hand wide, encompassing the entire world. "This world, its aliens, humans or not, are going to become ground zero."

Author's Notes:

Laud makes his theory known, but will it ease things, or just cause more trouble?

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40 - Doomed Demesne

Laud looked over towards the construction ponies that were already hard at work. Their shouts and unity were clear as they labored to undo the harm the ship had inflicted in its landing. They were moving dirt with shovels held in their mouths, one running off, undoubtedly to get some other tool.

"They are not Shantor," spoke Laud. "And we shouldn't repeat that mistake even if they were. We're better than that, and they'll make it worth the time." He turned to Paul, studying his lines, though they had relaxed into careful neutrality. "They will change the universe."

"Or be flattened by it." Paul pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're writing a document you don't have the authority to uphold. You want the entire house to mobilize for this, or it will fail."

Laud held up his translator, sun reflecting gently off its glossy surface, "This was built by them. They've made about half a dozen of them. I never gave them schematics. They didn't even know what the insides were until they saw mine."

Paul's chest swelled with a slow intake of air. The soldiers that ringed them tried to sneak peeks at the alien artifact, but largely held their assigned position. "I would call you a liar, but I've already heard there've been several of these sighted, and I doubt you had a reason to bring more than one with you. You realize, that compounds how much trouble this will bring? The guilds will come down on you, and this world." He didn't move nearly as much as he had before. No grand sweeps of his hands. Even his tone was dangerously even. "Let there be no mistake, Laud. You are inviting your house to war."

Laud waved the translator with clearly increasing agitation. "If there is to be a war, is this not worth the price? Tell me this isn't what we were raised to believe in? These people await our command and help. By the Pancreator, they already have a queen, and she is friendly." He waved the hand with the translator towards Starlight and the others that were speaking beyond the ring. "Hawkwoods can make a move, a real move."

Paul clapped a hand down on Laud's shoulder. "You are young, fiery, and ready to fight." His fingers dug in firmly, wrinkling the fabric. "I remember the time--"

"--There's more," cut in Laud, interrupting Paul in a break of decorum that made the men uneasy. "They have access to a pre-First Republic society." His voice was tense, clearly ready to battle.

Paul looked around with his eyes only. "Are they not one themselves?"

"Further ahead." Laud took a slow breath, trying to calm himself. "Just at the cusp of star travel. Cars, information networks, mass-produced goods. Look, it doesn't matter in the end." He rose a hand to cross over his chest and stood stiffly straight. "I have promised these people that Hawkwood would do what was right. Is that not the Hawkwood way? Even if we fail, will that not be what we do?"

"Like a whore in zero-G," agree Paul with a wry smirk. "We will rise and fall haphazardly. If they've messed with your head, they didn't remove what makes a Hawkwood." He slapped the side of Laud's shoulder. "Damn it all, you don't act in halves."

The sound of approaching hooves on packed dirt caught their attention as one of the construction ponies trotted towards the ring. "Hey, we have the roller ready to go. Pavement will arrive tomorrow. Can we get everycritter out of here?" He tossed his head in emphasis. "Don't want any injuries." Of course, only Laud understood his sounds.

Laud translated without delay. "It sounds like they have some heavy machinery ready to repair the damage caused by the ship and they request everyone leave the landing area so they can work." He took a step towards the exit of the field. "The people here are friendly, but there is an obvious language barrier. The laws are fairly typical. No stealing, no violence."

"They accept any currency we're likely to have on hand?" Paul walked alongside Laud, heavy boots making the faintest marks on on the already stomped turf. He reached into his pocket, but the motion paused as his men suddenly grew concerned.

Following their eyes, they saw another pony, but that one was busy defying gravity. Flying on wings that seemed far too small to hold up its mass, it was lazily drifting along the wall that seperated the field from the outside world. It was facing the outside, and talking(?) to others outside. Even the pace at which it moved was alarming, moving so slowly as to lead them all to expect it to plummet, but it did not.

Laud pointed directly at the pegasus. "The ponies come in three main varieties. That is a pegasus. They can fly, as you can see. They appear to be able to do so by matter of will as much as any amount of their wings being involved. I've seen them fly upside down without stress.

The pegasus being pointed at somehow seemed to notice the act and twirled in air smoothly, facing them. She waved a hoof timidly before coming closer. Fluttershy smiled nervously as she descended with little flaps of her wings. "Hello, Laud. Did you need to tell me something?"

Laud gestured at her, waving over her form. "Fluttershy is her name." He said her name in English. He gestured to Paul. "This is Paul." He kept Paul's name in English, but the rest was in equine.

Paul nodded to the pegasus. "Nice to meet you, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy gave a nervous little giggle as she settled to the ground. "O-oh, nice to meet you, Paul." Her pronunciation of Paul was a bit imperfect, but she tried. "He did say 'hello', right?" She looked from soldier to soldier curiously, then back to Laud. "I'm sorry, am I in the way?"

Laud took a step forward towards the exit. "I'm leading them on a tour. It's good for them to meet some locals though, no harm done."

"O-oh, that's good, yes." She bobbed her head with confidence before lifting gently into the air. "I'd better get back. Have a nice day, Laud, Paul." She waved a final time before zooming back to the wall.

In a great shower of sparks in a bubble, Twilight appeared. Even as the glimmer faded, Twilight found there were swords pointed at her in a fan of steel. "Is this... a bad time?" She asked, smiling nervously but making no sudden moves. "This is like when we first found you, Laud. Is this a natural reflex of your species?"

Paul snatched Laud's translator out of his slack hand. Laud looked irritated a moment, but it passed. Confident in his rank, Paul slid the translator into place and locked it into position. "You gave us a surprise."

Twilight's ears perked before a translator seemed to emerge from her rump and quickly floated along, covered in her magic. She had it on in a flash. "My apologies. My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"Are you the daughter of this Queen I heard rumors of?" Paul gestured to the men with their weapons drawn. "These are my men, who will stand down." They did just that, sliding their swords into their sheaths. "And I am Duke Paul Hawkwood."

Twilight looked confused, brow arching. Laud quickly advanced in front of her. "Queen Celestia," he prompted helpfully, hoping she would follow along.

"She prefers the title of 'Princess'," corrected Twilight bluntly. "All of our leaders are princesses."

Paul glanced aside at Laud. Some of the men gave barely restrained snorts. "If Laud is an accepted royal here, is he, too, a princess?"

Twilight's eyes followed towards Laud. "Of course not. He's a stallion." She shook her head as if the idea was quite silly. "Besides, he is not a leader of ponies, though he has been given authority over this--" she waved a hoof over the landing field. "--and the trading that occurs here."

Paul's expression darkened from mirth to suspicion. "I see. Then would you accept him, as a leader?"

Twilight looked pensive. Laud wanted to intercede, but there was nothing he could say that wouldn't immediately cause more trouble, just for him speaking.

"He is a leader, just not of ponies. He understands your people, and has volunteered to help facilitate the interactions between us." She nodded at Laud. "I am thankful for that. Your people would have been difficult to speak with otherwise." She spread her wings in a great fan. "Welcome to Equestria! I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, formally invite you. Come in peace and enjoy our hospitality."

Some of the tension seemed to flow out of the circle of soldiers. The formality was comforting to them, perhaps. One of them bowed towards Twilight. "I confess, you are the first princess I've seen."

His peer beside him laughed at that, losing all decorum. "And it's a horse."

For better or ill, the words were lost on Twilight. "Nice to meet you as well," she guessed before she leaned to the side. "We should not be in the way of that." She pointed with a wing to a large rolling machine that was powering across the field, flattening the dirt. Her eyes went up to the ship that loomed over them in a dazzling display of human technology. She could barely hold back the salivation that resulted. "If it... would not be improper... I would love to inspect your vessel."

Paul shook his head firmly. "I'm afraid that request must be denied."

Laud quirked a brow at the blunt refusal. No flowery misdirections or polite let downs? Just a no?

Twilight dipped her head in reply. "Very well... maybe another time?" She turned away and began to trot for the exit. "Let's get out from underneath the construction-ponies in the most literal sense."

Paul covered his translator with a hand. "The idioms are spot on, or you've improved the translators."

The procession of about thirty soldiers, 6 ponies, and two nobles cleared the field, leaving it with just a large spaceship, the construction ponies, and Maud's workshop, with a Maud inside.

Starlight caught up with Laud, not wearing a translator. "Your friends are as nervous as you were when you first came here. Are we really that scary?"

Laud reached to pat her head, which she tolerated. "You have no idea. Almost every aspect of you is disarming and disquieting," he nickered in the horse way.

Paul looked around Laud to Starlight. "And that one is...?"

"Starlight," replied Laud in English as they passed under the archway that seperated the field from the rest of Equestria. "She is a student of Miss Sparkle, and the one that replicated the translators."

"Ah, a noble." His eyes lifted up to the town they could more easily seen without the wall in the way. "It's like a child's whimsical book with its bright colors that start with its buildings and end with its residents."

Starlight hiked a brow at Paul. "That's 'English', yeah?" She said the word English in English, as there was no Equestrian word for it. "I didn't even think of trying to use the translator to learn it. That had to take some serious dedication, and so fast! That girl is scary, pony or human."

Twilight looked over her shoulder. "What's that?"

Starlight smiled at Twilight. "I'm complimenting you."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "In a backhoofed way." Her words were echoed in English, with the translator around her neck. "Duke, you can house your... guards? They are guards, yes?"

"As good a name as many," agreed Paul, allowing the translator to work.

Twilight pointed to her castle. "They can sleep there. I'll have rooms made up for them. How many do you have here?" She started counting under her breath, though the translator echoed each number at full volume.

Starlight slipped her translator into place and coughed. "Sir, will you be wanting more translators?"

Author's Notes:

Ponies trigger that sword-reflex. Why does a species have that reflex?!

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41 - Meeting of Minds

Ponyville buzzed with the news. Spoiled turned up her nose, not hard for her to do. "What strange creatures."

Filthy shook his head. "What a load of possibilities!" He brought his hooves together. "I wonder if they need any supplies I could be the source of? Think of where it could lead." He looked across the breakfast table to Diamond Tiara. "If you see any of them, be on your best behavior."

"Yes, father." Diamond gave her best, not entirely sincere, smile. "Do they even have any bits?"

Spoiled shook her head. "How could they? I should imagine they don't even know what they are."

Filthy waved the objections away before lifting a cup of coffee with a huge handle fit for a hoof. "We can barter to start. In fact, we may want some of their money, whatever that is. Have you seen the strange thing they arrived in?"

Spoiled look down on Diamond firmly. "Don't go looking at that... thing. That entire area is dangerous. Really, who would want to be around all that noise and those filthy construction ponies?"

Diamond restrained a mighty eyeroll with visible effort. "May I be excused?" She pushed away from her finished plate. "I should go to school."

Filthy smiled at his beloved daughter. "Of course, dear. You have a great day."

Spoiled nodded and watched her go before looking back to Filthy. "Be careful."

"You're being dramatic." Filthy drew himself tall on his chair. "I didn't make the money I have by being scared."

Elsewhere, Pinkie dropped a sign in front of a window. It was written in English. It was a little messy, but she was sure she got the two words right in it, written big and bold. "Humans welcome!" she cried with a giggle, turning back to the rest of Sugarcube Corner. "Do you think they, wait, no, that's a silly question."

She waved her own question away as she trotted for the counter. "If they're like Laud, they like baked treats, maybe in moderation."

Mrs. Cake pushed the tray back into the register, ready to start the day. "Well, if they're half as polite as Laud is, they are welcome here. Just be gentle on them, Pinkie. Laud was very jumpy when he first arrived, and they may be exactly the same, so let's keep the, uh, Pinkie-ing down until they're ready."

Pinkie pouted at that. "But that's my best part... Alright alright. I'm not sure I can catch one of their swords like Maud did. That sister of mine, she is so crazy." Pinkie pulled open an oven and peered inside before reaching in and yanking out a tray of golden brown muffins. She moved it with lightning speed to a counter before her hoofs could get burned. "I'll ice these!" she cried, already reaching for the decorations.

Mrs. Cake shook her head slowly as she pulled down chairs to be beside tables instead of on them. "Why do they have those?"

"Oh, that's easy." Pinkie glanced up from her rapid icing of the muffin, which were becoming more like cupcakes. "They have no magic." She set the decorating tool aside. "Not even earth pony or pegasus magic. Shoot, it scares them. Even after all this time, Laud gets spooked. I think that's why he likes you."

Mrs. Cake blinked at that, returning to the front counter. "He likes me?"

"Uh huh." Pinkie bobbed her head quickly. "Earth ponies are his favorite. They don't act magic. At least, least magic." She held two hooves close together. "Oo, there's one!" She thrust one hoof ahead at a human taking curious steps outside, visible through the open door.

Mrs. Cake dipped her head beneath the register and came back up wearing a translator. "Ready. Hello there!" she called to the startled human stallion. "Come in and have a treat to start the day."

Quickly recovering himself and smiling. "Good morning," he said in the strange alien way humans had, but he had a translator too, and it echoed the sentiment in the equine way. "Is this a bakery?"

"Sure is!" exclaimed Pinkie with a gesture at the baked goods she just finished decorating. Her translator was on, though none had seen when she had put it on. "Did you see the sign?" In a lower voice, she whispered to herself, "Please say you saw the sign."

His eyes wandered towards the window. "Well Humans?"

Mrs. Cake put a hoof over her mouth, covering her laugh. "She meant 'Humans Welcome'."

Welcome given, the man did step inside, his blue eyes sweeping over the store as he came and his sword swaying at his hip with each step. "Thank you for the greeting. I don't have any of the local currency, I should warn."

Pinkie shook her head quickly. "You've all just got here, of course not." She plopped one of her fresh creations on the counter. "Here, as a 'welcome to Ponyville' gift!"

Mrs. Cake nodded towards the treat in agreement. "You've come a long way, Pinkie. Yes, please, enjoy. If you want some bits, I'm sure you could do some odd jobs around town suited to you." Her eyes fell to his sheathed blade before rising quickly to his eyes. "I'm Missus Cake."

Twilight smiled stiffly at the end of the table. Her table was not normally full, and when it was, it was her dearest friends. That morning, it was filled with humans. Laud sat at her right, Paul on her left. Behind them, so many guards surrounded the table.

Across the way, Starlight was hoofing at her translator as if checking something. Twilight could see she was speaking quietly to a human there.

"Thank you," Twilight looked up to see it had been Paul that spoke. "For providing local housing and hospitality. It was not strictly required. We could have retired to our ship, but the thought was a good one, and accepted in the spirit it was given."

Laud nodded towards Twilight. "Her official title is 'Princess of Friendship.'"

Paul arched a brow at the slightly-flustered Twilight. "Are you not princess of a particular location?"

Twilight gave a choked half laugh, raising a hoof. "Ah, not so much? Celestia and Luna rule over Equestria, our nation. Cadance operates the Crystal Empire, to the north. I discovered a new kind of magic, and this is my reward, and responsibility."

"You..." Paul trailed off before setting his hands on the table in front of him. "We should not press before we've eaten. I apologize for being a rude guest."

"Oh, no no, no trouble at all." Twilight forced a wide smile. "Spike?!"

"Coming..." Spike came toddling in with a large platter. "Plenty more after this one." Suddenly he was free of the platter, one of the many soldiers taking it with a good-natured laugh and setting it on the table. "Oh, uh, thanks. Be right back!" He moved to scoot away, and a soldier trailed after him.

Laud nodded in their direction. "We Hawkwoods try to be polite. Spike won't work alone just to feed us." He looked across to Paul. "Their food is excellent, but avoid anything that looks like a flower, because it is exactly what it looks like."

Paul brought his hands together, fingers running through one another as they clasped. "Duly noted. I notice you aren't wearing a translator. I know you can understand both languages, but it does mean only one half of the room can understand you at any given time."

Accepting the criticism, Laud got his translator into place. "It baffles the mind, considering how swiftly more were made."

"I knew this was coming," replied Starlight despite being down the table. "I started making more of them a while ago. I figured, hay, what happens if the ones we have break? Or..." She waved a hoof at the soldiers on either side of her. "Guests arrive, or... There were too many reasons to want more, and no real reason not to."

Twilight nodded to her student. "Thank you for your foresight, Starlight. You've made this meeting of people far smoother than it might otherwise have been." Her horn glowed as she plucked some pancakes from the center of the table and set them neatly on a plate. "Do you like syrup?" she asked Paul, decorating the stack as he directed. Soon she set the plate just in front of him. "Eat up and enjoy."

Paul shook his head slowly. "Do you not fear the corruption that magic brings?" Twilight looked at him with growing confusion. "This much power." He pointed at her horn. "When such things come so easily, that leads to temptation."

Twilight shook her head quickly. "I mean, maybe? I've... tried to solve a few...--"

"Few, she says." Spike rolled his eyes as he pushed another platter up onto the table.

"A few," repeated Twilight more firmly, giving Spike a dirty look. "But I've learned there are many problems that magic won't solve directly. It requires friendship, cooperation, and work."

"You are not the only of your kind," reminded Paul. "There is one right there." He subtly pointed at Starlight. "I saw others on the way here. With so many magic-users, how do you avoid its innate problems?"

Twilight huffed softly. "Well, for one, most can only do what their cutie mark is related to directly."

"Cute mark?" Paul looked across to Laud.

Laud gestured to Twilight's bottom. "Do you see the star shape? All ponies appear to gain them during their formative years, as a manner of coming of age."

Twilight glanced back at hers. "They represent what we are meant to do, and are best at."

Paul stiffened a moment. "By the Pancreator... You are..." He slapped a hand down on the table. "No wonder! Whoever shaped your people was a genius, or depraved beyond measure, perhaps both. They may have been trying to make the perfect magic-wielders, shackled and disciplined from birth to avoid going astray."

Twilight's expression turned wry. "While I am glad that comforts you, it is a little impolite to talk to someone that way. We were not 'created', at least further than a mother pony and a father pony loving each other very much."

"Besides," spoke Starlight across the table. "Sometimes we do... go astray... but then other great ponies give them a chance, and... we can get better." She looked away, her cheeks warming. "Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes..."

A soldier beside Starlight nudged her with an elbow. "Fat lot that does if they scrub your head clean."

Another beside him laughed in agreement. "That would be the worst kind, reaching into your skull and leaving what they want behind."

Starlight shrank in place as they agreed on just how terrible mental magics were and those that dared to use them.

Paul turned his eyes to Twilight, though he faced forward. "Was your student involved in such a case? She doesn't hide it very well."

"Well, ah..." Twilight tapped her hooves before letting out an explosive gust of air. "Yes... She has been properly disciplined, and is working very hard to become a better pony. Her being my student is, in a way, a form of penance and reform."

Paul raised a brow at that. "You keep a reformed criminal so close to your royalty?"

"She is sincere in her wish to reform." Twilight raised a hoof to her chest. "She has performed great acts on behalf of Equestria and proven herself. She isn't perfect, but she wants to be, and is becoming so. I am proud to call Starlight my student, and my friend." She set that hoof down with a firm stance. "Judge her on what she does, not what she did. We are only having this conversation because of her."

Starlight's anxious despair broke into a timid little smile at Twilight, though she said nothing.

Spike hopped up onto a free chair. "All served! To new friends!" He raised his glass.

Other glasses raised with shouts in reply.

Author's Notes:

There are humans all over my Ponyville! Waiter! Get me another one! Ugh, and I think I see a few typos too? What kind of service does this place have?!

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42 - We Come in Peace

Cheerilee smiled at her classroom. "As I'm sure many of you are now aware, Ponyville has become host to a, well, literally, alien guests. I'm sure you all have questions, but we do have lessons to get through. Let's get a few questions out of your system, then we focus on the task at hoof. Alright?"

Silver Spoon raised a hoof. "Miss Cheerilee, will we have a project on them?"

Cheerilee's smile inched a bit beyond normal. "While I am certain there is much we could learn from... our guests, I have been informed that they are anxious people, and I don't want any of my precious little ponies being hurt."

Sweetie Belle thrust up a hoof, waving it wildly. "I met one! Laud! He's nice and increasingly eloquent. If the other ones are similar to him, how bad can they be?"

Snails nodded. "I've met him too. He seemed alright."

Pipsqueak chimed in agreement, "A perfectly reasonable stallion, if not a stallion." He tapped at his chin. "What do they call themselves again?"

Apple Bloom leaned towards her smaller classmate, precariously over air from where she sat in her school chair. "Ah heard him call it a 'man'." She said the human word in English, slow and specific.

The entire crowd erupted into noise as different ponies asked different questions, many amazed that Apple Bloom knew a human word.

Cheerilee waved a hoof down towards the ground. "Simmer down, class. If they ask you a question or talk to you first, you are free to reply, but please give them space for now. Now then, for our first lesson..."

Paul strode through the town. He had several of his men with him, but not Laud. The ponies he saw reacted in very different ways. Some waved in friendly waves, wobbling their hooves in a fashion that would be impossible for a horse. They weren't horses, of course. They were... long ago... countless years ago... human, or so Laud had posited.

The more he saw of their architecture, the more he was inclined to agree. Though some of it took leaps of fancy, too much of it was something a human could have made and none would have thought them mad for doing so. The races he'd met were all very distinctly different, only taking up human norms after meeting them, and even then, their touches were hard to miss. These ponies had only just met humanity.

They were too normal, even in their absurdity.

One was approaching him. An 'Earth' pony, colored just as his name implied. He had blue eyes and a red tie. He also seemed to have the very start of a shirt at his shoulders, but it didn't bother continuing past that, as if it were just a tag that said 'I am a business person', and served no other purpose.

Paul's curiosity demanded he stop and await what the pony desired. Thus far, their requests had been small and harmless. Most were echoes of curiosity. He saw the pony had a translation collar on, that was good. It was awkward when they just made horse noises at him.

"Good day," spoke the pony. "I am Filthy Rich, and it's an honor to make your acquaintances." He put out a hoof towards them all, but it veered towards Paul, as if realizing he was the one in charge. "I'm certain you didn't come all the way from another star just to sightsee. I'd like to talk business."

Paul regarded the hoof. What was he to do with it? He decided to just pretend it was a hand and he clasped it, shaking it firmly. Had the pony really just bragged they were rich? "A local merchant?"

"The local merchant," assured Filthy, wagging his hoof up and down in time with Paul's shaking. "Good grip, just like the minotaurs do it. Now then, what can ole' Filthy do for you?"

Paul got it. Filthy was his name. He was Filthy Rich. If ponies named themselves after their abilities, that meant Filthy likely was wealthy to match his name. Still, at least it wasn't a casual brag. "I am Duke Paul Hawkwood. What is it you're offering?"

Filthy reclaimed his hoof and gave a firm nod. "What aren't I offering? I have contacts across Equestria, and you represent an opportunity, for the both of us. We can start with sundry supplies and work up to other, more exotic, wares." He dusted his not-suit lightly with the end of a hoof. "I'm told you represent a much larger body of, uh... My apologies, what do you call yourselves again?"

Paul had an easy out. "While I am interested in seeing what you have, I beleive Sir Mountbatten is the final word on what passes through his dock. He should be present before we begin trading negotiations." That and he wasn't sure what Filthy could immediately offer. "Can you make more of these?" He pointed at the translator at his neck.

"I'm afraid I couldn't, not right away." Filthy reached for his own. "But, give it some time. I have some ponies already working on getting a production line running. I'll become the primary source of these wonderful things."

Paul considered that. "You are working with Miss Glimmer then?"

"Who? Oh! No, I wasn't."

Trademark was not a strongly-enforced thing, clearly, but it wasn't in much of the rest of the universe. Starlight was being stolen from by a guild leader, a pony one, of course, and there was likely little she could do about it. It was almost comforting, knowing ponies could play those same games. "Of course. We may have business to speak of when you finish that. What other technologies can you already make?"

Filthy looked quite thoughtful a moment. "We have telephones, light fixtures of various sorts. Ah! I almost forgot. We have protection against unicorn magic that may interest you."

It was an almost magic thing, how all the humans, guards and their leader, perked up at his suggestion. Filthy tried to take advantage of it, "Oh, we have all manners of things for any budget. From entire suits to little necklaces, depending on the protection desired and the need for subtlety." He leaned forward, voice lowering, though the translator missed the volume change. "I understand unicorn magic can be quite intimidating, even for us. I've seen what they can do when they want to."

Paul nodded slowly. So fear of magic wasn't an entirely alien concept to ponies. That was... reassuring in its own way. Still, Filthy was a merchant. He could be saying what he thought wanted to be heard. Paul could not assume there was no duplicity in the choice of words. "Mister Rich, you have my attention, but the basic point remains. Your own Queen authorized Sir Mountbatten to oversee these matters. Until he gives us proper methods for conducting trade, I will not sidestep him."

"There's nothing against a little gift." He turned away with a little smile. "I'll have one sent your way, as a sample of what we can offer. Enjoy it, entirely without obligation. I'm sure you'll want more, later."

"You are aware, Mister Rich, that we are without a single of the local coins."

Filthy waved that objection away. "Coins are only a shortcut to barter. Without them, we fall back to it. You have countless things worth trading for, not to mention your own currency. I should want the ability to trade with other humans that visit, and your currency would be ideal to that end." He half turned back to them. "We both have things the other wants. As a human in charge of others, we can see eye to eye."

Paul looked down at the pony. They would not see eye to eye in all ways, clearly. "I will consider it. Good day, Filthy Rich."

"Good day." He nodded with his eyes closed, a formal looking gesture, and trotted away without fear.

One of Paul's men slid closer, speaking in quiet English tones, "Merchants don't change no matter the species, eh sir?"

"Too true," he replied, covering his translator. "Still, I want to see this gift of his."

Laud lunged forward, striking the blade with his own and knocking it back. The soldier holding the other blade danced backwards, getting his sword back into position quickly, but Laud was pressing, swinging and thrusting purposefully.

Bon Bon sat to the side. She was not the only witness to the battle by far. Many other humans watched the two duel with intent eyes. She wore a translator; it was a requirement around all the humans. "With a sword," she spoke softly, though the translator spoke at full volume. "--I would think they would be more careful. One slip could seriously hurt either of them."

The ring of steel on steel was loud and distinct as the two warriors clashed. One of those watching shook his head just slightly at Bon Bon. "Pain is a valuable teacher. The stakes are high."

The soldier facing Laud pushed to the offensive with a sudden, and clearly unexpected, kick. It was all Laud could do to deflect the incoming strikes as he tried to recover from the sharp blow. The crowd murmured their thoughts eagerly.

One of the soldiers crouched down to be on Bon Bon's level. "Have you fought with a deadly weapon before?"

"Several," replied Bon Bon, only thinking of what she had admitted a moment after. She went tense. "I mean, in practice..."

Laud caught the sword against his crossguard and gave a sudden twist. The other soldier's blade few several feet to the side, but before it even had a chance to land, Laud had brought up his sword to his foe's neck.

The soldier laughed. "Bested, again. Here I thought you might have softened in this land of sugar and cream."

Laud sheathed his blade and slapped the other man on the shoulder. "It'd take another few years of this to bring me that low," he said in a joking tone. "It's good to get in a real spar."

"The feeling's mutual." Their hands met in a firm shake that turned into a half hug, either patting the other's back. "Do these ponies even know what a sword is?" Neither of the sparring men had translators on, their words solely in English.

Bon Bon pointed at them. "What are they saying?"

"Of course they do," replied Laud. "They just don't use them very often. They fight bare handed, or hoofed, as the case may be, most often. Their guards seem to prefer polearms."

The sparring partner shrugged. "Wouldn't want to be kicked by a hoof, pony, horse, or shantor. Still, it lacks reach. Their guards have a better idea of it." He turned to face Bon Bon. "I see one of them is curious about how we do it." He went for his sword to get it back in his sheathe.

"Hello, Bon Bon," spoke Laud in Pony English. "Come to see me fight?"

"I heard they were fighting with swords and wanted to see it for myself. I didn't expect you, specifically." She looked Laud up and down. "So, these are your friends?"

"Yes and no. Subordinates, but I know some of them quite well." He clapped his sparring partner on the shoulder once more before leaving him and approaching Bon Bon. "Just as I am sure Mayor Mare and Princess Celestia, and even Princess Twilight make friends and approaches people without stiff formality at times."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "Twilight treating things with 'royal decorum' is the exception, not the rule, and I think we both know that. She's still getting used to wearing that crown on her head." She pointed at Laud's sword. "Do you ever fight without those?"

"We did that once ourselves, if you haven't forgotten?" He patted his sheathed blade. "We can fight with our fists. It's a valuable skill. It lacks the grace that a blade brings, however, and some beasts are unimpressed by a punch, but think twice when sharpened--"

"Laud," barked one of the many soldiers. "--pardon the outburst, Sir, but we can't understand a blasted thing you're saying to the pony here, just her half of it."

Author's Notes:

In this chapter, no huge bombs are dropped on the narrative. The humans are mingling about Ponyville, and nobody or pony, has been brutally murdered. Success! Now if those humans could be talked into slicing the typos for me...

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43 - Exploring

It was time for dinner. Paul, his men, Laud, Twilight, and Spike were all gathered around a table with a spread of Equestrian cuisine to choose from. The soldiers sitting stiffly, all eyes on Paul.

He raised his hands and clasps them together. "We gather here tonight..." His words were solemn, as fit the words of prayer that he offered. Twilight watched with fascination. Spike watched impatiently. When he was finished, the men, including Laud, echoed his final word, though the translator didn't have the translation for it, nor did it a few select others.

Mealtime began properly.

"I never heard you do that," noted Spike towards Laud even as he reached to snag some choice morsels over to his plate.

Laud stiffened. "It seemed improper. I did it when I was alone, to not upset the locals with my beliefs."

Paul seized a carafe and filled his cup with the dark-red fluid it held. "Decided not to see if they had an inquisition of their own?"

Twilight perked at that. "We have many ponies that ask many questions." She put a hoof to her chest. "I like to think I'm a bit of an 'inquisitor' myself. My curiosity is rarely satisfied."

Paul burst into laughter. He set down the carafe to free a hand for slapping the table once. "Our languages are frighteningly similar, but still I feel there's been a misunderstanding. I doubt your people could form a proper inquisition, even should they want it. It is a tool that does not fit those dainty hooves of yours."

Twilight pulled her head back a little, confusion and a little irritation showing on her face. "If it isn't a group of ponies pursuing a truth tirelessly, what is it?"

Laud shook his head. "Humanity--" He waved around the table at all his fellow humans. "--has led a long past, with good and bad points..."

Twilight's ears lifted high before falling to either side. "Is this one of the bad points?"

Paul lifted his filled cup and took a deep pull of the fruity alcohol. "Some bad points are required, others get in the way. Some we try to forget about. In this case, it promises to become a concern for this world in time." He swished the cup towards Twilight. "The inquisition is religious in nature, investigating and punishing things that they deem 'obscene'. But that's neither here nor--"

Spike leaned forward over the table. "Uh, that sounds kinda important."

Twilight nodded towards him. "I am inclined to agree. Is this inquisition allowed to go deciding how not-humans go about their lives? That's... rude, to say the least." Her eyes turned to Laud. "We haven't infringed on his right or ability to do as he pleases, so long as it isn't hurting any ponies in the process."

Laud's food was barely touched. His attention was on the conversation. "I will protect them," he stated with all the firmness he could muster.

"Protect them?" Paul set his glass down. "It'll take more than you standing in their way."

Another soldier down the table lifted his own glass. "Good thing he's not alone!" A communal cheer went up among them.

Paul smiled at that, some bitterness in the expression. "You've dragged us into this, Laud. Our hosts are trusting us, and it wouldn't be the Hawkwood way to abandon what we've claimed."

Spike hiked a scaley brow. "Claimed?" A knocking at the front door drew his attention quickly. "I'll get it!" He dashed off, arms pumping at his side in his hurried dash.

Twilight rolled a hoof at Paul. "As Spike was asking, claimed?"

Paul put up his hands, palm-side up. "I spoke prematurely, but Laud's presence here, and his acceptance, can be taken as a sign of willingness to join our house. I must assume this is the case, or it would not be our job to intercede in the workings of the church. Still, you've at least chosen a good house. We do right by our vassals."

Another soldier leaned in over the table to be seen around his peers. "My world's suffered under other houses before. My family was nothing but mistreated miners for generations before the Hawkwoods came. Suddenly we started getting paid, and told our lives actually matter. The quotas started being set by people who knew us, instead of entitled nobles who'd never set eyes on the mines if they could help it. It was night and day, and that's why I signed up to serve."

Other soldiers murmured in agreement, those beside that soldier patted him on the shoulders for his choice.

Twilight settled back on her seat. "I... see. What if we just don't want to be part of any house, or the church?" She raised a brow. "What if we just wanted to be left alone?"

Paul set his hands on the table, not eating. "That option faded the moment we figured out how to reach the gate hovering over your head. Even if we just... leave." He raised a hand to wriggle a few fingers. "Others will come, and they are less likely to have your interests in mind. Even if you killed each and every last one of us on your world." He spoke as if he admitted it wasn't an impossible thing. "We weren't the ones to find that gate. Others know you're here already. Others will come. This is an unchanging fact."

Laud frowned a moment. "I thought we were the ones to find the gate?"

Paul snorted back a brief laugh at Laud. "The Charioteers haven't given up their monopoly, Laud. They found it, and sold us the right to be the first ones through. They had already done a flyby of the world, and its curious sun, but their bravery ended when it came to landing and surveying. Besides, there was money to be had, and they knew it. They sold that precious first exploration and claim right to us, and we snatched it up. Then, lo and behold, a young noble, head full of visions of grandness, happens to be in the right place and time, ready to volunteer."

Laud colored faintly, restraining himself admirably despite the words that sketched him as some random brash youth. "I have conducted myself honorably."

"Never said otherwise." Paul pushed his dish away. "Princess, there is the matter of surveying. Laud became entangled with political maneuvering, which I am grateful for, but we still want that survey. Do we have permission to begin exploring this world, presuming we bring no harm to your people in the act?"

Twilight turned to where the dock was, and the great ship. "Are you going to fly that around the world?"

"That would make a certain impression," said Paul as if musing the idea. "But it is impractical. We will use smaller craft. We have terrestrial vehicles."

"Like the ones in the other world," quickly added Laud.

That dispelled the mystery. "Ah." Twilight nodded. "You understand, not this entire world is Equestria, by far. Once you leave its borders, I can't promise others will greet you as kindly. Many other races are fiercely territorial, especially if they mistake your disciplined appearance as an attack force."

Spike came back into view. "Hey, it was--"

A mint-green unicorn bounded into view. "Laud!" Lyra grinned at him, but also skidded to an awkward halt. "There really are a lot of you..." She wore no translator, her equine noises making little sense to most of the room.

Despite that, Paul nodded faintly towards her as he covered his translator. "I gather she knows you?"

"She does," Laud replied in English before slipping to Pony, "Good to see you, Lyra."

"It's been too long." She hastened to a trot, coming around the table to be at his side. "You didn't forget about me, I hope? I didn't forget about you." Her cheeks were pinked faintly as she spoke. She started when something touched her ears. Twilight popped a translating collar around her neck, locking it into place. "Oh, uh, thanks?" Her ears danced as it echoed those words into English.

Spike hopped back into his abandoned chair. "So, what's up, Lyra?"

"Oh, you see..." She tapped her hooves together awkwardly.

Paul's attention had slid back to Twilight. "My men will handle themselves, and we will not cast fault on your people for the action of your neighbors. We may proceed then?"

Twilight glanced between Lyra and Paul before holding up a hoof at Paul, her eyes settling on Lyra. "Is everything alright?"

Lyra squirmed all the more fiercely. "W-well, I mean..." With a loud uncorking sound, a tiny box appeared. "You don't have a horn to put this on, but..." Twilight's eyes went wide, but Lyra wasn't paying attention to her. "I... Will..."

Laud suddenly took hold of the box, holding it firmly but softly. "Lyra, we should speak, in private."

Lyra shrunk back. "O-oh, yeah. I suppose... it was silly of me to--"

"We should speak," repeated Laud in firm tones. "In private." He rose to his feet and gestured at her. "I need to see to Lady Heartstring. Apologies for leaving mid-meal."

Paul was quiet as Laud departed, the obviously flustered Lyra trailing behind him. He looked to Twilight once they were gone. "Is she of noble birth, or was Laud humoring her for her sake?"

Twilight let out a slow breath. "She does belong to one of the noble houses, yes. I'm sorry for..."

She didn't get to finish, as Paul slapped the table. "This is far more bold than I expected. Already maneuvering for a political marriage to cement your place?"

Twilight folded her ears back. "I..."

Paul made silent judgements entirely off her slow reply. "Think nothing more of it. I will say it wouldn't be the first time those deemed 'human enough' have courted with nobility. I leave that up to Laud. He isn't young enough for me to decide what strikes his fancy. Back to business. We have permission?"

Twilight frowned softly. "I see nothing wrong with you looking around Equestria. Let me get a map of the known world so I can show you where Equestria ends and what we know lies beyond it. You should not disturb things. Looking is fine. What is the saying... take only pictures and leave only hoofprints."

"Thank you." The meal continued, the matter seemingly closed for the moment.

Laud sat down on his bed, Lyra looking at him across the room with concern and worry painted across her equine features. "Allow me to ask," he spoke in pony, she being the only one present. "--why now?"

Lyra shrunk a moment before sitting up. "You see... I heard about your ship... and... Well, now you could... go... home..." She trailed a hoof slowly on the ground. "I was working up the bravery, and some bits... So... since you wouldn't come to me... I came to you." She tapped at the small velvet case with her magic. "I figured, if I didn't just ask, I'd regret it forever..."

Laud smiled thinly. "I don't think you were even trying, but you've painted me into a corner."

Lyra blinked at that. "I did?! I mean, sorry! Do humans do this differently? I can go!" She turned for the door. "I didn't--"

"--Stop." He held up one hand. "What's done is done. You've made your intentions crystal clear in front of the only human on this entire world with authority outpacing mine. If I say no, now, there's a good chance he'll wrench my arm until I agree, if it means the world will be more officially secured by house Hawkwood. The choice I have now is if this is entirely a political marriage, or not."

Lyra's ears sagged miserably. "Oh... oh... I ran so far to get away from everything like that, and then I go and do this. I couldn't even be angry at you if you hated me forever. Having someone else tell you who to marry? What are we, sheep?"

Laud raised a finger, then lowered it. He was certain he heard the sheep speak pony before... How did that saying work in Equestria?! There were more pressing matters to deal with... "I don't hate you, Lyra."

Author's Notes:

Lyra and Laud, sitting in a tree, P O L I T I C. First comes a legally binding contract, then comes marriage. Then comes a religious war in ten well-armed cruisers!

That's how this rhyme goes, right? What do you mean it doesn't rhyme? I blame typos.

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44 - Marry Me!

Laud pushed to his feet. "We should not be away for too long, or they will get ideas."

"Ideas?" Lyra's horn began to glow as she snatched up her box. "Oh, hey, I mean... I still want to give this to you."

Laud's eyes followed the dimly glowing case, imagining what manner of fancy ring rested within. It was a gilded cage, crafted just for him. The unicorn that stood beside it was looking at him with a hopeful smile.

"We're already this far." Not accepting the gift would just be a harsh rebuttal on Lyra, who didn't seem to deserve it. He reached out and took it from her glowing grip. It looked just like a standard ring's case. It felt fuzzy, and had a seam that ran along near the top of it. He easily popped it open and revealed the jewelry within.

The candied jewelry. It was a length of string adorned with countless bits of sugar rock and discs of other confections. He could smell the sweetness. "Is..."

"It's nice, right?" Lyra's smile brightened before falling. "You look confused."

Laud pulled the balled up necklace free of the tiny box, letting it unfold out into a great clattering mass. "Is this how ponies propose?" He imagined smiling ponies standing side by side with candy necklaces, proudly announcing they were engaged. It was... adorable, and absurd.

Lyra tilted her head left and right as if examining the necklace. "Is something wrong with it? It's a friendship bracelet. It fits you, right? It should! Put it on!"

Laud almost dropped the necklace in a moment of lightheadedness. "Friendship... bracelet? Is that just how ponies refer to marriage?"

"N-no?" She pointed at it. "I just... We're friends, right? I wanted to show it, so even if you go home, you'll know, for sure, you have a friend, even if she has more legs than you." She took hold of the necklace in her magic, easily pulling it from Laud's limp fingers. She placed it around his neck triumphantly.

Laud took a slow breath. "We should... go."

"Y-yeah, like it?" She walked past him, an eye following him as she went. "I asked Pinkie for help picking flavors. I don't know how, but she knows everyone's favorite."

"I'm sure it's fine," assured Laud with a defeated nicker. It took a moment to realize he had made that equine noise in just the right way. He was going native, possibly in more ways than that, if things proceeded in the direction they were headed. "Lyra, whether you meant it or--" He snapped back into attention and realized Lyra had slipped out on him, leaving him standing alone in his room. "I have to pull myself together."

Paul's eyes were on Twilight. "Tell me, what are the proceedings for marriage between two of royal blood?"

Twilight smiled nervously. "Well, typically, the two parties would gather their family in Canterlot, with Princess Celestia overseeing the proceedings and officiating. If they can't secure her time and presence, I suppose any princess would do, seeing as we have more than just her these days." As she talked, she relaxed, going into informational dumping mode, she began musing over it instead of any consequences. "It would be best to ask her first, just for propriety. Failing that, it would be my honor to assist." She put a hoof at her chest. "What is marriage but a friendship with commitments?"

"It can be many things," replied Paul with far more caution. He had seen the surprise in Laud's expression. "Do married couples gain the ranks and titles of their spouse, or are they considered something else?"

Twilight tapped her chin. "My brother, Shining Armor, became prince when he married a princess."

Paul sat up suddenly. "You two aren't--"

Twilight went red instantly. "No! Not me!" She let out a hysterical but brief laugh. "No... He's happily married to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." She met Paul's appraising stare. "I trust your people also have rules about that sort of thing. Siblings should not... do that."

A soldier nudged Spike in the ribs. "What should be and what nobles do when no one's looking isn't always the same." He said it quietly, but his translator did not oblige his wish for discretion.

Twilight's wings popped free and she sank into her seat, a frazzled mess. "N-no..."

Paul fixed the soldier a stare. "We didn't come here to offend our host. That comment could have you executed in more palaces than not, and I wouldn't even stop them." He hiked a thumb towards the exit of the castle. "Go back to the ship and pass the translator to someone that'll make less of a fool of themselves with it."

The disciplined soldier rose to his feet and stiffly bowed to Paul, then Twilight. "Sorry, Your Highness."

Twilight watched him walk stiffly away. "It's... alright," she weakly called after him before looking back to Paul. "I mean it, no offense is... taken, so long as we're clear that that is entirely improper. I know how stallions can be. Give them a chance and they'll make up the most horrible of jokes."

"Stallion?" He put it together quickly even as he said it. "Men can be that way, but it is the duty of those over them to put them back on track before they cause harm. He won't quickly forget this humiliation, as he caused to you, Your Ladyship." An idea occurred to him. Marring a random noble was fine, good enough, but... "Have you a husband?"

Twilight's blush, which had been fading, returned with a vengeance. "I haven't found any pony that I look at... that way." She raised a hoof. "I'm not interested, thank you. Besides, Laud is taken."

Paul went quiet, taking some of his food rather than look surprised. Twilight had seemed...

Lyra came trotting back into the room. "Sorry to disturb dinner! I'll get out of all your manes." She kept going past the table.

Paul set his fork down. "What is your name? I would meet a friend of a friend, as it were."

Lyra stopped, spinning on one hoof to face Paul with a smile. "Oh, sure! You're friends with Laud? I mean, of course you are." she clopped a hoof against her forehead just beside her horn. "All of you are friends, right?"

"In a manner of speaking." Paul turned in his chair, sliding it slightly so he could face Lyra. "We all belong to the same house, though he doesn't know each of us personally. He knows me. I am Duke Paul Hawkwood, and you are?"

"Lyra Heartstrings," she replied easily, sitting, then dipping her head at Paul. "You're a Duke, huh?" She raised a hoof. "But... well, different people. What responsibilities does a Hawkwood duke have?"

"An astute question." Paul smiled just a little at the unicorn. The fact that she had to ask meant she wasn't reaching into his head. That was a small comfort. "I am responsible for a great number of men and women. Someone with my rank could reign over most of a world, possibly the entire thing depending on the planet in question. I specialize in off-world actions, making me master of my ship and many other smaller vessels."

Lyra whistled low and long. "A whole world?! What? How many worlds do you humans have that you put a duke in charge of one of them like it's not even a big deal?"

Twilight tensed. "Lyra, be polite."

"I'm not offended," assured Paul, his eyes on Lyra's bright expression. "Allow me to be plain. We have more worlds than this world likely has countries. This is one of many, but it is an ideal one, pastoral and rich, with friendly natives." He leaned forward slightly. "That last is quite rare. We do not have a history of peaceful interactions with those who are different than us."

Lyra pulled her head back. "What? Why? I mean, sure, you humans are... different in all kinds of ways, but that's what makes you so interesting." She spread her hooves wide. "Being different doesn't mean we can't be friends. If Twilight can manage to make friends with the yaks, you can't be too awful in comparison."

Yaks? Paul did not voice that question, turning it instead to something related. "How many intelligent species are there on this world?"

Twilight nodded softly. "There are quite a number of sapient species. It is my hope to establish contact with them all and forge new alliances. It's far past time we all stood side by side."

Lyra pointed at Paul. "We're making friends with people from a whole other world before we even finished counting all the possible friends here?" She stood up. "Life's pretty crazy, huh? Oh! Uh, don't force Laud, alright? I didn't mean to start trouble."

"Whyever would I force Sir Laud? I am very certain he will act in a proper way without any word from me." He clasped his hands together, elbows on his legs. "Did he accept your proposal?"

Lyra opened her mouth, a yes ready to spill out when it hit her. "We're friends for life," she corrected herself. "Even if he goes home with the rest of you, he'll never forget." Looking self-satisfied, she turned for the door and began trotting. "Have a nice dinner!"

Twilight let out a slow breath. "Is that all that was? Why did... nevermind. I'll never understand Lyra..."

"She is difficult to discern in your eyes?" Paul filed that fact away. "It would seem that, perhaps, Laud is available."

Twilight stiffened. "Perhaps, some day, he'll find that special somepony." She raised a hoof to cough into it. "But that's neither here nor--There he is. Welcome back, Laud."

Laud nodded towards Twilight as he came around the corner. He patted the shoulder of one of the guards on the way, getting a thumbs up in reply. "Sorry for that display. It was a misunderstanding."

Paul nodded lightly. "One I feel hasn't been entirely resolved. We'll talk, later. Until then, Your Ladyship, about those other sapient species?"

Lyra closed the door behind herself and sank to the floor, legs spreading out as she went as limp as warm jelly. "Oooo," she groaned out miserably.

Bon Bon raised a brow, watching Lyra fall apart. "Did he say no?"

"He... didn't say anything."

Bon Bon frowned softly. "He didn't talk to you?"

"I chickened out!" Lyra sat up with an angry expression. "Everyone there made it a huge... thing... and I... I got scared, alright? You didn't see his face. He thought I was trapping him, and I was. I could have made him my husband by force, just like that. He woulda been forced into it and hated us forever... I didn't want that..." She began to sink, strength leaving her. "I don't want that..."

Bon Bon hopped up onto the counter and down to the floor, her hooves striking the wood in her speedy trot to Lyra's side. "I'm sorry for asking you to do that. Look, relax. I'll handle this."

Lyra blinked at Bon Bon. "But... I..." She sat up slowly. "I thought... Do you even like him, that way?"

Bon Bon frowned a little. "No. He's a creepy alien... you're the one that likes him that way. That won't stop me from getting this done." She sat down and clopped her forehooves together in one strong strike. "Just wait. I'll open and close this case with no room for doubts. By the time I'm done, he'll be yours, ours, really, but I'll let you keep him. That's what friends do, right?"

Lyra blurted out a choked laugh. "You're too much, Bonnie. Why do you even put up with me?" She sat up, leaning against Bon Bon the entire way until she could get her hooves around the less distraught mare and hug her tightly. "You're the best friend any mare could ever ask for."

Bon Bon gently kissed the tip of Lyra's horn. "Right back at you. We'll get through this, together, silly unicorn."

Author's Notes:

The social drama deepens. Will Lyra and Bon Bon be a solution to problems, or just make everything more complicated. That proposal certainly had a few typos in it.

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45 - Developments

Life had become busy for Laud. The cement and pavement had arrived, which required the ship lift up off the landing site so it could be made ready for more permanent visits from the ships it would house. Its early landing had been a good lesson to the construction crew, who felt they could adjust things and make a pad that would serve the job.

Laud coordinated between them and Paul to keep things on a schedule. The ship would go back into orbit for a time. Paul seemed confident enough that he could make do with the detachment of men he had. Ponyville did not seem to be too dangerous of a location to need more than that.

With that settled, and the dock being worked on, Paul pulled Laud aside. "What happened?"

"With what?"

Paul shook his head slowly. "We've been distracted with other matters, but the way that unicorn was moving... You say they were humans, and I'm starting to believe you. They have all the same expressions, when it doesn't involve their ears or tails. She had come to propose something a bit more severe than friendship forever." He made a gesture as if handing a plate to Laud. "I have the feeling these ponies would do that quite casually."

Laud put up his hands, palms facing Paul. "Look, we talked about it, once. She wasn't interested then, and this time, a candy friendship bracelet."

"She said 'You don't have a horn to put this on.' How large was this friendship bracelet?" He leaned in close to Laud. "I'm going to guess it was a bit larger than what one might slide onto a unicorn's horn."

Laud tensed. He hadn't even noticed that, so swept up in handling the situation. "It was quite large..."

"Too large to have such a small box?"

Laud felt his insides coiling. "It was almost comical how large it was in that little box." He turned away suddenly. "Because she swapped it for the ring that had been in there originally."

"Precisely so." Paul put a hand at his hip. "Your lady friend got cold feet at the last minute. I'd think she was a clever thief, but I suspect their magic is to blame."

"Right, but even if we assume that's true--" He turned back to face Paul. "--She didn't propose. She decided not to. That's the end of that."

"I can't force you, you're not directly beneath me, but I can ask that you tell it to me straight." He raised the hand that had been at his hip into a fist. "Marrying into their nobility would go a long way to smoothing more than a few problems. It would give the house formal claim to both the world and its people, shielding them from some of the trouble that is already approaching at top speed. You don't have to love her, you know that. I know that."

Laud nodded with a clenched jaw, his own fingers curling, but he kept from expressing himself too strongly. "I will bear that in mind."

"All that I ask." Paul dusted off the front of his suit. "They seem to like you. If you could make inroads with one of their ruling class, that would be even better, but we can only make the moves available to us. Princess Sparkle didn't seem interested, and she is the one you've dealt with most, am I right?"

"She may give a friendship necklace, if I asked." Laud quirked a smile at the thought of it. "That wouldn't assist our cause, other than getting a sweet treat."

"Very funny." He clapped Laud on the shoulder and marched off towards other business, leaving him to scurry off gratefully.

As Laud moved through the town of Ponyville, some excited noises started to rise from those around him. The ponies were looking up, so he glanced where they were gaping to see that a chariot was being drawn by two pegasi in golden armor. In the chariot was Princess Celestia, descending from her mountain home.

He moved to intercept, walking briskly towards the town square, where she seemed to be pointed towards. He wasn't the only one to have the same thought. Twilight and her friends had beaten him there, all smiling and ready. Mayor Mare was up on the stage, standing stiffly and looking towards the oncoming ruler.

Even as the chariot touched the ground, Mayor Mare gestured to her. "Behold, our princess!" All the ponies dropped into a bow, sinking down to one knee towards Celestia. Twilight started to do so, but Rarity kicked her subtly from the side, aborting the movement.

Laud offered a proper bow, seeing no reason to disrespect a pony he had need to remain on the good side of, and who likely had enough magic to do terrible things to him if she had the mind to do it.

"It is good to see you all," greeted Celestia with a kindly smile as she stepped from the chariot. "Laud, a pleasure. I see your friends have arrived."

Ponies began to rise, her greeting apparently enough of a hint that they were free to resume their activity. Twilight trotted towards her superior. "I've been seeing to their needs."

"That you have." Celestia nodded slightly. "I have read your reports. Laud, what is the status of the trading dock?"

Laud gestured in the direction of the dock. "They're laying down the cement and pavement right now. It'll be ready soon. We had a chance to give it a test run, and the construction crew's feeling confident they can do this right."

"Princess Celestia," came a firm voice, translated by his collar. Paul stepped through the crowd, weaving around ponies even as his closest guards did the same to keep up with him. "I have eagerly awaited the chance to meet you."

Celestia turned to him, her focus shifting entirely. "Good day. Are you also a Hawkwood?"

Paul could not understand her, but he had come prepared. He offered a translating collar towards her. "Created by a student of your student."

"Ah, Starlight?" She took the collar in her magic and soon had it on. "Is that better?" She started lightly when the translating voice echoed her statement. "There we are. As I was saying, you are a Hawkwood?"

"That I am. I am Duke Hawkwood, the commanding officer of the vessel I have little doubt you saw touch own on your country."

Celestia inclined her head forward slightly in a shallow nod. "Quite an impressive machine that was. It is still there, is it not? I should imagine it would not leave its duke behind."

"That would be most unusual." Paul examined Celestia with critical eyes, taking in her details. "I believe we have much to discuss."

"That we do." Celestia turned away towards Mayor Mare. "Is there an available space for such negotiations?"

Mayor Mare jumped. "O-oh, of course, Your Highness." She pointed towards the town hall. "Please, make use of it. We'll see to your needs."

Celestia began to lead the way. "Laud, I will want to speak to you after this."

Laud was perfectly happy to speak with her, but that had also been a dismissal. Her stating that they would speak, later, meant they would not speak now. She would speak with Paul, without him. There was little he could do to argue it. A Duke and a Princess were both in the position of telling him to sit down and be quiet.

He watched them walk off together, speaking animatedly, even if their translators remained neutral. Paul's men trailed behind, keeping careful watches on anything that approached.

"I know how you feel." Twilight sat down beside him. "I want to talk to her right now, do something... But she has this under control." She looked to Laud with a smile. "They'll call us when they're ready."

Applejack nodded. "That's just how that works. Twi, I better be trottin' back to the farm. Need anythin' else?"

Twilight waved it away. "Go ahead, AJ. I don't think any of us are needed at the moment."

Rarity flicked her mane. "Celestia was looking lovely, as usual. I imagine she's in quite the tizzy considering how things are developing."

Fluttershy tilted her head at her refined friend. "What's developing?"

Rarity arched a brow. "Darling, seriously? Have you not been paying attention?" She pointed at Laud. "His people are coming, ready or not. Celestia is working to be certain that we are on the ready side of that little proposal."

"Oh," she timidly acknowledged, looking towards Laud. "Is that a good thing?"

Before he could reply, Pinkie popped up between him and Fluttershy. "It's like a bajillion new friends! We have to make sure we say hi right, which is why I'm learning from Paul and his friends just what they like."

Rainbow lowered down, hovering just to the right of Laud. "One of their guards said they had little tiny ships that go super fast. I want to try one of those bad boys out!"

Laud held up a hand. "We're doing what we can to make sure this goes smoothly. You, as a people, have been nothing but kind and cooperative. I've heard the stories of the past, and I won't just... stand by when I have the chance to avoid another of those--"

Twilight suddenly poked him in the side with a hoof. "Tell us."

He had stepped in it. He went quiet.

Twilight's gaze did not waver. "I understand your people have had a long and... spotted past. As you said, we are working towards an agreeable end to this. Tell me what happened before, no censoring, no editing. What happened? What are we avoiding?"

All eyes were on him, all of her friends and Spike now focused on Laud entirely. "Alright... Let's retire somewhere. This isn't something that needs to be shouted from the town square."

Twilight's eyes wandered, taking in that their crowd went beyond her closest friends to some random ponies listening and watching curiously. "You... have a point. Let's go."

She led Laud and her friends back to her castle, though Applejack went back to her farm. Rainbow landed on her throne with a grin. "Alright, get talking, Mister 'I have a secret'."

The others nodded, looking to him. He didn't assume to take a throne, even if two of them were unoccupied. "Our people have... a long standing habit when it comes to encountering less advanced people."

Twilight hiked a brow. "And that is?"

"We come, we see, and we conquer. It isn't always through direct violence, but the weaker culture loses all the same."

Rarity rolled her eyes with a pfft. "You're being dramatic, darling. Just because you have a few fancy starships doesn't mean we can't be ponies." She waved a hoof through the air. "I feel absolutely certain that some of our 'culture' will rub off in the other direction as well. We'll surely change, what is life without it, but it's not the end of things. Stop being so dramatic."

Twilight snorted softly into a hoof. "Rarity would know about that, but I think, all in all, she isn't wrong. What's the worst thing that's happened?" She leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Speaking of that, Shantor. The horse-like people you mentioned. What happened to them?"

Rainbow thrust a hoof at Laud. "No dodging this time."

Laud would have much rather not be talking about that, but... "When we first met them, we weren't even certain they were sapient. When we determined they were, we were still certain they weren't 'as' sapient as humans, so we casually took their world. When there was a threat of their being taken by symbionts, we penned them up in reservations, for their own protection, or so they say."

Twilight's hoof slowly settled back down, blinking slowly. "That's... terrible, but not as bad as I had feared."

Rarity fluttered her lashes. "It seems to me, darling, that we've very much determined if ponies are sapient, wouldn't you say?"

Pinkie bobbed her head. "Ah-huh. If we weren't whatever that was, we wouldn't need these." She pointed at her translator. "Besides, only people make cake, and we make great cake!"

Author's Notes:

There you have it. Ponies make cake, and thus must be people. Can you argue with this logic?! I don't think you can. Let us be united under cake!

Is this a typo?

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46 - Sunrise

Some of the tension between Laud and Twilight and her friends abated. The secrets and worries he had been holding close to his chest were revealed to be seen and dealt with, and the ponies had not turned against him for what could happen.

Pinkie waved excitedly. "A mare's work is never done!"

Rarity nodded in refined agreement. "Well said. It was nice getting this out, darling, but we do have responsibilities."

Laud returned the nod to either of them. "Good luck." His eyes darted to Twilight. "I presume you'll bring Applejack and Fluttershy up to speed?"

Rainbow snorted as she lifted from the ground. "I have to swing by AJ's anyway. I'll make sure she knows what direction's the sky." She saluted and launched herself out a window without delay, a streak of rainbows giving short-lived proof that she had been there.

Spike, who had been quiet, hiked a thumb in the direction she had gone. "That meant she'll tell AJ what's happening so she knows what to do."

Laud had assumed as much. "That was a very 'flyer' saying." There remained yet one of Twilight's friends, and he looked to Fluttershy. "You're quiet, do you have something on your mind?"

"Oh!" She smiled nervously. "N-no, I'm fine." She waved a hoof as she shook her head, standing up on her throne. "I should probably be going too, if that's alright?"

"A witness is in order," came a firm, female, voice. The clip-clop of Celestia's approach was clear, her metal-clad hooves striking the crystal of the castle. Beside her, the boots of many men came with her. Both she and Paul came into view only moment's later, his men trailing behind. "We have important things to announce." Her eyes were on Laud and Twilight with equal intensity.

Laud looked to Paul, but the man's face was impossible to read. He had put on a poker face only a high-born royal could have mastered. It was enough to tell Laud he should be worried, and he was. What had they discussed outside of his ears? "I trust your meeting was productive?" He decided with, trying as best he could to keep his own expression passive. The truth would come, he just had to wait for it.

Paul nodded towards Celestia. "Always refreshing to meet a fellow protector of their people, and it's a change of pace to meet one not of the Hawkwood house that holds themselves to decency to both their people and others."

"You are too kind." Celestia smiled gently at the compliment. "But, what I am about to do will not be seen as kind, and to one that has been nothing but wonderful to me..." The tension in the room grew. Twilight and Fluttershy were locked on Celestia. Even they knew that something was happening. "I can only hope that she will forgive me, in time, for I act in Equestria's best interests, and this is a matter greater than even our beloved country."

Fluttershy's eyes widened with alarm. "O-oh, my. Is everything alright?"

Celestia smiled down at Fluttershy. "I'm afraid not, but I think it will get better, in time." She turned fully to Twilight. "I must ask that you perform a task that falls onto royalty, which you now are. In order to shield our world from the ravages of the larger universe, we must be seen wholly as a portion of a larger whole." She inclined her head towards Paul. "We have the way to do that."

Twilight's jaw tensed, a little tremble passing through her body. "How can I... help?" Somewhere in her, she was starting to get an idea, her eyes darting from human to human.

Celestia raised a hoof and pointed at Twilight in a firm thrust. "Twilight, I have arranged your union."

Twilight fell back against her throne. "Oh, is that all." She sank against the back of it. "I thought it was something serious." She laughed a brief little hysterical sound. "It's not like you're marrying me off or anything."

"Um..." Fluttershy looked between the distraught Twilight and Celestia. "Is it to him?" She pointed at Paul.

Spike snorted softly. "Doubt it."

Celestia approached the great map that occupied the center of the room. Her gaze swept over it. "This is not a matter I choose lightly. It has weighed on me for some time." She placed a hoof gently on where Ponyville was on the map, having to rear up to reach it. "This could destroy the entire world we've worked so hard to protect. While some would... say we have the means to defend ourselves. If it came to violence, it would be a matter of when, not if we were destroyed, wiped out to the last."

She turned her eyes on Twilight. "I hope you understand what I am doing, in time, and can forgive me."

Twilight stiffly nodded. "O-of course..." She sat up, forcing herself to be at rigid attention. "Fluttershy's question is apt. Who am I... being forced to be with?"

Celestia looked towards Laud, saying nothing, but saying everything, all at once.

Laud's mind raced. He turned towards Paul quickly. "What about Lyra?" Even as he said it, he realized the ludicrousness of even asking. Lyra had already denied him, twice, and compared to Twilight, she was almost a commoner.

Paul clapped Laud's shoulder with a firm hand, his fingers digging just enough to make it clear. No choices were being given at that moment. "It's for the best. We want to protect these, our new people, and this is how we start. You'd sooner take a blade than see your people put upon, isn't that right?"

"Yes, of course!" Laud shot back, voice strained.

"This is a blade of another sort, and it falls on you to put yourself on it." Paul suddenly shoved Laud back. "Will you rise to your duty, or prove everyone right, young noble?"

Celestia smiled gently on Laud. "You will become a prince, with all the responsibility and privilege that comes with it. As we have no kings or queens, you would immediately be among the most powerful by rank within the country, and with it, we would accept and acknowledge Hawkwood as not only allies, but one of our own."

Twilight met Laud's eyes, her own frantic with new worries. "Well, at least I... know him." She laughed her little unnerved laugh, mane becoming frizzier by the moment as if the stress somehow manifested itself there. "I should... tell my family. Oh, look at that! After I complained to my brother, now I'm the one springing a wedding on them unexpectedly." She laughed all the harder, the hysterics only getting stronger.

The sound of a slap echoed through the room.

Twilight looked to Spike with a stunned face, her cheek burning red from where his little hand had struck her.

"Snap out of it," he commanded firmly before turning to Celestia. "Are you serious? These two don't have anything in common."

"This is not a matter of love, Spike." Celestia dipped her head low, heavy with the weight of what she was doing. "I hope they will find mutual respect, at least, and are good friends."

Laud felt his estimation of Spike rise slightly. That had taken some bravery, he decided. "She is correct... Marriage does not always equate to love, or even passion. If this... is what has been decided, I will play my part honorably." He would not be known as a pouty child, refusing to do what needed to be done. He clapped his boots together and bowed formally to Twilight. "I accept your ha--hoof and will honor and respect you until my last breath."

Paul shook his head with a little laugh. "You're being hasty, Laud. Nice oath, but we should make a formal ceremony of it. The people of the country need to be perfectly aware of what's going on. We'll want to capture pictures to share and spread the news across the gates. That's how we'll announce this world, its people, and Hawkwood's involvement all in one fell swoop. No room for doubt there."

Celestia rose back to her full height. "Yes, there are things to plan." She turned for the exit, sliding free of the table she had been on. "Are there human traditions to marriage we should factor into the arrangements?"

Paul moved to keep up with her, and they began planning the wedding as they went, soon gone from the room, leaving the two newly-promised ones behind.

Laud needed to sit down, but the only seat around was also a throne, and it wasn't his throne. He settled with putting a hand on the large map and leaning against it, trying to calm himself. That had been fast, too fast. His plans... Were not entirely destroyed. He would still oversee the port. He would still be the go-between. He would still do what he wanted to do. He was just getting married, to the wrong pony.

Wrong? Was Lyra more 'right?'. There was love there, even if one-sided. She liked him. He liked his women on two legs. Pointless, it was all pointless. He wasn't being given a choice. He wanted to save that world, and its people, and that meant shutting up and taking it, like a man...

Twilight suddenly laughed. "You look like you're taking this about as well as I am." She leaned forward in her throne. "That's strangely comforting. Fluttershy?"

"Yes, Twilight? I'm here for you." She smiled timidly, but did not flee.

"Thank you... But I think, right now, I need you to tell the rest of the girls what just happened. Can you do that, please?" Her voice was low and tense, but she didn't sound hysterical. "I need to... think about this."

Fluttershy hopped up. "I'll do that, Twilight, but you... take care of yourself." She looked to Spike pointedly. "Keep an eye on her, please." She fled, wings flapping, but not flying. She galloped out the front door.

Spike saluted after her before looking to Laud. "You alright? You look as bad as Twilight, with less rambling."

"Hey!"

"Calling it like I saw it." He smiled at Twilight a little. "Feeling better?"

She rubbed the fading stinging of her cheek. "You didn't have to hit so hard..."

"Yes, yes I did." Spike hopped up onto her throne with her and patted her shoulder. "Now, the way I see it, you two are friends, just, you know, not that kind of friend. So you're getting married, big deal. They can't make you do more than that. You're friends with a fancy title, don't make it more than that."

Laud stood up, pushing away from the table. "I..." His objection died. Could a human and a pony produce an heir? If not, that truly was the end of it. They would not need to be anymore than friends with extra baggage. But, they didn't know. Still, the odds had to be low, right? A random species did not cross with humans...

He frowned deeply. Except, ponies might be humans.

Twilight tilted her head. "Bit for your thoughts? You look like you're thinking about something pretty seriously."

"What Spike said, he's not wrong, on some levels, but if we can make an heir, it will be expected that we do." He took a slow breath, trying to calm himself. "But that... is a problem for another day, perhaps another year." Maybe another decade? "For now, Spike is speaking wisdom." And surprising him. "When did you become such a calming presence?"

Twilight burst into a short laugh, hopping down from her throne. "That's my Spike. He's always there for me when things are at their worst, and he usually says something worth listening to... that I don't always listen to. Sorry for that, Spike, and thank you." She held out a hoof and Spike was soon there, the two hugging one another in the fond embrace of kinship.

Outside, Bon Bon picked herself up from where she had fallen when she heard the sudden news. "This changes things," she muttered as she dusted herself off. How was she going to get Lyra what she wanted?! "Back to the drawing board..."

Author's Notes:

Royal commands are here to settle things. Let us hope this edict is typo free.

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47 - Shotgun Wedding

Twilight walked away from the main room, her stepping a little stiff despite her efforts to assume a more natural gait. "Something wrong?" asked a familiar female voice. Twilight looked up to see Starlight descending towards her on the stairs. "You look awful."

Twilight pointed back where she had come from with a hoof. "Celestia just... arranged my marriage. I didn't even know that was a thing ponies did anymore..."

Starlight's brows rose in unison. "She did what now?" she said in a surprised and angry shout. "Where is she? I'll give her a piece of--"

Twilight popped her hoof into Starlight's fuming mouth. "No! No... She's the princess, after all, so--"

Starlight stepped to the side, freeing herself of the plugging hoof. "Newsflash, you are also a princess. You get back in there and you tell her she can get married herself if she's that eager to see a wedding!"

Twilight paled at the very idea. "I can't do that! She's... Celestia!"

"She is that," agreed Starlight with a little nod. "She's also wrong. You are not getting married unless you want to. Why is she doing this anyway? This isn't like her."

"It's about..." Twilight glanced aside toward a knot of humans closer to the entrance of the castle. "It's about them. She wants a blood tie to make our position 'clear and official'."

Starlight hiked a brow. "He's made friends with several ponies. Just about any of them would be less destroyed than you being assigned to this. I mean, hay, why not Mau--No, wait, she has a boyfriend now. Wasn't Lyra hot for him? Why not her?"

Twilight rolled a hoof in the air. "She... swore to be eternal friends."

"Friends are spouses that haven't taken the last step," argued Starlight. "Still sounds like she's a better pick for this than you are. You are a princess. You have responsibilities."

"And one of those," argued Twilight with a little frown. "One of those happens to be to ensure the peace of our people."

Starlight rolled a hoof. "And his marrying you, specifically, does that?"

Spike leaned against Twilight, fixing Starlight evenly. "I think they want him hooked up with somepony important, rather than just any old pony."

Starlight clopped a hoof to her face. "Right, so, why isn't Celestia throwing herself into the fire if she thinks it's such a good idea?"

Twilight's mane twanged, a few strangs going askew. "You can't be serious! Him, with... her?! No! I'll... keep her from that." She pushed past Starlight suddenly, ascending the stairs. "I need some time."

Spike watched her go before his gaze went back to Starlight. "So... we're going to save her, right?"

"Right." Starlight smiled a wicked little smile. "Let's fix this." She grabbed Spike in her magic and set him atop her. "Let's go. Are the other girls aware of this?"

"They're being told right now."

"Great. Let's put our heads together. I'm sure they won't be any more eager to let this stand." Starlight strode from the castle, passing the soldiers without even glancing at them.

It didn't take long to assemble the girls, but there was an extra member. Rarity cocked a brow at the intruder. "Pardon, darling. I don't mean to be rude, but..." She rolled a hoof. "I don't recall inviting you here."

Bon Bon smiled gently. "This is S.M.I.L.E.-related. I know we don't often call on you, but I am now. This is a matter of grave importance." The fact that she wanted to help her marefriend was a happy side-effect. "I am here to lend a hoof."

Applejack matched Rarity's expression with that extra dash of experience. "Ah thought they just trusted us to do our jobs jus' fine on our own?"

Bon Bon rolled a hoof. "Of course, and we do, but this is an urgent matter. I'm here to help, not order any of you around, I promise."

Rainbow circled over them with an angry huff. "Yeah yeah yeah! Enough talk. If Bon Bon wants to be angry at this too, fine. Welcome to the club B--"

"Agent Sweetie Drops," corrected Bon Bon. "I am on-duty."

"Yeah, fine that." Rainbow rolled her eyes. "You're such a pro, what do you know?"

"I know that the target has already expressed interest in a political marriage." She crossed her forehooves, leaning back on her hind legs. "I know he'd prefer a relationship to be more than political advantage, but he is also entirely willing to do what will benefit his people." She thrust a hoof up. "I am also increasingly certain he considers us 'his people', like a father looking on his foals. He feels it is his responsibility."

Fluttershy raised a hoof timidly. "He seems... like a nice enough po--"

Applejack pointed at Fluttershy, cutting her off. "He ain't even a pony."

Pinkie shook her head. "No one that can enjoy a slice of cake like that can not be a pony. He's just a pony with fingers, and a funny accent."

Rarity smiled gently. "I find myself in agreement with Pinkie. Despite his outward quirks, he is a refined noble and acts like a gentlepony if ever there was one." Her eyes shifted to Spike. "Well, at least one of two I know."

Spike smiled awkwardly a moment but hopped up to his feet. "Yeah, he's a good person. I mean, um, he was just as surprised as Twilight was. This wasn't his idea. I mean... I don't think he'll say no to the other one, Paul? But it's not his first pick."

Bon Bon leaned forward. "I have an idea. It will involve some personal sacrifice, but it could work." All eyes turned towards Bon Bon expectantly. "Lyra has already had interactions with him, and swore eternal friendship. A little nudging from her friend could push her over the edge, especially with news that he may be lost forever..." She made a pushing motion with her hooves. "If we get her to come out and confess her desire for him..."

Rarity shook her head firmly. "Celestia already declared them betrothed, darling. That isn't something you cancel easily. Twilight has first dibs on him, and that mare won't let him go unless Celestia says to do so. She is quite stubborn about that sort of thing."

Bon Bon clapped her hooves together. "But we have the law on our side."

Applejack blinked softly. "This I wanna hear. How's the law on our side when one of the ponies involved is Celestia, and she ain't on our side?"

Bon Bon fell to all fours and coiled back, pulling out a weighty tome that she let drop with a loud thud to the grass between them. "The laws of Equestria are vast and terrifying. Most don't even try to keep up to date on them, and that works well enough. We know what's nice, and what's not nice, and we act accordingly. It works more often than not." She tapped the book with a hoof and a cunning smile. "That hasn't erased the laws."

Rainbow rolled a hoof impatiently. "Get to the point already! What crazy old law are you planning on using?"

Bon Bon nosed the book open and flipped with her muzzle until she found the page she was after. The bookmark made the flipping easier to aim. "Here we are. In the event of a single mare and a single stallion becoming betrothed, a herd of mares may issue challenge. If they can demonstrate superior skill at caring for the stallion--"

"Darling!" Rarity was pink across her face. "That sounds dreadfully antiquated! A modern mare simply does not look at a stallion that way!"

Pinkie bobbed her head. "Yeah, that sounds... kinda odd."

Rainbow snickered at that. "You know it's good when Pinkie thinks it's odd."

Spike hiked a thumb at Bon Bon. "Forget that. You said a 'herd of mares'. Do we have one of those waiting to get in line to get married to Laud? I mean..."

"We do." Bon Bon nodded. "I can talk Lyra into it, I feel certain. For the good of Equestria, I will play my part." The others stared at her as if she were offering to jump into a volcano for their benefit. She did not correct them. She tapped at the open book meaningfully. "This challenge cannot be denied. A herd can always challenge a lone mare."

Rarity's nose was still scrunched in distaste. "Ugh, so tasteless. We've moved on past such barbaric times, darling."

Applejack raised a hoof. "Yeah, I mean that's true an' all, but this is fer Twilight's sake. Besides, the way I see it, if we make a big deal about this, we save Twilight, and they'll take this law right out of the books faster than a cat after tuna."

Fluttershy nodded softly. "I'd hate to think a group of mares could... do that if I... found... someone special..."

Pinkie thrust a hoof at Bon Bon. "Good thing we have a secret agent right here, ready to leap into action." She clapped her hooves with a loud clop. "Good thinking, Bonnie."

Bon Bon blushed softly. "Only Lyra can call me that."

Pinkie tilted her head. "Good job, you already sound like a herd."

Bon Bon only grew darker. "Anywho, I think we're all in agreement?" She slapped the book once more. "We pull out the law, issue our challenge, and win the right to marry Laud away from Twilight, freeing her from this. Their superior, Mister Hawkwood himself, won't be able to say a thing. He doesn't look like the kind of pony that questions laws either. We do it by the book." She ran her hoof over that very book. "Let them change it, after we're done."

Twilight jumped at a knocking at her door. It sounded like a human knocking, or possibly a dragon knocking. It was not a pony's knock. "Who is it?" she called as she turned to face it.

"It's Laud... Twilight."

He hadn't called her by her last name. Twilight tensed at the realization. "Um, come... in."

The door opened just wide enough for him to slip inside and close the door behind himself. "I just wanted to make it clear that this isn't my idea. I will not insist you do anything you don't want to do. We can live apart if you prefer."

Twilight blinked softly. "I'm not upset about you living in the castle. You were doing that before... this." She quirked a little smile. "Really, Laud, you haven't done anything wrong. However this goes, I trust we will remain friends."

"I would hope that as well." He bowed formally towards her. "It would be a shame to have that ruined by political machinations. We both want what's best for our people, so let us be united in that, and work in accordance to their needs. As royalty, we both understand this."

"Y-yes, we do." She nodded as she rose up to her hooves and began walking towards the balcony. "This must be twice as strange for you."

"Hmm?"

Twilight looked over her shoulder. "However bizarre this... entire thing is, the idea of two people of... different species potentially being wed isn't entirely alien to me. It sounds like, to humans, only humans are considered."

Laud shook his head as he approached her, moving to stand beside her, the wind tussling their hair out on the balcony. "I was raised with the idea that I would find a fine and brave woman someday to carry my legacy onwards in our children, but that was secondary to being a good Hawkwood. If I was asked to die for the good of my people, I would do that. This is a far sight less... of a sacrifice... Besides, though we are not yet certain, you may be much more human than you appear."

Twilight fixed Laud in her gaze without looking at him, one of her large side-set eyes easily trained on him despite her looking straight ahead. "I can't promise I'll be the woman you hope for, Laud. I'm just a unicorn." She raised a hoof to her chest. "I am Twilight Sparkle. It is nice to meet you, husband-to-be."

Laud offered a hand towards her. "I am Laud Mountbatten. It is nice to meet you, wife-to-be." Her hoof came and they met in a quiet moment of understanding.

Author's Notes:

Bon Bon is all over this! Did you know the Mane 6 is a subset of S.M.I.L.E.? Doesn't come up much, but there ya go! The commissioner of a story had their story done, and is currently donating their weekly updates to this story!

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48 - Mare a Mare

Starlight watched Laud leave Twilight's room, a sour expression on her face, not that he could see it. Magic kept her from view, allowing her to sit still until he had walked past on to whatever other business he had. She released the spell and approached Twilight's room with a sigh. "Twi, you in there?"

The door cracked open and one of Twilight's eyes peeked out. "Starlight? It seems like everypony wants me today."

"You haven't heard the start of it... Tell me straight, if there was another pony that wanted Laud, that'd be good, right? He'd be all married to a pony, and you'd be spared. Ta da!" She threw out a hoof with the exclamation with a brief smile. "Right?"

The door opened a little more. "Celestia asked me to do this. I'm not in the habit of letting her down, especially if it's my choice."

"I was afraid you'd say that." Starlight turned to the side, in the process of turning for the stairs. "I'll have to go to the top then."

"What? Starlight, no! You will not yell at Celestia." With a pop, Twilight ceased to be in her room and appeared in front of Starlight with a flustered expression. "Laud isn't that bad." She smiled a strained little smile. "He wants the best for the people that look up to him, and those above him. It's just like me. We both want the best in the end, and... we'll manage."

Starlight narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "That sounds like someone talking themselves into going along with the best of a bad situation, not someone happy about it. I have to go, ponies to talk to." With a rush of magic, she was gone, just as skilled at teleporting as Twilight was.

Twilight sighed at the space that once held her student. "Let me handle my own problems." She trotted back for her room. There was little she could do to stop Starlight short of causing more issues.

Celestia sat at the table with the human leader across from her. On one side of the table, human guards. On the other, pony guards. One owned a country, the other an incalculably powerful and populated space vessel that could easily be considered a country of its own. It was enough that they could declare war, and countless people would die.

Paul raised his glass. "To new futures, and strengthening bonds."

"To new futures, and different peoples made one," echoed Celestia, lifting her glass in her magic to tap against his. They were not declaring war, thankfully. It was much the opposite. "It will be... awkward at first, but both will acclimate to the unreasonable request we've given... presuming no other answer presents--"

With a pop, Starlight appeared between the two of them, up on the table. Guards of either variety scrambled into action at her unannounced presence.

"--itself," finished Celestia, smiling gently at the angry-looking Starlight. "What can I do for you, Miss Glimmer?"

Her friendly greeting of the intruder had both sides standing down. She was no strange attacker.

Starlight leveled a hoof at Celestia. "Where do you get doing this to Twilight! She trusts you, and you throw her to the wolves like this? She hasn't even had a coltfriend before and you lock her down into an arranged marriage?" Her brows raised as one. "Well we're going to skirt around that, with no help from you. We just need you to stay the hay out of the way."

"Alright."

Starlight blinked with confusion. "Alright?"

Paul looked around Starlight to Celestia. "I haven't learned how to speak pony. What is she saying? She sounds quite upset." His translator faithfully echoed the statement in the horse noises of the native language.

Celestia leaned towards Starlight lightly. "If you can secure another solution, you should proceed."

Paul watched with an intense focus, even if he could only understand the translated statements of one of the two speaking.

Starlight straightened herself out, trying to regain the momentum that had been stolen from her. "I'll do just that! We'll get him a pony wife that actually wants him, and by the books." She hoped that Bon Bon wasn't just making things up about that part. "You promise you won't get in the way?"

Celestia raised a hoof. "Provided it is within the laws of the land and no pony is harmed, why should I object? As you say, I care about Twilight deeply. If you can resolve this in a way that helps her, then I can only thank you, Starlight Glimmer."

Starlight hopped down from the table, shaking a hoof from the mashed potatoes that she had managed to step in. "Well, alright... then... I'd better get on that." She walked away, triumphant, and yet not feeling it.

Paul watched her go a moment before his eyes returned to Celestia. "What is she planning? She is a powerful spellcaster. Is she under your employ?"

"Indirectly." Celestia rolled a hoof. "She is Twilight's student, and Twilight is my student and I am her princess. There is little doubt in my mind that she would act if I asked for it through Twilight."

"And she acts on her own, clearly. What is she planning?" pressed Paul. "Will it interfere with this? We are racing time, among other things."

"It may," admitted Celestia. "But, I feel it will result in a more stable future." She watched his guarded expression. "I have a good feeling about it. If she fails, Twilight and Laud will be more convinced that their union is the proper course, and they will both be made happier for it. If they are seperated, Laud given to another, the marriage will proceed and our people will yet be bonded."

Paul tapped the table with a firm finger. "She is not of noble birth, I presume?"

"She is not," easily admitted Celestia. "I do not think she is the one that will try to take him."

"Then who?" His voice was almost as neutral as the device that spoke in clear monotone for him.

"I could not say with certainty." She smiled gently. "Let us watch and see. My people can be... unconventional, but they, especially those around Twilight, usually come through in the end."

"It is good to have some faith in those beneath you." He took a sip from the sweet drink that had been provided to him. "I trust Laud will do what is right. He is many things, but he is a good Hawkwood, in the end. He will not betray our principles."

Starlight knocked on the door with a firm clopping. "Bon Bon? You home?" The door fell open at her knocking. "Or... that works. Bon Bon? Lyra?" She pressed inside the candy shop. Her ears pricked up at the sounds coming from above. She could hear the sounds of two ponies speaking to one another, both female. She couldn't pick out the words. "Bon?"

She closed the door behind herself and locked it for good measure. No reason to leave a store open when its owner was clearly occupied, or so she decided. With a satisfied nod, she trotted for the stairs. "Lyra?"

"Starlight?" came a voice from the top of the stairs just before Lyra's head popped into view. "Oh, hey! We didn't hear you come in." She looked cheerful, but something was off.

Starlight smiled awkwardly up at the mare. "Hey, I was hoping to talk to Bon Bon, but you're involved too, right?"

Lyra put a hoof behind her head. "Ha... ha... so you know about that? I guess basically everyone does... We haven't even done it yet..."

"Starlight?" Bon Bon circled into view at the top of the stairs. "What did Twilight say?"

"She's as stubborn as a mule, of course." Starlight rolled her eyes. "On the other hoof, Celestia is entirely on board."

Bon Bon descended the stairs with a raised brow. "She is? This was all her idea in the first place. Why is she alright with us interfering with her plans?" Her brows came down in a sudden frown. "She's planning something. Tell me what she said, specifically."

Starlight shook her head. "She seemed sincere. She said... 'if you can resolve this in a way that helps her, I can only thank you.'"

Bon Bon gasped with alarm. "She's being forced!"

Lyra followed after her friend, joining the other two downstairs. "Hey, who locked the door?" With a twist of magic, she had the door ready to receive customers again. "Who's forcing who now? Aren't we going to be forcing things?"

Bon Bon nodded softly. "We are, legally. If she said that, the others, the humans; Paul was his name, wasn't it? Paul Hawkwood, that's right. He must have pressured Celestia, and that's why she's perfectly fine with an out. If that's the case, then we have to proceed." She clopped the floor, hoof striking the wood firmly. "For Equestria, and Twilight."

Lyra put a hoof behind her head, looking increasingly awkward. "I just... thought he was kinda cute... I didn't think we'd be making or breaking the country in this."

Starlight shook her head. "Wait, what? You... like him that way?"

Lyra's face began to heat up rapidly. "The way... He's strong, and smart. He's nice and brave..." She sighed and sagged against a shelf of candy. "Yeah, I kinda like him... but any time I try to say anything, I lock up. He just sees me as a friend, and it's my own fault!"

Starlight wobbled a hoof. "I know this has nothing to do with... anything, but you know what married ponies do... right? Do you plan to do... do that with him?"

Lyra's blush intensified as she sank towards the floor. "Maybe," she squeaked out in a tiny voice.

Bon Bon was suddenly between Starlight and Lyra, her face in Starlight's. "Lyra will do what she wants with her husband, once we finish roping him."

"Hey hey, no offense intended." Starlight lifted her hooves, sinking to her haunches. "Sheesh, I was just asking. I mean... I can't even think about him that way... But, hey, he's a stallion human, so if... you two hit it off, why not?"

Bon Bon waved a hoof over at Lyra. "She could do that even if Laud was a mare human. That's her decision and, as her Best Friend, I will help her do it, because that's what friends do."

Starlight shook her head slowly. "You do realize, if this works, you two won't be 'Best Friends' anymore, right? You'll be wives."

Bon Bon's cheeks began to warm much as her friend's had already done. "S-so be it! That is the price I will pay to protect Equestria, and Twilight."

Starlight's face split in a close-mouthed grin, smugly eyeing the nervous couple. "This isn't about Twilight at all, is it?"

"What?" Bon Bon stood all the taller. "We have to break her betrothal through challenge. How is this not about her?"

Starlight rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah, besides that. You don't care about her, not like that. You're doing this for Lyra." Her eyes settled on the flustered green unicorn. "She wants Laud, and you want him, for her. That is... actually really nice of you."

Bon Bon's tense stance broke. "Huh?"

"No, I'm serious." Starlight reached and patted Bon's shoulder gently. "I wish I had a friend that cared about me so deeply they'd go through all this just for the chance for me to be happy."

Lyra was suddenly at Bon Bon's other side, surging from the floor to her hooves back upright in an almost pounce. "She's the best!" she cried in agreement. "I don't know what I'd do without my Bonnie." She threw a leg over the stunned Bon Bon and hugged her close. "Best friends, forever."

Starlight smirked in a way only a former evil genius could. "You two will be even more than that, if this goes well. Do you have your challenge worked out?"

Bon Bon shared her idea, the two of them leaning in to listen.

Author's Notes:

Everyone is plotting and scheming! Who got politics all over my stranger in a strange land story?! I actually do feel this is a fairly organic motion for the story. Am I wrong? Am I right? Lemme know!

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49 - Challenge Issued

Laud nodded approvingly as his eyes swept over the black surface. It ran right up to the walls snugly. It was uniform and did not yield under his feet, though he imagined a ship would surely test it more than he could hope to. It was also warm, baking in the heat of the sun. It was a landing platform, a primitive star dock, his primitive star dock.

"You've done well," he complimented the builder ponies who were all watching him, eager for review. "We'll get our true test the next time a ship wants to touch down. The next step requires electricians. Do you have that skillset?"

They looked among each other, each shaking their head in turn before the head-pony stepped forward, tipping his hard hat. "Yeah, not exactly our thing, but I know some ponies. I'll send them your way. About the bill..."

They got into the business of settling up the bits required.

Twilight trotted energetically through the town. She had things to do. She knew this in part thanks to the checklist that hovered beside herself. The arrival of the humans had created no lack of projects to immerse herself in. Focusing on them also allowed her to keep from wondering too long or too hard about personal things.

Besides, she had already settled those.

Her advance was suddenly stopped as not one but two ponies got directly in her way, turned to the side, but their heads were turned to face her, specifically blocking her path.

"Twilight Sparkle," spoke Bon Bon, one of the two blocking ponies.

"We challenge you," spoke Lyra, the other of the two blocking ponies.

"As a herd, we issue a formal bid for superior care of your would-be stallion. You are not only a single mare, but a princess with other responsibilities. There is no conceivable way you can provide for him as well as we can." To emphasize her point, Bon Bon pointed at the floating checklist.

Twilight took a half-step back, eyes coming into focus on the two ponies that had suddenly forced themselves into her thoughts, and schedule. "What? Don't be ridiculous. No one does herds anymore."

Other ponies came to a stop, focusing on the conflict that had sprouted seemingly out of nowhere. Quiet whispers spread. A herd? Is that even still a thing?

Bon Bon shook her head firmly. "The popularity of the concept does not erase its legality. It is still on the books." She tapped the ground. "And we follow the laws around here, Miss Sparkle." She waved a hoof between Lyra and herself. "We have shared residency long enough to qualify for the title without ceremony. A domestic herd, to be proper. As a herd, we are entitle--"

"Stop this!" barked Twilight, her face creasing in a severe frown. "Whatever you're doing, stop it! Did Starlight put you up to this? I can... handle myself, thank you."

Lyra shook her head quickly. "She's barely involved. This is our idea. I... lo... lu..." Her face began to grow redder and redder with every attempt to say it.

Bon Bon slapped her on the back with a hoof.

"I love him!" Lyra finally spat out. "We're challenging you for him. Do you accept?"

Bon Bon smiled easily. "Or, do you cede? There is no third option."

The other ponies had gathered, forming a circle around the three ponies, eyes focused on the drama as it unfolded. There were humans about, but they didn't know the language of ponies, and none of those arguing had translators on, so the best they could do was watch from afar with curiosity.

Twilight drew herself up as tall as she could be, her wings spreading out to add to her overall size. "I accept, of course. Celestia made this decision, and I won't let her down."

Bon Bon rolled a hoof. "Very well. The challenge will be one of domestics. It's only logical, seeing as we've asserted we can provide for him better than you can. Cooking, cleaning, stallion care..." She tapped her hooves with each category of the challenge. "We will clearly demonstrate that two heads are better than one."

Twilight let out a slow breath. "Tell me this is a one time affair."

Bon Bon raised a hoof. "From us? Yes. A herd can only issue a challenge once. If proven inferior, they're out of the running. Of course, if some other herd wanted to try, we could do nothing about that."

Lyra smiled at Twilight, a caring smile, as if worried for the stress she was causing. "I doubt there are other herds waiting for a chance. Um, still friends, right?" She flashed a bright and awkward smile. "I mean, this is just about Laud. I'm not, you know, angry at you or anything."

Twilight heaved a heavy sigh. Lyra wasn't entirely wrong, in her opinion. The odds of other herds was low, unless Starlight or her friends were that desperate to butt into her decisions. "Very well. I'll schedule the challenge."

Bon Bon dipped her head towards Twilight. "You have that right. I look forward to it. Let's all show our best, and to the one that can provide the best home goes the stallion."

With a flash of magic, Twilight vanished. That void was filled almost instantly as if her parting had sucked them in. Ponies crowded in around Lyra and Bon Bon, asking questions.

"You just challenged a princess, do you know what you're doing?"

"You want to marry a human?"

"You two are a thing?!"

Lyra's horn glowed as her lyre appeared above her and began to play soft music. "Chill out, everypony. Nothing's official until we win. If we lose, well, the herd goes with it."

Bon Bon nodded softly. "There aren't too many other legal functions left to herds that we require outside of family structure, and we're fine being Best Friends. Now, excuse us. We have a challenge to get ready for." She began walking forward, clearing a path with her certain strides for Lyra to follow behind on.

Elsewhere, Twilight appeared with a crackle, huffing. She still had so many things to do, and suddenly a challenge to add onto the pile. She heaved a heavy sigh, but got to trotting. One thing at a time, right? The scheduling of that could wait until the evening...

Paul shook with Celestia, his hand grasping her clad hoof. "You've been a kind and generous host. I look forward to further dealings between our people."

Celestia inclined her head slightly. "I as well. I feel there is much we can gain from one another."

Her eyes wandered off towards the sound of galloping hooves. Mayor Mare was charging at them with a flustered expression. Celestia smiled at her, speaking in a calm voice, "What's wrong, Miss Mare?"

Mayor Mare looked between Paul and the princess before pulling out a collar and getting it into position. "Lyra and Bon Bon have issued a challenge to Twilight."

Celestia flinched back with surprise. "What manner of challenge? I was not aware there was any enmity between Twilight and them."

Paul tensed slightly, but allowed the two ponies to speak without interceeding.

Mayor Mare shook her head quickly. "It's about Laud. They're challenging Twilight for the right to have him, quoting some obscure law to do so."

"I see," spoke Celestia, not sounding upset. "Well, then we'll see who wins."

Mayor Mare perked an ear up at the huge form of Celestia. "I... you're not... upset, Your Highness?"

Celestia wobbled a single hoof. "We'll have to see that law stricken from the books. It will only cause trouble. However, such actions take time. The challenge will proceed. We can't claim to be a nation that upholds laws if we ignore the ones that seem inconvenient at the time."

The mayor stiffly nodded to her superior. "I... suppose that's true, Princess."

Paul looked to the mayor. "What ponies are these that are bidding for Laud? Do they have any royal blood?"

Celestia spoke up before Mayor Mare had the chance, "Lyra is of noble blood. Bon Bon is a figure of proven worth to the kingdom. A decorated operative of a covert nature."

Paul raised a hand, fingers flat with the ground level. "How high are we talking? I presume she is not a princess."

Mayor Mare shook her head quickly. "Oh no no no! We only have a few of those. Why, I remember when we only had the one for the longest time, but times have changed."

Celestia smiled gently at the two of them, both far more flustered in appearance than she. "Lyra Heartstrings is a countess, gifted with especially strong magic. Perhaps not Twilight's equal on that field, she did graduate from the same school. She prefers to play music over that of spellcraft, for better or worse."

Paul clapped his hands together. "We can work with that. A countess is higher than his rank, but not overwhelmingly so. Perhaps this is better, on some levels." He looked to Mayor Mare. "Thank you for bringing this news."

Mayor Mare nodded at the tall human. "My pleasure, though I admit I mostly wished to inform the princess. It was her decree that Laud and Twilight be wed, was it not?"

Celestia rolled a hoof. "I made them betrothed. If this challenge is legal and held in good sportsmareship, I have no objection to it. Win or lose, I feel all sides will be made happier for it."

Mayor Mare bowed low to the princess. "I'll be off then, Your Highness."

"Wait." Celestia set a hoof down on Mayor Mare's right shoulder. "Would you officiate the competition? It would be a comfort knowing a competent mare was overseeing the conflict. I don't want either side handling this in poor taste. Let's keep it clean and fair, and to the best side goes the prize."

One of the soldiers that had been standing silently nearby leaned towards another, whispering in English, "Ever wanted two ladies to fight over you?"

"Didn't she just say that one of them is a whole group of them? Not sure how much I'd be up for that."

"You wouldn't want a harem if they were ready and willing?"

The second took a sliding step away. "Your funeral. Besides, they're ponies, and magic ones at that. I'd prefer to keep all my parts where they started."

Paul held up a hand, silencing them. "This will proceed, one way or the other," he spoke to Celestia. "Mayor." He looked to her. "Inform me of the winner as soon as the contest is over."

Mayor Mare's ears perked up. "They haven't decided on the specific time, but you could come and see for yourself. I checked, such challenges are public by default, and they made no arrangements for it to be otherwise. I should imagine a great portion of Ponyville will want to see it for themselves."

Celestia shook her head slowly. "I hope neither side gives under the pressure. Regardless, I must be going. I've been away from Canterlot long enough." She turned towards her own guards. "Is the chariot ready?" She left with them, trusting that things would work out, one way or the other.

Talk of the coming competition became the talk of the town. Ponies of all walks of life wondered out loud what nature of contest it'd be. Would Twilight show them up with fancy magic? Would Bon Bon cook a treat so good, they would have to admit she was a better provider for stallions?

Was Lyra going to play a song or three? She was a unicorn, graduated from Princess Celestia's school, so great feats of magic from her wasn't out of the question at all.

Lyra and Bon Bon are a thing?!

Rarity had no lack of rumors to gossip about, at least, making her spa trips all the more lovely under the caring and attentive hooves of her favored spa ponies. "I tell you, darling, Twilight is a mess. I really can't wait for this to be over..."

Author's Notes:

Fight fight fight! I mean, sorta? We're gonna show off our skills! Celestia insists no typos have been drafted. This was a bonus update as voted on by the patreon.

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50 - Face Off

The ponies of Ponyville were gathered up on bleachers around a wide and sunny patch of grass. Two ovens had been set up on the field. A great bin held an impressive collection of domestic tools and supplies. On one side of that field sat Twilight Sparkle. On the other, her challengers, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon.

Mayor Mare stood between the two opposing sides. "I'm glad you all came to witness this." She nodded her head to the growing crowd. There were ponies and humans both. Mayor Mare wore a translator, but the competitors did not.

A fact Twilight pointed out. "I am making every effort to learn Laud's language. If you aren't going to do that, wearing a translator should be the default minimum, hmm? How else do you plan to converse with your stallion?"

Bon Bon's eyes dropped in a suspicious frown. "I don't see a translator on you, Princess. What makes you excluded if you're going to chastise us?"

Twilight cleared her throat before turning to the crowd. "Hello," she said in slow English, equine accent thick but not impenetrable. "I... will fight... fair. Thank you."

Lyra nudged Bon Bon. "She has a point."

"Not helping!" Bon Bon hurried up to the bin of supplies and dug around. "I didn't bring a translator."

Twilight nodded. "Not a problem. I'm prepared for the needs of my stallion." With a sparkle, two translators appeared and floated over to her competitors, glowing with her magic. "Here you are."

Mayor Mare shook her head. "We've scarcely begun and Twilight has already shown flexibility in the management of her stallion's particular needs."

Bon Bon snatched her translator from the air and crammed it around her neck hastily. "Alright, Lyra, time for us to shine."

Lyra took the collar with her magic, the color shifting from Twilight's to her own before she stepped into it and clasped it in place. "Ready!"

Mayor Mare gave a soft nod, as much to herself as anyone else. "Alright, let's begin with cooking." She gestured left and right at either oven. "Your stallion hungers. Being omnivores, he would like a meal that is nutritionally balanced, with meat, vegetables, and some bread. A dessert with some fruit and perhaps a dash of sweetness would be ideal."

In a cordoned section of the stands, Laud sat. His head rested on his folded hands, his elbows on his legs. He watched the proceedings with a deep and unflinching gravity. He felt someone approaching and glanced over to see Paul settling beside him. The section was supposed to be just for him, but attempting to lecture his superior on the fact felt like folly.

Paul gestured across the grassy field. "I imagine this isn't what you expected." Laud was quiet, so he continued. "It looks like both sides are taking this seriously." Laud remained still. "You will be wed to the winner of this ridiculous, if adorable, conflict."

Laud sat up, his hands lowering to his legs. "If she wanted me, she should have said so. Waiting until she was forced to act does not speak highly of her."

Paul raised a brow at him. "Ah, a word. You favor the lady Sparkle then?"

Laud went quiet a moment, tapping his knee with a pointer. "As you said, Sir, whoever wins this contest will have me. I am ready to do what must be done."

Paul clapped Laud on his stiff shoulder. "There is little need for that formality. This is the most absurd, no, silly, competition held in the most utter seriousness I have had the pleasure of seeing. Accept it as a good thing. If nothing else, this will make it all the more clear that these are not a corrupt or evil people, to settle things with an honest display of domestic skills."

Mayor Mare blew a whistle in a keen single cry, the contest began. Lyra and Bon Bon burst into a gallop, each gathering ingredients. Without talking, they seemed to be gathering what they needed for different dishes, working on different parts of the intended meal.

Lyra grinned as she worked, slicing vegetables with a floating knife. "Shame there isn't time to make some candy. Your candy would win easy."

Bon Bon slapped some meat down on a skillet, shaking it with a hoof as she watched it carefully. "No time to worry about the could-have-beens, Lyra. I know how to cook a dinner." She grabbed a bottle in her mouth and sprinkled some of the spices it held onto the sizzling meat. "Stay focused."

Twilight bowed softly to them, then to Mayor Mare. She turned back to the oven and sat down. Her horn began to glow, softly at first, but with rapidly increasing luminosity. With a bright flash, a beam of eldritch power cascaded over the oven. An egg-timer rang once, and the door popped open, revealing an entire meal's worth of food. "I prefer to take my time cooking, but if my stallion is hungry, we can't keep him waiting."

The crowd murmured with awe at the gross display of magic. There was some nervousness among the humans, but few of them feared being culinaried to death. It was such a mundane use of the unknown, they were left conflicted.

Mayor Mare approached Twilight's oven to sample the result as Lyra twitched. "By Celestia's beard! She's already done?!"

Bon Bon nudged Lyra. "Keep going. This isn't a race. We'll beat her."

Miss Mare sat down and picked up the big hamburger from inside the oven. "Just the right bit of toasted on the outside." She peeled the bun off. "Condiments are applied evenly." She sniffed softly. "Smells delightful, if a bit unusual, but I imagine whatever humans prefer to put in here is not the same as what a pony would." To her credit, she did not ask what that was. Instead she closed it back up and sank her teeth into it and chewed thoughtfully. "Mmm." She swallowed, even that done with dramatic weight.

"Very good, Twilight. I had no idea you were a cook."

Twilight smiled at the mayor. "Oh, I've cooked before, plenty of times. Just because Spike can, and often does, help, doesn't mean I'm unskilled." She gestured at the burger. "I modeled this after my favorite burger from Hay Burger."

"I thought it was familiar..." She set the burger down on a plate then reached for the next part, a big helping of fries. She nibbled on one, making it vanish into a mildly salted memory. "Mmm, delightful, and I see you've prepared a salad." She slipped her hoof into a fork-horse shoe and poked into the salad with it, sampling the colorful mixture of veggies and seeds. "Delightful... But, of course, the true judge must be called in." She set it all back down on the provided plate. "I'll be right back."

She trotted towards Laud with her stately smile.

Paul slapped his back. "You get to try what she's made, bewitched or not. Looks good. Do you mind if I try some?"

Laud forced a little smile. "No harm in that, Sir. I should try it first though."

Bon Bon focused on keeping herself calm. Whatever was happening with Laud at the moment didn't matter. She just had to finish what she was doing with the skill she knew she had. She pretended he didn't exist, or the mayor. They didn't matter, not yet. She peeked in the oven and smiled. She pulled out her tray with a rag in her mouth to shield her from the heat. "Your turn."

Lyra scooted over and threw a sheet into the oven, making use of it without delay. "Can we do it?"

"Wrong thing to be thinking about." Bon Bon set down her half-finished meal, garnishing it carefully. "Do your best."

Mayor Mare set the plate down in Laud's lap. "And now the tasting. What I think as the judge counts, of course, but if it doesn't please the stallion, then there is no purpose, hmm?"

Laud dipped his shoulders forward in as best a bow as he could manage with food in his lap. "Thank you." He took a fry, a safe bet. Mmm, just the right dash of salt, but also something else in there, paprika? It worked well. He decided to give the main course a try next. What meat was in there? He couldn't tell at a glance, especially with the burger closed, and he had less reason than the mayor to pry it open instead of just biting it.

He would not be known as a coward. He took a huge bite and began chewing the mix. The flavors exploded across his tongue, a confusing mess, but he quickly began to discern the individuals. There was some ketchup, a touch of garlic and onion. The slippery sensation of a pickle slice with its savory hint... But that meat. He tried to discern it, chewing it thoughtfully. Ah, seafood. It was clearly seafood. He felt silly for taking so long to figure it out. The other spices worked well with it, bringing out its flavor. He couldn't identify what fish, precisely, but it was some kind of fish.

Mayor Mare nodded softly, watching him. "It has the stallion's approval," she declared with all the enthusiasm as someone managing a point in a sport's event, without even a word from Laud. "Very good, very good." She looked to Paul, close as he was. "Does this appear to be a well-balanced meal?"

Paul waved a few fingers in the direction of the food. "It looks damned fine to me, Mayor. Only one thing."

"Mmm?"

"Didn't you say a dessert should be included? I don't see that."

"Over here!" Twilight waved at them from her oven. Wrapped in her magic was a purple cup that matched her mane. A spoon was lodged inside whatever was inside of it, only its top visible. She floated it over towards them. "It's chilled, so I kept that back until he was ready."

Lyra sagged against Bon Bon. "Twilight graduated top in her class for magic..."

"Focus, Lyra." Bon Bon pushed her plate away. "Done! How's yours coming along?"

Laud held out a hand to receive the cup that lowered into it gently. It was cold to the touch and sweet hints wafted from it.

Mayor Mare cleared her throat. "I will need to sample that, but go ahead, your potential wife-to-be has given it to you directly."

He took hold of the spoon and easily dug out the treat inside that was smooth and soft. It was ice cream with a rainbow of colors. Right in the center of it on the top was a sugared decoration of Twilight's cutie mark. He smiled a little. "That's cute," he admitted. He lowered it so Mayor Mare could see it before his eating likely damaged it.

"Very nice," she easily agreed, even as Paul laughed. "It would have been proper to use your mark, but, given the situation, this is the best that can be done. Go ahead, sample it."

Laud brought up the icecream, still cold, showing no signs of melting, but still soft. It was a cold splash across his tongue, but melted at just the right pace. The colors had different flavors, all of them good, and not battling with one another. It was a perfect little sweet note to end a meal on. He could find no fault in it. "This is good."

Mayor Mare reached up, taking the cup, but then hesitating. "If you wouldn't mind?"

It took Laud a split second to realize what she meant. That cup was chosen for human sensibilities. As an earth pony, Mayor Mare had no way to enjoy it without shoving her face into it and ruining what was left of it unless she ate all of it herself. He quickly grabbed the spoon and got her a portion, popping it into her snout.

"Mmm..." It was clear Mayor Mare also approved of the dessert. "Delightful... I had no idea Twilight knew how to make icecream. I'll have to bother her for some later." She surrendered the cup back to them. "Don't get full now, you have one more meal to help taste."

Author's Notes:

Another bonus chapter! The patreon has spoken! Good thing Paul is there to help take care of the extra food! So, yeah, a chapter of... cooking contest... I am somehow not even upset, and it's not even over!

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51 - Rebuttal

Lyra and Bon Bon shared a glance before turning as one to face Mayor Mare. The crowd quieted, anticipation building before the mayor broke it. "If you're ready." She approached them in an even trot, her eyes on what they had to offer. "Hmm, wherever did you get this?"

Her eyes were on the main attraction of the meal. It was a steak, a large one, still sweating with juices both of its own and added in a dark glaze. She could see flecks of some kind in the sauce, nuts perhaps? Working around the plate were green, purple, and orange garnishes, supporting the primary part instead of leaving it to hang out alone. It was a bonanza that spoke to an omnivore with a preference for meat.

Bon Bon gestured grandly at the plate. "I have researched into their eating preferences. Though they can subsist on almost anything, if need be, a properly tended slice of meat is considered to be an especially fine meal. That isn't to say that they should eat only this. That is why Lyra has prepared supporting dishes to round out the experience and ensure the health of our stallion." She dipped her head. "If you would do us the honor?"

Lyra was quiet for the moment, grinning with nervousness as she watched the both of them, eyes darting back and forth. It was all she could do but to, barely, hold back her giggles.

Mayor Mare sniffed gently. "I confess, my experience with... this is more limited. This does not appear to be fish." She licked her lips, some nervousness showing. "The... donor of this bounty wasn't... sapient... were they?"

Lyra broke, bursting into a high-pitched laugh. "N-no! That would be ridiculous, Mayor."

Bon Bon gestured at the plate with a single hoof. "You gave us the theme a week in advance. We had time to prepare, which included sourcing this fine treat. Please, enjoy yourself."

Mayor Mare nodded softly as she sat before the meal. She raised her forehooves and slipped them into a horseshoe apiece, one with a knife, the other, a fork. "Let us delay no longer. It would be a crime to let such delightful food wait." She carved out a slice, fresh juices flowing free. The interior became pink not far from the surface, but she had no problem slicing the meat.

An array of flashes washed over them. Ponies with large cameras were capturing the moment in a sudden onslaught of photographic evidence. Their mayor, cutting into a steak; how could anyone miss it?

She speared the smaller cut with a fork and dipped it into the sauces decorating the plate. Though she had never tried a steak before, she could not deny the aroma. "Whatever you seasoned this with, it smells... Mmm..." She touched the meat to her tongue, prompting another wave of flashes and astonished murmurs from the crowd.

It vanished into her mouth. Her expression was hard to read, even if one discounted the continued flashes that recorded the event. She chewed softly as the murmurs grew in volume. How could she judge what she had never tasted before? It was strange and new and... She guessed it was good, but what did bad taste like? She didn't know. She shook her head as she swallowed. "I give top marks for presentation, but I must confess I am sorely unqualified to quantify what exactly I am tasting."

She turned to Bon Bon. "What you have prepared tastes wonderful, and new. That is precisely the issue. I have almost nothing to compare this to. It's prepared well, melts on the tongue, and the sauce, mmm, perfection. This will have to rely on his view. Please, take this to your potential stallion." She backed up a step from the plate.

Bon Bon quickly pulled the plate towards herself and had it balanced on her back. "Right away." She trotted towards Laud with the stiff formality of an artist about to be judged; which was exactly what was happening.

Paul eyed the oncoming steak and the vegetables surrounding it. "It's enough to make a man jealous, if she makes those out of habit, but I doubt that's an everyday dish. Do they have cows that wouldn't object to you wanting dinner?"

Laud's eyes rested on the same plate. "We can't say for certain it is a cow." It looked like a steak, but it was heavily sauced and worked, meaning whatever color it may have had was long lost, denying that method of attempting to identify what animal it came from. "Hello, Bon Bon."

Bon Bon dipped her head at Laud. "Hello, Laud, potential stallion. I have prepared a treat for you." She turned to the side, acting as his table, the plate balanced easily on her back. "Sourced from Zebrica, recommended by griffons; I am certain this will be a treat for your senses." She noticed a tic in his face. "It's not zebra," she assured. "They are entirely sapient; which this meat was not."

Laud reached to the side where a napkin was folded around a fork and a knife. Easily he drew his weapons for the battle ahead. Without embellishing the act, he cut a piece and delivered it quickly to his mouth. He was ready to give a bland and utilitarian report, but that failed as soon as he actually tasted what he had eaten. It was like no meat he had tried before. Not in an alien way, just... It was good. It was good in a way he hadn't imagined a pony could achieve.

He gave it the highest compliment he could think of, taking a second slice.

Bon Bon turned to Mayor Mare, the plate rotating but remaining in Laud's reach. "As you can see, the stallion approves."

Mayor Mare nodded softly. "Laud," she called out to him. "If you would, may I have a decision on this versus the burger?"

Laud surrendered his implements to Paul, who was not slow in taking a chance to sample some of that steak. "I will withhold that judgment until I've had the rest of the meal."

"Very well." Mayor Mare turned to Lyra. "It's your turn. Now let's see..." She looked over the second plate. "Mashed potatoes, drizzled with butter..." She sniffed softly. "I smell vegetables inside?"

"It's a pie," explained Lyra. "A mashed potato pie. I made dessert too." She gestured over a pineapple that had been cut and arrayed with strawberries, cherries, and other fruits decorating it like an exotic flower that was parting in the sun. "I'm sure both will please him."

The mayor sampled both quickly, murmuring softly her judgments under her breath before she nodded. "You chose well your ingredients in the pie and arranged them well. Every squishy bite of the potato strikes a crunchy interior of delicious, and nutritious, vegetable. The spices are impossible to ignore, but not overwhelming. Let's have the stallion sample it."

She reached for the plate, but Lyra's magic wrapped around the plate and lifted it away. "Wait! Please... may I present it?"

Mayor Mare hesitated a moment, startled. "I... well, I see no harm in that." She raised a hoof beside her face. "Bon Bon, if you would return please?"

Bon Bon dipped her head and leaned just a little, letting the plate slide off onto the bench beside the two humans. She trotted back towards their side of the arena as Lyra came trotting forward, her plate hovering beside her. As Bon Bon reached the mayor, she smiled, speaking confidently, "Magic's all well and good, but nothing replaces effort when it comes to this."

Her words drew some murmurs of agreement from the human witnesses, but they were not the judges.

Lyra stood before Laud, shaking faintly even as she smiled brightly at him. "H-hey Laud... been a while, huh?"

"It has," agreed Laud a little flatly.

Lyra's eyes darted about, looking at Paul, the crowd, then back at Laud. "Look, um... I'm sorry. This is all my fault." She floated the plate towards him. "This is all because... I was acting like a filly. All I was good for was running. I ran away from being nobility. I ran away from you. I just kept... doing that... I'm... done with that." She gestured at the floating plate. "I made this for you, my stallion, as Countess Lyra Heartstrings. I welcome you to my family, and your family to our world."

She dipped her head, ears folding off to the sides. "If you will have me." A glint of light caught Laud's eyes. A tear had spilled from her face in her impassioned admission of her feelings.

Laud sat up in place, slowly nodding. "Very well, Countess. I accept your bid for my hand." It was no time to offer support. He would do what he came to do. He sampled the shepherd's pie. Was it pony magic that let them keep the vegetables surprisingly firm and crunchy, despite being cooked? It worked well, measuring his bites of the intense flavors. The fruit were a perfect cooling finale to the meal, sweet and simple. There were no tricks there, just a sweet end of an excellent offering. "I approve."

Mayor Mare nodded properly. "Very good, are you ready to render your judgment on the meat dish?"

All eyes were on him, though that was not the first time he'd stood in front of an audience by far. He had to make a decision. Ultimately... "Both were excellent dishes, crafted with skill, but the meat dish was both a step beyond, and created by direct effort, not magic. This may not be 'fair', but it is my judgment to make. I have to err on the side of skill and effort before magic in this case."

The crowd roared in applause. Hooves stamped on the bleacher benches as hands clapped and voices rose in approval or denial of the vote.

Mayor Mare turned to face the competitors as Lyra returned without her plate. "The first round, nine points to Lyra and Bon Bon. Eight to Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight tried to control her disappointment, her eyebrow twitching softly as she forced a smile. "W-well done..."

Lyra dipped her front down low. "You had me very scared, Your Highness. We will not back down, even if you are a princess."

Mayor Mare softly coughed into a hoof. "A cooked meal is only one part of how one provides for their stallion. Your stallion is a warrior. Trained in hoof to hoof and swordsponyship, he stands ready to defend his people. He will not be pleased having a passive mare. The next segment will be a display of talents. Extra points will be rendered if they are harmonious with his and can support and be supported by his duties."

Twilight smiled, tension fleeing her. "He will surely want a statespony at his side, to help him in his management of trade and the byzantine laws of both of our people. What use will a musician and a candy maker be?"

Bon Bon scowled at Twilight. "That's unfair and you know it, Princess. I have... other qualifications that you are entirely aware of that I am not at liberty to go into."

Lyra pointed at Bon Bon. "Who do you think arranged that steak?! Bon Bon knows how to trade and deal with all kinds of crea--"

Mayor Mare raised a hoof for silence and both sides quieted instantly. "This will not be a shouting contest. You will each have a chance to present your case and display your abilities. You will not speak of the other side. This is a chance to demonstrate yourself, not vilify or demean the competition." She cleared her throat softly. "Are both sides ready to present themselves?"

Twilight nodded firmly, as did Bon Bon. Lyra gave more of a rapid bobbing of her head.

"Very good. We will begin with Lyra Heartstrings, then it will be Twilight Sparkle, and lastly Bon Bon. When you are ready to begin..."

Author's Notes:

Round 1, complete! Did you think that was the only contest? Nope! Was Laud fair in his judgment?

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52 - Self-Promotion

Lyra took her place in front of a podium that had been set up. It was supposed to be where the mayor would stand, and usually was, but that round needed the focus to be on the competing mares. She smiled at the crowd as best she could. There sure were a lot of them, pony and human alike.

She was a performer, so big crowds weren't entirely a new thing. Still, they usually didn't weigh in on who you were allowed to marry or not. "Hello all of you. If I am selected--" she directed a hoof at herself for emphasis. "--I promise to bring an element that I think is otherwise missing from this. I have a genuine wish to be Laud's friend. I want to learn more about his people, and his ways. I want to show him Equestria's wonders. I will be happiest when we are working as one another's guides."

She tilted her head a little. "Besides that, my music is a solid addition to any situation." With that cue given, her lyre appeared from nowhere in particular over her head and began to play soft and inspiring music to back up her words. "As soft or loud as the circumstances demand, with the right tempo and style to add emphasis or smooth edges." She waved a hoof up at it and it vanished in a puff. "Or when silence is the order of the day." She placed a hoof back at her chest. "Though I am a skilled spellcaster, graduated from the top school in the country, I know that magic doesn't solve everything, and I prefer to learn how to do something 'right', rather than 'easy'."

Twilight frowned at that part. Though her name hadn't been invoked directly, she couldn't help but feel she was being targeted. Though she bristled, she kept herself quiet, watching Lyra intently.

"Oh!" She smiled brilliantly. "I know how to have fun! Me and Bonnie have explored Equestria and even beyond it at times, seeing the sights, meeting all kinds of creatures, and experiencing life. That life experience will help me with adjusting to Laud's exotic background." She turned to face Laud directly, forgetting the rest of the crowd. "Choose me and I will take care of you, not as some matronly mare, but as a caring friend. Oh!" She jumped, remembering another thing. "You'll also join my house, and it's full of other intelligent ponies who know their way around the noble circles." Her words were echoed as she spoke, her translator still worn. First the horse noises, then in the flat English the humans could understand.

"But first! I'm going to learn this language." She tapped at her translator. "This is a fashion accessory I can do without. Besides, not knowing your bud's language? I felt super embarrassed when it was brought up. Let's fix that, even if you don't pick me. You went through that much effort for us, a real friend shouldn't be shy about returning the favor."

She dipped her head, ears rolled flat. "Thank you, all of you." She had more time, but had run out of things to say. Though she was sure she'd think of more things later, it wasn't worth looking, and feeling, silly up on the podium.

As she stepped down, Mayor Mare replaced her. "Very good. Technically, speaking of Bon Bon is against the letter of the rules, but since you are on the same side, I see little harm in mentioning her. Next will be Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Bon Bon nudged her marefriend gently. "You didn't mention you were one of the first ponies to try to reach out to him."

Lyra lifted her shoulders. "Yeah, oh well. I did my best. You can bring it up when it's your turn."

The crowd murmured with soft discussion, weighing the quality of Lyra's speech. Laud's eyes were on the podium, watching intently, but not speaking. Paul was happy to speak for him, "she's very earnest. You can do worse than the 'girl next door' for an option, though this one comes with a noble title."

He rolled a hand lightly in Lyra's direction. "She is a spellcaster, of course, but at least she has temperance, unlike some of them. Other than her use of her instrument, of course."

Twilight took the podium, clearing her throat before she began in English, slow and methodical, "I am a princess. This means many things." Soft murmurs rose louder.

Pinkie, not being the subtle sort, pulled out a megaphone. "We can't understand you, Twilight!" she boomed, her equine voice echoing with its volume.

Twilight paused a moment, peering at Pinkie who was waving at her excitedly. "Yes..." she pulled free a collar from her pocket and slid it on, her magic securing it and turning it on. "As I was saying." She slipped back to the equine tongue, letting the collar speak the English for her. "I am a Princess. Though I was not born with the title, it is now mine to live up to. This means that I have become educated in statecraft and the fine arts needed to be an effective ruler."

She nodded towards Laud as she spoke, "Laud will be the one to stand guard over the entire world. This is no small position. It will involve challenges that will tax him, or anyone, heavily, but I am ready to shoulder some of that burden." She raised a hoof and a book appeared, falling onto it. "I've already begun studying the laws and customs of their empire to better serve this task. I will also provide advice and counsel in how to incorporate it harmoniously with Equestrian laws." She raised her other hoof, another book falling onto it. She swayed left and right, emphasizing the art of balancing. "This is a challenge that will shape the futures of both of our people, and I will see it done right."

Twilight set the books down and rose up, standing on two legs, her forehooves resting lightly on the podium. She was not leaning against it, balancing in place as a human might. "Despite our differing anatomies, I believe that we all want the same basic things. To live, thrive, and find fulfillment in our varied ways. I've acted as diplomat between wildly varying races before, from griffons to dragons to hippogriffs and beyond. Even the isolationist yaks have been brought to the table. What is this if not another related challenge?"

She reached out one hoof over the podium. "I offer my hoof to our human visitors. As the princess of friendship, I stand ready to welcome them to Equestria, to learn and grow with us."

Paul shook his head slowly as he popped a fried sliver of potato in his mouth. "Princess of friendship, still gets me."

Laud's brow twitched. Was Paul just there to test him? "Focus," he harshly whispered. "Let them speak without interruptions."

Twilight curled the same hoof around to indicate her chest. "This speaks nothing to my other talents. Magic is a... delicate topic among our human visitors, but to pretend it isn't there would be a disservice. Even were I to swear it off for his sake, the rest of the world would not. I am an actively practicing wizard, and will help my stallion understand and react to arcane threats. Be it world-dominating attempts, terrible creatures, or simply a magic-borne illness. Whatever the case, he is safer in my presence, and we will face them, together."

She waved up into the bleachers, where her friends all sat in a row. "Though they will not marry him with me, legally, they are my best friends, and will become his. The former bearers of the Elements of Harmony are no small alliance to have."

Rarity nudged Applejack lightly. "If she had asked, I might have agreed. As... strange as he can be, he really is a noble, and a gentlepony. I could do far worse."

Applejack hiked a brow at her friend. "Ah huh... Ya do know that'd mean you were hitched with Twilight too, right?"

"I could do far worse," repeated Rarity with a refined smile. "Poor mare could do with my calming presence."

Mayor Mare cleared her throat and Twilight got the clue. "Laud, select me. We will fight for the good of our people, together." She dipped her head, her wings slipping out in the motion before they pulled back in tight and she trotted from the podium, falling back to all fours.

"We will conclude with Bon Bon." She nodded towards the last of the competitors and clopped politely as Bon Bon stepped up onto the podium.

"Hello. Humans, ponies, and others. I am a mare of many talents." Her voice was calm and even. She rose up on two legs as Twilight had done, balancing easily. "I am proficient in a number of fighting styles, a few of which Laud experienced directly. I have crossed hooves with him. We spilled one another's blood." The crowd murmured, some confusion rising with the tact Bon Bon was taking. "And I feel I have gained a better understanding of him through it. I know he understands my strength." She drove her forehooves together. "He is charged with protecting us."

She turned to the side. "Though we hope this will be a matter of peace and negotiation, this is an uncertain world in an even more uncertain universe. Conflict will come that honeyed words alone will not resolve." She suddenly thrust a hoof at Laud. "I will fight for and with you when those times come. I was the only one to get his full measure before considering accepting him. This is not a time for naivety. The entire world depends on how we act, and that deserves a gravity and consideration equalling it."

Bon Bon slammed her hooves onto the podium, her bright bi-color mane jiggling with the motion in an adorable way that didn't match her serious words. "Besides being a chef, I know how to haggle, how to forge contacts, and how to get things done." She waved at the remains of the steak, largely eaten by Paul. "That was not sourced in Equestria, as if a pony would stock it. Even its preparation required a willingness to step outside of one's comfort zones. This marriage, whomever is chosen, will not be comfortable."

Her serious expression softened. "This is why I have a partner. She was one of the first ponies to trot up to him, eyes shining with curiosity. We are a team, and a fine one I dare say. She is the softness, and I am the edge. We will service our stallion well and see that his dreams are fulfilled. The unknown will come to us, and we will face it; with curiosity, care, and diligence." She turned to face Laud. "You know my strength. Take it for your own. I will not hide behind you. We will fight as warriors, side-by-side."

Lyra waved frantically, miming popping something into her snout, chewing, and rubbing her belly with a big grin.

"As Lyra is trying to remind me, I also make the best candies this side of Canterlot. While a fine perk, I don't believe the choice to marry should be made on the quality of a mare's candies. Not that it hurts!" She coiled on herself and pulled out a small wrapped candy just like the ones on her cutie mark. "Sweet and sour, just like some of my most popular creations. I promise to be a well-rounded and ready mare for my stallion, to face the challenges ahead without flinching."

She gestured in the direction of her store. "Of course, there is the matter that I have experience with operating a business. I will lend my knowledge and view with my stallion's position. We will need to oversee the economy of the exchange between humans and ponykind, and my skills will be put to the test for his benefit."

"I am ready for it." Bon Bon bowed with all the formality that any of the human soldiers had displayed, echoing the motion quite well before she fell to all fours and trotted free of the podium.

Author's Notes:

What's this, all three in one chapter? Did you see that coming? Is this a typo?

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53 - I Wanna Get Physical

Mayor Mare scribbled busily at the podium, a quill held in her mouth as her head wagged about, making the marks of her deliberation. "Both sides have made compelling arguments. It's good to see that they both have their eyes on the prize, and are here for good reasons." She brought her quill down, tapping its edge firmly.

"Both made claims of support and harmony." She set down her quill. "Twilight's was more direct. It's difficult to argue statecraft isn't on the nose, as it were." Her eyes swept over the assembled crowd, their distant murmurs the backdrop of her thoughts. "We have pulled into a draw."

She raised a hoof, slowly pointing at Twilight, then Lyra and Bon Bon. "It all comes down to the third, and final, competition. But, that will wait. Thirty minute break begins now." She tapped the same hoof against the podium. "Not all of us enjoyed a home-cooked lunch. Refreshments will be available, provided by the kind ponies at Sugarcube Corner."

"That's me!" came the excited cry of Pinkie as she vanished in a pink puff to rapidly set out the tables of snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Lyra waved lightly at Twilight. "Nice speech. You had, like, a million flashcards I bet, right?"

Twilight raised a brow as she stood up. "Are you making fun of my study methods?"

"No! No... I just remember it." She smiled gently, turning for the food tables. "You're cute when you study. That never worked for me."

Bon Bon swatted Lyra, spurring the mare into motion before she looked to Twilight. "I'm fairly sure Lyra is not 'in' this. The more we do, the more sure I am..."

Twilight approached cautiously. "She's conceding?"

Bon Bon shook her head. "I didn't say that. I'm saying she doesn't see you as an enemy, and she doesn't see Laud as a prize. We're friends having... an especially spirited debate. Don't hold this against her. It'll break her little heart if you hold a grudge, whichever way this ends."

Twilight shook her head slowly. "This is... We're talking about the future of the entire world, even beyond Equestria itself. This is not just a random debate of philosophies."

"You don't need to remind me of that," assured Bon Bon, gesturing to herself. "Also, you know I'd have done better if I was allowed to start discussing state secrets, Miss Princess."

Twilight's lips twitched in a coy smile. "Perhaps. Thank you for refraining from doing so... Let's not stoop to cheating."

Bon Bon suddenly poked Twilight dead in the center of her chest. "Like a certain princess making a big showy display of learning his language and chastising us for not having these collars already on?"

Twilight had the shame to color faintly, her underhoofed technique pointed out. "Sorry... Look, this is what Princess Celestia trusted me to get done. I don't want to disappoint her, or Equestria as a whole! This is my first country-wide action as a princess that could change everything. Of course I'm taking it seriously..."

Bon Bon set her hoof on her chest. "Do you think I would be here if I thought I couldn't handle the responsibility? This would hardly be my first assignment." She glanced off at Lyra, who was already snacking and chatting with other ponies. "I'll be handling the hard parts. She just wants to be with him, as ultimate friends."

Twilight was mid-step, but froze. "I... wait." She turned to face Bon Bon. "Wait."

"Hmm?"

"You and her are best friends."

Bon Bon's teeth clenched almost without her awareness. "And?"

"And... I'm sorry." Twilight resumed her walk. "I should have noticed. Some friendship princess. This must be horrible for you."

"What?!" Bon Bon rushed to keep up with Twilight. "What are you implying?"

"She's ready to install somepony else in the position you've held dear for years." Twilight glanced aside at Bon Bon. "But you're such a good friend, you're trying to help her." Her smile spread, thin as it was.

Bon Bon huffed indignantly. "Don't make me out as some kind of tragic hero." She thumped the ground with an angry step. "If we win this, we'll be legally recognized as the best friends two mares can be."

Suddenly the two mares were pulled together, Pinkie standing between them, a foreleg around either. "Gee, if only you could just be one big herd instead of two itty bitty fighting ones. That would sure be a lot easier."

"Unacceptable." Laud approached, his voice clear and surety in his steps. "You have made yourselves clear, but I am not a reward to be given away." He stopped in front of the three ponies, his eyes moving from one to the next. "I am making my own decision. If you will not allow me that, then I will know without doubt where we stand."

Twilight tilted her head faintly at him. "Hello, Laud. What's wrong?"

Bon Bon nodded in agreement with the question. "You look upset."

Laud brought his hands together slowly, fingers weaving. "I will marry Twilight, it is the most intelligent political move. We understand and respect one another, and I predict little friction between us. It may even deepen as we get to learn more of each other. No matter how--"

Bon Bon bristled furiously. "But--"

"--No matter," continued Laud. "--how we phrase this, polygamy is not a good look to start with." He lowered, dropping to a knee to be more on their level. "But what is not said is not heard. If Lyra wants to pursue me, in private, and Twilight is not offended, then I will allow her that."

Twilight softly coughed into a hoof. "If Rarity heard any of this, she'd swoon. This is sounding right out of a novel she'd read."

Pinkie shrugged her shoulders. "Or you can be a super secret herd, that works too." She flashed a bright grin at Laud. "Good luck whichever you do, alright?" She bounced off, unbothered by the idea proposed.

Bon Bon stood tall and frozen a moment, but it was faltering. When Laud fixed her with his sure gaze, she grunted and fell to her haunches. "That's your decision then?"

"It is." He crossed his arms across his front.

Bon Bon raised a hoof as if to pinch at the bridge of her nose, though it was more of a rubbing. "You're really a stubborn thing... One of the things I respect." She set the hoof down and let out a slow breath. "Alright... alright. I won't force a pony to marry me... No matter how much I want Lyra to be happy, that... is a step too far."

With a soft thud, Laud slapped a hand down on one of Bon Bon's shoulders. "You fought well and hard. You've gained my respect today, even if I was scandalized. You are a warrior, in battle of any kind. Lyra is fortunate to have you at her side."

As if summoned by her name, Lyra trotted towards the group. "Hey, you're supposed to be getting a snack, people. Well, maybe not Laud, you already ate, but the rest of... hey, what's going on?" Her eyes darted between Laud and Bon Bon and took in his stance, the hand, Bon Bon's look. "Is he proposing?!"

Bon Bon snorted softly, though she was smiling. "Yes, but not the sort you were hoping for." She turned to Lyra. "We're conceding this match."

"What? I mean... alright... why?" She sank to her haunches, her plate of food lowering in her magic to rest on the grass. "Did I do something wrong?"

Twilight dipped her head towards Lyra. "I'm sorry, for being a poor sport. If... you want to be friends with Laud, please, I won't stand in the way." She softly coughed into a hoof. "I am not... emotionally prepared to speak on other things, nor do I think you are."

Lyra began to color rapidly, catching the implications easily. "Y-yeah, I get that... So... Really? We're giving up."

Bon Bon pointed to Laud. "He made a decision. I... will not fall back on any law that says a stallion's word is to be ignored in cases like this. That... is a step too far. I..." She glanced up at him. "I respect him, and that means not forcing this. Those two statements cannot exist together."

Laud nodded as he rose up to his full height. "Thank you, Bon Bon. Lyra, do you understand and agree?"

Lyra threw up her hooves. "Well, if I didn't, I'd be the only one, and that would be super awkward."

Laud put a hand gently on her head, his fingers rubbing through her mane around her horn. "But do you agree, whether or not you will go along with it?"

Lyra reached up and put her hooves on his arm, holding it. "Are you upset at me? I could have... stopped this before it started."

Laud continued the soft petting. "It was a failure, but one you have recognized, and will avoid in the future. It is also done. No, I'm not upset with you. Are you in agreement?"

Lyra let her hooves slide off of his arms and return to the ground. "Then I want to be friends. We can, uh... consider... other things later." She perked an ear at Twilight. "So, uh... you're alright with this?"

"The idea of royal consorts entertaining a paramour on the side is not entirely unknown." Twilight's eyes darted skywards and away. "Not that I thought I would be... living it... Regardless! If we are in agreement?"

Mayor Mare approached at a trot. "I hope everypony is minding themselves here. This isn't a chance for any fighting between the proper events."

Laud ran his hand in an arc across all three potential wives. "I have made a choice."

Mayor Mare blinked with obvious confusion. "I hadn't asked for one in the last round. Who did you favor?"

Laud moved in two easy steps to be beside Twilight. "She will become my wife and we will do our people proud. We will face the challenges that threaten their security together."

Mayor Mare's ears flipped back against her face. "I... see." Her eyes darted to Lyra and Bon Bon. "This is most irregular, and I've been reading up on the process in preparation for my duty today. Do you contest this? It is well within your right to do so."

Lyra shook her head quickly. Bon Bon dipped her head in a more proper fashion. "We yield to his wishes. We will remain available, as friends."

Twilight stepped towards the couple. "I accept this decision." Her eyes were on them squarely. "I wish to thank them, both of you. You... helped clarify a lot of things for me." She raised a hoof to her chest. "Let's do our best, all of us. I feel increasingly certain that we will see this through, with friends and family close at hoof. With friends like these, we can overcome any challenge that may appear."

Lyra quirked a smile. "Spoken like a true princess of friendship." She suddenly threw her arms around Twilight, pulling the princess closer. "Come over here!" She buried her face into Twilight's neck even as the alicorn's wings shot out. "You better take care of him. He likes to act all big and tough but he has feelings too."

Bon Bon threw a leg over Lyra, pulling her away from the startled Twilight. "As do you. I'm going to make you a special treat when we get home."

Lyra gasped with a radiant smile. "You don't mean?!"

"I do," confirmed Bon Bon, her brows wagging suggestively.

Lyra squealed as she ran off, departing the conversation in a flurry of hooves.

Laud watched after her before he looked back at Bon Bon. "Did I just watch a... solicitation?"

Bon Bon's brows fell before her eyes rolled. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm going to make her a candy I know she loves and I don't make very often. It takes forever, but I say she's earned it today."

Author's Notes:

And contest... aborted. I feel certain some of you will be happy, and some of you... less so.

How did I handle this arc? Rip me to shreds in the comments below.

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54 - Conclusion

Mayor Mare waved up into the stands before turning to a pony beside her and whispering something in her ear. The pony dashed off as Mayor Mare trotted on towards Paul. She gestured with a toss of her head for him to come with her and he rose to do that even as Laud returned to his place.

Soon she had her assembled stallions, neither of which was a stallion. "Gentlecreatures, I require your assistance," spoke the mayor. She turned to Spike, who had come running when the other pony had told him she wanted to talk to him. "Send this to Celestia, and expect a speedy reply." She produced a scroll towards him.

He saluted sharply before giving a little puff of flames, consuming the scroll into the raw stuff of magic that sped away towards Canterlot.

Paul raised a brow at the sight of it. "Curious. I hadn't known dragons were capable of magic. Should I be concerned?"

Spike snorted softly at that. "That's, like, the only trick I have. Unless you're scared of getting too much mail, you're pretty safe."

Mayor Mare nodded towards Paul. "The situation has... degraded. I have been encharged with seeing this competition through to the end, with grace and poise. The princess of friendship is living up to her title and the entire thing was called off. Lyra and Bon Bon surrendered to her."

She raised a hoof to forestall replies. "It sends bad signals. For one, it was Laud that called for it, not Twilight. Were it Twilight, that would be one less concern, but it would still be a problem. Secondly, it paints the idea that princesses simply cannot be challenged, not successfully. That is not true, but it will create the idea, and it is a poor one." She brought the hoof down, frowning. "Lastly, it is trampling on the law, as old as it may be. It has not been changed, even if I feel it will be. This is--"

"--Enough." Paul crossed his arms. "I understand what you're saying."

"I don't." Spike rolled his hand in the air. "What's the big deal?"

Paul extended a lone finger towards the mayor. "She's sharper than I gave her credit for." Mayor Mare looked scandalized, but he continued, "She's protecting her culture in the face of a technologically superior one. It's an uphill battle, but it's waged from the start, or you just accept being rolled over."

Spike's reply was cut off by puffed out cheeks. Spilling out in a burst of flames and magic, a scroll appeared hovering in the air. Mayor Mare snatched it in her teeth and unfurled it with a toss of her head. Her eyes swept over it rapidly, taking it in. "Clever..."

Paul hiked a brow. "What is the princess suggesting?"

Mayor Mare rolled the scroll back up tight. "There is a law covering this, even more arcane. Will Laud react too poorly if I insist the competition be concluded?"

Paul lifted his shoulders. "He may, but I will keep his ass on the bench. He is young yet, this is what experienced superiors are for. What's the plan?"

Mayor Mare tucked the scroll away in the pocket that ponies had. "The competition concludes, and I declare the winners, of course. Everyone will get what they want, in a manner of speaking." She glanced at her podium, then up at the restless crowd. "Take your position by Laud then, please. Spike, you're free to return to your friends. Thank you both."

Spike crossed his little arms. "Really? I was just called to send some mail?" Despite his complaint, he departed without delay, but with a bit of grumbling.

The contestants had already taken their places, expecting the competition to be called off once Mayor Mare took her spot.

Paul sat beside Laud, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes, things do not go the way we planned," he started.

"What were you speaking to the mayor about?" asked Laud with immediate suspicion.

"Local customs." His hand tightened. "They will not be rolled as the Shantor were, not without a fight. I applaud you on taking a stand with something so personal, but they aren't going to let that be a reason to start showing their brightly-colored bellies to us."

"Ladies and gentlecolts," spoke Mayor Mare once she took her spot, though it took a few minutes before she did so, to all the creatures gathered. "I apologize for the delay. The stallion has insisted on the end of the competition, and the mares accepted, which defaults the decision to the overseeing judge." She raised a hoof to point at herself. "And that would be me. I have declared neither side worthy of taking the stallion if they are willing to let his decisions overrule their own."

Surprised gasps and conversation swept through the audience. Twilight's wings shot out to either side. "This isn't what we agreed on!" she sputtered in a half-shout.

Lyra bounced up to her hooves. "Yeah! What's the deal?"

Bon Bon scowled at the mayor, but no specific words left her snout but a low growl that she largely kept to herself.

Mayor Mare gestured downwards in placating motions. "Quiet, quiet please... If the mares do not accept my decision, then the competition will continue. I trust that is acceptable?" She looked towards Twilight first. Twilight nodded quickly, teeth clenched. Mayor Mare looked back towards Lyra and Bon Bon. They were quick to nod.

Lyra pointed accusingly at the mayor as her lyre played a few angry notes, hovering over her head. "I don't know what you're up to, Mayor, but cut it out!"

Mayor Mare brought up a hoof to cough into it once. "Now then, the last competition. Let us find who would be best suited for our stallion."

Rarity shook her head from up in the bleachers. "This has taken a turn... I wonder what Laud had insisted on, besides them ceasing this competition."

Applejack shrugged. "We may never know, least not until this whole thing's over and we can grill Twi about it."

Rainbow Dash clopped her hooves. "You can bet I'll be doing that. What the hay are they even doing?"

Spike flopped back into his seat with a huff, out of breath from his dash. "She checked with Celestia before she did that." He pointed down at Mayor Mare. "Paul too, the human in charge. Did I miss anything?"

Fluttershy pointed. "Looks like they're starting the last competition."

Mayor Mare unfurled a new scroll that fell out into two copies of the same thing. "Despite hectic days, there are always things that need doing. Still, as the mare or mares of the house, it is expected that you get them done. This competition is simple, take your list of chores and complete them. For judging purposes, a balloon has been graciously lent to us."

Summoned by her words, a round balloon descended into view, Pinkie waving excitedly from its basket. "All aboard!"

As the mayor took her position with Pinkie, Twilight floated over her list, and Lyra grabbed the other. Both sides quickly scanned down it with studious frowns.

The balloon began to lift back into he air as the mayor pulled out a megaphone. "Are both sides ready?" All three mares nodded, taking ready stances. "Go!"

They took off in a gallop, racing to get started. Bon Bon jumped over a fence in the way, sliding under some hanging clothes before bouncing back up to leap over the opposing fence, taking a bold shortcut through some pony's backyard. Lyra took off in another direction, going for an entirely different item from the list.

Twilight was by herself, but she had magic on her side. When she could see her target, she vanished and appeared beside it, claiming a bunch of flowers first. "Check," she proudly declared to herself as she turned for the next prize.

Lyra skidded to a halt just in front of the school, poking her head inside. "Is my foal ready?" she asked, not having been aware she had a foal, but the instructions said to pick them up from school, so there she was.

Cheerilee smiled. "Of course, here you are." With a toss, she sent a small bag of flour with a smiling face drawn on it flying towards Lyra.

Lyra squeaked as she grabbed the bag from the air in her magic, bringing it to a gentle stop. "Be more careful with foals. You could bruise the little, um colt?" She set the bag on her back and trotted free of the school. "Let's get you home."

Mayor Mare floated over everything, taking notes of the tactics that each employed as they ran around the town in wild patterns, bouncing from chore to chore. "Mmm"

"I know, isn't it amazing?" Pinkie leaned over the side of the basket, peering down at them all. "I don't think I've seen Twilight run that much since the Running of the Leaves, and that's not even counting when she goes pop pop pop like that."

"She has to." Mayor Mare made a scribble with the quill in her mouth. "Two ponies have a strong advantage in getting chores done compared to one, even a magical one like Twilight."

Pinkie turned an ear towards the mayor. "You have a secret. I can smell it!"

Mayor Mare smiled silently.

"Oh, c'mon! Share! We're up in a balloon, promise I won't tell anypony!" Pinkie brought her hooves together in a pleading motion. "Pretty please with all the sugar in Sugarcube Corner piled on top?"

"It's nothing too dramatic." Mayor Mare peeked down at them. "I just made a few little edits to the chore list."

Twilight pulled the chore list a little higher, another defeated. "Get a collection of candies, preferably mildly sour and blue in color." She blinked softly. There was one candy shop in town... "But..."

Bon Bon crossed off another chore from the list with a snort of triumph. "Borrow a book on local magic for your stallion to study." But there was only one pony that tended to have such books, especially to borrow. "Well..."

Mayor Mare grinned at the two ponies pausing. "I think they've reached my revisions."

"What did you put on them?" Pinkie leaned dangerously over the edge. "What's gonna happen?! The excitement is too much!"

The three competitors came together, wandering the town until they found one another. Twilight floated her list forward. "I need candies!"

"I'll trade you for a book," agreed Bon Bon.

Lyra tilted her head. "What kind of candy?"

Twilight made little circles in the air with her hooves close together. "Blue, sour, not too sour? What kind of book?"

Lyra dashed off, leaving Bon Bon behind. Bon Bon shook her had. "A magic book, preferably something that goes over the basics."

"Star Swirl's "So You're Wondering What That Thing on Your Head Is" would be perfect!" Twilight's horn glimmered as a book materialized. "Here you are." Bon Bon advanced to take it in her mouth, but it pulled away in the sparkling magic. "You get it when I get my candy, at the same time."

Bon Bon sat on her haunches. "Very well..." Her eyes slid over towards the floating list. "Making good progress?"

Twilight glanced over at Bon Bon's tucked up scroll, taking note of its making cross-outs. "As are you?"

The two met eyes a tense moment before they suddenly broke into laughter. Bon Bon shrugged softly. "We sure got back into the competition quickly, didn't we?"

Twilight shook her head. "Maybe too quickly. No hard feelings, alright?"

"Alright." Bon Bon nodded. "That doesn't mean I'm not trying to win." She glanced off as Lyra came into view, racing towards them. "Let the best mares win."

"Alr--hey!" Twilight dropped the book as she grabbed the candies from Lyra's magic just as the other unicorn got close enough to easily do so. "Bye!" She vanished.

Lyra barely caught the book in her magic before it struck the ground. "You can tell she's distracted, dropping a book like that. What's next on the list?"

Author's Notes:

The competition resumes, for the pride of Equestria. Is Mayor Mare being too hamfisted? She can't help it, that's the only fist a pony can make. Forgive her and whatever typos resulted from her hasty revision of the chore list.

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55 - I Win!

As they floated over the town, watching the three ponies dart from place to place in a frantic rush to complete their lists, Pinkie leaned towards the mayor. "Was that the only change you made?"

"Perhaps," she replied edgily. "You have the best seat in the house. Why don't you just enjoy the show?"

Pinkie stuck out her tongue, but did just that, leaning over the side for a good view of the action.

"Last one," declared Twilight with a smile. "Then this contest will be over and we can get back to our lives." It wasn't even a complicated thing. She just had to buy a cherry, a single cherry. She took off towards the fruit stands, wishing she had the time to check the list fully before she ran off. It wasn't like she hadn't been past the fruit stands a few times.

When she arrived, she saw Lyra and Bon Bon were already there, arguing with the stallion that ran the booth. There were no cherries in sight.

Bon Bon's voice had become a harsh shriek, changing as it did once in a while. "What do you mean?! Go back there--" she thrust a hoof at the barrels behind the stallion. "--and get us a cherry!"

He shook his head. "Now why w-- Oh." He seemed to perk when he saw Twilight approaching. "Alright, yeah." He turned around and slapped the top of the barrel with a hoof. It flipped and he got out a single cherry, placing it on the counter. "Only one left."

Bon Bon looked aside at Twilight, then him. She waved a hoof between the two, her mouth moving without words a moment. "For her you pull out the cherry?! We could have won this contest already and this stallion's playing favorites."

Lyra focused on the cherry, wrapping it in her magic and lifting it. "I'll take this."

The color of the cherry distorted as Twilight's magic competed for it. "I'll pay double for it."

"Triple!" quickly blurt out Bon Bon, slamming a hoof beside the desired fruit.

The salespony just smiled. It would be a good day for him. "Ladies, kindly don't bust the fruit before you finish buying it."

The cherry dropped gently to the counter surface, magic withdrawing from it. Bon Bon moved in front of Twilight. "We were here first, you saw it! If you have any honor, you'll let us have the dang thing."

Twilight pointed at the small red contention. "This stand belongs to that stallion, and he seems to think we have an equal bid on it. Besides, didn't you want to lose?"

Bon Bon colored, stomping the ground. "What kind of friendship princess are you?!"

Twilight recoiled, a hoof raising to her chest as her wings fluttered. "You take that back!"

"I will not!" She advanced, her face moving dangerously close to Twilight's.

Lyra waved a hoof softly. "If we keep fighting, our stallion never gets the cherry for his pie."

"Be quiet, Lyra, Twilight needs a talking to." Bon Bon huffed, glaring at Twilight.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "As if I should just roll over because you asked nicely. I may be the princess of friendship, but that isn't the same as the princess of pushovers."

"I was here first!" cried Bon Bon, flailing a hoof in Twilight's direction

"Mares, we really don't have to fight about this..." complained Lyra in a soft tone. "C'mon..."

Twilight glanced up at the rebellious fruit. "Why don't we play a game for it?"

Bon Bon sat down, her glare unrelenting. "A game in our game? Sure, why not, since you just won't accept that I was here first." She clopped her hooves together. "Since you're challenging, I get to name the game."

Lyra darted between them. "I say we play the 'We're actually friends so maybe we should just not fight over a cherry' game. Oh, look at that, I'm already winning! Ha ha!" Her laugh was forced and hysterical to match her broad grin.

Twilight hiked a brow at Lyra. "Lyra, what are you even suggesting?"

Bon Bon rolled a hoof in agreement. "Yes, what are you even saying? There's only one cherry and we both need it."

Lyra pointed at the fruit of contention. "There's only one cherry, right?" The other two nodded. "But there's only one stallion, right?" They nodded again. "So why fight?" They both looked confused. "We both want it for the same reason for the same stallion, why not just put that cherry on the one pie he'll get. Does it matter who gives it to him so long as he gets a pie with a cherry on top?"

Both the argumentative mares sank thoughtfully, muttering thoughts to themselves. Twilight was the first to speak up, "So what would that mean, for the contest?"

Lyra pointed at Twilight. "It means we put aside our differences?"

Twilight shook her head. "Then who gets Laud? We tried just stopping and they didn't allow that."

Bon Bon sat up suddenly. "You don't mean?" She clapped her hooves down on Lyra's shoulders. "You mad mare! You don't mean!?"

Lyra's ears pinned against her head. "Maybe? I mean... maybe? Ever wanted to marry a princess?"

Twilight flopped forward, faceplanting right where she had been sitting. A hysterical laugh bubbled free of her. "Of course... If we're... oh my..."

From above Pinkie peered at the arguing ponies with a set of binoculars. "What are they saying? They've been arguing over that cherry for a while."

"I can hazard a guess." Mayor Mare watched them without such help, smiling as she did so. "It remains to be seen if this ends the way I was hoping it would. It's up to them now. Any of them could walk away with the cherry and victory."

"Any?"

"Oh, yes, possibly all three of them, or any one of them." She smiled confidently. "Whomever does will be wed shortly to that strange alien. I don't envy them, to be perfectly frank. If I ever find a special somepony, I would rather they have hooves, nice... strong hooves... They would hold me close and--" She trailed off quite abruptly, realizing she was gushing at Pinkie about a theoretical romantic interest. "Hm, nevermind that."

Pinkie tilted her head. "He's alright, not really my type though." She tapped at her chin. "Way too 'everything is so serious!' for me. Might be a good match for misses 'let's make a list for everything' down there." She pointed at Twilight. "They can freak out together." She burst into airy giggles. "I'd like to see that, actually. Go Twilight!"

Bon Bon offered a hoof to the downed princess. "It's nuts, but... technically an option."

Twilight rose with her help, sitting up with a slow cleansing breath. "This has been some day... Look, I already peered in the mirror and had these discussions. I was ready this morning to be married, for the good of Equestria." She folded one hoof across her front. "I'm not being asked to do anything I don't want to do. He is honorable, possibly to a fault. If I don't want him to touch me, he never will, but we can save Equestria by putting up a united front."

Lyra bobbed her head. "But you're busy, Twilight. You have, you know, princess stuff. I want to just be his friend. He's... right out of my filly dreams." She colored dark. "I used to dream of some strong, brave, battle-ready stallion sweeping me right off my hooves, and here he came, right from the stars!" She made a grand gesture across the sky to emphasize it.

Bon Bon threw a foreleg over Lyra and pulled the mare close. "And I just have to keep an eye on her. I want my mare to be happy, possibly despite herself sometimes. If that means she wants to be wooed by a freaky alien on two legs, then that's what I'm getting done."

Twilight pointed at Bon Bon lightly. "So you're not interested in him then?"

Bon Bon shrugged. "I'm interested in this mare right here." She squeezed Lyra close. "And that means caring about what she wants and chasing her dreams like they were my own. That's what a pony should do for their best friend. I may be strong, brave, and battle-ready, but I'm not, you know, a stallion."

Lyra's darkness spread from her snout to encompass much of her face as she shrank back. "Dear Celestia, I didn't mean it like that! Bon Bon! I love you so much!" She buried her blushed face into Bon Bon's chest, rubbing it back and forth. "You were always my shining knight, there to rescue me from myself."

"Still not a stallion," she noted with a raised hoof, the other wrapped around Lyra, holding her.

Twilight glanced away, coughing into a hoof softly. "Y-yes, well... I feel I should point out that I have little... interest in... that." She stood up on all fours, ears forward. "You three will have to deal with that on your own. Laud and I have a world to save."

Bon Bon looked ready to fight before the more subtle meanings of the statement trickled in. "Yeah..." She smiled a little and pulled Lyra along with herself, grabbing at Twilight with her free hoof. "Come here, you! If we're going through with this, that makes us all wives, and I won't have a wife that won't accept a hug."

Pinkie grinned so wide her cheeks squeaked. "They're making up! I think? Or are they playing some kinda game to decide who gets the cherry? Lyra looked really weird for a moment there... This may be the best seat, but it still has a lot of problems..."

Mayor Mare smiled confidently at the exchange beneath her. "I have a feeling it will all work out. Whatever they decide, it will be with clean minds and without grudges over this entire affair." She glanced towards Pinkie. "And without stepping on our laws along the way."

"Whattaya mean?"

Lyra's horn glowed and a cherry floated over to their group-huddle, a few coins left behind. "So... we all win?" She smiled hopefully, her face still a dark and bashful red. "We really win?"

Bon Bon rolled her eyes dramatically. "Seems I've gained two best friends to protect. Are you as difficult to watch as she is, Princess?"

Twilight's wings spread. "As you just mentioned, I am a princess. I don't need to be foalsat."

Bon Bon grinned mischievously. "Oh, right, I forgot. You already have a foalsitter. I wouldn't want to step on Spike's tail."

Twilight jumped at Bon Bon and the two wrestled on the ground with rough cries and laughs, the tension broken fairly completely.

Lyra set her hooves on the ground as she floated the cherry into her pocket. With a grunt of effort, she hefted both mares up and away from one another. "Now don't force me to be the mature even-headed one, but I will be if I have to!" She poked Bon Bon on the nose. "Don't make fun." She poked Twilight on the nose in turn. "You're cute when you blush."

Twilight blushed for Lyra. "W-what?"

Bon Bon landed on the ground and stood up. "Let's go report in. Princess Twilight Sparkle, do you agree to join our herd?"

Twilight nodded. "I must insist on taking your position, however."

Lyra's ears went up. "You're going to be the serious defender and make candy?"

Twilight shook her head. "I need to be the top mare. It will create undesirable eddies for the princess to not be at the lead of whatever social group she becomes involved in. This could be forgiven in, say, an O&O game, but not with marriage. I must insist on this."

Bon Bon nodded firmly. "I actually agree. I have my own term, but I doubt you will object to it. No party of this marriage is to be coerced into doing what they don't want to do. While I am glad to report that none of us find the others outright repugnant, that doesn't mean we'll be falling into one another's arms, nor should it be expected."

"Agreed," echoed both Twilight and Lyra. Lyra held out a hoof and it was met with the two others in a loud clop.

An agreement had been reached.

"Since when were you top mare?" whispered Lyra as they hiked back towards the arena they had begun in.

Author's Notes:

The contestants have reached an accord they seem comfortable with.

... But how comfortable are you, dear reader? I apologize for my awkward missteps, as an author, but hope the story may proceed with your interest and support.

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56 - Announcements

The three mares trot back into the awaiting arena. Many were the eyes, watching them curiously. Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Why was there a cherry floating there held in the air above the three of them? What did it mean?!

The balloon that had carried the mayor off came in for a landing and she hopped free, trotting to meet them at the podium that the contest had begun in. "Welcome back," she greeted with a smile. "I'm happy to report that no signs of cheating were detected. A good show from all three of you."

"Only as much cheating as unicorns do naturally," joked Lyra, her tongue poking free a little. "But we both had that going on."

Mayor Mare waved it away. "Now, who is presenting this cherry and claiming the hoof of the stallion?" She waved the same hoof up at the expectant crowd. "They all want to know. The cherry was the final item to be obtained."

Twilight took a step forward. "I have invited Lyra and Bon Bon to join my herd."

Bon Bon stepped up beside her formally, her eyes on the mayor. "And we accepted."

Lyra did not join them, instead waving a hoof wildly. "How could we not? We all worked so hard in this contest, it's obvious we'd all do a great job taking care of Laud."

Mayor Mare nodded softly, a soft smile worn. "Well, if you've formed one herd, then this contest is concluded." She cleared her throat softly, turning to the crowd. "Historically, this is not an unusual outcome. When the mares of a community collided over the hoof of a stallion, there were often only two ways it could go, in the end. They either remained bitter rivals to the end, or realized they could share and put aside their quarrel. I'm quite pleased to see we've born witness to the latter."

Laud did not turn his head, but spoke to Paul easily enough, "Am I being wed to all three of them?"

"Certainly appears that way." He crossed his arms on his chest. "And I wouldn't raise a fuss about it."

"That sounds like an order."

"Are you noble?" He lowered one hand to his knee, one finger tapping. "Being told to marry is an occupational hazard. On the plus side, the wives being hoisted on you happen to actually like you. Down side, they're also four-legged. Can't be perfect, in the end."

"Easy for you to say, Sir. You're already married." Laud looked from one mare to the next. "We will need to talk."

Mayor Mare waved towards Laud. "If the stallion would step forward, kindly. It is time to end this and start a new and exciting chapter."

Laud rose to his feet and approached the podium. His walk was stiff and formal, but without hesitation. He had a duty, and one he meant to see to the end.

Mayor Mare nodded at him. "Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods, your mares have agreed to support and protect you as one unified herd. Do you accept this protection?"

The marriage was right then? He hesitated a moment, catching up quickly. "I... do."

"Do you promise to return their love and stand by their side until the end?"

He looked at his would-be wives. Their eyes were on him intently. Lyra looked excited. Bon Bon and Twilight looked determined. All were together, ready to move forward. "I do," he said, crossing a hand over his chest. "I will not shy from my duties."

"Now now," chastised the older mare. "Let us not have a dour marriage of duties." She turned towards the mares. "Do you, Lyra Heartstrings, agree to be part of Princess Twilight Sparkle's herd, to support her and love your stallion?"

Lyra bobbed her head, cheeks warming. "If they'll have me."

Bon Bon squeezed Lyra close. "As if that was in question."

The mare's eyes flicked the small space to look at Bon Bon. "Do you accept joining Princess Twilight Sparkle's herd, to support her and love your stallion?"

Bon Bon raised the hoof not busy hugging Lyra to point at herself. "I will do my part to protect them all and I will..." She hesitated a moment. "Love... them all."

Mayor Mare turned at last to Twilight. "Do you accept responsibility for two mares and one stallion? Their happiness rests in your hooves. Will you love and care for them all?"

Twilight's ears went straight up. "O-oh, of course! As princess, I have responsibility for many more ponies already. I mean... I do."

Mayor Mare nodded lightly, turning back towards expectant crowd. "Then I announce you wed, with plenty of witnesses to go around. With that, I declare this competition satisfactorily complete. May your lives be long and full of love. May your trials never be beyond your abilities. I pronounce you husband and wife and wife and wife." She pointed at each as the called their title.

The crowd was a bit on edge. That was not the ending they had expected, but it was an ending, and not an unhappy one.

"Can you do that?" asked one human to another.

"They just did," pointed out that human's friend.

"Good to be a noble, I guess."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "If she was going to join a herd anyway, she really should have consulted someone with some refinement."

"Aw, don't be that way." Pinkie flopped back into her seat, just reaching it from flying the mayor around. "If you like the ideas of herds so much, we can be one!"

Rarity went pink in her cheeks instantly. "Oh, well, thank you, dear Pinkie. I'll... consider it."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "One mare, one stallion, let's keep it civil, iffin ya don't mind."

Fluttershy glanced between her friends and across the seats to the newly married ponies and human below. "This is... very unusual, isn't it? I mean, no offense intended to them..."

Rainbow threw a hoof towards the mayor who was already walking away from the others. "She said it, and she had the alright from Celestia, so that's that. Besides, you heard the mare, this isn't the, uh, first time this ever happened."

"Just recently," completed Rarity. "It's almost charmingly antiquated, except it involves a friend of ours."

The crowd slowly dispersed, some coming down to greet the newlyweds, but just as many going off to their other duties and distractions. The humans proved more formal, greeting Laud and the newest members of the Hawkwoods by way of the Mountbattens.

Paul slapped down a hand on Twilight's withers. "You've made a firm and bold statement. None can call the ponies of Equestria inhuman or unworthy of concern, at least without declaring outright war with the Hawkwoods. Such an insult is not one we'd accept. If you go down, we'll be riding the tracks with you."

Twilight's wings spread as her eyes widened. "But it won't come to that, right?" She smiled nervously. "Nopony, or human, would want to declare war on Equestria. I mean, why would they?"

Laud glanced towards the sky and the unseen menaces it held. "While we hope against it, we prepare. Paul, I have an idea."

"Already?" Paul crossed his arms. "You've recovered nicely. Is this an idea that can be spoken here, or would you rather privacy?"

"The specifics of it are already well known among us." He waved towards the town, past the others who enjoyed the reception of his sudden wedding. "The ponies, they understand technology and do not fear it. That could work against us, for sake of the church, or we could use it as a weapon. I want word spread to the guilds, seeking the highest bidder with a wish for an educated and eager workforce that can propel them ahead of the competition. Think of it, an entire nation where this is taken for granted. This is the delusional mad dream to most of them. Let us charge them dearly for the privilege of joining our side of the coming conflict."

Twilight's ears twitched, dancing between the two humans. "Kindly inform me what these 'guilds' are in relation to your society. I am going to safely assume they're not equivalent to the actor's union or other organizations to safeguard their workers."

Bon Bon shook her head. "I can read between the lines. You're luring friends out of greed."

"Precisely so," agreed the young noble. "It can be the surest honey to draw these flies. If they feel there is profit to be had here, they will join us in protecting it. The church is powerful, frightfully so, but even it is not eager to take on a royal house or a guild. The two side-by-side? This planet may simply be forgotten in their eyes, an annoyance they ignore as best they can rather than mobilize sufficient force to show their displeasure."

Paul slapped Laud across the back in a firm thud. "You're making me proud. I'm glad you've spent some time reading books aside from flying that little ship of yours. Really, a noble pilot, I'm glad you've put those days behind you."

Laud grit his teeth mildly in reply. "I was not a bad pilot, Sir."

"I'm sure you weren't." He waved the objection away as he nodded at a passing soldier. "Doesn't mean I'm happy with the idea of young nobles willing to toss their lives away trying to look good instead of doing important work."

"Sir..." Laud gestured towards the larger ship that peeked over the buildings. "You risk the same thing every time you lift off. Life is never without risks. I never intended to throw mine away easily."

Paul nodded even as he turned. "I'm sure you didn't. Now, if you don't mind, I must be going. Congratulations on entering the married life. Tell me how it works out."

Lyra watched him go before looking back to Laud. "He really annoyed you, didn't he?"

"Am I that easy to read?" Laud held out a hand and Lyra was soon at it, nuzzling into it. "He isn't entirely wrong."

Twilight nodded and made small talk with another pony that wandered past before looking back to Laud. "He isn't entirely right. Besides, if you hadn't done what you had, who knows how things might have turned out."

Bon Bon nudged Lyra away from Laud's hand. "Petting us like domesticated animals may send the wrong idea. Regardless of how you ended up here, you did, and things are moving as a result of it. Let's ensure that this is a good direction."

Lyra extended her tongue in a loud raspberry. "If my stallion wants to pet me in public, he can do that." Her horn glowed as an arcane hand appeared above Laud and stroked once through his hair, returning the favor. "It goes both ways."

Laud jumped at the sensation, taking a moment to figure out the glowing horn as the source of it. "Maybe Bon Bon has a point..." Being pet in turn put things in a new focus.

Bon Bon smirked victoriously, but said nothing else.

"Sir," started a soldier as he approached. "Are you... having a honeymoon?"

Laud blanched. "What?"

"I mean, you are newly married, Sir..." He looked awkward, but didn't flee from the question posed. "Should we expect you to take leave of public duty for a time?"

Lyra grinned loud enough for her cheeks to squeak. "That sounds fun! Can we do that?!"

Twilight coughed softly into a hoof, looking towards the soldier. "That isn't... strictly required, seeing as we are all familiar with one another, and... we can't even assume anything would come of it."

"That is not something easy to tell," spoke a newly arriving female. "What exactly results from wedding bells." The striped form of Zecora emerged from the crowd. "Much has happened while I was away. Can someone tell me what occured this day?"

Twilight smiled brightly at her exotic friend. "Zecora! Nice to see you. It's a bit of a long story, but meet my husband, Laud Mountbattan, of the Hawkwoods." She swung her hoof around. "My wife, Bon Bon, and my wife, Lyra Heartstrings."

Zecora went quiet, taking in the married four, ponies and human all.

Author's Notes:

Time to advance past this part of the plot, yes? Laud already has ideas! What do you think of them? Sudden Zecora is sudden. Written on day 0 of Bronycon at the hotel.

57 - Look Out

Zecora raised a hoof, pointing at each of the newlyweds, coming back to Twilight with a slow blink. "How is it you have gone from nothing to too many in such a short time, it is stunning." Her awkward rhyme matched how off-center she appeared. Her eyes lifted to take in Laud. "You are one of the humans. What has become of my student?"

Lyra shook her head quickly. "Nothing bad's happening, --"

Laud put a hand down in her field of view, cutting her off. "It is a pleasure to meet a friend of Twilight. Perhaps introductions should be the first thing handled?"

Twilight's ears went up. "You didn't call me princess, oh, right." It clicked just then that they were married, so he had less reason to use honorifics on her. She didn't expect most people to call her princess, but he had, and its absence was noticeable. "My husband is correct. This is Zecora, a resident of the Everfree Forest and a very wise zebra at that. She's saved things around here a few times."

Zecora tipped her head. "It is a pleasure to have such friends. But how did we arrive at this end?"

Bon Bon gently nudged Zecora before leading her away. "It's a long story, let's go over it and not interrupt the reception."

The party proceeded smoothly from there, winding up without further drama. Laud even allowed himself to assume that all would be calm and relatively peaceful for the remainder of the day. At least until Zecora moved to accompany them as they retreated for Twilight's castle, their castle.

"There is a little matter of progeny and whether there is sufficient homogeny. A quick test is all that I require to see if you can have what you desire."

Twilight cleared her throat softly. "You can... know that?"

"All we need is a little seed to know if you can breed." She nodded, her eyes on Laud. "If you will give me some, we will know what will come." She curled back on herself and pulled a small vial from her saddlebag. "I need not witness this event, only what you present."

Lyra was giggling with a hoof over her mouth. "Do you... need any--"

"--I can handle this," cut in Laud, taking the vial perhaps a little harder than he should have. "Do you trust her?" He was looking towards Twilight.

Who quickly bobbed her head. "Completely. If it helps, zebras are not unicorns and do not perform magic, at least not of the direct variety."

Zecora tilted her head faintly. "Is the arcane something of a concern? My magic is of the nature of a fern, or other plants and ingredients, mixed to create curatives most expedient."

Laud put together that she was an herbalist, or perhaps a chemist that specialized in plants. Neither sounded horrifying. It even sounded charmingly harmless in comparison to unicorns. "I will return." He strode off to do as he needed to do with that vial.

Bon Bon hiked a brow at Zecora. "You really have a test for this, just laying around?"

Zecora sat on her haunches to free up her forehooves for gesturing. "This is not a new question to know the result of a love session. Many species dot this world, not knowing if their lines can be whirled. Sometimes yes and sometimes no, there is only one way that we can know."

Twilight coughed into a hoof softly. "I'm honestly surprised he went along with it as readily as he did. I expected a lot more resistance to the very idea of it. As caring as he can be, he is very prideful, and this isn't... a proud moment, to fill specimen vials."

Lyra waved a hoof wildly. "I mean, yeah, but he sees this as his job. If he can make an heir, then he will get to it. And if this proves he can't, then he'll toss that aside and stop thinking about it. This is a chance to get rid of a mystery."

Bon Bon smirked at her musical companion. "And if it comes up positive, you two will be spending a sudden honeymoon?"

Lyra began to color swiftly along her snout. "W-well, I guess? I'm sure he'd be... gentle and treat a mare right."

Twilight lowered her hoof back to the ground as she shook her head. "If it comes back positive, we will all take a little vacation. We don't want to create the impression that only one of us is 'that' close to him in an uneven social dynamic."

Bon Bon's nose wrinkled quickly. "You want to... with him?"

Twilight's ears folded back quickly. "As he likes to say, 'This is my duty'. Besides, as the head mare, it really is my job to make sure everything goes smoothly, even if I decide not to participate. She--" She pointed at Lyra. "--is your wife. Will you let your wife go off to create our foal without you? Nonsense. We'll all go, as a family."

"What are those things around your neck?" Zecora pointed to the translators the others wore. "They look curiously high-tech. They speak in words I do not know. What language is it they bestow?"

Bon Bon reached up for hers, undoing its latch and getting it off of herself. "I forgot I was wearing that thing. It echoes everything we say into the human language."

"He seemed to understand me," noted Zecora with some curiosity. "He did not require this to guarantee."

Twilight nodded as she glanced back to her castle where Laud had vanished. "He learned our language properly, but many of the others have not." With a glowing horn, she took off her own collar. "He can understand both languages."

Elsewhere, Paul strode through the town purposefully towards the space dock. He raised a hand to his ear. "Status report?"

"Sir. We're detecting three ships, one big enough to not be capable of landing," came the reply that only he could hear.

Paul released the button to speak a colorful human phrase that would require one to be very flexible to imitate. "I'm on the way already. Get everyone else moving."

"Roger."

Zecora tucked the vial of her specimen into her saddlebag. "I will inform you of the result. I am glad to be one to consult. Let us learn more of each other in the coming days. We can learn much of our different ways." She tipped her head and trotted away to perform whatever test she had in mind.

Twilight let out a little breath. "Well, now that that's over with, shall we?" She gestured for her castle. "I suppose we didn't need to wait out here, but it felt like you wanted your privacy."

Laud had not required an entire castle of privacy, still... "Thank you." As they resumed their walk to get inside, he looked over them. "Are you hoping it is positive, or negative?"

Bon Bon quickly raised a hoof. "Pass. Positive or negative doesn't change things for me. I'll be your wife, but I don't swing that way." She pointed the same hoof at Lyra. "She, on the other hoof, seems to like innies and outies with equal zeal."

Lyra colored at the accusation, but the evidence was stacked against her. "If they're the right kind of pony, then I don't... care. Oh, wow, if it's positive..." She put a hoof on her belly, considering motherhood for the first real time. "That would be something, wouldn't it?"

Twilight raised both her brows at once as her horn magic opened the door. "It would be proof that Laud is correct. Ponies are, or were, humans, before something set them down a different path." She stepped inside, hooves clopping on the crystal floor. "It makes me wonder who, or what, that would have been. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. It could come back negative, though that wouldn't... assuredly... destroy the idea, it would remove the most obvious means of confirming it."

Laud sank into a chair facing the others in the entry hall of the castle. "That is not what I am asking. What does it mean to you? Do you want it to be positive, or negative, if it were your choice?"

Twilight mused over that with a soft little muttering. "I think... positive is the more interesting answer with deeper implications. I would want to know more. I will accept negative, as the truth is more important than what is more 'interesting', but if we get the interesting answer, all the better."

Bon Bon huffed softly. "Positive means I get to deal with a pregnant Lyra." She smirked softly. "As adorable as she may become, I know that will be a trying time, at best."

Lyra colored as the image of life swelling in her was put forward. "I... won't run..." She clopped a hoof down firmly. "Enough running. If it comes back yes, then we are going to... get to know each other really well, and then you'll all get to know our adorable little foal."

Bon Bon burst into laughter at that. "Phrasing! You just used get to know to mean... that, then tell us we'll 'get to know' a foal? I know that's not what you meant, but still..."

Laud allowed a little smile to escape. It was good that his new family, curious as they were, seemed to be in good spirits about things, whichever way it went. "I promise, Lyra, that I will do my best to live up to the dream you've built. However, we are all hu--" Were they all human? "We make mistakes." He hoped that would serve as a save. "When I make one, I want you to assume I will listen. Do not accept it 'for me'. I will not be wed to someone who looks up at me."

Twilight hiked a brow. "We all look up to you."

Bon Bon flopped over, her laughter only growing. "My wives are trying to kill me with comedy!"

Lyra smiled a little awkwardly. "I think he means in terms of standing, not height. Just like... as your wife, we should think of you as Twilight, our wife, not Twilight, princess. Though we can also think of you as Twilight, our head mare, which is a little up, but not as high up as princess." She frowned a little. "How does that work anyway? They didn't go over herd dynamics in school."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "How negligent of them." She rolled up to her haunches. "How could they forget to go over antiquated only technically-legal wedding practices? What are they teaching foals these days?" She wiped a fetlock over her eyes to clear the tears. "Laud, what do you hope for? You don't get to ask us without the question being turned."

"For the sake of this country that I have sworn to defend, I hope for a positive result." He crossed his fingers in his lap as he leaned forward. "If we are compatible, that is yet more proof that ponies and humans are too close alike. That will place you in an awkward position in the greater society, but it is a place, rather than an animal."

Twilight frowned a little at Laud. "That's a fine answer as 'Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods', but you aren't answering as you. Laud, are you... hoping for this, or dreading it?" She gestured at Lyra, then Bon Bon, and finally herself. "We are your wives, and I apologize for springing that on you without consulting with you first, but..."

"We were in this state before today. Only the particulars have changed." He stood up, his hands slapping the armrests in the motion. "We were all ready to be married. The only surprise is who it is we're bonded to, and not even who those people are, just the number. I will do what I said I would do before. In time, I hope and pray, we will find something closer to true affection rather than this awkward start. Let's not force it, or fear it."

Author's Notes:

The rumblings of events loom on the horizon as the new family considers their future together.

Will they have a chance to have that honeymoon?

Do YOU hope for a positive or negative answer?

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58 - We Come In

With a great rush of fire, Paul and his men were flung free of the planet, rushing on a vibrating ship towards their larger craft that awaited beyond the reach of the atmosphere of the strange world they were leaving. "Any positive ID?" he asked into his earpiece, his other hand grasping a handle for security despite sitting down.

The response came back full of static. The ship lurched, a voice speaking over the ship's intercom, "We are free of the atmosphere, expect a smooth ride." True to his word, the trip became far less bumpy with only the void of space to crash against. Paul could feel them still adjusting their velocity and accelerating towards the relative safety of their larger ship.

He tapped at his earpiece, hoping he had simply chosen a bad time. "Situation?"

"We have a positive on their flagship. They're flying church colors, Sir," came the tinny voice of a man quite far away. "Lost track of one of them."

"You lost an entire ship? Explain." If there were things in the way, that would make more sense. Hell, a good battle could result in things getting lost in the fuss, but neither were present, so far he knew.

"Cloaking technology?" posited the man without assurance. "It's not showing on the scanners. It was the smallest of the three, so it could have maneuvered anywhere by now."

Paul slammed his armrest with an angry grunt. "Tell me you have some good news."

"We're being hailed and it isn't an immediate demand to stand down. I have informed them that you will soon be here, Sir."

Luna squinted through the apparatus, peering into the sky as she swiveled it slowly left and right on its base. "They have to be out there..." The visitors, the invaders had to be there. She had been made perfectly aware of it. Damn her sister for not taking it seriously, and her infernal sun was keeping her from getting any good views of space. Though unintuitive, she could see distant stars with a telescope in the day, she just had to avoid looking in the direction of the big blocking sun, again much like her sister.

She smiled a little at the humor in her head, imagining Celestia's big round bottom hovering there in the sky instead of the sun. "It would be just as meddlesome..." she sighed out, continuing her hunt for the aliens. A great yawn forced her to pause, her jaw stretching with the motion. The day was not the time she was usually awake, but who could sleep, knowing what was going on?

"You should retire," came the professional female voice of Raven Inkwell, a clipboard hovering beside her. "I will accept responsibility for any project you feel can't wait."

Luna looked over her shoulder at the sudden intruder, rearing in surprise. "Oh! Raven... When did you arrive? It is no matter. Guarding the nation from nightmares is my duty, and these intruders from beyond the sky certainly qualify!"

"Be that as it may," argued Raven sternly. "You will be unable to launch an effective attack without proper rest." She tapped a quill against her clipboard. "Though I am not permitted to order you, Ma'am, I can request that you consider your health. You will be better able to continue this after some sleep."

Luna glanced back at her waiting telescope, then the proper little unicorn trying to send her to bed. "Were you speaking truth? Will you scan the sky for trouble and summon me immediately if you find any?"

"I will not," she said in a flat rejection, eyes even with Luna. "I will have other ponies, trained in the use of such devices, take up the task. I will gather several of them, to more completely scan the vastness of the sky. That I can do far better than trying to do it myself. For now, please, retire, Princess Luna. Your task is now mine, and I will see to its completion in your absence."

Luna slowly shook her tired head. Yes, more ponies could search better than just one, even if that one was a princess. "Tell them to look for any would-be stars that move too quickly, or that do not glow properly." She turned for the door, another yawn erupting from her. "Summon me immediately if anything is spotted. Oh. Avoid looking at the sun, we made that mistake once."

"I will inform them," Raven assured, her magic grabbing the door and gently opening it for the approaching Luna. "Sleep well."

Elsewhere, Zecora set up her supplies. She gently uncorked a vial, not that one, and a little pink heart escaped. It held the essence of the pony folk in all their flaws and strengths. She spat out the cork and grabbed the vial in her teeth, slowly pouring a little of the sparkling syrup-like fluid into a second vial that held the small sample of human essence Laud had given to her.

What he had produced was not the naked potential of his species. To get that would require significantly more effort and time. Still, it was enough for a reaction, that much Zecora felt certain of.

The two substances came into contact violently. Zecora was blown back onto her haunches, coughing as a column of smoke rose up from the vial, congealing into a cloud that hovered with almost a purpose.

Sounds echoed in her mind, like speech, but indecipherable. There were questions and statements in equal abundance, and she had no idea what any of them were. She couldn't even be certain that they were her own thoughts or some alien intruder. She shook her head quickly, freeing herself of the momentary daze.

Two glowing motes in the cloud peered at her as if they were eyes. The words faded in favor of impressions. She felt a long-ago presence, of a great shaping and seeding, with an entire world as the mother and an entire species as the father. A great returning. A step forward? A step back? Zecora shook her head slowly, trying to make sense of what she was 'hearing'.

She did not speak. Words felt so insufficient. The two lines were related, drawn apart. To bring them back together will produce change. Good? Bad? That was not given to her. The smoke was starting to fade, evaporating into the air, the motes that were eyes fading with it, leaving her dazed but with the knowledge she had sought.

She had seen more than this; flashes of indecipherable characters and long chains of... something. Beings that had seen so much they had to move on. She had touched infinity, and it left her shaking. She placed the stopper back in place on the vial of pony essence before crashing to her haunches.

"They should be told," she murmured to herself. "What could unfold." Focusing on that gave her an anchor. Yes, she would tell them what she saw. Everything else could wait. The fathomless echo that had touched her could be ignored for a time. She had a message to pass on.

She burst free of her house, kicking the door shut behind herself as she set out in an almost blind gallop. She avoided the more dangerous points, sticking to the trail even if it was not the shortest path to the town. Even in her rush, she tried not to tempt the forest around her to get to the town faster.

After such a long day, Laud was looking forward to retiring. Much had happened. Things had been settled and thrown off balance in what felt like an equal furor. His bed would not betray him, that much he felt confident about. He turned the corner, approaching his room, and he saw the way was not clear.

Lyra stood beside the door, glancing around nervously. The moment he came into view, she raised a hoof and waved it wildly in his direction. "There you are! It's time."

Laud's approach did not slow. He would not show fear. What was he scared of?! "What is it time for, besides sleep?"

"Well, that, sure," she allowed. "But it's also time to sleep with a pony, me." She reared up onto two legs and bowed, one hoof waving towards the door. "I mean, we're married. So... uh... we can... you know, be together...?"

Laud felt some tension fleeing as he got the idea. "You want to sleep beside me."

"Yeah! That's what I said." Her horn glowed, throwing the door open into the bedroom. "Husband and wife. I want to... spend some time, you know, just talking, getting to know each other, maybe snuggling a little?"

"Does Bon Bon know where you are?" he asked, moving through the door she opened as he did so. "She will grow worried for you if not. You know she cares for you."

"You don't need to remind me of that." She fell to all fours and trotted inside, a leg kicking out to close the door behind them both. "She practically cares for me more than my mom, probably more, since she's actually here and my mom got to check out of that business when I left Canterlot." She flashed a bright smile. "Don't worry though, she knows I'm alright."

Laud sank down on his bed, sitting on it as he worked off his shoes. "Does she know you are here, specifically? Married or not, I am not so blind as to ignore that she still does not trust me. She respects me, as a warrior."

"Yeah yeah, that's a big compliment coming from her," argued Lyra with a wobble of a hoof. She hopped up onto the bed, bouncing on it lightly. "So, are you a squirmer, or a roller, or do you spread out like a starfish?"

It took Laud a precious moment to realize she was speaking of his sleeping habits. "I prefer to sleep on my side. I am not prone to movement, though there are few men that can claim to never make motions in the night. I do not snore. You?"

"Like a saw," she admitted, coloring in her cheeks. "I'll wait for you to be asleep first before I nod off so I won't bother you so much." She stopped bouncing, sinking a little into the mattress. "I like to curl up too... It feels nice. Need any help undressing?"

"I have that under control." Laud peeled free his socks and then his shirt, becoming increasingly exposed to the curious staring of his new equine wife. "Tell me, since you have the least political reasons for this, what do you find attractive in a human?" He shrugged softly. "I know, from a human perspective, what makes a man or a woman an ideal partner. You are not one."

Lyra flipped her ears back. "It's... not physical? I mean, maybe that's a little bit of a lie. You're strong and capable and I like that..." She trailed a hoof along the mattress slowly. "It's part of what drew me to Bon Bon. She's... so together, you know? She knows how to move."

She sank down when he finally did. She curled up beside him, touching, but not hugging. "You're a good kind of noble... The kind I was hoping for. The kind that wants to do good things with their title, not just show it off like it means anything on its own."

"With power comes responsibility." Laud turned the small knob on a lantern, darkening it and plunging the room into gloominess. "One is not a Hawkwood without accepting that fact completely. Every noble's actions impact not just themselves but the countless others that depend on them. It is a grand privilege and a crushing weight that a true Hawkwood bears without complaint."

He tensed with the feeling of a hoof. She was curling up on him quite intimately, hugging close, her breath on his back. "Tell me more about what it is to be a Hawkwood," she breathed out in a whisper.

Author's Notes:

Laud is not likely to get tons of rest tonight, nor are other ponies or humans it seems.

This is a Bonus chapter update voted on by the patreon, yay!

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59 - By the Pancreator

"Ship detected," came over the intercom. A screen came to life, showing a hazy picture of another small vessel rushing towards the same ship they were. It appeared much like their own, a vessel made for ferrying small amounts of people and little more. Grand for getting people down to a world, back up from it, or sending them between ships.

Paul pressed his ear. "Why is one of their ships landing on ours?"

"They want to speak to you directly, Sir. I couldn't think of a polite way to tell them to buzz off. I'll have the two of you landing on opposite ends."

"Landing cleared," announced Paul's pilot, things lurching as their trajectory shifted.

"He just got the dock assignment, I hear. Their ship's tiny, can't be more than 20 people, tops. If they go rogue, we have plenty of people to counter that. We'll keep them in sight at all times."

"See that you do." Paul tapped the piece, silencing the communication. There was little more to learn from there.

Their ship pulled in close to the larger before it was grabbed in a powerful magnetic field, drawn right up into its innards in a smooth retraction of a docking grapple. Things were quiet a moment. "We have air. You may disembark when ready." He heard his pilot click off and could imagine him getting out of his seat. A landed pilot was an off-duty one.

Paul didn't have that luxury. His work was just beginning. He was off the ship as quickly as the door could open, striding with purpose. "I'm aboard. What dock are they in?" He had guests to host.

Zecora huffed and puffed. Horses could gallop quickly, but not for long. She should have kept herself to a trot, but she had been in a panic, and could only suffer the consequences of her poor decision, lungs burning with each step as she was reduced to a slow walk through the town of Ponyville. Her target was in sight, barely visible in the dark, more of a cutout of the skyline than anything else.

"Zecora?" asked a female voice. Missus Cake was standing in the door of her shop, holding a rug in her mouth. "You look terrible. Is everything alright?" She turned and spat out the rug into the interior of her home.

Zecora smiled, still heaving quietly for breath. "Hello, I did not mean to disturb. I have news that may peturb. I ran too far and too fast. It seems even daylight has passed." She pointed ahead at the castle in the distance, so close and yet so far away.

"You poor thing." Missus Cake waved inside. "Come in. Whatever it is can wait until morning at least, I hope? Pinkie!"

Pinkie appeared with the abruptness she was known for. "Zecora!" she cried with a smile. "I didn't expect to see you here!" She gasped dramatically. "Are we having a sleepover? This is fantastic!" With a happy squeal, she vanished back inside.

Missus Cake shook her head. "Well, clearly she isn't bothered by the idea of sharing a room for the night. Won't you come inside?" The matronly mare gestured inwards once more. "It's no trouble at all."

What a difference time had made. That and, perhaps, a reminder that a zebra was far less different compared to other things that had come to visit Ponyville. Zecora stepped towards the offered haven. "I was hasty once before. The morning will see the end of this chore."

A wizened unicorn stallion's horn glowed as he turned the telescope slowly to scan the sky. "What, precisely are we looking for?"

"Your guess is as good as any other," sighed out a younger female that barely looked like she had stopped being a filly. Her cutie mark of a constellation made it clear her purpose, and she was using a telescope with equal zeal. "Something that shouldn't be there."

Star, star, shooting star, cloud... He squinted a bit... "What..." He adjusted the focus on the telescope, then brought up a cloth to clean the lens, just to be absolutely certain. "Do you see this?" He backed away from the machine.

The mare pulled away from what she was looking at and hurried over, popping her eye into position. "What!? That... isn't normal. You found it! What'd you find?"

"By Luna's moon, I couldn't say," he assured, running a hoof through his beard. "But we should report it immediately."

Through the telescope, they could dimly make out the form of the massive ship that was so far over their heads. They couldn't really pull apart the details, but it was a structure. It wasn't perfectly round like a planet or moon or star. It didn't belong.

The sun rose languidly over the horizon under the gentle grip of the ponies' highest ruler, she who wished only the best for all creatures, but especially her little ponies, may their innocence and sweetness be preserved.

Above the world, but not above the sun, a man approached a small group. The man was not alone, not by far. His soldiers were dotted across the area, ready to respond in an instant. They were standing on his ship. He was their king, their god, and by his order, those he approached would be seized and hurled out the nearest airlock.

That would not be the proper first response. "By the Pancreator, it's been too long since we've had such distinguished guests." He brought his hands together before thrusting one forward in an offer of a shake. "If I don't misrecognize your rank, a cardinal? A deep honor."

The man who he was addressing nodded gently before reaching to accept the shake. "In his light, may you walk easily. Your people have been seeing to our comfort, but we have not come for that." He gestured with a little wiggle of the tips of his fingers. "You have secured a gate, without full cooperation of the Charioteers." He was using 'you' to refer to Hawkwoods as a whole, and neither needed that explained. "Word spread quickly, and so we arrive with it."

Paul raised a hand, slapping it down on the shoulder of the cardinal. "That was the work of one who is both young and reckless. We will gladly cede control of the gate back to the Charioteers, of course, though I am surprised they sent the church to speak their part instead of one of their own?"

"I am certain," spoke the cardinal, keeping his eyes trained on Paul. "The Merchant League will send their own spokespeople. We arrived as if by providence, to catch wind of exciting news being spread." He leaned a little, encroaching on the limited space between himself and Paul. "Please, do tell us the specifics."

Paul had barely sent the order to spread the word! Had the church ships been on the other side of the gate? What were the odds of that? He cursed his luck, a fine thing to do in front of a clergyman, even if it was silent. "I presume you are curious about the mention of a people who eagerly... approach matters of some taboo?"

He raised a brow, a fine feature on his face. "That is a delicate way to place it. A plentiful sample of heathens is a curious thing to advertise." He stepped back, letting Paul's hand slip free. "As a man of faith, perhaps you would care to enlighten me? What manner of people have you found?"

Paul brought his hands together. "They are not heathens, because they are not members of our religion."

The other brow raised to join it. "That sounds like the very definition of the word."

"Mayhaps, but they were never brought into the Pancreator's light in the first place, so should not be shunned for their ways." He slowly walked to the left, circling the cardinal and his men. "They will learn, but they have unique gifts that Hawkwood intends to reap."

"Bold words for a duke who has certainly not had time to confer with his peers." He turned to keep Paul in view. "Is whatever you found worth the potential price your house may pay? I am perfectly aware of Hawkwood's... habits. As an honorable man, I presume you will tell me what has won your loyalty so swiftly."

Yes. No? It was too late for second-guesses. "We found a civilization, pre-starfaring but ripe with the potential to figure it out in time. Inhuman--"

"An inhuman species!?" exclaimed the cardinal, his hands thrown wide in surprise. "By the pancreator, why weren't we called the moment you knew? Are they touched by the symbionts? Does their false sun dim like the others? Do they speak our language?"

"We haven't finished a return from the world, as you are well aware." Paul tapped the edges of his fingers together as he took slow steps. "They appear clean of that menace, and their sun is in fine working order, as far as we can tell. They are capable of speaking, but they have a language of their own."

The cardinal waved a hand in the direction of the world beneath them. "Then there is much to do--"

"--Which we are busy doing," cut in Paul. "The dominant nation of this world has already pledged alliance with the Hawkwoods. We are bound by marriage to one of their highest ranking citizens."

The cardinal took a half-step back. "You... Are they?" He scowled at the idea. "What man would debase himself to enter matrimony with an alien species?"

Paul cocked a sudden smile. "I see you don't know us very well. If it meant doing what's right, we'd marry a walrus with a skin problem. These people need protection, and they've accepted our offer to give it. They are Hawkwood, and I assume they will be treated like it."

Soft chuckles echoed through the area, some of the soldiers amused by the mental image their commander had offered, but also standing in solidarity with the idea that Hawkwood did what was right, damn the consequences.

"I see the reputation of the Hawkwood is well earned..." He steepled his fingers, restraining himself from his outburst. "I've been rude. I am Cardinal Ferdinand, at your service. In the pancreator's benevolence, I will offer succor to these deluded... people who have not felt the warmth of the One True God."

Paul rolled a hand palm-side up and gestured in the direction of the world. "That shouldn't be an issue, but you will pass through the landing post we have constructed for the purpose and obey local laws while you do so." That reminded him. "That goes for all three of your ships."

"I will relay your message," offered Ferdinand, not actually agreeing to anything. "It is good to know there is a safe place to touch down. Should we expect the coordinates?"

"I'll have my people deliver it," assured Paul with a firm nod. "It's not a restricted area. All ships that obey the rules are welcome to land there. If that is all?"

"I believe it is..." He turned and the others turned with him. The others remained silent, marking themselves as his guards without saying a word. "One thing." He raised a finger. "Do they have otherworldly powers we should be aware of?"

Paul silently bemoaned how close they had gotten to not having to approach that subject. "They are innate psychics, the ones with horns." Trying to hide it would only cause more trouble when they landed. "They have a strict societal code about its use and censure those who use it irresponsibly. You may enjoy it. Rather--"

"What, I would ask, is a 'responsible' use for it?" He sounded quite doubtful that such a thing existed.

Paul was not as sheltered. For all the church's talk, even they had some psychics in their employ. "Think of them as theurges. Most do not even touch the workings of the mind, able to lift things with a thought or teleport in more extreme cases."

"I... see. It has been enlightening." That was Ferdinand's version of goodbye, moving off with his guards.

One of Paul's men approached, sharply saluting. "Sir. They're moving back for their ship."

Author's Notes:

Suddenly space politi-drama! I hope no one minds, but this felt like a thing that needed happening, rather than broaching it later. Was that a good meeting?

A second bonus update voted for by the patreon!

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60 - We Are One

Spike whistled as he walked, scratching at an annoyingly itchy rash that refused to calm itself. "Hope Rarity doesn't see this..." A knock on the door made him jump in place before he scampered over to it. "Who's there?"

"'Tis I," came the voice of a zebra.

It wasn't Rarity and Spike grabbed the door, pulling it open. "Hey Zecora."

"Oh my," she finished, somehow finishing her rhyme with new information. "You should take care of that, if that skin condition you wish to combat. Is Twilight here? I have news she must hear."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, she's over there?" He pointed before he dashed off, his face reddened by her reaction. Was it that bad?!

Zecora trotted in the direction the kind dragon had pointed after closing the door behind herself. "Twilight? Laud? I hope you are ready to be awed."

A male voice called out, "we are here."

She found them a moment later, seated around a long table with some amount of breakfast remaining on the table. "Ah, there you are." She nodded towards Twilight, then Laud. Her eyes darted to Lyra, but Bon Bon was not present. "I have news you may consider bizarre."

Twilight was looking at her curiously. "Please, is it about the test you were going to perform?"

"It is indeed, to see if you can breed." She sat lightly. "I was given a vision most vast, you would have thought a spell was cast." She raised her forehooves and clopped them together. "The life of this world did not rise on its own. This I have been shown, in dizzying images and confusing ideas, Humans are Equestrians, the only question is what the degree is."

That was a challenge. Laud had learned Equestrian, but it was still a learned language and having someone spew a series of constant rhymes at him was still a new experience. He could only thank the creator he had been forced to use the language exclusively for some time. "I think you have that the wrong way around." The ponies were modified humans, obviously, at best.

Zecora shook her head. "Though my psyche was rocked, my opinion on this is quite locked. Beings quite old and powerful were at work, and all of our species are their handiwork." She lifted a hoof to her head, mind still throbbing with the overwhelming melange of images and ideas that had flooded into it and had yet to settle down. "They..." She shook her head, fighting off the ache that threatened to come. "They did not intend for their lines to mingle, but neither did they... prevent it." She sank to the floor, the ache growing worse. "They told me this in an..." She was starting to curl. She heard alarmed noises, but she had to get it all out. "Sent... it..."

Laud was at her side, having jumped to his feet and caught the zebra just as she toppled over to the side. "I thought she did not practice magic? She is acting like I might expect a theurge after a powerful invocation or ritual of some sort or another."

Twilight shook her head softly. "Get her to a guest room to rest for now. Zebra herbalism isn't a specialty of mine. Actually..." She perked up. "I know who may offer some insight into this, a bright young filly who she's accepted as a student."

Lyra's horn glowed as she hefted up Zecora, only for Laud to stand up and take the zebra into his arms, cradling her gently. "Hey, I'll go with you." She hopped from her chair and the two went off together.

That left Twilight, who vanished with a pop, appearing just beside the foal's school. She walked inside at a casual pace, ears pricked for the noises of a lesson being given. Fortunately for her, no such sounds were coming. Peeking into the room, she saw the foals were still gathering for the morning.

Apple Bloom was there, chatting animatedly with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Twilight had to smile. The three were quite a team, and were always cute when they were together, or apart, for that matter. She raised a hoof as she approached. "Apple Bloom? Could I borrow you a moment?"

She looked up in surprise. "Ah, hey Twi. What's up?"

The other foals noticed her presence and suddenly Twilight was the focus of the room. It wasn't every day the local princess stopped by. Twilight spared them a little wave, but quickly snapped her attention back on Apple Bloom. "It's about Zecora. She did... something and seems overwhelmed. We were hoping you might shine some light on the matter."

Scootaloo perked an ear. "Sounds kinda crazy!"

Sweetie Belle bobbed her head. "If something can overwhelm Zecora, you know it must be something quite intimidating indeed."

Apple Bloom hopped out of her desk chair to her hooves. "Is she hurt?!"

"I don't think she is, but if you can help, I'd really appreciate it." She looked to the other two crusaders. "Please tell Cheerilee that I've taken her." After receiving two sharp salutes, she wrapped her magic around Apple Bloom and the two vanished with a pop.

"What wath that about?" asked Twist, head tilted at the remaining crusaders.

Scootaloo shrugged. "You can never be sure with Twilight, but I bet it's something cool."

Sweetie grinned. "Lucky Apple Bloom, she got out of today's test."

"What's this about getting out of tests?" Cheerilee arrived with the timing only a teacher could have. "I would like to hear about this."

Twilight appeared where she had originally gone away from. No other ponies were there, other than Apple Bloom. "She's been brought to a guest room, let's meet them there."

"Lead the way." Apple Bloom half-galloped to keep up with Twilight who was already trotting away at a good pace.

In one of many guest rooms, Zecora was set to rest on the bed, a blanket drawn up over most of her. "Is she well?" Laud was barely medically aware about humans, let alone ponies, let alone zebras who were not ponies exactly.

Lyra patted the form of the sleeping Zecora. "She looked just fine when she came in, so I don't think she was, you know, sick?"

"She seemed quite well, at first," he agreed, considering the situation. "It is as if she were given a divine visitation, the sort I imagined was only a fable. The more she tried to speak of it, the worse it became."

Lyra tilted her head at Laud. "I thought you didn't like magic and things, but your people have stories about it? How does that work?"

"God is a magic we do not fear." He dipped his head towards her. "The Pancreator is as he is named, creator of all things, and if they made it, they can do as they please. There is no such thing as 'magic' in that context. A being of such immense purpose, to be touched by it requires a clean and perfect mind, some say, or risk being laid low."

Lyra hiked a brow, looking at Zecora. "Are you calling her mind dirty and imperfect?"

"I didn't mean it like that." He held up one hand. "It's just rumor, in the end. It's hard to 'prove' one has had a conversation with the Pancreator, but she is showing the signs I would put with such a powerful vision, and I will confess, it scares me in a way I have not felt before. Even when I was crashing into this world, half-certain I would perish on impact, that dread was not the same as this terror."

A soft tap came from the door just before it opened, handle glowing with Twilight's magic. Apple Bloom burst through the door the moment it opened enough to admit her. "Where is she?!" She spied Zecora quickly and darted to her side.

Twilight's eyes were on Zecora as well. "Is she alright?"

Lyra nodded quickly. "Sleeping peacefully." She reared up suddenly, standing as Laud was. "According to Laud, she's acting like she saw the human's god or something."

Twilight could only blink at that a moment. "Wait, you have one of those?"

"You don't?" countered Laud, actually curious if the ponies did or not.

"We believe in harmony, and destiny." She put a hoof over her heart. "We've worked hard to foster both and they've allowed us to reach new heights. I was once a bearer of an Element of Harmony, a literal facet of it. It's... complicated."

Apple Bloom had hopped up onto the bed and was seated beside Zecora, reaching with one hoof to gently inspect her occasional teacher carefully. "Ah think she's alright, but ah know a little brew that may perk her up." She hopped down and trotted quickly for the door. "Ah'll go get what we need."

Laud took a step towards her. "I'll accompany you." The idea of letting a little one wander off sounded quite unbecoming. "Are these plants in the forest you fear?"

"Just one." Applebloom smiled at Laud. "Thanks for the company, let's go!" The two departed.

Twilight watched them go before looking back to Lyra. "You heard what she said."

Lyra suddenly colored. "Y-yeah, I mean... I guess..."

Twilight set a hoof on Lyra's suddenly. "It means you don't have to do a thing. It means you have a choice. If you decide you want to try for a foal, go ahead, and I'll help as much as I can." She leaned in all too close. "But if you don't, I will protect your right to not just as ardently." Her hoof pulled away, only for Lyra to suddenly jump forward.

Lyra hugged Twilight tightly. "Stupid unicorn! Stop trying to be the reasonable one!" She flopped back down to her haunches, smiling a little lopsidedly. "Thanks... really. Aw man, if you had asked me when I was your schoolmate if we'd ever have this conversation, I would have called you crazy! Hey, Little Lyra, wanna marry Twilight Sparkle someday? What? That nerd?!" She burst into giggles.

Twilight frowned softly. "I'm still a nerd, you realize."

"And an adorkable one, I'll have you know." Lyra planted a kiss right on Twilight's nose without warning. "Keep it up."

"I didn't need your permission!" Twilight blew a ripe raspberry at her new wife. "Where is Bon Bon?"

"Running her shop, of course. She ran off early in the morning." Lyra shrugged softly. "It's kind of nice having more special friends to hang out with during the day when she's busy. But, uh, I bet you have to deal with that school of yours."

Twilight's eyes went wide. "Right! I better go. Please, watch over Zecora while I'm gone." She was gone with a sparkle, vanished from where she had been a moment before.

Lyra was left alone, with only a sleeping Zecora for company. It was better than nothing. "So... would you do that, with him?" she asked the sleeping mare. "Yeah, I should consider that," she said despite the lack of reply. "We really should chat more often."

Luna leaned over the telescope, peering into the small viewer it provided. In the sky, she could see it, some huge artificial... thing. It was not the right shape or size or anything else. It was unnatural and she wanted to destroy it...

"Staring will not make it go away," gently spoke her sister.

Luna frowned, but did not withdraw from the sight. "Celestia, shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"Shouldn't you be watching over the dreams of our ponies?" countered Celestia in gentle tones. "Staring at them will not help anypony."

"Why shouldn't I do something about them? You moved the sun for a pithy play, wrenching the moon for the defense of the world surely is of equal gravity to that, we should think?" Her tail gave an agitated flick, but she did not look up.

"I apologized for that, dear sister. Attacking them may be a grave error. That is not the pony way."

"Not the current pony way." Luna sat up, scowling. "I have not forgotten when we were ready to battle."

"They have done nothing worth battling just yet." Celestia set a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Be ready, dear sister, but let us not be the aggressors."

Author's Notes:

This is a chapter where we pull things up closer to where we are in the show itself. Suddenly, school! Spike is getting dragon puberty.

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61 - Rise

Apple Bloom hopped down from a log she had just jumped up on, making her way through the thick underbrush. "So, do you know Zecora?" she asked, peeking over her shoulder but a moment to see that Laud was still following her.

"Only in passing." He brushed aside a vine that hung in his way as he stepped over the same log Apple Bloom had hopped on and off again. "We had just met yesterday. She was harmed trying to assist me, and the least I can do is help assist her in kind."

"Huh, what was she tryin' t' do?" She skipped under a rock that Laud had to go around. "She's usually more careful. Hay, I'm used to her havin' all the answers, if you can git 'em out of her." She giggled softly at something, stopping in front of a tall tree. "Here we are."

Laud looked around for interesting plants, but there were far too many to even guess as to which one they had come for. "Which one?"

Apple Bloom pointed up at the tree, into its lofty branches. "The cones, up there. I need one of 'em." She hopped up and hugged the trunk of the tree, starting to shimmy her way up slowly.

Laud reached for her, gently plucking her right off the side of the tree and setting her down. "Allow me." He would not allow a child to climb that high for him while he could avoid it.

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "If ya want. Ah can handle it, really." She didn't stop him though as he began to ascend. His big furless arms were long and able to reach most of the way around the tree, helping him make his way up slowly. "Ain't much faster than me," she casually noted, sticking out her tongue a little.

When he finally reached a branch, he gladly grabbed onto it near the base and hefted himself up into reach of the next branch. Things sped up then, moving from branch to branch instead of scaling the trunk of the tree. The cones she had referred to seemed to grow higher up, avoiding the lower branches for reasons only the tree could know.

"Just drop one down here," she hollered from below. "Ya don't haveta hold it the whole way or nothin'."

He reached out towards a cone that was tauntingly close, stretching his fingers as they brushed the target. "Come on..." he snagged at it again and got it, only to find his balance teetering. He wildly circled his arms, the cone falling out of his hand in the motion. He slapped up against the tree, but didn't fall the considerable distance to the ground.

"Got it," reported Apple Bloom, picking up the discarded cone. "Now come on down!"

As it turned out, down was easier than up. It was more a matter of not doing too much of it at any one time. He made his way down in sliding starts and stops and soon rejoined her, thankful to place his feet back on the firm earth. "What is next?"

Apple Bloom nosed up her saddlebag and peeked inside. "We have that, an', hmm. Pretty sure the rest Twilight has in her castle. We can go back now."

"Excellent. The sooner we can tend to her, the better." Together, they headed towards the great crystal tower that was Twilight's castle.

On the way, a loud noise came from above. Both looked up to see a ship descending towards the outskirts of Ponyville, to the new landing pad specifically. Laud grit his teeth, not seeing Hawkwood colors flying. "I have to go. Take this back to Zecora, and thank you."

"Ain't no problem." She squinted at the fast-moving ship. "More of yer friends?"

"I can hope," he said without conviction. "Go on. We have our own battles to face." He hurried towards the pad at a determined jog, leaving her behind.

Apple Bloom watched him go a moment. "Funny fella." She scampered off towards the castle. "Funny accent too."

Bon Bon sat on her haunches before a small panel with a stallion's face in it.

He was speaking to her, "While I am encouraged to hear you have secured your objective, your manner in doing so is... suspect. Even if Twilight can be considered a closely-related group, her presence complicates things considerably."

Bon Bon let out a soft sigh. "I tried, but it was that, or have a very real chance of losing entirely. This way, we have access to him, can monitor him, and have the legal footing we need to take action without hesitation."

His face warped with the angle as he leaned in close to whatever was recording him. "The presence of other humans has only made this more perilous. A single exotic creature is only so harmful, especially one of his size and lack of magic. Untold dozens with stories of hundreds, possibly thousands more?"

"I realize that," sighed out Bon Bon. "I'm working closely with the subject to ensure the safety of Equestria."

"Where is he now?"

She tensed a little. "At the castle. I couldn't contact you there."

He glanced off to the left at something, then nodded at someone or something. "The Royal Sisters have spotted their presence in the sky. It's bothering Luna more than Celestia, but I don't like it either. We are in an especially perilous situation. Close your store and devote all of your time to this."

Bon Bon blanched. "But--"

"--Tell them you are having a honeymoon." He rolled a hoof. "You were just married. Nopony will be too surprised if you take a small vacation from things."

"Yes, Sir." She rose to her hooves with a soft grunt. "Is there anything else?"

"Don't forget you are on a mission of utmost importance." He shook his head. "Your actions may save Equestria and beyond. I would not ask this from you for much less than that."

"Understood, Sir." She raised a hoof in a sharp salute. "I'm on the case."

"Speaking of that." He raised a brow at her. "You should try to appear friendly towards him. It will make things awkward if you look obviously put out by the situation."

"He isn't all bad," she suddenly assured, waving a hoof at the screen. "The other humans, I couldn't say, but I'm getting a good feel from him."

"That's the spirit." Whether he thought she was acting well or coming around, he didn't reveal. "Go find him and the others and make a show of being a happy newlywed. HQ, Out." He blinked out of sight, the screen going dark and leaving Bon Bon in the dimly-lit basement.

She turned away from the screen with a soft sigh. "Right, let's find my husband." She stuck out her tongue, not quite liking the flavor of that word in her mouth. Why couldn't she just have one wife? She shook her head free of the rebellious thoughts. "Besides, I'm married to that adorable nutball now." She smiled at the thought of Lyra as she trotted up the stairs. "It's not all bad. Twilight may be a neurotic mess, but she's not a bad mare either. Focus on the bright side of things."

Mayor Mare walked spiritedly, just short of a trot, towards the landing pad. It was not her specific duty to welcome any creature that may land upon it, but it was still beside her town. Ignoring them hardly felt like a proper course of action. "Do I have any appointments?"

Her assistant pulled down her glasses as she looked over a clipboard held at the end of one hoof as the other three carried her. "You have a local ordinance requiring review, ratification, or denial, due by sundown today."

"Ah, yes, I recall the one." It seemed small compared to the vast vessel that descended towards the pad. "I'll be sure to look at it... after we handle this. I've reviewed most of the facts."

"Of course, ma'am." She tipped her head lightly at Mayor Mare. "How can I assist?"

"You are too wonderful." Mayor Mare smiled gently at the borrowed assistant. She normally worked for Celestia, but had been lent to her. "Wasn't there a meeting scheduled about a zoning concern?"

"Already handled." She tapped at the clipboard as she hurried along beside Mayor Mare. "A review of the town laws resolved the matter without further action required."

"Marvelous." She nodded softly, her eyes on the ship as it landed with surprisingly gentleness for its size. "Any idea where Sir Mountbatten is?"

"Unknown," admitted Raven, tucking the clipboard away. "The chance of his arrival is very high. This is his demesne, as decreed by Princess Celestia."

Mayor Mare raised a hoof before her chest as she walked. "I trust he will allow me to be present. It's just not right that I ignore such a large... thing right beside our lovely town. First Twilight's castle, then this... thing, it really does change the feel of the town, don't you think?"

"The ponies of the town seem to be taking it well," offered Raven with a soft nod. "Provided the visitors continue to obey the laws, it should only benefit them."

They stepped through the one entrance to the landing pad, but paused, hearing hurried steps towards them. There was Laud, hurrying towards the pad. Raven dipped her head towards him. "As expected."

"Too right." Mayor Mare raised a hoof towards him. "Sir Mountbatten, good to see you."

"And... you," he greeted in kind, catching his breath. "Have they disembarked already?"

Mayor Mare shook her head as she turned back to the landed craft. "We arrived simultaneously. Shall we find out?"

Laud hesitated a moment. "They are not from my family. I would rather greet them first."

Mayor Mare inclined her head faintly. "Your family or not, they should be greeted properly."

"They will not know the local language," he noted, gesturing to their lack of translators.

Raven fixed that, drawing two translators from nowhere and quickly slipping one around Mayor Mare's throat, then her own. "I was prepared, Sir."

Even earth ponies had a strange magic, he decided. "Right, stay behind me and please don't assume anything. They are religious and will speak of the Pancreator. Do not offend them, or the Pancreator. If they say something that sounds curious, ask me about it later, when they aren't in earshot, and I'll gladly provided all the information I can when it won't potentially start a war we don't want to be in."

Raven reached for her glasses, adjusting them. "I presume they hold their god in as much esteem as we have for our Princess and will treat it with all the same reverence. I would not appreciate a griffon or dragon speaking ill of her, and will not return that favor."

Mayor Mare nodded firmly. "Exactly so. We are here to welcome them to Ponyville, not call their beliefs into question, provided they don't involve harming ponies."

He doubted he would get them any more prepared than they were. Perhaps, he decided, this was a good thing. Having two eloquent ponies to be the first things they met, neither with horns or wing, might be the best option. "Let's go."

Apple Bloom hopped up beside the slumbering Zecora. "All ready!"

Lyra tilted her head a little. "Smells kinda funny."

"Oh yeah, fer sure. But one little whiff..." She held the bowl under Zecora's nose.

The reaction was instant, Zecora sitting up so fast she knocked Apple Bloom aside. "Option!" she blurted as if finishing a thought she had been having. She blinked, looking around. "Is that you, dear Apple Bloom? How did you come to this room?"

Apple Bloom sat up with a big grin. "You done passed out and they called me to lend a hoof." She hefted her bowl up high towards Zecora. "Woke you up nice and good."

"Ah, what an avid student you are. You've called my mind back from the bizarre." She rose to her hooves, slipping from bed and nodding towards Lyra. "Where are the others?"

Author's Notes:

Things are happening! Is this the sign of good things, or a typo unfolding before us?

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62 - Have You Heard the Good Word?

Laud led the way with the two stately ponies just behind him in flanking positions. That seemed like a fine way to do introductions and he dared a little smile, an upturning of his lips without opening his mouth. He walked firmly across the tarmac, eying the ship and its iconography.

It was clearly from the church. He was certain if he knew more of them, it spoke of what chapter of that institution it came from. There were factions, always factions. Did Equestria have factions? He hadn't really run into any in his explorations so far. Everyone was happy with their ruler, to the point that being unhappy with her was a matter for concern.

With a low thump, the landing ramp hit the ground and a single figure emerged from the vessel, though he was not alone for long as soldiers wearing the same heavy robes advanced, longarms slung over their shoulders with one hand, the other moving in regimented sweeps. Each gun had a holy symbol displayed prominently, a circle with a point inwards at each ninety degree along the edge, done in an off-blue to stand out against the weapon.

"Welcome, Father," spoke Laud in English, knowing the ponies behind him would not know what he was saying.

"And well met to you, My Child." He dipped his head lightly, but kept advancing, his soldiers hitting the ground and spreading out. "Are you the responsible one here?" His eyes fell to the two equines behind him.

Mayor Mare took a step forward. "Welcome and greetings! I know you've come very far and I would like to personally welcome you to our world and Ponyville." Her words were repeated in English even as she spoke, creating an odd echo of horse noises and human tongue.

Laud gestured towards her. "On this landing area, I have authority. Outside of it, she is the leader of the town we are adjacent to. Ponyville."

He looked from Mayor Mare to Raven Inkwell's equine face. "I'm quite afraid I don't have a translator tuned to your language. Can you have them speak?"

That seemed like an odd request to Laud, but a harmless one. Switching to Ponish, he asked, "He wants to hear more of you speaking."

Raven tilted her head a little. "What would we speak of?"

Mayor Mare tapped at her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I'll go ahead and say what I meant to say. We have very simple basic laws in my town. Don't hurt other people, take things that do not belong to you, or damage their things. If you treat others as you would wish to be treated, that should cover most situations." She nodded up at the religious figure, unaware of any real significance. "We're a friendly little community, and we've hosted humans before without a problem. If your people are just as polite, I see no problems ahead."

He gestured for her to continue, but he bowed his head, clapping his hands together. "Oh Holy One above, absolve of us the sin rightfully called down on us for the Tower of Babel long ago, cast aside those chains." He moved his clasped hands around, making a cross shape, then a circle, and on to other likely holy gestures as he prayed. "Oh Holy One above, make the alien known, make the known alien, so all may learn of your Goodness."

Mayor Mare tilted her head, hesitating a moment, but he had gestured for her to continue and she recognized that. "If... you have questions of any kind, you should come to the town hall." She pointed to where its top could be seen over the walls of the landing pad. "I, or any of my assistants, will be glad to put things right as expediently as possible." There were effectively three people talking at one, with the mayor, her translator, and the priest's prayers all crashing together into chaos.

He clapped his hands once in a loud slap that silenced the area a moment. "Hello," he said in flawless Ponish. "Have you heard the Good Word?"

Laud tensed. They had sent a theurge! The tension fled him almost as quickly. That meant they knew the situation. They knew and they had sent someone who hadn't rushed to escalate things. A good sign? They had sent someone offering a peaceful hand. Perhaps this was great news!

Mayor Mare smiled brightly. "Fantastic! You're not even wearing a translator. I was given to believe that humans could not use magic."

"A human who uses base sorceries is a depraved human," cautioned the priest. "All I did was pray, and God saw fit to reward my faith. If you were to witness a human using sorcery, you should inform one of us as quickly as possible. Now, introductions, we are overdue." He placed both hands to his chest. "I am Father Gregor Samhain. It is a pleasure to meet you all." He had a kindly look, his features mildly rounded with a bearded face that only seemed to add to a teddy-bear like appearance. He was a diplomat, Laud silently decided, specifically trained to put a good foot forward.

Laud gestured to himself. "I am Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods, husband of Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Gregor perked at that. "I gather your rank is less than that of a princess. Were her duties too pressing?"

"Her duties are many, but mine is here." He waved a hand over the landing pad. "And she trusts me to see to it well. This is Mayor Mare," he reintroduced. "And with her..."

"Raven Inkwell," she introduced herself, dipping her head. "Nice to meet you, Father Gregor. Do you feel you are a father to all people?"

Gregor blinked, caught off guard a precious moment. "Yes, that is exactly the case. As a priest, I must be a father figure, to guide them away from wickedness and towards righteousness and prosperity."

Mayor Mare seemed at ease. "Well, allow me to show you around. If you're not here to trade, I believe there are no other formalities in our way?" She looked to Laud meaningfully.

Laud shook his head. "I ask that I be consulted before any amount of trade, but looking and talking are perfectly fine."

"And exactly what I wish," agreed Gregor with a smile. "Now, tell me." He crouched down a little before crashing to a knee, becoming on the level with the short but long ponies. "Do you know what God is?"

The two mares glanced at each other and back at him. Mayor Mare tapped at her chin. "Most things that would use that title are very powerful things that typically mean us no good." Laud went stiff as a board.

Raven nodded. "We've dealt with them."

"False gods," rumbled Gregor. "You've done well in casting them out. The true god, he can't be repelled. He's already here." He reached for Mayor Mare and tapped her on the chest. "You didn't know he was there, but he was, waiting for the time you'd notice him."

Mayor Mare looked down at his poking finger and back up to his face. "Are you speaking of a conscience?"

He rose up to his feet slowly, dusting himself off. "That is not an entirely bad way of putting it. Our conscience is like a connection to him, telling us what the right thing to do is. We all know it, we must, for we are all connected to him and his righteousness. Do you follow your conscience?"

Raven put a hoof to her chest. "Religiously." Laud tried to keep his heart in his chest.

Mayor Mare nodded. "I do my best. I mean, I'm not perfect, what pony is? But I have the reputation I do because I can be trusted to do the right thing." She gestured up at Gregor with a hoof. "And you?"

Gregor spread his hands out. "It is my duty to always keep my conscience close at hand. When I do stray, I accept atonement, humbly and put the wrong I created back to right."

Raven poked at the awkward-looking Laud. "You did not introduce your other wives. Why did you only mention Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

Gregor's eyes were on Laud in a flash. "Is that why you're looking like that? Is that the way of this place, polygyny?"

Mayor Mare cleared her throat softly. "That it is not. Typically one mare and one stallion pledges a promise of union. There were circumstances involved, I was the officiating party."

Gregor waved one hand at Laud. "And yet, you can see it in his eyes, his conscience whispers that he may have sinned, and he fears judgment for it."

Laud's teeth set. "That is not the case. I worry more that you may have considerations since they are ponies, like them."

Mayor Mare nodded in agreement. "They are, and he should not be guilty, seeing as it was they who forced the matter on him, not the other way around. Quite a spirited bunch, and I'm sure you'll meet them soon." She turned away towards the one exit from the landing pad. "Are they soldiers, like the others?"

"Soldiers of the pancreator, yes, and in my care." He raised his voice, transitioning to English easily, "keep an eye on the ship, and stay with it. My task requires that I advance."

Two soldiers broke rank from the others, moving to stay in with Gregor.

Raven inclined her head towards town. "If you are ready, we can begin the tour now."

"I'd be delighted." As he moved past, he clapped a hand down on Laud's shoulder. "We'll talk, later," he said softly in English. "Confession is good for the soul." He walked off with the two ponies, smiling jovially as they told him of Ponyville and its various amenities.

Author's Notes:

I need to go see a doctor, and this felt like a good break point, so... forgive me! Bonus update due to patreon!

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63 - Elsewhere

What horrors had he agreed to explore? Most demons he had imagined were that of the mind, lurking inside wicked men and women that had lost the way towards the righteous light and had fallen prey to the symbolic demons.

The claws he parried with his blade were far from symbolic. The flames that licked around the exposed teeth of the creature that wielded it were anything but imagined. It shrieked at him with a shrill whinny as if it were a horse, bringing in its other hand to swat him aside as if he were a doll.

He heard his name being called, a friend and ally rushing to meet the demon's fell charge with a heavy shield, stabbing at it with her spear. It grazed the side of the thing, allowing a thin trail of red to seep free. It bled. That meant it could hurt, and die. With renewed strength, he forced himself back to his feet. "They can bleed," he shouted out, getting a return cry from the rest of his divine unit.

They would, perhaps, not all die that day.

Laud trailed some distance behind Gregor, watching him from a distance. Him and the ponies that he spoke to.

Gregor spread his hands wide. "What a lovely little village you have here. So simple and pure."

Raven raised a hoof to point. "We have a farmer's market right here. There's Quills and Sofas."

"Pardon?"

Mayor Mare lifted her shoulders. "It is exactly what it sounds like. They sell writing implements and comfortable seating furniture. You'd be surprised how well the two go together."

Gregor rubbed at his fuzzy chin. "A curious notion, though I imagine one might enjoy small comforts while performing as a scribe. I can remember the hard stools well."

Their tour went on, with Gregor speaking kindly to the ponies, not at all as suspicious as Laud had suspected in kind. He wondered what Gregor was truly up to, or if not him, his superiors.

"Tell me." His eyes were on a pegasus flying past high in the air. "By what marvel does a creature like that take to the air?"

Mayor Mare held up a hoof to block the light of the sun and see the pegasus better. "She's just flapping her wings. How else would she fly?"

If he had doubts to her words, he did not speak them. "Do others of her ilk have other related talents?"

Raven nodded. "This they do. Pegasi, as they are called, have control over the weather. They can rest on clouds, push them around, shape them, and manipulate them. It is their primary talent besides flying." She pointed at Mayor Mare. "She and I are earth ponies. We have a connection to the earth below us and the plants and animals that live on it, though many of us find positions that do not make use of that talent."

Mayor Mare shrugged at that. "Just as pegasi often do take jobs that are not weather related, or even flying related. We are more than what we were born as, after all, and we have different goals and ambitions. Besides, if we obeyed that, who would be mayor? None of the tribes have an innate talent at leadership."

"Or paperwork," noted Raven with a little smile.

Gregor raised a finger. "Well, we humans have less obvious cues to our potential being. While some are born to greatness, the rest have to figure it out for their own. Few are simply born with some great talent."

Mayor Mare trotted slowly towards the next sight to see. "And what prompted you to become a, what was it, priest?"

Gregor gently pat a pony as he passed, and the pony looked mildly confused, but did not bristle at the contact. "The words of the pancreator always rang true in my ears, and to speak them was like being asked to sing the sweetest song. It came naturally, I think, that I followed it into the order and didn't look back."

Raven perked an ear at him. "What does it say about us?" She pointed at herself. "Wait, could it say anything?"

Mayor Mare shook her head. "He's just meeting us."

Laud tensed, hoping revealing words would be shared. Gregor spread his hands. "They speak of possibilities. For instance, those that are inhuman have different souls than those that are."

"Souls?" asked Raven.

"Ghosts?" asked Mayor Mare, a brow raised.

"Yes, ghosts, but either in us, or in the beyond." He tapped at his chest. "Those stuck in the middle are to be pitied and removed for everyone's sake."

Raven shook her head. "Well, that makes sense. Why would my ghost be a human ghost?"

Mayor Mare shook her head in solidarity. "That would be quite strange indeed."

"Different but just as good!" came a new voice as Pinkie landed just beside Gregor from nowhere in particular. "Heya! Welcome to Ponyvill--" Her statement was cut off, almost along with her head. She bounded back just in time to avoid an incoming sword. "Hey! Only my sister likes catching those."

Gregor held up a lone hand, transitioning to English, "Let her speak." His words swapped back to the horse-like noises of Ponish, "Hello there. Where did you come from, Miss...?"

"I'm Pinkie," she excitedly introduced as if nothing had happened. "Did Laud teach you how to talk? You're good at it!"

"Thank you, Pinkie." He put both hands to his chest before spreading them to gesture at his guards. "I am Father Gregor, a humble priest, and these are my guards. Forgive them, for my safety is their only thought."

"Don't even worry about it." She waved it off before spreading her hooves wide to gesture at all of Ponyville at once. "Welcome to Ponyville!" she finally got out. "I see you're getting the deluxe tour with Mayor Mare and Raven Inkwell. Lucky stallion. You are a stallion, right? I'm like 80% sure."

Mayor Mare nodded towards Pinkie. "Pinkie is one of our valued residents. A party planner, morale expert, and generally friendly pony, she knows how to put a smile on just about anycreature's face given half a chance."

Pinkie nodded with glowing pride. "What's your favorite flavor of cake?"

Gregor looked genuinely perplexed. "I confess, my child, to not having sampled cake very often. I would not know where to start to describe them or decide which is better than the other."

Pinkie clopped her hooves together. "One sampler tray coming up! How long are you going to be in town?"

"With how warmly I am being welcomed, perhaps some time." He smiled gently at the friendly-seeming pony. "Tell me, is the making of merriment your profession?"

Pinkie shook her head quickly. "Nuh uh. I wish! I'm a baker." She pointed off towards Sugarcube Corner, though it was out of sight. "I help Mister and Missus Cake to make sweet treats and to sell and deliver them. What do you do?" She bounced a little in place, smiling brightly.

Things were going well. Perhaps too well... Laud tried to puzzle through the exchanged words, looking for the darker meaning that would pose a threat to his people and his demesne.

Twilight looked up from her desk at the knocking. "Come in!" The door opened to admit a yak child. "Yona, how can I help you today?"

"Yona confused." She pointed upwards. "Last thing go away, new thing come. Last one many creatures, this one only few. What happening?"

Twilight tilted her head before it clicked. "How do you know how many people are there?"

Yona suddenly looked defensive. "Not important, just confused. Answer yak question."

Twilight slipped from her chair, circling her desk towards Yona. "Well, each of those 'things' is a ship, full of those people. How many get off or not can vary depending on what they are doing."

"Not ponies, or yaks, or dragons, or griffons or--"

"Humans," interrupted Twilight, setting a hoof on Yona's shoulder. "They are called humans."

"Yes, humans." Yona nodded her large head. "Humans shape funny."

"Don't say that," gently chastised Twilight. "They are creatures just like you and I, and it falls on us to be their friends. I bet dragons looked very odd at first, didn't they?"

"Yes," she flatly admitted.

"But you are friends with one now, aren't you?"

"Well... yes?" Yona tilted her head a little. "She is good friend. Still look funny, but is good."

Twilight smiled a little. "It can be the same way with the humans. For now, get back to class."

"We safe?" She turned for the door. "If not, Yona can smash stupid ship."

Twilight imagined the little child rushing towards their ship and the likely hostile response to the attack that would follow. "Please don't... do that. It's not nice to smash other people's things without their permission." She considered a moment. "I'll speak with the other faculty. Maybe we'll arrange a proper meeting between the students and our visitors, so you can say hello."

"That sound nice!" She bounced in place. "Best headmare." She bounded off with a grin, clearly looking forward to it.

Twilight watched her go with a more subdued smile of her own. "Well... better get on that..." She just had to get the students to say hello without sparking an inter-planetary war. No big deal, right?

Flames licked at their battered fronts, scorching and roasting. They were fighting a retreat back towards their vessel, the ground littered with the evidence of their efforts. Dead and dying from both sides were scattered across the field in a display of naked violence.

A harsh equine cry came from above. One of the demons held out a claw towards them, barking what sounded like orders. He took the shot. It was uncomfortably far and he didn't have time to line up the shot, but he took it, praying to his god as he did so.

Her cry echoed and she plummeted, caught by another of the demons. She was hurried off the field and the men roughly cheered. They were being forced to retreat, but they had left their mark. The blood they shed and shed by their fallen brothers and sisters in battle would not have been entirely in vain.

"Kill me," begged a fallen soldier. "Don't let them have their way with me when you're gone. Do it."

"I'll do no such thing." Another soldier grabbed the fallen one at the wrist and yanked them to their unsteady feet. "Let's go. We'll fight His battles another day." Supporting the injured under his arm, the two retreated up onto the ship that was already warming its engines.

Inside the ship, the soldiers could hear the demons clawing and scraping, screaming in their strange equine ways, the howls of demonkind, promising agony to any they got their angry claws on.

The ship shuddered as it began to lift off, propelling into the sky rapidly, but the clawing only slowed. At least a few were still clinging to the ship, trying to gain access to its insides with angry scratches at the tough metal. But it did slow. Less and less scrapes came. It slowed and peace came, until only the rumble of the engine and the soft groans of the injured could be heard in the belly of their ship.

"Stealth activating," noted a voice. "Hull is clear."

A weak cheer rose. They would escape that day.

They had injured to tend to and videos to review. They had expected strange and new things, but literal demons rising from the fiery depths, that was not on the itinerary. They had been entirely immune to all heat based weapons, making lasers a cruel joke to use against them. Capable of flight, with deadly claws and teeth, with a bloodthirst to match, calling them demons seemed like the only natural course of action.

What else did one call such a beast?

A priest moved among them, seeking out those who had managed to escape, but with too many wounds, saying final words and laying them to rest.

Author's Notes:

Gregor has a pleasant time. Laud does not trust! Twilight plans a field trip, and the dragons 'greet' some humans. Ember didn't deserve that. Is this a typo?

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64 - Getting Together

Laud sat at the dinner table. Across from him were his wives: Twilight, Bon Bon, and Lyra. Next to him were Gregor and Spike. It was boys versus girls as arrangements went, which was not what bothered him.

Lyra was chatting amiably with Gregor. "Wow, you're important for humans, huh? I play music." Her lyre appeared over her head as her horn glowed gently. "I can play you a song?"

Gregor laughed amiably. If not for the guards that stood post around the edges of the room, he would be but a merry visitor. "I would be delighted to hear it. Princess." He had turned his attention to Twilight, shifting the topic without a pause. "Your people are most curious. Even now, I struggle to place them precisely. In some ways, I feel as if I have been transported to an angelic realm, filled with equine cherubs that move with an innate humility and tranquility. Surely it is not as idyllic as it appears?"

Laud's left hand clenched lightly. There it was. Judgment. Would it be favorable? That was a prying question.

Twilight, on the other hoof, laughed it off. "Of course not. We are alive and free-thinking, which means sometimes what one pony thinks is not what another pony thinks. We do fight and squabble, as intelligence seems to almost require at times." She rolled a hoof at him. "But we can usually work it out. When we can't, we have agents, like myself, who are eager to assist."

Gregor paused, listening to the soft music that Lyra produced. He seemed perfectly happy to listen and eat for a time, savoring both properly. "Mmm, you are spoiling me. Now, in what way do you serve as an agent of harmony?"

Twilight brightened. "I didn't expect you to know the ways of harmony already."

That caught Gregor off-guard a moment, but his smile returned easily. "Ah, that is right. It was mentioned before and perhaps I recalled it without thought. The mayor mentioned your people hold harmony high as a principle to be emulated and pursued."

"It wasn't always that way." Twilight sat up in her chair. "I am a 'bearer of the elements'. I used to wield ancient artifacts comprised of a small bit of harmony itself. That has stopped, but my duty remains. I am summoned by the cutie map now to address problems of disharmony and guide the ponies back into harmony and set friendship problems at ease."

Spike raised a hand suddenly. "Ooo, I was called by that once."

Bon Bon shook her head. "It's only called a small number of ponies, and one dragon. It's quite... selective."

Lyra tilted her head, her music slowing a moment. "It's never called me. Pity, because it sounds like tons of fun."

Gregor slapped the top of the table with a loud guffaw. "You admit to the presence of a great magic artifact; but its purpose? To create harmony and help people be friends? My peers would think I had partaken of too many libations were I to share this story with them as it is." He looked to the quiet Laud. "And you; you are master of this table. Come, join us in conversation."

He doubted that on several levels, but Laud dared not remain quiet after a direct invitation. "It was mentioned before that I had taken pony brides." He gestured across at the three mares. "Here they are; Princess Twilight Sparkle, Bon Bon, and Lyra Heartstrings." Each mare nodded as her name was said. "Twilight is the highest ranking member in this room by a considerable step, making her the mistress of the table."

Lyra burst into soft giggles. "What would you have of me, oh mistress of the dinner table?"

Spike thrust both of his thumbs back at himself. "Hey, I cooked all of this. I say I'm the master of the dinner table. Twilight just happens to own everything else."

Twilight waved a wing at the whole thing. "Yes yes, I concede tonight's dinner to Spike, long may he reign." She reached out a hoof across the table and rubbed the top of his head. "Don't let the power go to your head."

As the natives of the world laughed and joked, Gregor seemed thoughtful, if smiling. "You are very informal." He nodded towards Twilight. "Towards your lessers, you are--"

"--Their Friend," finished Twilight with a smile. "Just because I have other responsibilities does not diminish that." She tilted her head a little. "I gather that is not normal among humans?"

"I must admit this is true." He put a hand on his chest. "As you can see, my guards wait, likely hungry at the sight of the feast we enjoy. They do not ask questions; they dare not. I am their superior, and they defer to it. There are others above me, to whom I would have to bow my head and treat in much the same fashion."

"Like Celestia!" Twilight sat up. "I mean, technically she's, uh, a peer now... I can't shake off that feeling."

Gregor spread his hands. "And who is this?"

Twilight began an eager explanation of Celestia and how wonderful of a pony she was.

Ember lay on a bed of stones. She was weak; injured and barely awake. She expected another dragon to come snatch her crown away from her at any moment, but it had not happened so far. The scepter rest beside her, untouched by others. One of her 'friends', as close as the term could be used to address any dragon that was not Spike, came in once in a while. She tended to Ember's hurts as best she clumsily could.

The next time she came in, Ember grabbed at her wrist. "Stop. What's going on? Why hasn't somedragon snatched up the scepter and run off with it already?" The suspense was the worst part.

Her friend smiled awkwardly. "They'd have to get past the others. They only let me in because we're, you know, not bitter rivals. Are you feeling better?"

Ember let her hand go slack. "No... It hurts like hell. What happened? Did we win?"

"We sent them running." The dragoness smiled gently at her injured leader. "Look, uh... not to... imply you're not super strong or anything, but... you're hurt, real bad... Maybe... We should get help?"

Ember felt the burning desire to yell at her almost-friend, to chastise her and scream and hop up to her feet and show them all how strong she was.

Pity she couldn't do any of those things... "Maybe..." But who? Oh, of course... "It's time to give little Spike a visit, as a courtesy. It has nothing to do with my condition, you realize..."

She smiled, grasping where Ember was going. "Of course not. That little pony-dragon needs all the help he can get. You're so generous to take time out of your schedule to visit him. He'd be lost without you."

"Exactly." She sat up with some effort, clutching her side where the weapon had hit her from so far away. What it was, she didn't know, but it hurt! "Let's go."

Her friend rubbed behind her head, watching Ember struggle to rise a moment before offering a claw. "I won't tell a soul," she promised quietly.

Ember softly growled, but accepted the claw, pulling herself up with her friend's help. "Thanks... Look... Just... thanks... I won't forget this."

She snatched up Ember's scepter, only to pass it to Ember quickly. "You need to be holding this when dragons see you."

It was a small thing, not even that heavy, but it felt heavy. Ember ended up holding it in both hands as if she were about to clobber someone with it. It was just enough to keep a good grip on it. "Ready."

A flight of dragons took to the air. Ember rode on the back of the largest dragon there, her father. "I thought you retired?"

"No retirement is strong enough to keep me away right now." With a powerful flap of his wings, he carried them closer to Equestria. "Those ponies had better treat you properly, or I will personally raze their entire country to the ground."

"Dad..."

"Fine, just the hospital that fails to assist you."

Ember rolled her eyes softly.

Dinner had passed and Laud was on his way to his room. Things had, overall, gone fairly well... Were things really just... working out? Perhaps he should not question his blessings.

Bon Bon was in front of his door. Lyra was not. She had a little frown on her face, perhaps pensive.

"How can I help?" inquired Laud as he came closer. "I was about to retire for the evening. You did well at dinner."

"Thank you." She inclined her head. "I did not feel like disclosing all of our secrets, though the others were not as... reserved." She gestured towards the door. "Can I come with you?"

"I would be a questionable husband to refuse my wife from my bedroom." He pulled the door open and gestured inside. "Not that I imagine you are here for that." He only really expected that from one of his wives.

Bon Bon's cheeks colored faintly. "N-maybe." She trot past him purposefully, hopping up on the bed. She sat down facing him, watching him enter the room. "We are husband and wife. It isn't the ideal situation for either of us... You're a sharp person. You know what I prefer, don't you?"

"You enjoy the company of Lyra." He sank down beside Bon Bon. "The concept of same-sex attraction is not alien to me." True, normally only nobles had the luxury of entertaining such things for long, but... "And yet, here you are. You did it for her, in the end, did you not?"

"In part." She perked an ear at him. "I'm also curious, about you. Look... we are husband and wife. That's a promise." She put a hoof to her chest. "And I don't welch on promises. If we're married... we should mean it."

"What are you proposing?" He studied the mare beside him. That alien, and yet human, female that didn't meet his gaze.

She reached up and put a hoof right on his face, covering his lips. "I'm proposing we turn off the lights. You get rid of those clothes, and we... do what a married couple does. I then propose some pillow talk where we discuss our dreams and desires and get to know each other better. Or maybe you'll fall asleep. I hear that's a thing with stallions." She smirked a little. "Either way."

As it turned out, he did not fall asleep.

"So, you see." Twilight gestured at her school, down below from the balcony they were perched on. "My students are incredibly curious about humans and want to meet them. They're a wonderful set of children, and I'll be there to help keep them in line, but first, is it alright? And second, can we be sure nobody will be too... on edge and start a conflict that results in hurt children?"

Gregor rubbed at the soft stubble on his chin. "Well, I'm not one to disappoint little eager souls in pursuit of proper learning. Especially if that involves a trip to a holy vessel and perhaps hearing the word of the Pancreator. I'd be honored and delighted to serve as a host for them. Are they ponies, I presume?"

"Some." She wobbled a hoof. "Also a yak, a changeling, a--"

"Changeling? I know what a yak is, though how one would be a student, I can only presume in much the way a pony can be, but what is a changeling?"

Twilight shook her head quickly. "There are many species of creature on this world besides ponies. Changelings are insect-like creatures, pony in basic shape, that can shapeshift on demand. This particular changeling is a young female, a little shy, but completely sweet."

Gregor raised a brow. Was every species of that strange land blessed with some strange power? How they got along without coming to blows was itself another mystery. "I see... I also understand better why you were concerned." He clapped his hands loudly. "Let me prepare. I will have a space for them, and see the soldiers are properly briefed. Let's give the little ones an experience they will remember fondly for all their days."

Twilight raised a hoof towards him. "Fantastic! I had a good feeling you'd be on board for this."

Author's Notes:

Things, they are moving! Ember's coming to visit Spike! Surely there will be no complications there, or in the students' visit.

This story lost its supporters, oh no! But it won a chapter on the monthly votes, woo! This is that bonus chapter.

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65 - Touching Bases

Gregor walked amiably. Walking was not typically something someone did in a welcoming fashion, but he managed. He wore a smile and his hands swung freely. He nodded to each strange alien that he passed with a kind expression. Many of them returned the favor, watching him curiously a moment as he passed.

They were all curious, but not a single soul had made a move against him, even subtly. A few had been outright friendly. He still had an apple tucked in his robes. It had been offered by a larger red pony. Their relation to the pancreator...

He left the town, crossing the small distance with his guard in tow towards the landing dock. "I'll be reporting in." He didn't target the sudden statement towards any of them in particular, nor did he have to. They stopped just shy of the boarding ramp of the ship.

They would wait until he returned to them. The words of divine men were not for their ears. He boarded the ship with a more determined stride, his expression becoming far more pensive and less welcoming. His role as an ambassador was put on pause, for a little while.

He nodded towards the guards before the communication room. Both raised their hands in prayer as he passed. All appeared to be well on the ship.

Gregor strode towards the terminal and swept a hand over the console, quickly keying in the code of his superior. A light flashed softly in red before snapping to green. A head appeared, floating just in front of the console. He recognized the head of his superior and bowed towards it, raising his own hands much as the guards had just before.

"Gregor, good to see you, my child. I trust you come with news?" The other man wore robes much like his, with subtle hints that spoke of his rank sewn in, with pauldrons that were as impractical as they were significant. "I will return that favor."

Gregor raised his head, permission given implicitly to begin speaking. "I do. The natives are both friendly and open to the proper way. They are also inherently magic to an alarming degree. They weave it without thought, but with a child's innocence. It is as if Satan himself simply never noticed this world in his scheming."

"Dangerous... Satan has found this place." The other man leaned closer, resulting in his floating head angling forward a bit. "The covert unit ran into heavy resistance by literal demons. Breathing fire with great leathery wings and razor sharp claws. They howled for blood and spilled a many good brother's last to the ground."

Gregor winced and drew back a step. "How terrible..." Still, he had met Spike... "Are we certain they are demons?"

"What else would they be?"

"Dragons."

The other man's brows fell in a furrow. "One fantastical suggestion for another?"

"One is a force of evil itself, another is a primeval force. To be scattered by dragons is more akin to being struck by lightning." Gregor spread his hands, palms up. "I met one. I know they live here. The one I met was quite young and friendly, but I should imagine an elder of the species could be... different."

"Save your platitudes." He righted himself, eyeing Gregor. "If they are demons, they must be fought to the last. If they are not, then it may, in some ways, be worse."

"Worse?"

His head turned to the left, then the right, then back at Gregor. "If they are strange citizens of this world, this world claimed by the Hawkwoods, then we have casually murdered Hawkwoods, and that invites retribution."

Gregor took a slow breath. What his superior spoke was truth. "Regrettable, but an easy mistake to make..." He touched his fingers together lightly. "But not one that cannot be addressed."

"And it will be," agreed his superior. "That ship landed because of an emergency. In the meanwhile, keep an ear to the ground. If they speak of the incident, be a kind mouth and smooth things. We most certainly did not fire first."

That last sentence, Gregor swiftly determined, was the official stance. It was not the truth. It was not a lie. The truth did not matter in this situation. It would be what they would say. "Of course not. Why would men of faith?" They shared a nod, in agreement with this simple truth.

"Now then, tell me more. Are they psychic? Are they sorcerers? Do they practice some strange innate theurgy?"

Gregor spread his hands. "I could not speak with certainty. It appears biological. They do not speak magic words. They do not pray. The horned ones, unicorns, concentrate and things happen, but they are not as restricted in effects as a proper 'psychic', making me slow to assign that label."

"Only they practice this magic then?"

Gregor inclined his head towards the image. "This is not entirely true. The winged ones fly with wings far too small for their body. The dragons breath fire and also fly with wings too small for their size and weight. I witnessed at least one with neither wings or horn perform strange tricks, though she was more interested in 'making friends' than any malign purpose."

"A land of cherubs."

Gregor smiled at that. "You have stolen the words from my mind, Father."

"Forbid the notion." A brow raised lightly. "Surely they are not completely innocent?"

"They are not." He crossed his arms. "As children, they have their squabbles and issues, but some among them have accepted the role of intermediaries. They are called by powerful artifacts to sources of strife to mediate and resolve them as quickly as they can, to restore what they consider the highest virtue among others."

"Now we're getting somewhere." The other man smiled thinly. "What virtues do they praise? What sins do they whisper of?"

"Harmony." Gregor made a grand gesture, slowly extending fingers. "Comprised of Honesty, Generosity, Kindness, Loyalty, Laughter, and Magic."

The frown returned. "They uphold magic as one of their cornerstones?"

"Is that surprising?" He lifted his shoulders. "By their words, it is by magic's use that their sun rises. Can we put truth or lie to that?"

"We will study it. It shouldn't be hard, one hopes..."

"One prays," Gregor agreed with a nod.

"That is no sun." He sighed gently. "A ball of fire that defies order, darting erratically around an equally mad world." He brought his hands together in view, just under his chin. "We have much work before us. Gregor, continue preaching His good word."

"That reminds me." Gregor waved a hand around aimlessly. "I will be permitting a few of them aboard, young ones. They are curious of humanity and our faith."

The dour expression lightened faintly. "Watch them carefully, most carefully... but proceed. If even one can be turned towards proper faith, that will be valuable."

Gregor raised a lone finger. "That will require one decision be made, Father. Are their souls pure enough to stand as we do before the pancreator and receive his blessings, or are they impure others, to watch from a distance?"

That was a weighty decision, and things grew quiet. Once a stance was said and spread, turning it around would be perilous, and the one speaking it would be the one to bear the weight of it. Gregor had passed that responsibility on, but it was not within his rank to make it to begin with.

Bon Bon touched noses with the sleeping Lyra. "Wake up, you."

Lyra blinked her eyes open, focusing on Bon Bon sleepily before gasping. She grabbed the earth pony mare close. "There you are! Where were you hiding last night? I can't sleep without my Bonnie pillow."

"You were just asleep," pointed out Bon Bon with a little smile, returning the hug gently. "Good morning to you too though."

Lyra rolled off the bed onto her hooves, her magic snatching up a brush. "We both need to get ready for the day. You look... like you didn't sleep all that much last night. Everything alright? Was it secret stuff?" She raised her brows as one. "It's alright if it was secret stuff. We are secret mares. You know how it is."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes softly. "It was secret stuff." It had less to do with 'official' secret stuff, but that was close enough to get the questions to stop. "I'm closing the shop for a little while." She slid from the bed and went to get a brush of her own, clenching it in her teeth and working on her pelt casually.

"You?" Lyra arched a brow. "You don't close the shop easily, especially for 'a little while' rather than, like, maybe a day, after I beg you to go somewhere." She floated her brush over and worked on Bon Bon's mane gently. "More secret stuff?"

"More secret stuff." Bon Bon stood still, allowing Lyra to groom her. It was always nice when she did that. Reaching one's own mane with a mouth-held brush was not... the most feasible thing in the world. There were ways around it for clever mares in need of style. Or you could let your wife tend to your hair and just enjoy it. She opted for that. "I have a wife," she suddenly giggled out.

Lyra burst into laughter. "Me too! What are the odds?!" She leaned in and touched noses. "And she's so super pretty I don't even know what to do. Any advice?"

Bon Bon gently rubbed noses as she gazed into Lyra's eyes. "That's a tough problem. I've been facing it too... Maybe you should just kiss her and tell her how much you love her?"

"Ooo, the direct approach!" Lyra grabbed Bon Bon's cheeks suddenly with her hooves. "I love you."

Their lips met and the kissing began. It would be a good day if the morning was any hint of it.

Twilight waved down Laud as he strode through the halls. "One moment, please. The children of the school will be visiting the priests on their ship."

He could barely contain how many ways that could go wrong played in his mind. "Are you certain that's a good idea?"

"If I don't arrange a proper meeting, they'll arrange it for me, and then we'll have to clean up the mess." She rolled a hoof. "They are very clever, and inquisitive, and will figure out a way to get in there, or get very hurt trying to figure it out. I think this is a far better way of handling it, with the priests' approval and in a way that won't end with injured students."

"I can't argue that basic logic." He dusted at his pants lightly. "How can I help? I should think you would ask the priest, Gregor."

"Way ahead of you." She smiled triumphantly. "He's working to arrange it. I just wanted to see if you could come with us when we did it. I'd feel more comfortable having a human around that I can talk to without mechanical assistance, and that I actually know. I mean, Gregor seems perfectly friendly, but how well do I know him?"

Was that a little doubt? He was glad to see she had a scrap of it. "I will stand by your side." He struck his chest with a closed fist. "We'll keep the children safe, from them, and themselves."

"Exactly what I was hoping for." Twilight tossed her head towards the dining room. "For now, let's have breakfast and enjoy the day. I'll introduce you to the students later. Meeting you properly should tame their curiosity until the official visit happens."

Author's Notes:

Time to go to work! Yep, got a seasonal job. This is a bonus update as voted on by the patreon!

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66 - Say Hello, Class

"Due to a timely suggestion of one of your classmates, we are putting together a special field trip."

The entire class collectively "ooed" at the idea, their little heads tilting towards Twilight.

"As I am sure you are all aware, we have new human guests." Twilight's horn glowed as she pulled down a screen from above, showing a basic human in a T-pose. They wore no clothes, nor did they have anything exposed that could be considered tawdry. It was just a basic drawing of their form.

Silverstream raised a talon, waving it wildly. "They're different than the first ones."

Gallus huffed softly. "Yeah, these ones have more sense."

Yona glanced at Gallus. "How more sense?"

Smolder shrugged softly. "It isn't obvious? Most of them aren't treating us like we're best buds right off the bat. We don't know them, and they don't know a thing about us. Why should we be all buddy?"

Twilight nodded softly. "They are not hostile by any means, but they are also not coming with the aims of becoming part of our family."

Sandbar tilted his head faintly. "Like that one you're family with now?"

"Speaking of him..." She turned and waved at the door. "I have a very special guest for today."

His cue spoken, Laud opened the door from the outside and stepped into the classroom, tall and proper. He closed the door with a subtle swat on the way past it, allowing it to click shut by the time he arrived at Twilight's side. He turned in a smooth pivot in place towards the students. "It is a pleasure to meet you all," he spoke in clear Ponish. "I am told this is a school of friendship."

Yona waved a cloven hoof wildly. "Yes! Yona best answer giver!"

Twilight smiled a little at that. "As Yona said, that is exactly what this school is, though we do cover many fields in addition to that. Our graduates should be ready to take on the world by the time they're done, both personally and with the help of the friends they make here and in the wider world. Now, Laud, would you introduce yourself?"

Laud bowed lightly towards the class, sweeping a hand aside. "I am Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods, husband of Twilight." He gestured towards her. "I was a pilot and young noble, seeking my place in the wider cosmos, just as you are doing here. Destiny itself, you could say, led me here, and gave me a tremendous duty and responsibility. It is one I fully intend to meet."

Ocellus timidly raised a hoof. "Excuse me, um... How do your friends, they were your friends, right? The first ones?"

"They were more than that. They were my family." He nodded softly. "Do go on."

"Yes, thank you, um, how are they different than the new ones? Are the new ones also family?"

"They are not family," he started, considering his words carefully. "They are a religious order, one that the vast majority of humans follow."

Gallus rolled his eyes. "Pass."

Smolder smirked lightly, resting her head on a lone hand. "What kinda religion are we talking here? Do we get to make sacrifices?"

The idea that the world even had knowledge of such things was a bit of a surprise to Laud. "N-no. The pancreator does not bid people to that, thankfully."

Twilight tilted her head. "Don't be so fast to deny that. You likely have some sacrificial rituals done in symbolism. Do you eat or drink particular foods with particular religious rituals? It may have its roots in older, less civilized, times."

Laud tried to wave the thought away. "Be that as it may, you will find no blood spilled across any Pancreator altar unless something has gone terribly wrong."

Yona tilted her head a little. "What about smashing something? Always good way to start things."

"When you visit the ship, you should endeavor to not smash, bump, or damage anything." Laud imagined how poorly it could go if they knocked over something precious. With hope, they would move all such things out of the line of fire of the young ones. "You are all far less surprised about the idea of religion than I expected."

Silverstream shook her head. "I don't know what that is but it sounds interesting. Will they tell us?"

Gallus rolled a hand with a bored expression. "They'll be happy to tell you if they're anything like anyone else like that ever. Can I just not go?"

Yona slapped the top of her desk with a great thud borne of yak strength. "How not go? Don't you want to see the inside? It's so big and amazing. Inside must be even better!"

Smolder smirked at Gallus, waggling her brows. "You wanna be the only one who doesn't know what the inside of their ship is like in the whole class? Sounds like someone may not be a griffon at all." She grinned all the more as Gallus went stiff. "Maybe he's more... of a chicken."

Gallus pounced right out of his chair and onto the laughing Smolder, the two falling to the ground in a sudden wrestling match.

Twilight's horn glowed as she yanked the two apart, glaring at both of them. "That's quite enough of that. If you don't want to go, you don't have to. This is not a mandatory trip. On the other hoof, this is a unique opportunity. Are you certain?" She gently set both back at their proper desks.

Gallus shrugged softly with an annoyed little snort. "Yeah, whatever. I guess I'll keep them out of trouble."

Laud pointed at the two, one finger at Gallus and the other at Smolder. "We cannot have fighting aboard the ship. Even were it not a religious thing, coming to blows in someone else's home is never appropriate."

"I couldn't agree more." Twilight nodded softly. "Leave all arguments at the door, or at least keep it to calm words. You can wrestle once you're back outside if you feel you must."

Silverstream clapped her talons, ignorant of any tension. "I want to see it all! There won't even be any time for fighting."

"Silverstream have right idea!" Yona thrust out a hoof across the aisle and Silverstream met it with a slap, the two smiling joyfully in expectation.

Sandbar rolled a hoof. "So... just making sure, they won't be angry if we don't, you know, do what they do, right?"

Twilight glanced to Laud, who answered with a nod, "they will educate you and show you. If you wish to join them, they will likely be pleased. If not, if they have any sense, they will not press things. I will be present with you, to keep things... reasonable."

Smolder hiked a thumb at Laud. "Wait, aren't you, you know, one of them? I mean, sure, you're not 'family', but that is your religion, isn't it?"

Laud did not attempt to refuse that. "I am, but my duty to my family comes first. I believe the Pancreator would not wish me to turn against what is right, and protecting you all takes higher priority. You are placing your trust in me. As a Hawkwood, I would never again be able to hold my head up if I didn't uphold that with every bit of strength I had."

The classroom shared nods and soft murmurs of agreement. The general energy of the room was high. It was sounding like it could be a fun trip.

Spike fell out of bed. His comic fell across his face. It was not a moment of clumsiness, but the sudden violent tremble that had shaken the entire castle. "What the?"

With sparkles, Starlight appeared. "Hey, Spike? You doing anything--Nope, good."

"Uh, thanks for checking before coming in." He stood up and set his comic back on his bed. "What just happened?"

Starlight waved outside. "There's... way too many dragons outside."

"What?!" Spike took flight, hovering on his wings. "Any we know?"

"Um, yeah. They called for you specifically." She trotted up to the closest window and threw it wide open. "Hey, dragons!"

An enormous eye filled the window, iris widening to take in the lesser light of the indoors. "Ah," boomed the great voice of the former dragon ruler. "There you are. Come outside this instant. Ember has come all this way to help you. Show some gratitude."

Spike blinked at the imposing... eye... "Oh, hey... Sir?"

"Dispense with the formalities. You. Out. Now."

Starlight shrugged softly. "You can see why I came straight here."

"I'm coming!"

Outside, those most loyal to Ember stood close to her. She stood on her own, trying her best to put on a brave face and ignore her injuries. Fortunately, the castle was a small distance from the town, allowing them to gather without having to scare off any ponies that came snooping around.

That didn't mean they were blind. One of them was staring at the space dock. "When did they get that?" He hiked a thumb at it. "And what's that thing poking up over the wall?"

Ember waved it away. "Focus on the current. We have bigger problems than hideous pony arch..." she trailed off, actually seeing what he was pointing towards. "By my father's roasted ribs! What is that doing here?!"

Torch craned his massive head, easily seeing over the wall and the ship landed on their pad. He burst into rough laughter. "The ponies are being invaded as well. Do you figure they'll put up a fight about it?"

Ember snorted a soft huff of smoke. "It'd involve rainbows if they do. Either way, if we weren't busy, I'd love to take another crack at them." Instead she held where her insides felt cracked. "Don't let me stop any of you if you're feeling feisty. Just be careful."

Ember's lady-dragon friend cracked a little smile. "It doesn't feel right, you know, right now. We need to... you know... visit Spike." It was a keyword for 'need to get you to a hospital right now', but she knew the delicate glass she stood on.

Torch gave a soft nod. "That is not the same one I saw before. If it were, we would not be discussing it. Spike had best have answers... Until then..." He crushed the ground beneath one of his talons in impatience.

"Hey, Torch, Ember... There are a lot of you here." Spike was jogging out of the castle, his wings twitching in the motion as if resisting the urge to lift into the air. "What brings all of you here, together?"

Ember slugged Spike on the shoulder the instant he was close enough for it. "I need a reason to visit you? You should be saying thank you, not asking why I'm here."

"You're hurt." His eyes were on her side, where her other hand clutched and shook a little. "Oh, um, you're really hurt!" The fact that he had been biffed had been entirely ignored. "Why are we standing here?!"

Ember's snout wrinkled. "What, no! I'm... not hurt that bad... but since you insist, for your sake... Which way are those stupid pony doctors?"

Spike danced from foot to foot before lifting up off of them on his relatively new wings. "This way!" He pointed into town. "Somedragon help her, she shouldn't be walking!"

"I can walk!" Ember hotly defended even as her friend gently picked her right up. "Ugh! Fine! For your sake, Spike. You are such a baby sometimes, I swear!"

The flight of dragons descended from the castle towards the town. Ponies yelped and fled from the sight of so many dragons, especially one as massive as Torch, making the way clear for them. Torch snorted softly. "If the doctors flee, I will cook them on the spot. You had best go ahead of us and ensure that does not occur, Spike."

"Yes, Sir!" He saluted sharply before fleeing ahead of them, hoping they would follow his retreating form.

As he fled in a panic, he hoped his dragon friend would be alright. "What happened to you?" There was noone there beside him mid-flight, but the question needed asking.

Author's Notes:

The dragons have arrived!

On the positive, they did not immediately attack the landed ship.

On the negative, well, here they are!

Twilight and Laud are preparing for a special field trip that can have no complications at all, for sure.

67 - Please State the Nature of the Medical Emergency

Nurse Redheart shook her head softly. "Now I need you to sit down there." She pointed up at a padded table. "Actually, lay down. Sorry, I'm used to ponies. We'll have a look at you." She turned away as Ember's friends helped get the dragon ruler into place. "The doctor will be in shortly. Can you tell me how you feel?"

Ember failed to entirely hide a wince as she was set down gently. "It's not that big of a deal... just... kinda feels a bit off here." She gestured around her right ribs with her left hand.

Redheart gasped. The motion allowed her to see the dried blood on the dragon's talons. "Were you... brawling?"

"What? No. I was way up in the air." She snorted softly. "Why?"

"Just checking." She made a casual note to check on that, confident the blood belonged to her patient. "Now, the rest of you..." Her eyes moved from one dragon to the next. The room was packed with all the dragons small enough to fit in there. She felt certain the massive one would have come in had Spike not dissuaded him. "I can allow at most one of you to stay."

They shared glances, uneasy muttering spreading through the group.

"You." Ember pointed at the she-dragon she had grown a little closer to. "Stay. Everyone else, scram!"

A proper order by the dragon lord was enough to create movement. The room emptied with a fresh wave of grumbling, but it was fast, and the room was soon empty of scales, minus two remaining.

The one that remained was not the smallest one, but also not the largest one. With pink scales, she smiled nervously. "You sure you want me?"

"Yeah..." Ember sank against the table. "Look, we're cool, right? What goes on in here, doesn't leave here. It's my business!"

"I won't say a word." She made a zipper motion with her lips. "Ember, things have gotten better, you know, with you in charge. I don't want that to change."

Ember smiled a little. "Change is what I bring, I think."

"Well keep on changing then." She rolled her eyes softly. "Imagine if Torch got really hurt. Would he ever even consider asking ponies for help?"

"Who's asking?!" She snorted a little gust of smoke. "We're just here for Spike, remember?"

"Of course." She dipped her head, letting that topic die a lonely death.

Redheart set the clipboard down gently with her teeth. "He's arriving. I'll let him do the talking and will only assist as he sees fit. Oh, here he is. Doctor..." She dipped her head as he strolled past.

Ember snorted softly. "Unicorn, that figures. Hey Doc."

"Doctor Horse," he introduced, trotting towards Ember. "Now let's see." His horn glowing, he snatched the clipboard where the nurse had left it and scanned over it. "Ooo, hmm... We need to have a closer look right away. Just sit still like that." He brought over a panel in his magic, floating it over Ember.

With a bright flash, an image of her insides came on the screen. He winced at the sight of it.

The she dragon leaned over to get a look and clapped a hand over her snout.

Ember cocked a brow. "Gee, thanks for filling me with confidence. Look, I'm the dragon lord. Patch me up and get me back out there, alright?"

Doctor Horse brought a hoof to his chin. "We'll get right on that, Miss... Ember it was? Now, could you count backwards from ten for me?" He gently set a mask over her snout.

"Is this some kinda test? Easy! 10, 9, 8..." She went limp, passing out.

The lady dragon squeaked softly. "Please tell me this is part of making her better."

"It will be." He nodded at the large dragoness. "Now, I need to get her directly into surgery, no delays. I'm afraid not even her mother is allowed in there... are you that?"

"Her mother?!" She burst into a bit of a snorting giggle, smoke escaping her snout. "Good thing she's already asleep... Look, I want to be as close as I can be. She asked me to be there."

"There's a waiting room just outside. Follow me."

Torch looked down from his lofty perch. Being as tall as he was, there were few places he could sit that did not afford him a lofty perch over all others. "Are you aware you are also being invaded?"

Spike blinked at that. "Huh, we are? What do you mean?"

Torch easily snatched up Spike and lifted him up. "There." He pointed with his other hand at the space dock. "One of their ships. It is a ship, I assume? So small..."

Spike peered down at the ship. From way up there, it did look kinda small... "They're not nearly as large as you are, Torch, Sir... They're not invading us though. They're nice enough so far as I can tell?" He shrugged a little. "What happened, you know... with Ember?"

"A lucky shot." Torch huffed out a gout of flame in irritation. "Grazed her, nothing serious. If you weren't so insisting, she would be helping you instead of wasting her time here... Really, as if they could dream of hurting her."

"Yeah..."

"She's in good talons."

Spike glanced at the pensive face of the tremendous dragon. "She is. The best we have... I don't want anything to happen to her..." He dusted himself lightly. "How did... the fight start? It was a fight, right?"

Torch's snout wrinkled a little. "Another one of those little ships touches down in the dragonlands. I thought it was a weird sort of dragon, so I go over to say hello, or at least make sure it's not some casual invading group. Surprise! it was the latter." His brows fell. "They swarmed out of it like diseased maggots from the silver beast. Other dragons heard my surprise, and it was on."

He smirked a little. "We drove them off, made them sorry they came to pick a fight with the dragons."

Spike rubbed at one arm with the claws of the opposing hand. "I'm sure you did, uh, but... are there other dragons that were, you know, 'gently grazed'? It'd be nice to have them looked at too..."

Torch's eyes focused on Spike. "Ember was right, you are soft." He suddenly drew his hand away. Fortunately Spike had wings and began to hover instead. "If it will calm the ambassador, I'll go round some of them up. You'll see with your own eyes that they're more than fine. They may be a little annoyed being called from their celebration parties. Hope you're ready for that."

Spike watched the great mountain of a dragon lift away back towards the dragon lands. "I hope they're just annoyed at me..." That'd be better than a whole collection of severely injured dragons. He considered things a moment. He couldn't help Ember more than he already had, and Torch was well on his way. He could entertain the remaining dragons... Or...

He dove towards the school. Twilight needed to be informed of what was going on.

Yona poked at Laud roughly, as was the way of yaks. "You good at smashing?"

"I prefer to focus my 'smashing' with precision." He nodded softly. "I would display it, but hurting a child is something I would avoid."

Yona snorted at that, hopping in place. "Yona not scared! We bash heads?" She angled her head towards him, brandishing her sharp horns in his direction. "Prove yaks best!"

He held up his hands with a little smile. "I would certainly lose if we competed that way. Do you know what it is to wrestle?"

"Yona not stupid." She shrugged softly. "Yona wrestle good. Want wrestle instead?"

Smolder perked a brow at the exchange. "Are you honestly going to wrestle Yona? I can think of less painful ways to end it all."

Gallus gestured at Laud's arms. "I dunno, he looks like he knows what he's doing. How about a wager? 2 bits on the human."

"Two on the yak." Smolder slapped down two coins with a feral grin.

Twilight coughed softly into a hoof. "That's quite enough of that. I didn't bring Laud here to be hurt."

Laud would not be shielded by Twilight. "Perish the thought. I will give a valuable lesson and endeavor to not hurt her while I do it. Her people value strength, yes?"

"Yes!" Yona took a strong step forward. "Are you strong? Not look strong. We see."

Ocellus ceased to be. With a rush of flames, a bell was left in her place.

Laud cocked a brow at the sudden bell. "I imagine that will be our signal to begin."

"Change-bug is funny. I like her." She clopped her forehooves together before resuming her fighting stance. "Yona is ready. Is Laud?"

"I am prepared." He took a wider stance, ready to receive the little ball of muscles and vigor.

The bell that was Ocellus struck loud and clear. Yona roared in readiness, charging at Laud with her head down and horns pointed dangerously. As she got within reach of him, he grabbed one of her horns and pivoted, directing her around himself.

She skidded awkwardly to a halt, already past him. "Hey!" She turned around in a bounce. "Stay still!" She charged wildly, her combat style not having much room for other options.

He did not repeat the tactic, instead forcing her horns down as they came. They bit into the floor and she stopped quite suddenly, planted there with the tips of her horns wedged into the ground itself. "Hey!" She yanked them free with a rough pull. "Not fair! Fight fair!"

"I don't have horns," he advised. "If you use yours, I will have to be clever."

"Fine! Will smash!" She jumped at him, her horns not joining the attack

Spike landed next to Twilight. "Uh... did I miss something?" He watched the two of them struggle. Laud had the skill, though Yona had pure power. Skill seemed to have the edge by just a little. "Important news, Twilight."

Twilight looked over at Spike, keeping half an eye on the wrestling match in progress. "Something wrong with the humans?"

"Sorta..." Spike lifted his shoulders. "Other humans landed in the dragon lands and a big fight broke out. The, uh, humans ran away in their ship, and a bunch of dragons got hurt. Ember's being seen at the hospital right now."

Fighting or not, the whisper of intrigue did not escape Laud. "By the pancreator, what?" It, unfortunately, cost him his concentration. He was suddenly thrown to the ground under the incoming mass of the young yak who was not at all interested in what Spike was sharing. The fight continued.

"Are you certain?" asked Twilight with a deep frown. "This is serious..."

"You wouldn't know it, talking to the dragons." He shrugged softly. "Bunch of blowhards are all acting like it's no big deal. Ember's really hurt! I never saw her look that bad before... I hope they can help her..."

Twilight set a hoof on his shoulder. "She's at the hospital, right?" When he nodded, she smiled. "Then she's being cared for. Let's have faith in them."

"Yeah..." He rubbed one arm with the opposing hand, standing there awkwardly. "I'm just worried... She's a friend, you know? And I thought the humans were on our side! Why are they picking fights with the dragons?!"

"That I couldn't say. Let's ask Laud... after he finishes this."

Laud and Yona were on the ground, wrestling about for dominance. Suddenly, Yona stopped. She stepped off of him and thumped her chest. "You good! Not have honorary yak hat, but maybe need it. You good at smashing? Bet you are!"

Laud righted himself, dusting his clothes of the dirt and yak hair he had collected. "I prefer to build than to destroy, but if it threatens what I have sworn to protect, then I am ready to deal with it. Excuse me, brave little warrior. I need to hear what's going on."

Smolder and Gallus peered at one another, perhaps trying to figure out who won that fight.

Author's Notes:

The patreon insists that this continue being updated, a lot. It gets more updates than some of the other stories, go fig! A hearty thank you to my supporters!

68 - Political Capital

With a look of stern disapproval, Laud marched through the town of Ponyville. He was no dragon, but he still made ponies shy away. Even those that knew him well could see the scowl on his face and the purpose in his steps. Only Bon Bon dared speak to him as he passed, "What's wrong?"

"Either the church--" He didn't pause, still walking at full speed. Bon Bon fell in line with him. "--has committed a crime on my watch, or we have a third force on this battlefield. I do not like the idea of either. Communication with my people confirms it's far more likely to be the church's doing." He swung a clenched fist as if to beat it against a house he was passing, but pulled it just shy of making contact.

"You're angry," calmly noted Bon Bon. "I don't recall seeing you this furious before."

"And why shouldn't I be? My protectorate has been attacked. My people have been hurt. If I was not, at the least furious, then every promise I have made to you and this country has been a lie and I am barely worth my weight of sorry flesh." His words, in Ponish, sounded so not angry enough in his own ears. English was a better angry language. Ah, if only he knew German...

Bon Bon dared to veer closer to her irate husband. "You are not alone. I will accompany you."

He was ready to tell her to go away, but her tone sounded serious. When he glanced, he saw her face had a stern look to match his own. She was a warrior, he had to remember. She was ready to fight at his side. He smiled a little, some of his fury fading a moment. "It is good to have you."

They approached the landing pad. Laud gestured at it angrily. "It's large enough to be visible, with effort, from space. It was no 'mistake' that would cause this."

"Tell me the facts."

A reasonable request, he decided. "They landed in the dragon's territory. A fight resulted. The humans involved fled back to space."

Bon Bon hiked a brow, a smirk on her face. "Even I would be hesitant to casually start a brawl with dragons. Still, from your expression I can safely assume it was not a one-sided lesson in humility."

"It was not. Their lord is being tended to in a hospital in town." He didn't look to her. His eyes were on the religious guards they were approaching. "Summon your minister. There are words that need to be spoken and questions in desperate search of answers."

They were on alert, only enhanced with Laud's loud request. They did not flinch or withdraw, save one. He marched up the boarding plank to the ship. Bon Bon had questions, but kept them to herself. She stood in solidarity with her husband and kept her mouth closed.

Inside the ship, Gregor was just emerging from his room, washed and wearing fresh robes. It did not do to appear before the masses looking slovenly, even if he did not attempt to look like a righteous lord. He patted his sides lightly, nodded to himself, then began walking firmly for the exit.

"Father!" A guard rushed towards him, concern on his face.

"Be at ease, My Child. What has your soul in such--"

"The Hawkwoods are here," rudely interrupted the guard. "Forgive me, but he does not appear to be pleased."

Gregor allowed himself a mild frown, but it turned into a gentle smile. "We'll see what he requires and send him on his way. We are all here for the betterment of these people."

"As is it written." The guard made a pious gesture and ducked out of the way, making room for Gregor to advance.

Gregor took the opportunity, strolling with less of his unguarded swagger. It would be of little effect on the Hawkwood. "My friends," he greeted as the light of day shone warmly upon him as he emerged from the ship. "It is too fine a day for such sour expressions. How may I disperse the miasma that hangs over things?"

Laud gestured eastward. "My lands have been attacked. All evidence speaks direly of the church's involvement. Do you have words in defense?"

"Please, please. We have broken bread together." He descended the plank at an easy pace. "Let us not forget we are friends before the fog of anger descends on us. I have received word of the unfortunate event. A ship suffered unexpected damage and was forced to land." He shook his head slowly. "Very poorly timed. They landed where they could."

Laud scowled at the religious man. "That may excuse where they landed, but does not pardon the violent engagement that followed."

Gregor quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture. "They were only defending themselves, good lord. The dragons they met; they were dragons, I believe? The dragons were not very friendly."

Bon Bon glanced aside at her husband. "That checks out," she whickered in Ponish, the rest of their conversation having been in English.

Gregor's eyes went up, scanning the sky. It was meant to be an idle gesture of calmness, that he wasn't staring at Laud or challenging him, but there was actually something up there to see. A tremendous dragon was approaching, dominating the sky and challenging the size he thought any living being could easily achieve outside of water.

Laud noticed Gregor looking suddenly very distracted. "What?" He turned his gaze to match and saw the moving mountain that was Torch approaching. He had not been briefed on Torch specifically. "That... is a very large dragon." His train of thought was derailed nicely.

Bon Bon joined the two, as did many of the guards. Grumbles spread among them. They had seen that huge thing once before. Bon Bon scowled softly. "He's... even bigger than I had guessed."

Gregor gestured. "With such... impressive stature and the strength that undoubtedly follows, the dragons were quite intimidating, I would imagine, for the poor souls that first bore witness to them."

Laud shook his head. "You met Spike. I've met another dragon earlier today. Most are not that... huge."

"Regardless." Gregor slapped the sides of his legs as if patting away dust. "We have done wrong, and we will set it right. There was no great harm inflict--"

"You injured their leader." Laud scowled. Bon Bon looked shocked a moment. "They have a lord, a queen. You have critically injured her and she is being tended to at a local hospital."

Gregor's joviality cracked a moment. That complicated things... "Is she taking visitors? I would apologize directly. To err is human, but to not accept a mistake, that is a crime before the Pancreator. I know a healing prayer or two to speed along her recovery. It is the least we can do, and not the last we will do. My friend, today a grave injustice has been done."

"I am glad to hear you accept that." Laud relaxed a little. He had expected more attempts to downplay things, but the open acceptance of how badly things had gone struck him far better. "We can visit the hospital together. Only those that labor there can tell us if she is in a shape to accept our audience or not. There are other dragons there, including the large one we just saw flying in, I should imagine?"

"Then we shall meet them all." Gregor gestured ahead. "We both have words to share. You are the speaker for humanity in this world, and we are those that forced you to have ill words to say. Come, let us not tarry any further."

Laud appraised Gregor a moment. "I'm glad you agree. I trust you will inform your superiors?"

"Of course." He dipped his head towards Laud. "They were not aware of how gravely this situation has unfolded. Would you rather I came with you, or reported?" They were both things he needed to do, and there were advantages either way. Better to give Laud some chance to call the shots.

"Come with us." He turned away, Bon Bon pivoting on her hooves to match. "Tending to the injured comes first when further injury is assured to have been prevented."

Several guards stepped forward as Gregor's feet hit the pavement instead of the plank. They fell in behind him without a word, ready to protect his sacred body. Gregor held up a hand. "Do not enter the hospital. Causing undue worry in a place of healing does not befit us. I feel safe enough in such a place."

They all nodded faintly, but said nothing. His word was accepted as law and would be followed.

They marched as one group through the town. There were more ponies up and about, not as scared of the humans as they had been of Torch's intimidating presence. Some even dared to wave at them as they passed, though some looked uncertain at the serious expressions on their bipedal friends' faces.

The hospital came into view with its cross with hearts on the corners displayed proudly. Gregor smiled gently at the sight of it. "Even their places of healing are warm and inviting; a feat very ill repeated as soon as one needs to tend to more than a handful of injured souls at once."

Laud had less time to be amused. He had seen the hospital before, even visited it as a patient. He moved for the door, only for things to grow suddenly darker. He looked up in time to see Torch landing heavily. Spike was floating beside him, keeping up.

"Glad you're back, um, Sir." Spike smiled nervously. "Send the dragons inside and the ponies will, you know, see they're barely hurt and send them on their way."

"Hmmph, the things we do for you, Spike." Torch extended a wing to the ground and the other dragons that had ridden him began to slide down. Some of them were clearly hurt, some badly enough that they didn't make the slide on their own. One of them that had made the journey dusted himself off. "Yeah yeah, whatever. It's just like you, Spike, to insist on this."

"Nice to see you too, Garble." Spike landed near the teenage dragon. "You don't look too bad."

"Cause it ain't. Just a little nick, see?" He held up a hand where a gash ran across the length. "It's nothing..."

Spike winced at the sight. "Oh, uh... Not life threatening, sure, but head on inside." He hiked a thumb. That goes for all of you."

"You ain't the boss of me." He shoved Spike aside, but went on into the hospital, the others trailing along behind.

Torch lowered his head closer to Spike, but aborted any words for him, noticing the crowd of humans also milling there. "I had meant to speak with you." His claws dug furrows in the ground. "Are you related to the ones that we had a little tussle with?"

Laud held up a hand quickly. "I am not, but I accept responsibility for allowing this to happen within my domain. I should have protected you--"

A huge hand came down between Laud and the others, casually nudging him away from the rest. "Right, rest of you?"

Laud looked quite irate, but perhaps had enough sense to not start back talking Torch.

Gregor dipped his head. "We are all related by faith. It is with heavy hearts that we offer apologies for such unseemly behavior."

Torch blinked softly. "Huh? You already getting spoiled by the ponies? I expected more fighting and arguing." He stroked his considerable chin. "Either way, you hurt my daughter! Sure, it's not... a big thing, but that doesn't matter! A single scale out of place is enough reason for me to raze a countryside!"

Gregor bowed his head lower. "We are mortally ashamed. We will not rest until this wrong has been made right once more. One should expect nothing less from men of faith. Please do not take it out on this land. The ponies had nothing to do with this grave injustice." He righted himself. "There is one question I have, if I may?"

"What... is that?"

"Why did you attack first?" He held up his hands placatingly. "This is an unsure time between alien people--"

"I saw some big silver beast making all manner of noise as it zoomed onto our lands. I thought it was roaring..." He rubbed behind his head. "I figured a good little grapple would show it who's on top around there. It usually works..."

Laud and Spike shared a mutual moment of their hand against their face.

Author's Notes:

The dragons did attack first.

Things may end amiably?

Another patreon requested bonus chapter! This story will not die!

69 - Reparations

"She's waking up," noted Red Heart.

Like a magic spell, the larger dragon was in the room in an instant, scrambling to her lady's side in time to be there when those reptilian eyes blinked open slowly.

Ember focused on her newfound dragon friend and dared a little smile. "Why do I feel worse in some ways? Did they mess up?"

"Glad to see you awake." The she-dragon bobbed her head. "You were... um... hurt a little--" She held up a hand, two claws ever so close together. "--a tiny bit more than we thought. They... said it would take a while to recover. Stupid pony medicine--" She laughed nervously. "--right?"

Ember pulled herself slowly into a more upright position, using the head of the bed for support. "Look, it's... just us two. I... mighta been hurt more than I was letting on."

"No!" gasped out the dragoness as if genuinely surprised. "You looked fine!"

"Stop that." Ember smirked at the dragoness. "Hey, Nurse!"

Red Heart poked her head in. "Do you need anything?"

"Yeah, a cup of water would be really nice, and, uh, tell that doctor I said thanks."

As the nurse fled, the dragoness looked at Ember with clear confusion.

"It's how ponies work. They like being told 'please' and 'thank you'." She made quotes in the air in the proper parts, rolling her eyes. "They get all warm and happy when you baby them. Hey, what's going on? Besides me, obviously."

"Your father brought other dragons." She rubbed behind her head. "They're all being seen. Some of them just got big bandaids and stuff. Some of them are resting, you know, like you are. A few... aren't moving at all."

Ember cocked a brow. "What, like they're still asleep?"

"Forever asleep," sighed out the dragoness. The somber moment was utterly ruined when a belch rose from within her and she burst into a little laugh. "Remember when I wanted burps to be the official greeting?"

Ember smiled faintly, but it was soon lost. "How many were lost?"

"O-oh, four." She held up as many fingers, wriggling her claws. "Torch said that wasn't so bad for a real fight. He blames it on the ponies for making the whole thing soft."

Ember suddenly brought down a fist on the end table that rested beside her bed. She had meant to be forceful, but it was more of a dull thump in her weakened state. "This is my fault."

"You didn't hurt them." The dragoness shrugged softly. "How can it be your fault?"

"I waited." Ember let out a slow breath. "I waited and I denied and hoped it would all go away, and instead of the problem going away, we lost people. Who knows how many of them could have been saved, here. If even one of them could have been treated, I am their killer."

"No!" She said the word with much more feeling. "No! Stop that! You're a good leader!"

"I could be better." Ember slowly turned herself, her feet dangling off the bed. "I will be better. Tell the lazy jerks waiting outside to get back to the dragonlands. I want to see a hospital by the time I get back. Ask the ponies for help in how to build one, take one, if the pony agrees to go."

The dragoness imagined a pony living with dragons long enough to build a hospital even half as nice as the one they were in. "That'll be tough for them... Ponies are so soft and... delicate?"

"I don't care... This can't happen again, ever. If someone's hurt, they get treated, end of story!"

"As you wish it, Dragon Lord." She dipped her head respectfully, then pointed. "Your scepter." It was lying on the same end table Ember had lightly bumped. "I'll be right back."

"Hey."

"Yeah?" She aborted her departure to look over her shoulder.

"Thanks." Ember began to settle back on the bed, lying down about as slowly as she had first risen up. "For being a friend and a good person in general."

"Not a problem, Ember." She rubbed behind her head a little. "I never had a friend before."

"Get used to it." She yawned widely. "We're gonna do all kinds of friend stuff, once I'm better."

"Is... that good?"

"Ask Spike, he's an expert on friend stuff." She closed her eyes, the discussion over as far as she was concerned.

Torch was watching each figure that came and went from the hospital, diminishing traffic somewhat with his imposing presence. "So how are you going to pay us back. You did mention that."

Gregor gestured to the hospital. "That will be decided by your dragon lord. That is the title, is it not?"

"Yeah..." He watched another pony scurry past into the hospital. "She better be satisfied..."

Gregor took note of something, looking distracted a moment. "I'm afraid the blessing that allows me to speak your tongue is fading. It was a kindness on his part that it persisted as long as it did. I will return to our ship, but remain available. Send word when she has awoken and is available for visitors, that I may tend her wounds."

"Yeah yeah." Torch waved him off, barely paying attention as he saw a dragon emerge from the building. A purple-pink one, bipedal but showing signs of maturing into a heavier quadruped frame in some ways. He ignored the withdrawing humans. She had his focus. "Any news?"

She jumped at his booming voice. "Oh, hey... Torch... She's awake, and she gave an order."

Torch snorted, smoke escaping his nostrils. "That's my girl. What'd she demand?"

The dragoness waved at the motley group of dragons. "She said to go home. She also said to make a hospital." She rubbed behind her head. "She said to take a pony if you can find one that's willing to help."

Garble raised a brow. "A namby pamby hospital? Why would we do that?"

"Because she said so?" proposed the dragoness with a shrug. "She's the dragon lord."

"Pfft, whatever. I can stack a few rocks if it'll make her happy." He took to the air, flying off with his bandaged hand and no seeming appreciation for the skill that allowed it.

Other dragons grumbled and muttered, many joining Garble in departing for the dragon lands. Torch shrugged softly. "I'm not afraid to admit I have no clue how to do that. A dragon hospital shouldn't be like this anyway." He waved at the pony hospital. "Give us a nice big cave with some warm lava pits to relax in... Now that sounds like a good place to recover."

Of the dragons left, they nodded in agreement. That sounded like a nice place. The dragoness friend of Ember raised a claw. "Well, she didn't say what kind of hospital exactly, why not make that?"

Torch squinted at the little dragon. "You may have a point... Let's do that. She'll be so impressed by it when we're done she'll forget all about this..." He put a hand on the roof of the little building that couldn't hope to treat half the dragon populace. "C'mon, we've wasted enough time, and she's good enough to give orders." Which meant she'd be fine, it seemed. He lifted into the air and soon led the other dragons away, leaving Ember's friend behind.

Left alone, she realized there was still a missing step... Dragons didn't know how to... do whatever it is doctors and nurses did... "Hmm..." She hadn't been ordered to fix that, but she dared to step away from the hospital anyway. She fixed eyes on the gleaming, and delicious looking, castle. That was where the Pony Lord lived, er, princess. Right, they had princesses, not lords. Silly ponies. She snorted a giggle to herself as she took flight towards it.

Laud was just in front of the same castle. Spike was with him. "How do dragons vary so... wildly in size?"

Spike shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. If it helps, I think Torch is one of a kind. Can you imagine if Ember ever got that big?"

Laud thought of the slender she-dragon becoming a huge craggy beast with horns bigger than his entire body. "I would prefer not to. She is his... daughter? The resemblance is difficult to see."

Spike laughed merrily at that. "Yeah, I thought the same thing. You know, maybe she's adopted?" He put a hand behind his head. "I mean, I don't dare suggest the idea, or ask... or imply to much anyone..."

"You just did to me," noted Laud with a raised brow.

"Yeah, because I trust you to keep your mouth closed, and to protect me if it came to that." He gave a double thumbs up at his human friend. "Still, I guess, it doesn't change much one way or the other."

"You are right on that count. Were I to accept someone as my child, then that is that. By blood or oath, they would be my child and woe be unto any that would question it. A lord can bequeath their title and land to an adopted son or daughter, I fail to see how it can be considered lesser in most cases." He tapped one arm with the fingers of the opposing hand. "But enough of that."

"Yeah, that's a dead end." He shrugged lightly. "You think the dragons are behaving themselves? Should I have left?"

"They didn't seem eager to cause trouble." He shrugged lightly and gestured in the vague direction of the hospital. "They may be aggressive warriors, but even those will be slow to attack a place that is treating others of their tribe. I would not have joined you if I had less than full faith in that. I would worry more for anyone else that dared to interrupt the peace there."

Spike snorted a chuckle at that. "You have a point. Hey, here comes one." He pointed to the incoming dragoness. "Hey, I remember her. She was there at the dragon lord challenge, uh, I mean, basically all the dragons were, but I saw her."

Laud considered the purple-pink form of the dragon that landed just in front of them. "Good day," he greeted. "If you're looking for your lord, she's over there." He pointed the way to the hospital.

"No, I just came from there." She smiled awkwardly. "Hey, Spike. You know lots of ponies, right?"

Spike nodded quickly. "Yeah sure, tons of 'em. Are you looking for a specific one?"

She shrugged lightly. "Yeah sorta. We need a pony that can teach a dragon how to be a nurse or a doctor."

Spike stiffened at the idea. "Oh... wow. First you'd need a dragon that wanted to be a nurse or a doctor."

"You have a point," she admitted dejectedly, sighing. Suddenly she perked. "What if I started? Ember wants to get back, I know it. If I became a nurse, I could watch her and help while she recovers."

Spike blinked at the large young-adult dragoness. "You'd do that?! That's really big of you."

She puffed out her chest, looking down at Spike. "I am pretty big compared to you," she half-giggled. "So of course it is. How do I start?"

Laud smiled at the awkward but genuine efforts being put forward. "I commend your loyalty. Your lord should be proud to have such a faithful subject. Follow me. Twilight has innumerable books."

The dragoness stuck out her tongue, belching out a grunt of displeasure. "I have to read?! Nurses have to read too?!"

Laud held up a hand, not willing to see that good thing put to rest so easily. "Come forward. I'll read to you. To see this advance, that is the least I could do."

"That sounds better." She followed him into the crystal castle. "Coming, Spike?"

He waved them off. "Hm? Nah! I'm already an ambassador, no time for being a nurse. Good luck though! I'm sure you'll be the best dragon nurse ever."

That wouldn't be a high bar to reach.

Author's Notes:

That dragoness is doing all she can. She deserves a name.

What is she called? The show never named her.

Behold as the series only put forward by votes refuses to die! Thanks, Patreon!

70 - Friendly Meetings

Maar let out a soft grunt, too tired to make it a proper belch. "Are we done yet?"

"I'm afraid not." Laud looked up from the book he had been reading. "To administer medical aid is no simple task."

"A boring task, yes. Simple, no." She crossed her arms and leaned back on her chair. "Why would anyone bother with this?"

"Because you want to help your leige, Dragon Lord Ember."

"Oh yeah..." She sat back up with a little nod. "Alright, for her, I guess... Speaking of that, what are things friends do? She threatened me with doing friend things when she was feeling better." Before Laud could answer, she kept on talking, "I meant to ask Spike, but I forgot, and then he was gone."

Spike had made good his escape, rather than assist in the medical lessons. Laud inclined his head. "It means doing things that both people find fun or engaging to do. Sometimes this interest may veer more towards one or the other, but the best times are when the activity interests both friends."

"Oh, huh." She stroked her chin a little. "So if we enjoyed some lava skies together, that's friend stuff, or we compared our best gems?"

Laud was uncertain he wanted to know about lava skies. "Yes, precisely. Shall we continue?" He resumed the next lesson, dedicating to making the world's first draconic medical professional.

"Good Morning," greeted a strange male voice.

Ember was awake instantly, sitting up with a grunt to see one of those strange creatures. "You!" She glanced beyond Gregor, seeing no others. "Just one of you? You must be pretty confident."

Gregor brought his hands together, fingertips meeting first. "I come bearing no ill-will, of this I assure. My deepest of apologies for the harm that befell you. By the grace of the pancreator, I would like to sooth that pain."

Ember hiked a brow at that, throwing her legs over the side of the bed to sit more properly. "Who are you, let's start there."

"I am Father Gregor, a man of faith, here to correct a mistake. My people dealt you an unjust blow." He dipped his head towards her. "I would like to undo some of that damage."

Ember smirked a little viciously. "Yeah, sure, we dealt you a few blows too." As tragic as the loss of four dragons was, she was certain they had gotten more than that in that intense little battle. "Not planning revenge?"

"It is we who intruded on your land, though not intentionally. We should have approached in peace, but they did not, and the price was paid. I pray for their souls, but would not recommend vengeance."

She slowly stood up, not wanting to be any more below the strange male than she had to be. "You talk a little strangely. Well, fine, Gregor was it? What do you want to do?"

"I will tend to your wounds, if you allow it. I am also to speak of reparations. We were in the wrong, and we will not be known to leave such things standing." Of course, were it a more secured world, the church could attack someone and get away with it entirely, but this was far from a major world, where such things could be cleanly swept away. "I would wish to see to your wounds first. Every moment of pain is a sin of our doing."

"More funny words." She hiked a brow. "We can start with 'sin'? After that, I'm already bandaged up. I'll get better, just takes, you know, time and stuff." She shrugged emphatically. "Appreciate the thought, but there isn't much more to it."

"A simple matter." He sank, sitting on a wide-bottomed chair that ponies preferred. He perched on the edge rather than fall into it. "A sin is wrongful act. If I were to steal that." He nodded towards her scepter. "That would be a sin. To have hurt your people, also a sin. They injure the soul."

"Yeah, alright..." She figured she understood it well enough. "So you done messed up and you want to make nice, sure, I can... get that." She quietly pushed the humans closer to ponies on the scale of badassitude. "So how do you plan to do that?"

He drew a small book from his loose clothing. "I will say a prayer and, god willing, I will lay my hands on you, bidding the injuries to depart your undeserving body to trouble you no further."

"You have healing magic? Get out!" Her suspicion turned to interest. "Even ponies don't have that, and they claim to be the masters of magic around here. Hit me up with some of that so I can get back to work and ditch this place." She felt quite ready to not laze around in a bed a moment longer if she could avoid it.

Gregor rose to his feet with a jovial expression. "Fantastic." He had expected more resistance, but saw no reason to question the good turn of fortune. "Now, either lie down or stand still as I read the prayer. It's usually easier to lie down."

"I'm not that hurt," she huffed, crossing her arms and remaining standing. "Besides, soon I won't be hurt at all."

And the prayer began, reading of the words of Amalthea, the patron saint of healing and bidding just a small fraction of their divine power could be seen once again. He drew a small bottle clearly labeled in Urthish to be holy water and gently dabbed it onto his fingers to then apply with feather touches to where the injuries were worst.

"I can feel it," reported Ember with a grin, casually ignoring the religious facets of the ritual. "You're good at this." She suddenly snatched her scepter from where it had been resting. "I'm ready to get out of here, but first." She swung the scepter around to point at Gregor. "You promised to make up for being a bunch of jerks."

He had not been able to fully complete the ritual, but she was clearly feeling good enough with what had been done, so he didn't press the matter. "We are prepared to deliver reparations. A modest sum of coins, to show our sincerity, and I will continue administering to any of your people still present." He tucked away the book and the bottle, to instead draw a jingling pouch.

Ember snatched the bag and pulled the top open to peer inside. "Huh, phoenix?" She pulled one coin out and flipped it over. "And one of you. Cheeky... What's it good for? Pretty sure none of the ponies want it."

He gestured towards the bag she held. "Those coins are accepted across the universe. Wherever you would find us, you can purchase things. Perhaps things beyond even your imagination."

"Yeah..." She hiked a brow, looking thoughtful. "Yeah... I'll keep it then. You do that magic thing." She waved a hand around vaguely. "Get all the other dragons out of here and we'll chalk the whole thing up to a damn lesson on both sides."

"An appropriate statement... It was perhaps a damning lesson." He dipped his head and turned for the exit. "Shall we leave together?"

"That sounds like a great idea." She marched with him out of the room, her aches down to a mild soreness that she could ignore safely. "Hey, where do we spend these coins of yours?"

"There is a landing pad close by. I can show it to you. That is where my people and others will land, ready to trade for those coins."

"Get out." Ember frowned a little. "Figures the ponies got that hook up before anyone else even had a clue about it..."

"Hey!" shouted Ember into the castle. "Where are all of you hiding?"

"Ember!" Maar came rushing into the area on rapid wings. "You're walking?!"

"Blame the humans." She hiked a thumb. "What have you been up to? Did those idiots get started on the hospital?"

"They flew off to do that," reported Maar, gesturing back at Laud who was just arriving. "He was showing me how to be a nurse. Did you know nurses have to read, a lot?"

"You've been reading?" asked Ember with a doubtful expression. "Oh, hey, you're... the one that's hitched to Twilight, right?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, yes." He looked over the small form of Ember, lord of dragons. "A pleasure to make your proper acquaintance. Feeling better?"

"Night and day," she easily agreed, stomping a foot. "Hey, you know what this is?" she produced a coin from the bag that was dangling from her hips.

"A firebird." He reached for it, but Ember wasn't allowing that, snatching it away. Laud continued without making a fuss, "It's the most common currency, and most easily spent."

"Well I got a bunch of them." She jiggled her hips, making the bag jostle around with a load of clinking. "What's the best way to spend 'em? Gregor showed me where the landing pad was, but the people there right now aren't really up for trading."

Laud tensed. What had he missed while tutoring Maar? "How did you come to have that?"

"Gregor gave 'em as a 'Sorry we were stupid jerks' gift. He also patched up all the dragons left in the hospital, so they're heading home, which is what we should do, after you answer my question." She pointed at him with her scepter. "How's it work?"

Laud gestured to her bag. "Hold onto that for now. I'll have word sent when proper traders arrive. Come back when they are here and they will gladly exchange your coins for their goods. I advise you allow me to accompany you. You don't know the proper value of things, and they may try to take advantage of that."

"Hmmm, sure... so I can't do anything with them right now?"

"Ember!" Spike flew down the stairs with a big smile. "You're alright!"

"As if I'd be taken down by a bunch of hairless fops." She hiked a thumb at Laud as she smirked at Spike. "I'm all better now."

"Great! Wow, you look way better." Spike landed in front of her, his eyes falling to her bag. "What's that?"

"Their money." She wiggled her thumb at Laud. "Which I can't use, 'cause their traders aren't here. Lame."

Spike rubbed behind his head. "Bet you could trade it with Twilight. She'd love to have some human money."

Ember's eyes lit with possibility. "Would she now...? Well, maybe I can delay returning for just a little bit. Maar, you're free to go home."

Maar shook her head. "I'm not done learning."

Ember went still a moment before shaking her head. "That was not a statement I expected out of your mouth, basically ever... yeah, keep on learning." She shrugged her shoulders and holstered her scepter. "Now where's that pony princess?"

Yona stomped from one hoof to the next, a big smile on her face. "Tomorrow!"

Ocellus nodded in much more subdued agreement. "Have you ever been inside of one of those things?"

Gallus hiked a brow. "If she had, she would have been rambling about it, on top of everything else she's been gushing about."

"We will be first!" Yona cried joyfully. "We see inside, nocreature else does. Not excited? How not excited?!"

Smolder shrugged softly. "I got to see Ember." Her tone did not carry much assurance that it was positive.

Gallus looked over to the dragon. "Yeah? You don't sound too happy about it."

"You should know. A meeting with your 'caretaker' isn't always all flowers and smiles." Smolder threw up a hand, the other holding the elbow of that arm. "She wants me to basically be a spy for her, keep track of everything I see in there. Every. Thing." She huffed softly, a little smoke escaping.

Sandbar shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, we're supposed to write a report anyway. Yours is just more likely to get an A now, right?"

Author's Notes:

Ember accepts the offers of humble apologies. Was that wise on her part?

71 - Field Trip

"The apology was accepted." Gregor was bowed to the one he was speaking to, even if they were not technically in the same room.

"Excellent, then this matter is settled." A soft grunt of a noise came over the line, a momentary scowl passing over the man's hovering face. "The Hawkwoods are quite the nuisance, but this... No matter, it is done. Have you had any new observations?"

"I have." Gregor made a subtle gesture, waving a few fingers outwards. "The people seem... unformed. They are like children, even the dangerous ones. Their mightiest of leaders see the world through naive eyes, full of simple joy. I am led to believe, thus far, that they simply never developed the need for the... intricacies, we have grown accustomed to."

"A world of..."

"Have you made your decision?" Gregor looked up to the face of the man he spoke to.

"If we deny that they do not at least reflect his light, we deny much of his glory. They work in peaceful harmony. Even the most violent of them, easily turned to more peaceful ends, preferring harmony to not." A smart clap came over the link, though his hands were not in view. "Our choice seems to be made for us, but I have not made any lasting decision, no. I have a task for you."

Gregor dipped his head. "I am ever ready."

"You do us proud. Learn which of them casts that light and shines it so brilliantly across the rest. Is it internal or a reflection from above? You imply they simply exist in a state of blissful grace, but I am not ready to accept that, yet. They must have religious leaders, even if they do not see them that way. Who guides their morality?" His head inclined forward. "Find this."

"As you wish." Gregor threw a hand off to the side. "Their young visit tomorrow. Perhaps that will be enlightening to us while we show them. I feel we should--"

"--I trust you in this." The man smiled thinly. "Handle it well, and learn. I must go."

They bowed, even if one of them was simply just a tilting of their floating head. The image faded, leaving Gregor alone with his thoughts. "Hmm..." He had to ensure the next day went perfectly. He would delight and educate, and perhaps gain a new follower? Dare he hope for two?

"Hey, you in here?" Spike leaned in from outside the reading room, of which Twilight had many. "There you are." He flew in with a pony trailing behind him. "Maar, Laud, I have a special treat."

Maar hiked a brow. "Good, I could use a little break."

Laud looked less enthusiastic about the interruption, looking past Spike to the pony. She had white fur and pink hair and a red cross with little pink hearts around it. She was adorable, and smiling. "Does it involve her?"

The mare nodded. "Spike was telling me that there was a dragon that wanted to be a nurse bad enough to let some alien read a book to them."

Maar blinked at that. "Yes, that is what I did... That is how you become a nurse, right?"

"Not exactly." The pony gestured to Laud with a hoof. "Thanks for the help, Sir, but I'll take it from here."

Laud did not move to depart just yet. "I remember you... Nurse... Red Heart, wasn't it?"

"Redheart, all together, but yes. That's me, and learning from an actual nurse will work a lot better than having a bunch of boring words read to you by someone else who has no idea what they really mean in practice. Again, thank you, but I have this."

Maar clapped her hands eagerly. "Spike, thanks! Wow, an actual nurse?" She rose to her feet to inspect Nurse Redheart properly. "You even look like a nurse..."

"I dare say you have a good look for it too." Nurse Redheart trotted up to Maar with a smile. "I like that pink shade."

"Lavender," argued Maar with a twisting of her snout. "Still, uh... thanks?" She wasn't complimented on her color often, and by a pony? "Are you really going to show me how to be a nurse?"

"Honey, by the time we're done, you'll be the best dragon nurse ever." Not that she expected that would be a hard goal to reach.

"Yes!" Maar seemed ignorant of any subtlety there, pumping a fist. "And less reading. See you later, Laud."

Laud had been dismissed... "My student has surpassed me." Not that he ever professed to be medically inclined. "Spike, let's talk."

He walked out of the room with Spike, leaving Maar and Redheart to begin their lessons. "Tomorrow, I bring the children to the church's ship. I would like to entrust a secret mission with you."

Spike's attention was immediately grabbed. "Secret mission you say?"

"Of utmost importance." He crouched to be more on Spike's level. "I want you to attend, as a student. Beyond that, you must listen and remember. You will be my eyes and ears. If they attempt to speak to you of things outside of my view, I will know, because you will tell me. You will protect them."

"Huh, so... I'm a spy? Neat... Should I dress for that?"

Laud smiled a little. "No attire that makes you look like a spy would make you a good spy, Spike. Come just as you are, with the others. If you are in the position to protect the others from some threat, then do so. I trust you, as Twilight's squire, even if she has not officially granted the title."

Spike's eyes grew wider. "Woah... I mean, does that get me a sword too?" He hiked a thumb at Laud's dangling blade. "Squires get those, right?"

"Make good on this mission and we will speak further." He envisioned a small sword fit for Spike's size. "Tell me, how quickly do dragons grow?"

Spike shrugged softly. "Got me. I was raised by ponies, remember? Anyway, uh, thanks, for trusting me. This shouldn't be... too bad, I mean, I really don't know what's going on, just like the rest of them. All I have to do is look amazed and ask questions, just like them, right?"

"Precisely. Be curious, be attentive, and report. Do not speak to me during the trip except as a student. Save any intelligence you gather until we are well away, unless you feel it is a threat to the students."

Spike saluted sharply at that. "Sir, yes, Sir!" He flew away with a giggle, seeming quite enthusiastic about his mission.

Bon Bon, AKA Agent Sweetie Drops, was asleep. She felt certain of this fact. She sat on a pillow that was somehow both perfectly sized for her, and yet infinitely large.

There was a presence. She had no idea what it was, but she felt safe, even sheltered. "Hello," she bade it, knowing it was listening.

"Hello, Bon Bon," replied the voice. She couldn't pick out what voice it had. In the logic of dreams, she knew it had greeted her, and that was enough. "It is time."

"It is time," she calmly agreed, not knowing what time it was, but it certainly was time. She couldn't argue it. She could feel it.

"Another thread to a dazzling tapestry... This one has a kink, but the tapestry will only gain character, perhaps."

"Character," she agreed, twitching an ear. "Wait, what? What do you mean?"

"We must select a name."

"Oh! Yes, a name, of course." That made no logical sense, but she was dreaming, and it seemed to make sense at the time. "A name..."

"Helping Hand," spoke the voice.

"Bright Eyes," countered Bon Bon.

"Star Child."

Bon Bon frowned softly. Something about that name... "What are we naming?"

"It's alright."

And it was.

Bon Bon would not remember speaking to that entity, only awakening with the name burning bright in her mind.

She awoke with a loud gasp.

"Mmm?" Lyra perked up an ear and cracked open an eye. "G'morning."

"Mm?" Twilight rolled over and fell out of bed, nowhere as close to the center of the bed as she was used to. "Oof! Good morning to me too." She snorted as she sat up.

Bon Bon was trembling, a hoof to her head. "But... but... I... This can't..."

Lyra sat up, the blanket falling free of her to crumple against her. "Hey, what's wrong? You look awful. Bad dream?"

Bon Bon looked to Lyra, then down at Twilight, and back. "I... had a naming dream."

Both mares were struck wordless. There was only one reason for a mare to have a naming dream.

Laud led the students, plus Spike, across the pavement of the landing pad. "Stay close together. Do not touch anything that you have not been specifically invited to do so."

Yona was almost bouncing, half-pronking as well as her heavier set body allowed. "Eeee!" she squealed with unintelligent excitement.

Ocellus looked over the people standing guard in front of the ramp that led up into the ship. "They look... serious."

Gallus elbowed Smolder lightly. "And she looks stupid excited."

Smolder barked out a laugh at that. "Emphasis on the first part. Hey, Yona, keep it together."

Silverstream was walking alongside Spike. "You don't normally come with us, but it's nice to have you here, Spike. What are you looking forward to seeing most?"

"Good question." He rubbed his chin. "Also, I'm just as much a student as the rest of you when it comes to these guys. I suppose I wanna see how similar they are to the last set of humans or if they're way different."

"Good call." Silverstream bobbed her head, prancing mid-step. "I barely got to see the last ones though... You'll tell me when there's a difference?"

Spike thumbed up emphatically, getting an excited squeal from the hippogriff.

"You've arrived." Gregor descended the ramp with a big smile and his calm walk. "Look at all of you." If he had not known they were harmless, it would be so easy to cast them all as demons at first sight, all so colorful and alien, but they also had very human smiles on their faces, which was almost... uncanny.

"Are you all prepared to learn today?"

"Yes!" Yona bounced in place.

"Yeah yeah." Smolder shrugged with less enthusiasm.

Sandbar stepped forward. "Hey, uh..."

"Father Gregor," he introduced. "And you are, my child?"

"Uh, I'm not your foal. That would be strange..." He shook his head. "But nice to meet you, Gregor. I'm Sandbar, so what are we doing exactly?"

"I am a father to any person that seeks the light," he gently corrected. "Today I will guide you all through the ship." He gestured back towards it. "I'll explain what it is we do and how we do it." He met eyes with Laud, giving a subtle nod, but most of his attention was on the little ones. "Are you ready?"

With a chorus of affirmative responses, he turned and began to lead the way up the ramp towards his ship. "I've gone to lengths to ensure that your little hearts can explore as you see fit. All things of a... fragile nature... have been secured. If you see it, you may examine it."

Laud let out a little sigh of relief at the news. That was one less calamity that could befall the trip. "You heard him, but that doesn't mean you can be rude. They are allowing us into their home, treat it with respect."

"Mister Mountbatten speaks wisely. One should always respect the homes of those they visit." He arrived at the top and gestured inside. "As I am a visitor of your fine town. That is your school there, is it not?" He indicated the friendship school still in sight despite the tall walls that tried to block the view.

"Yes," quickly replied Yona, but she was not even glancing that way. She moved right past him to start feasting her eyes on the inside of the ship. "Oooo."

Author's Notes:

What name was decided?

Spike is recruited at the last minute in a matter of importance! This will go well, yes?

72 - Divine Sights

The ship had been arranged quite purposefully for the visit. Doors that led to where there were no things Gregor wanted to show off were simply closed, and did not open when the students approached. The others were either already open or opened themselves quietly upon approach.

In the accessible rooms, the displayed items were sturdy and easily enjoyed even by immature eyes. Yona had rushed right in, eyeing a statue of a saint that stood with a sword clasped in her hands, the tip embedded in the ground in front of her. "Who this? Look important." She was circling around the statue, gawking openly.

Despite being an obvious warrior, she was dressed more like Gregor, as if the kindly human had one day decided to pluck up a weapon and get serious with it.

"That is Amalthea, one of my favorites." Gregor dipped his head towards the statue, offering supplication without thought. "She is not normally depicted armed, but even the kindest of us must defend us and ours at times. She is a patron saint of healers, who spent much of her living days easing the hurts of all around her."

Sandbar's eyes wandered up and down the human statue. "That's kind of cool. Kinda like Meadowbrook. We have statues of her too."

Gregor seized on that with a bright smile, "how far we had to come, just to find we are like estranged brothers instead of true aliens. I would hear more of your patron of healing, but let's save that for later." He gestured for the next room and they began to separate from the statue with the unspoken promise of other things to see.

Laud inclined his head towards the statue, giving a silent prayer on the way past. It was a subtle gesture, but not one that went unnoticed by their alert and smiling host.

In the next room, books were arranged in a neat pile, about a dozen of them. There were paintings hung on the walls of alien vistas, portraying great moments of religious history. "Please, take one. These are basic primers on our faith." They were field bibles, essentially, with the core prayers and tenants any commoner might need on a day to day basis. "They are yours to keep, if you like."

Spike was the first to pluck one up, casually flipping through it with a soft thoughtful noise.

Laud drew out one he already had, though he had not displayed it very often in his time on the planet. "Still intact."

"Sir Hawkwood, I feel I owe you an apology." Gregor slapped him on the shoulder before reaching out an arm as if offering an embrace. "I feared you might have lost your way, so distant, but I should have trusted the strength of the Hawkwoods."

Laud was off-balance for a precious moment before thought returned. He returned the pat a bit more gently, but didn't go for the hug. "I am still faithful, Father. The Pancreator has chosen to show me amazing new things, but that only makes me all the more awed by what He has created. When I am baffled and lost, I remind myself that I am only human, and to not know is part of my fate."

"Excellently spoken." Gregor turned to the students, his hands wide. "Have you ever felt that? Put before something that just defied explanation?"

Silverstream frowned softly. "Oh, gosh, all the time..."

Yona shook her head. "Yaks are good at understanding, most of time."

Smolder nudged Gallus lightly, snorting softly. The two seemed to get the irony of the spoken statement without any words passing between them.

Spike tucked the book away. "I mean, yeah. When Twilight and I get called off to save Equestria, it feels like we see crazy things half the time. But we can usually handle it."

A brow went up subtly on Gregor's face. "We are not the Pancreator, so we can never say we truly know everything, and that's alright. Some things we were simply not meant to know, and other things we were meant to find. Tell me, if you would, what do you do when faced with the unknowable?"

Yona raised a hoof to her chin, looking unusually thoughtful. "Is it bigger than Yona?"

Spike hiked a thumb at Laud. "I'd probably ask someone else about it, like Laud, or Twilight."

Smolder shrugged with a soft smirk on her face. "Is it trying to eat me? Get away or set it on fire, otherwise who cares?"

Gallus suddenly got a wicked look on his face. "You didn't get away or set the school on fire, and it was pretty weird when we first got there. Sounds like somecreature messed up."

"Hey! That was different!"

Silverstream waved a taloned hand excitedly. "Get my friends!"

"Fine ideas, though I can't speak too strongly in favor of setting things on fire as a default response." Gregor nodded softly at the students, categorizing them silently by how they had been acting up to then. "But, sometimes, you can't do those things. Your friends are not there, mentors, busy or absent. It can't always be fought or fled from. Sometimes you just have to be awed, for that is our fate."

He gestured to one of the paintings. "I can feel that way sometimes looking on these. I was not there when these events first transpired, and to think on them fills me with that sense of awe, to know people of faith had to be so very brave in the face of things. Awe can lead you towards the light, to the better. We must not turn away from that light, however much it fills you with that feeling."

Sandbar sat on his haunches, clopping his hooves softly. "I get that. It's Destiny. You guys aren't that weird at all. You just have different names for things."

"The truths of the universe do not change so easily," agreed Gregor as he began leading the way towards the next room, his smile a little more relaxed. The trip was going quite well, as far as he could tell.

"Say 'ahh'." The doctor slipped a strip of something under Bon Bon's extended tongue and she drew it in as she closed her mouth. "Now we just wait a few moments... So... who's the lucky stallion?"

Bon Bon's cheeks brightened, but she did not answer.

"It's alright, I'm just here to help, not pry. You don't have to tell me." He reached for the tab, pulling it free. It was a dark blue in color where once it had been wood colored, a light brown. "Oh, congratulations!"

Bon Bon had already known... She wouldn't have had the naming dream... But she had to be sure, absolutely sure... "Thank you," she said in a small voice, feeling adrift.

"Already have a name? You don't have to tell me, really, but if you want to share?" The doctor pony dropped the tab in a small waste-bin. "Oh, here." He reared up and got a book out with a flip of his snout. He handed the book labeled 'So you're becoming a mother' to Bon Bon.

She accepted the book, tucking it away in her pocket. "I... do..." She stood up. "I should get going. Thank you, again."

He waved gently as she trotted off with an odd gait. "Some of them just aren't ready..."

Bon Bon went as straight as she could for her candy shop. Her walk was a bit off, her limbs unbalanced and stiff in her uneasy mental state. She quietly berated herself, commanding them to move properly. It helped, a little.

"Hey Bonnie!" called out Carrot Top, waving as Bon Bon went by.

"Morning," she barely got out, hurrying past. Soon she was safely in her shop, the door closed behind her, slumped against it. She put a forehoof to her belly, where her mistake gestated peacefully. "That isn't fair..." She could never tell a child, any child, they were a mistake. Even if it was basically a fact.

She forced a little smile. "Some of the best things are mistakes..." She took a slow breath, trying to center herself. "And I won't take it out on you. I can handle this..." She trotted across the dark room towards the stairs, descending into the basement. "First, I handle... this." She reached for the communication equipment.

Her boss appeared with a nod, an image only, much like how Gregor spoke with his own superior. "Agent Sweetie Drops, do you have news?"

"I do... Good and bad." Her boss just kept watching her, waiting. "Good news first, I don't predict any troubles being believed to be properly wed to the alien. In fact... I imagine we will grow more attached after the next time I see him. That just isn't a problem anymore."

"Excellent." The stallion gave a single proper nod. "And the bad news?"

"I... should qualify for maternal leave shortly, but will not be taking it. It would be pointless anyway." Her cheeks began to warm dangerously. "I'd still be at work even if I took it, the way I see it..."

A brow raised. "I gather it belongs to... him?"

"He is the only male involved, yes." Sweetie cocked a brow right back at him as if they were competing with the gesture. "Who else would the father be?"

"Both Princess Twilight Sparkle and Agent Heartstrings are graduates of Princess Celestia's School. To assume they couldn't do it is unreasonable," he said it all with such an even expression, as if he were just stating casual facts.

Bon Bon applied a hoof to her face. "Be that as it may... No, it was neither of them. I was learning more about him and becoming... intimate, and then it happened. I am simply reporting a change."

"A change, yes." He leaned in just a little. "You have become a subject, Agent Sweetie Drops. Expect an agent-physician to appear, see to your ongoing health, and monitor things. Do you have any additional reports?"

"No, Sir." She raised a hoof in a crisp salute. "I'll return to my duties."

He just nodded then vanished, leaving the room dark.

Bon Bon heaved a deep sigh and started for the stairs. She was an asset, and so was the hybrid growing inside of her. Until it was born, they would be guarding her. After that, she imagined, she'd be less important and regain some shred of privacy, but until then...

It was the job she signed up for. She ascended towards the light. "I have a husband to break the news to." She cracked a smile as she went, hoping that he'd freak out a little. It'd be nice to have someone else having a panic attack about it instead of her.

"This is a room of prayer." Gregor gestured at the pews that lined the room, though there were mats along the outside as well. "We gather here to speak our praises, read from holy texts, and celebrate good tidings."

Silverstream clapped as she advanced on two feet. "It's just like class. Do you have a teacher too?"

"In a manner of speaking." Gregor curled his arms to gesture at himself. "Sometimes it is me, but we have other priests, and there are a great number of people on this ship. Our 'teachers' we call 'priests'."

"Oh!" Silverstream lit up with understanding. "Hey, you're right." She was suddenly at Sandbar's side. "They really are just like us, with funny names for things. That's great!"

Sandbar nodded with a light smile. "Yeah, kind of amazing isn't it? We have classes too, and our teachers show us stuff, sometimes from books, sometimes not."

Gallus leaned towards Smolder. "I don't think those two get the differences here."

Smolder lifted her shoulders. "You expect too much better? Let 'em have fun."

"Your teachers are what you look towards then? Your source of light?" He felt he was getting somewhere. This trip was going so well... "Tell me about these wonderful people that helped shape such attentive youth."

Author's Notes:

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73 - Drinking the Kooled Wine

Ocellus raised a hoof, breaking her curious and quiet stares. "Our teachers are great ponies." With a rush of flames, she became Twilight, taking up a studious pose. "Some of them are very intellectual and proper, showing us the mechanics of life."

She became Applejack, even affecting the speech patterns, "Some of 'em are more down t' earth and show us how friendship helps in the day t' day t' get things done as a community."

She became Rarity. "Some remind us of the delicate things, dear, how we add to the charm of the world, and should appreciate what is there." She tossed her mane as Rarity did sometimes. "She also likes to go over sewing, not that we directly need to know that, but it doesn't hurt."

She tittered like Rarity as she went on to the next teacher, becoming a cyan pegasus. "Some of them like to take it up to 11 out of 10! They show us how exciting the world can be and how we can take part. They also remind us how having friends helps during the scary parts, and the fun parts."

Gregor was almost hypnotized. The shapeshifting ability of that student was beyond measure, but also extremely educational. He didn't dare interrupt.

Ocellus became Fluttershy. "Some of them, um, they show us how delicate things can be, and how to... you know, be a caring hoof. A little kindness makes the world a better place, so we can all enjoy it, together."

Pinkie Pie was last, grinning at Gregor brightly. "And at least one of them defies definition. Always ready to put smiles on pony faces, she's a blast to be around, if you can keep up with her thoughts. On the bright side, she's rated #1 most likely to have a snack to eat during class."

Ocellus returned to her normal self, smiling awkwardly. "Um... that's most of them..."

Gregor was considering what he had seen. Teachers all, priests in a way, but of no religion he knew... "Tell me, if you would, what higher power do these teachers ascribe to?"

Gallus snorted loudly. "If you mean like a god, the closest they have is Destiny. If you mean like what they try to be, that's Harmony. What are we looking at next?"

Yona nodded emphatically. "Yes. Act in harmony, make good things."

Could he fault that line of reasoning? "I would like to offer an opportunity." He could see Laud watching, ready to act. Such caution... "I know you are here to see and explore, and may not wish anything that resembles schooling, but would you like to experience a mass? I will gladly serve as your teacher, and we can read from the books you just got." He had a secret weapon that he brought free. "There are songs."

Sandbar's ears went up. "You have songs?!"

Smolder wandered towards the nearest open door. "Pass. What's in here?"

Silverstream lifted into the air, her hands coming together with a bright smile. "That sounds fun. C'mon, let's give it a try!" She was not alone, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Yona all seeming eager to give it a go.

Gallus set a hand on Smolder's shoulder. "We'll get through this, together."

Smolder snorted a little puff of smoke with a smirk. "I always knew you had my back," she laughed out as they found a seat.

And thus began the first mass delivered to the people of that strange world. Gregor casually skipped mentions of violence and misery. They had innocent ears, he had decided, no reason to even bring that up. He focused on tales of healing and redemption, and the songs. It was a surprise, even with some faint warnings.

They sang with him. They had the books, certainly, but no time to read the songs he was performing. Despite that, they followed along with an almost instinctual ease. They praised the Pancreator and the saints that echoed his brilliance across a seemingly dark cosmos. They gave thanks, and they even danced, seemingly unable to remain solemnly seated for each one.

They were cherubs, terrifying angelic creatures with inhuman powers that knew not what sin was, to whom grace came as naturally as drawing breath. Even the most hesitant of them, Gallus and Smolder, could not resist the call of the holy word and participated in the performances.

A human made a stern statement, maybe a question. He was pointing something at Spike, something dangerous likely.

Spike had tried to, you know, be a spy. It had not gone well. He raised his hands sharply. "Woah, uh... just looking around..."

The human pointed back where Spike had come from with a scowl. Though no words had really passed between them, the meaning was clear.

"Yes, Sir..." Spike retreated back towards the others, rather than test his luck with the human guard.

"There you are." Twilight descended the stairs towards BonBon. "I thought I heard somecreature coming in. How'd the checkup go?"

Bon Bon smiled awkwardly. "Well... it's... exactly what we thought it was. I mean, there aren't a lot of other reasons for a mare to have a naming dream..."

Twilight took a slow breath. "What... was it like, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I wish I knew..." Bon Bon sat down lightly. "I remember having it, and I remember the name... but the dream itself... all I really know is that I had it... I was thinking up names. Something... Something else was helping."

Twilight's eyes widened at the thought of it. "The child?"

"Maybe?" Bon Bon rubbed behind her head. "That would be crazy... I'm not sure... I wish I could help, but we thought of names, so many names, until one clicked, and I woke up."

Twilight shook her head softly. "I... thought you didn't like him? I mean... I thought Lyra would be the one."

Bon Bon began to go a dark color. "Look, I thought that too! It wasn't... I didn't plan this, but I'm not running, alright? This is my responsibility."

"Wrong." Twilight reached out to boop Bon Bon softly. "This is our responsibility. You're part of a herd, remember? You fought pretty hard to make that happen. Herds do not let a mare deal with this sort of thing alone. That just isn't how that works." With a glowing horn, books began to emerge from her pockets. "In fact, I've gathered a few, oh, do you have this one?"

Bon Bon smirked, seeing that one of the books was the same one the doctor had passed her. She pulled her copy from her pocket so Twilight could see it clearly. "He gave it to me with the good news."

"We can read it at the same time then." Twilight nodded, looking pleased. "We'll learn, all of us. It's not just you, Bon Bon. We're all pregnant."

Bon Bon hiked a brow high. "... That's not how that works, Twilight. But... thank you, for the sentiment."

"It is, in a sense." She wrapped her magic around Bon Bon. "You are now priority #1. What can I do for you?"

Bon Bon waved at the magic, trying to ward it away with very limited success. "You can relax. I am quite capable of tending to myself. I appreciate the thought, but I will not be carried around like a foal."

"You may change your mind later on." Twilight had a mischievous smile on her face. "And if you do, the offer is still on the table. As head mare, I accept personal responsibility for you to be healthy, happy, and loved."

"Being loved is what started this..." She huffed softly. "That reminds... I shouldn't have a foal without... true love."

"That's a question and an answer wrapped up together." She released her magic grip on Bon Bon as she brought her hooves together in a sphere like shape of movement.

"But..." Did she love him? She would have denied it... but what grew inside her spoke a different story that was hard to deny. The fact that she thought she didn't was part of the reason she had let her guard down. They were just two people having physical... fun... nothing more... "Well... he is an honorable fighter, I respect that. He works hard for his people, and I respect that too. He's serious, especially when you need to be, and I respect that."

"Enough respect can become love," Twilight spoke in soft tones. "My admiration of Celestia began with respect... But..."

"You love her."

Twilight lit up suddenly. "Don't put it that way! I... maybe..." She sank to her belly. "Beside the point... I mean, what even is love, really? You respect a lot about him, and like him, as a person. You're married to him and willing to engage in... that sort of activity... sounds enough like love to me."

Bon Bon glanced back at her belly where the universe had already voiced its opinion. Good enough. "Right... Look, look... I'm going to handle this." She moved past Twilight towards the kitchen. "So I'm becoming a mother, fine. I'll be a good mother, and raise a good... whatever it is I'm making. They'll grow up and be happy and successful. Just another job for--" She suddenly cut off.

"Bon Bon... Lyra!" She shouted out the name. "Please come down here!"

With a pop, Lyra appeared. "Whassup? Hey, Bonnie! How'd it go?"

Bon Bon shrank away a step. "You must hate me..."

Lyra blinked softly. "What? Why would I hate my dear Bonnie?"

"I cheated on you," she whispered out. "I stole your stallion, took his first away."

Lyra glanced aside at Twilight before taking a step forward. "Uh, Bonnie, seriously. We're all, you know, married, right? It's not... a race or anything."

"Lyra!" Bon Bon suddenly was on Lyra, her hooves on her girlfriend and wife's shoulders. "You are the reason we're here, and I went and jumped the gun, and you're alright with that?"

Lyra edged back in surprise, but calmness returned to her. She leaned forward and nuzzled Bon Bon's belly since it was right there. "That just means I get to be extra helpful to my favorite mare in the whole world. No offense, Twi. She's still my #1."

"None taken," assured Twilight with a gentle smile. "You two have been a couple for... quite some time. You're quite adorable, if I'm allowed to say so."

Bon Bon fell back to all fours, backing up quickly with a renewed blush. "I am not adorable!" She was a secret agent, not a cute thing... "Ugh... fine. If you're really alright with this?"

"I'm just waiting for your request. Want a massage? Maybe some special tea?" Her lyre appeared with a pop over her head. "Soothing music to relax by? We're here for you."

"Exactly so." Twilight nodded with confidence. "We're both happy for you. Your child? That's our child too, and we're going to love them, and you. We're going to love both of you--"

"Until you explode!" Lyra sat and threw her arms wide. "Of happiness. Welcome to the family." She was looking at Bon Bon's belly. "Go on and grow up nice and strong in there, so you're ready to get so many hugs when you come out."

"You two..." Her objections, for at least that moment, felt small. She approached the two, and they hugged. There was a quiet moment of mare to mare squeezing. Maybe Twilight was right, they were all pregnant, even if only one of them would have to deal with the physical impact of it. Their family was heavy with foal, and they would all work together to greet the newest member of their family. All of them.

"So when are you going to share the name?" Lyra nipped at Bon Bon's ear with a silly grin. "Don't tell me you're one of those 'save it until they're here' sorts. I gotta know!"

Twilight gently booped Lyra across Bon Bon's back. "Calm yourself. She'll share that when she feels it's right, and not a moment before then."

Author's Notes:

The students attend their first mass, and the herd grows closed together, aw.

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74 - Walk in the Light

Showing the students artifacts of religious and historical import, Gregor acted eagerly as their kind guide. "This is a personal trinket of mine, one of my most valued possessions." He wrapped his fingers delicately around a fine mirror that he lifted. "While the others certainly have history and weight behind them, this has a touch of the divine."

Smoulder hiked a brow at it suspiciously. "It looks like a mirror."

"And it is that," allowed Gregor. "But so much more. When one reflects on the sins they have committed, the world listens, and others are faster to forgive you, should you be properly contrite." He lowered it to where the class could see it more easily. "Please be careful, this is the most delicate thing we have viewed so far." It was little more than glass and a metal frame, just asking to be broken.

Yona approached with wide eyes, compelled by the presence of something so easily smashable. "It's pretty." She did not trip and fall into it, even stopping where she should to admire the mirror and her own reflection caught inside.

Laud let out a breath he had been holding, expecting the yak child to crash into it at the first opportunity. Instead the children gave their soft oos and no one was reaching to actually touch it.

Spike shrugged lightly at it, back among the crowd. "Wouldn't it be easier to just not do something that makes people angry?"

"So you have never angered another before then, through an act of your own doing?" Gregor gently set the mirror on its shelf. "Held regret in your heart, wishing you could take it back?"

Spike's thoughts went back to when he tried to scared Owlicous away. "Um, no?" His tone of voice had the other students giggling and chortling, seeing right through him.

"She forgave me on her own," he squeaked, turning red in his cheeks.

"And this is good." Gregor nodded just so. "But sometimes, a little nudge." He made a little pushing motion. "Especially when visiting foreign places, where people may not know the good within you."

Had he used the mirror there already? Laud wondered if it was at least partially at fault for how little they had actually paid to absolve themselves of the sin of attacking the dragons. The dragons were satisfied, but if magic, divine or not, were used to help bring that about... He let that stew quietly for the time.

"This need not be the last time you visit us." They perked at him, some curiously, others suspiciously, as he had predicted. "We would gladly welcome you, as new brothers and sisters."

Spike held up a warding hand. "Uh, thanks, but what would that involve, exactly? We're still students, we're not moving away."

"Nor would I want you to," assured Gregor. "You would visit, perhaps once a week, to sing and learn."

"That sounds fun!" Silverstream clapped her hands eagerly at the idea. "Would I get to meet the other people? They're really shy."

"Not shy." Gregor softly laughed at her assumption. "They are keeping out of the way for this tour. You'll get to meet many of them, yes, and they will greet you as kin."

Spike huffed softly at that. "Not shy at all."

Ocellus, Yona, and Silverstream agreed to come back later. He had his converts, hopefully, but the others demurred, some gently, others... "Yeah, right." Smolder rolled her eyes. "Hard Pass."

Truly the dragons were the least cooperative of the cherub species, but even they had vestiges of the light. Gregor counseled himself that some things were not meant for man to understand, and he let it go that the dragons did not wish to participate further.

That left him wondering at Sandbar. "I am given to believe that ponies adore a good song."

"And we do," he agreed with a smile. "But my schedule's all full, sorry. Have fun though!" No hard feelings, but also a no. "You'll tell me how it goes, right?"

Silverstream gave an emphatic thumbs up. "For sure!"

They children started for the exit, the tour over. Gregor approached Laud directly. "They were quite well behaved. Their caretakers should be proud of themselves."

"They are," he assured with a nod. "But I should keep up with them. It would be a shame for trouble to emerge at this last instant."

"Too true." He let Laud go, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched him go. He had his converts.

The children scattered almost immediately on leaving the ship, as if it were the only force keeping them contained. Those with wings were the first to depart, though Ocellus remained with the group until they exited the landing pad. Sandbar and Ocellus wandered off together while Yona took off in a stampede.

That left Spike and Laud together, walking towards the castle. "Did you see anything I didn't?"

"Uh, well..." Spike began going over what he did see, including his encounter with the one church member that wasn't part of the tour.

"I don't recall telling you to leave the group." He raised a brow. "I'm glad you weren't hurt."

"I was a spy!" He threw his hands out as he walked. "I was supposed to look for stuff. Anyway, I wasn't hurt, so no harm right?"

"It would appear not, save for a bad impression. That man will surely inform Gregor of your lack of discretion." Laud turned his eyes to the castle. "But let's put that aside. This was, overall, a success. None were harmed, and Gregor's response was quite positive. I think he is even more charmed by my people than I was, especially when first I arrived."

"You were a mess," laughed out Spike, launching up to fly at Laud's side. "He's cheating though, with that magic of his. For not trusting magic, he sure has a lot of it."

"This is true... It is a matter of sacrament. The mirror he spoke of is a holy relic, not a witch's devilish tool." He shrugged softly, turning a hand towards Spike. "Surely you have, in your adventures, witnessed artifacts held by wicked people, born of wickedness. You perhaps had to destroy them, for the good?"

Spike frowned with thought, floating along as he was. "Huh, hmm... Actually, yeah. There was this anti-magic throne that needed some busting up to stop an evil queen, come to think of it."

"Precisely so, and yet." He waved a hand at the towering castle. "You live inside another magic artifact, but its origin is pure and its purpose clean. Just like people, they can be saints or sinners, and it is the job of others to discern which is which."

"Makes sense enough." Spike flew ahead and grabbed the door, pulling it open just in time for Twilight to faceplant, having just been about to push it open from the inside. "Oops! You alright?"

"I'm fine." She quickly stood back up. "Oh, you're both back! Laud, Bon Bon would like to speak to you. Spike... maybe you should come too. This affects everyone living here. For that matter..." She turned in place. "Starlight!?"

With a pop, Starlight appeared, looking around on high-alert. "Is someone invading?"

"Nothing quite that dramatic. If you would come with us?" Twilight waved for everyone to follow her and they headed inside. "Bon Bon, Laud is here."

Bon Bon hurried down the steps with a nervous smile on her face. "Is he? Great... Hello, Laud... everyone else..."

Lyra descended just after Bon Bon with a far more relaxed expression. "Everyone's here? Great! Bon Bon has big news!" She nudged her marefriend forward. "Go on, tell 'em."

Bon Bon glared at Lyra, refusing to be hurried. She took a slow breath, eyes closing slowly. "Laud, the nature of our relationship has taken a turn."

Laud raised a brow at that, crossing his arms. "The others have already said this was good news. In what way would our relationship change for the better? Have you decided to put aside your reservations?"

Bon Bon took a step back, almost tumbling on the steps she was still on. "You knew?!"

"I had a good hunch. You are a warrior, Bon Bon, and your guard was never completely down around me. I can understand that." He crossed a hand over his heart. "We are strange things to one another, even if the mechanisms of fate and politics brought us to union."

Bon Bon lifted one ear. "Well, no... not exactly. I mean..." She shuffled from hoof to hoof, knocked right out of the line she had been planning to navigate. "I'm still learning you, Laud, but it's not that... Destiny has declared our love to be true enough." She glanced back at her belly, unchanged from the outside. "I am carrying the first foal of our marriage. I believe it to be a male, Star Chaser is the name I decided."

"I do not get a say? But forget that for the moment. With child?! That is..." He put his hands out wide. "That is magnificent news indeed! I... scarcely have words for it, even as I reel at the idea that this is possible."

Starlight softly clopped her hooves together. "Congratulations! Was that what you wanted me to hear, Twilight?"

"You say that like it's not a big deal." Twilight smirked at her wayward student. "But yes."

"You caught me in the middle of something." She turned to Bon Bon. "Seriously, good news! If you want a helping hoof, you reach out." She vanished with a pop, back to whatever she was doing before she was called.

Spike was hovering there with slow flaps of his wings. "Huh... wow... what will they, uh, he, look like? I mean, will they be a pony, or a human?"

Twilight quickly shook her head. "We can't possibly know, which makes it all the more exciting. Whatever Star Chaser may be, they will be a member of the family and will need all our support. Spike, you won't be the youngest member of the family anymore, isn't that exciting?"

Spike sagged a bit. "Exciting..." He felt he should have been delighted. Finally, he wouldn't be the littlest thing around, but... Part of him refused to feel that way. A child was coming that would need attention. Twilight was already so terribly busy with her duties, and her time would get even more slender for him. "Great..."

Laud clapped a hand on Spike's closer shoulder. "That will be a matter for women in large part, especially when he is too young to be physical with. While they are busy, I feel we have things to do."

Spike blinked softly, shaken out of his funk with surprise. "Like what?"

"With Twilight's leave, I would like to take you officially under my wing, as a squire, to be trained in the arts of combat, chivalric behavior, and proper courtly etiquettes." He turned his head to Twilight, hand unmoving in its firm grip. "He is at the cusp of dragon puberty, is he not? This is a fine time for him to advance in the arts of a grown man. Allow us this."

Twilight glanced between the two of them, a hoof raised in thoughtfulness.

Bon Bon hopped down off the stairs, landing with a loud clop. "I refuse! Unless I am also allowed to take part in this. I have things he should learn too and I won't be left out."

Lyra's eyes widened. "But you're, you know... This isn't exactly the best time to go getting all physical with Spike and Laud."

Twilight bobbed her head in quick agreement. "Why don't you save that until after you've had the foal. Until then, you're more than welcome to speak to them, as we are now. There are many lessons that words will be enough for, and you can watch them and give advice as you see fit, but... let's not go being risky."

Spike was looking to Twilight. "Does that mean you're alright with it then? I can be a squire?"

Twilight heaved a soft sigh. "Well, you're under my care, and a national hero of the Crystal Empire, so you qualify for status, and he certainly qualifies as a knight, so it is well within his power to name you a proper squire, to become a knight when you complete your training." Spike's eyes kept getting wider, his hands together with building hope. "So... I will not stand in your way, if this--"

He crashed into her, wrenching away from Laud to hug her around the neck. "Thank you!"

Author's Notes:

Spike begins official knight training, with the title on the line for when he's done. He's a happy boy! Gregor gets 3 locals to agree to attend mass, surely this was a red letter day for him. Everyone's winning!

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75 - Things Change

"Did you learn the location of their light?" His superior gazed on him evenly, vision flickering just faintly in its holographic nature.

"Though I have no authority to declare it myself." Gregor raised a hand, clutching it into a fist as he did so. "They are Innocent. Their darkness is, at best, a dull grey, and even their surliest were creatures that sought out comradery and sang the praises to the saints and the Pancreator with clear voices. I would need learn more of their adults, but some hints were given as to who serves as these children's priests."

"And they will not oppose their attendance?" The elder priest raised a suspicious brow. "Do they not cling tenaciously to the religion they already have?"

"They see nothing in what I have shown them that causes a conflict. I will now confess, I did leave some portions out of the telling. I foresaw no advantage in straying into matters of violence and strife, for these were things they barely knew."

"Are they not willing to defend what they consider right?"

Gregor shrugged expansively, his hands going wide. "They have managed this without taking up sword and shield. Their great champion is armed only with optimism, and their magic."

"Have you learned more of this magic, be it of theurgic, psychic, or sinful origin?"

"None present were endowed with any magic, save the dragons' ability to fly and to produce flames." He knew not of the hippogriff's shapechanging artifact. "So that information was not to be had. Have you decided on the merit of their souls?"

"I do not yet have the information I require. Take measure of their priests, of these children, and the rest. Surely they are not one and the same." The image suddenly collapsed, the call ended without so much as a goodbye.

Spike worked a rough bit of cloth over the blade, polishing it meticulously, but his expression was that of doubt. "So, uh... I've helped Twilight clean things before, how is this any different?"

"On that matter it is clear." He gestured a flat hand towards the blade being worked on. "You will never own a library, no matter how many books you sort. This simply isn't something you desire. But a blade? You need to know how to care for one."

Spike paused a moment, looking between the rag and the blade. "Do... you do this?"

"Every day," stated Laud with confidence. "A warrior's weapon is an extension of themself, and if it is not ready, neither is the warrior. A knight that displays themselves with sullied weapons is casting shame on themself and the people they represent."

"Ohhhh." With renewed vigor, Spike set himself to vigorously working the blade until it was gleaming and bright as the day it was finished being forged. "Ta da! Cleaning is something I know how to do."

"This I see. Now, as a reward, I shall endow you with a blade." Spike's eyes went wide, full of hope and awe. This dimmed when a wooden sword came out instead of a steel one. "We will both be using wooden weapons in practice, until you have reached a level that you can cross steel with me safely. Real weapons cause real injuries, even among the skilled at times. You lack armor and training, so we start here."

Spike accepted the wooden blade that was made for his size, holding its hilt firmly and giving it a few test swings through the air. "Are we practicing with it now?"

"If you feel up for it." He backed away several paces. "The first will be the easiest; all I ask is that you strike me as if to kill me."

Spike blinked blankly at that. "Uh... that's a little... much isn't it?"

"If you fell me, then that will be my own failing, especially with that practice sword." He raised his own wooden weapon. "Go on, put me down and prove you are already beyond my teaching."

Spike only knew of blades what comics had taught him, which wasn't much. He charged forward with a mighty cry, sure that shouting was part of the process. His vision suddenly began to swim as pain lanced down from his head.

Laud had bopped him one on the head as Spike rushed in. "Do not assume your opponent will simply let you walk up to them."

Spike rubbed over the sore spot as he backed away. "Shouldn't I wear a helmet or something?"

"You may, but a strike like that will hurt much the same. Don't let it happen in the first place." He lifted his blade, flat with the ground. "Care to try again?"

Spike came in with a curving and careful approach, circling Laud with his own blade raised. When he was close enough, Laud moved to bop him, but Spike moved his own sword in the way. There was the matter of size difference and a lack of skill, causing his sword to be bashed aside.

"Better," praised Laud. "There is a skill to a proper parry."

"You're twice my size!" He threw up his free hand before grabbing his sword with both for a better grip.

"Which is exactly why trying to stop me directly is fruitless. You will not win if it is a combat of muscle, so you will have to be skillful instead. Swing at me. Go ahead, I will allow it." He lowered his sword just a little.

Spike looked skeptical a moment, but moved in. When he wasn't swatted at for his trouble, he made his swing at the seemingly-still Laud. Sword met sword, Laud reacting to the swing, but not directly beating it aside, instead displaying how it could be caught and redirected away from himself in a parry.

"Huh." Spike swung from a different angle, but it was turned away just as easily. "So that's what the guard's for..." He noticed the blade would slide down at times, bouncing off the guard instead of hitting a hand or fingers.

"Remember, in a real fight, you will do what you can to put the other bastard down before they can do the same to you." He gestured with the sword, bobbing it lightly. "Go on, again."

"This isn't a real fight though, right?" He went for a low strike, away from where Laud's blade seemed to easily reach. His mentor ducked back in a little hop, blades not even touching in favor of avoiding the strike.

"You should assume it is, or the training is blunted." He suddenly lunged, sword moving for a stab. Spike squealed in surprise even as he tried to do as he was shown, but the skill was not there yet, and he was prodded right in the chest. "You are dead. I will mourn you, my student."

Spike snorted at that. "Yeah yeah. I'm not done yet." Though his blade was at the ready, he grabbed with a freed hand, grabbing Laud's close pants and wrenching as he gave a flap, the combination of forces just enough to unbalance Laud a moment.

The sparring was on. The afternoon faded away with the two clashing and meeting, neither willing to give up.

"Pardon?" Applejack looked up at the human that towered over her. "Don't reckon ah understand the question."

"What... virtues do you impart on your students?" asked Gregor with a kind smile. "What are the values you seek to impress on them?"

"Oh, hm, that's a good question." She raised a hoof to her chin. "Ya see, ah try to show a few things. An honest day's work is always worth it. Workin' wit' your friends is even better than by yerself, and there ain't many lies worth the trouble they cause."

"Worthy lessons." Gregor considered the farming teacher and possible priest before himself. "And who taught you those things?"

"Well shoot..." She sat down and tapped at her chin with a thoughtful frown. "Ah kinda learned that as I went, why I'm teachin' it now, so ponies don't have t' do it the hard way like ah did. Huh, never really thought it through before. Gregor, right?"

"That is correct. Nice to meet you, Applejack." He dipped his head lightly before turning towards the school. "Have the other teachers similar opinions on this matter?"

Applejack considered her friends and their upbringings. "Hmmm, well...Maybe one little exception." She pointed up into the sky. "Rainbow Dash learned her self-confidence, sometimes to an extreme, from her parents. They believe in her, and she believes in herself. It's kinda sweet, if annoyin' at times."

"Is this a thing she now instructs?" Self-confidence classes? It wasn't an impossible idea, but it did strike him as queer.

"Funny ya mention that... In parts, yes, she tries to show students to have more faith in themself that they can get somethin' done, even if it looks scary or too hard. She also tries to show how even the most terrifyin' ah times is a good place, arguably one of the best, to have friends around t' make it a little less scary."

Applejack suddenly pointed at Gregor. "Now, pardon me, but what brings this on? These are mighty funny questions for ya to be askin', seein' as I 'magine you're not lookin' for a school."

"I am endeavoring to understand your people better," replied Gregor quite honestly. "Do you all simply find your way blindly?"

"Reckon that ain't true, seein' as here ah am fixin' that." She pointed towards the school. "That's the point."

"What of... adults in need of guidance?"

"The school ain't much for adults none, but we have helped them." She turned to the castle. "You met Starlight?"

"I can't say I have, unfortunately."

"She was a right naughty mare, until we found her and brought her around, now she's one of tha good ones, even helps out at the school." She nodded softly as she remembered the tale. "She may not wanna talk about it none, but go ahead and ask her, she may."

"I may just do that. Thank you for your time." He clasped his hands together and bowed gently. "You are a kind soul."

"Ah shucks, doin' mah best." She tipped her hat and began to walk past him. "You take care of yerself."

"Where do I find guidance?" Mayor Mare raised a brow at the visitor from the stars. "I have a duty, and I try to remain true to it. Before I became mayor, hmm... I was taught many things in school, and looked to Princess Celestia as a role model. I can only hope I am half the leader she is."

Gregor could not help but smile a little wider. A hint? "Is Princess Twilight Sparkle related to Princess Celestia?" There weren't normally many other ways for there to be multiple princesses in one kingdom.

"Not that I am aware of, hmm. No. If they are, the relation is quite distant indeed." She pointed up at Canterlot, high on the mountain. "Princess Celestia has ruled over us for longer than I was alive, you see, and Twilight... She is younger than I am. Why, some ponies wonder if she will endure forever."

What? Gregor touched the tips of his fingers against one another, one hand to the next. "Unaging?"

"I've seen very old paintings of her," assured Mayor Mare. "They are unchanged, save for before she gained her flowing mane and tail. I imagine only violence would change that, Harmony forbid! She has watched over us and here we are."

"Would... you say she represents the virtues you live by?"

"Well, let's see... She is Kind, Generous, Honest, Loyal... She loves a good joke to raise spirits. She certainly has magic in abundance... So, yes, I imagine she is a lovely paragon." Mayor Mare nodded, half-convincing herself of the thought even as she said it. "And she raises the sun."

Gregor resisted the many expressions that wanted to emerge. "Pardon?"

"She raises the sun, every day. She allows us to have light." Mayor Mare gestured up at the sun far above.

Gregor had found the source of light, though he had not expected it to be so incredibly literal.

Author's Notes:

Gregor finds what he's looking for, but there are so many more questions raised... Spike begins to train! Go Spike, Go!

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76 - Bringers of Light

Bon Bon sat on her haunches in the dirt, watching the apprentice swords-dragon swing and parry at the air. "You're using too much energy," she cautioned. "Every swing should be with purpose."

"Purpose," muttered Spike as he danced up towards a target dummy and began slapping it with the sword in a vain attempt to defeat it with his wooden weapon. "Have you ever used a sword?"

"Once or twice," demurred Bon Bon with a glance away. "I don't have one now."

Spike paused to hike a thumb. "Laud left his if you want to borrow it." There was the wooden sword, abandoned on the practice field. "He told me to keep it safe."

Bon Bon looked towards the abandoned sword and back at Spike. "Are you sure? I could hurt something." Her voice was full of sarcasm, rolling her eyes as she said it.

"You're just going to show me how you swing it." He shrugged as he backed away from the practice dummy. "We won't spar."

Bon Bon rose to her hooves and stepped over to the sword. She stepped on the hilt of the sword and reared up, the sword stuck to her hoof easily. "I have a good hoof-grip."

Spike clapped, easily impressed. "I bet being an earth-pony chef would require that."

"The only thing I'm cooking today is pain." She bounced around the target dummy and began tagging it as she went, slicing and bashing at its joints and neck.

Spike blinked softly, watching Bon Bon attack the dummy with growing ferocity. "Huh, wow... You... really need this, huh?"

Bon Bon went red instantly and threw the sword aside. "What?! No..."

"It's cool." Spike flew over and grabbed up the sword, offering it back to her. "Go on."

She peered at him quietly a moment before accepting the blade, transferring it to her hoof properly. "I'm only doing it to show you how it's done. Pay attention to how I move."

Spike was happy enough to watch her style and let her vent her frustrations on the dummy that would not complain about the abuse.

Gregor asked around the town. Sure, he tried to not make it seem like a big deal, and, to his slight dismay, the ponies didn't see it as much of a big deal either. Yes, Celestia raised the sun for them, and her sister, Luna, raised the moon. They were two little gods and the ponies accepted their place, deciding the cycles of day and night.

If he hadn't seen the strange nature of their solar system, he would have laughed it off as primitive superstitions. Their sun, small as it was, burned bright in the sky. The stars they could see at night all shone brilliantly. It seemed the light had only blessing to bequeath the curious species of that world.

"I must meet her."

"You have to set an appointment," counseled Twilight, sitting across from him at an outdoor area of a local eatery. "One doesn't just... walk up to a princess."

As if summoned by her claim, a colt dashed up with a paper with a smile. Twilight signed it with a quill without even seeming to notice, sending the foal away with a joyous whoop.

Gregor pondered the mixed signals being presented. "How difficult is it to secure such a meeting?"

"I'd be glad to help." She clopped her forehooves together as a paper popped into being beside her head, an unrolled scroll that she began to write on. "What is the nature of the business to be discussed at this meeting?"

"I am but a humble visitor, who would like to learn more about her, and to discuss her peoples' place in the wider universe." He tapped the ends of his fingers against one another. "You speak with her regularly, I gather?"

"Through letters more often than not." She rolled up the scroll and slapped a seal on it. "Sp-- Oh, yes, he's busy." She frowned a moment before she turned her head towards the scroll, concentrating on some great feat of magic. The scroll vanished into a puff of smoke that wisped towards the castle. "That is much harder for me than it would have been for him."

"Who are you referring to?" He kept an even face despite the obvious sorceries going on. It was up to him to determine how evil, or not, such things were.

"Spike, my assistant. He's a dragon." She held up a hoof. "About this tall, friendly. I think you met him?"

"Ah, yes, I do recall the one." The one caught snooping where he shouldn't have been. "He has magic?"

"Only one specific trick, well, two come to think, but related." She held up a lone hoof. "He can send letters to Celestia, and receive letters from Celestia. Besides that, he's a dragon. So, you know, flying, fire breath, that sort of thing."

"What a curiously specific sorcery." And one he struggled to find the negative of, if it literally did that and that alone. "Do all dragons have this ability?"

"Oh goodness, that would be... something." Twilight shook her head firmly. "This is a Spike thing, not a dragon thing. Hopefully she'll get back to us shortly and we'll know."

Spike's cheeks bulged just as he was going for a strike. Laud danced away, expecting fire, but what emerged was a scroll with an ornate bow and seal. "What timing," grumbled Spike, grabbing it from the air.

"That could be quite inconvenient when poorly timed." Not that mid-spar was great timing. "What message is it?"

Spike squinted at it. "It's to Twilight, so I wouldn't know." He shrugged. "Opening other people's letters is a no no."

"This is truth." He tucked the practiced sword at his belt. "Let's see it to her then."

Spike tucked his own sword away in much the same way, emulating his teacher. "Onwards! It is a knight's duty... right?"

"I would be inclined to agree. Were I entrusted with a missive for a superior, none would be allowed to prevent my delivery." Laud patted his shoulder on the way past. "Though I doubt any will--"

Bon Bon put out a hoof, tripping Spike as he went past.

"--get in your way," lamely finished Laud, peering at Bon Bon.

"Never let your guard down," warned Bon Bon in a taunting tone, rising to her hooves. "I'm coming with you."

Spike picked himself up with a huff, glaring at Bon Bon. "No fair picking on a guy when you're off limits."

"It isn't," agreed Laud with a faint smile. "And yet, it will happen. When you visit a lord, their immediate family may not smile on you, and you have to deal with their attacks without resorting to your blade. They may hinder you, or it could be far more dire, but it can happen, and Bon Bon is simply displaying that reality. Not every foe can be bested with your blade."

"See, he understands." She nodded with self-righteous pleasure. "Striking me would tilt the political map against you very swiftly, so you'll have to be clever about how you exact your revenge, or otherwise convince me to find another target."

"Huh..." He stroked his chin, the scroll held in his other hand as he considered the political challenge laid before him. "Well alright, but you called this on yourself."

"Do your worst," she half-sang, prancing a step with a coy smile.

They found Twilight at her favorite sandwich place. She was seated across from the human priest, Gregor. Laud dipped his head towards the holy visitor. "I trust you are enjoying your visit?"

"Your people are nothing but kind to visitors," he easily agreed with a smile, but his eyes were drawing to the scroll Spike held. "Is that what I think it may be?"

The scroll glowed, plucked from Spike by Twilight's magic. "Ah ha! That was fast. Thank you."

"No problem." He thumbed up with both fists.

She cracked the seal and unfurled the scroll. "Now let's see what she said. Ah, mmm. Doesn't get much better than that."

Gregor's attention was fully on Twilight. "What was her response?"

"She says she was awaiting your request, and would be delighted to meet you at your earliest convenience." She pulled a ticket free of the scroll, which soon spread out into three. "She included a few tickets for the train."

Gregor kept control of his expression, instead smiling despite internal misgivings. This ruler of theirs had been waiting for his move. Shrewd, dangerous? She had included three tickets... "How generous. I will have to go soon then. It would not do to keep her waiting."

Twilight inclined her head faintly. "Would you like some company? Canterlot is a big city and it's easy for a newcomer to get lost in it."

Laud's hand suddenly came down on Spike's shoulder, making him jump. "I know someone intimately familiar with the city, and is looked on fondly by the princess. Spike, my squire, would gladly serve the position."

"I would? I mean yeah I would!" He flashed a big forced smile. "I know how to get to the castle and all the good places in the city, no problem. I used to live there, you know."

"Such genorisity." He fixed his gaze on Spike. "I hear you only just started your training, and already you would take time to help me, a mere priest of an order you barely know?"

"Aw, it's nothing." Spike waved it off with a slightly more natural grin. "We can't have you getting into trouble. What kind of hosts would we be?"

"Excellently spoken," agreed Laud with a soft nod. "He may be fresh to the station of a squire, but he is well versed in the means of being a personal assistant and will guide you surely and swiftly." And keep Laud appraised of what happens, but he didn't feel the need to mention that part.

Bon Bon reared up, hooves on the table. "You're visiting Celestia?"

"That was the goal." Gregor nodded towards her. "Ah, Miss Mountbatten, if I have it?"

"I am Laud's wife, yes." She smiled thinly, squirming faintly. "The one that will make him a father, apparently, ugh."

She didn't think much of letting that fact out, expecting most already knew about it. Gregor tensed, unable to resist it. "You are expecting then?"

"Yes," she sighed out, glancing back at her unchanged belly. "So I won't be going with you. Laud and Twilight and Lyra would all collectively lose their marbles if I 'risked' anything." She reared up to move her hooves like quotes. "I'm a grown mare. I don't need to be treated like a foal."

"Motherhood is a delicate time. They are concerned for your and the child's well-being." This changed things... He had to know more... "Pray forgive this question, but I am a stranger to your people, and ask this not in judgment." Oh how he was ready to judge. That was in part his duty. "Do married individuals practice... monogamy? Exclusivity?"

Bon Bon began to go a deep shade instantly, falling back off the table.

Twilight reflected her expression perfectly, a surprised gasp issuing from her lips.

"Sir--" Laud's hand was close to his sword, but did not grasp it. "The lady was untouched until we consummated our union. I would ask that you apologize to her for suggesting otherwise."

Gregor knew he had pushed too far and raised his hands in soft deflection. "Asked without insult intended, but I see that I have done ill by you, and accept responsibility. M'lady, please forgive me for my inconsiderate question. I would gladly pray for you and yours, if you would accept my presence, to bless this childbirthing to be clean and swift."

Bon Bon blinked rapidly at that. "Wait, you can do that? Humans have midwife magic?!" She was back on the table, leaning on her forehooves. "I would like to know more about that."

Twilight burst into laughter. "We learn new things every day." The two seemed perfectly happy to let the awkward moment pass them by.

Laud would not forget as easily.

Author's Notes:

Gregor takes a bad step. About time. Stop being perfect at your job!

Being a loyal of Amalthea, some midwife prayers are not beyond him.

But we have to visit Celestia, who expects him? Hm.

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77 - Are You a God?

And so it was that Gregor, Spike, and one of Gregor's guards boarded a train. The train did not seem to alarm or surprise him. "Do you know the origin of this vehicle?" He gestured broadly from the cushioned bench of a seat he was on, designed for ponies to perch comfortably.

Spike's eyes followed his hands. "What, the train? Built by ponies, I'd think." He rubbed behind his head. "Now that you bring it up, I never really thought about it before."

"Do dragons construct such ornate engineering?"

Spike blinked up at him. "Yeah no. That'd be interesting, but not the style of most dragons I ever met. They don't go for long term 'boring' things like building a train." He put a hand to his chest. "I'm not that, uh, normal as dragons go."

"Would you care to tell me about that? I presume we have time before we--" He paused, the train lurching into smooth motion beneath them. "Before we arrive."

"Yeah, it's a trip." Spike shrugged as he looked out the window. "Not much to say though. I was raised by ponies, with ponies. I'm basically all pony in all the ways you can teach a person to be a pony." He rubbed behind his head, looking increasingly awkward. "But I guess you aren't either of those things."

"This much is true." Gregor nodded lightly, a warm smile on his face. "I am a human, with human strengths and human failures. I have not wings nor sorcerous horn. I have no breath of fire or great claws." He flexed his fingers, demonstrating his short-clipped nails to Spike. "So we must fashion such things for ourselves."

"Huh..." He looked over Gregor, than his guard, sitting stiffly as he was. "You guys are pretty good at getting yourself claws and scales when you want them." It wasn't hard to spy the armor the guard wore, nor was he trying very hard to hide it. "That's cool enough." Not that a pony couldn't pick up a sword, or wear armor. He'd seen both before. "We won't need either in Canterlot. It's a nice place."

"Tell me more about it, if you would? We will have to move directly for the princess, I should think."

"Oh nah." He waved a hand. "Celestia's not like that. This isn't an emergency or anything and I bet she'd be happy to hear you had a good time." And so he began to describe Canterlot and its many possible attractions for a discerning pony, or human, or perhaps a young dragon.

Laud sat up as something landed on his lap. Something warm and fuzzy and glaring at him. "Good afternoon, Bon Bon."

Bon Bon thrust a hoof at his face. "This is your fault, I remind."

"This is not the first time I have heard this said." He set a hand on her shoulder and gently rubbed at her. She was not soft there, her muscles tense and powerful besides. It was a subtle reminder that she was a warrior. "What did I do this time?"

"I was sick this morning," she spat out, her voice as acidic as what she had experienced earlier. "Your fault."

"I accept that." He brought his other hand to her other shoulder. "As way of apology..." He began to work at her more firmly, pressing his fingers against the rebelling knots he could feel. He had no formal training in massage, but a friendly hand he could lend.

Though she was still frowning, he could feel her relaxing. A little sigh escaped her. "My body isn't working the way I'm used to," she breathed out, tail twitching. "You wouldn't know what that is. Stallions never have that..."

"We can only look on, and try to be helpful." He worked a little lower, between her shoulders and barrel. "You are far from alone. We are all ready to assist you."

"Assist me getting fat and slow." She wrinkled her nose. "Put strange spawn in me beyond all understanding. You've helped me quite a bit already, Laud." She turned in place, facing sideways, but not refusing the touch of his hands. "I don't mean that... Look, I'll probably say more hurtful things."

"It is one privilege you earn for your sacrifice." He lowered his hands, one going to the small of her back, the other along her front, resting on her belly where their child grew. "I will not hold it against you, and would rather you spoke harshly to me than not at all. Are you feeling better, now?"

"Relatively," She rolled her head in a slow circle, flopped bonelessly for the motion. "At least you didn't do this to Twilight. She'd already be a thousand separate pieces of panic by now."

"I would imagine that would not go well..." The neurotic princess would have filled the house with every book she could find on how to do it properly, and tried half of them. "You are a saint for saving us from that."

Bon Bon suddenly stuck out her tongue at him. "And you were upset at me and Lyra shoving our noses into things before. Bet you feel silly now."

"Dreadfully so," he agreed, softly rubbing at her. "Fortunately I have wives to help avoid such foolishness."

"Hay right." She suddenly darted in, kissing his right cheek. "Don't you forget that." She flopped against him, hugging gently, pinning the hand that had been on her belly between them. She backed up just as suddenly as his fingers wriggled and tickled her, sending her flopping in his lap in a fit of laughter. "Cheater!"

The train came to a smooth halt at the mountain-side station. "Canterlot," called out one of the conductors. "Mind your step."

Spike bounced to his feet, but never made it, his wings catching him halfway down and lifting him into the air. "We're here. Where do you want to go first?" He reached into a pocket that was invisible until he shoved his hand into it and came out with a bag. "We're traveling on Twilight's bits." He waggled his brows suggestively.

"And we should be kind to her." He stood up with less wing-assisted action, his guard up with him. "We came to speak to Princess Celestia, let us see her first. After that, perhaps, we can take in the sights."

"Aw, no fun." Spike stuffed the bag away and began moving for the exit, never much quicker than Gregor and his companion. "Say, why doesn't your buddy there ever talk?"

"He is shy," lied Gregor mildly. "He does not often speak when I am present." That much was true. They emerged into the busy terminal, many ponies moving about purposefully. "Ah, what a difference..." It was immediately obvious how different Canterlot was to Ponyville. The population of people had risen considerably, and most of them were dressed, though most only covered their front, which felt like a curious decision of which half of themselves to garb. Still, a step up from complete nudity.

"I figured maybe he didn't know Ponish." Spike shrugged softly. "(Hi.)" He waved at the guard as they left the train.

The guard started, clearly not expecting human words from the dragon that made horse noises. "(Hello.)"

"You'll make him uncomfortable," gently counseled Gregor. "I had wished to spare his feelings, but, yes, he does not know Ponish. Without the grace of the pancreator, I would not know it either."

"Huh, alright." Spike pointed up towards the castle. "Well, she's in there, kind of hard to miss, but the streets can get a bit confusing. Lucky you have me." He landed lightly and began leading the way with a firm march.

The ponies of Canterlot watched them go by, some openly peering at Gregor and his guard with a lack of reservation. None challenged his right to be there, however. A few seemed to know Spike and waved politely. "Hey Spike!" Minuette wandered in from the side. "Where's Twilight?"

Gregor pressed the fingers of his opposing hands together. "A friend of yours, Spike?"

"Yeah, hey Minuette." He hiked a thumb back at Gregor. "This is Gregor, Father Gregor." He leaned towards her, stage whispering, "He's everycreature's father, kind of his thing."

Minuette burst into merry laughter. "That's great! Hey dad!" She waved a hoof at Gregor with complete joy, no concern in her stance or words. "Welcome to Canterlot!"

"A pleasure to meet you, Minuette." He spread his hands out. "Your city is magnificent and overwhelming." A bit of a white lie there. He'd seen larger metropolises before. "You can call me Gregor if you prefer, or Father."

"Nice to meet you, Pops." She bobbed her head quickly. "I was just meeting up with the girls. Nice to see you, Spike." She suddenly hugged him, a brief thing, and she trotted away as if nothing unusual had happened.

"A pleasant person," complimented Gregor. "She lives here, I gather?"

"All her life, when she wasn't visiting someplace." He hiked a thumb after her. "She's pretty easy going, as I figure you probably noticed. Before you ask, yes she has magic. Canterlot is the city of unicorns."

He had noticed the density of horns per pony. Was it wisdom or madness that their leader surrounded themselves with their best spellcasters? If they trusted it, from their perspective, shrewd, but he wasn't sure if he could agree with it so easily. "It seems there are far more of them than not. I had thought there would be a more even mix."

Spike resumed the journey, guiding the human guests forward. "Ponyville's actually a bit of an exception. Most of the other places have at least some preference. Like Manehattan is more earth ponies than not. Good luck being a not pegasus in Cloudsdale for obvious reasons." He shrugged softly. "The dragons tend to stick to themselves."

He considered this as they went. They were a people in flux, perhaps. Had they arrived at a pivotal time?

They arrived at the castle. The guards standing at either side of the large doors that led into it were watching them as intently as his own guard scanned for trouble. One of them saluted as Spike approached. "The princess said to expect you."

"Hey," he responded far more informally. "Where should we meet her?"

"Mid-Morning, Autumn."

"Got it." He gave a sloppy salute before moving past the two.

Gregor nodded to each of them as he moved up. They didn't stop him, so he moved past as if he belonged there, which he did. He was invited. "Was that a code?"

"Sorta. Celestia arranges her sitting rooms by time of day and season." He took a sharp left down a narrow hallway. "I have... half of them memorized. Lucky us, that's one of them. Might be why she picked it." He shrugged. "She pays attention. So what was it you wanted to talk to her about anyway?"

Gregor watched the guards they passed. Many were unicorns, but some were pegasi, or earth ponies. The guards seemed to have a wider selection of tribes than the city proper. A specific decision? He couldn't help but assume it was. "They don't seem upset at an alien presence."

"You're not even the first one here." Spike shrugged as he walked along. "Laud was here before, so they've seen at least one human before. Besides, Celestia's expecting you, remember? They were told."

"Too true." It would have been a poor performance on their end if they had reacted poorly to an expected guest. When they reached a door with two more guards, Gregor tried his hand, "Good day. Princess Celestia is expecting us."

"Right this way." One of their horns glowed as the door opened behind them. "Make yourself at home."

Inside was a long low table already arranged with snacks of various sorts. Tea kettles wafted steam, promising refreshing drinks. Gregor brought his hands together, clasping them with a bright smile. "What hospitality! Please extend my thanks."

Author's Notes:

Welcome to Canterlot! What could go wrong here? Laud and Bon Bon bond, aw.

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78 - The Sun Rises

Spike, Gregor, and his guard all sat around the table with its offerings of light snacks and refreshments. Gregor nodded to his guard. "Go on." He was looking to his guard, gesturing to the food.

It was both a kindness and practicality. The guard was being invited to eat and enjoy, but also to test for any crude poisons that could harm his superior. He did not hesitate, reaching to try the pony-provided food. He was brave, or trusting of their hosts.

Spike thrust a thumb back towards the door they had come through, closed as it was. "She's being told we're here, I bet. As soon as she's available, she'll come striding in."

"I would imagine being a monarch is quite taxing on one's schedule." Gregor did not touch the food, half an eye on his guard and what they tried. He could not assume what Spike ate was safe. There could be things that were harmless to dragons but deadly to humans.

As it turned out, the guard did not show signs of illness or poison. On the contrary, the food provided was quite delicious, and the tea simple and refreshing. The sweets melted easily on the tongue and had just the right dash of sugar. "(They have good chefs,)" quietly complimented the guard, reaching for something new. He never went for the same thing twice, that would diminish what Gregor could eventually try for himself.

"Never tried it myself." Spike shrugged softly. "But yeah, she's busy more than she's not. Twilight's about the same way, but she does that to herself. What about you, how busy is, uh, priesting?"

"When am I not a father?" Gregor finally reached for one of the little cookies, one of the first things that had been sampled. "It is a state of being, and one I welcome."

"I hope I have not made you wait too long." A door opened that was not the one they came through. There was Celestia, entering with a casual pace to her steps. "As always, a pleasure to see you, Spike. And you would be...?" Her eyes were on Gregor as if she somehow already knew the guard could be ignored.

Gregor dipped his head towards the ruler of the land. "Father Gregor, humbly at your service, Your Highness." He gestured across the table. "Our compliments on the hospitality you provided."

"Sometimes it is the simple things that can put a day on the right path." She sank down at the table, wings folding against her back. "I am Princess Celestia, though I feel you are aware of that already. Princess Twilight was quite explicit, as is her nature. Tell me, you are a guide of your people?"

"A humble shepherd," agreed Gregor, a hand at his chest before gesturing towards Celestia. "Much like yourself, though far less grand in station, if what I hear is correct."

Celestia smiled, a gentle touch on her face. "I lead by example, and by ensuring Equestria is handled with care, that my little ponies can live in it with joy. You are not from any one world, your feet stepping from one star to the next. It must be quite trying, to tend to such a large flock, so far and distant away."

He had not expected to be approached in such a way about his travels, not so quickly or in such a manner. "I am a wandering priest, as you have guessed. I do not have one 'flock' save those that travel with me. It is my duty to greet warmly."

"A diplomat," she discerned. "A pleasure to meet you then. Tell me then, since you sought me, what is it you truly seek? I do not believe it is simply to say hello, as charming as that is."

What exactly had Twilight written in her letter? He could not know. Honesty felt like the right course. "I had wished to find the source of light, the brilliance that echoed in the people of this land so clearly. Your ponies are almost bedazzling in their clarity of purpose and lack of strife. Even when trouble does arise, they handle it with a child-like eagerness."

Celestia nodded as he spoke, her horn glowing a golden shade as a kettle lifted and poured herself a cup of tea, then floated the cup to rest just in front of herself with a clink of china on china. "It was not always so peaceful, but it is with great pride that we reach ever upwards towards it. There are ponies who work diligently to keep it that way." She leaned forwards softly. "How do you 'bring light' to your own people?"

Gregor's guard was tense. It was his job to protect Gregor, and the large magical horse they were speaking to was a little intimidating. Unlike the 'little ponies', she was fully the size of a horse, and her glowing horn made it clear she had magic, and wings in addition.

The diplomat himself did not allow any nervousness to show. "I speak the Good Words and offer counsel to those that will listen. The great light of the Pancreator does shine down on me, and I humbly offer a reflection of it onto those I speak with, that their life may be so brightened."

Celestia raised a fine brow. "Tell me of this Pancreator. Is that a philosophic construct, or something more?"

"Ah, now there is a question." Gregor smiled warmly as he made a wide sweep of a hand. "Ask ten priests and you may get ten subtly different answers. I serve Sanctuary Aeon, following the teachings of Saint Amalthea. I walk in his kind light to show the light of the Pancreator, that which created us all, to all of his creations, humans or not. If the light of intelligence burns in their eyes, they deserve to know of this light, to bathe and be comforted in it."

Celestia brought up her metal-clad hooves and touched one to the other. "I like what I hear of your particular order, but, and forgive me for my assumptions, but your words imply there are others. Tell me plainly, in what danger are my people?"

He touched the tips of his fingers to one another from one hand to the next, imitating Celestia's gesture. "I will not deny that." It would be folly to do so, he quietly decided. "Your people stand at a critical juncture."

"And should we fail?"

Spike glanced back and forth between the two powerful personalities that clashed and dueled at the table he was seated at. "Uh..." He did not entirely grasp what was being said between them. "Fail what?"

Celestia reached a hoof, resting it gently on Spike's head. "Mind us not, Spike. We are speaking of weighty things."

Spike frowned at that, sitting up. "Weighty things I should know about. I'm a squire now, you know."

Celestia drew her hoof back, surprise showing a moment. "Truly? And to whom are you squired to?" She knew all the knights in her kingdom. There weren't terribly many of them. She turned the same hoof to show to Gregor with the flat of it. "My apologies."

"It is no trouble." It was a moment to think. He did not argue Spike's interruption.

Spike hiked a thumb in a strong jerk. "I am a squire of Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods, husband of my adopted sister." He hopped up suddenly, standing on his chair and bowing properly as Laud had taught him. "I am still in training, but I hope to, you know, not embarrass him."

Celestia's smile deepened a little. "You will make a great and glorious knight, noble and kind in equal measures." She gently ran a hoof over his cheek and lifted his chin towards her. "I would only ask that you never forget what makes you special, Spike."

Spike's cheeks warmed at her words. "I'll do my best!" He snapped a sharp salute before sinking back onto his seat with a happy little smile.

Gregor detected the distraction had ended. "It is not my place to make the judgment, but judgments are being made. The exact nature of your people before the Pancreator and the nature and purity of the souls that inhabit your forms is being questioned."

Celestia's left ear lifted towards him. "How does one measure the purity or nature of what one cannot see? The philosophy of the soul of a pony is long and storied, and I should imagine it is equally thus for humanity. What makes a pony who they are, beyond the gross requirements of the flesh? Are these mysteries that you have the answers to?"

Gregor sat up, his hands moving to fold on the table before him. "There are mysteries that are beyond the measure of us mere mortals. We can only see and consider."

"And judge," added Celestia. "You have seen my people. Do they measure favorably in your eyes?"

"In my eyes, they are wide-eyed children, to be protected and cherished. Even the most recalcitrant soul on this world seems laughably naive, in need of a stern talking to at worst."

Celestia rose to her hooves. "I feel you would benefit from knowing more than Ponyville. I have heard your people have a myth, a tale of a place of fire and misery where the worst are cast, forever separated from what is good and whole. Are you familiar?"

Was she... "Do you speak of Hell?" That was not where he imagined the conversation going. "What of it, Your Highness?" He did not rise as she did. Assuming one should stand in the presence of royalty was a bad habit.

She turned in place, her glowing horn opening a window. "I do, though ours is far less philosophical. Would you care to visit it? I would show you the darkness we have done battle with. It becomes far too easy to assume we are guileless children who have not known what it means to struggle."

Gregor's mien cracked. His guard, trying so carefully to look un-noticable and unpresent, was focused with wide confused eyes. Was he being literally invited to pony hell? "I... Forgive me, but this is simply not a possibility I was prepared for." He laid his cards out cleanly. "I am attached to my physical presence, though I know my soul will endure in the light, I am rather fond of it, and would continue to serve my people."

Celestia spread her wings. "I will protect you from harm, I promise. You are my guest. Come." She gestured at her own back with a wing. "I will carry you. A rare honor, I should add."

Spike's expression agreed with her. Beside himself once or twice, he hadn't seen many ponies get a Celestia ride. "Woah, uh, you'll bring him back here, right? I'll wait."

"Please." She nodded at Spike, then looked to Gregor's guard. "You are also welcome to enjoy our hospitality until we return. Spike can show you where things are."

Gregor did stand then, it would have been rude not to. "Is it by magic that you will protect me?"

"There should be little need. We have secured the darkness." She inclined her head towards her back. "Come, I will show you. Know that I am aware of your friends above us and have little desire to give them reason for offense. This is not an attempt to harm you."

Would he trust her? She was their source of light, the tender of their sun, with a kind smile and beloved by her people. She who was inviting him to visit their literal hell planes. He hesitated. "I would be the first of humanity to see this, I should imagine?"

"You will be, and I can think of few others that would be more ideal. Come, see, and you may cast your judgments." She lowered one of her wings and tilted, making it easier for him to access her. "Think of me as a horse, if that helps. I will carry you."

Author's Notes:

What is Celestia thinking with this detour?

Is this madness, or genius?

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79 - Go To Hell

Gregor approached the great mare that was the ruler of that land. She was still and patient, and large. He was a healer and diplomat, charged with being a kind face and a soft touch... who would see the pony's hell. Still, it was time to stand tall, or withdraw. "Let us see," he spoke out loud.

Then came the basic, and awkward, idea of mounting Celestia. He had ridden a horse before, though she had no saddle, no bridle, and no reigns. She was a thinking and speaking horse, like a Shantor, who had little use for such things. He threw a leg over her in the position where a saddle would have been and slid up onto her as best he could. With no reigns, he reached instead for her shoulders, and got a face full of billowing mane.

Her mane appeared to be an extension of her power of the dawn itself, flowing and with sky shades in an unending dance that ignored the lack of wind to create the movement. The mane was magic, like the rest of her.

"You may sit up," she advised as she returned to full height, bringing his feet away from the ground beneath them, resting on her barrel as any other horse might provide. "I will not allow you to fall."

Not having his face pressed against ensorcelled hair seemed like a good idea and he did sit up, though he felt vulnerable and precarious despite her words. There he was, riding bareback on a thinking, cunning, magic horse that would see no legal censure from the kingdom they resided in if she happened to cause his end.

But she was also his host, and had shown little sign of meaning harm. There would be no finer time to take measure of their true intentions than this. "I am prepared." He thought soft prayers to the Pancreator and his patron saint, that they may watch over him during the trial ahead, but he would not back away.

The world suddenly changed as she took flight, launching herself from the window with little preamble. Her powerful wings caught them and they were flying, truly flying. Gravity had little say over their path out away from the very city he had approached. "Look down," she called to him. "See the city from a new angle."

And thus he did, beholding Canterlot not as a city full of smiling ponies, but as a vast construct that took hard work and engineering to solve. Even allowing for magic, the way the city rose against gravity, clearly supported by structures beneath it rather than cheating with spells, implied a great deal of effort had gone into placing the city there. The water that spilled freely from one side spoke of irrigation techniques and pre-planning.

The ponies were capable of more than simple happiness, or so he felt Celestia was trying to impress. It was a pity he was also still high in the sky at the mercy of a horse he had only passing knowledge in how to ride. He did not view the city for long, making judgments quickly before returning his view forward. "A fine city."

"One paid for with blood and broken bones," she spoke a little morosely. "I do not think often of it, but those brave first builders made the ultimate sacrifice at my behest those untold years ago." She directed an ear at him. "I presume you are not unfamiliar with the difficulties of such constructions?"

"Not intimately," he confessed. "But I have heard stories." Grand or modest, once a building effort was beyond a given size, injuries and deaths seemed to become inevitable. "Tell me..." He tried to calm himself despite being only supported by Celestia's form so high and fast in the air. "Tell me, why? You surely knew the cost, but what was the goal?"

"At the time, safety." She looked over her shoulder a moment. "But as it grew, it became something grander, a symbol, as these things sometimes do. It is a place visible from much of my kingdom, where they know I reside. It has become a sure sign they can look to, to know I am not quite that far away. It brings comfort now, and solidarity."

An entire city that had become a reflection point, where any could look up and bask in the warmth of the light. It was... poetic, and humbling. Even divine worlds were not often known to go to such lengths to put a point of inspiration in such clear view. Many, he ruminated, would hide them away, to protect them, but was such protection also sheltering the light away from those most in need of it?

He banished such thoughts. "What should I expect, when we get there?"

"We are drawing close." She swooped down, her legs reaching for the ground that approached them. "This is where we secure dark things that have proven troublesome to the world at large. This we do not tell others of. This is not a place my ponies go or view casually." She landed lightly, taking a few steps with her momentum before coming to a gentle stop.

The great doors of Tartarus stood before them, imposing and cold. Cool blacks and reds covered it, with an ornate fixture at its center, its purpose unknown to him. "It's not as large as I imagined," he confessed. It was large enough for three Celestia's to stride in side by side, by his guessing, though was tall enough to fit his idea of how large they should be.

"Why would we make the portal to this larger than it need be?" Her magic wrapped around him, gently setting him down on his feet beside herself. "We are done flying for now, and I imagine you would rather walk."

"Thank you," he dipped his head, even if the feeling of magic was a strange and unasked for one. Her magic was warm, as befit a ruler who claimed dominion over their sun, their source of light. "How do we proceed, if we are to proceed?"

She raised a hoof to the dark blue fixture in the center of the door. "There is a key, but there are also ways." Her horn glowed brightly, that glow seeming to transfer down to her hooves. The door opened suddenly but slowly, swinging an inch at a time to allow them past. "The key is for those who would come but once."

The sound of claws on stone reached them, a large thing was approaching them, equally loud panting filling the air. Gregor took a step back, muttering a soft prayer of protection.

"Fear not. This is a guardian. And a good boy at that." As if by cue, Cerberus lumbered into view, a massive three headed dog, all three heads fixed on Celestia with happy smiles and lolling tongues. They knew her. "Good afternoon, Cerberus. Is everything going well?"

The dog woofed, but not all at the same instant, a discordant gap of moments between them. "Good good. I'm coming in with Father Gregor here. He is a good pony, even if he doesn't look it, so be nice."

Cerberus approached all the closer, moving for Gregor without further delay. Those great unnatural dog heads came down at him, their teeth displayed, but he was not torn asunder. They began to all sniff at him curiously, and then the licking began. He was being assaulted in the manner of an eager housepet shown a new person.

He could but laugh at the absurdity of the moment. He was being slobbered on by... uh... "What manner of creature is this?" He tried to push the heads away and they obliged, thankfully, allowing him respite.

"He is a unique thing." Celestia strode past him without fear. "We should move forward. The door will close. Now... your hell is a hot place, with fire and seducing demons, is it not?"

"That is... a fair summary." There was surely more nuance than that, but as basic hot takes went... "And yours?" He scurried to catch up with her, still in something of disbelief that he was literally entering their hell, even if he had just passed... whatever Cerberus was. Which reminded. "Does your guardian have a name?"

"Did I not mention it? Cerberus." Her calling of his name, even in conversation, caused the great beast to approach her, following as she walked. The door began to close behind them with the heavy sound of stone against stone. "This is Tartarus, a place of coldness and stillness.

A low hiss from the side drew his attention. There were cages stacked tall with all manner of beasts. The one hissing had a curious body that was a mix of a rooster and a dragon. He averted his gaze almost immediately, realizing what he had seen. "Pancreator preserve!"

"Ah, you recognize a cockatrice?" Celestia strode past it as if it wasn't there. "This particular one made its way into Canterlot and caused no end of trouble. This is its punishment. There are others, and we deal with them. Ours is not a safe world."

Another cage along the way emitted a deep bellowing roar, shaking back and forth. "And this is a bug bear."

It was no bugbear that Gregor would have known. It was literally a bear and a bee made one. "I... see..."

"Fierce and deadly, it takes quite some effort, and all too often blood, to subdue it. It is kept here, as no other place suffices for something like it." Still she walked on, ignoring it from that point. "But these are beasts and monsters. I did not come here to show you them specifically."

Gregor kept close to Celestia. Even Cerberus, as strange as he(?) was seemed safer than the beasts that wanted to escape their cages. "What is it then that you have brought me here to see? I would have thought a glimpse of your predators that you have shown mastery over would have sufficed."

"Perhaps, but even a wolf can claim dominion over its territory over other fierce predators. These only show that we are clever animals. You needst see something... else." They were striding along a narrow walkway, to either side it went down beyond sight. It was cold and still, as she had promised. "He awaits us at the end of this path."

"Come to taunt me?" asked a voice in the same direction. "And you've brought company? Another prisoner, perhaps?"

Gregor felt a chill run down his spine. That voice spoke of a manipulator. In such a dark and loathsome place, was he to meet their figure of Satan? "I am no prisoner, though I suppose you are."

"He supposes I am," bitterly laughed Tirek as he came into view, in a cage larger than the others. A centaur, with the full body of a horse and the torso of some humanoid thing, but not human. "What manner of creature are you?" he asked, peering at Gregor.

"A guest," replied Celestia without pause. "Father Gregor, this is Tirek. He is as close to what you would call a demon as we have available to display."

"Father?" Tirek reached for the bars of his cell. "Is that a rank? I knew one that preferred that name... How can I help you today, Father?"

That voice was like tainted oil against his skin. He could feel the darkness of the demon before him. The wrong word could lead to corruption. "You cannot help me. I have all that I require," he stated with steely confidence. He would be taken in by no demonic promises. "Tell me, what crimes has this one committed, aside from what he is."

Celestia gestured with a wing. "His people are not all fallen as he is, do not think ill of them all for his crimes. But this one, he is a creature most vexing. He can draw magic from us, even those of us you would think are free of magic. With their vitality stolen, he grows stronger and larger, becoming drunk on the essence he gorges on, growing ever more hungry."

A classic demonic vice, to lust for power unending, and to become all the more difficult to put down as a result. Gregor felt his hands clenching without thinking about it. A demon. He was facing a true demon.

"Now now, don't look at me that way. I am just a defenseless creature," he argued, gesturing over his frail form. "I couldn't hurt a fly."

Author's Notes:

Father Gregor meets Tirek, and does not like what he sees.

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80 - Return to Light

There was a question that needed an answer. "Why does he persist?"

"I have little better to do." Tirek smirked faintly, eyes resting on the priest and the alicorn that guided him.

Celestia inclined her head towards the prisoner. "What would you prefer? Death? There can be no growth there, though there may yet be none to be had." She started towards the exit. "There are advantages."

Gregor was quick to take the chance to be away from the foul creature, putting Tirek out of his sight in favor of Celestia. "Advantages?"

"There was a time when he did escape, but even he, as terrible as he is, did not bring direct death, though he had me at his mercy. It allowed our defenders time to act against him, and order was returned." She was moving for the exit at a light trot. "Though his reasons for mercy are far different than ours."

"I should imagine..." He watched as she applied her magic to the inside of the door, where it was smooth, but it opened all the same, slowly swinging outwards with the slow grind of stone on stone. "I thank you, for this token of trust."

"You are quite welcome. Come, let us away from this dreary place." She stepped forward into the light, her pelt shimmering in the brilliance as she turned and watched him.

He had little reason to argue that idea and they were both well away, soaring through the air.

Spike rocked on his feet, watching the room, and the guard. Gregor's guard had remained largely still, waiting patiently when not taking a snack from the still-full table. "So..." Spike worried his fingers, trying to think of something to say. "(Hello.)"

"(Hello,)" replied the guard with a nod. "(Is the Father alright? Where did they go?)"

Spike frowned, trying to sift through the words. "Gregor (good)." He was with Celestia, he doubted much bad could happen to him. "Spike." He hiked a thumb at himself. "(You?)" He pointed at the guard.

The guard seemed to notice at that point how limited Spike's understanding was, and the conversation stalled out into sullen silence, broken with soft chewing sounds when he dared another snack.

Spike snapped his fingers. "(Rest?)" He could lead the guard somewhere to rest, he figured.

"(No.)" The guard held up a hand in refusal, apparently content to remain there. "(Thank you.)"

There was very little for Spike to do with him, he decided. Still, there were things to be done. Spike stepped from the room. "Make sure he's taken care of." He hiked a thumb back at the one he was leaving behind, looking between the guards posted at the room.

They nodded with firm looks on their faces. He had passed the bit onwards. Satisfied, Spike strode away from the room, looking for particular ponies.

"Rare to see you away from your better half."

Spike jumped, turning mid air to come down facing Blueblood. "Oh! Hey."

"Hey yourself." He raised a brow lightly. "Is Princess Twilight nearby?"

"Nah, just me today." He held up his hands a moment. "Actually, you may be a pony I was looking for."

"Mmm? You have roused my curiosity. What have you in mind?"

"It's about the humans."

Blue leaned in all the closer, eyes on Spike firmly.

"Well... you know royal laws, right?" He lifted his shoulders lightly. "I was hoping to check something."

"A royal law that may involve the humans?" Blue sat on his haunches, eyes on Spike. "Go on..."

"If a creature were born between a pony and a human in a royally acknowledged wedding of a royal family, would that creature, even if they weren't a pony, be a pony royal or not?" He flexed and counted on his fingers as he spoke, making sure he hit all the salient points in the question as he went.

"Are they royal due to the pony, or the human?" He swayed a hoof to the left, then the right as he spoke of the two possibilities.

"Um, well, noble human, royal pony family, but common mother." Spike ended up with three fingers extended then held up his hand to display them. "How would that work?"

Blue's brows furrowed with some confusion. "I must ask how a common mother and a noble human came to be a royal pony family. Without that, your question remains unanswered."

"Fair... Alright, so, Twilight got in a herd--"

Blue jerked back. "A herd? How... backwards... And the common mother and the noble human are members of this herd, I presume?"

"Yeah, exactly." Spike nodded firmly. "So you have a royal herd and a noble, but not pony, father. What's the foal?"

"First... you have a strange but politically staggering event." He rolled a hoof in the air. "Proof that humans and ponies can come together in... that way. But that is not what you are asking. Being a direct child of the noble, there can be little room to deny them their title of nobility." He inclined his head faintly. "That will surely arouse concern among his family, hopefully with a good ending."

"Right, okay, so at least noble." He gestured broadly across the hallway. "But what about the pony half of things? He and she are at least quasi-royal because of the herd, right? Tell me if I'm wrong here, I'm still getting the hang of this."

He put a hoof on Spike's shoulder. "Thank you for approaching me with this. I confess, I thought you may have thought ill of me, considering the actions of your friend."

Spike blinked at that. "Which friend?"

"Rarity?" He lifted his shoulders softly. "She is your friend, is she not?"

"Yeah! Yeah, of course... What about her?" He smiled brightly, trying to hide any feelings he was having with moderate success.

"We had an unkind meeting when she came to the Grand Galloping Gala. You were there, if I recall. Do you not--"

"--oh yeah!" he cut in loudly. "I remember that. That was... a mess... Uh, anyway, no..." That had knocked Blueblood out of the running for his dear Rarity's heart. A positive, in his book. "It's alright. So, the foal?"

"Would be Princess Twilight's child," he declared with a soft nod. "I should imagine she will accept this without even a thought, and if that is the case, few could argue it. The child then would be royalty, so long as Princess Twilight remained a princess, or in the event she bequeathed her title to the child."

"Woah, cool..." Spike clapped his hands with a big smile. "Alright, that makes sense. Thank you for the answer."

"You are quite welcome. Tell me... You seem to have a slightly different baring than before. Has something happened?" He was studying Spike intently, watching for all the subtle clues.

"Oh yeah!" He hiked a thumb at himself. "You're looking at Squire Spike Sparkle, in training beneath Laud Mountbatten of the house of Hawkwood." He snapped his heels together, taking a formal standing pose. "In training, but learning."

"A squire? It's been some time since last I encountered one of those who wasn't using the title in jest..." A brow slowly raised. "You aren't using it in jest, I do hope?"

"Nope! Completely serious. I'm here on a mission actually, but it's on a bit of a break right now."

Blue's horn glowed as he grabbed a broom from inside a closet that had been closed a moment beforehand. "Have you been practicing the old arts?"

Spike's eyes followed the broom as it approached. "Which old arts?"

Blue suddenly swung the broom at Spike, but the dragon ducked under the swing. "Those." He jabbed and thrust at Spike, forcing him to dodge and parry with a swat of his hand. "You have been! What a delight!"

Spike grabbed the broom suddenly, arresting its movement. "That's enough of that."

The magic around the broom faded, leaving him holding it. Blue was smiling in what seemed to be a genuine way. "A pleasure to meet someone who knows those. We simply must spar some time. I thought I would die of old age without ever having crossed blades with another."

Spike blinked rapidly. "Oh! Well, wow... You know how to use a sword?"

"I was trained as a foal," he explained with a cocky smile on his face. "But the occasions to make real use of it are quite slender."

"You should have asked Laud! He's amazing, and the one that's teaching me." Spike pointed in the general direction of Ponyville. "He'd love new sparring partners."

"I did spy the blade at his hip, but he was a foreign dignitary... Hardly the proper sport to offer a challenge to." Blue coughed softly into a hoof. "Unlike you. We've known one another for some time, even if our social circles only rarely touched through your elder sister's relation with Celestia."

"There is that... Anyway, I'm still in training. I don't want to make Laud look bad by not giving a good show." He lifted his shoulders a little. "Maybe when I'm done?"

"Come now... It would be a private thing, between us. Perhaps you would learn something." He turned away, but looked over his shoulder. "Come with me, we can both take up a practice blade and show the guards how it's done. Poor things only know how to use spears, and not very well from what I've seen."

Spike raised a lone finger. "Uh, how is it private if we're showing the guards?" Despite that, he was following after Blue, weaving through the corridors.

"The guards hardly count. They don't gossip as a rule, and they know little of the formalities involved." Blue cantered suddenly in place before resuming his trot. "I can't wait!"

Celestia did not return to the same sitting room, instead gently landing on a balcony that led to a different room. "I apologize if this caused any undue worry. I would not have allowed harm to befall you."

He slid down from her back, his feet back on a solid surface where he preferred. "Thank you... This was enlightening. I have a better view of your people." He was still struggling to put it all together, still sifting through things, but that he was touched, he felt certain. "I have another question."

"Hm?" She was watching him with a gentle attention, ears perked at him.

"You have shown me how you handle your demons, but what of your own who stray from the path?" He certainly had seen no jails in Ponyville, or anywhere else just yet. "How are they handled?"

Celestia stepped into the room, her metal shoes striking the ground in the cadence of a slow walk. "For those not so vile as to require such a far removal, they are kept closer. If they have not strayed so far, they need to be brought back, shown... light, as you would have it. They must be shown the light and brought back into it. To throw them fully into darkness would be a disservice, to them, and to us."

"Hm..." It was a delightfully idealist way to go about it. It clearly worked well enough... for the kingdom. Spread across an entire world... The entire universe... Could such a thing work? Wouldn't be nice if it could...? "I have much to consider." He placed the fingers of one hand to the fingers of the other, nodding towards Celestia. "Pray allow me the time to do that."

"Of course." She gestured across the room that was her bedroom. "Go and be at ease. You may stay here, if you prefer, or inquire of Spike. He knows the city well and will gladly direct you."

"He has been nothing but polite." Gregor made his way towards the door Celestia had gestured towards. He felt he should say more, but he had too many thoughts to sift through. "Thank you."

Celestia watched him go as she settled on her own bed. "That went reasonably."

Author's Notes:

Gregor has a new view on things. Will this be in favor of Equestria?

Spike is challenged to a friendly spar! Who will win?!

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81 - Round One, Fight

Spike gave his practice blade a few testing swings. It was balanced reasonably, in his estimation. On some levels, it was surprisingly good to find in a barracks that specialized in spear and hoof-to-hoof combat. "Where were they even hiding this?"

Blueblood was doing much the same, glowing horn swooshing his wooden sword about testingly. "I put them here years ago. I use them once in a while for practice, but little more until today." A little smile split his lips. "Until today," he repeated, turning to Spike fully.

"First to three definitives?" ventured Spike as he raised the sword into a ready position. "I should warn, dragon, glancing blows are laughable." He smiled a little cockily. "Unlike soft ponies."

"How cruel." He directed his blade towards Spike. "Very well, first to three telling blows. We will part after each and begin anew. You." He pointed a hoof at a guard. "Watch us and call them out."

"Oh, yes, sir!" He saluted sharply and moved to stand between them and to the side to see the action. That was enough to start drawing other curious onlookers.

"In the spirit of things, I move we avoid any 'ungentlepony'-like behavior." Spike dipped his head lightly. "No striking below the belt, that sort of thing."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," agreed Blueblood. "Good to have these things defined though."

Not that Spike had that protection when sparring with Laud, but knowing Blueblood would fight that way freed him to focus on a smaller portion of his defenses. He smirked softly, feeling he had already won a small battle.

They stood still a moment, facing one another, swords at the ready. Somewhere in the castle, a door closed. It was accepted as a signal to begin, and they approached.

Gregor stepped into the waiting room to see his guard was right where he had been left. "(I trust the food is to your liking?)"

"(Father, Sir...)" He quickly scrambled to his feet, dusting himself of crumbs rapidly. "(Good to see you returned to us. I hope the journey was fruitful?)"

"(I can say that much with ease.)" He made a soft placating motion. "(Be at ease, you have done me no wrong. There was little else for you to do while I was away.)" He looked over the table, taking measure of what had been eaten and how much. "(Are we feeding you enough?)"

"(Father...)" He had started to blush, knocked off his usual steady balance. "(Their food is quite well prepared. I had meant each to be my last sampling.)"

"(And you are led down a road of sin without even noticing,)" laughed Gregor, slapping his guard on the back. "(Enough gluttony for one day. Where is Spike, the dragon?)"

"(He wandered away, Father.)" He indicated the same door Gregor had come in through. "(I don't know where he is right now.)"

"(We'll have to find him then. We'll look rude if we wander away ourselves without our guide. Come.)" He led the way back out the way he had come, leading the guard back into the hallways of the castle.

Spike deflected the sword jabbing towards his face, turning it aside with a strong swat. Blueblood's magic grip, he had swiftly determined, was not as firm and powerful as Laud's. He could block a swing outright when he had both hands on the handle of his sword, but he didn't need to.

Parrying wasted less time and energy, allowing him to throw the incoming sword off kilter. The part that distracted him was that doing so didn't move the rest of Blueblood. It was held in magic, not in any hand at the end of any arm, so it didn't expose Blueblood in the same way he had grown accustomed to.

"Very good," complimented Blueblood, shifting to the left to try another angle. "But at this rate..."

Spike couldn't argue the logic. He was playing defense, and that couldn't win the match. Blueblood's sword came in a sharp stab and Spike suddenly lashed out a hand, swatting it aside even as he advanced in a sudden swift scramble.

"Hit!" suddenly bellowed out the guard that had been watching them. There was little doubt that Spike's sword trailing up along Blueblood's belly counted as a telling blow. Other guards clopped their hooves on the ground in appreciation of the display as the two separated.

"Oh ho, that eager to make my innards into outtards, are we? A deft maneuver..." He bounced his sword back and forth as if passing it from hand to hand, but it was always held in his magic. "The next point is mine."

They came at one another with cautious steps. Blueblood was the first to test Spike's defenses, swinging and poking probingly. Spike smirked softly, the same mistake being made. He knocked the sword out of the way and went in for a strike.

"Hit!"

"What?" Spike blinked dumbly, confused until the sword prodded him all the more firmly in his back where it had found him.

"Fool me once, as they say," counseled Blueblood as he danced back away. "This is quite the showing. Come on then, we shouldn't let the tempo die down."

Cheating unicorns... But there was little he could do about that. His small size was an advantage at times, and Blueblood hadn't called foul on that. They both had their advantages, and it was up to the other to learn how to get around them. Such was the game of wits that was a proper sparring match. "Alright, let's do this."

Gregor arrived just as the third round began. He had sense enough to not make sudden noise at what was clearly a duel, in good spirits or foul. He appraised the two warriors quickly, seeing neither of them were hurt, and wielding what appeared to be wooden practicing blades. A friendly spar? He joined the crowd of pony guards to bear witness to it, his own standing just to the side and behind him.

The two warriors danced around one another, both on guard for the other's sudden moves. Spike kept the floating sword where he could see it even as Blueblood kept Spike in front of himself. The two swords met and clacked with wood on wood, each blow turned aside before they could reach the other side. "I admit," spoke Blueblood as he made a parried strike. "You are giving far better sport than I had dared to dream. My compliments to your mentor."

"I'll... pass that on." He ducked under a high swing and stuck with his blade, but there was no hand there to catch, but also no hand or arm there to stop his sword from continuing. Blueblood's strength was also a weakness, as there was nothing stopping Spike's thrust from completing, prodding him firmly in the chest.

"Hit!"

Blueblood snorted softly, backing away. "I can't blame much anycreature other than myself for that one... I see now why they said a shield was a good tool if one means to perform this in earnestness." He rubbed the sore spot created from the point of Spike's sword jabbing him. "An excellent reminder..."

Spike swallowed nervously, imagining Blueblood with a magically held sword and shield. That would have changed the topology of the fight quite a bit. "You're good," he ventured. "I mean I thought I'd be one of the only ponies around that would know one side of the sword from the other."

"You are not a pony," noted Blueblood with a little smile. "You are a squire, and one I am proud to cross blades with. Come then, I have a point to prevent you from gaining."

They came at one another with a new spirit. Blueblood had learned from his errors, forced to pay mind to his defenses, only one point away from a loss. He deflected and parried Spike's blows as he edged around and struck at the small combatant who was holding his own well. "This is what I get for not practicing..." Not that there were many ponies for him to spar with.

Sweat was running down his brow, but a smile was on his face. "Almost!" he swore, a fine swing turned aside and the small dragon twisting out of the way just at the last moment. "No, no, I won't allow it," he called back, dancing away from what would have ended the match. "Come now!"

Spike was sparing less discourse, instead measuring his opponent, looking for weak points, gaps in stance and swing. He would return to Laud with a tale of his triumph. The thought of it brought a soft smirk to his face as he grabbed his own sword in both hands, one at either end of it, the 'edge' and the handle. He blocked the swing coming for him but not passively.

He struck the sword with his own, putting all his power behind it. Blueblood was clearly not expecting it, and the sword went flying away. His eyes followed it, possibly trying to get a magic grip back on it. When he looked back, there was a sword at his throat.

Blueblood burst into soft laughter. "Oh, you've defeated me. Good show, good show. Ohhh, would that we could continue. I was just warming up! I forgot how stimulating it can be to truly cross blades with a fellow warrior."

Gregor softly clapped as the guards stomped their hooves, the witnesses showing their approval as Spike set his sword aside where it had come from. "Hey, good match yeah." His eyes darted though, noticing the sound of clapping amid the stomping and clopping. "Father Gregor! Uh, dang, uh... I hope I didn't make you wait."

Gregor held up a hand as he shook his head. "You provided a fine performance, you and your sparring partner."

Blueblood looked between Gregor and Spike. "Here is a human that looks as if he has some title. I am Prince Blueblood, a pleasure to meet you."

"This is Father Gregor," hastily introduced Spike, gesturing at him. "And that's his guard." He indicated the quiet human lurking further back.

"A pleasure," assured Gregor. "Are you the child of Princess Celestia, or of similar status?"

Blueblood's cheeks warmed faintly. "I am her cousin," he demurred. "Equestria only has princesses as ruling caste, I'm afraid. I was denied that position since birth." He smirked softly, tail giving a twitch. "Just as well. I'm quite comfortable as I am."

Gregor nodded to him and looked to Spike. "A brilliant finish, Young Squire. You've been taking your studies carefully, I see."

"Oh, yeah, for sure." He patted the more real blade at his hips. "I mean... I'll be a knight when I'm done, and I don't want that to be just a... word."

"A good attitude. Fine to meet you, Prince Bluebood." He nodded towards Blue. "I'm afraid I must away with my guide. I need to consider on what I have seen and learned today."

"Do not allow me to keep you." He hefted up his sword from the ground in his magic and sent it flying to land next to where Spike set his down. "Spike, you simply must come by again. I just won't accept no for an answer. I'll not stop from chasing you down to your little town if I must. We simply must cross blades again."

Spike smiled at that, chuckling softly. "Sure thing. Now that you've sparred with me, maybe it'd be a little less awkward to try Laud, but watch out, he makes me look like the squire I am." He flashed a thumbs up and turned to lead Gregor away. "You want to get on a train for home, or are we staying in the city for a day?"

"I should like to rest for now," demurred Gregor. "So staying the day would be best, if it's not too much trouble. I will see that you are compensated for the--"

"--Don't even worry about it," cut in Spike. "You're our guest. One room coming right up!"

Author's Notes:

Spike crosses swords with Blueblood and neither side is dissatisfied with the results. That's nice I think. Hurrah for good sportsponyship.

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82 - By the Pancreator

Gregor set down a small device that would speak to the ship, and through that, get to his superior. "I come with new words."

His face appeared, a bust figure that floated there, showing in light. "Have you returned from your visit?"

"I have not. I was overwhelmed, but felt it urgent to report immediately." Gregor bowed towards the image, his fingers pressed together from one hand to the other. "They have shown trust in one hand, and ability in the other."

"In what way is this? Speak plainly, for their judgment rests in what you say." His superior was frowning slightly as he floated there.

"She has proven in word and demonstration that her people plan for the future, and are ready to bleed for it. They are far above any animal species," he started, remembering the grand vision of the city from above and the sacrifices that were made to create it. "They have erected a vast monument to their light, to cast its brilliance across the majority of their nation, for all to see and be warmed by."

"They are not far unlike the Shantor in appearance, are they not? Do they not share--"

"They are nothing like the Shantor," cut in Gregor before holding up a hand. "I apologize for speaking out of turn, Father."

"How strongly you speak... Enlighten me."

"They have long since overcome the limitation of their hooves. They build cities, not herd. They construct monuments of grand beauty, not primitive monuments. For better or worse, they understand the dark temptation of magic, but they rise from it, their souls collectively pure." He extended his fingers as he counted off each distinct difference, spreading his hands. "They know of our threat and of the universe, and their eyes are turned to it with curiosity and acceptance, not fear."

"You speak of their souls, but what do you know of that?" His leader leaned towards him as far as the image would allow. "You know precious little of soul theurgies."

"I would need to be blind," defended Gregor. "They have shown me their vision of hell, a real place of cold stone, where their most wicked are imprisoned, punished in separation from the warmth of the light. I have felt his forked tongue, wagging with lies and manipulation."

"You speak with clear conviction. Tell me then, what is your decision?" He was watching Gregor intently. "What would you proclaim of their souls?"

"I dare not assume I have that rank. In my untrained eyes, their souls shine with His brilliance. Their way is not ours, but it is not a bad way."

"I see." He blinked out, the room becoming darker without the image, leaving Gregor facing an inactive device, without answers.

Aboard the ship, the elder priest scowled as he turned, waving a hand towards another device, soon a new head appearing. "He stands aside the aliens, as his sort are quick to do. He sees not even a speck of darkness in them and singe their praises. Amaltheans be damned for their impure thoughts."

"It is as we saw it. He would defend the right of a common dog to hear and howl the words of God." replied the other floating head, a concerned look on his face. "But it is not just his words that speak idle lies, seduced by furry demons with kind faces. Our agents hear that one of them grows heavy with the blasphemous production of the sin of bestiality made physical."

The first faintly cringed with disgust.

"It was Hawkwood's own agent that has slept with these animals," added the other. "This only deteriorates. The universe cannot suffer this. We were bade by the Pancreator to hold dominion over all."

"Are we to declare their souls unfit then?"

The other hiked a brow. "Unfit? That is to assume they have any to start. Unclean and sinful, they need to be purged with the hottest flame we can manage. Already I have sent word for reinforcements. We will clean this world of filth."

"As you wish it." He bowed towards the image, remaining bowed until the image faded. "Pancreator watch over us."

Laud was poked in the chest with a wooden sword. It was held in the mouth of one of his wives, Bon Bon. "I challenge you," she firmly stated, eyes locked on him.

"I am not of the habit of accepting challenges without a basis." He brushed her sword aside, but she swatted him on the chest almost instantly.

"You are guilty of making me criminally bored while waiting on your spawn to finish ruining my figure." She prodded at him, stepping forward. "Do you not defend yourself, or are the rumors of Hawkwood bravery just so much hot air?"

He suddenly grabbed her sword, knuckles taut in his firm grip. "Do not make jests of my house. I know you are suffering, and for that I put it--"

She yanked the sword clear of his hand, dancing back. "Enough talk. Draw or admit you're a coward."

"Wife... I will not cross blades with you, not right now." He held up his hands. "You can pummel me if that makes you feel better, just leave my house out of it."

She huffed loudly, spitting the wooden blade to the ground. "What's the fun in that? Entertain me, damn you."

He offered a hand, and she took it, approaching and resting her cheek against it. "I am sorry," he spoke gently, starting to stroke over her form. "This is something I can know little of, being a man."

"That's a 'you' problem," she grunted before backing up a step. "The thing I hate most is that you all treat me as if I were about to fall apart at any moment."

"We care for you. I won't deny that, or feel guilty for it."

"I care about you, moron. I still could give you a poke and thrash you in a spar if you'd let me!" She stomped a hoof. "I can't run my shop. I can't do anything but... be."

"Have you tried that?" he ventured, brow raised.

"Then I have to think about what's coming, and that's hardly comfortable right now..." She glanced away and back, looking to the wooden sword on the ground briefly. "I'd rather cause some bruises right now."

"But not without a fight," he ventured gently.

"If I wanted to bash a stone, I'd already be doing that." Bon Bon rolled her eyes softly before stepping back into his reach. "If you won't allow that, get to rubbing. I want the itches banished and the sore spots shown love."

"This is a request I will oblige." He began to gently stroke and scratch at his filling wife, willing to work for her comfort.

Gregor emerged from his room, prayers still warm on his lips. It was a new day. "Good morning," he bade Spike.

Spike looked up from his chair, just finishing breakfast. "Hey! You want to head back or check out the city?"

Part of him wanted to see the splendid city of the ponies, but the way he had been dismissed... "We should head back, I feel... (We are returning)." He directed the last bit towards his guard who rose, ready to move. "Thank you, for serving as our guide."

"Not a problem at all." He hopped down from his chair and started walking. "You get good sleep? You look a little... off."

"I'm fine," he lied with an equally false smile. "Just some lingering thoughts bothering me." That much was truth. "Thoughts I feel may be banished when we have returned. It is nothing, certainly nothing involving you, Good Squire."

"Well, alright." Spike shrugged lightly. "If you need anything, just ask. It's my job to make sure everything's good for your trip."

Gregor could not think of a way Spike could meaningfully assist. "Thank you for offering. I will be sure to inform Laud of your commendable service."

Spike beamed proudly, leading the way back through the city to the train. He'd see his wards back to Ponyville without a single problem. He had done well, as far as he could see. He'd even held his own in a spar against a real noble. What a day... "You should come back sometime, when you're not busy. You know, enjoy the sights."

"I would like that." Gregor nodded as he boarded the train that would take him back towards his ship and his faithful. "But not today, unfortunately."

They arrived in Ponyville later. Without being told, Pinkie was there to greet them. "Welcome back, Spike!" She was waving a sign in her hooves that showed a doodle of a dragon with a knight's helmet and two humans equally crudely depicted and was eagerly bouncing it as she cheered their arrival.

"Did you tell her we were coming?" asked Gregor with a soft smile, stepping free of the train.

"She's just like that. She has a hunch for things." Spike shrugged softly. "Good thing she's on the good guy side. Hey, Pinkie!" He waved a little, half his attention on making sure his human wards got off the train properly, not that they seemed to have much trouble doing it.

"Spiiike!" She threw the sign aside and jumped at him, wrapping him up in an eager hug before she threw out a hoof towards Gregor. "And you're the important human Spike was showing around Canterlot, right? Nice to meet you! I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie, but Pinkie will do just fine."

"And I am Father Gregor." He offered a hand towards her, and she grasped it quickly, pressing but one hoof against it and somehow getting a firm dry grip as she shook it in the firm fashion of any human.

"We haven't really had a chance to talk. You busy?"

He glanced to Spike and his guard and off to the star ship landing pad. "I... should get back."

"Oh, that's too bad." She released him and sank to her haunches. "Lemme know when you have a moment." She held up two hooves close to each other. "Shouldn't take long, promise! I know you're an important one." She threw a hoof towards his guard. "Hello to you too! Don't be shy!"

The guard stood there impassively, not reacting to the offered hand. Gregor raised a hand with a gentle smile. "He does not understand Ponish, and doesn't speak often while charged with his duties."

Spike suddenly saluted. "He's a soldier, with responsibilities. Kinda like me, with less awesome titles involved."

"Ohhhh," gushed Pinkie, bobbing her head with comprehension. "Like the Royal Guard, got it. Sorry." She gestured towards the landing pad. "Welcome back to Ponyville! Heading to your ship?"

"I am. Thank you." With the kind smile he had long cultivated, he nodded to her and began his trek back to his ship, his guard trailing behind.

Spike did not follow them. "I'm heading back to the castle." He hiked a thumb towards the great crystal structure that held his family. "Gotta tell Laud how things went."He suddenly giggled, balling his fists with a big grin. "He's gonna be sooo proud!"

"Ooo?" Pinkie leaned forward. "Did you do something super amazing? Do tell!" She began to bounce alongside him, looking eager to hear the story.

"Well, I ran into an old friend. Remember Blueblood?"

Pinkie stuck out her tongue. "Bet Rarity won't ever forget him. What about him?"

"Did you know he likes to sword fight?" His grin took on a wry smirk. "And some squire showed him just how rusty he was at it?"

Pinkie burst into gay laughter, throwing an arm over Spike's shoulders. "Oh wow! You have to tell Rarity about that! She'll go right over the moon I bet!"

Spike froze a moment. He hadn't even considered that angle. But... "Huh... maybe..." Could he win the lady Rarity's heart with a tale of subduing her former antagonist? Wouldn't that be nice...

Author's Notes:

They're baaaack.

Trouble brews.

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83 - Reporting

Spike had his blade pointed to the ground, both hands on it as he stood at stiff attention. "The mission was a success, Sir!" he spoke in crisp tones, endeavoring to get it just right.

"At ease." Laud nodded with appreciation. "Let's start with the broad strokes. How did it go?"

"He saw some of Canterlot, but we didn't stay long. He was impressed with Celestia's hospitality, went off with her to see Tartarus--"

"--What?" That faintly tickled some distant portion of his memory, familiar, but... "What is Tartarus?"

"A bad place for bad people." Spike shrugged as if it was no big deal. "They came back from that and he was still happy, then we came home, basically. Oh!" He snapped back to attention. "I took part in a duel!"

Duel? "You are a squire, you should not be called to duels often. Was someone speaking that ill of me and mine that you felt the urge to--"

"--nothing that terrible," cut in Spike, holding up his hands, his poor sword suddenly falling over without him holding it. He scrambled to get it back up into position, keeping a hand on it. "I ran into an old friend and he mentioned he knew how to use a sword too, so we sparred."

"Ah, a friendly match." His expression brightened, fear of the worst fading. "Did--How did it go?"

Spike blew over the claws of his free hand. "I showed him he had some practice ahead of him. Oh, he may come by hoping to have a chance with you. His name's Blueblood, Prince Blueblood, not a bad pony."

"Very good, but tell me first, are there political meanings to besting the prince of Equestria? As my squire, I would hope this is something you considered."

"Oh, of course! I mean, prince isn't really a title. I mean, I guess it is, kinda, but not one anypony cares much about. It just means he has all the bits he wants, and is expected to attend royal social functions." He shrugged softly. "With how happy he was to cross blades with a real fighter, it seemed like it was only good news for me."

"A good sport?" Laud set a hand on his small squire's shoulder, the same that led to the hand that held his blade. "That does put the mind at ease. Be cautious, for the idle nobility can become quite wicked if they feel slighted. Speaking of that, you will become nobility yourself, and that could be you, so do not permit your hands to become idle. A knight should always have something in need of their attention."

"Yes, Sir!" He saluted with his free hand, then pulled his sword up, sheathing it at last, a practice blade though it remained. "So, I did good, right?"

"You did very good." He considered a moment. "Where did Father Gregor go after your return?"

"He went off to his ship, he looked full of thought or something. He didn't look like he wanted to talk just that moment, so I didn't pry." Spike shrugged softly before looking around. "How were things while we were gone?"

"Uneventful of major things, but the small concerns were there and dealt with as best I could." He glanced to Spike's false sword. "We are fast approaching the day you deserve to have real steel at your hip. In large, you have shown respectful of it. I would... rather commission one myself." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I could order one, from the ship above, but where is the romance in that?"

Spike hiked a thumb back at Ponyville. "Don't we have a blacksmith in town? Someone's gotta be making those horseshoes." To say nothing of the many other metal items that dotted the castle around him. "Wait, are you serious?" He clapped his hands together with a big smile. "Time for a real sword?"

"There is a... troubling wind. I can't put my finger on it, but we should be ready for it, which means being armed. I would rather you be ready for this than to assume all will be well." He walked past Spike, heading for the door. "You are right. It is a failing on my part that I disparage pony artisanship. It is a weapon, and an extension of the one that holds it. You deserve a proper weapon."

"You're kidding." A new pony approached from within the castle, Bon Bon scowling at the two of them. "Already? What'd he do to get bumped up to wielding a real sword?"

"A sword?!" Twilight's head peeked out of the kitchen. "Spike?!" She vanished, appearing beside Spike and grabbing him protectively.

Spike wriggled in his caretaker's grasp and popped free. "Hey, you already agreed I could be a squire, and that means a sword eventually, a real one." He patted the practice one at his hips.

"He crossed blades with a noble and proved victorious, and comported himself well beside," explained Laud. "The times ahead will test us, but I feel he is ready to face them. Bon Bon, you are a warrior, where would you go to have a proper blade forged?"

Bon Bon's dour expression lightened a little. "Well, since you're consulting me..." She thrust a hoof past everyone into town. "There's a blacksmith I'd trust, but... leave the order to me to place. Spike, up." She pointed towards her back. "We're going."

"What, like that?" It was all so sudden!

"Before she changes her mind," advised Laud with a bit of a smile, already reaching for a pouch of bits and holding it towards Bon Bon. "See that it is sized properly for him."

Bon Bon snatched the bag in her teeth. "It'll be better than you could have dreamed." Once Spike was mounted, she trotted off with him, heading down the hill towards Ponyville.

Twilight put a hoof to the side of her head. "Of course, he did ask already, but it's still... hard to face it actually happening. My little Spike, with a real sword... And not just to borrow."

"It will be his until he chooses to set it down." Laud watched Bon Bon become smaller as she descended. "Our wife thirsts for importance. This is a fine chance for her to make a real impact, without risking herself or what she carries."

"Hm? Oh! Yes, of course. Lyra!" She held up a hoof to her mouth to amplify her voice as she turned back into the castle.

Lyra scrambled down the stairs, almost tripping along the way. "What's up?!"

"Bon Bon went into town to get Spike a sword." Twilight pointed the way. "Just thought you should know."

"Thanks." She bobbed her head, then her ears went up. "Spike's getting a real sword? Awesome! What'd he do?"

Twilight shrugged softly. "Something about defeating a noble with it? I didn't know we had nobles that used swords."

"Apparently you have at least one." Laud approached Lyra. "I feel I haven't give you your due. It was at your hoof that this all began in motion. We should spend some time together."

Lyra's cheeks began to warm rapidly. "O-oh! Yeah, that... would be nice." She closed the distance and nuzzled into the back of one of his hands. "But no foals. One's enough for the family at a time, sheesh."

Twilight blanched at that, taking half a step back. "Yes, preparing for one is already stressful enough." Suddenly a hoof clopped against her cheek. "What if she has twins?! Wait, no, she... would have mentioned two names then... Okay, okay, no twins, probably..." She started to wander off, recovering from her self-imposed fear.

Bon Bon carried Spike rapidly through town, trotting along with a determined look on her face.

"Hey Bonnie." Carrot Top waved from her stand. "It's been too long since I was able to get one of your sweet pick-me-ups. When are you opening the store back up?"

Bon Bon paused, looking towards her friend. "If it were up to me, yesterday would work, but it isn't. My herd has me pinned down and won't let me do anything until I finish being fat and disgusting."

Carrot blinked softly. "You look as slim as ever. Who's calling you fat?! I'll shove a carrot right up--"

"--I'm fine," cut in Bon Bon with a soft chuckle. "I'm taking Spike here to get a gift."

Spike waved when talked about. "We're gonna get a sword, a real one!"

Carrot Top peered at Spike and the fake sword dangling from his hips. "Huh wow. Is Twilight alright with that?"

Bon Bon snorted softly. "Come on, you know me better than that."

"Yeah yeah." Carrot waved it away. "You wouldn't be here if you hadn't checked. Hey, for the road." She grabbed a carrot in her mouth and held it towards Bon Bon. "To health!"

Bon Bon closed the distance and chomped down on the other end of the carrot, taking it from Carrot Top. "Thanks."

"Eat, you're working for two, right?" She giggled softly. "Have fun shopping!"

Spike offered a thumbs up. "I plan to. Onwards, loyal steed, to proper equipment!"

Bon Bon turned an ear back at him. "Your 'loyal steed' can leave you in the dirt if you press your luck, Spike."

"Yes, Ma'am."

She trotted onwards with a satisfied little smirk.

His people were happy to have him back, as he was to be back among them. "My faithful, we approach a dire time, a testing of our convictions," spoke Father Gregor with an unusually serious tone. "As a faithful of Amalthea, I must bring light to all that would have it, whatever form that may take. The people of this land shine as few others do, each with guileless eyes unclouded with many of the petty concerns that burden the common man. They are as children, even as they struggle with very adult problems and with mature dedication." The time to be coy had passed, in his eyes.

"I must ask you all to declare your loyalties. Will you defend these creatures of light from the ugliest of human sins, or will your loyalty to stone and gold shine more brightly? I feel certain the time will soon come when one will have to choose a side, and I would have that be done now."

One of his dedicents bowed their head low at the grave tone and words. "Father, what has been spoken that would summon such dire tidings from your lips? Ever faithful have you been to the church."

"And ever faithful shall I remain, but loyalty to the church as a whole does not mean I will agree with everyone within it, nor they with I. News of my findings were met with curt dismissal. Either they will change their mind, or they will act as they have hinted. I will not be caught unawares. If you feel them right, you may rejoin them above. I will not harm a fellow man of faith, and you have all served me well these years." He brought his hands to his chest. "You are my children, and to raise a hand against you is beyond what I would wish. Be true to your heart, that we can part peacefully."

The air grew heavy with the tension of the question. An admission was being called for, one way or the other. A willingness to cross steel and pistol against other clergymen, or to be called upon to do the same to Father Gregor in time, likely.

A younger lad raised a hand. "I am at your side, Father Gregor. Never have you acted in a way the Pancreator would not smile on. I would rather die in your brilliance than skulk in the shadows for a moment longer in this mortal shell."

Voices of approval rippled through the crowd of priests and guards, others raising their hands.

But not all.

A smaller ship meant as a sort of life boat took off in a brilliant display of smoke and fire, launching up towards the larger ships in orbit, carrying with it word that Father Gregor expected the worst, and was preparing for it. The lines had been drawn.

Author's Notes:

Father Gregor prepares to do as his faith guides him, others are willing to stand at his side against the odds. Was it a mistake letting those unloyal to him leave peacefully?

Spike's getting a sword, woo!

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84 - Lines in the Sand

Far above them all, the universe moved. It was an inexorable thing, and the empire of man was but one piece of it, always moving, not always forward, but always in motion. A moderate sized vessel jumped between gates. Though moderate by their way of seeing things, it was far too large to enter the atmosphere of the planet it was near. It could have crushed the entirety of Ponyville in metal just by trying.

"Welcome to Equestria," came the radio broadcast from the Hawkwood frigate that floated defensively near the world.

"Good to be here," came the cheerful reply. "Not every day we get word of a new market opening its doors. We're with the Guild, of course." He had failed to specify more than that, meaning the one speaking was part of the Merchant's Guild, but not one of its larger and more known branches worth knowing. "And we come bearing gifts for those with the coin or goods to trade for them."

"Be cautious," cut in the broadcast of a new voice, coming from one of the church vessels. "This world's denizens are still being judged."

"Now now, I should hope they've shown if they're friendly or not." The merchant ship was approaching the world at a steady pace, not at all dissuaded by the cryptic warning. "What say you, Hawkwoods?"

"We'll broadcast the landing point. With local cooperation, a basic paved landing area has been arranged. We have an agent on the ground to help with local laws and to facilitate exchanges." The Hawkwood operative speaking could be heard shuffling a few papers about. "His name is Laud Mountbatten, one of ours."

"Of course, of course," acknowledged the merchant's radio speaker. One could hear the smile on his face. "Sounds like a reasonable sort. If they've made a welcome mat, I hardly imagine we have much to fear."

It would take time to prepare a landing vessel under the scornful watch of the church ships, but so far from civilization, they were the three sides of power, gathered there. Nobility, the church, and money, with no loyal people on the side to call upon.

Bon Bon raised a hoof to a door, rapping twice before glancing around, then tapping once more, the third barely a whisper of a noise.

A slit opened on the door, allowing a pair of eyes to peer down at her and her rider. "Drops?" asked a female voice.

"Bon Bon," she corrected, simultaneously telling the shadowy figure to be quiet about the clandestine origin of their knowledge of one another. "The dragon on my back is looking to get a sword, and I want to get him a good one. Lucky you, you happen to be the closest pony I thought of."

The pony inside snorted softly. "Lucky me. You brought bits or a purchase order?"

Spike tilted his head a little. "Should we have gotten one of those from Laud?"

"We have bits." Bon Bon inclined her head, gesturing with it towards her pocket. "Plenty of coins for talented smiths. Do you know where one of those might be?"

"Ha! Stop teasing, Bon Bon. You might make me angry." The slot closed, but the door opened a moment later, admitting the way into darkness. "Come in, bring the dragon, and tell me the particulars."

She proceeded onwards without hesitation. "He's a squire, officially. He's also still growing. I want a sword that will grow with him." She wasn't facing the smith, who was to their side as they entered, watching them.

The smith knocked the door shut. "Enchantments aren't free," she noted, eyeing Spike intently. "Mmm, I see you have a fake one dangling there. You know how to use it?"

Spike reached for his practice sword. "Of course, ma'am. Laud's been showing me how."

"Great, get down from there." She pointed to the floor. Spike jumped off of Bon Bon, going from above the smith to below. The Smith grabbed a metal pipe in her mouth. "Let's make sure you won't cut yourself. I won't make a sword for anycreature that doesn't know how to use one."

Bon Bon sat down out of the way, watching them. "He defeated Blueblood."

"Did he? Good for him." She swung the pipe a little before turning to Spike directly. "Show me what you have."

Spike drew his sword. "To the first telling blow," he declared, holding the sword forward before raising the tip into a more ready position. "I wouldn't want to hurt my smith; that wouldn't be very logical." Not that he really wanted to hurt any ponies.

"Not very logical at all." She suddenly darted forward, bringing her pipe down towards his forehead, but he saw that coming a mile away and deflected it to the side. Unlike his match with Blueblood, this carried her head with it, allowing him to dart around her in the moment she was recovering from the blow.

She barked out a laugh, throwing the pipe aside. "Good enough. Let's start the fires." She trotted off into the darkness only to banish it, stepping on a bellow that caused fires to surge upwards in a furnace, lighting the dim room fiercely a moment. "A fine sharp blade for an up and coming knight."

"But... I didn't finish?" Spike scratched behind his head, looking a bit confused.

"You want to pummel a smith that badly?" She kept pressing her hoof down, stoking the flames patiently. "It doesn't take much to see someone knows what they're doing, and that's all I wanted out of you. Bon Bon, are you bringing delinquents into my smithy?"

"What? No! I mean, thank you, for working on this." He bowed in the formal way Laud had shown. "So you can really make magic swords?" That was more than he was expecting, but not a bad surprise.

"I'll knead the magic right into it." She stopped forcing air across the flames and moved to where ingots of metal rested. "It won't fail you, provided you don't fail it. A sword can't be more powerful than the one wielding it, shameful fact. Probably for the best."

Bon Bon suddenly put a hoof on his shoulder. "She knows what she's doing. In fact, I bet she doesn't even need us here anymore."

"Nope." She selected one of the bars and grabbed it in her mouth, bringing it over towards the raging fires. "There's work to do. Leave the bits."

Spike raised a hand. "One thing... You, uh, you're an earth pony, right? How do you do magic?"

The smith stopped, peering at him before setting the ingot down. "One, that's just ignorant. All ponies have magic. Dragons have magic. Changelings, magic. Most creatures got some, just a matter of knowing how to use it. Two, what I am is none of your business, Sir." She turned back to the fires and picked up the ingot, setting it down in those raging fires to begin heating. "Go on then. I'll send word when there's a blade to claim."

Bon Bon set down the heavy bag of bits. "I'm 'just' an earth pony too, Spike. Are you a little tribist, hmm?" She approached Spike with a little smirk. "I know some magic your high and mighty unicorn of an older sister will never know, but that's my secret."

"I didn't mean that!" he squeaked in defense. "I just, you know, thought you had to be a unicorn to make magic... stuff..." He lifted his shoulders in a helpless shrug. "If it doesn't work that way, cool." He hiked a thumb. "Thanks again, we'll get out of your mane."

"Good idea." Bon Bon turned, offering her back towards Spike. As soon as he was in place, she trotted away. "See you later." All she got was a grunt, but the two seemed to understand each other clearly enough. They emerged into the light of day and Bon Bon gestured widely. "Well, that's done. We'll be told when she's done. Until then, you're on your own."

"Thanks!" Spike hugged Bon Bon around the neck from behind. "Oh, huh, just realized you're my sister-in-law now. Neat."

She squinted a little before a soft smile appeared. "I suppose that makes you my little brother-in-law as well. I haven't had one of those before..." She raised a hoof to her chin, considering him. "Odd, but you're free to go." She leaned a little, prompting him to jump free. "I'll be back at the castle." She pointed towards the tower. "Be good."

"As if I'm ever not," he huffed a little, but waved as she departed. He looked towards the smithy, its door shut. It had no open windows. It had no sign. No one would even know it was a smithy. "Weird..." He dashed off, having a particular pony in mind to visit.

Laud grabbed for his hip where a sudden noise was issuing. "Yes?"

"Sir," replied the voice of a man. "A merchant ship's arrived. We gave them the coordinates for your pad and have them on scanners. They seem friendly, but you know how that goes."

"I do." He hadn't, truly. He'd heard stories, but since becoming an actual noble with a land that was his, it had been a crash course in how the universe really worked. "I'll inform the visitors here now that they'll have company. Any idea what manner of goods they're bringing or seeking?"

"Not a clue, Sir," admitted the operator. "They didn't proclaim any specific merchant ties. They check out for the moment."

There was so much more he wanted to ask or talk about, but there was no assurance others couldn't be listening to their conversation. "Very good." He hung up and slipped the radio away where it had come from. "The show must go on. Twilight?"

She appeared with a flash. Unnerving, but almost reliable. "Laud?"

"We're getting more visitors, merchants this time," he explained expediently. "I'll need to know the local laws regarding that."

A book appeared with a flash much as Twilight had done herself. "Here you are, oh, and--" Another book joined it, hovering in the air. "Here's Ponyville's specific bylaws. The first covers Equestria as a whole. How exciting!" She brought her forehooves together in a delighted little clip-clop. "I can't wait to see what they're bringing. Now may be a good time to have the local ponies gather what they may want to trade. I wish they had given more warning, we could have made this more than a 'Ponyville' thing."

He imagined that, the entire country made aware they could try to peddle to aliens on a particular date. It could become quite the event. "We'll be sure to tell them to give more forewarning if they want a greater supply of goods to choose from. Can you spread the word to the ponies in town?"

"I can do one better!" She vanished with a burst of sparkles.

He nodded at the space that once held Twilight, catching the books just as they began to fall without her there to hold them up. He had a bit of reading to do. "I won't mess this up." He had laws to uphold on either side of the line.

Browsing quickly for the largest laws, it quickly became clear that most of them were in regards to keeping things honest, and not what was being traded. Ponies appeared to have basically no goods clearly marked as illegal. Even obviously harmful substances were written about in the laws only in ways to handle them safely and clearly, but never in such a way that their trade was outright banned.

There was an entire chapter about the handling of a dangerous local flora, Poison Joke, and how it should be contained and moved and labeled, but if one pony wanted to sell it, and another to buy it, nothing stopped either of them.

This was a relief, and horribly worrying, all in the same instant. There were many things he didn't want his little ponies getting their hooves on.

Author's Notes:

The party just got larger, one more member sitting at the table. Where is Spike headed?

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85 - In Defense of a Lady

Spike knocked softly on the door, standing as tall as he dared, which was taller than usual. He was a squire, he casually reminded himself. He had been tested against nobility, and had earned a real sword, even if it was still being forged. A real sword! He would be expected to use it, in combat. He was a warrior, not just a little kid. Not anymore.

"Come in," came a melodic female voice. "It's open, darling."

Spike grabbed the handle and threw open the door just hard enough for it to swing all the way without banging. "I come bearing good news for you, Lady Rarity."

Rarity tittered as he walked into view. "Well, somedragon's feeling especially playful today. Go on, tell me, what is the good news you've brought for me?" She had a gentle smile on her face, but she wasn't facing him, working on a sewing machine dutifully.

"I did battle with an old foe of yours," reported Spike with his head held up high. "Before an audience of dozens of guards and a foreign dignitary. I proved his better in sword use, three to one." Speaking of it was getting easier. He had done that, it was true, witnessed, and verified.

"An old friend of mine? That uses a sword?" Rarity let her machine slow down to a stop and turned her head to look at him with a quizzical expression. "I'm afraid you have me at a loss. Don't tell me Suri Polomare learned how to use a blade? How dreadful!"

"No! Not that," he quickly assured. "Prince Blueblood," he addended with a smile. "We did battle in an honorable spar and I put him in his place." He patted his practice blade lightly.

"Oh! That explains it far... wait." She stepped down from the stool in front of her machine, peering at Spike. "He actually knows how to do something other than being a stuck up little prissy boy?"

"He took great pride in his sword using ability." Spike made a motion of drawing his sword without actually drawing the sword. "But I proved the better. He yearns to win back the honor he lost, hungering for a rematch the instant the match was over."

"Look at you." She reached for his cheeks, cupping them in her hooves. "My brave little warrior. Aren't you just the cutest little thing?"

He brushed her hooves away, even if he kind of liked her contact. "I'm a squire," he announced with some force. "Tested and true. My blade is being forged for me, earned by my growth and ability. Soon enough I will be a knight, officially, and a noble in both deed and title."

Rarity blinked softly at Spike's rebuff. "Oh... I see..." She tilted her head a bit to the left, as if struggling to place the dragon before her. "Oh my... my my my... Little Spikey Wikey is growing up, and... so suddenly. I'm honestly unsure what to do with myself." She sat up on her haunches, looking him over. "Are you certain this is the path you desire?"

He was caught off guard by the question, one foot going back a little. "Huh? Of course! I mean, why wouldn't I be?" He patted his practice blade. "I've already been a warrior, fighting at your side. I'm just better at doing it now, both, you know, fighting wise and acting properly." He raised a hand to point at Twilight's castle, hidden as it was beyond a wall. "I'm just making what I do official, really. Laud's showing me how to do it right."

"Laud, yes..." She tapped her chin softly. "He really is a noble, is he not, arguably royalty, being wed to Twilight and all, and he knows how to act the part... And he's your mentor?"

"I'm his squire," he confirmed with a soft nod. "When I complete my training, then I will be a knight. Twilight and Celestia were both alright with the idea, so it'll be official!" He put his feet together, taking a more formal stance. "I'm not a little kid anymore."

"No... I suppose you aren't..." She murmured something under her breath before shaking her head. "Oh dear... This does... force questions, does it not?"

"Mm?"

"You came here with questions on your lips, I feel certain. Go ahead, ask them." She rolled a hoof towards Spike. "I will not deny your answers. You've earned that much, dear." Her eyes were on him, watching him intently, her body tense with preparedness for what she seemed to be sure would follow.

"Lady Rarity," spoke Spike, dropping to a knee. "I would..." He hesitated just a moment, making sure he got it right. Just as Laud had told him! "I would like to court you. When I am officially a knight, if you would allow me the opportunity, I will make a play for your hoof. Though I know you are without a, uh, official title, I know the noble measure of your heart even if Equestria as a whole is, you know, blind."

Rarity's cheeks darkened. The words she had prepared failed her and she stuttered instead. His plea struck her speechless though she had thought she was prepared for it. "S-so sincere," she breathed out, tail giving a flick. Was this the same little toddling dragon she had so casually brushed aside for so many years? "I..." It was all so much, coming directly at her, without chicanery or deceptions. A knight had declared their interest in trying for her hoof. That knight happened to be her beloved little Spikey Wikey, who was at once declaring he was not so little anymore. He had more adult desires, and she was it.

'This is all so much," she confessed, her cheeks' darkness spreading out across her face. "Dear Spike... Dear dear Spike..." She had no room to casually ignore his romantic interests. She had to answer truthfully, one way or the other. He had approached directly and as an adult. He deserved a proper reply, for good or for ill. "Oh my..." She suddenly laughed. "Oh my... You've left me feeling as flustered as Fluttershy."

"I will honor and respect you, My Lady." He dipped his head a moment before rising up to his feet. "Allow me the chance, that's all that I ask. If I fail to win your hoof... then that will be that. I would hope we can remain friends, of course, but should you wish it, after... that... I will stop, you know, pursuing you romantically." It hurt to even admit that was a possibility, but he had to, as a knight. Chasing a lady that had outright refused him wasn't proper behavior. "May I have this chance?"

Rarity took a slow deep breath, trying to force herself to be calm. This had turned serious, deadly serious. "Oh dear Spike... I..." She suddenly drove a hoof down, clopping the floor. "Yes. Yes! Yes." She suddenly grabbed him in her magic, pulling him into her waiting arms to hug him tightly. "You'll have your chance. Once your training is complete, we will court. I promise nothing beyond that, you understand?"

"Y-yes!" he squeaked, his face as dark as her own in the embrace. "I'll do my best!"

He had fought his second true battle as a squire, and he decided it had been as decided a victory.

Laud nodded to the dignitary. "Mayor Mare, thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"I appreciate you consulting me." She sat down lightly on her chair, looking at him across her desk. "So these visitors will come with trade in mind, is that correct?"

"Precisely so. The first, mine, came looking for resources and people. The second, the church, came chasing their convictions. These wish for money, pure and simple. They will gladly offer goods and services to line their pockets. Of them all, they are the most direct, but perhaps they can be just as dangerous."

"I should imagine," agreed Mayor Mare with a soft nod. "Now, the first thing that comes to mind is that what they think is harmless may be far from that, in the hooves of the untrained."

Laud allowed himself to look relieved, sighing. "We're of the same mind then. I feared you might not see it that way. It's not that I wish to hold back our ponies from learning and growing. They will be exposed to much of what they have to offer, but perhaps not all at once, and not without restriction."

Mayor Mare ducked down and came up with the book of Equestrian trade regulations. "Have you had a chance to read this?" When he nodded, she continued, "then you've seen that we concern ourselves with the safe handling of hazardous materials and try to ensure that ponies know how to handle what they've paid for." She tapped the book softly. "What we have are things so new that we have no laws for them yet."

"Yes, precisely that." He had an ally, a fact that put a smile on his face. "I would rather we avoid any sudden accidents that could harm or end one of our dear citizens. To begin with the obvious, there are precious few reasons to allow weapons to pass into pony hooves."

Mayor Mare raised a brow softly. "If the weapon can be used safely, and a pony uses it to hunt or protect themselves from monsters, why would we stop that? I admit more concern about power sources and exotic materials that could harm a pony without them ever realizing it was a danger."

Hunt? "Ponies hunt?"

"Of course." Mayor Mare tilted her head. "Though the eating of terrestrial meat is in the minority, leather is a valued commodity, and few are the animals that can produce it without being first hunted." She flashed a smile, showing her equine teeth. "Though I have tried it before. It isn't entirely unpalatable, but not my preference. Are there weapons unfit for this task?"

"Explosives," immediately replied Laud, surprised at the sudden erosion of the support he thought he had.

"Useful for demolitions, again provided the ponies know how to use it responsibly. I had hoped you and I could go over such details, so we can expand the trade guide." She tapped at the Equestrian trade book. "So ponies are better prepared for how to approach what they trade for."

He let out a little breath. "So you are against simply not allowing dangerous things to be traded?"

"I should imagine we will offer dangerous things of our own, but we will include proper handling instructions. My fear is that this will not be reciprocated." She sat up with a soft nodding. "Can you help? After all, that blade at your side is quite dangerous, but that hasn't stopped you from carrying it everywhere. In the hooves, or hands, of one trained to use it responsibly, it is a valuable tool, not something to be afraid of."

"This was... not how I envisioned this meeting going..." He sat up, hands laying on the desk. "But I will assist." If his wards were going to trade for dangerous things, at least knowing how not to destroy themselves with it was a step in the right direction. "Let's go over the most obviously dangerous things, but there are other things to concern ourselves with. Your bits are not the universal currency, which they will come with."

"I would hope they don't expect us to have them yet." Mayor Mare waved it away. "We will trade; barter. Perhaps they will pay some brave ponies with their currency, and those entrepid citizens will have currency to offer to the next traders that happen along." Her ears pricked. "Actually, I recall hearing the leader of the dragons flew off with a bulging bag of exactly those coins. We should get word to her. I imagine she would wish a chance to use them so soon after she got them."

Author's Notes:

Spike makes his move, and so does Laud. One of them succeeds! Which one it is may surprise you!

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86 - Market Day

The church's ship became far less lonely as another descended to land on the same pad. There was only so much room, and the two became close together for lack of elsewhere to land, but no damage had been done to either, and they rested comfortably side-by-side.

Merchant guards marched out with cocky smiles and their weapons held easily, a far cry from the religious stiffness of the church vessel. Father Gregor approached their ship, closer than Laud could be and reaching them far in advance. "Welcome to Equestria," he bade with a wide sweep of a hand. "I am no legal authority here, but it would be rude to not offer warm greetings."

The merchant descending the ramp nodded towards him. "Good day, Father. Have you also come to trade?"

"Oh, no, I'm afraid not." He held up a hand in the negative. "Just to greet a new neighbor. We have the supplies we need for now. I am Father Gregor." He gestured towards his ship. "We have come to see and take measure of the locals."

"Yeah? What do you think of them?" Free information was never a bad thing and he looked at Gregor shrewdly. "What should I expect?"

"Friendly, naive, but with a hidden blade beneath the softness. Do not assume them to be children though they wear the face well."

The merchant whistled softly, a smile growing. "Sounds interestin'. Ah, here they come now." He looked across the pad to where Laud and Mayor Mare approached at a steady hike. "May as well stick around." He waved down the ramp, his eyes moving to other merchants. "Get us set up for browsing."

Mayor Mare dipped her head as she came into conversational range. "Welcome to Equestria," she greeted in her equine tongue. "There are rules," she added in a language the newcomer could understand.

Laud nodded softly at that. "Welcome. The local trade laws are simple; no selling what could be harmful without complete instructions on its safe use. We have endeavored to see to proper literature being made available for most gross categories, but the details are where devils lurk. This trade post is under Hawkwood control, and resides within the pony--" He gestured to Mayor Mare. "--lands, their nation of Equestria."

"Nice to make that official." He reached into a pocket and drew out a small disk. With a press a hologram came into being above it. "With the guild, all official. We're here to do some nice even trades. 'magine we'll be loading up on local curiosities and artwork more than industrial goods?"

"You would be mistaken," countered Mayor Mare with a confident smile. "Though we enjoy simple pleasures in this town, we have a great many processed goods to offer. Of course, we have artistic items as well." She turned to the wall that surrounded the landing pad. "You can see examples of our work surrounding you."

Father Gregor brought his hands together in a pious display, bowing forward. "It is good to see this is proceeding smoothly. Would that all denizens of the stars could come together with such open arms."

The merchant tucked his identifying hologram away. "All the better. The name's Ken. And you are--" He nodded towards Laud. "Laud Mountbatten I assume?"

"You are correct. Did they announce me ahead of time?" That saved some time. "I hold dominion over this port of exchange, but I will not stand in the way of legal trade. That is much the point of it. There is a modest 1% trading tax, to upkeep and expand on the facilities. You understand."

"1%? I've seen worse." Ken shrugged at that. "We'll pay up before we go. We're setting up shop right this moment. Should we expect visitors soon of a more mercantile nature?"

Mayor Mare tossed her head towards the entrance to the pad. "Soon. As..." She reached up and slid into her translation collar. "Assuming you can assure their safety," she said in two languages at once. "We can skip setting set hours, unless you'd prefer them?"

Laud flipped out an additional collar, offering it towards Ken.

"You already have working translators?" He accepted the gift and soon had it on. "Let's keep it simple. Daylight hours. My men need to sleep as much as anything else." A thought visibly occurred to him. "You sleep during the night, right?" His voice echoed, repeating his human words to equine ones faithfully.

"We do." She turned for the exit. "I'll see about informing others that trading can begin."

With her departure, Laud gave the barest of glances at Gregor before stepping forward. "These people do not need anything you'd normally consider so much as grey."

"That a law or a suggestion?" Ken waved a moving box down the ramp, his men not pausing in their work. Not all were men; females were mixed in, working with equal fervor to set up their temporary trading station.

Gregor held up a hand. "Let us not approach this in a confrontational way. These are a pure people, largely devoid of the crueller human vices. I agree with Sir Mountbatten here that we should not be the ones to despoil it."

"I'm afraid I'm not getting what you're suggesting." He descended the ramp past the both of them and rapped on a box. "This one's full of food." He didn't stop, marching right past it to where a row of swords were being set up on an ornamented rack, each gleaming in the light. "Basic weapons, not at all different from what you have on your own hip. I trust these are fine?"

Laud followed with a faint frown. "You know the swords and the food are not the issue."

"Well, weapons grander than that will have a price to match." He threw open the top of a chest someone else had just put down, revealing a line of single-handed laser pistols. "The locals don't have fingers, which limits how much use they'll get out of these anyway."

Gregor dipped his head, keeping up with them. "They are trickier than you already know."

"They'd figure it out," agreed Laud.

"And if they want to buy it, I shouldn't sell it? Nothing illegal about these last I knew." Ken plucked one pistol from its resting place, though he held it in a way that was far from ready, the muzzle pointed downward and holding it by the barrel instead of anywhere near the handle. "Beauty, isn't she? You have one?"

Gregor laughed gently at that. "I am a dedicant of Amalthea. I deliver peace and succor. It would be a strange day when I required such a thing."

Laud, on the other hand, had less excuse... "I prefer the sword."

"Never fired one? I know they can be rare, but you are a noble, rare just means you have to want it." He offered it towards Laud. "Not a replacement for the blade at your side, but it never hurts to be prepared for different situations. Ah, this reminds." Just as suddenly he was putting the gun right back where it came from. "Locals. They don't support universal credits I feel safe to assume?"

"Let us refocus. They will trade. They have gold and gems and excellent craftsmanship. A pony artisan finds their craft early in life and dedicates themselves to it, usually without pause or reservation. Like a well-mannered son or daughter taking after their parents, they try to be the best. What I want is to keep things that are too dangerous out of their hands."

"They don't have those, so that's easy." He shrugged softly, likely imagining the hooves that Mayor Mare had trotted off on. "Look, I get it. You're worried about these." They had arrived at what was becoming a marble-countered stand. On display was a glass case with a dizzying variety of pills and hypos, each with a little label that a pony wouldn't know how to read. "You don't want your little horses enjoying the drugs."

Laud's eyes fixed on the display. He recognized some of them. There were combat drugs, medicinal drugs, a few he knew were 'recreational' drugs. Not that he'd played around with them! Well maybe once... "Yes, this is exactly what I want to avoid. They have their own medicines and--"

"--Fantastic." Ken clapped his hands together. "Can't get much more fair than that. Medicines for medicines? I can't wait to see what they have."

"Which is fine," growled out Laud. "But they don't need this." He thrust a finger down, pressing it over the top of the clear plastic over a specific pill.

Gregor leaned over to have a look at it. "Oh..." It was a stimulant that could keep a man with a smile on his face for an hour. "I would be hard pressed to imagine a productive use for that."

"Not everything is about productivity. Are you their lord?" He looked towards Laud directly for a change. "Are they your serfs?" His tone implied he doubted that was the case.

"It is my responsibility that the trade here does not harm them, a task given to me by their Lady, Princess Celestia." He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Alternative. The drugs, if I tell you to just not sell them, you'll be more subtle about it. Instead, I only want these sold to actual doctors. They have them. I'll even inform the local hospital that you have a bonanza of drugs that may be worth trading for and you'll get a nurse in here likely ready to do business."

Ken clapped his hands with a bright smile. "Now that's more like it. I knew we could do business like adults. Yes, certainly, send your professionals. I prefer doing business with people that understand what I'm selling in the first place anyway. Just be sure they have translators." He tapped at the cuff that had been dutifully repeating everything he said in equine as he talked. "Speaking of that, we don't need this right now." He slipped it free, but held it, ready.

"If you have explosives?" He paused there until Ken nodded. "Save those for ponies who work in construction or mining. I also want a document of who purchased what, ideally with their profession attached. Ponies are not shy about revealing what they do, so asking should be enough to get that information. They should be buying what is relevant to their job, or it should be harmless. One or the other."

"My... more human customers usually prize their privacy, m'lord." He reached to the right as he went, trailing along a rack of suits being set up. "Now these will have a hard time moving..."

Gregor shook his head softly. "Though they are undressed as often as not, they see clothing as a luxury item and enjoy looking good when the situation demands it. If you can tailor them to fit, you will find buyers."

Laud thought of Rarity, the local seamstress. "I can think of another professional that will want to visit. If you tell them you have to keep a list, I doubt a single pony will shy away. If one does, they were likely already feeling guilty, and you wouldn't want to abide that, would you?"

"Perish the thought," lied Ken nakedly. "Then we have agreement? If it is not a basic commodity, I will inquire on their profession and make sure it is related. What of ponies--they are called ponies, you said?"

"Correct." Laud was eyeing the dress suits. They really were nice, and he hadn't had one like home in quite a while. "What of them?"

"What of ponies that want to learn? Do they have scholars and the like, who will want to have things just to have them? Nobles who want to collect?"

Laud's teeth set. There were wealthy ponies, and studious ponies both. Either could end up buying something dangerous and go right about making trouble.

But what did he do about that?

Author's Notes:

Is Laud barking up the wrong tree, or trying to do the right thing, or both?

He takes his position seriously, at least.

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87 - We Have it All

He had expected a gathering of Ponyville's best. Putting out the word for the professionals he knew, Laud could see them there, wandering through the constructed stands of the market. But they were far from alone. Ponies of all ages and social standing were just as eagerly gawping at the human goods.

Perhaps they were just there to look? He could dare to hope...

"Laud." Twilight landed just beside him, her wings folding. "The children got it in their heads that they were 'human experts' after their visit to the other ship and they came running as soon as school was out." She pointed at Yona, who was having her measurements taken with a big happy smile. "And I see they're already here."

Laud let out a slow sigh at the sight. "If she's here to get a new bit of clothing, that's harmless. Speaking of that, where is Rarity?"

"Right here, Darling." She trotted up out of the crowd, approaching Laud with a smile. "How could I turn down such an invitation? Where are these 'exotic new fashions' and 'revolutionary threads?'"

Laud looked faintly relieved, nodding at Rarity. "Your student beat you to it." He pointed the way past Rarity, to where Yona was beside the clothing rack, a merchant busilly taking her measure. "It looks like she wants to update her wardrobe."

Rarity huffed at that, turning up her nose. "And she didn't come to me? Well, I suppose it can't be helped. I can't literally offer options that are 'out of this world' after all." She tittered as she began trotting over to have a look at the clothing Yona was already inspecting. "Time to see what this is all about."

Twilight nudged Laud with a barely extended wing. "You've made at least one pony's day. By the look of it, a lot of people are happy to be here." Her eyes wandered over the crowd and the goods being sold. "I'd actually like to have a look myself. I presume that's alright?"

Laud would have loved a reason to deny her, but not many came to mind that didn't ring hollow. His wife was both nobility and educated. She was exactly the kind of pony he could not deny. "Let's look together," he suggested with a soft sweep of a hand, inviting her to go first.

"How thoughtful!" She pranced ahead with a big smile. "Yes, let's. By the way, have you seen Spike?"

"He is here." He followed after her, eyes wandering in search of trouble. "He agreed to help me watch over things. As a squire he has thus far proven capable and trustworthy."

"That is g--what is this?" She veered quite sharply, eyes locked on a glowing energy blade. "I thought you said you had no magic. What do you call this?!"

Elsewhere in the crowd, Spike meandered, watching the people of Ponyville browsing the human goods. "How do they change colors?" came the haughty voice of a young Diamond Tiara.

A human merchant plucked up the small webbing of lights, attached by something thin and clear. "A bit of human magic. Now, watch this." His voice echoed, human tongue and pony tongue. It seemed they were all equipped with translators. He reached for Diamond and worked the webbing into her tiara. Soon her tiara was doing the glowing, changing colors and sparkling visibly.

Diamond grinned up at her enhanced headwear. "I like it! But will it glow all the time now?"

"Oh, no. With this--" He held up a small remote control. "--you can change the rate of the color change, select a specific color, make it brighter or dimmer, or just turn it off entirely. You can be exactly as glamorous as you want to be."

Diamond sat on her haunches and reached, snatching away the remote to peer at it a moment before she brought down a hoof to press on the big knob and slowly turn it, making her tiara's glowing change wildly as she played with it. "What do you think?"

"I think it's, like, pretty nice." Silver Spoon nodded quickly, eyes sparkling almost as much as the tiara on her friend's head. "Are you gonna get it?"

Spike emerged from the crowd. "That's interesting. How long will it glow?"

"Years," assured the human. "And when its power fades, or you get tired of it, it can be removed as easily as I put it in." Fortunately, the crowd wore collars as well, which also limited the number of ponies that could visit at once. There were only so many collars to go around, and not being understood would have put a damper on things. "What do you think, m'lady? Fine enough for a discerning eye?"

"Well..." Diamond Tiara tilted her head left and right slowly, her eyes upwards to examine her tiara. "Let's see it... off." She turned it all the way to the left and with a soft click, the glowing faded. "Mmm, I can still see it, but it's not... too bad..." She pointed at the merchant. "Randolph, see to this human's needs."

The old earth pony stepped forward with a bowed head before reaching back and producing a jingling bag of bits.

Spike left them to their haggling, spotting something more worrisome. He scampered over to find Button Mash gawping at a laser pistol.

"It's just like in Return of the Farnanojuns!" he gasped, reaching out his hooves for the technological device. "Does it fire death rays, or is it fiery destruction?"

The merchant smiled down at the colt. "More of the second. A thin beam of scorching hot light."

"Sweet! Can I try it?" He hefted it up lightly, turning it around in his hooves with an awed look.

"Button, you have no need for that," sternly dissuaded Spike, crossing his arms as he closed in. "Hey, do you have any games?"

The merchant scowled at the interruption, but that faded at the new request. "What manner of game?"

"Videogames!" blurted Button, setting the pistol down as if it had lost all interest. "You must! Show me!"

He looked disarmed a moment, putting up a hand before it fell. "Wait, could you define 'videogame' to me? The translator is not doing a good job with that word."

Button reared up, his forehooves on the counter as he leaned in with a big grin. "It's a flat screen with action and adventure! You play it with a joystick." He made vague motions with his right hoof, trying to impress the idea. "You go for a high score, or just to beat the game. C'mon. You're space people. You have to have awesome videogames!"

The man looked thoughtful a moment before it clicked. "One moment." He whistled sharply and another human approached rapidly. They exchanged quiet words, their hands over their collar to prevent them from hearing and repeating their words loudly.

The second nodded and strode away purposefully. The first turned back to Button. "I'm sending for what I think will interest you. Now... what do you have to trade?"

Button's ears fell a moment before they perked right back up. "I can trade you my videogames. They're new to you, but old to me. That's fair, right? Hold on a moment. I'll be right back!" He dashed off in a wild gallop towards the entrance of the landing pad, his propeller beanie spinning wildly in the motion.

Spike shook his head slowly. "He'll be back with his wagon I bet, so, what are you going to show him?"

"A computer." He tapped the counter lightly. "A small one we could trade away at the right price."

Spike squinted a bit, that word, Computer, did not have a clean translation to Ponish. "A what now?"

"You will see shortly." His eyes fell to Spike's training sword at his hip. "Are you a local guard, or another child come to gawk?"

"I'm a squire." He puffed out his chest. "I am Spike, of the Sparkle family, squire of Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods."

The merchant stood up straight, clearly affected by the announcement. "Nice to meet you, Sir. As you can see, we've kept everything on the level."

Spike inclined his head faintly. "Don't sell him that laser. He could literally do nothing with it but hurt himself or others. Let's see that 'computer' of yours."

"Did you say computer?" Twilight appeared as if from nowhere, emerging from the crowd. Her command of the word was clearly superior, using a Ponish word Spike had heard of only once or twice, and the collar did not know how to translate.

"Oh that computer!" he blurted, getting it. "Like the ones past the mirror? You have those?!"

Laud came into view, just moments after Twilight. "Ah, Spike. I trust things have been going well?"

"Huh? Hey Laud!" He snapped a sharp salute. "All clear! I was just inspecting a computer before Button Mash could buy it, to make sure it was safe for the little colt."

The merchant shrugged softly at that. "Unless he has it in mind to bludgeon someone with it, a computer can cause little harm on its own. Since you understand the word, I assume you are not superstitious of it?"

Twilight's wings went wide. "What? No. I want to see it! Tell me you have at least two. I'd feel bad taking the only one if Button really had his heart set on it."

Spike pointed towards the exit. "He ran off to get his videogames to trade for it."

The merchant smiled at Twilight. "Since you understand the word, perhaps you could confirm that I've arrived at the correct assumption of what a 'videogame' is?"

"It's an entertainment device," helpfully replied Twilight. "Local models are not run on computers, however. But they can be." She had seen at least one, being played by the human six. "Do you have such things?"

"I'm getting that right now." The one that had been sent off was just returning, putting a small rectangular object in his hands. "Thank you." He set it on the counter and unfolded it, revealing a keyboard of things to press, all in the human language. "A portable computer."

Laud let out a low whistle. "That cannot be cheap."

"Nothing we sell is 'cheap', but if you mean it commands a premium price, you would be correct." He ran his fingers along the upper edge of it gently. "As you are well aware, only a select few guilds have the means to even repair these works of art, let alone make new ones."

"And here you are, willing to sell one to aliens you've just met?"

"And why wouldn't I?" He rolled a hand towards Twilight. "The lady here looks like she would treat it with the greatest of care."

"I would!" she blurted without delay, eyes locked on the device. "What... programs--" the translation was confused, the term for a computer program not known and coming through more as 'plans'. "--does this have?"

Fortunately, the merchant seemed to piece the meaning together. "It can hold your words, do your math..." He reached around and soon was showing off its basic utilities, a word processing application, a spreadsheet app. "And of more interest to the young one, a few games." They were not grand adventures, nothing more involved than minesweeper. "With an available network, it can communicate with others of its kind."

Twilight suddenly looked towards Spike. "Letters without sending them through dragons. Can you imagine it?"

Spike snorted softly, eyes rolling dramatically. "Sign me up. But what do you mean 'network'?"

A sudden explosion brought them all to their knees. Surprised shouts and yelps echoed from the marketplace, smoke rising from one of the stands where countless eyes rested, wondering what had just happened.

Laud abandoned the haggling entirely, charging towards the danger without pause. Spike looked around as he stood up. "W-wait!" He dashed after Laud, lifting into the air on his still new wings. "What happened?!"

Many others had the same question.

Author's Notes:

Laud to the rescue! Maybe. What happened?

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88 - Turn That Smile Upside Down

Laud powered through the crowd, stepping over and around ponies that gawked with stunned expressions. He could hear the frantic flaps of Spike keeping up with him.

"It's Bon Bon," came Spike's sudden call, able to see from his elevated position. He suddenly went into a dive, swooping ahead of Laud to arrive at the trouble first.

Bon Bon was flipped onto her back with a dazed expression on her face and her entire front covered in soot. She wasn't the only pony there, Trixie sprawled just a few feet away, her head swaying as if just as dazed by the explosion that had clearly knocked them both for a loop. "What happened?!" blurted Spike, though neither seemed ready to converse just yet, soft groans the reply they could manage.

A human merchant joined the forming ring. "Oh hells..." He wasn't looking at the stunned ponies. He rushed right past them to the unmoving form of the merchant in the stall, the contents of that stall scattered far and wide. "John, say something!" He was practically stepping on packets of explosives, but showed no fear for doing so.

Alarmed gasps rose through the crowd, several other ponies just slumping over and passing out. It was one thing to see a pony knocked dizzy. When the new human had touched the former one and their hand came back slick with blood, that crossed a line, and bodies began to hit the floor at the outrageous violence they realized they were witnessing.

Laud jumped over the slumped form of Cheerilee, emerging into the uneven circle. His sharp eyes quickly took assessment of the situation. Two injured ponies, no blood, making noise, conscious. One human, unconscious, bleeding badly. Whatever had exploded, it caught the human far more directly, or ponies were unreasonably durable. A pity one of those ponies was also his wife, but he pushed that concern aside for the immediate moment. "Spike, see to their care. Is there a nurse or doctor in this crowd?"

"I'm... right..." Redheart popped free of the thick crowd. "Here! I didn't imagine my trip to trade for some medicine would turn into..." Her eyes settled on the unmoving human, her breath hissing through clenched teeth. "Everycreature back away!" She darted towards him. "It's actually bleeding. That's bad. Back away, back away." She was glaring at the other merchant who wasn't so keen on withdrawing. "Are they a friend of yours?"

"Associate, crewmate," retorted the human with a drawn look of tension, his terse words repeated without inflection by his translating collar. "How are you going to help? You don't even have hands."

She scowled at him, but sat down beside the human and pulled out gauze from seemingly nowhere. "I'm on the case. We have to stop this bleeding, now.

"Did somepony get the number of that ursa?" Trixie sat up, giving her head a rapid left-right shake. "Never has Trixie seen such fireworks before. Brilliant, but maybe a little too forceful."

"What happened?" It was hard to tell if Spike or Laud had asked the question first, their collars echoing the question in the human tongue.

Trixie put up her hooves. "It wasn't my fault! I was inspecting these goods. The human here said it made for big booms." She threw her forehooves wide. "I was considering if I could incorporate some of it into my next act."

Laud inclined his head towards the fallen man, though his eyes were on Trixie. "Consideration does not typically suffice to create this damage. What happened after that?"

"I don't know!" She waved her hooves wildly. "I was just looking, with my eyes." She curled both arms to point at her big eyes. "He was saying a particular one made especially pretty sparkles and Trixie was considering asking for a demonstration but didn't get a chance to."

"Mmf." Bon Bon rolled over onto her belly and stood up. "Ow..."

"Easy there." Spike supported her immediately, keeping her stable. "You alright?"

"Just a little dizzy... I think I'm--" She paused long enough to cough, black smoke billowing from her. She shook suddenly, soot flying, revealing her usual pelt beneath it. "I'm fine. What happened?"

Laud frowned at her question. "That is exactly what we are attempting to discern. So far no one is aware of what created the explosion." He suddenly clapped a hand down on Spike's shoulder. "I fear the worst."

"Huh? They're alright. You mean him?" He hiked a thumb at the still prone and unmoving human. "He didn't take it very well."

"That is but one piece of this." He leaned in closer, flicking off his translating collar as he did so, his voice lowering to a faint whisper, "Someone caused this explosion, and I fear it was purposeful, to drive a wedge between the ponies and the merchants. Someone who did not understand their... sturdiness."

"I could have taken it," boasted Spike before he realised that had been translated loudly. He flicked off his collar quickly. "I could have! Anyway, what do we do?"

"Damage control, for now. Let us keep casualties as low as we can." He stood up tall, flicking his collar back on. "Trixie, Bon Bon, are you both alright?" When they nodded, he pointed off into the crowd. "Go ahead and join the others."

"I refuse." Bon Bon pointed at the injured man. "You need help getting him to the hospital. I won't--

"Make way," boomed a male voice in the human tongue and untranslated, several merchants bursting through the crowd without any of the gentleness Laud had displayed.

Redheart barely had a chance to look up before a new gaggle of humans were upon her, shouting at her in their foreign tongue. She flipped her ears back and cringed away from their towering forms. "Laud, please. I'm still treating the patient."

Laud approached carefully, hands held up in soft placating motions. "She is a local physician, giving first aid."

"Thanks for keeping him breathing," grunted one of them, dropping to a knee beside the injured man. "I'll take it from here." The man drew out a needle and plunged it into the chest of the still man. With a thumb he depressed it, forcing the fluid into the patient without delay.

It became quiet. All eyes were on the men, both injured and not. Eyes glanced towards others, then back at the scene. Nothing happened for several long seconds.

The man drew a sudden ragged breath, his eyes opening and an attempt to sit up made, only for the other men to keep him laying down. The one that had injected him nodded. "Alright, get him back on the ship." He clapped his hands together and rose, tossing the needle aside. "Now tell me what happened?!"

Laud nodded softly. "We are still attempting to gather that information. I was hoping your man might be able to give us more information, when he's ready to speak. The ponies present were both caught by surprise and do not know the cause of it."

Even as the man was carted off, Redheart trailed along beside them, her eyes on the injured human.

"He's an expert at his trade. He wouldn't set off an explosive unless it was supposed to be going off." He leveled a finger at Laud, a scowl on his face. "Seems more like one of your magic natives did the deed."

Laud drew free the one extra collar he had. "If you are to accuse them, at least let them understand the words."

With an angry grunt, he snatched away the collar and put it on, repeating his heated words.

"I was going to buy some!" Trixie stomped a hoof down in a loud clop. "Trixie had no interest in having it displayed in such a fashion."

Bon Bon frowned softly. "I am without what you would call 'magic', so the odds of my having done it are minimal. Not to mention your explosives seem to operate differently than ours."

The man's expression eased into confusion. "You have explosives?"

Bon Bon tilted her head at that. "Of course we do. We're not primitives. A good stack of TNT can make short work of an obstacle in the way. Still, yours are different, I could see that immediately."

"Be that as it may." Laud gestured to Bon Bon. "She is royalty, princess-consort."

"Then a political enemy of hers? We don't know or care about the local politics." He threw a hand aside before snapping his fingers.

Bon Bon rolled her eyes at that. "We don't usually explode our rivals, and they did a very bad job of that if that was the goal."

Spike suddenly landed in the middle of them, a hand held out towards the human, the other towards Bon Bon and Trixie. "Hey, hold on. I don't think either of you did this. You were attacked, by someone else. And I have an idea who it might have been." All eyes were on him, the entire crowd focused on Spike.

He swallowed softly, regathering his momentum. "We should... talk to Father Gregor. I think one of his 'flock' might have wandered."

Almost as one, the entire crowd turned to look towards the other ship there on the landing pad. Already, Father Gregor was approaching with a small gathering of his guards. The ponies of the crowd were scowling at him, accusations in their eyes. "My furry little cherubs, what has happened to put such a dire set of expressions on your faces?"

The merchant and Laud were pushing through the ponies and they began to part as they caught on who was moving through them. They were able to meet without further delay, Laud nodding at Father Gregor. "Father, there's been an unfortunate accident. We have a merchant being treated, and two ponies stunned but--"

"Trixie is fine." She had followed along, softly buffing her chest with a hoof. "She had no idea humans were so fragile."

"How terrible... Things had seemed to be going so well from where I could see. How does this involve me, unless you had wished me to tend to the injured?" He glanced past them to the ship where the man had been taken.

The merchant thrust forward a finger. "Word has it one of your people might have been involved! My man wouldn't explode himself and the natives are claiming innocence. No offense, Father, but keeping them away from 'faithless' technology, or us from 'godless' magic both sounds like something one of yours may consider a worthy cause."

With the ring of drawn steel, two guards stepped forward, warding the merchant back with naked swords.

Father Gregor put a hand on one of one of their shoulders. "Please, enough injury has already occured today." His eyes turned to Laud. "You are the lord of this place. If you feel someone has erred, it is within your right to interrogate them. I can assure you that causing injury is not only against my desires but against my most basic of faith. Saint Amalthea strike me down if I speak falsely."

"I do not believe it was your action specifically," stated Laud in clear tones, his collar echoing in Ponish. "But neither the merchants nor the ponies would want this, which leaves us with few other options. I bid you to inspect what you may."

Gregor kept right on smiling. His hands made gentle and nonthreatening motions. "The pancreator would not wish such a lowly strike. Afterall, you..."

"Trixie."

"Yes, Trixie--"

"Trixie Lulamoon." She smiled so smugly, polishing a hoof on her chest.

"Miss Lulamoon already knows how to deal with explosives. As a professional, it could not be called untoward that she inspected them. While I would agree that a base commoner would be well warded away from such potential dangers, she is not that. She is a guild member, even if it is of a guild not our own."

"What is going on here?" hollered Mayor Mare as she trot firmly towards things, no collar on her neck, her statement in Ponish.

Author's Notes:

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89 - Jurisdictional Crossover

"The first day and already explosions?" fumed Mayor Mare with a scowl, her words echoed in human tongued faithfully. "Is anypony injured?"

Bon Bon inclined her head. "We're both fine, and it only caught two of us. The human involved was far worse off. It happened too quickly for me to say if the explosion was closer to him, or ponies are just made of tougher stuff."

Trixie put a hoof to her chest. "They were against the Great and Powerful Trixie, and also an earth pony. They had no chance." A soft mocking laugh issued from her as she turned back towards Gregor. "Now about finding the culprit."

Laud raised a hand. "None are above suspicion. While the current evidence leans towards an outside party, it is, at best, circumstantial. I want every person, every single person to be tested for explosives residue."

Bon Bon hiked a brow. "I imagine you will find Trixie and I will test positively."

Spike lifted his shoulders. "Well, duh. I bet he wants to know who else shows up."

Mayor Mare nudged Laud with a hoof. "I just arrived, so I will decline your request. This aside, I need these explosives removed from where they could cause harm to Ponyville."

Laud glanced in the direction of the town. It would take a ten minute hike to get into where the buildings began, the landing pad placed well away to avoid the ships coming and going causing damage and more noise than they had to. "Miss Mayor, the amount of explosives they have could reduce this pad to rubble, and Ponyville would be unharmed."

The merchant grunted softly, his hands moving towards his hips. "I see you making proclamations, but not any setup to actually follow through. How do you plan to test a single person, let alone this crowd?" A smile appeared suddenly, like the rising sun after a dark and troubled night. "Unless you'd care to rent some?"

Laud's face tightened, but there was no hesitation. "Get started. None are to come or leave until I have a full accounting of the test results."

"You heard the man." The merchant snapped firmly and pointed back towards his own ship. "May I suggest you may wish to have one for yourself, to ensure no unwanted materials are coming or going from this pad of yours."

"Yes!" Mayor Mare was pointing a hoof at the merchant. "Yes, we would like one to keep. Does it operate on magic or electricity?"

The man seemed surprised at that. "You say the two as if they were equally valid."

"Aren't they?" One ear skewed to the side, the other erect and at him. "We have both, though I'm not sure if this pad is wired just yet?" She looked to Laud.

"Not yet, but that stands to change." He did his best to hide that ponies still surprised even him at times with how deceptively advanced they were at times. Primitives they were not, despite so many other markers. "But that's another day's project. Everyone!" he boomed the last at the crowd of staring ponies. "You will be asked to approach one by one. This is harmless. You may leave after that, or resume shopping. Until then remain calm and wait for your turn."

Soft whispers spread from pony to pony, the mood seeming more curious than anything else.

Father Gregor extended his hands, palmside up. "Allow me to be the first, as a sign of good faith. If one of mine has strayed... I will not protect them. Had the ponies not proven so resilient, they could have murdered an expecting mother. That will not--" His words did not pause for Bon Bon's vivid blush that overwhelmed the entire front of her body. "--stand. By Amalthea, whoever caused this must be made to stand to justice."

Other men were busy setting up booths, running thick wires from them back into the belly of the ship. The master of the merchants hadn't moved. "This was certainly not the act of one of mine. To strike one of ours and valued customers? It would be beyond logic."

"Malice does not always follow logic," coldly noted Laud, a frown on his face. "No one is above suspicion and all should be tested."

"Including you, Sir?" he said in such a casual way, as if it were only natural.

"Me and Laud weren't even..." Spike trailed off, shaking his head. "No, that's fine. Check us out."

Laud brought down a hand on Spike's shoulder. "Yes, we aren't afraid of it. Let the truth be revealed."

Gregor was first, as he had volunteered. Thin lines of energy appeared briefly over his form before he was allowed to step free. Many things were detected, but none of them volatile. "Of course, I do wield a magic of sorts. The prayers of Saint Amalthea flow through me at her benevolent allowance, but that would certainly not cause this."

Bon Bon rolled a hoof softly. "I want to hear more about that, and you promised a prenatal session. We should set an appointment."

"I would offer it right this moment, to any woman caught in a blast, but you seem to be well, and this matter must be cleared away before more ill will is spread." He dipped his head towards Bon Bon. "Pray forgive me."

"I understand... Tomorrow? Noon?" She turned to his ship. "I'll come here."

Others were being scanned, three at a time with three booths ready to accept and disgorge people as they came. Gregor slipped away from the crowd, returning towards his ship. "That Hawkwood means well, but he is chasing vapor," he sighed out along the way. "Review the cameras. I want to know who was not on the ship shortly before and during the explosions. I want a full log of who entered and who left today and when."

His guards bowed with steepled fingers, silently agreeing to his demands. As soon as his feet were on the ramp, they advanced past him to see his will be done. "I will not allow the good name of the church to be so sullied. If..." He trailed off with a weary sigh. "Pancreator watch over us."

Back at the scene, the crowd was being rapidly processed. Some ponies went right back to shopping as if nothing had happened. Some wandered off, but most of those seemed like they were just tired of shopping for the day. Other ponies were still waiting by the entrance for their turn. Laud stroked his chin softly, taking it all in. "They really don't seem to be all that upset by this."

Spike shrugged softly. "Besides the hurt human, what really happened? Two ponies got rattled, but are fine, and one stand closed up. Ponyville's seen worse on the average week it feels like at times. Compared to a bugbear attack, this was nothing."

"Have you seen one of those?" asked Trixie, apparently still hovering about. "I hear they are quite fierce. Not that I couldn't handle them, of course."

Spike hiked a thumb at the castle in the distance. "Twilight and friends have fought one before. They are mean. Took 'em most of the day to get it under control."

"Anything?" Laud was by the operators of the booths.

"Plenty." The human gestured at spewing sheets of papers. "The ponies all seem to have more on them they have any right to be holding at once. The scanners freak out a little bit trying to scan each one. That one's full of explosives, by the way." He inclined his head towards where Trixie was gabbing with Spike. "An unhealthy quantity, but most of it seems to be smoke producing rather than properly demolitions grade."

"Smoke producing?" Laud struggled to imagine why a lot of smoke would be required. "Still, that isn't what caused this, I should imagine."

"Certainly not." He nudged the paper before it could bunch up, allowing it to continue spilling free. "We should be done with the crowd in about ten minutes. Where do you want the bill?"

Ah, yes, the fun part of getting 'favors' from merchants. "I expect some manner of discount, seeing as this is for the benefit of one of your own. We will pay full price for the one we are to keep. I'd take the bill, but I'll spare you that. Submit it to the fleet above." He gestured with closed fingers to the sky. "I will inform them it should be paid."

"Of course, Sir." Seemingly satisfied, the operator's attention was largely fixated on the papers spilling out of the booth. "That is a lot of sugar."

A filly stepped free, perhaps having come with the other younger ponies. Her rump was decorated with two candy canes in a vague heart shape. "That wath interething." She trotted off as if nothing very big had happened.

Spike landed atop one of the booths. "Hey, Laud, check this out." He took off just as quickly.

Laud nodded towards the operator. "Seems he's found something. Keep up the good work." He strode purposefully after Spike. Thankfully his squire was easy to spot while flying. He was led back to the stand, its contents strewn about haphazardly. "What did you find?"

"This." Spike landed and dropped to a crouch in the same motion, pointing to something.

Laud came in closer to have a look, having to crouch himself to get a better look. A thin line ran along the black surface of the landing pad. "What is... this?" It led towards the stand, and he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raising. The odds of it being involved... "Spike, go see if the technicians by the booth have something portable to come here and determine what this is made of."

"I'm on it." He saluted sharply and launched into the air, heading back towards the booths.

That left Laud to peer at the line, following it as it went away from the stand. "Where do you go...?" It had been quite a step for Spike to spot that faint line in the black. "I will have to compliment him later." Laud had certainly missed it, though he hadn't spent the time to really examine the area, which was his own fault. No, Spike had done well.

He began to follow that line away from the stand, one slow step after the other. So faint and narrow was it that moving much faster threatened to have him lose sight of it entirely. Still, he was moving, and that was enough. It was not headed towards either ship, to his surprise. It appeared, instead, to be veering directly for one of the walls. "What in the Pancreator's name..."

He had just arrived at the base of the pad walls where the line went to and stopped. There was a gap between the line and the wall, but it wasn't a very large one. "Where..." He walked a step beyond the line, examining the wall intently. The wall was decorated with all manner of pony art, some of it two dimensional, others three dimensional, cut into or bulging out of the wall, all throwing off his attempts to spot any trails. "It must be here...

But what about down? He crouched, trying Spike's method. There. Not too far from where the line stopped, there was more of it, in a little circle, wider than the line, as if... "Something burned."

"Fuse," announced Spike as he landed. "They say it was something that burned real quick. Harmless, by itself, but could have been--"

"--We've found our trigger," cut in Laud. "I've been following the line and it seems to have gone up the wall here. It burned along the wall and pooled here." He pointed to the wider circle. Someone set this off from outside the landing pad. Who, and why, are two questions that demand answers."

"Want me to follow it?" He lifted into the air on flapping wings. "I can get up there really quick."

"Do so... but not like that." He undid his blade, still in the sheath, and thrust it at Spike. "I entrust this to you until you return, but I will not send my squire into what may be lethal danger with a training blade at his hip."

Author's Notes:

It's a nice thought, Laud, but your sword is a bit large for Spike currently. He's still a growing boy! They are chasing clues. Are they onto something? Will Gregor find something instead?

Who do you think did it? Bonus points for why.

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90 - Chasing Vapors

Spike ran the belt across his midsection even as he ascended into the air. The two swords bumped and jostled for position. Hanging low, he felt certain that walking would have been awkward, but he had wings, so that would be what he'd do for the moment.

The sight of the Everfree Forest in the distance came into view as he crested the wall. Landing on the edge of it, he looked around sharply, but there was no pony, or other creature, in immediate sight. Spike dropped down to his knees and began to look around slowly until... There. "Found the line," he shouted out as he began to follow it as best he could, which was faster than before. The color of the wall did less to conceal the line, and there was no bulging artwork on that top of the wall.

But the line stopped, right there in the middle of the wall. "This is where they started..." He crossed his arms, considering going back to report to Laud, but had he actually found anything? Laud had put faith in him. He had bequeathed his blade, and he understood enough to know that was more than a little deal.

He rested a hand on its hilt, taking a slow breath. It was symbolic, sure, but it was a hell of a statement. He was invested with the full authority of a knight for that instant. He was Laud's blade, to strike true at enemy's of his--their people. He was hoping, no, relying on Spike to find answers. With clenched teeth he looked up ahead and squinted into the distance. "I have to find them..." One, more than one? He couldn't know yet.

Spike turned in place, looking to where the explosion had taken place. "If they fled away..." He stepped backwards even as he turned to face the right direction, his long borrowed sword scraping the ground as he imagined it would. He looked down over the opposite side of the wall, holding a hand up to his brows to improve his vision even just a little, but there were bushes and grass and little else immediately obvious.

"Gotta get closer." He threw himself off the edge and flew straight down, catching himself at the last moment to land lightly. "We should keep these clear." He drew Laud's blade, its alien weight pulling at him, but it wasn't as heavy as he had feared. He knew how to use a sword, Laud and Bon Bon had been working to make sure of that.

With a clean swipe, he hacked away the lighter underbrush, working his way forward. "Hope he doesn't mind..." Horticulture is not what a knight's blade was made for, but if it helped find the criminals involved... Digging into the thick vegetation that had decided the wall was a fine supporting structure, his foot bumped into something. He turned in place, reaching with his free hand and drawing a plunger from the coverage.

It was the sort of thing one would expect to rest on top of a box that would set off explosives. "Now we're talking..." But where was the box? He set the plunger carefully back down where he could find it easily again and dropped to all fours, rooting around for the other portion.

He found bits of wood and metal, splintered and broken, piece by piece. It wasn't a box, or at least it wasn't one anymore. He gathered all he could together with a frown. Perhaps... Yeah. He pulled out a cloth and wrapped it all up to carry it back up over the wall.

Laud rested against the same wall. He could have left, looked for something else, anything else, but he just couldn't draw himself to leave Spike without at least the support of his presence, for what little that mattered. He would be alright, he kept reminding himself. They had trained him as a warrior, and he'd been one before they started, if an unrefined one. He was a dragon, he had abilities.

He was fine. And yet, he stood there, waiting for Spike's return. "Is this what having a squire is like?" He could see why not every knight chose to walk that path, of taking a younger under their wing. "Is having a page better or worse?" Spike was too old and experienced to put in that role.

Time had passed, and still not a word. He could have run into trouble, hostile combatants... The sword he was given was too large, and his training blade was made of wood. Neither were ideal for proper battle. He thumped the wall with a balled fist, pushing away to his feet. "You had best return, Squire."

The sound of wings. Spike flew over the side of the wall and was coming down towards him with a resolved face. Laud quickly scanned over him, spotting no injuries but a few tiny scratches and debris. "Have you been digging through brambles?"

"Sure was." Spike landed just in front of Laud and set down a red cloth that he undid quickly. "Pretty sure this is the trigger."

There was a plunger and many other small bits and pieces that had failed to stay together. "Was it thrown off the wall?" he breathed out, falling to a knee to better view the remains of the device. "Tell me, is this something a pony could have?"

"This? Yeah, sure." He lifted his shoulders softly. "They do have explosions. Oh, here." He undid the belt that held the sword in place. "I... used it once."

Laud looked up sharply to meet his gaze. "Was someone up there?!"

"No! No... I just had to fight my way into the bushes to get all this." He was blushing deeply as he surrendered the sheathed blade back to Laud. "Just, you know, thought it would be right to tell you."

"I thank you for that." He had it back around his own midsection quickly. "Not the most noble use of a blade, but what is a blade but a tool? We'll have whatever scrapes it gained cleaned from it, later. For now, I need this examined." He gathered up the edges of the cloth, allowing him to stand up and take the package with him. "Fortunately, we've already paid for the next part."

Together, they strode back into the marketplace. It seemed business had picked up right where it had left off. Several of the booths had been taken down, but one remained and he was heading for it directly.

"Excuse me." A pony had blocked his way, smiling lightly. "Yer the one in charge around here, right?" A mare, with bright orange mane and yellow fur was looking up at him. "Where's the produce?"

Laud drew a soft breath, trying to avoid being irate at the innocent question. "I am in charge of what ships land and leave, not the content and placement of the stalls here. You should ask... her." He pointed to a merchant that looked the least busy in the immediate area. "Good day."

He moved around her, leaving Spike to nod at her. "Don't worry about him, Carrot Top. He's doing something important right now." He tipped the hat he wasn't wearing. "And I have to keep up with him. Have fun!" And he flew past.

A hand was reaching for the cord that attached the booth to the ship and Laud grabbed it at the wrist. "Hold there."

The technician jumped in surprise. "Bloody hells! Sir, you can warn a man before you go grabbing at him."

"My apologies." He drew his hand back, breathing hard as he righted himself fully. "But I wanted to catch you before you tore this booth down. We have one last scan for it."

"Yeah? We got everyone in the area." He gestured to where great collections of papers rested, waiting to be reviewed. "Names and species recorded."

Spike poked the bag Laud was still holding. "We need to scan this for any hints of who was touching it."

Laud nodded firmly. "Human hair, pony fur, anything at all."

The technician whistled softly. "Already found something? Great, put it in there. I want to know who blew up my poker partner." He gestured at the booth as a whole. "I assume it's inside that bag, not the bag itself, right?"

"Correct." Laud set it down in the center of the booth and unfolded the cloth. "There will be some contamination from Spike, he's the one that found it."

"Pity." The technician began hammering at the keyboard, awakening the sleeping booth. "Let's see what we can find..."

Paper began to emerge from the booth, reaching down to the ground and folding over itself, holes lining either side of the paper as it went back and forth. "Mmm..." The technician said little but little thoughtful noises, but soon the paper slowed, and the light faded. "We got all we're getting at a glance. The parts are crude. I'd guess local make, or jury rigged, one or the other."

Laud nodded softly. "We can't rule out either option. It would be too easy for an off-world agent to attempt to make something that has the basic appearance of being locally made. Anything else? A hint at least to their species?"

"There is a trace amount of keratin." He hiked a thumb at the papers. "But since that covers hair, fur, horns and claws, good luck drawing a conclusion from that. You want more, I suggest you find it and have it much more thoroughly scanned than what I can do. I can only tell you what is in there, material-wise."

Spike raised a lone claw. "Can you tell us where that, uh, kerawhatever is?"

The technician hammered at a few buttons, the lines returning before most of them faded, leaving a few lines criss-crossing over the mess. "That's where it's getting the strongest readings."

Starlight appeared with a pop. "That line was not a joke. Why all the serious looks?"

Spike grabbed for her, though she ducked back easily. "Starlight, can you lend us a hoof, or a horn in this case?"

Starlight hiked a brow at that. "Pardon me?"

Spike pointed into the booth. "See where the glowing lines are? There's some hair, or bit of claw, or something. Get it out without letting it touch anything else."

Starlight leaned off to the side. "I had meant to just shop, but Laud's looking more serious than usual." With a glowing horn, she reached into the debris and began to float up bits and pieces, tiny shreds of nothing. "Is... this what you want?"

Spike scrambled closer, peering. "I don't see any hair there."

"Grabbing something so small from far away isn't easy, Spike." She trotted closer, setting what she had found aside to try again, sifting about. "What about... this?" She pulled free a lone bolt.

Laud chuckled softly. "That is clearly metal, not bone or hair."

"True..." She set it with the first batch and took a slow breath. "Hair, hair, or a claw, I can do this..." She put a hoof to her chest and extended it as she let out her breath as she had seen Twilight do once or twice. "I'm on the case."

Laud did not speak, watching as the magic picked and sifted slowly. A lone hair lifted into view as Starlight began to clop her forehooves. "There we go, almost lost in the thread of the bag."

He put a hand down on her shoulder. "You have served well today. Get that in something secure and the investigation can continue." He turned to Spike. "No sign of the perpetrators themselves, I assume?"

"They were long gone when I got there. I think they dropped that off the side of the wall. Couldn't say if that was on purpose or not." He hiked a thumb at the wall. "But it smacked right into the branches and weeds and made a mess."

Starlight dropped the hair into a little plastic bag. "So now's the part where you tell me what I'm looking at? What's going on?"

Author's Notes:

A hair? Well, that rules out a dragon, right? Could still be from a pony or a human though.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

91 - Pursuit of Justice

Gregor waved a hand to the left and the scene played backwards a few seconds before he moved his hand towards the right, bidding it stop, then start playing forward once more. "Mmm." Only one of the cameras had caught it, but there it was, for him to watch over and over again. "A pity it was so far away..." The cameras were not meant to monitor things so far distant from the ship.

But there were clearly shapes, multiple, on a wall. It was hard to see at best, but they did... something... then...

It was a matter then if he would report that finding. Doing so would be the good thing to do, and perhaps help his standing with the locals and the merchants. He hadn't ruled out, entirely, that his own people couldn't have been involved. Logs showed some of them had been off the ship at and before the time. Even they were tempted to at least look at the goods for sale.

If it could help avoid needless violence, would it not be his duty to help? He had accepted the burden of protecting these strange but innocent creatures from his own people; it would be a curious half-measure to then hold this information. "It was a strange question to begin." He reached out as a small disc emerged from within the machinery few understood. "I am leaving."

He didn't have to shout, a firm statement was more than enough to have his guards accompanying him. His face went from careful thought to the gentle benevolence he had spent many years cultivating. He was the smiling face of the church, and it would not do for others to see him frowning, even if he carried heavy news.

Bon Bon tapped Trixie on the shoulder lightly. "Have a moment?"

Trixie twisted an ear back. "Since they've shut down the sales of what I had come for, Trixie supposes she does." She shrugged lightly as she turned to Bon Bon. "Didn't find what you were looking for either?"

They were both away from the landing pad, back in Ponyville in fact. "I was looking for you."

Trixie's ears perked up at that. "Oh, well of course. Who wouldn't look for the Great and Powerful Trixie! What can I do for an adoring fan?"

Bon Bon reached out and casually booped Trixie on the nose. "I'm not an 'adoring fan', but I do have questions only you can answer."

Trixie rubbed where she had been poked. "Hmm? Something regarding magic? Because a true magician never reveals their secrets!"

"What about revealing some other trick?" She leaned forward a little. "We were both there when it went off. Thankfully, it wasn't big enough to hurt us, just knock us loopy a moment."

Trixie rolled her eyes softly. "Ugh, yes, most undignified, and that merchant took it so poorly... Gauging from Laud, I had thought they were a proud warrior race, to be brought down so easily? It confuses Trixie somewhat." She wobbled a hoof to emphasize that. Her eyes slid off to an apple stand, manned by Big Mac. "Pardon me." She grabbed an apple in her magic and brought it over without a thought.

Big Mac apparently noticed the brazen theft and trotted over with a bit of a scowl. He put out a hoof in front of Trixie. "Nope."

Bon Bon sighed softly as she pulled out a bit and placed it on the waiting hoof. "You should break that habit."

"I was certain you'd pay. You did have questions for me, did you not?" She took a big bite of the apple, chewing happily. "Mmm, the Apples know their namesake. Alright, what was the question?"

Big Mac wandered back where he'd come from, shaking his head. Bon Bon peered at Trixie incredulously. "Right, yes... You are something of an... expert when it comes to pyrotechnics, are you not?"

"One of my many talents." Trixie took another large bite, chewing somewhat noisily. "What of it?"

"Now that we're away from all those... distractions, surely someone as Knowledgeable and Clever as you noticed something about that explosion." She rolled a hoof slowly in the air. "Think on it."

"It wasn't human." She nodded softly, looking certain about that fact. "They told her enough to be certain."

Bon Bon blinked softly. "You... how?"

She lifted her shoulders. "All the explosives there needed a zap, a jolt of electricity." Her horn crackled with power in a brief demonstration. "You could set them on fire and they would just burn. Good thing too. If they were easy to set off, they all would have gone off, and that might have stung a bit more." She smirked faintly at Bon Bon's stunned appearance. "They would be picking Great and Powerful pieces off the pavement. Good thing that didn't happen."

Bon Bon blanched; even as a secret agent, rarely did things get that gruesome. "Good thing... So, if not human, or at least not from that stand, what explosion was it? Did you recognize it?" She perked up, leaning in towards Trixie. "Tell me!"

Trixie casually pushed her back with a hoof. "Give me space, thank you. Trixie does not perform when crowded. As you are aware, we were both caught by surprise by it, quite sudden really. I was looking forward to picking up some of what that human was offering." She tapped her chin softly. "Do you think they'll open that stand later?"

"Focus, kindly." Bon Bon pointed back out of town, towards the landing pad. "Other ponies could get hurt. Did you notice anything else?"

"I am focusing on the important parts." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Hmmph, but very well... I did smell something."

"Smell something?" The mental image of Trixie sniffing at the ground with her tail wagging like an eager dog brought a smirk to Bon Bon's face. "Like what?"

"Gunpowder, or black powder? Or is that the same thing?" Trixie shrugged softly. "One of those. Trixie uses it sometimes and she knows that scent. After a good show, it hangs on her stage for hours afterwards. Either way, another reason I don't think it was the human explosives, since they didn't use that, they said. Some 'star plastic' that only went off with a zap." Her horn sparked as if another demonstration was required. "I still want some..."

Bon Bon glanced aside at other ponies wandering past. The traffic on the street was slower than usual. Perhaps many of them were still browsing and shopping? "Alright, that's useful... Could you identify what kind of powder specifically?"

Trixie cocked a brow at that. "While I appreciate your vote of confidence, Trixie has not memorized catalogues of flammable powder to tell one from the other. She already said it was black or gun... It reminded me a little of the colorful ones, but I saw no colors at that time, just a sudden impact with the ground." She shook her head, moving to stroll past Bon Bon. "I'm going to get an oatmeal shake to forget about it. Want one?"

"That's surprisingly generous." Bon Bon moved to follow Trixie, walking just a step behind and to her left.

"I wasn't offering to buy it, just the pleasure of my company."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, but did keep going.

Spike and Laud stood watch over the proceedings. The shopping market seemed to be going peacefully, with ponies and humans interacting. With the sound of flapping, a new form landed with no translating collar. "Spike, how's it flapping?"

"Ember!" His expression brightened from his watchful vigil. "I'm making sure nothing else goes wrong today."

Ember hiked a thumb at the proceedings. "What, this? What happened so far?"

Laud patted his bags, but he had no spare collars left. "You really should be wearing a collar, or the humans will not understand you."

Ember scowled at that. "And where do I get one of those? You two are great at giving me questions to ask without the answers to go with them."

Spike waved towards the entrance where a line of ponies still lingered. "Right there, but you have to wait in line first like everycreature else."

Ember's right brow raised sharply. "I'm the dragonlord. You are not making me wait in line to spend my hard earned with blood money." She produced the heavy pouch of jingling currency Gregor had given her. "I thought I'd have to wait a lot longer, but when I got the word they were here, well, here I am and I'm gonna shop and it better be good."

As if detecting the jingle of proper currency, a merchant slid into the conversation, speaking in his curious human tongue, "Ah, is that-- Of course it is. What are you looking for today?"

Ember smiled wickedly as she turned towards the human that was taller than her, not that she seemed at all cowed by that. "I have no idea what you said but you sure sounded like you had the right attitude when you said it. Show me what I can buy!"

Laud interposed himself between Ember and the merchant, annoying both. "Before you do that," he spoke in Ponish. "Follow me. I will get you a collar."

"Without waiting?" she asked with a fanged grin, making clear her opinion on the idea of waiting in line.

"Without waiting. You are the queen of the dragons, are you not? An exception could be made." He decided quietly that the trouble created making Ember wait would far outweigh any ill will produced by letting her skip in line. "Spike, watch over things while--"

"--Why don't you let me do that?" Spike stepped forward and tipped his head at Ember. "We know each other pretty well and all."

Ember swat Spike on the shoulder. "Look at you taking charge. If he can get me that stupid collar, yeah, I'll go with Spike."

Laud considered that only a brief moment. "Very well, I entrust her to your care, My Squire. See that she gets a collar without incident and accompany her on her shopping."

"You got it." He saluted sharply then started to walk off towards the entrance of the landing pad. "Just this way."

Walking alongside him easily, Ember was peering at him, though her head remained forward. "What was that, Squire? Isn't that a pony thing? When did he start spouting pony things like he meant it."

"Squire is a thing so big the entire universe knows it!" Spike threw out his hands wide to try to encompass it. "At least the humans know it, and they're all over. It means someone training to be a knight, which I am. He's my trainer and I am his squire until we're done." He patted his practice blade lightly. "They're making me a real sword and everything."

Ember reached and casually plucked the fake sword from its equally fake sheath. "It better be better than this. You couldn't hurt a little pony foal with this." She swung the wooden blade around carelessly. "You do remember you're a dragon, right? You have claws and teeth." She displayed the claws on her free hand and grinned wide enough for her teeth to be easily seen. "When that isn't enough, fire usually does the trick."

"I'm still a dragon," he spat a little defensively. "I'm just learning more ways to fight, and for good things." He patted where his blade once was, still in Ember's hands. "I'll be a noble, legitimately."

Ember's brows rose as one. "Oh yeah? Now we're talkin'. About time the ponies recognized you for being the stand-up drake you are. Now, about that collar?" She noticed a bin and moved towards it. "Looks like the ponies put them in here when they're done, so I can just take one."

"Oh, yeah, lemme just tell them." He flapped off to inform the pony helping administer the line about the casual theft of one of the collars. "She'll drop it off when she's done, I promise."

"You are Laud's squire, and you're with her. I won't worry too much." The pony nodded before turning back to the line. "Next!"

Author's Notes:

Some people continue investigating while others tend to the shopping festivities still in progress! Who do you think done it?

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

92 - Fit for Royalty

Each stand she stopped in front of, the merchants seemed to focus on her. Ember was the queen of the marketplace, and her confident smile said she knew it. "I am the only creature here with money, aren't I?"

Spike lifted his shoulders softly. "The ponies have bits, which they have mild interest in. You have their money, which they want a lot more."

"Works for me." She slapped down a scaled hand on the counter of the stand she was in front of. "Hey, what is this?"

The female merchant gestured grandly to what Ember was pointing towards. "That is a picture frame, but you can put any picture you want in it, even several pictures at once and it will change on its own or at your command."

Ember hiked a scaled brow. "Picture? Oh!" She turned to Spike. "Like those things your friend hangs on their mirrors?"

"Yeah, I think?" He fluttered up a bit to get a better view of the curious frame. "But how does it show a bunch and change."

"Already bored." Ember grabbed him by the shoulder and drew him away towards a display of weapons, an entire rack of futuristic rifles with a stack of batteries beside them. "Hey, I remember these things. Those jerks were using them on us."

The merchant there was a wiry gentleperson patting one of those racks. "These will punch a hole right through whatever you need a hole in. Keep the battery topped off and that's all it needs."

"Battery?" Even tranlated to Ponish, it wasn't a word she'd encountered before. She looked to Spike expectantly.

"Batteries make electrical things work," he explained, looking around before spotting the stack of batteries. "Those. Those are batteries."

"You get one free with the purchase of any gun that needs one," added the merchant as a sales benefit. "Some prefer to have spares. What use is a gun without being able to shoot?" He suddenly grabbed one Ember had her eyes on and slapped a battery into it fluidly before turning to face a row of three targets. "Watch."

Ember did just that, crossing her arms and tapping a foot. Her expression turned mixed as a thin red beam punched a hole in the target. "I remember that," she growled out. "Still... having one for myself makes more sense than being angry at it... Hey, Spike. What do you think?"

"Hm?" He set back down the little pistol he had picked up. "Dragons don't need that."

"You're a dragon, and you're excited about a weapon," she pointed out with a cocked brow. "Try that logic again."

"Well, yeah... but it's a symbol... I mean, being trusted with it, anywhere, means ponies respect my status as a warrior." He puffed out his chest, looking prouder by the moment. "It also tells everyone else that I am a warrior, even if I never use it."

"Convinced me." She grabbed one of the rifles. "I want the biggest that fits on my back."

"With pleasure," eagerly gushed the merchant with obvious joy, selecting a weapon that fit her size needs. "I have a strap that will hold it there for just a trifle more."

She rolled a hand. "Yeah yeah, get me ready to go."

With permission given, he asked no more questions, attaching the strap around her body and attaching the gun to it. "We are required to show anyone buying one how to use it safely. Sir Mountbatten was quite adamant on that point. I'll show you that now."

"Good. I don't want a weapon I can't use. That would be dumb." She reached over her shoulder but grasped nothing but air, clutching and grabbing for it wildly before she finally caught it with a claw and dragged it over her shoulder. "There we go. That will take some practice."

Spike lifted into the air. "Well, you're going to be busy a while. Oh! Hey." He waved at the merchant. "She has enough for this, right?"

"That's actually a great question." Ember set down her bulging bag of currency. "Now we get to find out if I was ripped off. How much?"

The merchant pointed to the strap, then the gun, his finger dancing with mental math before a number emerged. He reached for the bag but paused halfway there, looking to Ember silently.

"Go on," she prompted with a little wave.

Soon he had counted out the amount and gave some change to her still considerable pouch. "A pleasure. Now, you've paid for this lesson, so let's make it a good one."

With a renewed grin, Ember held the gun as she saw the soldiers doing when they were firing on her. "Alright, let's do this."

"You don't want the butt against your arm like that." He nudged it towards her shoulder. "Thankfully, laser weapons don't have any real kickback. With a projectile, you could knock your arm right out of alignment that way."

"Project-what now?"

Spike spotted a person in the crowd. "Have fun with the practice." He waved at Ember, figuring she'd be busy for some time, and took off, landing a short distance before Gregor and his guards. "Father Gregor, did you find anything?"

Gregor brought his hands together softly without a clap. "Squire Spike, a pleasure and one of those I could stand to meet." With a flourish, he produced a disc from within his robes. "I have information Sir Mountbatten needs to be privy to. Our cameras caught a distant peek at those responsible for today's attack."

"That's gr--those? There were more than one?" He lifted into the air partway through, looking ready to launch to find Laud when the realization brought him to a stop.

"I am afraid that is what we found." He shook his head sadly. "I would see them found, for the safety of others."

"I'll get Laud... What is that?" He pointed at the disc Gregor was still holding.

"This contains the video of the event. If Sir Mountbatten lacks the supplies to read it, we can return to our ship to view it there." He slipped the disc away. "I will hold it until we are certain."

"Probably a good idea." Not like Spike knew how to use the curious thing. "I'll find Laud. You wait here." He darted straight up, veering into circling over the crowd of humans, ponies, and one dragon. Button Mash was pulling his cart away with a stash of things he apparently had managed to trade for. The CMC were singing into a set of microphones, speakers playing behind them their words along with the beat of a song, much to the amusement of other creatures in the area.

There was Laud, speaking to Mayor Mare. Spike dropped from the sky towards him.

"We are investigating." Laud was tapping his fingers on the hilt of his blade. "That hair will provide a vital clue. We'll at least know the species of what did this, and that will rule out a good number of possibilities."

Mayor Mare nodded softly. "If it was a pony, I will give them quite the talking to!"

Laud's brows went up as one. "I imagine there is more to be done than a firm lecture."

The mayor looked baffled. "Well, I suppose we could also fine them. That poor merchant deserves something for all the trouble. This reminds me, is he alright? I haven't seen a hint of him."

"He is in intensive care," spoke Laud in stressed tones. "Whoever did this could have killed him."

"But they didn't, thank Celestia." She put a hoof to her heart with a little smile. "We will see they never do this again."

"By asking them nicely?" His tone carried his incredulity in the idea.

"By telling them firmly. If they are a repeat offender, more may be required, but we don't have too many serious repeat offenders if you don't count... him."

"Him?"

"Me!" Discord was there where he had not been. "What trouble are you blaming on me this time?"

Laud jumped back and almost tripped over Spike in the process, stumbling.

"Woah, sorry." Spike scrambled out of the way. "I was waiting for a chance to join the conversation."

"Pfft, I've been waiting forever to even join the story." Discord rolled his eyes mightily. "Now then, what's this about repeat offenders?"

Laud looked ready to draw his blade, barely restraining himself from doing so. "What manner of demon is--"

"--spirit," cut in Discord with one brow raised and a finger raised. "Spirit of chaos, Discord. Here." He furnished a card with a flip of his fingers and held it out towards Laud.

Mayor Mare heaved a slow sigh. "Laud Mountbatten, of the Hawkwoods, meet Discord, reformed spirit of chaos."

"Charmed." Discord bowed in place, still holding the card in place. "Not often I get to meet nobility that doesn't need a set of horseshoes."

Laud took the card firmly but not quickly, looking it over. It had his name and a slew of titles and a picture of him that winked when he looked at it. "You... are a creature of magic."

"Guilty as charged." He was suddenly wearing prison attire, a chain attached to his left leg leading to a heavy-looking iron ball. "But a nice one. I waited all this time just for your sake."

"My sake?! While I appreciate kindness given, I fail to see why you would do such a thing."

Discord slowly rolled a hand. "Is it not obvious? Had I appeared earlier, you would have been quite upset, Mister Comes-From-Magic-Haters. Why, you still seem quite perturbed, but you haven't tried to stab me yet, so I must have gotten the timing close enough."

Spike pulled lightly at Laud's pants from the side. "He's mostly harmless. In fact, we're friends. We play a weekly game of O&O."

Mayor Mare cleared her throat. "As I was saying, if the culprit is a pony, I will deal with them. If it is some other Equestrian creature, then it falls on Twilight Sparkle or yourself. I imagine she would greatly appreciate being consulted before you render judgment. On the other hoof, if they come from beyond this world, then that is entirely your discretion."

Discord did a twirl with an arm, his clothes changing in time with his arm's hiding his form to become a sharp business suit. "Well it wasn't me. I even have an alibi. I so rarely have those. What are we talking about again?"

Laud huffed softly. "Thank you, Mayor Mare. Discord was it? If you do not know what we speak of, how can you know that you have an alibi for it?"

"Lucky guess?" He plucked a four leaf clover from behind Laud's ear without hesitation. "At least, if whatever you're worried about happened today. I was with Fluttershy, and that dear wouldn't lie about something naughty I did."

Spike nodded softly. "He has a point there. She would be the first one scolding him. She's the one that reformed him."

"And is now my best of friends. Speaking of that, I was hoping to get some shopping time myself. It's not often I can get some of these things." His eyes wandered, one literally popping free to pull out a spyglass and peer across the shopping market. "A little shopping can be fun once in a while."

"Laud, Father Gregor said he has a video of who did it, and there's more than one of them." Spike pointed where he had left the father. "He's waiting for you. It's on this funny disc. He said if you don't have something to look at it with, you could go to his ship to watch it. Should I come with?"

"Mmm, no." He put a hand on Spike's shoulder. "I will accept their hospitality, but that leaves no one watching the market. I will entrust that task to you, Squire. See to the safety of everyone. Speaking of which, where is Dragon Lord Ember? Wasn't she with you?"

Author's Notes:

Did Ember get into trouble without Spike there, or is everything fine?

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

93 - Building Evidence

Laud nodded in an upwards motion towards the monitor. "Let's see it."

"Of course." Gregor slid the disc back where it came from originally, and it began to play. "As you can immediately see, the distance is considerable."

"Unfortunate..." Laud pondered silently if the culprit had done that on purpose, working on a wall not too close to either ship. Still... "There." A bit of movement. It was maddeningly small on the screen. He could barely see more than something moving.

The angle was right. They had caught the right part of the wall they had found the debris and that the line of detonation had led towards. "You can't make it any larger?"

"If we were watching this as it happened, perhaps." Gregor lifted his shoulders slowly. "But, after the fact..." He made a spreading gesture with his hands, the computer following the motion and zooming in, just showing larger ugly pixels. "I don't think this helps greatly. I apologize, truly. If I could do more--"

"--I Understand." Not exactly that, but he felt sure Gregor was speaking the truth. "Ah ha..." The blob seperated enough to see several of them moving up there instead of one indistinct mass. There was enough space between one and the next to confirm they were seperate things. They seemed to be moving randomly until they fell or jumped down off the back of the wall. "Stop."

The image stopped. "Can you go back very very very slowly?"

"One instant at a time." Gregor bowed towards the screen and made the subtle gesture, bidding it to step back one frame, then the next, playing time backwards.

"They were... wearing cloaks, or they had tails." He pointed at where trailing pixels gave the impression. "That rules me out, not that anyone suspected me."

Gregor turned a jovial smile, one of his specialties. "You must be feeling better, Good Sir, to make such a jest."

"This is still invaluable evidence." Laud stood, his stance firm. "Three. There were three figures. They saw the explosion, and fled. They did not do it in an organized manner, which makes me think it was not a merchant or one of yours. I respect both highly enough to imagine if they wanted to commit this attack, they would not act like bumbling fools suddenly when nothing was approaching them."

Father inclined his head faintly. "I pray my children would not launch such a craven deed, but if they had it in mind, they should act with the calm of the pancreator himself, not a panicked fleeing of the scene as we see here. I suspect the hair--"

"--What hair?" Laud turned on Gregor, suspicion in his eyes.

"Come now, Good Sir. We are in this together, and I asked the merchants. You did not pay them for privacy." Gregor spread his hands in a gentle show of impotent harmlessness. "Still, I imagine that hair will be of pony origin. It makes sense, looking back on it. I hadn't pieced together that they had fled in a panic."

"Different eyes can make the difference," spoke Laud in slow and purposeful words, thoughts turning in his head in a jumble. "What did you see, before I made my conclusion?"

"I confess, I did not think to watch the way they moved, small and indisctinct as they were, but now that you have brought it up, it seems crystal clear." He brought his hands together with no clap, clasping them gently. "They did not move as if gathering things. It was a moment of random movement before fleeing. This is... a lamentable situation. Poor pony."

"Poor..." Laud's right hand fell limp, his left cutting across suddenly. "I remind, those attackers, ponies or otherwise, nearly killed a merchant man."

"And had no idea that would happen." Gregor dipped his head. "They are wayward children, fleeing with a bloody knife, scared and crying. They know not what they were doing, but have witnessed the effect. I feel certain in this."

"Such a talking to," sighed out Laud, imagining Mayor Mare chastising whoever was responsible. "Father, humor me. What do you think they expected to happen when they set off explosives?"

"Your wife was one of the victims, was she not? She is not hospitalized. She is not even sent home." He spread his fingers but kept his palms touching. "Neither pony present was more than dazed. If all of them were ponies, what harm would have been caused?"

Laud imagined it, replacing the merchant man with another pony. The explosion rips apart the area, sending all three sprawling in ungainly heaps, but then they'd all get back up, dizzy but unharmed. "A practical joke, gone too far."

"Exactly as I see it. The poor things are likely hiding somewhere, praying to whatever local force, their princess perhaps? That their prank will not cost them too dearly. Like the cherubs they resemble, inhuman and terrible, they know not the frailties of mortality at times, and we are the mortals among them."

"Genius!" He suddenly slapped down a hand on Gregor's shoulder so hard his guards suddenly stepped forward, swords starting to slide from their sheathes.

Gregor raised a halting hand immediately, a carefully held smile on his face. Even as his guards drew back into idleness, he laughed at Laud. "To what do I owe this compliment?"

"You've just told me how to find them. Everyone's been here, and we've been tracking their comings and goings. The ones that left went over the wall. Either they came in and didn't check back out, or they never went either way. Since the entire town seems to have taken the time to come here today, we just have to look for three names not listed. As soon as that hair is confirmed to be of pony origin, that is."

"Very good, very good..." He tapped his fingers as he began to amble across the room, playing up a doddering little friar, innocent and jovial. "I do pray you are not too harsh on them when you find them. They are already hurting themselves, I should imagine."

"You too?" He turned for the door, looking ready to get back to action. "Thank you, Father, for finding that video and sharing it. I will see justice is done. If they are ponies, it will be pony justice. I have not earned the right to impose my own on them in their own kingdom, but it must satisfy that injured man and his colleagues or there will be other prices to pay." He marched from the room, eyes shining with renewed determination.

Gregor watched him go, tapping his fingers as he turned back towards the console. "Without sin, no creature alive can exist entirely in this state, but they dance close enough to make one forget at times." He dismissed the guards to have a moment to himself. It was a learning moment, he decided.

"Have you seen a dragon?" asked Spike, fluttering over a few merchant's head.

"At least one," one replied with a smirk.

"Besides me." Spike rolled his eyes. "A bit larger?" Their words were being loyally translated by the collars they all wore. "Blue, not purple." He gestured over himself. "Probably had a big fancy gun on her back."

"Oh! Her. She is a her, right?" The man seemed not entirely certain. "She has the voice, but that's hard to nail down when a dragon makes noises like a horse at you."

Spike let out a slow breath. "She is a she and she better not hear you wondering about that. So where--"

"--And you are a boy dragon?" Eyes went to where evidence of that normally resided, but there was nothing there to easily confirm the fact.

Spike didn't even seem to get what they were looking at or for. "Yes? Now where did you last see her? It is my duty to protect her."

One of them snorted out a chuckle. "Well we wouldn't want to keep the boy dragon from protecting the, uh, lady lord."

"No, you wouldn't." Spike frowned at the two of them. "If I need to remind, I am a squire of Laud Mountbatten."

Their stances subtly straightened, the levity fleeing them. One pointed across the market. "She was browsing on the second aisle."

"Thank you." Spike left them, grumbling softly to himself. It bothered on some level that he had to name drop his teacher to get respect with some people, but still... at least he had that option. "Baby steps..." He had to move like a knight and speak like a knight and carry himself like a knight. People would begin to treat him like one as he became one, or so he hoped. It had been working with the ponies for the most part. That was a good, if odd, feeling.

There was Ember, turning this way and that in front of a mirror. She was not as naked as Spike. She wore her gun on her back, smiling confidently as she turned, showing off the fabric that hung from her form. "Shiny, pretty, but looks awful for doing anything in." She prodded one of the empty hanging cloth bits at her chest. "Comes with pockets though, that's nice." Not like she had any flesh to put in them as a human woman might.

The salesman had the good sense to not correct her on that point. "We can have those reinforced, if you plan on anything heavy."

"Mmm, maybe, but-- Hey."

"Hey." Spike landed beside her. "Doing some clothes shopping?"

"Did you know they can make fireproof threads?" She lifted her shoulders. "Costs more than the other stuff, but they say it can stand anything. I could go lava swimming in the stuff."

Spike rubbed behind his head, imagining that. "Huh, impressive. Would it, uh, let someone who isn't a dragon do that?"

Ember burst into laughter even as she stripped off the dress. "No. They'd make funny noises and burn and then there'd be a bit of clothes floating on the lava."

The salesman coughed into a hand. "Humans who wish to approach lava typically wear much more serious protections, and aren't trying to look good at the time. This is more for people who work in hot places. Smelters, foundries, and things like that. You can look reasonable and not have your clothes catch fire as you do things."

"Sounds useful." Spike nodded softly, looking over the selection a moment before he remembered. "Oh yeah, you alright?"

"I'm shopping." She jingled her less-full bag of coins. "Almost tapped, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. I even got some gifts to bring home. Not like I was the only one that paid the price of these coins. Figure they deserve something, ya know?"

"Hey, that's great." He clapped his hands together before his eyes wandered to a hanging blouse. It had no great frills or billowing things. It was simple, but its bold reds and yellows... "That one looks like it'd really make your scales stand out."

Ember blinked dumbly before reaching for the blouse he pointed out. She held it out, comparing her arm against it. "Huh... not bad. When did you learn about fashion, Spike? You're full of talents I don't know about."

Spike laughed nervously, not daring to admit he had learned much of color coordination from his time helping Rarity. "I have a bit of an eye for that. Try it out. It looks like it won't get in the way of stuff."

"Nice and simple, but still pretty." She threw it over her head and wriggled into place, it hanging off of her a little oddly with her spines and inhuman configuration. "It's about the right size, but--"

"--Think nothing of it," cut in the salesman. "If you like the look of it, we'll get it tailored to your exact needs. It'll fit you like a glove."

She flashed a wicked smile. "You humans sure know how to make a buyer happy with their buy."

"Purchase," suggested Spike in a stage whisper.

"Whatever. I'll take it." Ember held up her money bag. "Shopping is a hobby I never knew I'd like until today."

Author's Notes:

Turns out, Ember was just fine, shopping in style! Also turns out Spike knows some style tricks. How useful!

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

94 - Chasing Justice

Spike waved softly at the dwindling form of Ember. "That's handled." Burdened with several bags, the dragon lord had replaced her bag of coins for quite a few human artifacts. "Now then..." He turned in the air and zipped towards Laud, hovering as he was around the stall of energy weapons. "Any updates?"

"Right now, I await the closing of the day." Laud nodded only faintly towards his squire. "Thank you for handling her. She seemed quite well pleased with both your attendance and her shopping."

"Oh, yeah, she had a great time." He landed next to Laud. "Got plenty of stuff for herself and the other dragons that fought that day."

"Does she harbor ill-will?" His eyes swept towards where her form had become lost in the distance.

"Nah." He lifted his shoulders. "Dragon... pride prevented that. She was here to spend her coins, and she did that." A sly smirk appeared on his face. "Now if what he had given turned out to be basically nothing, then she would have been really mad."

"This I could easily imagine." He tapped a few fingers against his arms, arms crossed across his chest. "Back to general patrol. Let's make sure those here have a pleasant, and safe, time."

"Yes, Sir!" Spike saluted and marched off into the throng.

Bon Bon came out of nowhere, driving a pony to the ground with a deep scowl. "Where were you hiding?!" she snarled out, tail lashing.

"I didn't mean nothing!" cried the younger stallion, thrashing about beneath Bon Bon. "You're, um, okay, right?"

"I am fine." She nudged the colt with her hooves, shaking him with firm pushes and relaxing enough for him to try to sit up just to shove him again. "That's not the problem and you know it. Were you alone?"

"I'm never talking!"

"Snips, you're digging a hole for yourself." She shoved him into the dirt. "You're stupid, not malicious. What were you trying to do?"

"Nothin'!"

"That sure was a big nothing..." Bon Bon leaned in, glaring at Snips. "Big enough to be a universal incident. Do you have any idea how much trouble you just caused?"

"It was just a, uh, little thing." He worried his forehooves together, looking anywhere but at the incensed mare on top of him. "You aren't even scratched."

"Good for me." She shoved him hard enough to bounce his head off the ground, not that it seemed to do much more than make him dizzy a moment. "But I wasn't the only one there. Now, the way I see it, you can start singing, or I turn you over to Laud and let him dig the information out of you."

"He said I couldn't do it," suddenly wailed Snips. "It was a dare."

Bon Bon sat back, her forehooves holding him down. "Did you win?"

"Yeah," he weakly admitted, not sounding proud of it at that moment.

"You won a lot more than a little bet, Snips..." She shook her head slowly. "You're coming with me." Suddenly there was pain. She grabbed his ear in her teeth and half dragged him to his hooves, hauling him along as he wailed and lamented his pitiable fortunes.

"It isn't fair!" But Bon Bon had little room for his idea of justice at that moment.

Laud strode purposefully to the pony sorting the translating collars in a big box. "Has everyone turned in their collar?"

"I was just counting, Sir." He reached in and nudged a few around. "Lesse... and..." He grabbed a quill in his mouth and made a few more scratches. "Looks like we're short one." Laud started to look angry. "Oh, I know where it is, Sir. It got broke." He turned and pointed across the gloomy and darkening pavement. "Dropped and shattered. Thankfully was the only one."

Laud's expression lightened. "Ah, yes, that's different." Only one damaged unit after such a busy day was... fairly good. "We'll see if Starlight can do anything with it. May I see the sign in and sign out papers?"

A clipboard was suddenly being thrust his way. "We saved paper by having that all be in one place."

Looking at it, he could see there was a column for a name, a sign in time, and a sign out time. "Perfect..." That would make it easier. He began to sweep down over the page, looking for missing sign out times.

There were more than three. "Did some ponies not sign this on the way out?" He wagged the clipboard at the cleaning stallion.

"Mmm? They should have, but there were a lot of ponies coming and going. We did our best, Laud, Sir." He shrugged softly. "Reckon we got most of them."

"Thank you..." Even if it wasn't perfect, it narrowed the list down tremendously. He worked through the list of names and started a new list of those who signed in but not out again, producing ten names. "This is a much smaller number than I started with. Tell me, were you more certain about those coming in?"

"Oh, completely." The stallion nodded with certainty. "If they didn't sign, they didn't get a collar. But giving the collar back anypony could do just by placing it back in the box here."

"Fantastic... I'll be keeping this." He wagged the clipboard lightly.

The stallion shrugged at that. "It was your idea. If you could take the paper and leave the board though? That's mine."

He squeezed the clip open and removed the collection of papers. "My apologies. You did good work today. We'll need to get a little more help, next time, to ensure all ponies, coming or going, get signed." He offered up the clipboard that the stallion grabbed in his mouth with a soft nod.

"Spike?" He called into the thickening gloom.

"Yeah?" Spike came darting out of the darkness, landing. "The merchants are all bottled up in their ship."

"Excellent. Thank you for monitoring that." He folded the papers in half for easier carrying. "I have the list. I'll need a complete list of names of the residents of the town. We didn't offer enough time for others, besides Ember, to visit from outside of it, thank the pancreator."

"One of these days you really need to break down what the pancreator is." Spike shrugged softly. "Anywho, yeah. I bet Mayor Mare has a full list. Town Hall keeps records of that kind of thing." He held out a hand. "Is that our list?"

"It is." He let the papers unfold so Spike could easily see it. "It's mostly complete. Good enough to make our job easier."

Spike's eyes swept over it. "Oh, good, they got cutie marks."

"Mmm?"

Spike pointed to the little drawings in each line. "Their cutie mark. I bet Ember's is blank. Dragons don't have those."

Laud turned the paper around to see what Spike was referring to, and there they were, a whole column of what he had taken to be the whimsy of his wards. "Ah, right. The picture on their rump. I gather no two ponies have the same one then?"

"It's pretty rare." He shrugged softly. "Siblings are more likely to have similar ones, but it's pretty unique, even between brothers and sisters." He walked his fingers up against each other. "Sometimes it can be subtle. Like one pony having two cakes and another has three. Or one pony has a red balloon and another has a blue one. Still, not the same."

"Not the same," he agreed. "But this isn't in color."

Spike shrugged softly. "If we end up with two ponies, we're not doing badly."

"There is truth there. Is it empty?" He gestured towards where the marketplace once had been.

"Not a single creature left." Spike nodded towards the merchant's ship. "They said they'd keep closed until you talked with them, so no market tomorrow."

"That... is likely for the best." He turned for the exit. "We're done here for today." He gestured at the box as he began to go around it. "See this is stored safely for the next market day. Where is the damaged one?"

"Right on top." The stallion pointed into the box. "It's split open."

Laud plucked it free from the box. "I'll see if it can't be repaired, or at least replaced. Store the rest away." Soon he was striding away, Spike at his side. "You've done well today. There is one place I would visit before we go home."

"What's that? Town hall?" He looked towards where it would be. "It's late enough they're probably heading home. Let me see that list." He held out a hand. "I can't promise I'll know the missing ones--"

"But you'll know who didn't sign out." Laud surrendered the papers. "A fine idea. Better than doing nothing. But, no. I was considering seeing if your blade is complete."

"They're probably retiring for the day too." Spike shrugged softly, looking over the papers as he walked. "I'm looking forward to that, but let's be polite. Town Hall, and that sword, will be there tomorrow."

"That... is quite mature on your part." He brought down a hand on Spike's shoulder. "When I was closer to your age, the beasts of hell itself could not have stood in my way to get my first proper blade. We will check tomorrow. You are ready for it, this I feel increasingly certain of."

Spike's face darkened, but he tried to keep his embarassed pride to himself, instead busying himself with thoroughly scanning the sheets he held.

With the sound of a body hitting the ground, Bon Bon came into view, tossing Snips before them. "I found one of them."

Both of them came up short, looking to the colt and Bon Bon with equal surprise.

Bon Bon prodded Snip with the flat of a hoof. "Go on, tell them."

Snips sat up, rubbing his sore ear. "You have a... uh... rough wife."

Laud crossed his arms, his stance firming. "I can be just as rough. You were involved in today's incident?"

Spike was shaking his head. "Snips, what did you do? I mean, you, uh, have made trouble before, but you never hurt anycreature, not like that."

"I didn't mean to!" he cried, thrusting his hooves out in a pleading fashion. "I was just winning a little bet is all. An honest coin."

Laud felt the maddening urge to kick the little colt, but fought it down and away. It was a child, greedy or not. Besides, he knew there were three. "Where are the two others who were with you? Confess their location and we may find mercy for you."

"What two others?!"

Bon Bon hiked a brow. "Two others? How specific."

Laud dropped down in a squat and grabbed Snips' still sore ear between two firm fingers. "There were three, and this is one of them. Where are the other two?"

Spike lifted his shoulders. "Was one of them the one you had the bet with?"

"Yes!" he wailed, hooves writhing in the air. "Please leggo! My ear's already sore!"

"Imagine this over every inch of your fuzzy body," growled Laud. "Then you will know half of the pain you inflicted on that merchant today."

"How are humans so delicate and so angry at the same time?" he cried out, pressing his forehooves together. "I'm sorry, honest!"

"Mayor Mare will have some words for you." This much Laud was certain of. "But, after that, you have an injured man and his compatriots that will want a word with you and your collaborators."

"Where's Snails?" suddenly asked Spike. "He's always with you."

Snips shook his head violently. "He wasn't involved. I swear!"

Spike raised a brow. "Always with you."

"I promise! He... went straight." Snips sagged. "Since he started playing buckball, he barely has time for me... Unless I think up somethin' involvin' buckball, he ain't much interested."

Bon Bon nudged him with a firm hoof. "So not Snails, alright. So start naming who it is then."

Author's Notes:

We found one of them. Who do you figure the other two are?

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

95 - Grand Ideas

"It was a new pony," he confessed, head sagging. "She had the bits, paid 'em nice and fast too."

Spike blinked softly. "New pony? Pinkie didn't throw any 'Welcome to Ponyville' parties recently. What new pony?"

"Huh?" Snips canted his head with a confused expression. "Don't know 'bout that, but I never saw her before, then she dared me, and waved a bag of bits under my nose."

With a cluck of his tongue to replace more physical responses, Laud released Snips' abused ear. "Answer this, and be truthful. What did she dare you to do, and be as precise as possible."

"Um, uh..." He worried a hoof along the dirt of the ground. There was no solace among the faces around him, and the gloom of the oncoming night kept him from spotting anything else that looked like an easy escape. "Alright alright, she... um... said... 'Give Bon Bon a surprise while she's shopping' and I did! That's it."

Bon Bon suddenly bopped him on the head from behind. "You did, and caught Trixie and seriously hurt a guest not just of Ponyville but of the entire kingdom. Do you understand that? I have half--" Her words suddenly cut off as she winced and fell back, a hoof moving to her midsection. "Settle down in there..."

Laud was at her side in an instant. "Are you alright?" For all he knew of many things, the creation of life was... "Is there anything I can do to help?" His voice had lost its sureness as he became a scared partner, as countless males through the history of the universe before him and after him.

Spike let them have their moment, instead focused on Snips. "Look, you did a stupid prank. If that human hadn't been there, this wouldn't have been a big deal, but they were. You can help keep this as small a deal as possible. This wasn't your idea, right?"

"Right!" He reached for Spike's shoulders. "You believe me, don'tcha?!"

"I'm trying, so work with me." Spike patted him on the chest lightly. "Was this a mare, or a filly?"

"Filly," he squeaked. "About my age... I, uh... I was gonna ask if she was busy."

Spike rolled his eyes. "After this, I bet you changed your mind. What's her name?"

"She has a real fancy name!" He tapped at his chin softly as if to remember it. "Er-sat...sssss Ersatz. Ersatz Ador." He bobbed his head quickly up and down. "Can I go now?"

"Mmm, that's gonna be a no." Spike gently patted him on the shoulder as he backed up, letting the colt's hooves slide off of him. "There was one other creature there, remember. You haven't even mentioned them."

"Huh?"

Bon Bon gently pushed Laud's supporting hand away. "I'm fine, fine... I'm just not used to movement."

"It's... early, isn't it?" No expert was he, but Bon Bon wasn't even showing, let alone at the place he'd expect any of... that. "Should we get you to the hospital?"

"That will not be required." She smiled gently as she sat up tall. "I am a perfectly healthy mother-to-be. I can only guess humans go through this a little... differently. It's perfectly normal for a foal to get lively fast. It's a good sign!"

He matched her smile. A good sign? His worry began to visibly leak away, and he remembered what he was doing. "Spike, what have you gotten?"

Spike hiked a thumb at Snips. "Repeat that last part."

Snips had a hoof behind his head, rubbing softly. "About the other pony? He was about our age too, but he didn't say much. Just kinda followed her around. I, uh, asked if he was her boyfriend, but they both said no, so, you know, I figured--"

Laud thrust a hand in front of his face. "We are not interested in your dating opportunities. Did you get the first pony's name?"

"Ersatz Ador," repeated Spike. "The other one didn't give his name, but I'm getting an idea."

Bon Bon's brows fell together. "Probably the same one I'm getting... But what does she have against me in particular?"

Spike shook his head. "I don't think she was aiming for you at all."

Snips blinked at that. "But she said to go for Bon Bon."

"And she picked where?" prompted Spike with a grin.

"Uh huh."

"And she said when?" he rolled a hand, looking triumphant.

"Uh... huh? How does that change anything?"

Bon Bon put a hoof to her face. "I'm a moron. She was after Trixie. She was trying to frame Trixie. Badly."

"You two clearly know something I do not, starting with her name. Is this a pony you know then?" Laud was tapping a foot, looking impatiently eager to be enlightened.

"Yeah, c'mon. Tell us," joined Snips, only to be lightly thwipped across his good ear by Laud's fingers. "Hey!"

"You are still guilty of a serious crime, though your cooperation will be taken into account." Laud looked to his Squire. "Spike, if you would? While you do so, you can tell me what 'Ersatz Ador' means. Those are not Ponish words I learned, and most other pony names were clear modern words."

"Not always." Spike shrugged softly. "But usually. That one's old and fancy, like Snips said, 'False Love', or something like that. Only one pony, creature rather, would go around with that name, especially appearing out of nowhere to cause trouble."

"Chrysalis," both he and Bon Bon said in perfect unison. They nodded towards one another, clearly approving of the other's thought process.

"Who?" echoed Laud and Snips.

Snips recovered quickly. "Oh, that bug lady that kidnapped everyone before?" He shook his head. "Ersatz don't look nothin' like her..."

Bon Bon applies a fetlock over her face as Spike shook his head. "She's a shapeshifter. Of course it doesn't look like her. So, next question. Were you supposed to meet her?"

"A shapeshifter?" Laud's hand went to the hilt of his sword as if ready to do battle that very instant, though no enemies were in plain sight. "A literal demon caused this?" His hand drew from the hilt as a frown formed. "Today is your lucky day, foolish colt."

"It is?" He peered up at the angry human. "I can go then?"

"No, but you were under the sway of demonic forces. Assuming we can verify the influence is expunged, you may be shown mercy."

Spike leaned in, whispering, "This is the part where you say you don't like Ersatz and swear to never listen to her or any other strange ponies again."

Bon Bon put a hoof between them. "Not so fast... You can swear her off after we catch her. Helping us nab her will be proof enough in my book. Now, when and where were you going to meet with her next?"

"You seek to capture her?" Laud's jaw clenched, imagining. "You do not seek to chastise her on her wrongdoing, I hope? It would be a strange day when demons learn the meaning of personal shame, for that is a thing they give for others to carry, never themselves."

Spike lifted his shoulders. "If you kill her without giving someone the chance, you'll hurt yourself. I mean, politically, right? You told me to consider that angle. Your turn. The humans will probably be happy to have the body of a demon to blame, but how will ponies feel?" He leveled a finger at his mentor and boss. "With all due respect, I think you should consider that."

He was quiet a moment before giving a slow nod. "First, I would know all you know of this demon." He split his fingers to point at Spike and Bon Bon together. "You both seem knowledgeable about this particular fiend and its habits. Has it tormented ponies in the past then?"

Bon Bon heaved a slow sigh. "That she has. She made a real mess of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's wedding. They kidnapped all of Ponyville... twice, the rest of Equestria along the way the second time. She has been offered the hoof of friendship at least once and slapped it aside. Megalomaniac and a touch deranged, she views anything that is not a changeling as food with an unfortunate habit of walking around."

"Twice!" blurted out Laud. "And still they would want a chance to parley with her? All the kingdom? Please tell me you speak entirely in jest, that this is some cruel joke meant to test my reaction." He threw a hand aside before turning it to a pointing configuration up at the castle. "It grows late and dark. Snips was your name? You're with us. While we walk, tell us when next you would meet this demon."

The street was quite dark, only the lights spilling out of houses allowing any vision at all. Street lamps were not much of a thing in the sleepy rural town of Ponyville. The band began their way up towards the castle, slowly picking their way up in the gloom. "Tomorrow," admitted Snips. "We were gonna meet for lunch." He got a dreamy smile. "Alone."

Spike elbowed him as he walked. "That's Chrysalis, remember? You don't want to go on dates with that. If she thinks you like her too much, you're a snack."

Snips squeaked with horror, jumping away and almost collapsing in the dark. "She wouldn't!"

Bon Bon's unseen eyes rolled mightily. "She would and she wouldn't feel bad about it. She'd shove you right into a cocoon and suck all the love right out of you until there was nothing left. She's not a reformed changeling."

Laud's step faltered. "Wait, you have redeemed these demons then?"

Spike nodded quickly. "Oh, yeah. Chrysalis is just about the only changeling that isn't reformed. The rest are super nice now. That's part of why she's extra grouchy, seeing as she used to be their queen, and now..."

"She is not," Laud finished, putting those pieces together. "You cajoled the minions of a demon prince away from them and turned them towards light. You ponies are... beyond description."

"And now that 'demon prince'," Spike made air quotes as he said that. "--is really mad and wants revenge. That's the basic summary, yeah."

"Uh... Well, she likes me." Snips looked secure in that fact, a smug smile on his round face.

"For a snack," finished Bon Bon with a more malicious smirk. "But, for now, we want you to go meet with her, tomorrow that is. We'll be following you."

"I will be following him." Laud set a hand gently on Bon Bon's back. "You are expecting and--"

"--I will throw myself off a cliff if you finish that sentence."

"That is a poor joke." He withdrew his hand, awkward silence replacing the conversation for a few moments. "I'm simply worried, for you."

"I know that," she sighed out, pushing ahead as the castle came close. "I know. Sorry, that was in bad taste... Stop treating me like I was made of spun glass! I survived an explosion that just shy of annihilated a human. If you can go, I'll be fine. If you're worried about me, you have no business there." She thrust a hoof at him with each emphasized word. "Like it or not, my gallant husband, I'm at least ten times tougher than you."

"You are a warrior true," he admitted with a smile. "But the life within you has yet come into its own. Can you say so confidently that it has the same durability as its mother? I don't want either of you to come to harm. You understand that, right?"

"I do..." She reared up, reaching a hoof for his cheek and gently cradling it. "I will be extra careful, and you'll be there, right by my side. Nothing will harm me, you wouldn't let them, and we'll pound their faces in if they try."

The door opened, spilling out bright light across the stairs leading up into the castle. Twilight stood there, smiling. "There you are! And Snips? I wasn't expecting any company."

"Hi, um, Twilight." He waved uncertainly at his new, mandatory, host.

Author's Notes:

Bonus update! BONUS UPDATE! Man it's been a while! It would have been a day off, but I ran a patreon vote for what story gets an update today. This story won, if you didn't notice. Our troublemaker is fully revealed.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

96 - Good Morning

Lyra stuffed a syrupy pancake into her waiting maw, chomping it with a happy expression. "You have no idea how busy things are with the marketplace going on. Speaking of that, I heard somepony say it wasn't going to open today? What's up with that?" She pointed her sugary spoon at Laud. "Bunch of nonsense rumors, right?"

Spike coughed into a closed fist, but Laud answered clearly, "They are true. The merchants are awaiting word of my investigation."

Lyra leaned forward suddenly. "Investigation?! What are we investigating? And why is Snips here?"

Snips waved timidly, pausing in his own pancake breakfast. "Uh, hi?"

"Hey yourself." Her horn glowed as she magically patted the unsure-looking colt on the head. "I'm not angry, just wondering what brings you our way."

Twilight sipped from a tall glass of orange juice. "They filled me in last night. It seems Chrysalis has surfaced."

Starlight suddenly slammed the table with both forehooves. "What?! And... you're not freaking out? Seriously, this is basically the perfect time for some Twilighting. Also, what?!"

Twilight frowned at that. "Twilighting? Laud is handling this, with Bon Bon's help." It seemed to click, her expression turning from confidence to worry abruptly. "Wait, why is Bon Bon going?!"

Even as Bon Bon reached to place a hoof over her face, Laud spoke, "She is capable and ready."

"Do you really believe that?" Twilight waved a hoof at Bon Bon. "She's expecting. This is not the time for adventure, with Chrysalis! Spike, back me up here."

Spike stiffened as he was called upon. "We don't own Bon Bon, and if we tell her she can't come, she'll come anyway. At least this way we can keep an eye on her."

Starlight shook her head quickly. "Wait, Chrysalis is here and she didn't attack me? I'm honestly surprised. What did she do, exactly?"

Laud nodded towards Snips. "The demon whispered corrupting words to this youth, beguiling him into setting off an explosive that critically injured one of the merchants."

Several forks fell from numb magic, Twilight and Starlight both gaping a moment. Twilight hopped to her hooves, tail lashing. "That's horrible! Are they alright? I suppose they aren't, you just said they're critically wounded. This could cause an incident. This is an incident! How are the others reacting? We have--"

Starlight popped a hoof in Twilight's mouth. "There's that Twilighting. Calm down. You're not alone. In fact, we have plenty of qualified creatures to help with this right in this very room." Her eyes turned to Laud. "So where do we stand?"

Twilight vanished, popping into the next available chair just past Spike. "As I was saying! We have to handle this responsibly. Laud, your suggestion? How are the merchants reacting?"

Laud's eyes swept over the expectant faces, all of them fuzzy except for his squire's reptilian gaze. What a strange demesne he had claimed. "They haven't made word of any extreme reactions, thankfully. For the moment, they seem to be giving us time to address the matter to their satisfaction. Make no error, if what we do is not to their satisfaction, others will hear of it, and consequences will come."

Spike raised a finger. "We're on the right path. It looks like Chrysalis is behind this, and Snips here knows where to meet her. We'll catch her."

Twilight raised a brow. "And then?"

"Huh?"

Twilight shook her head slowly. "Let us assume you do capture her successfully. What is the step after that?" She let out her breath softly. "You should take Starlight with you."

"Starlight?" echoed most of the room.

Except Starlight. "Me?! Why? I was expecting you to gather up your friends."

Twilight reached towards Starlight before vanishing, appearing next to the other unicorn, her hoof resting on Starlight's shoulder. "You know her. You defeated her once before. The last two times we met, she beat me once... I'm not too proud to admit that. In terms of record, you've got me hoofs down."

Laud cocked a brow at that. "While I am not opposed to one of my wives remaining safely away from demonic threats, neither of you sound like you have enough experience to say either is confidently 'ahead' of the other."

Starlight snorted softly. "Oh, and you've taken on your share of... demons you called her? She isn't a demon, but whatever. How many?"

Well... "I have not faced a demon directly before... But I am a warrior, and I will not be turned away from the light."

Starlight shrugged softly. "So about the same as the rest of us. You want me to get Trixie too? She has the same 100% win streak going for her."

"Can you?!" Twilight looked happy at the thought. "As... much as we can butt heads at time, I can't argue with statistics."

Laud shook his head with a clenching of his teeth. "I advise against it. Against such a creature, the larger the force we bring, the more likely she will become aware of it. Starlight, I will accept your aid if you are offering it."

Twilight looked to Starlight with big pleading eyes, her forehooves pressed together. Starlight rolled her own with a heavy sigh. "Fine. I'll do my best. So what's the plan, exactly?"

Snips raised a little hoof. "I'm the bait!"

Spike popped another pancake into his mouth. "You sound kind of proud about that."

"I'm important." Snips stood up tall and proud. "And this pays, right?"

Laud gently gathered his hands together, leaning forward a little on the table. "It pays in you not being the focal point of the merchants' ire. You will have to endure your mayor's lecture alone, should this proceed according to plan." He glanced towards Twilight. "I presume that is proper in the eyes of the law."

"Very." She nodded her head firmly. "Your parents will be informed."

"Noooo!" He threw his hooves up in the air. "C'mon! It was an honest mistake!"

Bon Bon glared at him from across the table. "Even if we assumed the human hadn't been there, you badly startled two mares, one of which you knew was expecting. You're just lucky we're not in a human kingdom. I imagine Laud would be ready for much more... extreme responses."

Snips tilted his head off to the right. "What are you expecting? Is it something good?!"

Bon Bon applied her hoof to her face, where it seemed most comfortable that day. "Nevermind on that point. Ask your mother when you see her later."

Spike chuckled softly as he pushed away from the table. "To answer your question, yes, it is something good. Laud, I'm going to go check if the sword is ready, then we can go, right?"

Laud rose smoothly to join him. "Let's see what the smith has managed for you. I am curious to put my eyes on it as well."

Bon Bon hopped down to the ground. "They're my friend, I should be there to thank them properly. Besides, they're a bit of a shut in, a sudden gathering of faces they don't know will get them pretending to not be home." She pushed her chair back in. "We'll be right back."

Lyra landed lightly, soft strums sounding over her head where a lyre played softly. "I'm comin' too! I haven't seen a sword besides Laud's. I mean, the kind that's ready to fight, not like just for show. I wanna see."

"Can I come?" asked Snips with a hopeful expression that faded as Twilight's hoof came down in front of him.

"You'll stay here with Starlight and I. Besides, they'll be right back with it, so you won't have to wait for long."

"I guess..."

The entourage proceeded through Ponyville in a loose mob, with Lyra offering up the background music to the little adventure. "Where are we going again?"

Bon Bon glanced towards her partner and wife. "You know them, the special blacksmith."

"The spec--Oh! Oh. Okay." She bobbed her head with secret understanding. "Uh, are they gonna be happy with us all here."

"Not even a little." Bon Bon turned off the main road to a smaller one winding towards the target smithy. "Which is why most of us will not be going inside."

Laud hiked a brow. "A smith afraid to meet potential customers? That makes it difficult to do business, does it not?"

Bon Bon waved it away, her steps slowing just faintly. "Trust me, she's not hurting to make ends meet. You get talented enough and you can let people beat a path to your door instead of reaching out for them, and she's well over that point. There's a reason I trusted her to get Spike's sword right."

Spike clapped his hands, looking all the more eager. "I can't wait to see it. What kind of crazy magic did she--"

"--Magic?" cut in Laud. "She is enchanting his sword?"

Bon Bon took a hissing breath. "Yes, Laud... I don't mean to disrespect you, but he's a growing dragon, and any normal sword we got for him would become too small too quickly. I want the sword to last. I want him to one day pass it on to his own squire, or a kid on his deathbed."

Spike swallowed audibly at the image conjured.

"That is an admirable goal..." Laud's hand strayed to the hilt of his own blade. "This is my first, given to me when it was far too large. My trainer laughed at me whenever I became unbalanced, taunting me to hurry up and grow tall, so I could fit the fine metal given to me."

Bon Bon swerved an ear back at him. "And you were looking forward to a little revenge with Spike, was it? Sorry for ruining that fun."

"It's not that!" Well, not entirely. "Magic is... troublesome... to put it mildly. In most of the universe, using it was asking to be hated and feared. This kingdom is quite different, obviously."

Lyre plucked a string with a twang. "I'll say. Our princess is a magician herself, and if she can be one, well, who's going to talk bad about magic? Nopony, that's who. Besides, magic is fun! You should try it."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "He doesn't have a horn, Lyra."

"He said he knew what magic was before us, so humans can do magic." She thrust a hoof at Bon Bon's rump. "Q.E.D., got you dead to rights."

Laud held up his hands. "I have learned that not every glimmer of magic from a pony is an immediate threat, but that does not mean I am ready to take up sorcery myself. I... am not even comfortable with considering that idea, in all honesty. We are here." He gestured to the heavy iron door to the smithy, closed. No open windows were visible. It was dark and almost abandoned looking. "They do not advertise their presence."

"No they do not." Bon Bon stepped up and clopped a hoof on the door.

A slit in the door opened and a set of eyes could be seen peering out, darting from pony to pony to human to dragon. "Uh uh." The slit began to close but Bon Bon thrust a hoof up with lightning speed, barely catching it before it closed.

"Only Spike and I will come in. The others will wait patiently outside," she spoke in calm and even tones. "Both of them just want to be the first to see Spike holding what you've made for him."

Something shoved Bon Bon's hoof out of the slot and it slammed shut. She turned to the others with a soft sigh. "I told you she doesn't like company. Especially creatures she doesn't know." Her eyes went to Laud. "Give her a moment."

As if on cue, the door opened a crack. "Spike, come in," ordered the female voice inside. "Everything else, stay out."

Bon Bon stepped to the side, not arguing the order. Spike hiked a thumb at himself in question before advancing into the dark, away from his friends.

Author's Notes:

Did you forget Spike's sword? He didn't. It's time to outfit a dragon with a blade worthy of his station! By popular demand, Lyra rejoins the crew.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

97 - Swords and Claws

The door slammed shut behind Spike, propelled by a thrust hoof that just as quickly wrapped around him as the smith lead him further into the room. "You are surrounded by faces... How do you put up with it?"

"They're my friends," he noted with a little smile. "I like having them around."

"Suit yourself." She shoved him forward and trotted away. "Your sword is ready, but you aren't."

"I know how to use a sword," Spike defensively insisted, recoiling a little at the accusation.

"A sword, maybe, but this sword?" She returned from the gloom, a short something wrapped in cloth held in her snout. "Go on, take it. It's yours."

It was too small to be a proper sword, even sized for Spike's small stature. More of a dagger if anything else. Spike reached for it with growing uncertainty, wrapping his fingers around the hilt he found in the cloth and drawing it free ot the mare's mouth. He brought in his other hand to brush the cloth away, revealing a small blade. "This really looks like a knife."

"Dagger," corrected the smith. "But it has tricks, or have you forgotten? Hold it like a sword, and move as if it were a sword."

"As if it were a sword..." He held it firmly in two hands, his hands not really fitting on the hilt. He blushed a little, imagining he looked rather absurd. Still, he did as he was told, starting to practice a few stances with it. He stepped forward and brought it down in a slice that would have been a cruel hack with a sword, but looked odd with the little dagger.

Or it should have, the weapon growing in size just at the critical moment and cleaving the air. When it condensed, the hilt remained elongated to fit his hands, giving a far more natural gripping point for him to continue. "Woah, that was... kind of neat."

"It gets better," noted the smith with a smug smile. "You can surprise an enemy, since that can grow as long as needed, provided you have the magic to fuel it. Dragons have plenty of magic, don't worry about that."

"We do?" He thrust the dagger forward, imagining jabbing something far away. The blade's tip grew out into a deadly point just as far as he had envisioned it just at the point of the apex of his motion. "I am liking this more and more."

"Where do you think the fire comes from?" She lifted her shoulders softly. "How do you imagine dragons with comically tiny wings manage to bring themselves aloft? This is Equestria, we all have magic." She raised a hoof at him. "Don't believe me? Than you are more foolish than you look. I'm not a unicorn and I made that sword."

"Hey, hey, I wasn't arguing." Out loud at least. "This sword, can I... make it be a sword when I'm not swinging it?"

Her eyes rolled. "If you really want, though you're giving up an element of surprise. Just place it in a sheath of the size you want and it will fill it. Get one sized properly for you and you should be fine." She pointed to the door. "If you're satisfied, you can go now."

He tucked the dagger just inside his belt, his actual sheath occupied with his wooden sword. "Thank you so much!" Suddenly he was on her, giving her a firm hug around the neck. "You're amazing!"

The mare took a single step back, only carrying him along, her entire body tense. "You can thank me by letting me go. Now."

"Sorry." He hopped back, giving her space. "Seriously, this is great! Thank you."

"Use it responsibly... and away from here." She pointed to the door. "Tell Sweetie I'll be sending a bill."

"Sweetie?"

The smith hissed softly. "Just a little term of endearment. I mean Bon Bon."

"Oh! Like sugarcube, got it." He gave an emphatic thumbs up as he began moving towards the door. "Can't wait to show them."

He grabbed the handle of the door and swung it wide, letting light spill in even as he swaggered out with a newly confident smile. She was on it in an instant, closing the door firmly enough to swat his bottom and send Spike staggering forward a few steps.

Laud's eyes fell to his sheath, but there was only a wooden sword there. "Well? Was she not ready?"

"That's new," chimed Lyra, pointing even as her magic plucked Spike's dagger out of his beltline. "Looks sharp!"

Spike snatched it free of her magic. "Hey! Touching a knight's blade without permission is a big insult."

Laud nodded with certainty. "He is not yet a true knight, but this remains true." He examined the little dagger with a frown. "That looks small, even for you. You looked quite confident in it as you were coming out. What is the secret?"

Spike drew his wooden sword first. "Is there a proper way to hand this off? Just dropping it seems... wrong."

Laud hesitated a moment before reaching to clap Spike on the shoulder. "In this, you have surpassed me. I tossed my wooden sword aside when my first blade was presented to me. But you are right. A wooden sword is still valuable in a spar, and as a memento of these times. I will take that for now." He held out his hand and soon a wooden sword was placed on it. "Now about your new... dagger?"

Spike shoved the dagger into the open sheath. "I don't know how long this will--nevermind!" He could feel it expanding, the sheath jiggling a bit as it became full of sword. He pulled it free as he had been taught, taking up a proper stance with the new blade. "Ta da!"

Laud recoiled just an inch at the display of naked magic. An ensorceled blade... "I admit to not knowing how to feel about that. Does it weigh proper in your hands?"

"Perfectly." Spike made test swings at the air away from his friends. "Oh, Bon Bon, she said she'd send a bill?"

Bon Bon nodded at that. "Of course. She did good work, she deserves to get paid. Does it do more than match the sheath you put it in?"

"Can it become other weapons?!" gushed Lyra, bouncing in place. "Can it change colors?! Show us!"

Spike turned slowly before spotting an apple some pony had left there. "Littering? Not on my--" He thrust his sword forward towards it, the tip extending with the motion until it lanced the apple on a spear-like projection of metal, just to collapse back into its sword shape, the apple split in half as the metal inside of it expanded to its resting shape. "--watch."

Lyra casually picked up the two halves of apple and tossed them into the nearest bin. "That was great!" Her lyre played a little happy tune over her head. "What about the color thing?"

"I... don't know if it does colors." He tilted the sword left and right. "How about... purple, like Twilight." He imagined the pelt of his adopted sister, bright and bold. Nothing seemed to happen, so he turned his thoughts, specifically imagining the sword was that purple as he swung it in place.

Between one swing and the next, its shine changed, becoming stained purple as if it had been made of some purple metal instead of bright clear steel. "Wow."

Lyra burst into giggles. "Yes! I bet you can make it be whatever you want it to be."

"I wouldn't be surprised," agreed Bon Bon. "So long as whatever you want it to be is at least slightly sword shaped and made of metal. Now, Laud." She turned towards her husband fully. "We have business to handle, do we not?"

"We do." Laud righted himself properly. "Let's fetch Snips and Starlight, then we have a demon to capture. I did not expect those words in my youth. Demons are for slaying, not capturing." Despite that, he began back towards the castle, ready to do his duty.

"You have done neither," noted Bon Bon as she walked along with him. "Let's change that."

Lyra walked next to Spike, her eyes on his new sword even as he sheathed it. "So, you're a fighter now, official and everything. That has to be exciting."

"It... is," he said, his voice not full of confidence. "It's a responsibility, you know? Not... a prize. Having this means I can really hurt somecreature. If I do it right, we can avoid that."

"You are so grown up!" Lyra leaned over and smooched Spike on the cheek. "My hero! Don't tell my husband I called you that."

Spike snorted at that, knowing Laud was right there, close enough to hear them. "I can't keep a secret from my knight anyway, he's my master, and teaching me. I owe him a lot. Besides, I already have a lady I want to win the hoof of. Sorry, Lyra, but it isn't you."

Lyra gasped dramatically, her lyre vanishing with a puff. "Not me?! I thought we had something special!" She burst into merry laughter, throwing an arm around Spike, hoof dangling. "I'm messing with you. Big congratulations! This is a huge step forward. Spike, brave dragon knight!"

He laughed at that, steps becoming more of a proud swagger. "That's me. But, seriously--" His walk ebbed into a more standard plodding. "This is going to be dangerous. Chrysalis is a real threat. If she catches wind of what we're up to, she could be trouble with a capital T."

"And I'm not invited." Lyra rolled her eyes. "I know how to handle a dangerous thing, really." She leaned in close to Spike. "Keep an eye on Bonnie, alright?"

"Of course!" He sharply saluted even as Lyra backed off into her own space. "I'll do my best, to keep everycreature safe. Except Chrysalis."

Bon Bon's left ear swiveled back towards him. "No hurting her past capturing her. We need to subdue her, then bring her in. If we can talk some sense into her, grand, otherwise, I nominate we offer her trussed up to the merchants and let them decide what they want to do with her."

"My wicked wife," spoke Laud in a proud tone. "Politically expedient, and it washes our hands of making that decision. First we have to capture her." He seemed more confident than he had been just moments before, holding the door open for the others to enter the castle. "Snips, Starlight?"

Starlight appeared with a flash. "Hey! Huh, when did you get into wooden swords."

It was then that Laud remembered he was holding a wooden practice blade. He reached around the door to tuck it against the wall. "I'll put that away when I get back. Is Snips ready?"

Snips came trotting into the room with ears erect. "So you have that sword now?" He didn't see anything different on Spike, looking over the dragon curiously. "Where is it?"

Spike padded his sheath softly. "I won't be taking it out unless I'm using it," he declared in complete defiance of his showing off of it not that long before. "Now let's go find ourselves a deposed changeling queen, and maybe a changeling or two as bonuses."

"About that..." Laud was ready, already moving to go. "Do we have any idea how many underlings she still has in her employ?"

Bon Bon shook her head, moving to follow. "If you'd asked a few days ago, I would have said zero. That clearly has changed to 'at least one.' And if we have one, we could have more." She suddenly smiled. "If you're unsure, say something in Human. I doubt she bothered to learn that, or her cronies."

Starlight inclined her head faintly. "Clever. (A quick word) should be enough to weed out copycats. Let's try to keep each other in line of sight at all times so we don't have to wonder."

Off they went, hoping to do a little entomology.

Author's Notes:

Did I mention we're back to an update every other week! Let us resume our adventure! We have a Chryssie to nab.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

98 - Butterfly Hunting

Snips sat across from a filly about his age and a larger colt who looked pointedly uninterested. "So, um... that went... well," Snips began, working his hooves together.

The filly raised an ear before it fell almost as quickly. "They are barely looking at her," she grumbled softly. "I didn't expect the visitors to be so... frail," she said the word with disgust rather than shock, as if it offended her.

Snips lifted his shoulders softly as he leaned forward, sipping loudly on the drink before him. "Funny, huh?"

"Something's off about you today." She leaned in with a frown. "I can't put my hoof on it..."

Snips began to sweat even more than he had already been. "Did you see that explosion?!" he blurted out with wide eyes.

"We weren't anywhere close to it." She waved it away. "And it wasn't that bad. The two ponies in it didn't even notice it."

Bon Bon softly nodded across the way to where Laud was hiding. They'd been watching and listening, and it seemed clear they had the right target.

"Demon!" roared Laud as he burst free of the bush he had been hiding in, his sword drawn in the same motion in an elegant display only mildly ruined by the various bits of branches and leaves clinging to him. "Surrender now."

Spike hopped out behind him, his sword coming out not as smoothly, though the way was made clear by the passage of his older teacher and he looked less roughened for the journey. "Yeah, give up!"

"We have you surrounded," noted Bon Bon with less fiery anger, more of a careful scowl on her face as she walked with purposeful slowness towards the table. "Make this easier on yourself."

"Or," suggested the filly as Snips dove for cover under the table. "I could just leave." Suddenly pegasus wings burst from her back and she lifted into the air. "I like that option. C'mon, let's--"

Starlight appeared with a flash right in front of the filly, floating in the air. "You know two of us can fly, right? And one of us is hormonal and already annoyed. Give it up."

The colt that had been being quiet until then suddenly hopped free of his chair with enough force to send it flying, green flames overtaking his form as he became a massive manticore with a lashing stinger of a tail and great teeth. He roared at the two bladed warriors, fur bristled and ready for battle.

The filly's eyes narrowed to points. "You!" With a burst of heat, she became as she truly was, Chrysalis revealed to the world. "How dare you of all ponies dare to face me!" She lunged for Starlight, who vanished with a flashing pop, and the two began to dart about in the air.

Bon Bon shook her head. "Starlight's on her own for the moment, let's get this thing under control."

Spike backed a step. "You two take this, I'll help Starlight." And into the air he went.

When the manticore's eyes followed Spike, Laud stepped forward, shoving his blade into the view of the beast. "Don't forget who you're fighting." Did the demon even speak? He wasn't sure, but he hoped it understood his threat.

Bon Bon crashed into its back, grabbing its wicked tail between her arms as best she could, though it thrashed around dangerously in the space provided.

Chrysalis and Starlight were engaged in a game of high-stakes tag, with bolts of angry magic lancing from the former-queen's twisted horn and missing Starlight by the barest of degrees, even singeing her fur in places. "Stand still so I can exact my well-deserved revenge!"

Her next beam barely got a few feet away before it struck metal and deflected wildly into the air, caught in a wild swing by Spike's sword. The magic struck with such force that Spike was knocked off course, but with rapid flapping he righted himself. "Stop right there. You're fighting two of us!"

Chrysalis burst into delirious laughter. "You, Spike? Really? What box of snacks did you find that at the bottom of?" She flew in closer towards him with a deadly smile. "Get out of my way before I make you."

Then he stabbed her. He had imagined it would be so much more dramatic. Grand parries and thrusts. Epic dodges and elegant movements. He thrust the sword forward, and she didn't even register it as a threat until it was lodged in her chest. She looked down slowly, her movements jittery, until she could see the sword sunk into her chitinous front. "You... You worthless worm!" She brought a hoof in and smashed the sword away, cutting herself open in the process in a spray of her blood. "I will destroy you!"

Starlight appeared next to him suddenly, gaping at her. "I think she has lost every shred of sense she had left. Chryssie, really, you're--" Her words were aborted with a flash, dodging a ray of deadly magic.

Spike didn't have that choice, trying to parry and dodge as best he could. It seemed Chrysalis had truly lost it, firing wildly and not always at him in particular. "Only one thing left to do..." he muttered as he flew towards the danger instead of away from it. Magic blasted his shoulder, that arm going numb instantly. He clutched his sword all the more firmly with the arm he had left.

Laud was forced back, shoved with great paws and sharp claws against his blade. The manticore learned that swords were sharper than most things ponies fought with, gaining a gash across the underside of one of its paw in the process of shoving the knight.

Bon Bon dodged to the left as the stinger curled on itself to get at her, letting it go entirely. It began to wave and thrash as if in celebration, however brief, then lunged for her. She bounced up into the air just over it, sailing under her with precious few inches between and she landed on it with a satisfying crunch, bringing down her hooves to mash it into the ground.

The manticore roared in pain, wrenching its abused stinger away from Bon Bon and turning to roar at her.

"I don't need you alive." Laud brought down his blade, embedding it into the shoulder of the manticore. Blood sprayed, though it wasn't the usual red, as unnatural as the beast he was fighting. Sure, he had been aiming for the head, but it wasn't standing still for him.

The cut wasn't as deep as he figured it should have been, had the flesh been normal. A man could have lost his arm to such a swing, the manticore seemed more angry about it than anything else.

Spike twirled his blade and it deformed in the motion, becoming a shield he was holding by the hilt in an odd hybrid of blade and protection. It was just in time to catch the next bolt, sending him flying backwards. "Calm down!"

"I'll show you calm," roared Chrysalis, chasing after him. "You think you're some big dragon? I can be a big dragon too." With a rush of flames, she was, a great and terrible red dragon, still bleeding heavily from her chest from a wound that did not close just for her shapeshifting. "I will devour you!"

Starlight appeared on the dragon's back as quietly as she could pop. "Time for a little nap." She set both forehooves down on the dragon's spine, intensely glowing.

Spike bashed aside her incoming teeth to little effect other than not being bitten. "You're hurt."

"You'll be more hurt," she spat out, not noticing Starlight. "I have a little toy sword too. I have so many." She brought up her hands, each finger capped with a deadly claw. "Let's see how you like it when I put them in you!" She grabbed and slashed at him, forcing him to desperately try to block and parry, but she was too large and too strong. His sword-shield was sent flying, soaring towards the ground. Along the way, it returned to its usual sword shape and embedded itself in the dirt on impact.

Chrysalis laughed maniacally, even as her movements were slowing. "Time for you to bleed," she hissed, slashing his good arm and leaving several trails the welled red quickly. "Time for you to suffer." Her other hand raked his front. "You think you can challenge me?!" She grabbed him between her claws, bringing him right up to her face. "You're only good... for..." Her eyelids drooped, fatigue catching up with her.

Was it the blood loss or the magic being poured into her, it would be hard to measure exactly, but she was slipping quickly.

The manticore jumped for Bon Bon with great jaws gaping, its tail lashing at Laud in the same instant and catching him in the leg.

Laud felt a new pain he hadn't before. It wasn't like being stabbed, he'd experienced that. Was that tail as poisonous as it looked? He felt a hot fire surge through his leg and he staggered back with a foul curse in the human tongue.

Bon Bon didn't dodge, instead spinning around and bucking with all of her might. Her back hooves catching the oncoming manticore in the jaw and twisting his entire head sharply.

Suddenly the manticore was a little changeling, bleeding viciously, and sobbing. Even Laud had to pause at the suddenly pitiful display. "Do you... surrender?" He fell to a knee, the pain only getting worse, but he was still holding up his sword, ready to continue.

"I think we beat the fight out of him," Bon Bon reported as she closed in with the trembling form. "Stay calm and we'll keep you from getting more hurt. You are so under arrest." She pulled hoofcuffs out of nowhere and slapped them on the changeling's trembling arms and another on his back legs before they hooked together. "How are they doing up there?" She craned her neck to see the aerial confrontation.

She opened her mouth wide, trying to shove Spike in there despite her lethargy. The instant she let him go to fall in, he darted around her clumsy fingers and flew free. "Come... back here." She clumsily swung her hands at him as if trying to swat him rather than grab him. "I'm not... done..."

Starlight brought a hoof back. "I think you are." She slammed it down with a flare of magic and the great beast she was atop of began to fall towards the ground.

With a rush of flames, she became a changeling queen, plummeting from the sky. She let out the barest of grunts as she stopped. Spike caught her, crashing into her and carrying her towards the ground as quickly as he could in barely better than a free fall. They slammed into the grassy dirt at an angle, sending both tumbling and rolling, but seemingly intact.

Starlight skipped magically from the air to just beside Spike. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I think." He put down a hand to push himself up and slowly sat up, head wobbling with obvious dizziness. "Did we get her?"

A sudden shout caught their attention. "Help! Starlight, get him to the hospital!" Bon Bon was pointing at the collapsed form of Laud desperately. "Yesterday!"

Starlight cringed, vanishing just to appear next to Laud. "On it, you get Chrysalis." And with another sparkle, she and Laud were gone.

Bon Bon let out a little breath, nudging the changeling she was near. "You'll live." The changeling only made a miserable noise and she got to bandaging the prisoner. "Good work, Spike."

"Huh?" Spike was back on his feet, jogging over to Bon Bon and the changeling. "Starlight's the one that took her down."

Bon Bon raised a brow. "That gushing wound didn't come from Starlight, call it a hunch. You also distracted her. I'd say you did an amazing job, Spike. Now, let's get these two somewhere secure."

Author's Notes:

Yay fight scenes! I always get nervous about those. How'd I do?!

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

99 - Aftercare

"Laud can't handle this." Bon Bon inclined her head towards a metal box. "I'm going to deliver our 'gift' to the merchants before they get impatient."

Starlight shook her head at the box. "I tried to play nice, now you get to see how the humans are feeling." Looking back to Bon Bon, she shrugged. "Want any help getting the box over there?"

"If you would?" Bon Bon turned for the door of the castle. "Is Spike back?"

"Still at the hospital." Starlight plucked the great metal cube up with her magic. "Watching over Laud. Humans are as brave as they are frail, an interesting combination."

"That is my husband you're musing about." Bon Bon headed outside with Starlight, their prisoner floating between them. "Let's drop off this dear little present and hope that smooths things out."

"Speaking of that." Starlight trotted along, glancing towards Bon Bon. "You seem... more into it now."

"'It?'"

"You know, the whole being married to a strange creature thing." Starlight shrugged softly. "If it's a sore topic, lemme know."

"He is the father of my unborn foal..." Bon Bon glanced back. "I can try to be a... functional mother, or not. Besides... It's not that we don't have anything in common..."

Starlight scooched a little closer. "I've seen moms without dads before, it happens. You like him, huh?"

Bon Bon's cheeks warmed at the topic. "He's a real fighter, even if he breaks so easily. Hmph, can you imagine? Pony hide is tough enough to not easily be pierced."

"I heard the girls got knocked aside by their tail before." Starlight trotted easily out of town, towards the landing dock. "Can you imagine? A wild manticore just knows to not bother trying to sting us, so it bats us around instead."

"If the humans are as wide spread as they claim, and have met other creatures beside, have you considered that they aren't weak?" Bon Bon closed with Starlight, peering at her from the side. "Maybe Equestrian creatures are that strong?"

Starlight burst into laughter. "That's rich. Ponies, toughest things in the cosmos." She threw a hoof wide for emphasis. "They'd better watch out, because they can't stop us from approaching them to discuss things like a reasonable creature."

"Except they still haven't been convinced we're the reasonable ones." She paused at the entrance of the landing pad, ducking into a small room and emerging with two translation collars. One she offered to Starlight as she wriggled into the other. "So let's not scare them." Her collar began translating her words in mechanical human words. "We come in peace."

"Now you sound like one of Spike's..." She trailed off, noticing a small group approaching them.

They were not merchants, coming from the priest's ship, with their priest/ambassador in the middle of the crowd. Gregor was smiling, he usually was. "Good morning," he called. "What an interesting thing you have there." His eyes pointed the way to the metal cube they were carrying along.

Starlight inclined her head towards it as they clopped across the tarmac. "This would be what you would call a demon." Several of the humans drew their blades immediately. "That we have captured. We're turning it over to the merchants, seeing as Chrysalis here is the reason they got hurt."

The cube suddenly jumped as if something ran into it from the inside, knocking it off center before Starlight's magic could bring it upright again. The guards were scowling at it, looking ready for a battle, but Gregor still smiled. "How wonderful! I had thought your world free of demons, but your princess, Celestia, did reveal one to me. You do active battle against them... What is this demon's vice?"

"Vice?" Bon Bon frowned a moment. "Lust. Vanity. She wishes for undeserved hedonism and to be adored and loved for looks she steals. Gluttony, thinking of her hunger so highly she allowed her own kind to starve." She raised a hoof to tap her chin. "Wrath, ready to lash out and attack any that get in her way and refusing offers of peace."

"I will destroy you!" came muffledly from the interior of the cube.

"I see..." Gregor placed his hands together. "Might I accompany you? To allow a demon out of my sight to be placed in the hands of the untrained... I can't account for that."

Starlight shrugged softly. "I have no problem with that. Bon?"

Bon Bon considered a moment before nodding. "That's probably for the best. You will be a witness if nothing else." She pointed to the merchants' ship. "Let's get moving."

"By the way." Gregor fell in with them, his guards focusing themselves in the space between him and the cube. "Where is Sir Mountbatten? I would imagine him eager to accompany you in this task."

"He got hurt," admitted Starlight without hesitation. "We're taking care of things while he recovers."

Bon Bon frowned just faintly, but it was well too late to consider discretion. "Just a minor wound. As his wife, I am perfectly able to do this little chore for him."

"That reminds!" His voice was a jubilant one. "Why don't you come by after this? I still owe you a proper examination and prayer."

"That would be lovely." Bon Bon softly nodded as she went. "Let's get this properly handled." She trotted right up the angled gangplank that led up towards the merchant's ship and clopped a hoof against the closed metal door at the end. "We have the guilty party."

An image appeared beside the door, flat against the wall. A human was looking out through it, towards Bon Bon. "Guilty party?" Eyes darted towards Gregor and his guards, then on to Starlight and her cube and back. "Is it the other pony with you?"

Starlight burst into laughter as she reached up and tapped the cube. "She's in here, bottled up safely."

"One moment." The image flickered away.

Starlight turned away from the door. "I'm guessing he's telling his boss. Hopefully he'll be down here soon."

Gregor tilted his hands, both clasped with one another, towards the cube. "Is the metal blessed to hold a demon securely?"

Starlight looked baffled, but Bon Bon stepped in, "Her trick is shapeshifting. Strong enough metal can hold her without any magic, or blessings, involved. We also hurt her during her capture, so I'm not expecting any sudden moves out of her." Bon Bon angled her head towards the cube. "As it turns out, even changelings don't like bleeding."

"Speaking of that," started Starlight. "What happened to her changeling minion?"

"Thorax is coming to pick them up." Bon Bon sat on her haunches, glancing between the closed doors and the cube. "Some quality time with reformed changelings should set them on a better path."

"Reformed changelings?" Gregor could not be quiet at such talk, smiling as always. "Are they not demons?"

Bon Bon levelled a hoof at the cube. "She is a demon, capital D. We've tried to talk her over to the nice side, it doesn't work. Her people we have reformed and turn into the sweetest things once they're away from her."

"This is no small thing." He spread his hands. "To simply state that servants of a demon are redeemed. Would you be opposed to my meeting such a soul?"

Starlight pointed away. "Well, there's Thorax now." In the distance, the king of the changelings was sailing on colorful wings towards Twilight's castle. "Like Bon Bon said, he's a real sweetie. Want me to get his attention?"

"If you would?"

Bon Bon resisted the urge to apply a hoof to her face. The opening doors distracted her at a good time, causing her to turn back towards them in time to see several merchants emerging. One was their boss, she knew. Several others were guards, much like Gregor had, though they had guns, not swords.

The leader of the merchants nodded. "Good morning, Bon Bon Mountbatten was it? Father."

Bon Bon perked an ear. "Technically correct." She pointed a hoof towards the cube. "The demon that caused the explosion is contained here. We have ways we would deal with it, but she dealt you a greater blow in that explosion than she did to me."

"Oh that's right..." He had forgotten Bon Bon was the one caught in the explosion. It was easy to do, seeing as she was entirely fit and able, and his own man had been reduced to a critically wounded state. "Uncanny... I will confess, we're merchants, not warriors by trade, or priests. I only want to know how you can prove it was this demon that was at fault."

"I'll be right back." Starlight vanished, popping out of existence in a flash of sparkles and setting all the humans present on edge in her naked display of magic. That the cube slammed down onto the ramp didn't help, no longer held in her magic.

Bon Bon let out a little sigh. "We have the word of the pony she deceived into helping her. We have her underling captured, and we know this demon. She admitted it, and we wanted you to get the first chance to decide what we do with her."

Gregor gently clapped his hands together. "I am inclined to believe them. But, curiosity compels me. If they gave the demon back to you, what would you do with it?"

Bon Bon scowled in thought. "Tartarus isn't secure enough. She could slip out of any cage we put her in, and a literal box like this is a temporary measure. Petrification seems likely."

The merchant took a step back. "You... I am not used to this, I will just admit."

"Nor I," joined Gregor. "Still, being turned to stone seems a fitting end to a creature whose liquid nature was used for evil ends. But... Why not simply kill the demon?"

"Father!" The merchants' boss seemed shocked. "I thought you were a follower of Amalthea."

"And I would have mercy on any of His children. Demons are not those. Ending them is not beyond consideration..."

One of Gregor's guards lifted his sword. "My blade is twice-blessed. It would be my honor to execute this demon, if I may?"

Bon Bon gave an unsure 'ehh'. "If I open the cube, she will make a break for it, or attack everyone. Are you sure you want that? No offense intended, but I've seen how... quickly a human can become seriously hurt. If we can avoid that, that would be preferred." She dipped her head. "You are our guests."

"Right there!" came Starlight's voice as she popped back into existence, Thorax just next to her.

Thorax blinked, perhaps thrown off balance by the teleport. "Oh, hello there!" He waved a hoof gently at all the strange humans, not that most of them had any idea what he was saying.

Gregor did. "Well met. You are Thorax?"

"Yes." He bobbed his head, then noticed the cube. "Is she... in there?"

"Is that Thorax?!" came a furious shout from inside the cube. "Just you wait until..." She began to bang and thrash against the inside of the cube, making it jump around angrily.

Thorax's ears fell. "I'm sorry, Mom..."

The merchant backed away from the lively cube. "Look, just kill it. I don't care how. Tell me when it's gone." And so they did flee back into the ship.

That left Gregor and his men. Gregor's attention was on Thorax, his men looked ready to test if their blades were stronger than the sides of the box. "Mother? You are literally the child of a demon?"

Thorax inclined his head. "She is... mean... I'm really sorry if she caused any trouble. Most changelings are better than that now. Oh, I was called to help one."

Starlight pointed. "That one's at the hospital, being treated for some owies it got while we were fighting Chryssie in there."

"They're hurt?! Oh no..." Thorax had a hoof raised before his snout in shock.

Gregor had to smile. A child of a demon, alarmed and dismayed at the news that someone was hurt. "Thorax, we need to punish your mother. Will you allow this?"

Thorax suddenly went still, a tear escaping his large colorful eyes before he could blink it away. "I... Yes... I guess... Mom, can you calm down, please?"

"I'll be calm when you--"

"Go ahead," Thorax sighed miserably even as Chrysalis ranted and raved. "I really wish there was another way."

Author's Notes:

Thorax is a big boy, he knows his mom needs to see the consequences of her actions, even if he'd rather it not be so.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

100 - Fitting Punishment

Gregor let out a faint sigh, his smile fading. There were times and places. "Then it seems clear. Are you--" He was looking to Starlight, the clearly magical of the two. "--the one that will turn her to stone?"

"Wait, what?" Thorax's head lifted in a jerk of alarm. "Why would you turn her to stone?!"

Starlight shook her head softly. "Funny thing; I learned all kinds of spells, but I never bothered with that one. I know at least a few ponies who have at least seen that magic before."

Bon Bon was looking at Thorax. "Your mom can't be punished by a few firm words, Thorax. We can't keep her in jail a while either."

"But stone?!" He shook his head quickly. "That sounds awful... Isn't there another way?"

Gregor joined Bon Bon in looking to Thorax. "Pardon, but I thought you were consenting to her death?"

Thorax's eyes grew wide as saucers as he backpedaled, almost falling off the edge of the ramp. "W-what?! No! You said she has to be punished. Sometimes changelings are naughty and need to be scolded. That isn't the same as killing them!"

The guards glanced at one another, unsure of how to even properly consider the child-of-demon that balked at the thought of death. Gregor's gentle smile returned as he spread his hands. "You are a good thing, I think. If you would have clemency for your mother, I would be remiss to deny you even the chance."

He turned to the rocking cube. "Your son demands the opportunity to talk sense. Will you allow him the opportunity?"

"Oh, yes, of course." There came a muffled clopping sound. The voice grew closer. "Come here, Son." Her voice was hard to hear, being spoken instead of shouted through the metal. "What do you have to say?"

Thorax nervously glanced about before clearing his throat and stepping forward. "Mother... allow me to be frank."

"You can be whoever you want. You're a changeling."

"That's true... but, really." He raised a hoof, rubbing at the back of his neck with a little cough. "These creatures are ready to... hurt you... Real bad... You did.... not good things."

"If they bow their little heads and acknowledge me as their queen, I wouldn't have to do 'bad' things." The cube thumped, rocking a moment. "Do you have any idea how hard I worked for the hive?"

"And we appreciate it," he hurriedly got out. "But we're also moving on... We won't go back... We like... the new way."

"The new way has you colored ridiculously," spat out the contained queen. "Name one thing that makes it better."

"Well, we have friends now, who adore us." He reached for Starlight and drew her close. She didn't resist, allowing him to hold her between his forelegs. "And we adore them back. We aren't hungry anymore. Well, I mean, sometimes, but then we eat normal food. Creatures are happy to see us!"

"That was more than one thing," petulantly griped Chrysalis with an almost-inaudible huff. "Cheater... Very well."

Thorax blinked rapidly, a smile rapidly growing. "You'll give our way a try?"

"If you let me out." A soft clopping knocking came from the metal closest to Thorax. "I'll be good."

Thorax grinned wide enough to squeak, looking between all the others gathered for silent permission.

Bon Bon was squinting suspiciously. "That was a sudden turnaround," she spoke quietly.

Gregor withdrew, but waved forward, sending his guards forward. His command was a silent as it was certain. Their swords were drawn and ready to deal with the potential treachery of the demon.

Bon Bon glanced towards where the hospital rested, out of sight. Spike or Laud would be nice, but... "Starlight, be ready. Oh, also open that thing." She pointed at the box. "Let's see how this plays out..."

With a glowing horn, the cube's wall facing them came loose. With a loud bang of a hoof against it, Chrysalis knocked it open, letting it slap to the ground. Her chest was still stained red from a wound that had barely scabbed over. "Finally..." She took a step free, looking over those gathered to see her. Her teeth were clenched, two of her sworn enemies present.

One of them happened to also be her son. "And you are their new queen?" She ran a hoof through her mane, holed as it somehow was. "Egg laying must be quite the sight."

Thorax colored at that. "We don't... have a queen. When a boy changeling and a girl changeling love each--"

"--Silence!" She hissed. "I know how that works..."

Starlight raised a hoof. "I don't." Her interest apparently piqued on the nature of how changelings made more changelings.

"Come on... Son... let's go." She tossed her head, indicating just about anywhere that wasn't there. "I'm sure you have so much to talk to me about."

Bon Bon suddenly stepped forward between the two with a strained laugh. "That's a nice thought, but no. If we let you out of our sight, everyone will know who's fault it is." She leveled a hoof at Chrysalis. "Things larger than you are at play." She turned her head sharply to Thorax. "She stays here, in Ponyville. You are free to talk to her as long and as often as you please until we determine she has reformed, or give up."

Chrysalis sneered at Bon Bon viciously. "As if you could contain me."

"If you try to get away, then we have your answer." She didn't look away from Thorax. "If she tries to escape, she will be dealt with, permanently. Do you understand and accept that?"

Thorax swallowed heavily even as Starlight rubbed one of his legs reassuringly. "O-oh, yes... Mother, please... Just hear me out. You would be welcome back. Some of us miss you quite a lot, but only if..." He glanced at the guards, swords bristling and back at Chrysalis. "We'll talk more... later." His wings unfurled suddenly as he stood up properly. "I should visit the injured changeling." And he fled without giving much chance to argue with him.

Starlight huffed as she stood up. "I know you don't want to be my prisoner, so let's keep this simple and sweet. I don't hate you, Chrysalis. This is all about you being, well, you."

Chrysalis stepped free of the cube. "And what is wrong with me? Nothing, that's--"

She hadn't really considered the humans a threat. Fragile things, like spun glass, they could be dashed to pieces with barely a thought. That didn't help when the first guard lost composure and lunged, carving out a great line across her back. She roared in pain, he screamed in battle fury. It caused the others to join. They were upon her, carving her brutally before the shocked eyes of the two ponies present.

With a wet thump, the corpse of the former changeling queen hit the ramp. Starlight backed away from it and the spreading blood. "What did you just do?!"

Gregor pinched the bridge of his nose as he stepped forward, muttering soft prayer beneath his breath. "She.... was an unrepentant demon. I know you planned to offer her salvation, but her duplicitous nature was like salt against an open wound. I apologize for my men's hasty action, but cannot damn them for it."

"You killed her!" squeaked Starlight, shaking like a leaf.

Bon Bon held up a hoof, breathing slowly. "I assumed she would try to get away and we'd have to do it then, though I expected petrification, not... this." She glanced down at the body and quickly turned to Starlight. "She was trying to get away when we were forced to act. That is what happened. Do you understand?"

"W-what?" Starlight stepped right off the ramp, but her magic held her up after falling only an inch. "What are you saying?"

Bon Bon waved one hoof back at the guards and Gregor. "I am saying this is the end of this situation. She is dead. The merchants are avenged, and one less monster roams Equestria. We will not go into details in how she went."

"This isn't right!" Starlight vanished with a pop, her tears sparkling as they fell.

Gregor let out a slow sigh. "An innocent child... She isn't wrong." His attention went to Bon Bon. "You have the edge of one who has seen past their innocent days."

Bon Bon clenched her teeth before pointing at the body. "Can you get rid of that? Parading a butchered body through town will not end well for anycreature involved. Let me be perfectly clear; that was barbaric. That was awful, but it also can't be undone. So let's move forward."

The guards had cleaned and sheathed their blades, standing stoically, far more relaxed for the removal of the demon. Gregor was less stoic. "There was a chance, however slim, that her son, full of hope and light, could have led her from the dark place she had dug herself into. I will pray." He made a slow and solemn religious gesture that the ponies did not comprehend. "We will see the body is purified and burned. Take it." His guards moved to gather up Chrysalis. "Blessings be upon you. Oh... I understand if you are not in... the mood, but now?"

Bon Bon took a slow breath, calming herself. "No, actually... let's go." And they left the ramp. To the merchants, a gift of an opened cube and a blood stain to clean up.

Thorax set a hoof on the shoulder of the sleeping changeling. "How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

The changeling opened his pupiless eyes and squeaked, moving to scramble away, but Thorax gently pressed down. "I'm not here to hurt you, promise..."

"But you eat changelings and barf them up!"

Thorax blinked softly. "I... don't do that. Who said I do that?"

"Queen Chrysalis," squeaked the frightened little changeling. "You spit up deformed deranged colorful changelings. She said she'd stop that from happening to me, and here you are!" He was quaking in the bed, jaw clattering.

Thorax inclined his head with a faint smile. "I promise, no gobbling. They became like me because they learned how to not be hungry."

"Not be... hungry?" His shaking ebbed faintly. "So you're not hungry?"

"Well, a little." Thorax pulled out a muffin and casually took a bite. "Mmm, there's a bakery in town that makes these so well. Want a bite?"

The changeling peered suspiciously at the baked good. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"Because you're a changeling. Because you're a creature. Because I like being nice?" He shrugged gently. "You should try it. It's fun." He held out the muffin at the end of his hoof. "It's really good."

He dared to take a little nibble. It was tasty... but he was still hungry. "Where's the queen? I was... hoping she could feed me."

"I could feed you. I already am." Thorax chomped down half of the rest of the muffin and set it on the desk next to the changeling.

"You can do that?! I thought only queens could do that..." He shook his head with clear confusion.

"Learning how to give love is the next step in growing." He put a hoof on his chest and the hoof began to glow. "As a friend, I have love to share. Please, have this." He offered that hoof, the same that held the muffin, towards the injured changeling.

It smelled so much more appealing than the muffin! His fear was forgotten for a moment, slurping up the offered love and slumping back with a happy sigh. "That hit the spot..."

"Glad I could help." Thorax gently patted the covered changeling. "Rest and feel better. Nocreature will be yelling at you anymore."

"Never? Even when I mess up?"

"When you mess up, we'll learn what went wrong, so we can do better." Thorax nodded confidently. "No more yelling."

"No more yelling..." Perhaps he could learn to like this strange changeling.

Author's Notes:

No, Thorax did not at any point agree to have his mother killed. That would be a bit out of his character. Starlight didn't like it either. Bon Bon keeps her eyes on the long term.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

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101 - Demon Spawn

On the way to the church ship, Gregor walked to the side of Bon Bon. "You are something of a mystery, one so grown in a world filled with infant minds. It was their innocence that convinced me they needed protection, but you..." He glanced aside at her. "You prove there are those among them that could serve as their protector."

Bon Bon tensed subtly, well, subtly for a pony. Her display was painfully obvious to a human, especially one trained in the art of reading body language. "I've--"

"--Please do not tarnish my view of your people with falsehoods," he interjected, cutting her off before she could say the truth or a lie, though he felt certain which way she was leaning.

Her teeth clenched, considering her options and questioning the life choices that led her to that point. "I understand hard choices must be made at times."

"This is a sad truth." As they began the ascend the ramp to his ship, he looked back towards his men and their cargo. "I will see her to an examination, you know what must be done."

The corpse did not agree, declaring its lack of consent by bursting into bright green flame, gone in an instant, consumed by the strange green fire. The guards drew their swords and looked around wildly for the demon.

Gregor was less panicked, though even he was mildly shaken. "Is this a normal thing?" He was looking towards Bon Bon.

Bon Bon was busy shaking her head. "That was the first dead changeling I ever saw, so I couldn't tell you with certainty."

A tiny voice whispered in her ear, "Normal, totally normal... If you... wretched ponies... are half as nice as you... claim... go with it."

Her ear twitched softly at the little voice coming from almost inside it. "But it does make sense," she continued. "I suppose you don't have to worry about cleansing the body."

"Then we are finished with that." Gregor led Bon Bon inside to have her examination and blessings.

Starlight appeared with a bright flash just beside Twilight, tackling the alicorn to the ground. "The humans are crazy!"

Twilight's floating book and quill flopped to the ground, surprise getting the better of it. "Wha? I know they're unusual and don't think the way we do, but calling them crazy isn't nice." She gently pushed at Starlight, but the unicorn wasn't letting go easily. "What's wrong?"

"They killed a creature," she hissed. "And not even an angry animal or something. C-Chrysalis had given up and hadn't even tried to run away and suddenly they were stabbing her, cutting her..." She broke into open sobs, burying her face into Twilight's chest. "It was awful! So much blood..."

Twilight sat up, bringing Starlight along as one hoof reached around to gently rub at Starlight's back. "There there... Let's start from the top. You captured her then?"

"Yes!" she blurted in almost a yelp, sitting herself up and finally giving Twilight an inch of room. "We had her, in a box, a big metal box." She moved her hooves, pantomiming the box. "We let her out when she promised to talk to Thorax, then they k-killed her, just like that." She made a sudden chop downwards with her hoof. "With their swords! It was... so fast. She was alive, then she wasn't. I should have done something."

Trembling, she hugged herself, shaking her head. "A shield spell would have bought some time. A quick teleport, I could have whisked her away. Mind control! I know you don't like when I do that, but making them stop hurting somecreature like that, you would have forgiven me, right?" She smiled at Twilight, a manic light in her eyes, shaking and desperate.

Twilight reached out, placing a hoof on Starlight's chest. "To save a life, I wouldn't have been angry. We can't beat ourselves up over what we could--"

"--That is literally your specialty," interrupted Starlight with an acidic tone before her ears fell. "That... I'm sorry..."

"You're going through a lot right now." The patting hoof moved up to Starlight's shoulder. "Let's have some tea, and just... relax a moment. You're not wrong. This is my specialty, and I know the cure." She rose with a smile. "Spike!"

"I need to use the little filly's room." Bon Bon glanced around. "Where would that be?" She followed the pointing finger and found a room with a suspiciously normal looking toilet in it. She closed and locked the door behind herself. "Alright... Care to explain?"

"Is it not obvious?" asked the little voice. "Those creatures tried to kill me! They got far too close to succeeding for my liking. Timid fools, my mere presence sent them into a panic." A pained grunt interrupted things. "I don't... like this... but my options are slimmer than... usual. I am hurt, badly." A tiny hoof prodded Bon Bon's ear. "Don't bring it up ever again."

"Your secret rides along with you," assured Bon Bon as she hopped up onto the toilet. She did have need for it, so that wasn't a lie. "I am... glad you're alive, but our promise stands. You will talk to your son, and I'll get you out of here without them knowing."

"You were already preparing to cover up my death," hissed the little voice. "I heard you! What a wicked pony."

"And yet, here you are, in my ear. I must not be that wicked."

"Did I not mention my options are limited," huffed the tiny voice. "As horrible as you are, at least you are a pony. I know ponies..."

"And you know how tasty they are," finished Bon Bon with a roll of her eyes. She spotted a roll of paper and cleaned herself before hopping down to the ground. "Just stay quiet."

Faint grumbling was heard, but the voice offered no further objection.

Spike flew just above the table, pouring steaming tea into two little teacups. "The destresser special. Just the thing for getting frizz out of a mane."

Twilight laughed nervously. "Not that I'd know anything about that."

Starlight cocked a brow at that, a little smirk on her face. "I already feel a little better." Her magic grabbed one of the cups, a small bit of the tea spilling from the rough movement. "I just... I never saw violence quite like that. Just... it was so fast, so brutal..." She sipped loudly from the cup, ignoring how hot it clearly was. "That's... not bad." If she could taste it past a likely scalded tongue.

"Little sips," advised Spike, setting the kettle down nearby and landing on the edge of the table, sitting on it. "So, they got Chrysalis?"

"It's alright." Twilight brought her cup over more gently and took a little sip. "Mmm... I...never saw a creature die before," she admitted. "It's almost strange, thinking back on it. For all the dangerous exploits I've been on, with my friends, that never happened... I mean, sure, you tried to rip us apart with magic."

"You blocked it!" almost screeched Starlight.

"That wasn't an accusation," gently assured Twilight. "We've been close to... that... but never... all the way."

Spike held up two fingers close together. "What if it was that all over again?" Both mares looking at him quizzically. "Well, what if she isn't dead?"

"I saw her get cut!" Starlight clopped a hoof down. "And not just once. So much blood... They were... It was horrible!"

Twilight nodded softly as she took a fresh sip. "While it would be nice to hope for that, let's try to take this--"

"--If you are about to say calmly, don't." Starlight set her mostly-untouched tea aside. "Look... I know I must sound like a little filly. We've faced worse things, right?"

Twilight reached for Starlight, but the unicorn backed away. She sighed softly. "Starlight, I did see it, once."

Starlight blinked rapidly. "Wait, you did?"

"The Storm King." She pointed up towards Canterlot. "He was turned to stone, mid air. He came crashing down, pulverized on contact."

Spike raised a little hand. "Speaking of him, there were the soldiers I kinda set on fire... They didn't do so well."

Starlight looked between the two of them with her jaw hanging open. "I've been living with two killers and I didn't even know it... Huh..." She flopped to her haunches bonelessly, rolling onwards to be lying on her side. "I'm the only one losing their marbles over this. You must think I'm pathetic."

Spike hopped down from the table and scampered over to Starlight's side. "Nocreature's saying that, Starlight. Neither of ours had... blood everywhere." He cringed as he said it, his tongue poking out a little. "Sounds awful. We're here for you." He reached for her and gently petted her shoulder. "That's what friends are for."

"Yeah..." She looked up at Spike. "I think I'm going to lie here a moment longer, but... putting my stupid feelings aside a moment, something has to be done! Those humans are as dangerous as they are fragile. I can imagine now how the fight between them and the dragons went." She shuddered from her snout back to her tail. "How did Ember forgive it?"

Twilight shook her head softly. "Laud is recovering in the hospital, which leaves me as the standing pony in charge of these negotiations. I will speak to them about this." She began towards the door. "Spike, take care of Starlight, please."

He snapped a sharp salute, not that he had been moving to leave his friend.

His prayers were softly spoken, beseeching Amalthea in his own tongue, alien to Bon Bon, even as she tried to pick out words from it, caught between relaxing and analyzing the curious words being used.

His tone was gentle, caring even. One could be forgiven perhaps for forgiving what had happened so recently. The gentle light pouring from his hands that warmed her belly didn't help with keeping angry at him either. She felt relaxed. She felt cared for. She was in good hands, which made sense, he had those.

"You are healthy," he announced, the glow dimming. "As is the life inside you, as unknowable as it is. I predict no trouble ahead of you as you begin your labor of life."

"Thank you." She rolled onto her belly, tail curled behind her. "This must be so odd for you. In your world, your universe, there are humans, and not." She raised a hoof. "And I am obviously not. Did you imagine playing midwife to someone with a built-in fur coat?"

He laughed, a release of pressure in some ways. "I will confess, that was not what I had envisioned my life leading towards. You have the body of what, without knowing better, we would call an animal."

"Animals rarely argue philosophy." She rose to her hooves. "Thank you, again. Just to repeat, attacking Chrysalis was wrong. She had surrendered and hadn't made a move in bad faith." An ear twitched. "There's a pun. I didn't mean it."

"A pun that strikes cruelly." He sighed as he stood up as well. "We, servants of the almighty, acted in bad faith. It was a demon, a devil. Still... you have shown you can lead even the foulest towards the light, given a chance, and we were the ones to remove that chance." He dipped his head towards Bon Bon. "I was not the one who dealt the blow, but they were my swords. I may as well have. I can offer apologies--"

"--But they mean nothing." Bon Bon started for the door. "I would rather hear how you plan to ensure this never happens again, under any condition. No creature on this planet should meet an end not given to them by another creature of this planet."

"A tall request." Despite his words, she departed, leaving him with them. "Not entirely under my control to promise." He moved towards his personal shrine. Perhaps his higher ups would listen to this report.

Author's Notes:

The most important part of this chapter is obviously that Bon Bon and her child are doing alright! Woo!

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

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102 - Meeting Threads

Bon Bon trotted down the ramp, pausing only when she felt something inside of her, a gentle reminder that she was going to become a mother. Both a sort of peace and anxiety washed over her in a heady mixture.

"Bon Bon?" There was Twilight, hurrying in the opposite direction. "Good that you're here. Is Gregor available?"

Bon Bon pointed back where she had just come from. "Right in there, but if this is about... today's incident?"

"It is," firmly stated the princess. "We cannot--"

Twilight's statement was interrupted by a hoof. "We need to talk." Bon Bon switched which hoof was raised, pointing away. "Let's do that before you go give Gregor a dressing down, please?"

"This... is kind of important."

"So is what we're going to talk about," stated Bon Bon with a gentle firmness. "As your wife, I insist."

"As my..." It was easy to forget little things like that. It wasn't as if Twilight and Bon Bon shared romantic feelings of that nature, friends though they were. "Right. Right..." She turned away from the ship and its guards, starting to trot along with Bon Bon. "What is going on?"

Bon Bon led the way back towards the entrance of the landing pad, reaching up to remove her translating collar and toss it in a bin on the way. "Take yours off too."

Twilight raised a brow as her horn glowed, removing her collar, but tucking it away rather than setting it down. "Something you don't want the humans hearing?"

"Many things." Bon Bon trotted on without offering more until they were entirely off the landing pad. "If you're here this quickly, it means Starlight didn't do what I asked, which shouldn't surprise me."

"What did you ask her to do?" Twilight shook her head softly as she trotted alongside. "Did they kill her?"

"They tried." Bon Bon paused and raised a hoof to just beside her head, flat-side up.

A tiny form hopped free of her fluff onto the hoof, a wee tiny version of Chrysalis. Bon Bon extended her hoof towards Twilight, holding the little form before her wife's eyes. "But, as you can see, she's stubborn."

"As if I could be slain so easily," huffed the tiny shapeshifter. "They came too close for my liking... What are you going to do about them?"

"Me?" Twilight's ears were trained on the little changeling. "Wait, you're asking me to handle this? That isn't like you."

Chrysalis growled, though being so small it was hardly menacing at all. "My choices are... slim. It will take a long time for me to regain what they took from me, if I even can... I..."

Suddenly she was being drawn away, Bon Bon raising Chrysalis back to her own head. "Let's finish this talk somewhere more secure and less in-the-middle-of-a-street, huh? What they did was barbaric, and wrong. I did mention that to them. Right now I have a creature that is, as far as some others are aware, dead. We need to be aware of that."

"You didn't say what you told Starlight to do." Their walk resumed, speeding quickly into a light trot. "She arrived at the castle in tears. I left her a mess in Spike's care. What happened obviously shook her to the core."

"Pony Sentimentalities," grumbled Chrysalis in Bon Bon's ear. "As if she was that upset to lose a sworn enemy."

Bon Bon frowned softly. "She never saw you as half the enemy you saw her as. Even if she did, she wouldn't lie to Twilight, who she looks up to so highly."

"Pardon?" Twilight hadn't heard half the conversation, leaving her confused. "I came here to get their side of the story and do what I could to ensure this never repeated. Equestria will not stand idly by and allow such violence." She clopped a hoof down mid-walk, throwing off the beat of her trot. "Laud is recovering, as you know."

"He will want this update, as soon as he's able to get it. Speaking of that." Bon Bon glanced towards the hospital. "Any word on how he's doing?"

Twilight shook her head. "Did you want to stop by there, or should we... drop off our things first?"

"Drop off our things, yes." She glanced over her shoulder and back towards the castle. "A weight on my shoulders, as it were."

"You're not subtle," noted the little voice.

"You're not large," retorted Bon Bon, heading for Twilight's castle. "So can you reverse this trick? Do you have to eat a lot?"

"It will take time. This isn't like shapeshifting to a small size, which I could do quite well. Most of me was dead and gone, so this is my actual size right now." She hissed softly, her little tongue tickling Bon Bon's ear. "Eating would help, both love and mass in equal amounts. Look, this never happened before. I can't exactly say how this will work."

Twilight suddenly crashed into Bon Bon from the side, misstepping as she tried to hold her ear close to Bon Bon's to hear the conversation. The two of them flopped to the ground in an ungainly mess.

Bon Bon kicked, nudging Twilight away and scrambling back to her hooves. "Be patient. Once we're home we can have a nice little chat."

"But you're talking to her now," noted Twilight with a little huff. "I wanted to hear."

"As a grown pony, you'll have to show some patience." Bon Bon advanced with a twitch of her tail. "She said that she's never been this hurt before. She doesn't even know if she can get back to being full-sized or not, but she's eager to try. I can't say I blame her. Being smaller than a breezie is not where I'd want to be."

Twilight rubbed a hoof against her cheek, the other three advancing her forward. "She's going to need food, and she's an unreformed changeling. How are we going to feed her that? She's hardly in a position to try seducing anycreature, not that we'd want her to."

"Speaking of that... Where is Thorax?"

"Yes, where is that 'son' of mine?"

"Someone call for me?" Landing with buzzing wings, Thorax joined them on their trot. "Hiya! Where did you put Chrysalis? I'm supposed to talk to her, right?"

"That's Queen Chrysalis," fumed Chrysalis, though only Bon Bon could hear her. "Tell him!"

With a twitching ear, Bon Bon smiled up at Thorax. "Your sense of timing is on point, come with us. We took her to the castle." The very same they were just arriving at. "How did it go with the other changeling?"

"He's scared, but I fed him and I think he'll come around." Thorax looked satisfied with his work. "He needs a little alone time, but I'll stay for a little while. Poor thing was so hungry."

"He was terrible at his job," grumped Chrysalis. "If he did things better, I would have been able to feed him more."

"I doubt that." Bon Bon waited for Twilight to open the door before trotting inside. She went right into the map room and sat beside the map. "Alright, here's your stop for the moment."

Like a flea, Chrysalis leaped free of Bon Bon and landed atop Ponyville that seemed sized almost right for her. "Is this a joke?"

Twilight squinted at the tiny form of the former queen. "One moment." Her horn glowing, she wove a floating pattern in the air. "Try speaking now."

"You do not order me!" came Chrysalis' booming voice. "Oh, that's better." Her voice had come down, realizing it was being amplified. "Now then, Thorax, come here!"

Thorax's ears fell. "Mom?" He advanced on the table, looking down at the little speck that she was. "What happened to you?"

"Those stupid humans happened to me," she hissed, trying to kick over one of the illusory Ponyville houses to little avail. "They attacked me, and this is all that's left." She raised a hoof to her tiny chest. "Unacceptable! I'm starved, feed your queen, now."

"You're not my queen," noted Thorax, even if he didn't sound as sure as he should have been.

"Impudent whelp, you will do as I--"

His hoof came down just beside her, easily shaking her off her footing. "You're my mom, and I care about you, but we don't have a queen anymore. I'd rather we didn't have a king either, but they kinda insisted, so here I am." He laughed nervously, drawing his hoof back. "Are you hungry?"

"I just said that." She waved a tiny hoof up at him. "Feed me!"

"Feed me...?" He rolled a hoof slowly, prompting her.

Her little eyes narrowed. "What are you waiting for? Feed me... now?"

Twilight coughed into a hoof. "It is traditional to end requests with 'please'."

Thorax was holding a glowing bit of energy. "You're hurt, and scared. I'm not trying to make it worse." Though she hadn't said please, he offered his glowing hoof towards Chrysalis.

Who was perfectly happy to lunge for it, sucking up the love being offered, her little wings buzzing with satisfaction. "Mmm, yes. That feels much better." She sat down on her haunches, letting out a little breath of relief. "Yes... Perhaps not quite as sweet as when I was draining you dry."

Thorax frowned, that memory surfacing. "Why would you bring that up?"

"You can't blame someone for thinking of past meals while eating," huffed the queen. "Now that I'm not starving, perhaps I can..." Her small form burst into flames, revealing a cat-sized Chrysalis. "A step better..."

Thorax inclined his head at the still tiny Chrysalis. "Don't force yourself. You've been through a lot. For now, why don't you and the other changeling both learn how to live the new way? You won't be alone."

Chrysalis scowled at the very idea. "That's nice, so." She turned to Twilight. "What are you doing about those humans? They can't be allowed to run amuck! How am I supposed to take over when you have these things just slicing creatures up into little pieces?"

"What's going--" Starlight's eyes fell on the little Chrysalis and came to a sudden halt. "But..."

"You!" Chrysalis took flight, buzzing angrily towards Starlight. "What kind of nemesis allows their rival to fall to any hoof but their own? You are literally the worst."

Starlight backed a step, confusion plain on her face. "But... they... how?"

Thorax interjected himself between the two. "Calm down, please."

"She was very upset," noted Twilight. "She thought you... died, and was a complete mess."

"I'd be upset too if I heard you were hurt." She smiled a little wickedly at Starlight. "--assuming I wasn't involved. Really, letting the humans do your work, and not even at your command. What sort of victory is that?"

"How are you alive?!" blurted Starlight in almost a scream. "I saw them cut you! Blood... everywhere! Changelings can't fake-bleed, right?" She looked towards Thorax, trembling. "Right?!"

Bon Bon sighed softly. "That is exactly what I said not to say."

"You." Starlight thrust a quaking hoof at Bon Bon. "You are not my boss. She is." the hoof moved to point at Twilight. "And I told her everything. So there, what are you gonna do about it?"

Thorax was looking from pony to pony to changeling. "Emotions are running really high right now. Maybe we should all just--"

"--I've already heard everything, except what she told you to say." Twilight let out a slow breath. "No more secrets, not in this room. Let's get the whole story now. What, exactly, happened? Step by step." She pointed in the direction of the landing pad. "I'm going to have to go over there and lay down the law and I can't do that without having all the information. No more secrets today. No more lies. Just tell me exactly what happened."

She pointed at Chrysalis. "We'll start with you. Tell me what happened today, from your point of view. No opinions, just the facts."

Author's Notes:

Twilight demands to be brought up to speed at last. All the players but Spike and Laud are present. Perhaps some forward movement can be made. Growth: Chrysalis is in the same room with Thorax AND Starlight and hasn't inflicted violence upon either.

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

103 - An Accounting

"Well, there I was." Chrysalis was pacing back and forth on the map, still cat sized, though that made her larger than the small landmarks of the map. "About to meet with my agent." She rolled her eyes. "A little whelp of a pony that figured he had impressed a filly."

Twilight glanced to the others who nodded in return. "That was the fight that first injured you, right?"

She snorted angrily at that. "It was your insipid little dragon that did that. When did you start to allow him to play with such things?" A brow rose. "Are you trying to get in with the humans? Clever, showing them we can play their games."

"Let's stick to the facts," reminded Twilight in firm tones. "So you got into the fight with Spike, Laud, and Bon Bon. You were injured and subdued."

"And put in a box," fumed Chrysalis, throwing a tiny tantrum with her hooves stomping on the table in an impotent display. "The nerve... They took me to the humans to offer me up to them."

Twilight took a slow breath. "You badly injured one of them and they needed to be shown we could police our own."

"Or they'd police it for you," taunted Chrysalis with a smirk. "Poor ponies, under such pressure."

"We're getting off topic." She tapped a hoof on the table. "So, you were brought to the humans?"

"I could hear them talking. You were there." She pointed at Thorax who had been quietly listening. "We had a nice little chat... Then you abandoned me."

"I did not!" he squeaked in alarm. "I just went to talk to the other changeling. I thought you were safe!"

Chrysalis turned her eyes onto Starlight. "I am starting to believe everycreature thought that, until I wasn't..."

"Thorax left," prompted Twilight. "And then?"

"And then I walked out of my little prison and they jumped on me!"

Starlight cringed back a step. "That's basically what happened," she agreed with a shake of her head. "I didn't see her do anything to provoke them. One of them shouted, and they were all attacking."

Bon Bon leaned forward. "One little question. That was a clever ploy, playing dead like that... Did you pass out?"

"I will not dignify that with an answer." Chrysalis turned away from Bon Bon. "Before they could take me to be 'cleaned', which I imagine has something to do with fire, I made my daring escape. She brought me here." Chrysalis pointed at Bon Bon without looking at her. "After being mumbled over by a human for what felt like forever. What was that all about?"

Bon Bon looked back towards her midsection. "He was doing a little human magic, for an expecting mare. It had nothing to do with this, in the end."

Twilight inclined her head. "They had magic specifically for mares? That seems--"

"--No! That would be... odd." She sat down on her haunches and raised a hoof. "We're all alive. Their healing magic works on ponies the same as it works on humans. Besides, what's in there is at least half human."

Starlight's ears danced, one more focused on Chrysalis, the other on Bon Bon. "Be that as it may, I think... that ends the story?"

Twilight nodded. "Was Gregor part of the attack? He has made himself to be a human of peace."

Bon Bon was swift to reply, "I still think he is. His guards acted without his order, and he was upset. Not as upset as he should have been... but upset still. He was especially upset about how it made Starlight sad, and he didn't like my rubbing his hypocrisy in his face. I don't think he meant for it to happen."

Chrysalis puffed herself up, a hoof at her chest. "A proper ruler accepts responsibility for the actions of their subordinates."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You're short on those, your highness." The sarcasm in her voice was thick as she looked to the others. "I need to know why. Why did they attack? Are humans... just that violent? Laud hasn't... attacked anycreature that wasn't already mid-attacking us. Which is the exception, Laud, or Gregor's guards? We need to know."

But such an answer was not there for them to easily grab.

"Your words have dire importance," noted the floating head with a face of dour seriousness. "You understand this, correct?"

"Of course." Gregor tipped his own head faintly. "They are capable--"

"They would willingly parlay with demons. Capable of wretched magic and eager--"

"They can turn dark towards the light," cut in Gregor, his hopeful mien fading. "They are creatures of light itself."

"They are seductive witches that have taken hold of you." The face faded from view, but the voice could still be heard, "You are lost to us. We will pray for your soul."

The connection ended, a green light turning red even as Gregor implored for reason that wasn't being offered to him. "By the Pancreator..." He sank against the device, his strength fleeing him a moment. He had been cast aside, as good as excommunicated. His life was over.

His precious children's lives were over for being his. That world and its strange and wonderful inhabitants, would be attacked... "Amalthea give me strength." He righted himself with a slow breath. "Now is not the time for self-pity. There is too much that requires my hands." He turned in place, pivoting with a flutter of his robes. "I am on my own."

He marched from his room. "Gather everyone to the primary chapel. An emergency is at hand." His soldiers saluted and took off at a run as he strode purposefully.

The chapel had a pulpit where he had stood many times. It felt less comforting that day. Still, it was where he had to be and he moved towards it even as others began to filter in, taking seats and watching him. They knew he would have words for them, but none could know which words those would be.

Their fate was, in part, in his hands. He would not sully Amalthea's hands with handling that responsibility incorrectly. "My children, ye faithful. It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside you all. I will not mince words. I have been cast out. This is now your last chance to join the others. Speak loudly your disapproval, and I will not prevent your leaving. Wherever you walk, may the Pancreator shine warmly."

A bishop stood. "Your leniency with the creatures of this world is clear to any with eyes to see it." He turned and marched from the room with stiff formality, his resignation clear.

The bishop had been the first, but would not be the last. Their loyalty put to the true test, only half of those who had remained at the first opportunity to leave remained at the second. Those willing to stand beside a man that had been cast out of the church they had been sworn to serve.

Their choice meant that they were also cast out, worse in some ways. They had chosen to stand beside a heretic, and there would be no mercy shown to them.

The ponies of Ponyville would see small craft fleeing into the sky, but would have no idea of the import of it.

"That planet is in need of cleansing," informed the holographic form of a priest. "If you value your lives and souls, you should depart."

The merchants' leader stroked his chin softly. "They already caught the demon and it was put to bloody death on our doorstep. It's rare to stop in any harbor that offers up justice that fast. What are you going on about?"

The holo-priest shook his head, hands placed together in prayer. "The infection goes far deeper than any one demon. Trust not the word of Gregor, priest no longer."

"Bloody hell--"

"Language," chastised the priest. "We trust you will depart?"

"Let me talk with my crew and I'll get back to you." Without waiting for a reply, he cut the call. "Damned pissants think they can tell me what language to use on my ship." He reached over and depressed a button. "Get up here, yesterday!"

"On the way," called a female in reply.

He had decisions to make and plans to form.

"How're you feeling?" Spike was peeking in from the door of the small hospital room, a window open wide to allow in bright sun and a gentle breeze. "Better, I hope?"

Laud smiled at the sighting of his student. "Better. Come. What... foul poison that thing used has me restricted to bed, but I am awake, and coherent." When Spike was close enough, he reached for the smaller dragon's shoulder. "You did well. You fought against a true demon and lived to tell the tale. You showed no hesitation despite this, but kept your wits sharp and close at hand. My heart swells with pride."

Spike's smile was not as wide as he would have liked. "I couldn't protect you."

"You can't protect everyone." His hand fell back to the bed. "I am a warrior, as are you. We were there to protect others, and we did this. If you could have... I don't doubt you would have." He took a slow breath, mildly labored as it was. "Has she been delivered?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah!" He bobbed his head. "In a big metal box." He outlined the cube in his hands. "All done. You just rest up. I'm on the case." He put a hand over his heart. "What is a squire for?"

"Many things." He was quiet for a time. "You have... wet your blade." When Spike's hand fell to the hilt of his sword, a faint smirk overtook Laud's lips. "How does it feel?"

"I... I'm not sure." His hands fell bonelessly. "It was so easy... to just stab her, to hurt her."

"Did it frighten you?"

Spike glanced away and back, shuffling in place. "No! A little..." He held up two fingers close together.

"It should," assured Laud. "Life is the ultimate gift we are given, and taken away so easily. See that your blade never takes it unjustly. Remember the weight of your power, but do not hesitate in its use when the need should rise. Others will be counting on you to wield the power of a knight in hands that know right from wrong."

Spike's hands came together, fingers worrying against one another. There was his mentor, his sponsor to be a knight and become a minor noble and a warrior. To be more than 'a kid'. Hurt and weak, but speaking heavy words. "I'm... not sure I felt like a hero."

"We have a job." His lifted his shoulders, a slow motion. "We're not heroes, just doing our job."

"Yeah..." He set his hand on Laud's, wrapping his fingers around his mentor's. "Get better soon, alright?"

Laud's laughter shattered the heavy pall over the room. "I'm sounding like I'm twice as old as I am. Spike, this world has changed me. Maybe for the better." He returned the squeeze. "When I came here, I was just a damn kid, looking for fun, and danger. Now I'm giving you this advice as if I've seen everything... I haven't. Spike... We all get scared sometimes. Knowing it just means you're becoming a real man."

"Dragon," corrected Spike with a raised finger.

"A man of a dragon," allowed Laud. "Now go, walk with your head held high. You did a great job and I won't hear a word to the contrary."

"Oh!" Spike hopped back and pointed out the window towards Twilight's castle. "Bon Bon's alright, just so you know."

"I was the only one injured. A bittersweet announcement. Better that than the alternative... Tell me." He pointed to Spike. "Are all the females of this world ready to fight like she-lions?"

Spike considered the females he knew. There was Princess Celestia, and Twilight, and Twilight's Mom, all bold ponies. There was Applejack and Rainbow Dash and Rarity and... Well, maybe less Fluttershy? "Yeah... most of 'em." He brought his hands together. "But they're full of love too."

Author's Notes:

The pieces are being moved about the board. What actions will the players take?

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

104 - Us Versus Them

"No," replied a female human sternly. "This hunk of rock is way too valuable." She hiked a thumb. "Have you seen the technology they have? It's a fair sight under ours, but they know how it works and they can fix it. They never went through a dark ages. They have factories, their people aren't scared of a light bulb."

"They also have fur coats," noted the boss. "But that doesn't really figure into it."

"No it does not." She crossed her arms under her chest. "You called me for an honest opinion. We'd be damned fools throwing away what they have on tap. We should be more worried about keeping them well away from others who'd rather protect their prissy little monopolies." A predatory smile spread on her face. "Imagine if we let those little colorful horses get a look at some real technology, and they started making more of it? We'd be at point zero for a bomb that will rock the entire universe."

"You need to work on your phrasing. Not sure I want to be anywhere near a bomb like that." He lifted his shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. "The church isn't going to let us have this."

"Who asked 'em?"

"They're already here, I remind. A ship larger than ours, several, parked over our heads and ready to vaporize the planet."

She wriggled a few fingers. "Good thing we're not alone. The Hawkwoods are here too, and they pissed on the planet first. This is theirs, but they, unlike the damn priests, want to play ball with us. Seems easy to me. We either run away and pretend we never saw the greatest opportunity ever, or we fight the ones trying to chase us away from it."

A soft knock came from the frame of the door, an unusual sound, as most ponies made more of a clopping noise than the sound of a knuckle striking wood. Laud was already looking there, having heard the footsteps approaching. Father Gregor stood there. He had no guards with him, a curiosity. "What brings you here?"

Gregor dipped his head as he entered. "I am informed you were injured in the battle against the demon."

Laud tensed faintly. "A battle we won."

"This I also heard. I am here to offer succor, and discuss future matters." He pressed his hands together in a symbol of prayer. "If you would accept it."

A few snippy retorts jumped to mind, but Laud pushed them aside gently. "That is kind of you. I am whole, but bed-ridden until the venom has run its course."

"That makes the prayer needed clear then." He sat down beside the bed on a simple stool some pony had left there. "Let's get you back on your feet. Our people have need of you."

"Our?" Laud would not get answers, as the priest had begun his prayers, calling on divine forces to banish the toxins plaguing him. He would have to wait for answers.

"Say what now?" Spike was peering at the little Chrysalis perched on his little chair around the map room. "Why is she here? The humans let her go? C'mon..."

Twilight shook her head. "As far as they know, she's dead. You are not to speak a word of this to them."

"I'm not lying to Laud." Spike crossed his arms firmly. "That's, like, instant disqualification to being a knight. What happened?"

"Since you insist." Chrysalis sat up in her commandeered chair. "Come here and listen."

So she told him the tale. He scratched at his cheek softly. "Wow... That was completely uncool. We really need to tell Laud! He will not be happy someceature got attacked for no reason, even Chrysalis."

Twilight wobbled a hoof at the disadvantaged former ruler of the changelings. "I don't disagree with you, Spike, but this is a little more delicate than something we can just run in shouting about. It would have been simpler if she had died." Chrysalis glared. "Not that I would rather you were killed, but now we can't just focus on 'never do that again'. We have what is, basically, a fugitive."

Applejack trotted into the room. "Ya know what ah'm gonna suggest."

Twilight smiled at her friend. "That we put all the cards on the table and be truthful."

"Darn tootin'." Applejack hopped up onto her throne and sat down. "Things always get more complicated when we try bein' sneaky. This ain't no exception."

Starlight put a hoof on the armrest of the chair Chrysalis was in. "So... since we're all here and talking, don't suppose we could move past the whole 'I swear ultimate revenge' thing? I'll forgive if you do." She inclined her head towards a window. "The changelings--"

"--are mine," cut in Chrysalis. "Even if they need to be reminded. Are you begging for mercy?" She turned without rising, shuffling in place. "Go on, beg."

Starlight's eyes rolled mightily. "Oh, yes. Great and terrible queen, forgive me my slights." She lowered her head, eyes covered by her hooves, which let her wink at the others in the room. "I tremble at your might. Please show mercy."

Chrysalis suddenly hopped free of the throne, landing right on Starlight's head and perching on her, the unicorn's horn serving as a resting place for the little queen's head. "Show you are sincere by serving as my chariot for the day. Not one word of objection."

"I would never dream." Starlight rose to her hooves and trotted the short distance to the table, barely two steps. "So what's the plan?"

Twilight pointed to the window. "Thorax will be back. When he gets here, we let him take care of Chrysalis while we go speak to Laud. Spike, how was he doing?"

Applejack tilted her hat forward. "Reckon that means Starlight ain't goin' with ya then, seein' as she just got conscripted to play Chryssie's ride."

Chrysalis tapped the head she was on. "I would speak to that human. Carry me there."

Twilight was quick to shake her head. "Carrying you through town? I'm vetoing that."

"I didn't see you respecting my rules when you were in my castle." Chrysalis was waving one hoof at Twilight agitatedly.

Twilight leaned towards Starlight and Chrysalis, a smirk on her face. "You didn't veto us."

Chrysalis went quiet, thinking back on the moment. "... Was... that all I needed to do?"

Starlight pointed up at her occupied head. "I'll work off my penance while you all talk with Laud. We can wait on introducing him to Chrysalis until--"

"--Queen." Chrysalis thumped Starlight with a hoof. "Queen Chrysalis."

"Yes, yes. We can introduce them when he gets back here." Starlight made a shooing motion with a hoof. "Go on, we'll be safe for now."

Twilight turned hesitantly, but was soon trotting with Spike jogging at her side. "Coming with?"

"Of course." He saluted sharply. "What if something happened to you while I let you wander off?"

Twilight smiled faintly. "Spike, that is adorable and touching, but I've been protecting you for a lot longer than you've even tried the other way around. I think I can handle a trot across town."

Bon Bon came in opposite of Spike, lurking just beyond the archway of the map room and matching the pace easily. "Not without me. I have things to discuss with him as well."

"That... gives me two out of three. Where's Lyra?" Spike looked around as if expecting the unicorn to appear out of thin air.

She did not disappoint, descending down the stairs on light hooves. "Right here! If you're going to Laud, I'm coming too. What kind of wife am I to not visit her hubby when he was hurt? A bad kind, that's what! So I'm in." She fell in behind the group, a big smile on her face.

Back in the throne room, Applejack was looking towards Starlight and Chrysalis. "Mighty fine hat ya have there."

"Made of the finest royal materials," joked Starlight, going with the flow. "Speaking of, how are you doing up there?"

"I demand a drink." Chrysalis tapped at Starlight's forehead with a dangling hoof. "A little sip of love would also be delightful."

"Not it," declared Applejack swiftly. "You know, the changelings who give love instead of gettin' it stop being hungry. They sure do seem happier fer it."

"Good for them," grumbled Chrysalis. "Bunch of weak-hearted ninnies, forgetting the glory of a successful hunt."

Starlight's ears twitched on either side of Chrysalis. "It's not as fun, I suppose, but have you tried it? Are you scared?"

"Scared?!" Chrysalis stormed to her hooves, glaring down at her 'chariot'. "Chrysalis fears nocreature!"

Applejack smirked, half-hidden by her hat. "Except tryin' something she doesn't wanna like. Then she gets a might put off."

"Pfft. Any love given would be, at best, a quarter as scrumptious as the dazed expression of a love-torn fool being drained." Chrysalis raised a hoof to her chin. "Mmm, that delightful glazed expression as their life flees them, wanting nothing but to experience it more, not realizing it is what is ending them. Such sweet torment..."

Applejack sat up, her hat almost falling off. "That is... right creepy, if ya don't mind mah sayin' so."

Chrysalis settled on the horrified Starlight's head. "It's a changeling thing. Of course a pony wouldn't understand it."

Starlight cleared her throat, trying to regather herself. "Still! You haven't tried it. Maybe it will be icky, maybe it won't be. Until you give it a shot, the changelings will think you're scared of it."

Chrysalis tapped Starlight on the noggin. "Have you tried jumping into a bonfire just to be certain it was too warm? Who knows, maybe it's actually just the right amount of snuggly warmth and you've been denying yourself this whole time. Wouldn't you feel silly?"

Applejack snorted at that. "Don't reckon that's quite the same thing. Not like yer gonna get hurt jus' tryin' to be nice for a moment. Love doesn't cost nothin' to give."

"Then why aren't you giving me yours?" Chrysalis leaned forward on her pony mount. "I'm still thirsty, for love and water." She resumed tapping Starlight. "At least one of those you should be fixing, loyal chariot."

"Aye aye." Starlight began to trot towards the kitchen. "Some pure water, just for you."

Luna closed the door behind herself, horn glowing. "What is it, Sister Mine? You do not often summon me with such urgency, nor to this place." It wasn't the throne room. It was dark, moodily lit. Only the two of them were in it. "Has some new tragedy befallen us?"

"A letter, from Twilight." She pointed a metal-clad hoof to a scroll on a small platform. "She had it sent the moment Spike was at her side. It would seem our 'guests' have shown a violent side."

Luna hiked a brow. "Now you believe me then? How do we repel these hairless apes?" Her horn glowed, casting off light in all directions as they became surrounded with an image of the night sky, interrupted only where Celestia's form blocked the light. "Strike their ships with the moon?"

"You are hasty by half, Sister Dear." Celestia approached at a slow walk. "That risks the moon, and their reprisal could be swift and terrible even as we move to strike again. Besides that--" She inclined her head towards the platform. "--we have not yet proof that all of them are deserving of such violence. We would be no better than them to lash out in such a way so quickly."

Luna raised a hoof to point as the image shifted around them, zooming in to show the floating vessels that orbited their planet. "While we consider, they prepare. The element of surprise will be lost to us if we hesitate too long."

"We will not sacrifice what we are." Celestia raised a hoof to her chest. "Harmony will guide us, but only if we act harmoniously. Neigh, I called you not to attack them."

The lights faded, her image dispelled. "Then what did you call me for?"

"I am sending you, if you are up for it, to Ponyville. I need a pony on the ground, to determine what the next step should be."

Author's Notes:

The game is moving so much faster now. What do the Hawkwoods think? Do they know?

Written early for patreons who got this ahead of everyone else. Want to get early chapters, or even your own story written? atreon!

Join my discord to chat!

105 - May God Have Mercy

"You are advised to vacate the system immediately," spoke a flickering hologram. "By the Pancreator's will, we will exterminate this threat before it spreads and joins other menaces that plague us."

Paul considered the figure. If the church felt it could brush them aside, he felt certain they would have already. They knew what was on the planet, and surely the church was aware of that. It was an attempt at intimidation. "We did not request your assistance. We haven't allowed anything off this planet save your own vessels."

"Your service is appreciated." The figure met Paul's eyes. "But no longer required."

"That planet is under Hawkwood protection," spoke Paul more firmly. "We have a landed noble already with a recognized domain. We can police our own people."

"I have spoken what must be said." The hologram faded away, leaving the warning behind.

Paul slammed a balled fist against the metal wall beside him. "Is it too ironic to wish the church be damned?"

"By half," admitted an assistant. "Any word I should be conveying?"

"Yes." Paul crossed his arms as he turned to a great clear port to the space outside, where the planet hung on the fabric of the universe. "We're going into alert. There's a good chance we'll be wetting our blades before this mess is done."

"How do you feel?"

Laud swung his feet over the side of his bed, sliding upright as if the motion were proof enough of the healing received. "You said you came to talk."

"To administer, then speak." Gregor rose himself. "You are looking at a cast out priest." He laid those cards nakedly on the table. "The church will not stand behind me, and is ready to remove me along with the taint they have decided this world has."

"You're alone then?" He began dressing himself, less a patient and returning to his warrior status, unconcerned that the priest was there. "What did they declare, exactly? How bad does it look?"

"Not entirely." Gregor's fingers danced, tips to tips. "There are some few loyal enough to me to stand against the very church we swore to. Amalthea's oaths weighed more strongly in their hearts, may the Pancreator smile on our decision."

"I need to learn more about that saint." Laud strapped his sword into place, letting out a little breath. "I feared a time of quiet humiliation at being shown up, but it seems there's no room for that."

"You are a warrior," observed Gregor. "It comes as little surprise that the gentle ways of Amalthea did not call you. Still, it is by her teachings that I cannot ignore what I have seen. The people of this world, as inhuman as they are, as bewildering their forms, as inscrutable as their ways, shine with such an intense light that those who cannot see it clearly have shut their eyes in fear."

Laud suddenly clapped Gregor's shoulder, grabbing the priest firmly. "Yes! That... You have a way with words, but that puts my thoughts out in a way I struggled to. Even the most violent of them shine with a child's wonder. They are all worthy of protection." He released Gregor then. "Sorry."

"In this dark time, I will not complain that my companion has fire in his chest, burning bright and directed in the right way." He turned to the door. "Someone approaches."

He was wrong, several someones approached. Hoofsteps clattered and the room was suddenly filled with the trotting forms of Laud's entire collection of equine wives. Also Spike. Speaking of him, he was gesturing at them. "They all, hey, you're standing. Feeling better?"

Lyra nuzzled into one of Laud's hanging hands. "Hey there, Hubby. I heard you got hurt and came down to keep you company, and you're all better? Not complaining!"

Bon Bon looked smugly satisfied. "I knew they couldn't keep you down." Her eyes moved to Gregor. "We meet again. What are you doing here?"

His prayers had given him the speech of ponies, said before he approached the hospital of ponies. He transitioned from the human tongue to theirs, softly nickering and huffing. "The sides have been set. I either help, or admit I lacked the bravery to stand behind my words. They have declared the children of this world unfit for the universe."

Twilight's eyes widened at the words. "Our foals?!"

Bon Bon raised a hoof. "Pretty sure he means each and every one of us, foals included."

Lyra withdrew from the hand she had been enjoying nuzzle times with. "What? That's harsh. What'd we do?"

Laud's hand came down on her head, her horn poking up between two fingers as he rubbed and massaged her like a favored dog, not that she was complaining one bit. "They have decided what I feared when I first arrived, that this much magic can lead only to worrisome places."

"And they're ready to hurt people, because they saw magic?!" Twilight clopped a hoof down before it hit her. "Oh, you look much better than they said you did. If you're all better, we should get out of here. They could use this room."

"It does not help that there was a demon involved." He released Lyra and began to move, striding from the place of healing. "We should try to contact the Hawkwood forces. We'll have need of them. Did the merchants already flee?"

"They were there when I walked past," reported Gregor, following a bit to the side and behind Laud. They all left the hospital in a great cloud of forms, drawing wide-eyed stares from the ponies there. It wasn't that common to see so many important figures all at once, looking so serious and speaking of unknowable things.

Bon Bon suddenly thudded against Laud's side as he walked. "How many of your people do we have, and how many of theirs do we face?"

Twilight waved a hoof wildly as they emerged from the hospital. "It's not a matter of numbers. There's enough on either side that an outright fight will mean people get hurt, badly. There's no way around that." She looked to Gregor. "You know them. You... were them until shortly ago. Is there not someone we could speak to?"

"Many someones," he sighed out. "But those close at ..." He caught a moment, his faith magic refusing to let him finish the term in a clash of communication. "Hoof," he completed. "Have already declared what they believe. Getting past them to reach other ears is basically impossible."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "It's a galaxy-wide thing. Somecreature out there agrees with us. One of them's right here." She pointed at Gregor. "You argued for us, didn't you? That's why you're here. They didn't like it, not one bit."