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Canterlot Castle
Princess Celestia

I wasn’t perfect and naming the blood’s honorary princes had been one of my more foalish moves in retrospect. A title that he was sure to bring up in a bid to get close to Ari; this was just what I needed.

“OH!” The horror was crept onto my features before I could catch it as the white stallion rapidly closed in on my future stallion. “You are Prince Ari I presume? I am Prince Blue Blood.” Not even missing a beat he turned to me just as my mask returned, although he also clearly missed the ruffled frowns on both my sister and Ari’s muzzles. “Aunty,” I fought the wince as he butchered the word in his usual manner when he wanted something, “Aren’t you going to call off day court? We have a very important guest with us.”

WE, US…I could practically feel the question being drilled into me by my fellow Alicorns as I mentally baulked over the assumption. When had I invited him?

His level of familiarity was…hard to handle.

Keeping a smile on my muzzle I replied, “Right after my sister arrived,” said mare straightened under my glance and tucked her wings in with a frown and pointed glance at our ‘nephew’ and guest. I couldn’t agree more, there was no way we could get to the bottom of this confusion if he was present.

Ari already wasn’t comfortable with the colt and he hadn’t even been here for five minutes.

Turning back to the enraptured ponies I addressed them, “Please understand that I am deeply sorry for all the ponies that came out to speak with me today, but as Prince Blueblood was right to assume Princess Luna and I had a meeting set with Prince Ari, and we have much to discuss still.”

Simple, polite, and official enough that everypony understood that only Lulu and I would be seeing Ari.

Only some grumbled in reply, as most were standing in an instant and allowed the somewhat forced end to Day court and subsequent escort out to the antechamber.

Luna’s chamber guards mixed with my Solar guards to form a protective formation around our group.

And Blueblood had somehow slipped in, cozying up to a tense Ari.

Standing with a shuffling of my wings, I took the lead, and the group followed with only Blueblood chattering on as we made our way to the dining hall. Doors rapidly closed and opened as Ari gazed around in appreciation, his ears swiveling in interest at the banners hanging by the windows, and ignorant to the frown on my sister’s muzzle. Soon enough the journey ended, the ceiling opening up before us, and once more it impressed the world traveler.

I wonder what his castle is like if this made his jaw drop.

Discarding that thought I focused on the more important problem, getting rid of-.

“So where are you from out on the Endless Sea Ari?” Taking an uncertain look at the seat cushion Ari sat, looking over at us with a panned head as I tried to think of the perfect cover story.

Ari was too fast, “Sorry?” The smile never faltered though, “I am afraid I have never been on an endless sea,” he looked between Lulu and I as we brought our rumps into the seats across from him, “I mean, every sea ends, right?” Blue Blood just blinked rapidly before sitting next to Ari.

“Yes, I suppose so.” He concurred slowly, his eyes already scanning our otherworldly guest for a hint at which rumor was closest to the truth.

None had guessed interplanetary travel yet.

Before he could wind up again the chefs sprung into action, coming out of the staff door with trolleys of the best food for Alicorns, cake, cakes of all sorts.

“Sister, truly,” I smiled widely at her questioning tone, the irritation only showing in my eyes as I let them crinkle. Lulu looked at the sweets before her, raising a slice in her magic, and glancing to Ari. “Must thou have cake for dinner?” I kept my smile even as our nephew promptly nodded in agreement while the darkest member seated watched on with twitching ears. “Actually, cake is perfect for such a meeting.” I thought so.

It would also test a theory I had about his mane, the idea that he might not have enough sugar in his diet. Which I know sounds ridiculous, sugar was practically addicting to Alicorns, but it couldn’t hurt to get some magic in that stallion on the off chance I was correct. It was very possible that he may not use his mane to output extra magic at all, but it would still make me feel better to see some calories in him. Those bags he carried didn’t look big enough to carry even one day’s worth of food a stallion would need.

“Aunty Luna?” Our ivory nephew looked to his frowning aunt with an betrayed look, apparently having missed her realization. If he didn’t get his way he would leave, it was just the way he was.

Our guest watched with a weak smile as the colt turned to me.

I simply smiled and turned to Ari, opening my mouth to ask the nervous stallion what his favorite cake was. Somepony had to break the ice and small risk free facts like that were perfect till we bored our nephew away. With his attention span it shouldn’t take long.

But he was also rude, “Have some cake aunty,” the slice of white cake in light blue magic blocked my muzzle and the frown that grew as I was ignored.

Remember the etiquette…He is just a colt, a small, immature colt. You are mature, in control, and will make a great first impression.

“So Prince Ari…,” the colt trailed off in shock once more.

Ari had ignored him, looking to my sister with a considering look and smile before politely taking the cake she had offered him. Her muzzle was the opposite of what I would have wanted to my dismay. Blue lips drawn and tense after the exchange as a familiar glazed look entered her eyes. Her fear of our father’s temper was once well known and was back in full force since her transgression. I was sure in her mind she was waiting for his explosion, one that I didn’t see happening.

Blueblood had everypony on edge.

Did he say something?

I turned back to the males and frowned inside. Of course the stallions didn’t notice my sister’s troubled state as they seemed have caught each other’s eye and was squaring up to the other with a much less intimate inspection. An uncharacteristically serious looking expression on the ivory prince as it appeared we had missed something as well, whatever he had uttered had drawn Ari’s attention. Feathers were rising once again and once more I worried at what could have happened to him for the fear to be this strong. It certainly wasn’t from the shorter, unassuming colt beside him. And I assumed it wasn’t from myself, although I was mildly annoyed at Ari’s insults I hadn’t informed him of that yet.

The urge to ask was rising, in fact, I was surprised no had asked him yet. Instead both my sister and I were watching the rare event take place, not able to recall ever seeing a frown on the colt’s face.

Luna didn’t seem inclined to share what I had missed, nor did the equally watchful guards.

However our nephew was oblivious to his audience it seemed and continued staring into blue eyes, now with an innocent pan of his head. Not at all sensing the tension that both my sister I could feel coming off Ari in bright illuminated signs to my mind.

Perhaps it was time he left.

Several coughs and creaks echoed in the tense silence and effectively broke it, our nephew blinked rapidly in response, frowning before a wide smile returned to his muzzle.

“Ahm, as I was saying, Prince Ari-,” a long exhale went down into Blueblood’s muzzle and made him pause.

Muscles flexed on Ari, feathers ruffled in a small breeze as staff peeked out from the kitchen door.

“Perhaps you didn’t catch my words when I told the announcing pony but I have no title that is relevant in this country.” Eyes met once more, Ari’s blue eyes seeming to have darkened even as the nerves seemed to have dissipated as they finished their once over again and locked eyes, “And on the topic of titles.” Blueblood blinked, stance faltering at the change of topic. “Your title is ‘prince’ from what I gathered.” His white chest expanded with his ego, eyes twinkling as Ari let his eyes wander over his body again, settling on the spotless barrel with a raised eyebrow. “Yet, I am confused as to why you hold that title,” slowly the proud look on Blue Blood’s muzzle dropped and their eyes met again, “Since everything I have heard across the continent and beyond,” Blueblood’s eye twitched to my surprise, “Has involved Princess Luna, Celestia, or Cadence.” Something flashed in Blue Blood’s eyes at the end, an emotion that was unfamiliar to me and was gone in a quick blink with Ari’s next words, the target feeling to have been thrown my way. “Never have I heard of a prince or any non-Alicorn royalty.” Luna was gulping down the goblet before her to cover her smile as our nephew tossed his mane. I gulped down a mouthful of the water, almost wishing for the nervous stallion again.

How was this going to show him I was smart, especially with Blueblood as the representative of my past decisions?

I wasn’t going to stop this though, recognizing that this was the most genuine expression I had seen on Ari’s muzzle since he came. And he would have found out eventually, along with all the good I had done for Equestria.

Not to mention seeing our nephew squirm made his presence more bearable and more likely to leave.

“M-my title is honorary,” Blueblood’s chin jutted upward as he turned to Ari’s openly curious expression, “My family has provided integral services to the royal family,” eyes met, “So much that her majesty, Princess Celestia-,” ah, the pointed look my way,“-honored our many achievements with the title prince!”

“Hmm,” blue eyes narrowed across from me, “I believe I understand now. Thank you for taking the time to explain such a thing to me.” The obviously fake smile widened but the colt didn’t appear to notice as he puffed his chest out once more.

A small slice of cake moved in a light blue field as the honorary prince continued, having also accepted the cake to my chagrin. Luna flattened her ears as he carried on, “You are most welcome, and we princes have to-.”

“Unfortunately,” Ari paused as we all watched him with varying degrees of interest, “I had set the meeting up to be private.” The curve of his smile softened to a more believable smile as Luna shared a smile with me; Blueblood was still trying to process it as his mouth and ears moved out of sync, and his piece of cake plopped rather ungracefully onto the plate.

“You-,” his response was cut off to Luna’s increasing joy, her nerves over the ‘fake Alicorn’ comment forgotten for the moment.

“What I am trying to say is that I am sure we will have topics to discuss in the future,” ebony pin feathers twitched on his barrel. “But today and most assuredly tomorrow I have many items of importance to discuss with the Princesses.” A frown was crossing the white muzzle as Ari finished, “You understand I hope?”

Tittering whispered over from the staff door.

Some guards shifted as they traded looks with their companions.

It took several seconds for the composure to return to our nephew’s face, the fact that wasn’t lost on our guest, and real fear flickered across the blue eyes for a moment. Which was almost enough to send Luna over the edge and into full blown laughter, the ivory colt was about as scary as a foal. Despite his mandated defence training it was no secret that he had whined and whimpered throughout the whole procedure, enough that his father had paid for an ‘accelerated’ program.

The instructor was crying tears of joy when a smug colt left six months early, or so I overheard from some of the more boisterous guards.

But he had matured, somewhat.

“Perfectly,” a bang came from the side door as the staff made a hasty retreat. Rising with a flourish of his blond mane, Blueblood trotted back to court room, keeping his head held high the whole way. Even as several guards flanked him, knowing that we wouldn’t want a return visit from him.

Beside me I could feel the tickle of feathers as Lulu released a breath and shaky giggle.

“Thou are most skilled in handling foals.” As we watched he gave us an awkward smile and laugh. “No need to be modest! My sister and I were just contemplating ways to rid ourselves of his presence.”

You could hear the clock tick and guards breathing as he looked around, suddenly unsure once more. The fear in his eyes came back to me, along with the questions regarding it.

We needed our special guest to relax…My eyes found my sister’s blues as I looked from her to her guards and then to my guards before ending on the fidgeting stallion before us. He wasn’t even nibbling at his cake. She nodded as her eyes widened.

“Guards,” a stiff clank echoed around the room as they stood at attention, “Please wait outside the doors and let no pony disturb us.”

Luna did the same with hers.

Strangely enough, that didn’t calm Ari at all. If anything he began to take big breathes and ruffle his wings as they filed out the four doors of the room. The mask was a farce at best at this point, smile waning as the awkward silence went on, and even my sister was shooting me looks to question his nervous state.

No time like the present.

“Ari,” his withers lowered as he tried to appear calm, “Is everything alright?” He nodded quickly, “We are completely alone, no pony will disturb us.” I exhaled and released my stiff shoulders from their locked position, might as well set the precedence for the meeting. “The nobility aren’t around so there is no need to be quite so formal. We can talk about the business you spoke of in your letter in privacy,” raising a hoof at the empty room.

“Exactly, thou have nothing to be nervous over!”

I cleared my throat, mouthing ‘thou’ to her perplexed eyes. We didn’t need him thinking we were behind the times.

Nervously she laughed, ears splaying as he watched us with curious eyes. “What we meant-,” I coughed before taking a sip, “What I meant to say is that we have the finest security you can imagine. Our guards will be sure to secure our peace and quiet.”

“Ah,” he took a deep breath in, scrunching his eyes before opening them.

Calmness seemed to shine through then, although his eyes weren’t making contact with us, instead favoring the large narrow windows that lined the hall with a faintly twitching smile. Something had changed, they were calm, but not…All there.

I watched him, trying to figure out what it was about him that was odd.

What had him on edge?

But I held my curiosity back, surveying his ruffled state as if it would offer me clues. It didn’t but it did catch his attention and brought his gaze back from where it was.

He was nervous again.

“Sorry once again, my startle reflex is rather strong and this has been quite a whirlwind adventure so far.” He glanced between us as we gave him our full attention, “You can imagine my surprise waking up in another world, much less by a god that did everything but ask me to inhabit it.” That would do it, meeting us must be as nerve racking for him as it is for us. His whole life had been turned upside down.

Perhaps we should start with that topic then, god’s intervention in his life.

Never had this been recorded before, no, not world traveling. Starswirl had delved into that particular magic field many centuries ago. It was the very apparent coincidence of a male Alicorn appearing right when a population crisis was noticed and when no stallions were left. And by a god’s hoof no less.

Yet, the god spread malevolent lies about us to what I concluded was its blessing for us, a confusing act that I didn’t see the logic in, but I didn’t know how god’s worked. That could be all part of its plan for us, give us the challenge of courting a reluctant stallion.

Changing his mind shouldn’t be hard though.

I nodded, “Yes, we did receive your letter.” Perking his ears at me, he smiled as my sister turned distant once more. “However we would like to review some points of it with you. Is that acceptable?” My tone wasn’t as kind as it could have been but I was lucky that my connection with the sun wasn’t shinning through as my ‘small brain cells’ were most likely overwhelmed from the memory of the letter.

Even after weeks of accepting his confusion the statements still stung.

Blue eyes widened, both across and beside me, and both ears stayed splayed. Ari slowly nodded watching our expressions closely as the dilation passed over them again. That wasn’t nerves, it was fear I was seeing. The puffed up wings were expressing fear not nervousness…And it hurt, under my anger it hurt that he feared me.

Just what had he been told?

I pressed on from the sinking feeling in my stomach that came from such thoughts. Reminding myself that he may be the only stallion of our kind but he had insulted our family. I should start with that, the fear would fade…

With a pop I teleported the scroll to the table, unsealing it as I watched a frown try to wheedle its way onto the muzzle across from me, I started with the good news. “Your suggestions have already been made part of the law.”

“Really,” He gave a genuine exclamation, eyes wide as they searched our faces.

I couldn’t help but smile at the beginnings of the real him poking through, “Yes, programs are being set up as we speak and many ponies are in agreement with the practices.” Not all though, our minister of health being a prominent sceptic, luckily I could override his decisions. “However, I was curious.” The dark stallion hummed and looked up from his cake, still not eating, but more at ease with us at least. “I was wondering if these practices you suggested were used on your world. It would help dispel some concern among the skeptics if you could vouch for their success.”

“They are used on my planet, more now than ever and for the most part they are successful.” Raising a bandaged hoof to his chin he scratched before speaking, “Actually those were just the basic ones I could recall when I made the letter, if I tried I might be able to remember more.” A fork began scraping the icing off the cake, “However I am still not sure how far your technology extends in this strange parallelism.” Both Luna and I looked at each other in confusion, her nerves gone as his odd wording filled our minds. Part of it sprang from the strange cake scrapping, but most was from the obvious implication of his world’s advancement and the parallelism.

Finished with his strange removal of icing he inhaled his slice.

Our eyes went to the unattractive blob of sugary paradise that rested on his plate; it was the best part too. An essential part of any Alicorn’s diet.

Luna had reached her limit to curiosity, latching onto the most obvious oddity. “Did you not have cake on your world?”

“Of course I did.” We blinked between the blob and him, “I am just not a fan of sweets and I find the icing is usually the sweetest part so-,” he swiped the fork in the air,”-I scrapped it off.” Nonchalantly he grabbed another slice, “I meant no offence by it, I’m sure it is just as delicious as your cake, and all your cakes look beautiful.” His gaze washed over us in the end, shutting down my thoughts, and bringing uncalled comparisons from my instincts.

Meanwhile my sister was picking up on my previously growing suspicion, that is before he gave me a once over again.

As she ate a cake and moved her gaze between Ari and me I tried to shush my inner voice, steeling my expression to bemusement before I questioned him. When I failed to act fast enough she spoke, “Does thou not wish to be a strong stallion?”

Not quite what I was going for.

“Pardon,” he questioned, losing his smile as the question through off his attempts at flirting. At least I think he had been.

“Why do you neglect the most important part of the dessert?” He didn’t know what to say as he looked between us, utterly clueless. Snorting, Luna pressed on with a new confidence, “We know you enjoy sweets. Why else would thou dream of eating that swirled pastry if thou hated sweets? It had icing on it, did it not? Why would thou,” I coughed in our ongoing lesson, receiving a snort before she finished, “Why would you not wish to have a full core?”

Silence reigned as he and I processed that, my curiosity soon replaced with a mental face hoof, and dread for her as I realized where she had to have gone to know that.

“Oh.”

“Oh,” she queried back, missing her slip into the territory that she had been worried about. “Oh…,” now she caught herself.

“I never got to eat it.” I blinked at him as a frown started on his muzzle, “But I do recall seeing you there.” His ears perked, “But that was all in the past, right?” His wide smile seemed genuine.

Her ears perked up faster than I could blink happiness clear as a big grin broke across her muzzle, “Truly?”

“Truly,” another slice of cleaned cake entered his mouth. A second passed before he gave a small smile, “What else in the letter did you want to review next? I have received quite a few business topics since sending the letter. You know how it is, they hear I’m meeting with the two most powerful beings on the continent and suddenly it’s all ‘can you ask them this and that’.”

Ari waited as I steadied myself with a deep breath, I was calm. His insults to my family and self were done in ignorance. I would hear him out, “Actually yes, I did have more points to discuss.”

“Oh.”

“Sister, perhaps that should-,” I raised my eyebrow at her, effectively silencing her protest.

This was a delicate subject though, “The god that brought you here…Did it have a name? And how did it contact you for such an occurrence to happen?”

“He…” a whap echoed as his tail beat the cushion, “He didn’t give me his name, or warning, and quite frankly had little sense in his choice of bringing me here.” The venom in his words made my next questions halt on their way out. “I hold no great love or worship for the god that quite literally plucked me out of my bed and dropped me in the middle of nowhere…There is no need to worry about that.” Luna started to lean forward, trying to will his eyes to look up. “And not to be repetitive but this land is beautiful in ways.”

A stare off began between Lulu and him, the message unclear to both my sister and I.

“But, perhaps everything looks beautiful in the moonlight,” flirting, he was flirting with her. But it didn’t add up with her scrunched brows…Of course nopony had flirted with her in at least a millennia. “However not everything is as nice as it appeared to be.” His cryptic words paused as he looked to me, “Did my explanations in the letter cover most of that problem?”

My mind went to the old orbital system; we had already covered the Law of the Herd, and nothing else in that letter was really a problem that fit. We couldn’t help that a god had brought him here on a lark, even if I didn’t want to help him leave.

“Were you aware of the reality of what you were doing?”

“Of course we are!” His feathers rising made me soften my tone, “I think you misunderstand us Ari, our parents created the planetary branch of magic to bring prosperity and wealth to Equestria and extension the world.”His muzzle was blank now. “No ponies face starvation, homelessness, or even poverty. Aside from our most recent fertility problem, which has shown no connection the orbiting of the sun or moon, Equestria have no problems.”

His face didn’t change still, unmoved by my words, or perhaps just absorbing the news. He must have had to learn a lot in the last three weeks and now to learn what he had been told was a lie…Well, I pitied him.

Still he didn’t express any emotion, only his frozen feathers betraying the turmoil he had felt throughout our previous discussion.

“Truly, Ari, we have no destruction like you mentioned in your letter.” My sister gave him a big smile.

What had he been doing for three weeks?

A sigh escaped him, followed by a tired smile that grew and filled me with an unease that overshadowed my sadness for his situation, his eyes were growing darker. “I see.” Yet I felt he didn’t really see, my inner voice was whispering warnings, and I feared he was taking the news that his god’s reason was nothing more than a fib badly. “Your land is a beautiful sight, perhaps I was misinformed.”

However, there was one part that irked me, that despite his emotional turmoil I couldn’t drop.

“We do not have ‘ignorant excuses for brain cells’ then?”

His brain cells must have been fuzzy as it took him a second to filter through confusion, realization, and embarrassment to name a few. His ears, eyes, and lips as open as a picture book.

Luna kept an ear on him as she gave me look that said ‘really’.

Nervous chuckling broke his silence. “Well, that was…That is to say that I do not believe you to be ignorant. Quite the contrary, you two must be some of the smartest mares I have met, if not the smartest.” He was laying it on a little thick, but he had said mares, not stallions, and Star Swirl excluded, my sister and I were quite well versed in the academic literature. And I could imagine he hadn’t met my student yet. I would have heard about that.

Another nervous laugh followed an awkward second as he scratched at his chest, “As I said I was simply misinformed and more than a little frustrated then. No hard feelings I hope? I even brought-,”

“Yes,” I exclaimed at his apology, mentally grasping at the familiar sound of progress that escaped him. He truly understood!

“What,” he exclaimed in return, golden magic paused as it held a tin above his saddle bags, and looking horrified as his wings nearly shot out from the shock. He mirrored the emotion as it rose in me.

That wasn’t what I meant to do!

“NO,” my turn to splay my ears as I glanced between his eyes and the tin, “I meant there were no hard feelings.” Laughing with my own new nerves at my slip I watched him carefully, ignoring my sister’s muttering and wing cuff. My excitement at Ari’s revelation had overcome me; this whole meeting was surreal really. “I completely understand, our mother explained to us that gods are rarely honest, even with demigods such as ourselves.” Gesturing to the group I watched as his smile grew larger, still off, most likely from my exclamation. But, it was closer to a real one. I was a step closer to clearing the falsities from his demeanor, “Did the god mention anything else besides the ‘destruction’?”

Humming with a hoof to his muzzle he added another glob of icing to the growing pile.

Luna watched it with a twitch of her eyes as I mouthed ‘calm’ to her, his habits may be self destructive in our view but may be normal for him. We didn’t know anything about Earth based Alicorns after all. And the parallelism he had mentioned fit with what I remembered from Star Swirl’s multiverse theory.

“Not that I can recall, I assume you already assumed some things from the unique…Situation you have.” We nodded, Lulu blushing and looking away at the implication. My own blush was easier to suppress as I occupied myself with his aversion to icing, a fact that still made no sense. It was one of the most magically boosting substances in existence.

His cough brought my thoughts back.

A nervous smile wavered on his muzzle as he brought the tin forward, shifting as he placed it in the center of the table. “I made these on the off chance that I said something…Stupid,” he watched our faces carefully before continuing, “And on that likely chance that I would I made some cakes.”

Luna sat back, “Cakes?”

“I was thinking that they would make a good end to the meeting when we got there.”

We were both surprised, Lulu more so than I was.

Besides the Thestrals and some late working farmers that frequented her court she didn’t usually receive much in the way of gifts. Even now they were only slowly growing in number, Nightmare Night’s change having helped her popularity tremendously.

“Prince Ari that wasn’t necessary,” worry took over took his face and his feathers ruffled, clearly concerned that his present was being rejected. “Although, we will gladly eat them,” a big smile broke over his muzzle, relief shone clearly in his eyes. “Are they a recipe from your home world?”

Shifting on his cushion, he smiled as his ears splayed, “Yes. Although I had help with the icing since some of the ingredients here are not the same as on Earth. But it should taste good!”

“Earth,” my sister said the word in much the way I felt of it, confusion.

“Yes, you see I am from the planet Earth.” An awkward chuckle escaped him as I wanted to hit myself for not asking him sooner, “Which, as I learned here, is the word meaning dirt or a type of pony.”Everybeing reacts that way.” Seriousness returned to him as we hummed our acknowledgement.

But my mind swarmed with new questions, most importantly, where had he been? No paper had anything on him, for three weeks. That was unheard of, even if he had been in Saddle Arabia it would have been big news.

However I just nodded, there was plenty of time to ask about his travels.

Seeing our acceptance, he seemed to relax, focusing on the cakes with an enthusiasm that made me smile. His speed increasing and making my heart feel some peace. Ari trusted us enough to eat unhindered now, he wasn’t looking at us with fear, and we had gotten the truth across rather easily. During the moment of comfortable quiet, we paused to drink and eat as well, our eyes oddly mesmerized as across the table more and more icing left the slices.

Eventually slowing down he shot us big smile, “But I have a whole list of topics to get through. Of course we won’t go over all today I assume you have court and other duties to attend to.”

“We do…” Beside me blue ears folded back as reality caught up with us, unfortunately just when we had been making progress.

A slow nod followed from Ari, looking more natural than before, “Ah, I thought so. We have a lot to discuss in general as well. You know, get to know each other and everything like that.” His grin turned sheepish, “So I suppose I will start on my oldest request before I let you have some of my famous cake.” We both straightened up and gave him our full attention, the prospect of learning more of where he had been to meet them occupying my thoughts.

His eyes flicked between the two of us, his mouth parting slightly as if to consider the words.

Wind slipped in under the kitchen staff’s door, filling the decisive silence with a sharp whistling.

“I met the requestor in Saddle Arabia,” we already knew he had been there but I smiled my encouragement to him anyway, “A lost soul of sorts,” his ears folded back as he went back to the moment. “They didn’t tell me their real mission at first…But when I heard of their story I couldn’t help but offer some help, even with all the confusion of being in a new world their sorrow was, is, great.” Honest sadness shone in the corners of the blue eyes before me. “It isn’t my story to tell…But the gist of it is that their father was brilliant, a true genius if their words do the stallion justice, and,” a gulp filled the space. “The father left them to pursue a goal; however that was many years ago, and all they heard was that there was a mirror involved.”

Luna broke the quiet, “I do not see how this relates to us-.”

“The mirror was last rumored to be at Canterlot castle,” blue eyes turned serious at the mention of our home, wings fidgeted in a nervous display, “A magical mirror made with only the finest enchantments. He was an exquisite enchanter they said. Their father just disappeared though.”

My throat felt too dry to respond as the implication of what he was trying to say hit home.

After a long sip I met his gaze, not bothering to mask my worry, “Did they say what the mirror did?” We had plenty of mirrors in the castle, some enchanted to critique the current fashion and others to distort images…It was very unlikely it was that mirror, even more so since our magical breakthrough was never made public.

Giving us a half smile, he swished his tail before continuing, “I think it is a little out there, but they claimed the mirror led to another world.” My sister shot me the look, eyes narrowed, and mouth set in a tight line.

Luna had heard the rumors of such pursuits before I banished her and strongly opposed it.

Surprise, little sister…But killing wasn’t a option anymore…Killing beings prone to chaotic magic didn’t sit well with me anymore, they all had the same anguish in their eyes. The same that had briefly sparked deep in Luna’s when I sent her to the moon.

Execution only got harder as the years stretched.

But the problem stood out clear as they waited for my confirmation.

I hadn’t had time to bring up that event’s detail yet with my own sister in her Equestrian history lessons, much less any current generation of pony, and we had never went beyond the one artifact. Even that mirror proving to be imperfect.

Star Swirl’s mirror didn’t just take those with chaos magic, it took anybeing that touched it.

“That is…Most interesting.” I didn’t know what else to say, it sounded like the mirror, and if it was that left a near inconceivable possibility. A foal…Star Swirl had had a foal at some point and left them in Saddle Arabia to pursue his studies.

But that didn’t fit the Starswirl I remembered.

“Sister,” she started in a dry tone before I could form the rest of my inquiry, she half turned to our rapt guest. “I would say that that would be impossible but my dear sister makes it seem like it was completed.” Air cascaded around my muzzle as she deflated, “He managed to make one?”

I nodded, warmth climbing unwelcomed on my muzzle as our obvious suitor watched.

But, like the etiquette of nobles she didn’t show much care for it in her moment of high emotion.

“Why?” My muzzle wouldn’t open and Ari was watching me closely, eyes narrowing in some indecipherable emotion.“No, not why, that can wait for a different time.” Turning to the concentrating stallion she frowned, “Who asked about this mirror?”

He ruffled his feathers at the request.

Eyes watched our swaying banners for a second before he came back with a smile, regression clear in his distant eyes.

“Afraid I was asked not to reveal their name, however their equestrian heritage…,” he said the last word in almost a question before trailing off. “Sorry, I mean to say, they wish to know if it resides here and they could view it at the least. Their father was quite obsessed with it.”

Few reasons came to me as to why they would know and want to remain as anonymous as Ari made them.

“Their father’s name,” I queried as I straightened my mask.

Bandaged hoof met frowning muzzle with a thump and groan. “I-I never asked…But I can say they have an interesting reaction whenever somebeing mentions a Swirl fellow…Star beard, no, Swirl Star?”

“Star Swirl…” my voice broke as my mind raced to understand what it sounded like had occurred.

One of the greatest unicorns in the magical community had a secret foal in Saddle Arabia, a fact that while was a little out of character for him was not impossible. As Cadence put it ‘love works in magical ways’ and he was a frequent visitor of that country for me during my sister’s absence…Actually when she was around as well, Luna was a little too brash at emotional times to be sent in alone.

And then he disappeared just years after clearing the countryside of the last remnant of chaos based creatures.

His foal shouldn’t have to hide…

“So am I right that they react quite strongly to Star Swirl’s name?” Yes. “And they are of an older age?” Another affirmative came across to my sister’s excited eyes and me. Now for the real question, “And what does viewing it do for them?”

“Closure,” he straightened his posture, and despite his leftover signs of nervousness he appeared quite serious. “They are still distraught about the situation...Still…After what had to be a century…I think it would bring them closure to see the object that is now their obsession, to know exactly what fueled their father.” A silence followed as my sister and I raised eyebrows at each other. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, meeting the son or daughter of Star Swirl, and following one of our favorite families in the newest generation of them.

I wanted to know the story behind this. Why did he leave them? Why didn’t they just come to us years ago?

Nervous laughter caught our attention as we digested the information, “I assure you they are a good individual, a little misguided at first but good underneath the mask they wear.” He watched our faces intently, “They really would appreciate this, you have no idea.”

It was all so clear what our decision would be, the reality so unlikely and as a result very exciting. When he had disappeared I had thought the worst but perhaps this might help fill in the gaps…Although if they hadn’t found their father then we still might not as well. But they certainly deserved to know what he had devoted his time to.

Despite Luna’s disapproval for its very existence she was the first to respond, “When did they wish to view it?” I nodded my approval to her searching glance. Although, she may just wish to see the impossibility in the complex enchanting worked into metal frame itself. I certainly wouldn’t blame her. I could hardly believe how intricately the cuneal writing had been engraved.

Whistling sounded again from an open window somewhere down in the kitchens.

My nod had not been what she wanted though.

A frown started on her muzzle. “We do still have it here, don’t we dear sister?” Lulu most definitely wanted to see it and hear why I had agreed to fund such a project; it was far beyond Star Swirl’s wealth and magical output. Her eyes went wide as if to say ‘tell me’ as I smiled at her, letting her sweat.

“Yes, we do.”Chocolate breath buffeted me then, warm, and sweet.

“Excellent!” Happiness shone from his eyes, a mission complete in his mind, and a pony soon to be satisfied in many accounts. I couldn’t help but smile back. After a second the previous question appeared to have sunk in, our sister’s eyes boring into him a big help in that matter. “Right, I don’t know quite when. But I imagine as soon as I’m done discussing everything with you both I can relay that…And I can’t stress just how happy this will make them!”

Smiles were beaming between us, everypony satisfied in one way or another even with some questions hanging around.

A sense of completion settled over our awkward meeting, the cake disappearing as smiles were exchanged back and forth, all genuine, and comments on the quantity we consumed were not made. We all had the same metabolism, the same thoughts it seemed as well. For no sooner had the last cake been cleared than our eyes found the clock over the kitchen staff entrance.

Night court would begin soon.

My little sister acknowledged her acceptance of the unfortunate change with a regret filled sighed, my own long sigh following shortly after. Although our first meeting had begun in a most unusual manner, all of us a little unsettled with the new encounter and the extra pony, we had ended on such a good note that I brushed his previous aside. Ari understood his unfortunate yet blessed arrival more than ever and accepted it remarkably well…He probably would express his anger at his losses in more private quarters, but I couldn’t fault him there.

I had ended a meeting on a ‘yes’ instead of a ‘no’ or an angry, confused stallion storming out.

Life was good, great, and it felt like it could only get better as he brought the plain tin to the center of our focus again. Revealing the two yellow iced cakes with a nervous smile and rising feathers.

Seeing his worry, Luna attempted to soothe him, “No need to worry Ari, they smell delicious!” Which they did, a sugary aroma left the tin like an enticing perfume, with only a slightly bitter, metallic after smell that made me think he needed a new tin.

That only caused him to shift side to side, that is until I grabbed my cake in my golden field, and nodded to my sister as she followed suit. He went stock still, giving us a hopeful smile as we inspected the pale treats.

He was so sweet.

“I can’t imagine anything made by you to be in bad taste, especially a cake.” A stallion that bakes! Not rare but certainly a plus in my book. Aside from his previous ignorant insults and slightly neurotic startle response he seemed to be a fine stallion. Those two negatives were corrected, mostly. He was nervous still; rather eager to get our approval on his cakes, and that was understandable. He clearly had put a lot of planning into this meeting to wait three weeks from sending the letter.

Cadence would love him, Ari could even handle our ‘nephew’ without bribing, bucking, or threatening him!

As the icing passed over my taste buds I stood, sat corrected in my opinion of his ability to bake. We were both frozen mid-chew as my eyes found my sister’s, the agreement unanimous, and the question raising its ugly head between our gaze.

Do you tell the stallion that was literally the only one of your species that his homemade cakes were the equivalent of swamp gas in taste?

He clearly told us that he had to replace some ingredients due to our world not having them; yet, I didn’t imagine it would be quite this…Bad. It was cake, sugary, magic boosting food that was near impossible to mess up.

And he had ruined it.

My throat protested as the icing seemed to stick to it in a bitter, swamp sludgey way that I had never quite experienced before. Not even when some fillies gifted me a cake shaped charcoal. Yet, I preserved, ignoring the urge to wash my suddenly dry mouth out as I gazed into his increasingly fearful eyes.

Dear Faust, I needed to fix this.

This stallion had meant to make peace and foster goodwill with these and we were acting like he was trying to poison us!

With a loud, dry gulp my sister followed my lead. “I must say, it is unlike any cake I have ever tasted.” Her nod and erratic flickering on her tail backed up my words.

“Ah, s-so the recipe is a keeper then?” Blue eye snapped between us as his uncertainty showed in splayed ears.

The fear was gone at least.

“Perhaps,” think, think, “But I am afraid it might need a little sugar.” My stomach flip flopped in a strange fashion, my magic even popped louder in my mind as if the very idea of more of that swamp cake repulsed it. My heart began to race, the words hard to find, and all the usual phrases to brush aside its sheer awfulness seemed inadequate with the stallion before me.

He was leaning forward in concern, and most certainly wanting acceptance. Our niece would lecture us for eternity if we ruined this chance of a lifetime, a literal gift from a god.

“Sugar, everything else is alright?”

Baritone echoes rang in my ears briefly, wavering out of focus as I tried to follow his explanation of the substitutes and…And maybe I should tell him how bad it was. This cake that he hadn’t even said the name of was rapidly becoming a bodily based distraction.

Letting my withers drop a little under the weight that the simply letting down of our future seemed to have created, I focused on his smiling muzzle. “W-w…,” what was I asking? Right, “W…Whap flav…or…Wu…Was it?” That sentence didn’t work out quite the way I imagined it would, the warmth seemed to be everywhere now, and he didn’t seem to mind.

I think was blushing, dear Faust, I couldn’t think straight. My stomach flip flopped, protesting something.

My vision swam again, thoughts wandering aimlessly until I blinked and realized the seat before me was empty.

Was this a dream?

The colors popping at the corners of my eyes certainly made it appear so…Luna was giving me a dream…But why? Confusion grew in my popping head, as did the sound of my beating heart.

Colors flashed brighter in my peripheral as something pressed up by my flank, causing me to jump, and spun my world into chaos as I tried to see what it was, my wings somehow very far away. Sounds came in slow and distant then, like someone was saying them at the back of a crowded room, and all this occurred despite the foggy assurance that something nice was touching me.

I wanted to run, the wrongness was all consuming.

That cake was wrong.

Something…Spicy trickled in my nose, that hard to focus on thought alone calmed the brief rise of panic at this…What was this?

I didn’t know, but I did know the table was brown, and strangely hard and soft. Almost like it was padded with foam, but such a contradicting sensation faded into a strange numbness, and…The black muzzle was back.