***One Night Prior to Second Opening ***

Shining Armor sat at his desk, attempting to get caught up on city affairs before the big portal reopening. During the first two days he expected there to be a massive movement of ponies coming from Earth into Equestria, then negotiators from various Earth nations would most likely visit to speak to the two and a half year old government newly established in Equestria in what time was left. That government was Celestia, himself, and a slew of clerks for the treaties and contracts sure to drown him. He already dreaded the next few days. Right now he was examining a scroll. It was some peace agreement the thestrals down south had made with some cats or something. He had read it several times and still didn't understand what the request was about. Were they asking for Equestria's permission or just informing them of agreements made in Celestia's name long before Discord's Curse? Really, he didn't care. This was the least of his worries with the portal appointment fast approaching. A knock on his study's door frame got his attention. It was his princess, Celestia.

"No rest for the weary?" Celestia asked softly. He noticed the bags under her eyes. The last several days had been harrowing for everypony, and neither of the de facto elements of government had gotten much sleep with the impending opening of the portal weighing on them.

Shining shook his head. "Indefinitely suspended until I can get all THIS mess situated." He waved the scroll at her, "This is more of the unimportant mess I do not need to read." He tossed the scroll to the floor and planted his head on the desk as Celestia walked in.

"Dear Captain, all issues are important, even if we personally do not feel so. A tiny ripple can have devastating effects as a tsunami, given enough ocean to run in." Wisdom delivered with a tired voice just didn't have that oomph to placate him.

"It doesn't look like you came here about a ripple, Princess. How may I serve?" Celestia snorted softly in response.

"I have made a plan concerning the guard Civil Patrol." In response, Shining groaned and twisted his neck to work some kinks out.

"What did he get his muzzle into this time?"

Celestia smiled. "Right now, nothing. Given his inability to...how shall I put this, fit in? I have thought a long time on this. I believe he should return to Earth." Shining sat up.

He asked her, "As an ambassador or something else? He is not a political player. With respect to your judgement...Tartarus, he's not even good AROUND political players. What brought this on?"

Celestia walked over to a comfortable looking set of pillows and slumped down on them, very unmare-like. She glanced around, noticing certain touches only a particular mare named Rarity could have been responsible for. Shining just wasn't the decorator type. "A vivid dream. As well as something you mentioned about how he conducts his affairs with others, oddly enough. He throws himself headlong into every mystery he comes across and yet fails to follow some of the simpler orders from his sergeants. He has attempted many duties within the guard, though he seldom stays put or embraces his position, or the position he's supposed to be guarding. In a way, it feels like he is searching for something."

Shining replied, "He's not the greatest guard, but are you saying he is trying to make up for what happened when Discord first attacked?" Celestia nodded. "I can see that, but I don't think his behavior is reckless. I've evaluated him in life-threatening situations, he's no coward and not a danger to others." Shining looked down at his desk in thought. "The investigations you mentioned him running, the tangents he goes off on, it's like he has too much creative thinking for the average guard." He looked up as though he had asked a question.

Celestia's eyes lit up and she nodded, "Yes, exactly! While much of that is a good quality in the Guard, he lacks the freedom to run with it. Most of their duties is in protection of pony and property. We have other ponies to sniff things out."

Shining waved a hoof, "Make him a special agent." A shocked look from her was met with a deadpan stare. "Oh, don't give me that, I know about your secret network, the Solar Wind." Celestia hissed softly at his open admittance to what should have been an unknown agency.

She asked in a perturbed manner, "Is it too much to ask how you found out?" Shining grinned and dug out a file. The author's name on it was Civil Patrol. She peered at it and groaned, continuing, "Perhaps I do not want to know. In any event, I had thought of that, but he is too well known, and too stigmatized. While I truly abhor making this decision based on his cutie mark, and trust me, it is not solely on that, it does factor into it greatly." She clenched her jaw and looked away, not sure how else to voice her mind.

Shining sat back and thought about it for a few minutes in the ensuing silence. He finally said, "On Earth, there would be less pressure on him about his mark. And given how society is currently in the United States, he could flourish as something more than just a guard or a sentry." Celestia's face brightened.

"You are in agreement?"

Shining nodded slowly. "As always, you have final judgement, but it's not so bad an idea now that I think about it. Given what we know, it might be better for him. Although," He paused, his brow furrowed. "He would be a human. Knowing how pegasi are about their wings, this would be looked on as a cruel punishment."

The princess smiled. "I have taken care of that. He will keep his wings going through."

Mild surprise danced across Shining's face, but he let it go. Powerful magic to overcome that of a portal was not his affair. "I take it you have informed him of his new assignment?"

Celestia replied, "Not yet. This must be handled delicately. I just wanted some final thoughts on the matter. With my sister still on the other side, I've had to lean on you a lot for much needed counseling. I apologize for any discomfort I have caused you."

Shining shook his head, stepped out from behind the desk and lowered himself on one knee while she sat on her thrown of pillows. "I serve you and Equestria. That will never change."

A titter from his princess caused him to rise with a questioning look. Celestia tilted her head, "I do believe you also serve Rarity now, yes?" The answering blush on his face garnered the response she was looking for. She smiled, feeling the warmth of love from him to his betrothed. Celestia got up and headed for the doorway. "I shall make the proper arrangements these next few hours. If you could, make sure he gets there before it closes. I would like you with me at the time of opening, your troops will need your direction to manage the flood of ponies homeward bound. I will also announce his new assignment publicly to him, make his journey official. Also, make sure the proper documents are delivered to accommodate Earth's delegation. I expect them to come through after my little ponies do." Shining nodded obediently. Celestia continued, "As to Civil's journey, I plan to request somepony staying on the other side to help him once he returns to Earth. I believe Rainbow Dash is to pass on your wedding plans. I can pull aside a returning refugee and find out who has been helping them and if they stayed behind. It will be good for him to have some kind of support infrastructure to ease him back into society...whatever society is like now." She closed her eyes, feeling the lack of sleep starting to catch up to her. Or perhaps it was the years. "Two and a half years. Has their world accepted our existence yet, or are they still on the verge of war with us, and themselves?" Her captain of the guard could only shrug. Matters of state were so much more convoluted than matters of military. His princess headed for the door. "Make sure he has not gotten into another hare-brained scheme and is...missing, at the time of the closure. I have already sent guards to search for him, though they had doubts they could find him."

Shining nodded again, "I shall be on him like an over-exercised unicorn on a Smartie." That earned a chuckle from the white alicorn as she made her way out. Sure thing, keep track of Civil Patrol. How hard could that be?

*** 2 Days After the Second Opening, 1 Day Before Closure***

While Celestia had taken care of 'most' of the important things leading up to the great second opening, Shining Armor was neck deep in the things he hated most, paperwork. Sure he was there with her for the opening, and Civil was still missing. He had rushed back after the first day, knowing full well the tide of incoming ponies was going to go for another day. Upon his return to the castle, Civil was still missing. Fires literally lit under pony plots was the perfect motivation to redouble their search efforts.

"No! No no no, these are the wrong documents! Look, it says cross-CONTINENTAL here, not cross-dimensional. Yes, there is a big difference." The unicorn clerk scurried away with a pile of scrolls floating after her. Shining paced his office, occasionally rubbing his temples. He was going on only a few hours sleep these last several days. Since the portal had opened, he'd been organizing treaties and writs via a string of unicorns teleporting them between Canterlot and Ponyville. He glanced at the waterclock on his desk, running time tables in his head. Time was ticking down until the portal closed, with a mountain of tasks yet to be done. Three days was a short window, two and a half years a long wait to correct any mistakes made. This next batch of documents had to get to Ponyville for Celestia to review and discuss with the dignitaries. They would just make it, he felt. Except for one nagging thorn.

The clerk returned with a new scroll, mane all in a mess. The castle occupants were feeling the pressure today. Shining immediately levitated the document over to himself and scanned it briefly. "Perfect! This was the last one, too." The clerk sighed, but perked up when Shining continued, "Now gather every pony you can find and load up the chariots with the scrolls, contracts and gifts. They should already be categorized by continent and nation of Earth, sub-grouped by each Equestrian race's own requests. Go!" The unicorn literally hopped a few inches before taking off like a bullet. Shining sighed. He didn't have the finesse of his fiance for running a fashion business, but he knew time tables. Limited time meant limited smiles. A knock at the doorway got his attention. A royal guard stood at attention just outside the door. "Yes, Stalwart Stride? You finally found him?"

The armored unicorn gave only the tiniest indication of irritation in her eyes when she replied, "Yes, Captain. He was milling about Trottingham's upper quarter, harassing the local gentry on their whereabouts on the night of...it doesn't matter, sir. Suffice to say, the blank flank was informed of your summons and accompanied me without incident. I must also add you will be getting a visit from a Lord Neigh Sayer. A most negative visit, if you will forgive my opinion, sir. Topics will include a perpetual lightning storm over his manor. And severe static cling. Sir."

Shining was NOT in the mood for getting visits from anypony that had Lady or Lord in their title. Not this week. He snorted, "Hah, he can take it up with the princess during day court. Civil Patrol, step inside. Now." The guard stood aside as a white pegasus adorned in the Royal Guard armor walked in, calm and collect, considering he had a grumpy unicorn captain addressing him. His black mane was cleanly kept under his helmet. At least he could look professional, if not act it on occasion. His matching black tail only thrashed slightly. His bearing needed work. "We have been looking everywhere for you! And what were you doing outside the boundary of your jurisdiction? Again?" He grated out the last word.

Civil raised his chin slightly. "I was following a lead to an illegal salt lick chop shop. They have been importing blocks of sea ice from the Glistening Isles, a protected province, and were cutting the salt with moose extract. I have reason to believe the moose extract comes from very high up in one of the nearby cities-" He was cut off by a very raucous laugh from Shining. Oh sweet Celestia, Shining thought to himself, this he did not need.

"Stalwart, you are free to go. Please be sure my chariot is ready, we will be leaving soon for Ponyville." The guard saluted and trotted away with a purpose. Civil maintained his bearing, staring straight ahead. Shining stepped closer and walked to his side while looking down at his flank. Normally his armor would permit the viewing of one's cutie mark so that others would know their specialty. But not this pegasus. It was blank. He looked up at Civil and said, "At ease, Civil. You are not in trouble, this time." The pegasus relaxed a little. He still knew well to behave around superiors. "Mostly. You were only supposed to observe the trafficking of contraband to and from the Canterlot lower city housing, by order of Princess Celestia. We are trying to rebuild there and we cannot afford the younger foals getting hooked on some of the more exotic products out there now that we have integrated a lot more races from across this world."

Civil tilted his head, "I felt there was something to this. Things connected and I followed them. The moose extract in particular-" Shining's low growl cut him off.

"I am supplying the moose extract!" Civil blinked in surprise. "Yes. In case you haven't figured it out, I was conducting a trace spell via the extract, thus we could follow it through the various networks and once we had a map of all the entities involved, we could send in our guards to confiscate and incarcerate. IF, by Celestia's phat (PH!) flank, you haven't screwed up the entire operation!" Civil looked away as he replayed everything in his mind, the clues, the different connections he had made. With Shining's admission, it was obvious to him now. "I was supposed to finalize the raid once the portal opening was concluded and things had settled down, BEFORE any Earth refugees could get hooked. I hope your crap hasn't delayed my operation, or bungled it completely."

Civil gritted his teeth, "Buck."

Shining's eye twitched. After a minute, he relented. "Don't worry, criminals are creatures of habit. For all we know, your independent pressure has probably blinded them to my impending raid, made them think you are a loner while the rest of us are busy elsewhere doing real guard work. One time your dubious reputation helps you." Civil clenched his jaw. "As it were, I do want to know about the lightning storm and how you even created one. Last I checked, you failed Cloudsdale standards in weather creation."

The pegasus looked away guiltily, "Jumping on an active storm to form lightning is the easy part. Creating it...I had some help from a couple of foalhood friends. They live in Cloudsdale, if you have to ask, but I'll take full responsibilty-"

"Screw it, I don't care." An exasperated sigh brought Civil's gaze back. Shining's eyes hardened, "Okay, Civil. I can't stress this enough. I need you to follow my next set of orders, and quickly. Can you do that?" The pegasus nodded. "Good, there is hope for you yet. I have a new assignment for you. This is directly from Princess Celestia herself, just so you understand how important it is. I have to go on ahead and deliver documents in time for her to review, but you are to check in with the quartermaster and turn in all your armor and equipment, then catch the next chariot available and fly to Ponyville. DO NOT DEVIATE from these orders, got it?"

Civil nodded, a nervous look on his face. Shining gave him a curt nod, "Good. We're all in a rush, so hop to it." Civil stepped back and walked out of the office. He found a guard waiting for him, the same mare who had escorted him to the office. Without a word, the guard led him down the hallway and past several offices until he got to the wing of the castle that held the armory. The guard he was following turned to him and held out a hoof.

"I will need you to remove your armor. Per orders, everything you have is to be left behind."

Civil frowned, but did as he was told. Once his gear was hooved off to the guard, he was promptly led down another series of hallways, this time to an open courtyard where several chariots and pegasi awaited. Several more were empty and awaited their cargo, a group of unicorns magic-lifting goods and documents into them. In fact, Civil noticed an ornately decorated one already climbing away faster than the others, Shining Armor already aboard. His captain wasn't kidding when he said they were in a rush. Stalwart stepped up onto a chariot that was singled out away from the others. This must have been the one designated for him. Civil glanced back the way he came.

"Let's go, soldier!" That was enough to get Civil moving. The instant he stepped on, the fliers harnessed to their ride spread their wings and yanked the entourage into the air, the ground cracking from the force. Despite spells of inertial dampening having been cast on the chariot, Civil still almost lost his balance.

Several minutes in the air were spent in silence until Civil finally spoke up, "How bad did I screw up?"

The guard regarded him for a moment, then answered, "As typical of your luck, I'm told it wasn't that bad." Civil had a confused look. "To clarify, it's what the Captain said. If a Royal Guard was poking around and investigating an illegal operation, there is less likelihood that said operation was already infiltrated by us." The guard sighed, shaking her head. "I know you believe in luck, but that is not something to bank your life on, Civil. You got lucky on this one."

Civil took on a petulant expression. "I don't think I'm inherently lucky. I just make my own luck." The guard just groaned inwardly. Civil frowned, "Stalwart Stride, is it?"

The mare nodded slightly. "Fine. It's a matter of splitting hairs at this point. In any case, the Captain has briefed me on your new assignment, which starts in Ponyville, more or less. That's where we are going, if you were wondering." After having gotten away from the chaos in the castle and the rush to get things to the portal, Civil was finally able to think clearly. He never even asked what all these new orders were about, other than they might have something to do with the portal since it was open currently and was going to shut soon.

"So, I'm to guard the portal or something? Or guard Ponyville, or guard the edge of the Everfree? Usually a guarding thing when it comes to new locations."

The slow rocking of the flight was actually putting them into a relaxed mood. She smiles and shrugged. "Look, I only know what I was told, just like you. Get some rest. I doubt you will find any for a good while when we land."

An hour or two of rest couldn't hurt, Civil thought to himself. Wouldn't be much change to his dreams either, he thought dourly, but he settled down and was soon asleep.

***

"Out of my way! You are not even worth the energy. I am here for them!" The voice jarred Civil's consciousness, as it always did. It was an open field, dotted with trees. Canterlot was in the distance, on fire. Discord stood before the pegasus, who in turn was shielding two unicorn fillies with his wings. The dream, again.

Once a given pony had reverted back to their original form, they tended to get their memories back over time if unaided with magic. After over two years living in Equestria again, Civil had regained most of his. His fellow guards had also regained theirs, of times before the attack. And from those memories, rumors had started to form, mainly concerning Civil during Discord's attack. While Shining Armor could never get a straight answer from Civil, he knew it was something that troubled the pegasus deeply. When Discord had started his attack on Canterlot, it was well known Civil had fled with most of the citizens instead of holding his post at the castle gates. It was never understood if it was fear or some desire to possibly reach his family. Civil's only reply to the inquiry had been 'If the princesses and the strongest of us had failed, what could I do? I was needed elsewhere' and had left it at that. Shining and Celestia had let it go, but the explanation had isolated him from most of the guards. Only a few guessed something else was going on, though nopony ever got a straight answer from Civil. The reason was simple. He wasn't sure if he had made a mistake. Should he have told those two fillies off, the ones that had run up to him crying because they couldn't find their parents while the city burned and there was mass panic in the streets, or did he do right in helping them get back to their home?

He had escorted them to the outskirts of the city where they said their house was, only to find their home destroyed. From that point on it was a game of cat and mouse. Discord wanted those fillies something fierce, and he had led the corrupt god on a merry chase until he was stranded out in the open, in a field all alone against a living horror.

"Yes, I debated whether or not to even bother with you. Technically you are a Royal Guard. Just not a significant one. Those unicorns behind you on the other paw, well, they would inevitably cause problems. So, in our mutual best interests of not being bothered with such an insignificant nobody as you, move!"

Civil lowered his head, as though acquiescing to the monstrosity before him. "Promise you won't cause them pain."

Discord tapped his chin thoughtfully, reevaluating the troublesome pegasus. "Or what, pray tell?"

Civil began to lower his wings, sensing the change in Discord's demeanor. He needed to play on that, so he said, "I am not demanding or negotiating. I am only asking, for their sake."

Discord smiled. Ah, this one was afraid of pain in others. A common weakness in these ponies. Deservedly weak in this one. "Hmm, very well, I'll play too! I can only promise it won't hurt as much as one's own birth hurts. Or life itself, as it is to be the case. Now, move."

In a moderately loud voice, Civil said to the fillies, "Close your eyes, think about how your parents love you. I am sure you will see them again." He lowered his voice to a whisper and said, "When I yell 'teleport', get into that hole we dug a while ago and cover up, got it?" In their fear, they had surprisingly clear minds as they nodded, accepting his instructions. He watched the mismatched creature as it eyed him.

Discord muttered loudly, "True, most either fled or fought. You fled with the first wave...but here you stand in front of the innocent, accepting fate like a good little pony. I shall give you a gift. You never would have found your way, here, not in this perfect little world. Only the truly intelligent would see I am doing you a favor. You are meant to see suffering, and so I shall give it. Conquest must continue! For five score divided-"

Civil leapt onto Discord's head, flapping his wings wildly while gripping Discord's snout with his hind legs. He punched as savagely as he could muster at Discord's eyes with his front hooves, yelling, "Teleport! Teleport!" The fillies did as they were told and ran for a hole the three had been preparing for just such an event. Once the unicorns scampered in, they covered themselves up with leaves and twigs. Hopefully it was enough.

The fight was short-lived, as viciously as it had started. Civil managed to knock out one eyeball and it was rolling around on the ground of it's own accord. Discord roared and grabbed at Civil's wing with his lion's paw and tore the pegasus off of him, throwing him to the ground. There was a sickening crack as he landed on his front left foreleg, the leg bent at a place where there was no joint. Discord noticed something and muttered, "Now there I've gone and thrown my arm out of whack." He stalked over and picked up his arm that was still attached to Civil's wing, causing the pegasus to be picked up as well. Discord shook it violently and finally the paw let go, dropping the pegasus back down on ground with a yelp escaping Civil's mouth. his wing was pulled out of the socket, dislocated. Civil attempted to stand, but the pain in his leg and wing were too much. He collapsed, a small sound escaping his otherwise gritted teeth. Discord made a grunt as he stuck his arm back onto his body.

"Pathetic. All your..." Discord stopped and looked down, "Ah, there you are." He picked up his eye and popped it back in. "Now where was eye?" The eyeball finally spun around to the front and righted itself. "Oh, yes. All your heroics have done is merely delayed me a few minutes. Better ponies than you have done more in less time. You are no hero."

Civil picked his head up off the ground and gave Discord a pained smile, "My father always told me the difference between a normal pony and a hero is just a few minutes."

Discord's eyes narrowed, "Sentimental drivel. At least I will be rid of that nonsense for a thousand years." He walked around the pegasus, prodding him now and then with a toe to make sure he wasn't dying on him. "Like I said, I had thought you beneath my notice, and this was to be a gift. Very well, you have been promoted from inconsequential failure of the Guard to annoying failure of the Guard. Annoying means you get the same as all the others."

Before he could begin his spell, Civil interrupted him, "I forgive you."

Discord stammered and swallowed the word 'five' that was about to burst from his mouth. "Huh? You are stalling again."

"No. I've done what I can. This is just you and me. You are pure chaos, not so much evil as you are simply self-driven, selfish, and your agenda is hidden to all. Which means nopony will ever understand you completely, or love you, and I think that is very very sad. So when you kill me, at least know that I forgive you."

Discord was about to blast the annoying pegasus and THEN spell him away...but he paused, reminded of Fluttershy. He started to speak, then stopped, looked away, then back at Civil. Then he snorted and sat down in front of the struggling pegasus. "I'm not going to kill you. Truth is I have not killed anypony, yet, just removed you all from this reality. Slight difference, but it makes ALL the difference." The god tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose you are right, no other creature will ever understand me. But I've learned to live with that long ago. Long before I ever thought of conquest, at any rate. I could mention that I sense the unicorns just over there, that way," He nodded his head toward the hidden fillies, "But I'll let you wallow in your last few seconds of misery knowing that, yes, you did good, you saved them. Oh, who am I kidding, not really!"

The creature stood and asked, grinning, "Ready to find out what I'm going to do to them, too?" Civil tried to crawl towards Discord, pushing for each last second so Discord wouldn't be searching for the unicorns. "Mm, I shall take that as a yes. For five score, divided by four..."

He had failed. Civil made a decision to protect two small unicorns, left his post and in doing so could have endangered other countless ponies, only to fail at protecting just two of them. How do you answer your peers questioning you with an answer that said it didn't amount to a hill of beans anyway? Sure, the princesses were cursed, Elements cursed, nearly the whole population cursed. He hated when others rationalized, so he wasn't about to do it. He had merely given them the answer he thought would placate them, yet it did not placate him. He wondered if anything ever would.

**In Ponyville Near the portal**

"...and don't forget to mention the wedding. It's not like we can move the date a few days or even months." Shining Armor normally was calm and collect when it came to tight scheduling windows and time tables requiring strict execution. He could weather a war against Discord and even world-wide apocalypses on two worlds. Screw up a wedding with Rarity? Tartarus hath no Nightmare like a Rarity scorned.

Rainbow waggled her wings back at Shining, "Yeah yeah, no problem!" She raised a hoof as if counting off invisible fingers, "Say hello, check on how they are doing, say goodbye, wedding, find Irony and tell her she's getting a package, done!" She made her way through the crowd as several royal guards were attempting to disperse the incoming crowd slowly building around the portal. Before jumping through the mirror, Rainbow admired the memorial that was put in place around the portal, stonework depicting the epic battle between Discord and Rainbow, and yes the other Mane Five, as Rainbow smirked to herself. She yelled, "Okay, let's get this over with!" and leapt through the portal.

Shining worked his jaw a little. "She went in without clothing," he said to himself.

A soft chuckle nearby reminded him he wasn't alone. Celestia gave Shining a soft smile, "I am sure it will be alright. She wasn't staying long, I overheard? There should be only ponies around the portal on the other side, from what I was informed, so I have substantial doubt she will cause a disturbance."

"And human dignitaries from all over Earth to visit us. This is Rainbow Dash we are talking about."

"...small doubt."

** Earthside **

Rainbow Dash had come through without any magical help, or modesty, so naturally she was a very nice looking woman with auburn hair and no clothing. The present company consisted of ponies. Someone had arranged any humans to be well out of sight so as not to insight a stampede from the outgoing ponies, so no harm no foul. Lightning Dust had just finished introducing Rainbow to her herd and they were starting to wrap things up, what with the multitude of tasks needing to be done in both worlds.

"You will visit when the portal opens again?" Irony asked of the auburn haired woman.

Rainbow nodded, "Rarity and Shining will be getting married here the next time the portal opens. But for now, we are going to focus on getting Equestria back in the shape it needs to be in."

They finished up their goodbyes and Rainbow started to turn away. Dust looked at her family and said, "Let's go home." Then she heard human fingers snap behind her.

It was Rainbow, still there, still naked. "Oh, almost forgot! Princess Celestia needs Irony for a special favor, some kind of package she is delivering through the portal. Something about you staying behind to help ponies. On that note, I'm outy!" With that, she jogged for the portal, speeding up as though it might close any second and she'd be stuck as a non-pegasus, perish the thought.

Irony glanced at Dust, who in turn nodded with a smile, "We'll wait for you. If the princess is requesting you handle something, it must be important." Dust raised her voice and yelled as Rainbow reached the portal, "Outy?! Last I checked you were a vivacious inny!"

Rainbow stumbled and went in headfirst at a dead run.

Dust fell down on the ground laughing, "Happy landings, Dash! You know that's going to leave a mark!"

Irony walked by and bopped Dust on the nose with her hoof. "I would chastise you on the civility of that, but since it's between two stiff-winged ponies with no sense of civility at all, why waste my breath." Dust grinned unabashedly. She knew how Irony REALLY felt about her stiff wings. Irony headed for the portal and waited. A cream colored unicorn walked by and was about to step through when Iron cleared her throat. "Are you heading over permanently?"

The unicorn smiled brightly and shook her head. "Nope! Just have to get some hard to find ingredients for a special friend. Things we started remembering about home and can't find here, you know?"

Irony raised a brow out of concern, "But won't you be a human when you come back?"

The other pony smiled and shrugged, "Yep! That's part of it, actually. Even if I could have learned magic as a unicorn, I was always good with my hands. Arts and crafts, cooking, growing a garden, that sort of thing." She looked down at her hooves. "I just don't get that feeling with these. And this horn...it seems impersonal, like someone plunked it on my head and said, 'Go forth, be unicorny.' Does that make sense?"

A single thought back to swinging her hammer at the forge and she nodded. "I know exactly what you mean." She noticed her lover Dust still laughing. "By the way, can you find out how Rainbow handled going through? She looked unstable on her way in."

The unicorn grinned and held up a smart phone strapped to her hoof, "I saw that. Definitely taking pictures of the aftermath." Irony smiled and gave her a number to text pictures to later. "I need to pass on a message to the princess that the ambassadors are ready, then onto an exotic ingredients store I heard was still standing in Ponyville. Sometimes there is a silver lining!" She giggled and stepped through with a magical thrum.

The bipedal pony mulled over what the other one had said. She muttered to herself, "Unless that silver lining is lightning buildup."

***Equestria-side***

The next several minutes after Rainbow left were passed by Celestia and Shining discussing such mundane topics as the reconstruction phase of, well, all of Equestria. Two and a half years wasn't near enough time to get things back to some semblance of normalcy. Shining wasn't sure if it would ever be put back together, but Celestia had a lot more confidence. Afterall, she had been alive a long time to see lots of destruction and rebuilding. This period of turmoil shall also pass.

The noise of several flapping thestral wings and the landing of a chariot caused both of them to turn their heads and watch as two guards arrived in one of the chariot transports. When the chariot came to a stop, they stepped off and approached Celestia and Shining Armor, one of them a somewhat unenthusiastic pegasus. Civil felt very vulnerable out of his armor, especially now that he was before his princess.

Celestia smiled at them when they approached and asked, "Hello, loyal ponies. How was your trip?" Before they could answer, Rainbow Dash flew out of the portal head first and plowed into the ground, scattering several ponies that weren't quite listening to the guards to move out of the way for incoming ponies.

She picked herself up and spat out dirt. "Message delivered!" She proceeded to brush off all the dust and debris she picked up on her 'landing'.

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow and replied, "My guards' trip must have been less harrowing than...hers."

Celestia chuckled and walked over to Rainbow, "My little pony, was being human for a few minutes so abhorrent you had to get out of there with reckless abandon?"

Rainbow scoffed and hopped up into the air, sighing at the freedom of returned flight, "What? Yah, I mean, no! I have an awesome bod in both worlds. I was just, um, stumbling." Clearly there was more to it.

A lilting voice from behind said, "Dust was right, looks like that did hurt." A light cream colored unicorn with flowers for a cutie mark walked up to the gathering, phone held out in front of her as she took pictures of the furrow plowed in the dirt by Rainbow. She smiled kindly up at the dirt covered Rainbow before addressing her ruler with a bent knee, "Forgive the intrusion, Princess Celestia. Herbal List, at your service. I'm only here for a small errand. I was to inform you about the delegates, as well. They are ready to come through." She glanced at Rainbow, "And to tell Dust's family about Rainbow's journey when I got back. A game of pegasi posturing and peacocking, I believe?"

The flying pegasus scoffed. "Yeah, whatever. You can tell Dust when we were both guys, I had a bigger co..." Rainbow eyed the princess in her midst, along with Shining, Herbal, and the white male pegasus standing there watching her keenly. Oh yeah, and all the male guards present. "...eh, c...oooomeback, planned. Comeback. Next time. But that's for next time. I said that already. Yeah, BIG comeback. Humongous, so she better get ready for the next opening. Cuz it is ON! Tell her. Definitely BIG-" Celestia reached up with her long leg and placed a hoof on Rainbow's muzzle.

"Yes, I believe your sentiment has been received."

Herbal stood back up and grinned, tilting her head. "You pegasi are all about comparisons. I will be sure to tell her. And I promise to use the word 'big' several times." Rainbow started taking on a deep blush before zipping off in a random direction. The princess chuckled softly. Herbal continued smiling as she watched her fly away, then made to walk away from Celestia while saying, "I apologize, but I must get to my errand. There is little time left."

Celestia nodded her head, "Of course, little one." The unicorn hurried away, making a beeline for a shop that specialized in exotic food ingredients. Celestia watched her go, then turned her attention to the guards. "Civil, please step forward." The white pegasus tentatively walked up to her. He could not detect anything on her face, though he had seen plenty of angry expressions from her in the past. She levitated a sealed scroll over to herself. While her horn glowed and the scroll had everypony's attention, she began to weave another spell, subtle, yet with far reaching implications. If it were pitch black outside, one would see a faint glow about Civil's body. She continued, "This is a personal matter, though I decree this in public. I hope you will forgive me." She winced in saying it, all the while feeling guilty about how she felt. "This scroll is to remain sealed until presented to an Irony Shieldbreaker. She is on the other side and I happen to know her herd has been helping all wayward ponies there. You are no exception, and I do believe you need help which I, through all my power and standing, cannot deliver here, except through this."

While Shining shifted uncomfortably and Civil stood there nervously, she sighed heavily and continued, "Civil Patrol, I have watched you for a long time, both before Discord's Curse, and after the Great Return. I am quite concerned about your pursuits that have continued to steer towards guard work in your attempt to follow your family's tradition." Civil nodded, not quite following where she was going with this. "I personally feel your hardship over the loss of your father and grandfather, and while we have sent inquiries into your mother's whereabouts this side of the portal, it is possible she may still be somewhere on Earth."

Civil's face darkened, despite the heartfelt consoling of his princess. The subject of his mother was an especially sensitive thing. After all the years it was publically known that his mother had passed away, Celestia was taking a huge risk in allowing Civil to believe in something beyond hope. The princess had checked a certain vault
since the battle with Discord...and circumstances had changed. The last two years had been especially rough on Civil, she knew. He had been trying to piece together his life, had reconnected with few friends, and with no other family members this side of the portal, this really was for the best.

Celestia sighed internally. She knew this next part would be especially painful, but it had to be done. Not for any danger to Equestria, but for him. It was vital if he was to live a happy life. "So it is with great sorrow that I banish you to Earth until such time as you have acquired a spiritually homogenized existence to the extent that your life matrix is no longer in flux and has become a series of compatible reciprocal life phases."

Civil stared at the princess. He had been listening up to the point of 'banish you to Earth'. After that it was a series of sounds that might have meant something. He vaguely remembered the word 'matrix' in there somewhere.

Shining, his loyalty unquestioned both before and after the Curse, mouthed aside, "W. T. Tartarus, Princess?"

Celestia addressed the captain, "Certain things must be done in certain ways. Please escort this lost pegasus to his destination."

Shining did his best to hide any expression of what he was feeling, his duties always of the highest importance to him. He bowed stiffly, showing slight disapproval of the process though, "As you wish." With that, he gently grabbed the stunned pegasus by the back of the neck with his hoof, snatched the scroll with his own magic and slowly ushered Civil to the portal. The princess watched as the two approached the glowing vertical pool of magic. Her horn was still glowing, if anypony was curious enough to notice. Instead, they all had eyes on the two near the portal. The pegasus hesitated as he got close, with Shining barely making an attempt to solidify the deal. They both have good hearts, Celestia thought to herself. A single brightening pulse of her already glowing horn lifted Civil off his hooves and magically chucked him through the portal, the scroll following him. A stunned Shining just stared into the portal, not believing what he had just witnessed. It was a good thing, or he would have seen his princess' legs tremble from the exertion she had put herself through. She was able to regain her composure before he returned to her.

"With respect and everything we owe you...but that was foul! You banish him, AND then you throw him in. You threw him! I can't believe I'm even saying it, let alone having witnessed you do it. And now he is banished as a human?! He fought for us at this very spot, fought for you!"

She nodded her head in response, "I agree, but this was necessary, for reasons beyond even my understanding. Know this, though, he did not go completely stripped of his heritage. I cast a spell on him that will retain his form through the portal." Shining stared at her, bereft of words. She smiled, "An ancient centering spell that protects the mind, body, and soul as a single entity. Much like inertial dampening in a tank of water. The whole vessel stays as one, regardless of what forces are exerted on it from the outside."

Shining slowly nods, though that does little to deter his questioning. "Portal magic, as it were." He stares at her again, "Homogenized existence to the extent that his life matrix is no longer in flux?"

"Until he accepts who he is."

The white unicorn sat back with a contemplative look. "Huh. A sneaky fellow could figure that out in one day and pop back over."

Celestia shook her head. "Not him. He doesn't think like that. A blessing and a curse for being a straight arrow. Has he ever tried to lie to you?"

The unicorn shook his head and chuckled, "No...well, yes, one time. He was so bad at it he prescribed his own punishment before I could lift a hoof. I never had to worry about him in that department. Other departments..." He shuddered.

Celestia replied, still staring at the portal, "Indeed. Of his strengths and weaknesses, unwavering integrity may be his greatest gift, and ours. Hopefully he will make friends before he returns, to help him find himself. I never placed a consequence in the decree should he return prior, regardless of his success or failure. He will figure out that much, though it will take time, so it should be fine."

There was just something wrong about all of this. This required further poking, and Shining felt as Captain of the Guard his position gave him the freedom to do so. "Like how he figured out who the Midnight Cake Pilferer was? I never did get to see his report on that one. Civil handed it directly to you and you sealed it away to an unknown location, with several memory wipe spells to every aide that ever hooved it, if I am correct."

Celestia's hair style stopped flowing for a fraction of a second before it continued. "Apparently I missed one," she muttered. She raised her voice, devoid of emotion. "Yes. Like that. And certainly his banishment is not for that."

Shining watched her, brow furrowed. "He didn't accuse one of the nobles again, did he? I really don't want to deal with their whining about their beauty sleep being ruined by one of my errant guards over cake-"

"Nono, it, ah, was not them."

He chuckled, "Then who is this vile thief that I must rouse the wrath of the guards, search the city for the pillager of confectionery during OUR watch! That heinous sinner...no!" Celestia had been shying away the whole time while Shining voiced his tirade. He had only been mocking the incident until something clicked. He was serious now. "YOU!?!" The lack of an answer was deafening. Shining sat back on his haunches, despite the need to keep up military bearing in public display. "You highness." He glanced around and lowered his voice, "To send him through the portal and in that fashion...for that? You need help. If I might recommend-"

Celestia swung her head around quickly to glare at Shining, "That is quite enough, thankyou! I would never put my own desires before the welfare of any of my little ponies!"

He nodded from the chastisement, "Your judgement is final, of course. And unquestioned."

Celestia's brief flareup had to be from lack of sleep. She sighed and nuzzled his cheek softly, "Never unquestioned. Blind service is unasked for and most horrible in practice." She straightened, his cheeks turning slightly red. "My reasons for sending him are pure and just. You asked yesterday if I had made the right decision. I know you are keenly aware of what we've all been through, in both worlds. I think he will do well on his journey. The manner in which it was done, yes it is controversial, but he was likely to balk if he were given a choice. That cake incident...shall not be discussed anymore. In any case, I shall bear the weight of this decision as much as he will, like all decisions I have made in the past and future. Making the right choice seldom feels good."

Shining stood and bowed his head. "No, but it can feel right. The dignitaries should be arriving soon. Are you ready for them?"

Celestia chuckled. "I had to endure Civil Patrol's investigations of the littlest things for two and a half years. Pandering officials bickering over trade rights from two worlds should be a walk in the garden." Shining chuckled.

***Earthside***

Irony waited next to the portal, making sure there was enough room. She was glad she did. A white pegasus came flying out and crumbled right there in front of her. Clearly he had not simply walked through, but was thrown. A sealed scroll popped out of the portal too, and bounced off his head. The pegasus looked up from his landing and asked in a slight state of shock, "Miss Shieldbreaker?"

She looked down at the pegasus and nodded. Bending over, she picked up the scroll, noting her name on it. She opened it. "Apparently this is meant for me. When she said 'package' I thought she meant something bigger, not this...huh...scroll...." She stopped talking as she noticed he was a pegasus, not a human. Wait, a pegasus just came through to THIS side of the portal! Her stunned look was mirrored by several other ponies and humans, including Irony's herd. As the pegasus picked himself up and got out of the way of a torrent of important looking delegates and ambassador humans jostling to go through, Irony slowly broke open the seal and began to unroll the scroll, all the while staring at the strange pony. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you maintain your form?"

The pegasus hadn't heard a thing. He only muttered in shock, "She banished me. She really banished me. How could she banish me?! WHY did she...?" In disbelief, Irony's eyes flew to the scroll in her hands. Her look changed from confused, to bothered, to horrified as she unrolled it completely. Banished? What could he have possibly done to deserve banishment!?! She started reading the scroll, hoping there was more to this.

Dear Irony,

Civil Patrol is NOT banished. As you will discover, he is without a cutie mark, thus without direction. I believe it is from further collateral damage regarding Discord, or possibly something else he is meant to do, but not here in Equestria. It is hard to explain other than to say the conditions are not right for his 'perfect storm,' a pegasus metaphor to mark his moment of enlightenment. I hope that is what they mean, sometimes they vex even myself. In any case, while making him believe he must continue his way on Earth is a dirty move, I feel it will motivate him to seek his destiny without the usual hangups of a pony wanting to return home as many others have been driven to do so. This frees him to truly find who he is, which he cannot do in Equestria. Included is a brief list of his work-related history and accomplishments to help you handle his transition back to Earth society. Along those lines, I chose you mainly because of the stories other ponies have regarding you helping them to come home. I know this is a lot to ask of you, even after all you have done for dear Twilight, and so many others. I can only ask that you help this one as well. He is strong spiritually. Use that strength to get him pointed in the right direction. I used a spell to try and keep him a pegasus, though it is very tricky. If he is still a pegasus, then it worked. If not...send him back, I'll try again. I think keeping his true form is integral to his success. Please grant Civil any request he makes by authority of me, Celestia.

Yours truly,
Celestia

P.S. Goodluck with Civil. And I mean ANY request.

Banishment. True, the letter in her hand straight out contradicted what Civil was saying, but that put Irony in a very awkward position. She glanced over at her herd, all of them waiting expectantly and not without a bit of curiosity, too. She thought of Twilight, of Luna. And then there was Celestia. Irony rubbed the scroll in her fingers, feeling the parchment. Their princesses had never steered them wrong before. Also, Celestia had over a millenia of experience in handling delicate affairs such as this. She had to trust her. So Civil had to trust Irony. Civil Patrol. The name vaguely reminded her of an oddball back before the Curse, some pegasus not quite working out well in the guard. She never came into direct contact with him, so naturally she didn't know him well, just knew of him. And his somewhat embarrassing blank flank status. So this was the one.

"Okay," She finally said, rolling up the scroll and reaching out a human arm to help him up. She was still in her anthro form. "Looks like I've got you now, for at least a little while."

He still appeared to be in shock, though he did try to stand. A whisper escaped his lips, "Why...? I was doing my job. I didn't hurt or kill anypony. Much." He looked back at the portal, then at her. He said softly, "I can never go back, that's what banishment means. I lost my father and grandfather, not far from a spot just on the other side there, over two years ago, and I can't even go back..." He shuddered and his legs buckled. Irony was quick enough to catch him around the barrel and hold him up.

"Woh there, boy. It's not all doom and gloom..." Irony wrestled with what to say next. In retrospect, that WAS a dirty trick. Piss on it, Celestia, she finally thought. This is my soldier now and I have to fix your mess. "Did the princess say you could never go back?" The body in her grip was frozen for a few seconds before he finally got his footing again and stood, though he still seemed shaky. He shook his head. She thought quickly and said, "Think of it this way. It's like, well, a vacation of self-discovery. With an open invitation to come back and tell the princess what you've learned." Listening to Irony's steady voice gave Civil just enough strength to stand on his own. He didn't feel the same positive energy she was trying to project.

"Next time I see her, I'm liable to say something to get me tossed back here," He muttered. She gave him a smirk and slowly led him over to her family. Irony looked down at the pegasus temporarily put in her charge. Young adult, physically fit, from what she could see. Tense as a taught chord in a piano, she noted. She reviewed the short history that was included with the scroll, remembering he had served in the Royal Guard before and after Discord's Curse. He had also had a short career in the Air Force, a navigator for AWACS. She shuddered. That must have been painful, which consequently had put him in a few Earth wars in the last decade. He had also fought in the first wave upon their return to Equestria, losing the only pony family members he knew. A footnote regarding his mother only stated she was still missing, possibly Earthside. She wondered if she could pull some strings and help him look for her later on.

"My herd and I will be leaving soon. Feel free to join us. You can stop by New Beginnings, get your footing...hooving, so to speak, before you decide to move on, or stay if you wish. It has built up pretty well this last year. We'd be happy to help you settle in if you do decide to stay. What do you want to do?"

Civil heard her, word for word. He was hearing a lot of things at the same time, something he had learned to do as a navigator when he was having to listen to multiple radios at once, such as the flight deck comms, the mission crew comms of those in the rear of the AWACS plane, ATC, Guard, plus whatever someone yelled across cockpit. At least his hearing wasn't lopsided anymore, as it had gotten because as a human he would wear his headset half on, exposing one ear to his flight deck crew. There were some perks to leaving his humanity behind, he supposed.

And yet here he was, leaving Equestria behind. He saw movement all over the place, last minute stragglers trying to go to their 'home' through the portal, dignitaries going through to meet the princess, family members hugging each other before departing for possibly two and a half years or longer. Family members of 'other' ponies, he noted bitterly. Not his family. He watched a young colt hug his mother before the little one laughed and all but plowed a path to the portal, possibly to visit grandparents who were too attached to Equestria to come back. For a minute it looked as if Civil hadn't heard a single word Irony was saying. Another last minute hugging by family members individuals embarked caught his attention. Those last ponies, Civil eyed most keenly.

He knew Irony was not his enemy and deserved an answer to her question, so he cleared his throat and said, "I want to go home."

Irony sighed. Of course he would ask that. Grant any request. Right. She took on a grim expression and knelt down to his level. "Look, Civil, I know this is a hard time for you. There are certain procedures to these...kinds of things. The authorities here don't have to know about the circumstances of your return. You could claim asylum, allow yourself to be processed as a refugee. With the state that Equestria is in right now, it wouldn't be unheard of to go that route, plus in the meantime there might be something local for you to do, get a job, maybe..." She continued to come up with different things he could try, how he could explore the world or pick a small town, or even live in New Beginnings, help an up and coming pegasus community living in the sky above it.

Civil raised an eyebrow and let her run out of stuff to say before he spoke up, "Texas, near Dallas. My human folks? That home."

Irony blinked. Oh. She stood up, chewing on the corner of her lip. "You could have clarified that before I started rambling." She saw a slight twinkle in his eye. "You are not entirely an innocent goody two-shoes, are you?"

A weak smile crept onto Civil's muzzle. "Some things I have always struggled with are communication, works and plays well with others, social gatherings. Dancing. I suck at dancing. Just a few things I've struggled with over the years, not that it was anything I did on purpose. I do not lie and I do not sneak around. That I can always guarantee."

Irony nodded her head, smiling back. "I can appreciate that. Texas, then? Dallas is a good ways from here. I would suggest stopping at a pony-friendly town first, like New Beginnings. Get some supplies for the road."

On instinct, Civil reached a wing back for the pouch he normally had hanging just inside his side plate. The armor now properly stowed away in Equestria. He got paler, if that were possible, "Oh come on, they kept my money!"

Irony giggled and leaned forward slightly, "I'm not sure you would come out ahead with the bits to dollar exchange rate." Her levity had limited effect on the 'poor' pegasus. Before he threw himself into a panic, she placed a firm hand on his shoulder, which lessened his fretting, "Hey, it's alright. We'll spot you some cash and make sure you are not stranded. Princess Celestia did say to help you."

Civil furrowed his brow and studied her face. "I'm not a charity case. What else did she say in that scroll?"

It was Irony's turn to look a bit panicked. "Ah. Well, it said...things you needed to do and why, and...it mentioned banishment...dammit don't make me lie. I feel shitty as it is pretending your are banished." She crossed her arms, the scroll crinkling in her hand in irritation.

The rest of the herd had been standing there quietly listening, but Lightning Dust finally couldn't contain herself, "WAIT! He's BANISHED?"

Civil blinked and replied, "Wait, I'm NOT banished?"

Irony huffed and started pushing both Civil and Lightning along closer to the chariot. "It's not charity, you stubborn pegasus." She said, then looked at Lightning, "I'll explain later. Anyway, ponies help ponies. And we are prior military, too. I'll ignore the whole Chairforce, but Semper Fi."

Dust grinned and held up a hoof to Civil, "What she said. Semper Fi. And sorry about you being Chairforce. You didn't actually volunteer for that, did you?" She was all but giggling.

Civil smirked as he bumped hooves with Dust. "Hah hah. I'll have you know we had the best hotel rooms Uncle Sam could buy."

Irony whispered loudly to Dust, "AWACS."

Dust looked at Civil and said with concern, "Buck me, seriously I'm sorry."

Civil rolled his eyes, "Ugh, forget it. It was a thankless assignment, nearly killed my love for flying." He lightly flapped his wings. "But this is better than anything!"

Dust grinned, flapping her own wings, "Hell yeah."

Irony groaned, "If you two are done displaying, we can get him settled in quicker," She noticed Civil's expression and shrugged, "or prepped for his next assignment."

Dust raised an eyebrow, "Oh, not home? Where to?"

Irony waited for them to get settled into the chariots after the rest of the ponies and humans got in. She said, "First, resupply. Then, the rest of his new life." She proceeded to introduce the others to Civil, who was overwhelmed by the large family. There was Dust's human wife Helen, their human daughter Hannah and human son Dylan. Then Moon Shadow, Sunset Shimmer, Gold Dust and finally a very perky Mindy.

Civil looked worried at the crowded chariots, "You sure there is room?"

Dust elbowed Irony, "Sure, there is always room for more!"

Irony ughs. "Always one with the gutter, you know that?" Dust cackled, then sat up.

"By the way....Rainbow?"

Irony was about to say something when her phone pinged. She looked down at it and glanced back at the portal. A human woman who had the brains to wrap a blanket around her had just walked through and was holding a familiar looking cellphone. Irony grinned and pulled up the texts. "Oh, these are glorious. I could swear she is part earth pony...."

As she showed Rainbow's latest landing to a cackling Lightning Dust, the family got their heavy pegasi pullers to hook up to the transports and soon they were in the air, flying to what Civil hoped was a less troublesome future. Luck was not going to help him in that regard, but that was a ways off. For now, he just felt lucky enough to know Irony and her family.

This story briefly parallels Sparky Brony's Dust On The Wind story for continuity and setting, but will diverge with minimal impact. Please read his story for a better background to the Five Score universe, as well as the original Five Score story by Twisted Spectrum.