“Sweetie Belle,” I begin to ask after having a bite of a cupcake. My eyes momentarily dart around Sugarcube Corner, taking in the clientele and architecture. “Why do you let them talk you into doing dangerous things like that?”

The filly looks up from her own half-eaten cupcake, a dollop of frosting on the end of her muzzle. “What do you mean?” she asks a bit defensively. “I wanna do those things!”

“Well, it's obvious you aren't into some of the more extreme stuff you guys do. At times, you look like you want to try something safe like basket weaving.” Unthinking, I levitate a little napkin from a dispenser and gently wipe the frosting from her face. “Apple Bloom may be level-headed and your group's voice of reason, but even she gets caught up in some of Scootaloo's schemes, like the trebuchet. Even from the road I heard you shout that you'd changed your mind, but they still launched you, right?”

“I guess...” She looks down, seemingly not wanting to finish her treat.

“Cheer up kiddo.” Reaching a hoof across the table, I give her a warm smile and gently tousle her mane. “You just need to be more assertive with your friends.”

Sweetie just looks more and more stricken. “That's if Rarity ever lets me see them again.”

“Well hopefully she'll listen to what I have to say, then.” I give her a little smile and levitate her cupcake in front of her face. “I saved your life. My word has to count for something. I promise I'll try.”

“Do you Pinkie Promise?” The corner of her mouth pulls upward.

Suddenly, I feel like somepony's watching me. Undoubtedly those words trigger some sort of Pinkie Sense that summons her upon mention of a Pinkie Promise. Sure enough, when I turn my head slightly, I catch movement in the dirt of a potted plant. Why couldn't she just peer at me from the entrance to the kitchen? That's where she was, wasn't it? “You betcha, Sweetie. Cross my heart, hope to fly,” I cover one eye with a hoof. “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Again I look back to the potted plant, and Pinkie’s head is there nodding and covered in dirt.

Well, now I have to keep that promise that I would try to talk Rarity down forever. “Thank you again... for saving me.” Sweetie smiles and finishes her levitating cupcake. “I just hope you're right about my sister. Sometimes, she's just too intense.”

“Look, I know you're feeling conflicted about me, and you want to think of me as a bad-guy for what I have to do, but you three really do need supervision,” I reply softly, nibbling on my own pastry. “Any one of you could have died today. How do you think they'd all feel if that'd happened?”

She looks thoughtful for a moment before meeting my gaze. “They'd be pretty sad... and probably mad, too.”

I nod soberly. “That's right, hon.” Looking to the door with thoughts of Lyra in my mind, I continue, “They'd be sad and angry. It wouldn't be because you three did something dangerous and dumb, but because they are responsible for you. They'd be upset because they'd know deep down inside that they were to blame because the three of you never had guidance. They're responsible for your safety and your happiness, even if it doesn't always seem that way...”

… and Lyra was just trying to think of my own happiness and safety when she shirked her duty to get those apples, I realize. She did that because Bon-Bon made her responsible for me. Not only that, but if Lyra hadn't taken me to the spa, we wouldn't have been there when the Crusaders fired their trébuchet. Her responsibility to me is ultimately what saved Sweetie Belle today. God, now I feel like a right arsehole talking to Lyra the way I did earlier.

“Are you okay?” Sweetie asks, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“Huh?”

“You looked so sad all of a sudden.”

I realize that there are actually tears rimming my eyes. Levitating up another napkin, I wipe my eyes before looking back to Sweetie. “Sorry, I just realized how badly I treated somepony who was acting in my best interests when all they were doing was acting on their responsibility for me.” In spite of my poor spirits, I laugh. “Kinda funny when you think about it... Me ranting about responsibility after treating the one responsible for me badly.”

Unsurprisingly, the humor of it all is lost on her. Sweetie Belle just gives me this incredibly confused look. I suppose the concept of situational irony is a bit too much for a filly her age. For that matter, what is her age? Nope, don't ask. I'm not sure I want to know about pony lifespans.

“So, shall we get going, little one?” I nod toward the door whilst levitating our detritus into a waste bin. “Better to tear the bandage off all at once and it only hurt a bit than to tear it off slowly, drawing out the pain.”

As I once again enter Carousel Boutique, it isn't lost on me that I'm spending a lot of time near one of my least favorite ponies from the show on my first day of Equestria. Even as the bell tinkles and Rarity calls down with a 'Just a moment,' I can't help but smile. Who'd have thought, eh? Well, fate is a strange thing, and I certain that the universe has a sick sense of humor for the one who goes by the pen-name Seven Fates.

As the clip-clop of Rarity descending the stairs rings out, Sweetie Belle ducks behind me. It's really not surprising. When I was a kid, I always wanted something solid between me and a parent when I was about to get yelled at. The poor kid knows she's about to get in trouble, and even though she was kinda understanding at the bakery, she's still just a kid after all.

“Hello again, darling!” Rarity calls out as she steps through the door onto the main shop floor. “What brings you back to my humble abode?”

“I wish it was for better tidings that I came by.” I step aside, revealing Sweetie Belle.

Her smile drops as soon as she locks eyes on her sister. “Oh, I hope she wasn't any trouble!”

“Trouble is one way to put it, Rarity.” My voice is soft and full of regret. “Sweetie here nearly died today. If I hadn't been in the right place at the right time... well... What would have happened isn't a pretty mental image.” I actually have to fight the urge to flat out tell her that her sister's brains would have likely decorated the path to Sweet Apple Acres.

Dashing forward, the unicorn diva wraps her arms around her younger sister. “Oh darling, are you alright?” She fusses over Sweetie's appearance. “You're not, hurt, are you?”

Sweetie Belle shakes her head, and sheepishly replies, “No, Rarity. Miss Soren caught me before anything bad could happen.”

Backing up, Rarity places both front hooves on her sister's withers. “Caught? What were you three doing this time?” She looks Sweetie right in the eyes. “You three weren't paragliding without a safety line again, were you?”

“No, sis...”

I clear my throat. “Rarity, if I may?” I sit down beside Sweetie Belle before I continue. “The Crusaders constructed and were playing with medieval siege weaponry.”

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity practically shouts.

“Rarity, I know as an outsider that I have no place saying this, but the girls need supervision on their Crusades,” I say firmly. “The three of them managed to construct a weapon of war without anypony noticing, and they were planning on using it to launch themselves for a pony cannonball cutie mark!”

Rarity stares aghast at her sister before staring back at me. “I know that you, Applejack, and Scootaloo's parents are all busy ponies, but your families really need to work out some sort of supervision plan for them.”

“Maybe after they're finished being grounded...” she mutters under her breath.

“That's another thing, don't be too harsh on her, or any of them. We both know it's a rough when we don't know who we are. They're only acting out like this because they don't have any guidance. Heck, Sweetie almost died as a result.” I shake my head and stand. “If you're going to punish them, punish them by finding somepony responsible to watch over them. Restricting how recklessly they can Crusade would be more beneficial than trying to separate them.”

Rarity and Sweetie Belle share a long moment staring into each others eyes. I turn away and face the door to give them a moment to themselves. I know Rarity is probably fighting the urge to chew Sweetie out in front of me. She's probably also grateful that her sister is still alive to chew out. I trust in the bearer of the Element of Generosity to not be too severe.

From behind me, I hear Rarity mutter, “Oh Sweetie Belle, whatever am I going to do with you?” Well, she doesn't sound angry, so that's a plus. “Who could we possibly get to watch you three?”

With a giggle, I turn back around and lean down beside Rarity's ear. “Don't tell Lyra that I told you this, but Bon-Bon wants her to be more responsible,” I whisper conspiratorially. “Your families might want to charm Lyra into helping out after we switch back.”

“Oooh darling, that is devilishly evil!” she replies with a giggle of her own. “I like the way you think. Thank you, for saving her.”

“Not a problem Rarity.” I smile, approaching the door. “I'm just glad that the spa trip provided the circumstances necessary to save her. I guess I'll be seeing you later this evening. Until then, ciao.”

Slipping back into Sugarcube Corner, I am surprised to find Lyra already there. She sits contentedly at the very table I had treated Sweetie Belle to a cupcake at only a short time ago. Unsurprisingly, she’s watching me with a raised eyebrow as I approach. I have no doubt that her expectations involved me waiting there for her instead of showing up after her.

“I’m surprised I was the first one here,” she says, sipping a mug of—I sniff the air—hot chocolate. Beside her on the floor is a large basket of apples. “Did Rarity freak out?”

I sit down across from her, in the seat that Sweetie had occupied. “Surprisingly, I thought she reacted very well,” I nonchalantly reply, opening my bag and levitating out a cookie. Again, Lyra raises her eyebrow at me as I nibble away at my treat. “I think when she realized how close she came to losing her little sister, she was just happy to have her come home at all. How about you? I expected you’d be out longer.”

Lyra shrugs, shifting uneasily in her less than accommodating seat. “Well, after Applejack found out what the Crusaders did, she said he had to do things herself.” This time, it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow. “Yes, I remembered to tell her what you said. She didn’t make any promises about punishment, but she gave her word that she’d talk to Scootaloo’s parents. All things considered, that’s probably as good as those two can get.”

Knowing I’ve done what I can regarding that situation, I let out a sigh. “Here’s hoping there’s no more siege weapons for those three.” Sure, I could laugh about it, but that sort of thing is pretty fucking serious. I look away and shake my head before finishing off my cookie.

Again I dip into my bag, retrieving the remaining three cookies I’d acquired during my previous visit to Sugarcube Corner. Instead of simply levitating the bundle out of my bag, I take it into my mouth and drop it onto the table, pushing it across the table towards Lyra. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier—for pissing all over your good intentions,” I say softly, flinching slightly at my own words. More of Lyra’s sensibilities seem to be pushing through in spite of the spell. “I realized it during my own little lecture to Sweetie Belle that you were just looking out for me.”

“Soren...” she coos. “It’s oka—”

“It isn’t okay!” I shout, tears rimming my eyes. The entire bakery goes silent and everypony is watching me cautiously. I don’t care. I have to get this off my chest while I’m still me and not just some Lyra brain-clone with a different personality. I stare down at the table, my ears drooped in shame. “It’s not okay, Lyra,” I whisper. “I’ve treated you like the enemy since all this started, and in spite of your shortcomings and mistakes, you’re still treating me as you would treat any friend. I’ve been nothing if not childish and petty but that didn’t matter to you.

“You w-wanna know the kicker?” I ask, my voice hitching. “If I’d been more adamant on not going to the spa, there would have been a terrible tragedy today, and Rarity would be mourning the loss of her little sister! That sweet little filly that I saved would have been splattered all over the road to Sweet Apple Acres had I not been there.”

“Soren—”

“I didn’t save her, Lyra...” I sniffle, screwing my eyes shut. “You saved her. As sure as you lead me to the spa, you lead me to the spot she was destined to land. I’m so f-fucked up that I can’t even think straight, and all I can do is grump and whine and fight to survive. So what if I’m in estrus now? Mares go through this all the time, and it’s not like it’s unnatural to your body!” My voice is barely more than a whisper. “Why am I even worked up about Pinkie’s party? Ponies love them right? And—”

I find myself unable to speak. Of course, anybody would when they find themselves muzzle-first in their own chest, wrapped in a warm, boob-hug. Opening my eyes, I see Lyra’s silver-dusted face smiling at me sadly. “Soren, you don’t have to pretend to be strong.” She rubs my ear gently, as though she remembers how well I responded to it the last time. “We’re here for you, remember?”

“But... how will I ever go back to a normal life now?” I bury my face and sob, not caring if I’m technically planting my face between my own breasts now.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re turning into a pony, Lyra!” I snivel weakly. “My body is turning into a pony...”

Author's Notes:

Re-edited 11 July 2017