Dawn and Twilight returned from the plateau under the fountains of the castle after training, starting to feel hungry for the work they had put in.

"What are you in the mood for?" She asked

"Hm, cheese is sounding nice, and maybe some caramel... but not together, that'd be weird." Dawn said, chuckling.

"You can have them together. I ate some very strange combinations when pregnant."

"Oooo, that could be interesting..." She said, humming, "I mean, I don't know how that would be done, but still..."

"Melted cheese mixed with caramel." She said.

Dawn continued to hum quietly to herself as she tried to consider what options there could be for having her caramel and cheese cravings sated. She was happy walking alongside her potential owner as it was

"Also, you should know it doesn't have to be a normal meal combination. I once covered broccoli with hot sauce and blueberry jam." She said.

Dawn paused mentally and thought out loud, "I.... that almost sounds good...."

Twilight burst out laughing as they walked.

She looked at her confused, like a lost adoring puppy, "What?"

"Nothing, nothing." She chuckled. "Just curious what else you'll start craving."

"I have no idea." Dawn said, blushing slightly, "I've never been pregnant before, and couldn't be as a human."

"Trust me, they will get weird."

"Like steak and ice cream and chocolate syrup?" she asked, mentioning a memory she had at a buffet once

"Yes. And trust me, they will taste amazing at the time, but when you try them later you'll be lucky to keep your lunch down."

"Well, as long as my foal likes it." She replied, looking forward as she did. She felt a rising urge to give something a tender hug, but since they were walking, she held herself back

"They will. I had a huge craving for strawberries mixed with all sorts of things often when I was carrying Violet." She said. "You see the result."

"Yeah..." Dawn chuckled quietly.

As they walked on, Dawn let herself get lost in thought. She looked out to the grass and tried to see what the foal might be like, how they might play alone, how they’d play with friends, how they’d play with family, what struggles they would face as the daughter of a princess, and what struggles she would have being a parent with having not so great parents herself.

Twilight turned to her pupil and frowned, deciding it was time to snap her to reality if she was going to keep worrying.

"Relax Dawn. You'll do well."

"I hope so... At least if how I try to treat Violet is any indicator..." She said, thinking that people treated foals of another parent different than their own in a lot of cases she saw.

"It is. Trust me, I wouldn't let you anywhere near her if I didn't trust you." Twilight reassured

"Thank you,” She nodded, still worrying as she replied, “though I hope you don't mind how I spoil them as if they were my own. I'm not sure how I would feel if someone did that with my child, which is so hypocritical of me-"

"If it was a problem, I would say something." Twilight said, cutting her off.

Dawn nodded again, mumbling, "Thank you... it really helps when those instincts kick in..."

"Just don't try to take her from me when I have her, and we won't have a problem."

"I would never dream of taking any parent's child like that,” Dawn laughed, “let alone a friend's, but noted."

Twilight nodded as they approached the castle. Dawn followed, continuing to think about what being a parent would be like with the new information she gained. Twilight saying how she looked after Violet was a clue, possibly a sign Dawn might spoil them rotten. She would have to consider how to prevent over-spoiling and set ground rules, even for herself to follow. Dawn was unaware of how Twilight continued to watch out for her out of the corner of their eye.

After a few paces a very slight smile passed Twilight’s face as she moved her wing just enough to have her wingtip stroke down the green mare’s spine. Dawn gasped in surprise, standing still and her fur started to rise and show her goosebumps from the sudden contact.

“Oh My-!” She exclaimed before looking and seeing the wing, breathing heavily from the surprise. “Oh! Sorry. You startled me really good there.”

"Just startled?" Twilight asked, hiding her disappointment.

"I... was there something else I should have been?" She asked, starting to calm down and catch her breath, clueless of if she had been anything else because of it.

"No, nothing." She said, a slight frown replacing her earlier smile.

"Oh... ok..." She replied. She had the sneaking suspicion that there was something else intended.

"I like when Chryssy does that to me." Twilight explained quietly.

"Ahhhh." Dawn said in understanding.

"Thought it would be the same for you." Twilight continued.

"I-” She hesitated before replying, “when not in a public setting, yes. It was unexpected, and sadly I jump in fear or surprise at sudden touches unless primed beforehand, like when Stalwart has me," She paused again as they passed a pair of passerby, then quietly continued, "wear my collar 'n all."

"Oh. ok." Twilight said, ears drooping into silent disappointment, but cataloguing that information for future use.

"I'm sorry, but I appreciate that you were trying for my sake, with what you know of yourself and what you like." She said smiling softly, whispering, "and I learned a little bit of you in the same breath."

As Dawn spoke, she flexed her wings as subtle as she could, attempting to imitate the light touch that Twilight gave along their spine.

Twilight gasped and her wings shivered in place before readjusting themselves to be comfortable again.

Dawn smiled gently, satisfied that it had the intended effect, finishing the stroke down the spine before refolding her wing.

"I'm sure you will find other ways to push my buttons, like I'm learning yours." Dawn said consolingly.

Twilight panted slightly, a small blush to her cheeks before she started walking again. Dawn walked on more confidently now that she felt her mistake had been corrected. She took another step before hearing her stomach rumbling loudly. A blush crossed her face, and after a brief glance from Twilight, the pair maneuvered toward the kitchen to grab some food.

Dawn followed into the kitchen, trying to open the doors with her magic ahead of time for Twilight, intent on showing her helpfulness.

"Someone is observant." Twilight chuckled as Dawn had been paying attention to Chrysalis.

"Only at times ma'am." She said, smiling knowingly, "Other times I've been and likely will be rather dense. You'll find out I'm sure."

Twilight smiled at the ma'am part and chuckled as they entered the kitchen. They were soon at the kitchen and they went to the small section held for residents of the castle to put in requests. Dawn smiled internally as she saw the doors to the kitchens themselves to the side, where together with Violet they raided for deserts. It was this receptionist she had notified early to have the deserts ready and to expect mischief so it would be safe.

"Hello!” The assistant to the chefs taking orders for the meal called cheerily from the window to the kitchen. “We're expecting a lunch rush to hit any moment, I’m guessing you want to get some food yourselves before the rush hits?"

"Um, yes that’s right. I'll have grilled vegetables if that's alright." Twilight said.

“We can do that, sure.” The assistant nodded and turned to Dawn, "And what will you have?"

Dawn paused briefly, looking to Twilight in case she wanted to order on her behalf. The only response she had for the next few seconds was silence and a smile from Twilight. Dawn nodded and replied to the assistant.

“Sorry about the wait, was just thinking of what to have. How about some grilled cheese and grilled vegetables, but I'd love to have a desert with some caramel in it. Your choice."

"All right princesses, we'll see what we can do.” He smiled, having written it down on a paper. “I'd say we'll probably have it out in about twenty minutes for both of you. Anything else?"

"No, that will be all unless Princess Dawn here wants something to drink?" She said looking at her.
Dawn nodded, blushing at forgetting this detail. The attendant smirked at the pair and nodded.

"Of course. What'll it be?" he asked.

"She will take a glass of apple cider, not hard." Twilight answered.

"And yourself princess?" The attendant nodded,

"Nothing for me." She said smiling

"All right, we'll get you some water, just in case.” He said, writing it down. “Will you be sitting in the dining room or no?"

"No, the library." Twilight replied.

"All right then." He nodded again, writing down the destination before turning to the kitchen and calling the order to the chefs, who called back their acknowledgement.

Twilight turned and began to walk again. Dawn followed, staying at her side and trying not to speak, as if feeling that now that Twilight has spoken for her once, she shouldn't speak again unless spoken to. Granted, she couldn’t quite explain why she had that feeling, it was just an instinct she listened to.

"So then, someone is wanting all decisions made for them, hm?" Twilight asked as she walked into the library.

"W-well,” Dawn replied as her cheek fur seemed to become a slightly redder shade of green, more-so as she started feeling like her tongue wasn’t cooperating at all, “you seemed to have it handled and I didn't see a need to chime in... t-that's all."

"Uh-huh. Sure." Twilight replied as she went into the library. She looked over toward the windows and moved toward one that would look over the garden, taking a seat.

"I'm so easy to read, I know.” Dawn smiled nervously, then shrugged, “Oh well. I'm a horrible liar anyway."

"Good thing you won't have to lie if I'm the one telling you what to do." Twilight smirked.

"Yes ma'am." Dawn chuckled.

Twilight chuckled in kind and gestured to the seat across from her. Dawn nodded, pulling her seat out and sitting on it, looking to the window at first, before looking back to her, trying to glean an idea or two about what their mood was or what she might be thinking.
She sat back smiling at her before looking around the room. "You know, I spent a lot of time in this exact spot when I was younger?"

"I can imagine it." Dawn nodded. Getting a look from Twilight.

"Oh?"

"Well, the Twilight here is a bit of a bookworm to say the least, and you seem to be still at least as knowledgeable as her, just with a bit more experience with the world under your belt." Dawn explained.

Twilight chuckled and three dozen thick books appeared around her, all on different subjects.

"Well, I do try to keep a few books on me at all times in case I need some light reading." Twilight explained before the books vanished.

Dawn laughed, "Yep, that's the Twili-"

"Shhhhh" A librarian mare hushed from the side, having been rolling a cart of books on a trolley and now putting them away nearby.

Dawn stopped speaking and blushed in embarrassment. Twilight chuckled, and Dawn noticed they were speaking in a voice that somehow didn't carry at all.

"Don't worry about them. They are mostly harmless unless you damage a book, then get ready for hell."

"Yeah, I can imagine. Once, I got upset with my brother once for borrowing a book and crushing it's spine under the recliner and then tried to say it was like that all along."

"Yeah, they'd lose it if that happened. And do not try to argue with them about the condition a book was in when it left this room. You will find yourself steam rolled by so many rules, regs and tiny details about the books condition, and how they know it wasn't, as well as likely causes for the damage that you wouldn't be able to think straight for a week."

"Yeah, I don't tend to borrow too many books from here, but I can remember from the ones back in Van Hoover."

"I have a lot of good memories growing up in this place." Twilight smiled as she looked around. "Guess I'm still a bookworm."

"And there's nothing wrong with that at all." Dawn smiled.

"Course not." She chuckled. "Besides I doubt anyone would say such a thing in my presence."

Dawn tried very hard not to laugh, barely suppressing it even as her body shook in her seat. She was finally in control of herself again when the attendant came along and set down the drink for Dawn, quietly adding, "Your food is almost ready, I'll be back with it shortly."

Twilight nodded to him in thanks, noting they left out the water, but not being bothered by it.

He walked back from where he entered, and Dawn readily sipped at the cider before sighing contentedly, "Goodness it'd been almost a year since I last tasted good cider."

Twilight chuckled at the mare’s simple pleasures, causing a bottle of some amber liquid appeared in the table. Dawn blinked, only just noticing the bottle, looking between Twilight and the drink as if questioning if it had been there all along, as well as what it was.

"Nightfall whiskey, nectar of the gods." Twilight said smiling.

Dawn hummed, intrigued, but not wanting to press the matter. She continued to think to herself until shortly their lunches arrived.

The stallion server assistant smiled and whispered, "I hope you ladies enjoy." before bowing and heading back quickly yet quietly through the library.

Dawn smiled and gratefully dug into the grilled cheese, getting a look of childish joy as she bit in and got the bite of gooey cheese. She gave a healthy smile as she continued to eat, readily demolishing the meal yet somehow staying quite clean.

"Someone loves grilled cheese a lot. A lot, a lot. If you get my meaning." Twilight chuckled softly as she watched, a smirk still crossing her muzzle.

Dawn blinked, looking at her and tilting her head in confusion, "I... kinda?" She went to sip at her drink and sighed contentedly, quietly, as she finished her meal, already wanting much more to eat.

"So you have a grilled cheese sandwich fetish, good to know." Twilight chuckled, her food having long since been eaten.

"No..." She said quietly, looking back at her feeling even more horribly confused, "I just, when I like food, I REALLY like food."

"Yes, really like food, got it." Twilight said smiling, continuing their tease.

"Not like thaaat." Dawn laughed almost silently as she shook in place. She took a deep breath and started on her desert.

"Uh-huh, suuuuuuure"

She chuckled again and ate her meal, enjoying it thoroughly before setting their dishes aside.

"So tell me Dawn, what do you think of...everything that happened?" Twilight sat back as she asked before her horn glowed for a moment.

Dawn looked at her and thought back to earlier today and gave a gentle smile and a light blush, "It was fun. Not bad for my first attempt."

She nodded. "Any other thoughts?'

She looked thoughtful for a second before saying, "I'd want to talk to Stalwart about it, but I highly doubt he'd have any issues with it. Otherwise, not really."

Twilight nodded slowly, the gears in her head clearly spinning as her eyes partially closed.

"What about you then? It's just as important you're comfortable too."

"I’m… not sure.” She said sighing. "I'm with Chrysalis but… I… did enjoy it."

"I will fully respect that your first loyalty has been and will continue to be to her,” Dawn nodded, “I would never dream of taking that from you, much like I doubt you would dream of taking Stalwart from me."

"No, no, of course not."

She chuckled quietly, trying her best to give a kind smile, "Yup."

"I'll need to think on it, and talk things over with Chrysalis and Stalwart I'd imagine." Twilight nodded, then looked back up to Dawn.

"That is perfectly fine. Anything else you wanted to do in this favorite library spot of yours? Look for more books, new books, or maybe just favorites?"

"I may grab a few books and charge it to myself." She chuckled.

"Oh the confusion that would ensue..." Dawn chuckled.

"That's the point." She chuckled.

Dawn smiled, fluffing up her wing-feathers instinctively to trap more heat as a small breeze went along her fur, giving her chills.

"Tempted to check out a few… adult books so they appear on her record." She chuckled

"Oh nice..." Dawn chuckled, trying to picture that happening to the Twilight she had met back at coronation, how that might spur her to actually get the book 'again' and read it. If that happened to any of the books she herself had, Dawn smirked at some of the things Twilight would be trying or curious about.

"Me-thinks someone has a few ideas on what books I should check out."

Dawn blushed instantly, looking at her in surprise, "I... well, yes, a couple."

"Well then, glad to see you aren't quite as innocent as you pretend to be then." She smirked.

"I plead the fifth." Dawn blushed and turned her head away a little.

"There may be hope for you yet."

Dawn looked over to her intrigued, wondering what was going through her trainer's mind, but knew better than to ask. She'd share when she was ready.

"Tell me what they are." Twilight instructed.

She gulped, took a breath, and quietly said the name of three titles, one around unbirth, another centered around temporarily incorporating their allies into themselves for different 'boosts', and a third which outlined a couple who explored different aspects of pet play.

Twilight blinked at her. "wow.....uh....interesting choices." She said blinking again

Dawn continued to blush, looking to the side as she tried to hide her embarrassment with casual appearances.

"Me-thinks you have a rather interesting taste in things." Twilight said, eying the mare subtly.

"J-just a bit.... I-I can explain later in private..." She stuttered, whispering as she tried to keep her composure.

"We are in private" Twilight said and Dawn noticed the spell was diffusing anything said to where no one could hear them outside of a few feet away.

Dawn blushed in spite of it, still feeling the pressures of being in a public sphere but recognized the indirect order given unspoken. "I... rather like any concept that can be used for gentle or affectionate nurturing, guidance, or rebirth concepts... They're very comforting and when there was a book that had 'the big bad wolf' eating a child and i imagined them getting to be reborn as a wolf and what that'd be like, it rather... stuck..." She said, feeling more and more self conscious, ears drooping as she went until they laid back, showing her insecurity

"Interesting." Twilight said sitting back.

Dawn nodded, unsure what more to really say or do, other than try to accept she made something private laid bare to twilight, and she still didn't even understand why. She let her mind devolve into thoughts of 'why did I share that so readily?' as she relaxed into her seat, looking to Twilight. They started to stand up and her horn flashed, sound returning of the background noise of a library.

"Shall we get those books?" Twilight asked, to which Dawn nodded, acting shy once more.

Fine Silk sighed as she unlocked the door to her clothing shop in Manehatten.

“Honestly Daisy, you're being paranoid. There is no way there are changelings here in Manehatten.” the blue unicorn said to her sister as she walked into the somewhat dark shop.

“I’m telling you, I saw two of them just appear in the alley by my apartment sis!” the Yellow earth pony as she headed for the back room to grab some stock.

“And I'm telling you, you read too many horror stories”

Silk shook her head then noticed something laying on the floor by the counter. She frowned, thinking it was odd. She didn't remember making anything bright orange. Walking over to it she used her magic to pick up the strange orange jumpsuit, noticing some black writing on the side.

“Irongate Prison Complex?” she read out loud, searching her memory for such a place, all she knew about were the dungeons under canterlot. “Hey Daisy! Ever hear of a place call Irongate Prison Complex or do the numbers 20473 make any sense to you?”

She didn't hear anything from the back room.

“Daisy?” She called again, looking at the door after setting the jumpsuit down. “Is this is part of some prank? I'm not amused.”

Silk slowly walked into the back room… and felt something sharp press to her neck.

“I can assure you. This is no prank.” a voice said to her right. She couldn't place the accent but chanced turning her eyes to see who it was.

It was a light blue unicorn stallion with slicked back white mane. he seemed to have some sort of jewelry on his horn, and for some reason she couldn’t fathom, he was using his hooves.

“Now then, do exactly as I say.” he said, watching as Silk slowly nodded. “Good, reach up and remove the ring from my horn. With your hooves now.”

She nodded once more and slowly did as told, her hooves shaking slightly as she reached up and saw the ring sliding off easily. She barely got the thing off and his horn was wrapped in a white aura as he sighed contentedly.

“Ah… much better…” He said as his hooves dropped away, but the sharp item on her neck remained. It was then she noticed he was wearing one of the dark suits she had made for a client.

“Now then, tell me, where do you keep the memory unit for your security cameras?” he asked.

“Memory unit? Security cameras?” she asked confused, wondering what he meant, causing him to blink.

“You do not know what those are? Tell me, how far is the nearest EDF garrison?” he asked.

“EDF? W-what’s that?” She asked, finding her voice quaking as she stood in place, fear starting to set in.

“Interesting… You have no idea what that means do you?” he asked and she shook her head causing him to smile. “Well then, seems that flash of light was most beneficial to me then.” he chuckled and then looked at her. “Well then, you have been most useful but I make a habit of have as few loose ends as possible.”

He gave her a smile, but Silk gasped as she felt the sharp object rake across her throat. The dull pain was nothing compared to the shock of feeling a warm liquid spill onto her chest as she fell to her knees, hooves shooting to her throat as she tried to stop the bleeding.

“Now, now, that is quite pointless. I made sure to get both arteries.” he said and dropped the bloody scissors on the floor before dusting the suit jacket off. “Pity, you do know how to make a fine suit.”

Silk collapsed fully to the floor, her now starring vision noticing her sister’s back legs poking out from behind a stack of boxes as the stallion stepped over her.

“Don't worry, I’ll show myself out.” he said and Silk turned to watch as he turned the open sign to closed as he locked the door before closing it as her vision faded to black.

Twilight browsed the shelves of the library, a stack of books held in her magic behind her

Dawn followed, wondering what kinds of things they would go on to get.

The first place twilight had gone was the adult section to grab the books Dawn had said as well as a few of her own choice. Now she was browsing for actual reading material as she hummed.

Dawn simply followed along, her head drifting in ideas as she walked, fairly bored, but trying not to show it by distracting herself. Unfortunately for her, she walked right into Twilight’s tail when they had stopped to look over a book getting a face full of tail.

Dawn quietly eep’d in embarrassment and pulled back soon, whispering, "Sorry, so sorry!"

"Huh… what?" Twilight asked, noticing Dawn-

"N-nothing." Dawn said, feeling flustered and looking down and away from the question.

Twilight blinked, watching Dawn for a second before looking a book over, then nodded and added it to the stack.

Dawn continued to stay near Twilight, but with a bit more distance so she didn't repeat the mistake.

Soon Twilight had a large stack of books behind her as she headed for the checkout counter Dawn wanted to be sarcastic and ask if she had enough books to read, but she knew the answer would be 'of course not.'

Twilight hummed happily with a large smile on her face as she went through the check out, the librarian not needing to help. They quickly realized she knew every step and could do them in her sleep

Dawn looked around, wondering if there were any books she wanted to read but decided against it. She felt like she would have a hard time returning them once they left for Van Hoover.

"So, now where to?" Twilight asked as she walked to the door, books floating behind her.

"Well, we have a couple hours left until our meeting, we could find a nice place to relax and read, maybe back to the hill so I can practice flight or the hoof magic stuff you said while you read?"

Twilight nodded, turning towards the hills as the books vanished Dawn followed, trying not to let herself crave more food as she felt her already content stomach rumble. She knew she wasn't normally this hungry, and she had more important things to do for the moment. It didn’t take long before they reached the hill they were at before.

"We will start with lifting." Twilight said as she took a seat.

Dawn nodded, getting out her blanket, laying out her books, and prepared herself for more practice.

Twilight was soon surrounded by half a dozen books held in her magic as she read all of them, simultaneously watching her pupil learn the rudiments of inherent magic. Dawn continued to lift and put down her books, going back and forth between lighter and heavier as appropriate, but accidentally favoring her right hoof more than her left.

"Both hooves." Twilight said from behind her books.

"Oh! Sorry!" she called and started to work with both hooves like they were barbells instead.

"Good girl." Twilight continued, books continuing to shift around as Twilight read through them.

Dawn smiled and nodded, continuing on and using both hooves like she was encouraged, happy at the praise. Every once in a while Twilight spoke up with advice or telling her she was doing well. It was an hour of practice she barely noticed as her mind wandered while she continued the activities before speaking up again.

"Can we work on more flight lessons now please? I’d like a break from this." Dawn asked politely.

Twilight marked her plans and the books vanished. "I was just thinking the same thing my little pony."

Dawn smiled, flexing and stretching her limbs and shaking herself down in the end before smiling broadly.

"Alright,” Twilight said as she got to her hooves and stretched. “calm yourself my little pony."

Dawn nodded, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, allowing herself to relax.

"Wings open.” Twilight instructed, opening her own.

Dawn spread out her wings, slowly, but fully. It was like her wings opening was a stretch in itself.

"Good. Move them slowly up and down, and try flexing them a bit." Twilight instructed.

Dawn nodded gently, holding her wings out and moved them as she said, trying to flex those wing muscles and feel where they all were.

"How do they feel my little pony?"

Dawn closed her eyes, head tilting slightly as she tried quite hard to assess how they felt. She struggled, trying to find the right words, "Big… heavy… a bit clumsy."

"Good, relax. That will fade with time, just relax and listen to my voice." Twilight instructed.

Dawn sighed again and shivered before letting her wings droop in relaxation

"Good, try opening and closing them a few times." Twilight intoned.

Dawn slowly closed her wings, then opened them, then closed them again with a little difficulty

"Relax my little pony, calm yourself. Don't think. Just relax and listen to my voice."

Dawn felt her fur rise along her back at the statement of being a little pony, the feeling of a shiver travelling it before she was standing but relaxed, head drooping slightly.

"Good, now try lifting off the ground, focus on my voice." Twilight said lifting a couple feet off the ground as her wings flapped slowly.

Dawn nodded ever so slightly, flapping her wings a bit more intently, gradually going closer to weightless and a look of panic started to creep onto her face.

"Call yourself my little pony. Focus on my voice, relax. Clear your mind"
Dawn took a deep breath, continued to flap and tried to let herself relax, and let herself continue, trusting in her tutor and her own ability to act.

"Good, relax. Don't think at all and just do as I tell you. Relax. You on need to think with me, just listen to my voice. Relax."

Dawn shook slightly in place as she flapped a bit harder, her limbs hanging limp and starting to swing against the grass as she went above the grasstop.

"Good just like that, you are doing so well my little pony. Just relax and clear your mind and keep doing everything I say."

She nodded, a bit more awake than usual despite the drop and view of the landscape behind her out of sight, and flapped a little harder to slowly rise a bit more, gaining confidence as she did.

"Good, just like that. You are doing great."

Dawn chuckled weakly, unable to hold back from smiling at the praise, tucking her legs in while continuing to flap.

"Good, now hold here, focus on me.just relax and listen to my voice."

Dawn nodded, a shiver going down her spine as she continued to flap, struggling to hover quite so exactly, having a bit of a bob to it, but successfully stayed in place with small adjustments.

"Good, exactly like that. Perfect, just focus only on my voice, don't think and relax my little pony."

Dawn closed her eyes for a moment and focused more intently, still making a conscious effort to fly, but also listening to her instructor's words and keeping her position.

After a few more minutes. Twilight nocied dawns ears. "Are you ok?"

Dawn's ears perked up and pointed straight at her as she fluttered her eyes open, "y-yeah? Sorry, did I miss something?"

She blinked. "land, slow." she said sounding curious as she slowly landed.

Dawn flapped her wings a bit more slowly, feeling gravity take hold of her once again. It somewhat felt like swimming, just with a lot more effort involved. Her wings were starting to feel like they ached, though not quite burning yet.

"Dawn...how do you feel?"

"Sluggish, heavy... wings hurt..." she said, sounding tired, acting like she was half asleep, and her voice was more monotone.

"why?

"Don't know..." She replied simply, looking up to her with those half closed eyes, yet childish confusion still showed on her face as much as an out of focus pony could

"Relax my little pony. It's ok." Twilight said seeing her confusion
Dawn nodded slightly and folded her wings against her side, shifting her weight and let out a gentle, quiet sigh.

Twilight blinked at the reaxtion. "relax....clear your mind..don't think and focus on my voice."

Dawn continued to relax, getting a gentle smile and standing in place, looking pleasantly and attentively at her instructor.

"how do you feel?"

"Calm, heavy." She said quietly.

Twilight blinked and watched. "Relax....calm yourself....don't think and focus on my voice.

She shivered in place and smiled a little as she did so, standing in place
Twilight watched her eyes. "relax my little pony, don't think and just focus on my voice. Calm yourself."

Her eyes drooped down toward Twilight's hooves and seemed to lose focus
"just like that." Twilight said, curiosity growing. "Empty your mind, you don't need to think, just listen to my voice....listen to my words let them sink in."
She quietly, instinctively nickered and let out a deep sigh. Her ears flicked but were turned toward Twilight.

"yes...relax....let my words sink in....there is no need to think when I speak...just focus on my words and relax....let your mind empty of all thoughts, you don't need to think."

Dawn continued to breathe, looking quite at ease and half asleep. Her eyes drooped closer to being closed as she continued onward.

"how do you feel?"

"Heavy..." She said, barely audible.

"Dawn...who am i?"

"Twilight.... Teacher." She said simply, still monotone-ish
"and...who are you?"

"Dawn." She said almost immediately.

"relax.....let my words sink deep, my words....my words are your thoughts. You don't need to think when it's just us. My words are your thoughts. "

Dawn nodded briefly and slowly knelt down, only to lie in the grass and lay her head down, listening to her teacher's words.

"Good....that's it....when it's just the two of us my words are your thoughts...my voice is all there is....you don't think, you are calm and relaxed."

She whinnied quietly to the idea and breathed rhythmically afterward, almost like she were alseep.

"who am i?"

"Twilight..." she said instantly, but slowly.

"and what am i?"

"Teacher."

"I see....who are you?"

"Dawn. Pet." She said, quietly but with clarity.

"what do you do when it's just us?"

"Listen. Obey." She replied quietly.

Twilight blinked. "yes..."She said a bit surprised. "You are mine when we are alone.....you belong to me."

Dawn sighed and let a smile across her face unintentionally, continuing to lay there submissively.

Twilight shifted and her tail flicked. "what are you?"

"Yours." She replied, a bit louder than her prior 'pet' response.
"and...that means?"

Dawn blinked, looking over to her and tilted her head, clearly confused.

Dawn looked terribly confused at Twilight, eyes slightly opening as she rose her head, seeming to desperately search for an answer before replying in a couple seconds, "Yours?"

"Yes… It means you are mine… my words replace your thoughts… my words are your thoughts."

Dawn seemed to find peace in that and laid her head back down, sighing contentedly as she heard those reassuring lines.

"Good… my words override whatever you are thinking because my words are your thoughts… Whatever I say you do as… as it’s natural do so, because my words are part of you. They are you."

Dawn seemed to furrow her brow, ears flicking as she heard the 'override' but settled down by the end of it, gradually getting relaxed again

"Good, you are mine when we are alone. Mine to do with as I please..."

Dawn nodded into the grass, seeming content with this order and let it sink in, content that she was being spoken to.

"How do you feel?"

"Heavy..." She replied slowly, voice deepened in relaxation "Can't move..."

"Good....um....when I tell you...um...when I tell you to turn off your mind you will become exactly like this again do you understand?"

Dawn seemed to furrow her brows slightly at the hesitation, but replied after a second. "Yes?" She spoke, sounding uncertain about what she heard.

"Good… um…" Twilight thought, having no idea how to wake Dawn, when an idea hit. "Wake up."

She seemed to flick her ears and raise her head a little, but had this look of confusion on her face still, as if that wasn't what she was expecting.

"Um, training over for now?" Twilight tried again, figuring that might work. They were in a training session after all.

Dawn blinked a few times and slowly lifted her head up as she started to stand. Her face betrayed the expression of confusion, and her body moved sluggishly, as if everything were still asleep.

"How do you feel?" Twilight asked, attentively watching the mare.

"Sluggish, like I took a long nap I didn't wake from..." She replied with a relaxed voice, her breathing getting irregular, but she tried to stretch her back leg a little to see if it helped, then frowned when she realized it didn't.

Twilight thought, remembering all the times she heard that tone before from Dawn. Finally, she realized what the incidents had in common.

"Class dismissed." She said, clapping her hooves and giving that distinctive metallic clap.

Dawn blinked a couple times, her face becoming more expressive. She suddenly moved all of her body in place, for all the world looking like a pony imitating a dog shaking itself when wet before giving a quick sigh of relief and a smile.

“Phew. I have no idea what you just did, but I feel a lot more awake now… Wait, did I fall asleep on you mid-training somehow? I’m sorry!” She apologized readily, back to herself again with a bit more energy than before.

"You dozed off a bit yes." Twilight admitted in a half truth.

"Oh. I'm sorry.” Dawn apologized again, frowning as she realized she didn’t remember it very well. “That went by in a blur. How'd I do with my flying though?" she asked eagerly, "My wings hurt a bit so we must have done a lot right?"

"You did great."Twilight said, patting their head, unable to stop a small smile crossing their muzzle, both at the discovery of manipulating the mare and at their innocent behavior. It seemed she didn’t remember anything. This would require more testing.

Dawn smiled, letting out a contented sigh as she was patted. It was such a simple pleasure, and right now, she had no idea why she felt so good right then but she would enjoy it.

"Sit." Twilight commanded, starting her test.

Dawn immediately sat, still giving a small smile, appearing to not even realize she was spoken to.

"Lay down."

Dawn shifted slightly before laying back down on the grass she had just gotten up from, looking up at her quizzically, as if expecting something she couldn't quite place.

"Roll over." Twilight commanded again, continuing to mentally take notes.

Dawn gave her a skeptical look, but gave a small shrug, rolling over toward her left before listening more. She debated asking what this was about, but she figured they were continuing their training somehow.

Twilight hesitated for a moment. "Lift your tail."

Dawn didn’t intend to follow that order, yet despite herself, her body slowly obeyed. She simply looked at Twilight, innocently curious at what was going on.

Twilight cheeks turned a slightly darker shade of purple and she coughed into a hoof. "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good. Wings don't hurt as much as I thought either." Dawn said, feeling a bit of curiosity as she was asked.

"I see. Speak in the third person." Twilight ordered as her next test.

Dawn frowned, her brows furrowing. She knew she heard Twilight, yet she didn’t understand what they were saying. It bothered her as she tried to figure out what to do.

"I-" Dawn started to reply, then realized something felt wrong. She stopped and decided to ask, "What?"

"Never mind." Twilight said with a wave, finishing her notes on this experiment as she looked up to the sun to gauge the time. "It looks like it's about time to head back so we can rest before the meetings."

Dawn nodded, getting up and brushing herself off before smiling and walking up to Twilight. She felt playful, almost like she wanted or expected attention from her. Still, she tried to keep herself in check and walked alongside her with satisfaction at what they accomplished.

"Lower your tail." Twilight said as she started to walk, a slight blush on her muzzle.

"I-” Dawn paused, body already starting to let it relax even as she turned to check on it, “Was it raised?"

"Don't worry about it." Twilight said as she walked, adding that note of the command lingering.

Dawn shrugged and walked along, feeling rested and happy, despite being clueless as to what was going to happen in the meeting later. She would worry about it when it happened.

"....Good girl." Twilight said quietly, having hesitated at the idea of saying anything, now wanting to see how Dawn would react.

Dawn let out a happy little squeal at the praise before continuing to walk alongside them toward the castle. Twilight watched her closely, considering how their behavior was not what she would have expected. Soon enough however, they arrived at Dawn’s room without incident.

"Violet is most likely asleep for her nap but don't worry about waking g her, she sleeps like a rock for the most part." Twilight said as she opened the door and walked into Dawn's room without knocking.

"I'm sure it's fine." Dawn chuckled.

Stalwart looked over to the door, a copy of Dawn sitting on the bed as they talked over things. Dawn looked over to the copy of herself and looked stunned for half a second, and then smiled broadly as she finished walking into the room.

"Well....I see you two have been having fun." Twilight said smirking at the equally stunned Dawn on the bed.

"Just a little, mostly talking. I'm surprised she even got her speech quirks down." Stalwart chuckled, "She's good."

"She's queen of the changelings, I'd hope she'd be good." Twilight chuckled as the Queen Dawn slowly walked over to the real Dawn looking curious.

"Huh...” Dawn looked at her double and looked over at her features, “Feels weird seeing myself in person. I really am cute."

"You know, I kept telling you that..." Stalwart said with a smirk.

"Weird for you? It's weird for me seeing myself walk into the room." Queen Dawn said as she mimicked Dawn movements. "But yes, I am cute."

Dawn chuckled briefly then gave her a look before walking over to the bed, keeping an eye on herself. "Better be careful, or you'll have me question whether I've really got a twin."

"I'm already starting to question that." Queen Dawn said and followed her, taking a seat beside her.

"Well, I'd say it's a possibility, if it weren't for that marker back in Peonia." She smirked, referring to the Dawn that originally was in Equestria, but was presumed dead in the house fire long ago.

"Yes, I know..." the Queen said sadly, "But who really knows?"

"Oh, I think the irony is we both know, but does Stalwart?" Dawn asked as she turned toward him, feeling mischievous.

Queen looked as well with the same expression as Dawn. "True, there were several times he left the room we could have easily switched places."

"Uhm... oh," He hesitated, giving a nervous chuckle, "I... of course I know..."

"Is that so? Or are you too distracted by the idea of having two of us?" She asked, deliberately not claiming to be the original for sneakiness factor.

"Oh he most definitely is." Queen said nodding also not claiming. "Though if you do know, which one of us is it?"

"W-well, uhm..." he paused, looking between them to see what differences there were, Dawn frantically trying hard not to laugh. The queen mirrored her almost exactly, close enough he couldn’t tell.

"I... well..." he floundered before shaking his head, "Yeah, I can't tell, I'd have to pick the one that came with the princess, because of Dawn leaving for training."

"Oh, that's too bad. We switched off about halfway through, didn't we?" Dawn said, shaking her head before looking at her double.

"Yup, so what should we do since he got it wrong?"

"Oh, I'm sure we could think of something..." Dawn said, smiling as she looked toward him, "What does the princess think we should do?"

Twilight was busy rolling off the floor laughing like a loon.

Dawn finally cracked a smile and started to laugh too, watching Stalwart's expression before going up to one side and giving him a hug. Her double seemed to do the same thing in perfect sync, walking up to the other side and giving Stalwart a hug as well. Stalwart simply looked between everyone and started to mentally shut down and give up as the Dawns approached.

"W-which one's the real one? Girls?"

"Sorry hun, it was too much fun to resist. I hope you had fun though." Dawn relayed through her spell, noticing her double also making her horn glow the exact same shade of her own magic.

"Okay girls, please, I... which one's really Dawn?" Stalwart shook his head,

"Hmm....that depends on whether you and Twilight want two of us or one of us." The Queen said.

"A fair point my twin. What does Twilight say?" Dawn asked, turning to face her.

The mare stopped laughing and blushed. "Eh...what?"

"Would you like two Dawns at your disposal-" She asked, fully expecting her double to finish the sentence flawlessly as she smiled

"Or do you only like a single one?" Queen asked causing Twilight to sputter and blush.

Stalwart looked to her incredibly confused. He wanted to say just one because of simplicity, but he loved his wife and didn't know if saying having two would be interpreted as a compliment. Twilight looked similarly flustered.

"Well? Two pet wives or one?" Queen asked them both.

Stalwart gulped and shrugged, seeing no way to really answer, "I... guess two? But... what if we get asked?"

Queen smirked with mischief as she walked toward Stalwart and put her hooves around his neck kissing his cheek hoping her double had the same idea. Dawn was slightly slower on the catch this time around, but followed suit with a very slight delay, watching him blush.

"Ok, seriously, which one's which!" he demanded.

"I'm sure there are ways you both could tell us apart." the Queen smiled.

"I... don't see those ways right now..." He said quietly.

"Oh? Have you known her that little?" Dawn asked, hoping to throw him off.

"I think he does know her that little." the Queen said as if talking about Dawn.

"I think we'll have to educate him on that subject. What does our owner have to say?"

"Yes quite, both of them it seems." Queen said looking at them both with her twin

"I guess we'll just stay like this until they make a choice." Dawn said, shrugging and giving herself a mischievous yet happy smile

Her double returned it. "Yes, that sounds like a plan I'd say."

"Although, we'll have to come up with something appropriate when they get it wrong and choose you." She said, teasing and fully expecting a similar comment in return. She was having far far too much fun with this.

"Yes, but what should that be when they choose you and get it wrong?"

"Well, I do believe there's a spell for that."

"Oh? You mean that spell?"

"I think it'll do quite nicely-" Dawn nodded,

There was a knock on the door interrupting their play, calling out in a firm voice, "Princess Dawn? Your party is requested by Princess Celestia in her meeting room."

"Oh darn, this was getting fun." Queen said pouting

"Oh well, it'll give us more time to prepare..."

"Dawn... What spell are you talking about? I thought we said no more experimenting..."

"Oh we did." Dawn chuckled.

"Don't worry I’m sure you both will find out soon enough." Chrysalis smirked before changing to her default pony form.

Stalwart stomped his hoof down, "Dang it!"

"We'll be there shortly!" Dawn called to the guard, before asking, "Mind if I carry Violet or is she waking up with all the laughter we just had?"

"She's probably still asleep, I'll go wake her." Twilight said heading to the bedroom. "As I said she sleeps like a rock for the most part."

"All right, so, who's carrying her?" Dawn smiled.

"You can I suppose." Twilight said before entering the room and closing the door

Dawn smiled broadly, following her and gently levitating Violet onto her back.

"Time to head to the meeting eh?"

"No wait!" Twilight’s voice rang out right as Violet was set on her back.

Dawn felt sharp pain in her back as Violet's teeth sunk into her flesh. Dawn winced and tried to keep still despite knowing she was hurt to avoid further damage, only saying, "Violet... That hurts."

Twilight quickly pried the foal off her, the foal taking a good piece of Dawn’s back near the shoulder with her. Dawn shook in place, face contorted in pain until the final piece of her back tore away. Stalwart moved in to support Dawn, eyes open in shock.

"She is a heavy sleeper unless she hears something or feels something that shouldn't be there, such as being picked up and moved while asleep, and her first response is attack." Twilight said as she cleaned up the foal, the foal having already consumed the flesh they bit.

Dawn nodded slowly, wincing as the healing magic helped clean and repair the damage she suffered, an insufferable tingling as nerves regrew and reconnected from the area that was hurt by the bite.

"I... guess I learned something there... any poisons or the like I should be concerned about?" Dawn frowned, rather disappointed in the foal’s need to attack.

"Just sharp teeth, and an omnivorous." She said as she held the half asleep foal

"If I were tactless, I'd ask if I taste any good..." Dawn chuckled quietly, still saddened. Dawn gasped while she stretched her neck, a strong twinge of pain shooting up her spine. "Still, I'm sorry for giving you a scare like that."

"You probably did, she took a decent chunk out of your back." Twilight answered with a bit of morbid humor.

"Well... I'm healed now, I just learned a painful lesson, sad to say. Let's head on over to the meeting room eh?" Dawn said, trying to put her on her best face, still rather saddened by what happened. She was a little scared of the foal now as she thought about it, but she knew she couldn’t let herself hold them accountable for instinct.

Twilight nodded, and once Violet was awake enough to be placed on Dawn's back she did so. Dawn tensed up briefly as the foal was placed on her back, Chrysalis watching her attentively. Dawn calmed herself and moved to walk into the corridor, starting up her spell to the changeling queen.

‘So, to distract myself from that little excitement, did you happen to know what the spell I was thinking of was?’ Dawn asked, the memory of the foal’s attack trying to press to the front of her mind.

'Not a clue no.'

‘Well, there was this one time I foalsat for an orphanage, and this one foal wanted a daddy instead of a mommy. Next thing I knew, after their horn glowed, I was a stallion, and he had a ton of fun at the time as I did my best to just roll with it. Made me look into spells that affected gender as well as age thanks to another filly who wanted a big sister instead.’

'I see.’ Chrysalis said intrigued, ‘I wouldn't mind enjoying time with four females.’

"Oh? The idea of having Twilight as a Stallion with a harem of her own not as enjoyable?" Dawn teased back in good nature.

'Oh that is quite a lovely thought as well. After all, Twilight has had me change genders and even species on more than one occasion. She's even had me be people she knows.'

‘I can imagine. Having been on both sides of the coin though, even before that visit, I prefer female, for sure.’ Dawn said, her mind wandering back to being bitten unbidden. She shook her head, trying to throw her insecurities of 'what if i were viewed as food' aside, having reached the door to the meeting room,

“Everyone, we’ve arrived.” Dawn announced as a reminder.

'We will talk about that later Dawn.' Chrysalis said as Twilight knocked.

Author's Notes:

and the Storm begins......

I have a PATREON with fair rewards. Every bit is greatly appreciated and helps me out.