Dawn paused, sipping some tea she had made as she tried to ignore the movement of furniture and the sounds of whirring and buzzing. She was tempted to just go upstairs, to distance herself from the noise, but she couldn’t bear to be away while someone was otherwise doing things in her home. She knew it was hypocritical, allowing someone to do what they wished and then being bothered by it, but she knew better than to let her insecurities control her.

Dawn looked out the window for a time before hearing the door open and close half an hour later. Surprised, she looked over to it, curious what they were doing next, and yet no one came out or went in. She watched a while longer before looking out at the landscape.

In the basement Twilight and Chrysalis were setting up various types of computer equipment, cots, and a radio, while Violet sat in a corner reading.

“So then, thoughts on this Princess Dawn?” Chrysalis asked, moving aside a bookshelf to make room for a desk for monitors.

“Mmm.” Twilight hummed as she thought, having finished assembling the frames for the first cot, pulling out a mattress and sheets from her magical storage, “Well she seems decent enough, haven't fully made up my mind yet.”

“She seemed sincere about everything she said.” Chrysalis said, finishing the movement and effortlessly lifting away a bag of trash and debris before placing a table nearby.

“If what she said was true, she is a tough S.O.B.” Twilight said, moving to assemble the next cot in the second alcove.

“That she is.” Chrysalis said, beginning to lay out the wiring that everything would need.

The two chatted about their current situation as they worked, then began wondering what was going on back home. As the furniture situation was completed and the electronics were being finalized, they started discussing the royal sisters of this world, where the similarities might be and the obvious differences.

A couple hours passed, and Twilight came up the stairs and up to the upper floor to prepare dinner.

“What to make, what to make…” Dawn was muttering already, looking around in the fully stocked kitchen fridge at all the various cheeses, vegetables, bread, jams, jellies and the like. “Gotta make something that even a picky filly will enjoy…”

Dawn spotted some stock in the fridge and smiled, deciding that she would make some tomato soup. It wouldn’t have much substance on its own though, and she loved having bread with soups, so why not sandwiches? She smiled and started pulling out the things needed, grabbing the recipe book as a guide while getting the base for the tomato soup into the pot as the range heated up.

"Mind if I help?" Twilight asked, having watched the mare for a moment before chiming in.

"Not at all!" Dawn replied cheerfully, turning to see who it was that had come. Seeing the purple mare, she made room as she stirred the mixture in the pot, trying to keep it creamy as she decided what herbs should be put in.

"What do you need done? I'm a decent cook." Twilight offered

"I’m glad,” Dawn chuckled, “‘cause I'm only adequate. I’ve got this recipe here, and I’m about this far down. Almost at the beginning." She said, pointing out the line with a spoon.

"Been cooking meals for little over 50 years, so I'm good at it." She chuckled and looked it over before starting to grab things in her magic as she read the recipe, not looking up from the book

"That’s good to know. I’m only just in my early-thirties" Dawn admitted. She looked over to her kitchen partner. They were cutting up the herbs finely, using magic to hold it all steady. "Not quite the same with magic as using your hands either, you know?"

"Oh, not at all. It's something you take for granted. I certainly did till I lost my front hooves, so was limited to magic and my mouth. And the few times I burned out my magic, I could only use my mouth. It's why I built in the fingers when I upgraded."

"I can imagine, kind of." Dawn said, growing quiet. She took a deep breath and let it out as silently as she could before asking, "So when did you learn about technology? The Twilight here seems obsessed about books and magic for the most part, not machinery."

"When I was 23.” Twilight said before grabbing a few select sprigs of green onion and chopped as she spoke. “I was doing an experiment to make a new teleportation spell. Was supposed to cost half as much magic and still go the same distance. An Earth was conducting an experiment in alternative energy sources and my magic got seized. I was dragged rather painfully across the barriers."

"Wow.” Dawn stared, surprised at the idea of such an event. “What'd you do? What did they do?"

"I trusted them and they tortured and experimented on me with the intention of invading Equestria to harvest its magic"

"That’s horrible.” Dawn said quietly, freezing at the news before slowly shaking her head as she fought to keep from imagining going through it herself. “I'm guessing you're on full defense preparation then?"

"Oh, I left them in the middle of a multi-fronted civil war and the lab where the device was stored was destroyed along with all research data and the head scientist dead.” She replied, casually dropping the chopped green onions into the pot before grabbing some more, “Don’t think they will be in any shape to fight a foal if they do make it through."

Dawn nodded. She didn’t like the idea of dealing with the loss of life, but in the same breath, she also could appreciate the need to act early and deal with the consequences to prevent more lives being lost on both sides later. She wondered if it were possible they had another option, but she dismissed the thought. She didn’t live it, they did. If there was a better option, she wanted to believe they would have taken it.

"I see." Dawn finally said simply. From her work with soldiers before she came to Equestria, she felt like it was not appropriate to push. They always shared what they wanted to, and she would respect that.

"Don't get me wrong. At first, I thought all humans were monsters, there was one there who treated me as more than just an animal but he wasn't really in a position to help. I'd still believe that, if not for a group of rebels attacking the lab and ended up taking me with them. I got to know them and see not all humans are monsters like I thought. My time with them showed humans can be either the worst being ever or some of the best just like ponies."

"I’m glad you know that.” Dawn nodded, “I used to be human myself, though I wasn’t terribly attached to the form."

"Yeah, I made some great friends among the rebels, people I cared about a lot, and people who helped me deal with things."

Dawn nodded, taking in what they said and just thinking. She took the remaining herbs and put them into the pot and then stirred it for a minute, the soup simmering already. She took out the skillet and prepared for frying some grilled cheese on the range next to the pot.

"I've spent my life doing the best I can to make sure other don't experience what I did."

"That was a promise I made to myself after living in my car for nearly three years of my life.” Dawn shared, “The idea of going through hell to stop others from going through it is oddly satisfying, you know?"

"It's why the EDF requirements are more lax then the Royal Guard requirements. It's to give people another chance."

"The EDF?" Dawn asked, turning to face Twilight at this new term.

"Equestrian Defense Force, my army." Twilight replied, "Forged it when I got back."

"I see." Dawn hummed, thinking of the different divisions of the military in the human world as she had buttered up the bread and put them on the pan, hearing them sizzle as she continued. "How soon will the soup be ready?"

"Couple minutes." Twilight said stirring the pot.

"Great, I’m starving.” Dawn smiled, “I was worried it wasn't going to be too good, but it smells great."

"I've learned to make some damn good meals with very little when in the field." Twilight smiled back

"That has to come in handy.” Dawn chuckled before turning to the stairwell, yelling out, "Food’s just about ready girls! Good time to come to the table!"

Dawn grabbed some plates and bowls from the cabinet and put the many sandwiches, a couple oozing cheeses out the sides, on a platter to be set in the middle of the serving table to the dining room next door.

"We can bring the pot and ladle out on this cozy here." Dawn offered, pulling it out and setting it nearby.

"Way ahead of you Princess." Twilight chuckled as she passed the mare and set it on the fabric.

Chrysalis and Violet joined at the table, Violet hopping up onto their chair and looking at the plates expectantly while Chrysalis sat in a dignified pose. Twilight reached for a ladle and poured a large helping for Violet Flame first, before serving some to Chrysalis, sandwiches floating to their plates before the same was done for her own as she sat down.

"So,” Twilight asked, putting a napkin on her lap, “will your husband be here for dinner or does he have a swing patrol?"

"He often gets home late.” Dawn chuckled, He enjoys it since he used to have night patrols. I swear it’s like he's trying to get ready to stay up late for the foal, and I’m not even due for another 6 months-ish."

"Nothing wrong with being ready early though." She smiled. "Either that or he has a bit of Thestral in him."

"Thestral?"

She blinked. "The subspecies of Pegasus? Nocturnal by nature? Leathery wings rather than feather? Gold eyes? Slit pupils?"

Dawn gasped and smiled broadly in recognition, "Oh right! The bat ponies! They aren’t really seen in Equestria sadly enough. Not anymore anyway. Still, his father and grandfather was an earth pony, as is his mom... she doesn’t have any family in Equestria she says. The way I hear her not question my history much, I can't help but wonder if she’s holding back something. I try not to pry but I have guesses."

Twilight eyes narrowed. "Thestral."

Dawn paused, confused as that was what she was told they were. Luna even called them that. She looked between them, realizing Twilight was being serious and apologized, realizing something was wrong, "Sorry, I was never made aware of the term for them..." she quietly tore up her sandwiches to soak into the soup and tried to think of what to say, find out why it was so wrong to use the term that Luna did.

"Bat, and bat pony, is a slur for the thestral back home." Chrysalis informed her.

Dawn opened her eyes wide, distraught it was a slur, "I had no idea... " she looked down, embarrassed, though then wondering why it wasn’t an issue for Luna to call them so.

"They may not be here, I don't know." Chrysalis said. "but Twilight has a thing about the use of slurs or any form of tribalism and racism."

"It wasn't my intent.” Dawn nodded, relieved they understood. She knew that it was acceptable here, and yet she couldn’t help but regret her childish outburst, not realizing their words might cause offense. “They're so uncommon I just didn’t know better. Still, I'll try to keep it in mind and avoid it in the future."

"Odd.” Twilight said, looking at her host intrigued, “They are relatively common back home, have been for a long time, just not seen a lot due to being nocturnal."

"From what I gather, they haven't been seen or have been in decline since before Luna turned into Nightmare Moon."

"That,” Twilight hesitated before continuing, “that is depressing. They always were Equestria’s night guardians."

Dawn nodded, "It’s why I got excited. I can read stories about them but when I've asked, the response is they either don’t exist or are rumored to be hiding away somewhere. And as lovely these wings are for keeping warm, molting hurts like, a lot" she said, tempering her words.

"Hmm. Odd. It concerns me that they would be hiding. "

Dawn thought quietly, wondering why these thestrals weren't present in her world, genuinely hoping they were simply in hiding like she said. She ate for a minute more before asking, "So, just how much technology do you have back home?"

"I’m... not sure how to answer that." Twilight said.

Dawn paused and asked, "Ok, I know some from where I was from before that I can ask about, and you can answer whether they exist for you and if not, I can tell you the basic principle based on what I understand. That work for you?"

Twilight nodded.

Dawn smiled, "So, what amount of computing power do you have if any?"

"We have 3 Crusader mainframes which are supercomputers with advanced VIs in them we have the Civilian Network and the Military Network. The entire planet is connected via the CNET and the satellite array."

Dawn smiled and looked on in slight admiration. "Nice... My computer back home had a really fast 8 core processor, but we didn't have any artificial intelligences yet. Oh, and our space travel program is about 50-60 years old and we’ve reached the moon, but they hadn't done anything huge yet because of a need to develop more efficient fuel. Still, we have satellites by now."

"We have been to the moon as a joint effort between most nations of Equus either with material funding or personnel. We also have a space station orbiting the planet. Also, not AI. I said VI."

Dawn tilted her head, "What's the difference?"

"One is artificial. Capable of learning and adapting. The other is Virtual Intelligence. It seems like an AI but is very limited and can't learn. No chance of it going rouge, and when it's inside of military computers, like the Crusaders, you do not want it to go rogue. "

"We don't need a Skynet failure like in the movies I've seen.” Dawn agreed. “It's safe to say you're a fair bit more advanced than my old world. I doubt I have to ask much more to realize this. How much pollution does it all have on the world?"

"2% air pollution near the Liston Complex but that's it. We have strict environmental protection laws."

Dawn nodded, finishing off the last of her bowl, "Good. We've had a lot of issues with affecting it with greenhouse gasses according to a majority of the scientists I was aware of at the time."

“I made sure to be as little impact as possible. It's impossible to not impact it somewhat, but it doesn't do any good to defend a nation when it becomes uninhabitable."

"I fully am in agreement. Good soup by the way. Your help was definitely appreciated." She smiled, hopping down off her seat and taking her dishes to the kitchen counter, only to return and settle on the living room couch, book nearby for when socializing was done.

She heard the buzzing of wings and soon a small bit of weight landed on her.

"Hi!" Violet said cheerfully.

Dawn chuckled and looked up at the foal, "Hello there, Violet. What are you doing?"

"Seeing what you are doing." She said. "What are you doing?"

Dawn hummed, "Enjoying the meal, considering whether I feel like reading a book or doing something else."

"What you reading?"

"Today? It's a book about dragons."

"Ah, I see. Not a lot is known about their culture back home mostly due to the fact dragons are free to do as they please unless the Dragon Lord tells them to do something."

"I know nearly nothing of them outside of Twilight's helper,” Dawn admitted, “but I can't remember his name, and he's too young. If he has a long lifespan then I doubt I'll get to see him mature."

She blinked. "But you’re an alicorn."

Dawn looked up at her confused, "And?"

"Aren't you immortal?"

Dawn looked on in surprise. She had never been told that detail! "I- how would I be able to tell?"

"By not really aging and living past a normal life span?" She said tilting her head. "Or just ask the Sisters since they are immortal and would know."

"I... will have to ask." Dawn said, her breathing still deep and often as she tried to force herself to calm, to slow that down. She laid there on her side, now consumed with thoughts about what to do if she were immortal. There was a small hint of excitement but a larger sense of trepidation. "Anyway, this book is fictional, and reminds me of the stories I used to read while I was in school."

"What's it about?”

"A group of ponies and dragons who work together to change a corrupt government because a few immortal rulers are ruining it from everyone because they lost their empathy for the common pony."

She blinked. "Sounds like something mom would do."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, mom hates tyrannical and corrupt regimes and feels it's her duty to overthrow them when she finds them."

"I see!” dawn said, a bit surprised but wanting to sound more energetic for the foal after her behavior earlier. “I would rather hate such a thing myself, but I don't quite know what I would do. I'm a fair bit younger than her you know.”

"She was 23 when she grew to hate any form of tyranny"

Dawn nodded again, listening to the filly still on to of her.

"Yeah, mom is very much about being a proper leader who cares for her people a lot."

Dawn smiled, "Good. Immortal or not, a country performs its best when its people are happy and flourishing. "

"That's what mom says. People are more likely to do things better when happy and feeling appreciated then if being forced too."

Dawn nodded, "Yep. When ponies believe in a cause and strongly, they'll usually do it faster, and be smarter about the risks they take on the large scale instead of a fearful 'what can i do to live another day?'"

"Mom said that's true of most races."

Dawn chuckled, "I don’t have a way of confirming that, but my experience would confirm that for mammalian species."

"Mom has met a lot of different races. She said it's true 9 times out of 10."

Dawn chuckled again, "Well there you go." She heard a knock on the door and called out, "Coming!"

The filly buzzed off of her and took the form of a normal filly.

Dawn smiled at her and went to the door, opening it and smiling at the guest, "Oh! Hello again, Char, good to see you!"

Before her stood a stallion pegasus with an orange coat with yellow underbelly, barely any mane at all, and a matching red tail. She rather enjoyed this clear reference to a world she knew, and the added flaming mail-letter cutie mark being so much she couldn’t help but be friends with them if she could help it. She moved to give them a hug before being stopped by something getting between them

"Hi I'm Violet! " said the normal unicorn filly, waving with a big smile.

“Well hi there! I’m Char, the mailpony.” Char laughed as the filly waved from close range. He looked up to Dawn, a gleam of metal flashing, showing an emblem of a tree connected to the corner of a red oversized bandana that was always tied around their neck for as long as Dawn knew them. “Sorry it took me a while to deliver, the patrol’s been really busy lately.”

"I can imagine. Storm stopped insulting you yet?" Dawn asked, showing her concern.

"W-well, maybe..." He said, shuffling his hooves and giving a sense of embarrassment. Dawn hummed as she noted that Storm definitely hadn’t then.

"What's this?" Violet asked, having used her magic to pull the badge down so she could see it better. Dawn chuckled as Char was pulled down with it.

"H-hey, easy on the fabric please! It was given to me by my friend, don’t rip it!" Char protested, moving so that it wouldn’t rip. It was a sturdy thick thing, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t worry about it.

"Violet, you're supposed to ask before using your magic on somepony else's things.” Dawn reminded her, “That's the badge for the Everfree Patrol members."

"The Everfree Patrol?" She looked up from the badge.

"That’s right.” Char nodded before reaching from his awkward position into the saddlebag for the parcels he meant to deliver. “Oh, and here's your mail Dawn. Can I please stand up now?"

"It’s a group of ponies that are like a task group, but they do quests for anypony for what they can afford." Dawn explained, getting ready to open her mouth about Char’s question before someone else beat her to the punch.

"Violet let the poor stallion's badge go." She heard the disguised Chrysalis voice say firmly and Violets magic instantly let go and the sound of determined hooves approached. The filly was picked up in green magic as Chrissy stepped up to the door still disguised. She continued as she put the foal on her back, "I must apologize for my daughter. She can be extremely curious at times mr...."

Char smiled, standing up straight as a very faint chilling magic could be noticed surrounding his handkerchief, "I'm Charred Salamander, Char for short. I’m a mailpony, but I really need to get moving. Hope you stay well Dawn!"

Without much further notice he takes off, waving back at them as Dawn waved back to her friend.

"Hmm....he seems nice." Chrissy said as she watched him go.

"That he is.” Dawn smiled gently, “even more passive than I am, which is saying something. He rather liked the boldness of my friend Nightfall, even with the sealing of Svikopi inside him, Char didn’t let that affect how he saw Night. He puts up with the rather nasty teasing of being called a 'rattite' by Storm, his second in command... Someone I find to be a rather mean-spirited mare who seems to only respect strength before politeness. She seems aloof to me because of it and frequently gets on my nerves." Dawn explained, frustration growing before letting out a sigh to calm herself, looking at the parcel, sealed with the Patrol’s crest.

"I value strength highly, but that's no reason to be rude unless dealing with someone truly spineless and cowardly. I can't respect someone like that."

"My thoughts exactly. I'm sure there's some aspect to her that he finds appealing, perhaps her way of being forward, not mincing words, or perhaps some sort of passion... Still, we avoid each other as I view most of what she ends up saying as a veiled insult and she views my answers as dodgy, despite occasional need for nuance."

Dawn shrugged afterward, and carefully opened the package, a book held inside with a scribbled message, 'Hey Dawn, someone paid for a mission with a book about medicine. Figured you might want it. If not, send it back and we'll make use of it here. Lemme know when you need more aphrodaisilac as usual. -Night.”'

Dawn snorted and put the letter back away, mumbling, "Sure... gotta mention that flower don't you..." She smiled broadly in spite of herself, appreciating the mention of it.

"Aphrodaisilac?" Chrysalis asked.

Dawn blushed lightly, not expecting to have had the letter read by a guest, "A daisy of sorts that has the effects you would expect with a name like that. Pretty much only grows in the Everfree Forest, and very nearly only the Patrol members are able to safely harvest it. Let's just say there's a recipe I had tried to concoct for Char to help Storm be kinder, except, despite describing a friendly sort of love, it ended up being a not so affectionate version of love. We missed a couple steps that were really faded." She blushed, realizing how much she shared on accident. "I... am trusting that it won't be repeated..."

"I may be interested in acquiring this flower." Chrysalis said after a pause and a blink. She used her magic to wrap violet’s ears before adding. "And the recipe."

"I'll share the book with you when I can.” Dawn smiled subtly, enjoying the idea of a ‘partner in crime’, “The flower- let's just say make it last. It hasn't successfully been grown outside the Forest."

"I’m sure it will love ours back home and might even grow stronger depending on how deep in it is planted."

"That's- tempting.” She hummed, smirking with a pause between each word as she considered what to say. “Let's just say regardless of which times I've used it, my times have been enjoyable. What makes you say it'll grow stronger with your soils?"

"Because the Everfree is a place where all magics run wild and blend together in a never ending dance that only grow stronger the closer to the heart of the forest you get."

"And?" Dawn nodded, noting the sun and moon starting to change places in the sky

"Let's just say it's possible to be eaten by a tree branch in one bite." She said.

Dawn opened her eyes wide in surprise before replying, "I have no idea how that makes the flower be able to grow in your home, but now i'm a bit scared to ask..."

"Because the same mating that makes everything stronger and more deadly the deeper in it goes could also improves the plants strength and effect. As long as I don't plant it too deep that is"

Dawn thinks, genuinely still not understanding, but instead replying, "Do you know how many you'd need when the time comes?”

"As much as you are willing to give?" She asked smirking. "I can think of quite a few uses for such a plant."

Dawn smirked right on back, "I think I’m jealous now. The hard part is having them stay alive for long outside the everfree."

"Preservation spell and pocket dimension."

"Oh right, your version is a great deal more conveniently cast..."

She blinked. "What do you mean?"

Dawn shook her head, "I tried to consider learning that spell, but the degree of power needed and the complexity of it made me disinterested. I was only capable of storing about two items period. It just wasn't worth the effort."

She blinked. "Ah, your spell is more complex. I see. An interesting divergence."

"I'm rather interested in our differences to be honest, what things I can do readily that are taken for granted and vice versa." Dawn yawned but went back over to the couch, adding, "I probably should temper my eagerness though. I've been known for being easily excited or wrapped up in an idea, only to lose interest later... Sorry, I'm probably rambling or something. I'll see you in the morning Chryssy?"

She nodded. "Sleep well Dawn." She said as she walked towards the basement door. "And do not hesitate to ask Twilight things. Just be ready for a lecture." She chuckled.

Dawn laughed, "Good thing that part of her hasn't changed. I almost wish I had a keyboard, so I could type notes instead of writing them with a quill. Hell, even a ballpoint pen would be nice."

"Would you like to use a computer or data pad for note taking, then copy them down later?"

She looked at Chryssy intrigued, turning back to face them, "Oh? Is the data pad like the one I used to see in the Sci-Fi tv shows?”

She blinked looking at her. "Um, I don't know?"

Dawn smiled, "I'll look forward to finding out. I will head to bed, however. Oh, and Chrysalis?"

She turned back from. The door Violet already having fallen asleep on her back. "Yes?"

Dawn replied with that smile, "It's nice to meet you. I may not know your past, but I do look forward to getting to know the three of you. Rest well friend."

She nodded. "You too, Dawn." She descended the stairs.

Dawn went her own way to her room. A few hours after midnight, Stalwart returned, joining her in bed.

The next morning Twilight woke before sunrise and began her morning routine of exercise and now just as the sun was rising she stood starting at the door debating if she should do her morning run or not.

Dawn yawned and came down the steps, spotting Twilight and having woken after tossing and turning for much of the night. She looking around her home first before going, "Good morning Twilight."

"Morning.” Twilight looked back, “Sorry if I woke you. Had a light breakfast after workout. Do you think it would be a problem if I went for an early morning run and fly?"

"Not at all.” Dawn chuckled sleepily before adding, “Will you want company or no?"

"Think you can keep up?" She asked with a smirk.

"No,” Dawn said, even shaking her head. “I'm rather soft when it comes to endurance. I need to fix that, but don't have the discipline to come up with and stick to a routine."

"Well, I could help with that. I mean I've been doing a routine for decades now."

“That-” Dawn hesitated, giving a small bite to the corner of her lip as she decided before answering a second later with a nod, “would be appreciated. Granted, I know it's immature, but I’m prone to complaining along the way. Still, I can give it a try if you're willing to bear with me."

"Sure. I don't mind slowing down a bit, and can make it up later." She nodded opening the door.

"I'm glad you're understanding, and I apologize in advance." She said with a smile, suppressing a yawn and walking out the door ahead of Twilight. "I still need to learn how to fly, but as long as the baby is not at risk, it’s time I make a change for my health."

"Ah, well... we will start with a small a slow gallop then. Ready?"

Dawn nodded, starting to stretch her limbs.

Twilight waited for her having already stretched what needed to be.

Dawn, after doing a few very basic and not very thorough stretches, jumped up slightly a couple times before fluttering her wings, "Thanks for waiting, After you."

Twilight nodded and started to gallop down the side of the room at a decent but not overly fast past.

Dawn galloped after her, trying to match the pacing. She felt her body complain at the difference, being used to a slower relaxed pace, but she said nothing. Complaining this early on would be stupid. She asked to join them as a way to train, that’s exactly what she’d do.

"So how often do you gallop by the way?" Twilight asked looking at her.

"Not much." Dawn replied, trying to keep her breathing calm and deep. "Never had a need to."

"Ah, you definitely need a routine then. Staying in shape is never a bad thing." Twilight said as they slowed.

"I'm long overdue, I know." Dawn said in a lower voice, hinting at the guilt she felt in knowing that.

Twilight chuckled before asking as they turned to take a path to the north, avoiding the town. "So how much flying experience do you have?"

"None." Dawn replied, eyes still on the path ahead of them.

She blinked at her several times, opened her mouth, then closed it again. "None?" She asked, convinced she misheard.

Dawn laughed emptily, starting to pant slightly at their continued gallop, "Only got my wings a couple months ago. Combine that with a fear of heights, and you get none."

"I was assigned a trainer by Celestia three days after I ascended. It's kind of an important skill for an alicorn to learn." She said as they turned back to the house.

"I had been meaning to ask somepony to train me, but I never got around to it, and the trainer that taught Nightfall doesn't want to leave Canterlot."

"Odd. Celestia should have assigned you a trainer.” Twilight hesitated, frowning. “You shouldn't have to ask for something so vital."

Dawn was panting, but saying nothing as her shortness of breath caught up with her. She thought to herself, 'Maybe that's the difference between our Celestias. Yours takes action, mine seems to just watch.'

Twilight soon came upon the simple wood fencing around the sizable yard of the home, the gate opening to make way for them with her magic as they soon arrived. Twilight was breathing normally, while Dawn breathed heavily, nearly having gotten out of breath as she slowed to a trot once through the gate.

Twilight took a seat on her haunches. "So, after you rest a bit, we can start your flying lesson."

Dawn nodded as she breathed deeply, laying down on the grass while tucking her legs under her, "Sounds good."

"How you feeling? I tried to make that as leisurely as I could."

Dawn laughed before coughing, "Legs are already hurting. I must be really out of shape if you call that leisurely."

"Been running a 100 laps around Ponyville for over 50 years."

Dawn laughed more at that answer, having another cough before sighing. She took a deep breath and let it out before smiling, "Well no wonder! I'm only 30 and haven't had any practice!"

"Yeah,” Twilight chuckled, “I do that run every day at dawn."

Dawn let out one last deep breath, feeling better as she stood, still smiling, "Well, if I keep this up, perhaps I'll get to where you are in 50 years, provided I live that long. Violet asked me about immortality at one point, I didn't know how to react. I've not been told about it one way or another."

She blinked in surprise. "What-” Twilight paused, stunned, “have the others told you? You seem to be ignorant of some very important details."

"Yeah, I know I am quite ignorant of a lot of details. I don't understand the reason why, save that this kingdom's leaders are rather relaxed in their approach to things, or perhaps better described as a minimalistic approach. It bothers me on occasion, but isn't terribly intrusive either."

"No offence but,” Twilight paused, deciding the best way to speak her mind as she blinked, “I am steadily losing respect for them and their competence as leaders by the second."

“I can understand why.” Dawn nodded, “ I'd be happy to learn what I can from you in the interim, if you're willing. If you don't mind my asking, is there any way for you to tell if they did something to my lifespan from making me a princess?"

"No. Back home alicorns are naturally immortal. All alicorns. It's trait of the species.”

"It,” Dawn paused briefly, thinking, “it seems likely then." Dawn paused yet again, looking down and becoming contemplative before quietly continuing, "Celestia and Luna both are over a millennia old, and while I can't speak for our Twilight, she seems to have a slightly taller stature and horn than most unicorns. I'm not sure how to react to the idea honestly."

"It's because she is basically an early teenage alicorn. She is growing up and will be around as tall as the others. Even I will be eventually."

"So what does that make me, a filly?" Dawn smirked.

"Same. You'd be an actual filly’s size if you were a filly."

Dawn laughed, "Ok good, I do not want to go through puberty again. probably. Stalwart might enjoy it some though."

"Oh?" She asked tilting her head.

"Yeah, joking about hormones, and how Stalwart wouldn't miss a chance to mount me. Nothing huge.” Dawn admitted, realizing what she said only after the fact and started to blush, trying not to show it, “ So, what should we start with for how to fly?"

"Wow.” Twilight blinked at the first part. “I thought I was the only one who was blunt about sex" She said. "As for flying how much do you know?"

"I have a conceptual idea from based on back home, but the rules here seem to be a lot less... lax." Dawn replied, the embarrassment growing from

"You mean the fact logically our wings are vastly too small to achieve the lift required to fly."

Dawn nodded, "In addition to the density of our mass, things like that. I've tried flapping my wings, but I get startled after my hooves leave the ground..."

"Magic."

Dawn tilted her head, "Oh? I don't feel any being used..."

"Innate magic. Same with how hooves work, or earth ponies are stronger and have higher endurance despite not being any bulkier than the average pony."

Dawn hummed, "That's really interesting. So, how does flight work then? What should I be doing?"

"Well, as you said you have to want to fly. It doesn't just happen on its own otherwise any time a pegasus moved their wings they lift off the ground. You also have to try and keep fully aware of exactly where you are and what position you are in."

Dawn nodded, "So magic amplifies what is done, but doesn't make it happen... automagically~" she joked.

"Basically yes. Same with your hooves.”

Dawn tilted her head in confusion, "What about my hooves?"

"How do you think you pick things up with them?"

Dawn blinked, "I... don't..."

She looked at her. "What?"

"Yeah, I use my horn magic for just about everything. It's why my skills with magic grew to where they had, constant use."

She blinked. "I use my magic as well. But if I had a burn out or something I had to use my hooves.... you seriously learned magic before learning how to use your hooves?"

"I,” Dawn nodded, hesitating before admitting, “it never crossed my mind. I saw Night do it cause he's a pegasus and I figured, 'Why do it that way when I could use my horn', ya know?"

"In case you can't use magic?"

Dawn shrugged, "I was going to learn to have to after shattering my horn, but then the princesses... upgraded me? Changed? Whatever happened, I became an alicorn and got my horn back."

"Ok, well, if you don't know how to use innate magic then... we’ll we need to start from the very beginning before flying at all."

Dawn nodded, looking downward before meeting Twilight's eyes, "Sorry, but thank you for being willing to help in spite of it."

She sighed. "It's fine. Foal steps."

Dawn looked on at Twilight, feeling somewhat guilty at needing so much help, but trying to hide it. She hated being a burden to others.

"Anyways shall we head inside?"

Dawn turned to head inside at this suggestion, ready to learn what she can from this experienced alicorn. In a way, she rather liked how much they knew, and were willing to help out when it was in front of them. The princesses gave her the basics but not much else it seemed like.

There was a note on the table from Chrysalis saying she took Violet out to teach her changeling things and would be back around lunch so it was just the two of them and the sleeping Stalwart.

"Alright then." Twilight pulled out several non-breakable items from the kitchen and set them on the coffee table with magic. "Let's do this "

Dawn nodded, looking at the items on the table. There was a glass, a plate, a pot, a pan, and various bits of silverware.

"Ok, so try to pick one up with your hoof."

Dawn reached forward, trying to push her hoof up against a glass and made an attempt to squeeze around it gently, like palming it.

"You should feel some muscles just before your hoof flexes. Sort of like a human hand when your fingers close. In fact, imagine it like that."

"That’s kinda what it feels like,” Dawn nodded, trying to flex and grab the glass like she would with a hand, “I think.”

Twilight nodded and watched her, studying every movement and expression.

Dawn held the glass and lifted it slowly, commenting, "This feels pretty weird. I don’t know how strong my grip is."

"That's because you didn't start this as a foal like most ponies."

"Not bad though." Dawn set it down and reached for the plate before stopping, brows furrowed. She knew if she just reached for it like a plate, she’s lacking the thumb. It was like mittens that didn’t have the thumb to boot as far as she could tell and it was frustrating.

"Relax dawn.” Twilight intervened, “Take slow deep breaths. Don't think. Just calmly relax and do it."

"Like how I walked on all fours without issue? Ok." She replied, reaching to grab the plate. She tried to grip it, flexing everything she normally would in grabbing a plate, and pulled on it. She smiled at it briefly before it clattered onto the floor with a loud series of noises, making her jump in place in surprise.

Twilight chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. You will get there. Just remember to relax. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Don't think and breath normally. Just keep calm and relaxed, and don't think, and it will all work out."

Dawn nodded, unsure why they were repeating themselves, reaching down to grab the plate as best she could. She struggled to grip it at first but slowly managed to relax and despite not understanding how she did it, she grabbed the plate and put it on the table. She blinked, looking at it and wondering how she did it so easily when she had thought about it so hard prior.

"That's right. Relax." Twilight spoke in a calm soothing voice so as to help her calm. "Relax. Just breathe slowly. Clear your mind and don't think. Just relax and breath slowly.”

Dawn nodded slowly. She wondered what was happening, as if it felt like her body was getting a bit sluggish or tired. She was unaware that her eyes drooped slightly as she reached for the next item and grabbed without issue

"Good. Just relax and keep going. Don't think about it. Just breathe normally and relax." Twilight intoned

Dawn continued to slowly move her hoof and reached for the next object, being able to lift it up easily once again. ‘What in the world is going on?’ she wondered, head growing more fuzzy.

Twilight smiled. "Good, good." She said soothingly. "Just keep relaxing and empty your mind. There is no need to think. Just breathe, and listen to my voice."

Dawn listened on, barely noticing the lack of thoughts now as she reached to the glass and lifted it slightly, then set it down and stood in place, eyes half closed.

Twilight smiled. "Good, good. Let's try again ok? In reverse order this time." She said watching the items as she spoke. "Just remember to relax and remain calm. Breath slowly, and don't think. Empty your mind of thought, and just focus on your breathing and my voice."

Dawn nodded, reaching to the items and slowly moving them obediently. She barely registered what she did or heard beyond the command, innocently clueless to the influence of her teacher as she did them in reverse order.

"Good, good. Just like that. Exactly as I tell you to." Twilight said watching Dawn work. Happy at how well she was doing. "Just do what I say and you will do well my little pony."

Dawn felt a shiver go down her spine, involuntarily fluttering her wings before nodding and continuing to lift her objects.

"Yes, exactly as I tell you to. You are doing so well. Just keep focusing on your breathing, and don't think. I'll tell you what to do, so listen to my voice, and do was I say to."

Dawn nodded again slightly and stood in place, switching limbs to do so with her other hoof.

"Good that right. Just do what I say." She said watching her work. Completely unaware of what she was doing as she was focused on the lesson. "Just breathe slowly and don't think and do as I say."

Dawn was barely aware of what was going on any longer, barely registering that she was awake. For all she could tell, she was dreaming for some reason.

"Good. Just focus on your breathing. Relax. Keep your mind clear and listen to what I tell you to do" Twilight said soothingly unaware of what she was doing as she was focused on the lesson. "Just do what I tell you to do."

Dawn nodded, yet again barely processing what was told.

"Ok let's do it again. Pick up the items in the first order again." Twilight said. "You are doing well. Just keep doing everything I tell you to Dawn and follow all my instructions my little pony."

Dawn once again lifted all the items in order without issue

Twilight had her continue through several more times. The whole time reminding her to breath slowly and not to think and listen to her voice while doing what twilight told her to do and praising her as she did well. This went on for half an hour straight Twilight completely unaware of Dawn's state. "Ok good you did so well. Just remember how you felt doing it, I'll remind you by telling you to calm yourself my little pony. but for now, I think we are done and I am so proud of you Dawn." Twilight said and clapped her metal hooves happily, producing a unique metal on metal sound.

Dawn flicked her ears rapidly, as if in surprise, body eliciting a shiver down the spine and fluttering her wings as she woke up from that state with a feeling of childish praise being given to her. She looked around, curiously giddy and happy.

Twilight got to her hooves. "You did good Dawn. Very good. I knew you could figure it out." She said patting Dawn's head.

Dawn chuckled, though felt a bit embarrassed at such a simple praise. She wasn’t a child to be spoken to that way. She spoke back, surprised at her own voice’s shakiness, "Y-yeah... thank you..."

Twilight smiled. "So, shall we grab breakfast?"

"Y-yes m-Twilight." Dawn nodded happily, then blushed as it reminded of her times spent with her husband, having nearly called her something from that time.

She smiled and started to walk towards the kitchen while Dawn followed close behind
"How about we surprise your husband with a nice breakfast you can give him in bed?" Twilight suggested.

"I'll give him some lunch in bed when the time comes. He doesn’t get up till then usually." She said, yawning.

"Oh, ok. Then a nice simple breakfast for us then. Sound good?"

Dawn nodded, "As you wish"

"I don't know what you have here so I'll let you cook the meal and I'll help."

"Well,” Dawn laughed, “you see the fridge, but I'm thinking some scrambled eggs, cheese, and a salad would be nice... I'm starving."

"Then make that." Twilight said. "Be sure to give yourself plenty as you are eating for two."

Dawn nodded, getting out the food and right as she got the lettuce out, she moaned at a thought that crossed her mind, "Damn, some bacon sounds good right now.” Dawn paused at the realization of what she just said before sighing, “Sorry, I just...." she sighed again, and tried to focus on the food, ignoring the cravings that she had for feeding her foal.

"Well,” Twilight said, “since it's just us, I do have emergency stash of bacon."

Dawn bit back another sigh and stood near Twilight with a shy smile, lifting one leg up to hold the other like she had with her arms before being a pony, "Really twilight, I appreciate it, but you don't have to. These sorts of cravings will pass, they always do."

"Yeah, well, I want bacon too. No breakfast is complete without it." She said as a sealed package appeared in her magic. "Got eight packs big enough to cover three meals for three people each after all." She said opening the package.

Dawn sighed and sniffed the air before whinnying in relief, "That... is a godsend. I could kiss you if Stalwart weren't here..." She said as she lifted the skillet with a hoof and put it on the stove, turning it on with her magic due to the reach.

Twilight chuckled. "Go ahead." She said. "I don't mind." She started taking out a few strips of bacon.

Dawn laughed quietly and went over to kiss Twilight on the cheek, lingering for a second before setting the bacon down into the skillet and hearing the familiar sizzle. Her ears flickered and she felt her belly almost kick with excitement, even though she knew she was far too early for the baby to start kicking.

Twilight blinked in surprise and chuckled. "Guess you missed bacon a lot." She said as she took a deep breath to smell the wonderful scent.

Dawn shivered in place as her wings wiggled, "Is that maple I smell?" She gave another whinnying sigh on accident as she stood right next to Twilight, ignorant of their proximity.

Twilight was beside her watching the bacon cook. "Yup. I have two types. Normal and maple. Evenly split. "

Dawn smiled as she watched it sizzle in the pan, "I love you." she said affectionately as she prepared the scrambled eggs in another pan before cleaning the lettuce under some cold water.

Twilight chuckled. "Glad my bacon stores have made you happy Dawn." She patted Dawn's head again.

Dawn giggled yet again, "Feels funny when you do it. I only get head pattings from Stalwart when my collar's on"

Dawn reached over to the bacon, magically flipping the bacon gently.

"Collar?" Twilight asked.

Dawn blushed, only then realizing she had said what she had, "N-nothing! Nevermind!"

She eyed her. "Only thing I can think you mean is something me and Chrysalis do from time to time."

Dawn blushed deeper and looked at her with a bit of shy interest, "O-oh really?"

"I’m in charge when we are on the bedroom." She said and smirked. "Chrysalis knows her place very well."

Dawn giggled, "Y-yeah... Stalwart is in charge for me... most of the time anyway."

She chuckled. "Oh, so you’re the sub?"

Dawn started to turn toward the eggs to hide her shyness, getting them mixed and accidentally making a decent omelette because she had let it cook long enough. "Yeah... usually. I like making others happy and I get pretty nervous sometimes. He likes making a show of giving me 'lessons'"

"Oh?" Twilight said with interest. "Do tell."

Dawn blushed, then reached into the saddlebag and down at the bottom revealed a lime green collar with a brown interior, "Sometimes, when he wants to be obvious on one of our walks, I wear it inside out and he ties me to a clear lead while having me be blindfolded... I get a bit worked up."

"Oh? You go out in public? I tried that once and the guards told me not to do it again or else I would face charges." She then smirked. "However, in my castle I’m free to do as I please."

Dawn blushed and then smiled, "Good to know..." She distracted herself with getting the rest of their breakfasts made, giving a good portion to Twi while keeping enough for herself.

Twilight took a seat. "Yeah, she is very well trained, and it's fun leading in her through her hive gagged, blindfolded and on a lead. She is fully aware of how many drones see their mighty queen being an obedient pet for me." She smirked.

Dawn blushed deep enough the red started to be visible through her fur. She distracted herself by eating her food at the table, "I can imagine... I rather love the picture to be honest.” She said quietly as she nibbled on the bacon, remembering a point where he had loaned her out to his two pegasus friends and had squirmed at the thought of being loaned again

Twilight ate hers. "Yeah, being an empath as she is she can sense everyone around her. Even non-changelings but she is acutely aware of her drones through the link. " She said. "Even once lead her through the hive when she had a few extra toys with her that were very obvious, even with her tail blocking the view, and then had her show me how much she enjoyed it while I sat in her throne."

Dawn shivered in place and smiled at the thought before a transparent figure started to form next to Dawn, standing at her height, with a coat that almost looked navy blue mixed with purple, with occasional light specks that flickered on their coat, and a matching lighter blue mane that did similarly.

"I hope you don't mind the subject change, but what kind of link are we talking about here?" A male voice from it asked.

"What the fuck!?!?!" Twilight yelled falling back in her seat as the pony formed and rolled coming up as the room filled with about three dozen firearms held in the alicorn’s magic. She stood on her back lets, holding two silver revolvers, both with ivory handles, in her hands and every single gun from the pistols to the massive sniper rifle was aimed at the sudden pony that appeared. "Who in the name of Celestia's flaming ass are you and how the hell did you get here?!?!?"

He quickly vanished from sight and his voice came from a dark glow matching the stallion’s coat color around Dawn's horn, "Holy hell, calm the fuck down! Ever heard of or met an otherself before? Chill!"

Dawn gulped, being instantly frozen stiff and trying very hard not to faint, looking much more white at the recognition of the guns hovering and having pointed at him, even more so at what happened next

The guns instantly shifted to the source of the voice which meant Dawn was staring down the barrels of every bit of firepower. "What the fucking hell is going on!?!?" She demanded, Twilight’s eyes having changed from their natural purple color to a glowing red.

Dawn cowered, and upon feeling her legs want to give out, activated a magical barrier that provided a lime green shield in the shape of a dome around her before she laid herself down and curled up as she watched the guns, trying quite hard not to look at all offensive.

"CALM DOWN!” The male voice called out again, yelling, “And set those guns aside before you make her faint. I fully intend to explain if you'll calm the fuck down!"

"I ain't disarming till someone tells me what the fuck a familiar is doing here!"

Dawn takes a shuddering breath, having recollected herself and found the strength needed to slowly uncurl, and stood. She shook even as she let the barrier dissipate slowly. Her fear at the threat of force brought tears to her eyes as she she said quietly in a shaking voice, "He is a part of myself, and who I used to be as a human. Like a mask, he was the personality I was like in order to survive until I came out as Dawn."

"The fuck are you talking about?" Twilight asked

"Pretty much what she said.” The male voice said, “Like multiple personalities, except I can use a little magic to come out and interact on my own."

"You have DID?" Twilight asked with less edge in her voice. "And it manifests?"

"A what now?" he asked.

"Dissociative Identity Disorder." She said. "Let me guess this Equestria hasn't bothered putting any time or resources towards psychology either?" she said with annoyance

Dawn shook her head, "No, it hasn't, but I'm not sure it's in the same boat as that. It wasn't an issue until I came to Equestria... C-could you please put those away, I can barely stand any longer..."

Twilight looked at her like an executioner for a few more moment before snorting and one by one the gun vanished with the two in her hands being the last to go and her eyes reverted to normal. "Start talking."

Dawn sighed in relief and fell to the ground, exhausted. "So, while I was human I was starting medications to transition from male to female. It was a situation I'd been dealing with for a several years. After being transported to Equestria, I found myself here as a mare, which was a huge relief, but it felt like a part of myself was missing, and that part was my male past, the figurative mask I wore to survive in society while looking male."

"I was the version of her she presented to the world." The male voice added, continuing the explanation by voice, "We're linked in that sense, being the same person beforehand, yet separated half-way in Equestria. If anything she was a part of myself that nagged at me to point out something wasn’t right, and I was the voice that gave her strength when she was too timid. It wasn't intentional, but we expect this was the magic mirror's way of trying to right a wrong, as there was enchantments in it we later discovered that help reshape the traveler to the form suitable for the world they enter. So now despite having been one person before, we became two here."

"I see. "She said and stood there with a blank expression as she thought.

Starlight tentatively formed to the side away from dawn, "So, simply put, I'm a version of her from the past, but we're still stronger together when we acknowledge each other or act in unison. I'd argue we have the magical strength of one and a half unicorns in one, but ever since she got her wings... I have no idea how to compare her power and my place in it." The stallion said.

"I see… Met a version of myself who was merged with Dash to make a single being. If they thought as one then they moved perfectly naturally. If they weren't thinking in unity it was a complete and utter mess as they body didn't know what to do." She said with a cool calculated tone. After a few minutes, she reached down and picked up the chair and sat. "Apologies for ruining breakfast." She said in a more normal voice.

Dawn chuckled weakly, "N-no problem... I just hope the adrenaline and the fatigue I'm dealing with now doesn't affect the foal's personality at all... " She slowly nibbled her salad, having broken the bacon into it after the bacon had cooked, her pace still slow as she tried to hide how shaken she still was.

"Would you like me to check you after breakfast? I'm a medic."

Dawn looked at her slightly curious, "Check me... how?"

"I've studied every medical journal for every species on Equus. "

Dawn laughed, "So I found a magical tutor, a flying tutor, and a healing tutor... You're really making me question my career path." She joked, winking at Twilight as she tried to get her mood up through joking.

Twilight chuckled, relaxing more from her adrenaline filled moment before as the stallion turned to walk away and disappear into the shadow of a nearby cabinet. "Yeah. I'm technically a doctor but I don't have a license so am just a medic."

Dawn nodded, "Seems legit. I know a bit for healing magic but it seems to be more an acceleration of the body's natural healing and a cleanser.

"That's more or less healing magic in a nutshell but I also learned non-magical medicine as well."

Dawn smiled in slight admiration, "Well then, I guess I've got someone to look up to in that sense. Though I was always squeamish around needles. Either way."

Twilight blinked. "Look up to?"

"You know how to survive, think on your hooves, have more knowledge on healing magic and healing practices in general, and are more fit than I am. It gives me a really good example of where I would like to see myself later on in terms of that level of expertise and capability."

She blinked and her checks turned a slight shade of red. "Oh. Um Thank you?"

Dawn smiled innocently, "Anything else I should learn or practice for now then, or do we want to do our own things at the moment?"

"Hmm...well we could do some more practice with your hooves make sure you get sole good practice with them."

Dawn nods, "But, can't I learn even a little about flight?"

"Hmm, well... all right, we can do a bit of that." She smiled.

"thank you." She said eagerly, looking up at her and transparently excited with a momentary burst of energy.

Twilight chuckled and patted her head. "Silly little pony."

Dawn laughed and pushed her head into the pattings, "What can I say, I get teased for being childish often"

"I think it's adorable." She chuckled as she finished her meal.

Dawn blushed and fluffed up her wing-feathers unintentionally, making her appear a lot more contented, "S-so, what should we start with?"

"Well, I figure we will go somewhere open. I saw a clearing not too far from here that should work." Twilight said sending her dishes to the sink and then heading for the door.
Dawn followed suit, putting her dishes away before heading outside and closing the door behind them.

Author's Notes:

Okay so ended up making a few minor changes to names from the first chapter so apologies for any confusion.

Anyways we are slowly marching towards more chapters and i look forward to seeing yoi all in the next one.