Storm gathered what little she brought, and fell into line behind Twilight, following her lead.

Twilight marched on at a decent pace, just shy of a trot and taking them about an hour and a half to get to the tree. Storm panted lightly, more tired out from her injury, but knowing the end was near. Stalwart answered the door when they went to knock.

"Oh hey, you two are b-” Stalwart paused, noticing Storm was looking away, a wing shaking. “What happened to you Storm?"

"Just a bit of sparing is all, I got a bit too rough, but she's a tough mare." Twilight answered, smiling at Storm.

Storm looked away from either of them slowly, ashamed of what actually happened, even if she was complimented. Her wing slowly stopped shaking in place before a slightly familiar voice called out.

"Who is it this time?" The voice said before coming into view, looking like Fire Storm, but with black fur instead.

"You know you don't have to be in disguise Nymph." Stalwart said, "Relax."

"Ah, the changeling from the guild." Twilight said smiling.

"My name is Nymph." She said insistently.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Nymph." She smiled and bowed.

"Hello." She said, slightly intimidated but trying to imitate Storm like always until she saw Storm directly, noticing how she wasn't puffed up and didn't have the same emotions to feed on like before, "Storm? What happened to you?"

"Slight accident during sparing. Nothing serious. A day of rest is all she needs." Twilight said.

"I'll be fine Nymph." Storm said, sounding deflated.

"But you taste funny..." Nymph replied.

"Nymph, not now." Storm said more firmly, looking away toward Van Hoover.

"So, this changeling said Dawn and somepony else told her to come along to learn more about the hive, but she refuses to go to the others. Even introduced them to Tere-." Stalwart said before Nymph made her position quite clear.

"I came to see Dawn, not changelings."

"Ah. That will be a tad difficult for a time." Twilight said. "She is preoccupied at the moment and won't be available."

"Why not?" Nymph asked.

"Because she's busy turning into one of them." Storm said abruptly, demonstrating how she was never good at handling Nymphs frequent questions.

Twilight looked at Storm with annoyance. Storm looked away, getting the hint to shut up.

"Dawn is trying to be a changeling? But that's impossible!" Nymph exclaimed.

"Not a changeling but she is joining the Hive."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Nymph asked, confused.

"Uh… no… yes… maybe?" She said, turning to her mom.

"It's never happened before so haven't the foggiest. It's a learning experience." Twilight said happily at the thought of research.

"When can I see Dawn? I want to know more like she said." Nymph asked.

"Don't know." She said. "All depends are her now."

"Fine." Nymph replied, looking between Stalwart and Twilight, "I'll stay here until she comes back then."

"What about your duties?" Stalwart asked.

"Nightfall said I should find out more about who I am and come back when I'm ready."

Twilight nodded. "Good advice. It is important to explore who one is and know about themselves, especially in your line of work."

"But I have a lot of things to do for my hive. I will need to finish soon."

Twilight only smiled as she entered the house the rest of the way.

Nymph watched and continued to keep her illusion going while inside the home, Fire Storm following Twilight in.

Twilight took a seat on the couch. "So then Nymph, how was the trip here?"

"Boring. No books, and only a few passengers to talk to."

"Ah, that is unfortunate. I'm always sure to bring a few books with me when I go on trips."

"It's in the past now." she replied simply. "I don't like reading alone. I prefer to talk."

"Then let us talk." She said smiling. "I'm mostly packed for my trip to Manehattan and it's just Storm that needs to pack. While she does that we will talk."

"Fine. What do you know about the hive?" Nymph asked.

Storm took her cue to go grab her things in her own saddlebags and gear up. She was tired, but she wasn't about to give up just yet. She could manage a measly 30 minute walk to town to get onto a train when they were ready.

"Many things. Though not all. Still learning as there is much to learn." She said. "And since Queeny said you may know, I'll be happy to answer any questions I can."

"Why can we feed on emotions?" She asked, jumping straight to the hard questions she wanted answered.

“Because of evolution, like all things you developed an ability over a very long time.”

"Oh. Why can we use illusion magic but can't do the spells unicorns can?" Nymph asked, changing subjects now that she had the answer she needed.

"Because Changeling magic and unicorn magic are different things, so the spells are different. And what do you mean illusion magic? You mean shapeshifting?" Twilight asked.

A familiar green fire went down from the top of Nymph’s body to her hooves then back up, revealing her changeling form and then going to imitate a rather young looking Twilight, "I mean illusion... there's no such thing as shapeshifting."

"So… you can't become a rock? Or a cup or blanket?" Twilight asked as she slowly reached out to run a hoof over her to see if it was just an illusion or not.

Her form did not match the illusion and either passed through or stopped where it shouldn't have, "No, why could I?"

"Because changelings can? Least the ones I know." She said

"That's weird." Nymph replied, missing the irony of a changeling calling a basic changeling ability weird.

"I could show you?"

"Oh, so you can do this changeling magic then?" Nymph asked, with a know-it-all attitude that was so similar to Storm it was uncanny.

"Not at all, but I know changelings." She said. "I can just have one of them show you."

"I… I would like that." she said, hesitating slightly as her disguise faltered.

She nodded and went to go outside to get one.

Nymph stood there, shaking slightly until Stalwart came to her side and bolstered her with his concern and love for her, and his contentment with the changelings, giving her nourishment and reinforcement in the process.

Twilight returned with a blue pegasus mare. "This is Joken, she's an infiltrator."

Nymph immediately put her illusion magic up of her imitation of Fire Storm out of nervousness, but a more changeling-like one that could still pass as a pony. While her disguise was down, it was clear to those who knew changeling ages she was barely much more than 6 years old by this point.

"She is quite young." Joken said as she dropped her disguise to show the slightly thin, but athletic build of an infiltrator, though clearly had rounder features due to being female.

"I am old enough!" she said defiantly.

"I'm 26. Why you aren't with a mentor I do not know. You're barely old enough to not have a caretaker."

"I have a mentor, Nightfall." She continued to say defiantly, as if seeing them as a competing hive.

"Does he know anything about being a changeling?" She asked. "Or just being a pony?"

Nymph glared at her, but she said nothing.

"Ponies, while meaning well. Don't understand changelings. We are too different from them and they don't know how to raise us." She said.

"Joken, I didn't bring you in to lecture her on changelings. I brought you in to show her shapeshifting." Twilight said a bit annoyed.

"Yes… sorry My Queen." She bowed her head ears back in a show of submission.

Nymph looked between them with narrowed eyes, "But, she's not a queen…"

Joken looked hard at her. "She is Queen's Mate, therefore, she is a Queen." She said harshly at Nymph for daring to call her queen illegitimate.

Nymph looked at them as if she wanted to growl, but couldn't, even going so far as to puff out her wing's feathers in the illusion.

Joken narrows her eyes and hissed, baring her sharp teeth at the little one who dared challenge her.

Nymph started to spread her legs and her illusion took a bit more aggressive stance before Stalwart's voice cut in.

"Enough you two! I won't have any fighting in my house!" Stalwart said firmly, like he were addressing to soldiers in his squad.

Joken stiffed and her ears drooped. "Yes… sorry." she said, feeling the anger radiating from Twilight behind her for her behavior

Nymph gradually calmed, but had a small bit of pride for having pony friends who side with her instead of those 'other' changelings

"Joken. You know Starry Skies would be upset knowing you got into a fight." Twilight said calmly, yet firmly and Joken's ears drooped further and she looked down at the floor, shuffling her hooves.

"Who's that?" Nymph asked

"My mate…" she said, sounding really upset at herself for getting angry.

"Another changeling? But that's a pony name…" Nymph said, confused. She thought she was the only one who was going to be a changeling with a pony mate when she grew up. The first in fact.

"He's a pony… works as a Royal Guard back in Fillydelphia… he… he didn't come with me… " Joken said sadly, "He must be worried sick....."

Nymph felt bad, not only for sympathy, but her dreams of being the first changeling to take on a pony mate were dashed as well.

"I hope he understands. If anything, he'd probably trust you knew how to take care of yourself till you got back." Stalwart replied.

"He'd probably be the first to know I was missing… it was my week off so I was going to be home with him...we had plans for dinner at one of the nicer restaurants in town as I hadn't been home for a month do to work… I was picking out the dress I was going to wear when suddenly I was falling through the sky over 300 miles from Fillydelphia....."

"I hope you're given another week off to spend with him, maybe more depending." Stalwart said gently, looking at Twilight before walking over to the couch.

Twilight had her ears down a bit as she felt sympathy for the soldier and was definitely giving her time. She already planned to give her two weeks off.

Nymph looked at them expectantly, now that it was shown that her side was the right one, and she was to be instructed.

Twilight looked at her. "I'll be explaining to Dawn about your behavior as well little one." She said firmly.

"What for?" she asked, getting a bit of her defiance back.

"That right there. You are in Stalwarts home and you are being very disrespectful not only of his home but him and Dawn as well." Twilight explained firmly, "And acting that way in front of a 4 year old to boot."

"I'm not doing anything wrong." She said, looking between her and Stalwart, who she could only taste a mild discomfort from, and a hint of annoyance. "What 4 year old are you talking about?"

Twilight looked up at the ceiling. "You're getting better my little Flame."

Nymph looked at Twilight confused before looking up and spotting the half changeling hybrid and lost focus of her spell hiding her form in surprise, reverting to her half-pony height size.

Violet Flame was looking right at Nymph without blinking and was just standing on the ceiling as if it were the floor.

"How are you doing that?" Nymph asked, sitting to have less strain on her neck to look up.

"Changeling magic." She said simply. "Are you always this angry? That's bad for your blood pressure."

"Angry?" She asked back. She didn't think she was anywhere close to angry. Even earlier that wasn't anger except for when the other changeling was challenging her... She felt confused at this assumption.

"Your behavior suggests either anger issues and short temper or a superiority complex."

"Not really..." She replied, still not having any kind of anger, temper or feeling of superiority, "Are you talking about when I was in disguise?"

"You mean the illusion? Yes." She said.

"Don't you imitate the pony you're trying to be as a drone?" she asked simply, "Can you come down? I'm getting tired looking up."

Violet suddenly dropped from the ceiling, turning in midair and her wings buzzed abruptly to stop her fall before she landed on the floor with a soft clop, staring at Nymph the entire trip down. She hadn't blinked nor taken her eyes off Nymph since they first saw each other.

Nymph blinked, looking at her confused, "What are you?"

"I mostly just use a random disguise when I need to."

Nymph looked on at the 4 year old, intrigued and not even pretending to hide it. She turned into a dark green pegasus filly with a pink mane after being wrapped in violet flames.

"I'm Nymph." she said back, but then looked closer, leaning in a little, "But… you're not a pony, you have changeling wings."

"I'm a pony changeling hybrid." She said. "I mostly look pony but I have changeling magic mixed with normal unicorn magic and shapeshifting."

Nymph was transparently curious, walking around them to get a closer look, "You can do this shapeshifting thing too?"

"Well yes. All changelings can. It's a natural ability."

"Well, that's not true." Nymph said, acting a bit more foal like, speaking her mind without reservation. "I can't."

Violet blinked and tilted her head much like her mother does. "Why not? You're a changeling aren't you?

"Of course I am... But all I can do is this." She said, taking up her illusion and imitating Stalwart Shield, but this time staying her current size.

Violet blinked and poked her. "That's not a very good disguise. Mom can do that."

"Hey!" Twilight protested.

"But she's not a changeling…" Nymph said.

"Any unicorn can do an illusion spell like that. That's basic."

"Then what else is there?" she asked, moving a little closer to Violet.

"Shapeshifting like I did?"

"Yeah. How do you do that?"

"You just… do?" Violet blinked for the first time and scrunching up her face as she tried to think of how else to say it.

Nymph tries to 'just do' and simply loses her illusion. After another minute of trying by instinct and going nowhere, she looked between Nymph and twilight, feeling frustrated. "This is hard. Will Dawn be able to do this too when she's done?"

"No clue." Twilight said.

"Then you." she replied, turning to Joken, "Will you show me?"

"That… will be difficult. This is something you should have known at hatching. I can change and show you what can be done with it…but it's just something I know how to do and do so without thinking."

"Well, I didn't, and I was left behind by the hive by the time I was 5 until Dawn found me." She said as a matter of fact. She was about to protest further when Joken interrupted.

"You where what?!?!?" Joken asked, startled before she started making clicking sounds rapidly.

"What? I was left behind, Dawn protected me when my disguise failed and the ponies wanted to attack me in the caves. I was going to accept her as my queen, but then Nightfall took over and he is my queen, for now."

"Hives don't abandon their own like that." Violet said seriously. "That… that just doesn't happen unless the ones meant to get you out were killed before doing so…"

Nymph shook her head, "I don't know. I think they just didn't think I was worth it. That's what Storm and Night have said too."

"Every changeling is worth it… from queen to eggs… the hive would die before abandoning their own…" Joken whispered, stunned before adding under her breath, as if to ward off an evil spirit, "We are never alone…"

"But sometimes we are alone." She said, tilting her head. She stopped very soon after and shrugged. "Either way. I came because Dawn and Chrysalis said I could learn more about being a changeling."

Joken recoiled as if struck, and hissed when Nymph said they were ever alone.

"WHAT?" She half yelled, looking at her with clear confusion, taking their attitude as an attack and moving back half a step. "I've been alone!"

Stalwart was standing now and looking between them concerned.

"We are never alone. Our hivemates are always with us. They would never abandon another, much less the future of the hive. They are as valuable as the Queen herself." Joken said "Something else happened to the caretakers who tried to get you to safety."

Nymph shrugged, getting frustrated easily as a child often does and sat down in a pout, "Look, are you going to help me with this shapeshifting thing or not?"

"I… I…" she turned and headed for the door, leaving with a deeply disturbed look on her face.

Nymph turned to look at Twilight and shrugged, then turned to Violet, still intrigued by them. She found Violet only a few inches from her face, wings buzzing. Nymph didn't seem to mind the lack of distance, still looking back at her.

"What do you do in your hive?"

"Nothing. I'm only 4." Violet said simply.

"Oh." Nymph said, unsure what to say or ask next.

"I am the Princess though." Violet added.

"So why did she get upset? You’re alone sometimes too right?"

"Not really. There is always someone around, and she's part of the link. She's able to talk to anyone in the hive at any point. She's never alone as they are always there for her if she needs them, and all changeling will help each other when needed."

"What is the link?" Nymph asked, "I know Dawn used a spell to talk to me privately with Chrysalis... Is that what you mean?"

"That is… sort of like it.” Violet said, admitting she wasn’t sure, “She requires magic to use it but the Link is a natural part of changelings. It allows us to communicate over distance and share thoughts, emotions and memories with the hive. It allows the hive to know when hive mates are in trouble as well as where they are."

"But what happens if you don't want to share thoughts or talk? Aren't there times where you want peace and quiet? I've seen Night and Storm, and they love each other lots and it keeps me feeling full when they’re together, but even they want time alone."

"Then you just shadow yourself. The link is still there and the others know you are there but they can't hear you and they are just a distant white noise. If you are in trouble they will feel the spike in emotion and be able to find you of need be."

Nymph looked at Violet confused, brows furrowing as she looked to the ground by Violet and then by Twilight before asking, "What else do changelings do?"

"Survive." Violet said.

Nymph rolled her eyes and said, "That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?" She tilted her head

"I mean, do Changelings have other things they can do that ponies can't? Can I make a hive with Night?" She asked intently.

"If he was your mate, yes. But if I recall, he is already mated so you either kill her or break her. Either would prove your superiority as a mate." Violet said simply before adding, "But I don't think Ponies like that."

"I will be a superior mate." She said confidently, "that's why I'll become a queen for him."

"How competent are you in fighting?"

"I'm learning." She said, "After all, Night's the best."

"So you are learning from the one you wish to mate with?" Violet asked confused. "That means your chances of winning are very slim."

"Y-you don't know that!" she said, flustered to where her wings came out and buzzed for two seconds.

"Mom never could best the one who trained her, even after being augmented to be stronger and faster. She lost every time because he was the one who trained her and knew exactly what she was going to do. It will be the same for you. The chances of defeating the one who trained you are very slim." Violet said. "But I think you will understand better once you know more about what it is to be a changeling."

"Then where would I start?" Nymph asked, deflating after that disappointing news.

"Ask Sire to share our history with you, and also get your own identity and not try to be just a copy of someone else."

"Who's sire?" She asked, nearly ignoring the other part of the statement.

"The Queen of Ridgeback Hive. Chrysalis."

Nymph buzzed unpleasantly, startled at the name before calming herself, but still sounding unnerved, "I really want to see Dawn, if you're going to have me meet her."

"What is wrong with my Sire?" Violet asked innocently.

Nymph shuffled uneasily, "She captured Storm and tried to kill Night."

"No she didn’t. We only just got here a few weeks ago, and she's been with Mom most of that time… actually I don't think she's even met this Nightfall pony."

"I… but Storm and Night both had scratches n things from that night. I could taste their worry, anger, and fear!"

Violet blinked. "Must have been someone else who did it. Sire doesn't do things like that unless it's in self-defense or part of her job."

Nymph did a half-whine unintentionally as she hummed, then turned to Twilight, feeling like she should ask something of them, but had no idea what to ask.

"Yes?" Twilight asked

"I… don't know. I don't know what to ask." she said, looking at her eyes and then the legs, "why are you part metal?"

"War is hell."

"War?"

"Yup."

Nymph looked at her confused, then turned back to Violet before asking, "Why are your eyes different?"

Nymph still had a set of eyes that appeared to be like a pony's, save for the pupil which was compound like Violet's.

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Violet said.

Nymph tilted her head, much like Dawn often had. "What are you talking about? My eyes are normal."

"No they aren’t. They aren't a solid color."

"What are you talking about? This is how they're supposed to be." She insisted.

"No." Violet said as she turned into a smaller version of Nymph, only with solid blue eyes like the other drones. "This is how they are supposed to look."

Nymph shook her head, "But ponies are supposed to have two colors, black and another one. Changelings… Well, I'm not using any magic now, so this must be how they're supposed to be!"

"But you're not a pony, you are a changeling, so it doesn't matter how ponies look."

Nymph looked at her with a bit of a pout, clearly confused on how she should answer. This foal seemed wrong to her, but she didn't know how to argue against her. It didn’t help that she then saw Violet change to have the same eyes as Nymph herself, what she saw in the mirror.

"This,” Violet replied, pointing at her eyes, “is not natural.”

"If it's not, how come I have them and I'm not using magic." she replied with a childish taunt.

"Because you are using magic to keep them." She said as if it was obvious and she was talking to a small child and she were the adult.

"But I'm not!" she said, stamping her front hoof.

"I can see you using it."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she insisted, going over to Stalwart to sit up on the couch with him.

Violet tracked her with her eyes and then walked over to Twilight and looked up at her. "What's for lunch?"

Nymph looked at her, confused at both the change in subject and the lunch. She hadn't needed to eat often, but she had a habit of eating while around Storm and Night.

'But she was a changeling right? So she shouldn't need to eat.' she thought about Violet.

Twilight smiled down at her. "I'll make some Sandwiches. What would you like?" She asked.

"Grilled cheese." Violet said with a toothy grin.

Twilight nodded and headed for the kitchen

"That sounds like a good idea." Stalwart chuckled.

"I want some too…" Nymph said quietly, looking between Twilight and Stalwart.

"Well then, go up to Twilight and ask her to make you some then." he said, nudging her flank to get her to move off the couch and toward Twilight.

Twilight looked over at her. She had planned to make some for everyone, but this was an excellent opportunity to teach a child.

Nymph walked over, a bit more timid than her previous posturing, imitating the other foals she had seen Dawn work with in the past and said, "Miss Twilight, may I have some too?"

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Yes you may." She said before starting to head towards the kitchen, she looked back and added. "Would you like to help?”

"Sure!" Nymph said excitedly as her wings came out, and very quickly she buzzed to fly over to the kitchen ahead of Twilight.

Twilight chuckled. Regardless of species, kids were kids.

Stalwart came along as well, chuckling along with her before saying with a wistful tilt, "You know, it really is a shame Dawn's busy… She loves caring for foals. To have both of them here and look after them, she'd really like that."

"She will be back soon, and I’m sure they will both still be here." She said as they entered the room.

"Whether they get along is something we'll find out later." he replied.

Twilight nodded and went to the fridge. Nymph followed Twilight around like a shadow, trying to see how she was going to make it and how she could help.

Twilight got out butter, bread, and cheese. "Now then, can you butter one side of the bread while I heat the stove?" Twilight asked, smiling with a butter knife held in her magic.

Nymph nodded, and thinking the knife was for Twilight, went to the drawers, looking around for a dull knife before grabbing one in her mouth and nodded.

Twilight smiled and moved a chair over so she could reach the counter, and grabbed a stack of bread as she turned in the stove.

Nymph went to work spreading butter on one slice, then set the knife down, grabbing the slice she buttered with her mouth, and set it aside, leaving a bite sized piece on the corner missing before she went to the next slice.

Twilight was grabbing a pan from a cupboard, so she didn't see the foal’s behavior. Nymph continued like this for a good 8 slices until she said, "Twilight, I need more bread to butter."

She went to the fridge and grabbed more, coming over and then blinking at the slices before chuckling. "I said butter the bread, not eat it silly filly." She said patting Nymphs head with a wing.

She tilted her head, "But, I didn't eat it. There's nearly all of it left!"

"Yes, but what about the cheese?” Twilight chuckled, “It doesn't have enough bread to lay on now."

She pined, looking at the bread. It was still almost all there... she was careful after all. "Then how'm I supposed to do it?"

"Well, there are your hooves and your magic."

"But I'm not supposed to use my hooves for food, and I don't have any magic but this one anymore." She said, turning into an illusion of a young alicorn twilight, robot limbs and all.

Twilight smiled. "That is very skilled and adorable… and who said not to use your hooves for things?" She asked

"Nightfall, but he didn't say why." Nymph replied.

Twilight blinked. "There is nothing wrong with using your hooves as long as you wash them before hoof."

"Wash them with what?" Nymph asked.

"Soap and water..." Stalwart called out, "Don't you have plumbing at the guild yet?"

"I… don't know?" she shrugged.

Twilight resisted an urge to face hoof, and resisted an even stronger one to teleport back to the guild and smack Nightfall before lecturing him on how to properly raise a foal on hygiene. Instead, she kept her emotions under control as she chuckled.

"Here let me show you. Come over to the sink."

She flew over to the sink, landing on the counter.

"We don't walk on the counter little one." Twilight said as she moved the chair over.

"Oh." She said simply, fluttering over onto the offered chair.

Twilight grabbed a damp cloth and wiped the counter before patting the chair. "Up."

Nymph tilted her head, unsure what was being asked of her and started to climb up to be on the counter, but slowly and watching for signs of if that's the right thing to do. Twilight turned on the water making sure it was just warm.

"Put your front hooves under the water and get them wet." Twilight instructed.

Nymph put her front hooves under the water, feeling them get wet. After about fifteen seconds she nodded, turning to ask, "Ok, Now what? I'm not thirsty..."

"Once they are nice and wet take them out and put soap on them."

"Ok… what's soap?" Nymph asked, trying to remember.

Twilight froze as she attempted to process what was just said before reaching up and attempting to clean out her ear. "I'm sorry I think I have something in my ear. Could you repeat that?"

"What's soap?" she asked again.

"It's something fillies use to clean their hooves when they've got dirt on 'em" Stalwart called out from the dining room, coming over. "And it's something all Ponies should use before cooking."

"Oh, like what Nightfall and Storm use at the river! They told me it wasn’t safe for chitin."

Twilight stood there, dumbfounded for several seconds before turning to Stalwart. "Stalwart, can you take over for a couple of minutes?" She said staring off into the distance.

"Sure." he said, recognizing how confused Twilight was getting and helped the foal learn how to wash her hooves with the soap, showing it wasn’t harmful at all.

Twilight turned and walked to the living room. She promptly sat down, and about half a dozen rifles appeared along with bottles of chemicals.

He continued to take over, helping her make sandwiches without needing to take a bite out of them, letting Violet choose what cheeses to put on them, as they had quite a few. Dawn was a cheese lover and it showed. Every once in a while, they got a scent of a chemical smell from the living room and a few clicks could be heard.

They cooked the sandwiches, Stalwart flipping them while telling them what to look for if they tried to cook when they're older, and put them on each plate. Each foal was getting three sandwiches while he went to work on making several for himself and Twilight. Near the end of it, Twilight returned in the same mood she had been in at the start.

"Hey there. Did I miss anything?"

"Nope! The girls are eating at the dining table, and I just finished ours. Three enough?" he asked, starting to scoop the browned sandwiches onto a plate for her.

"Yes,” She nodded. “sorry about suddenly having you take over. Had to go clear my head."

"It’s fine. It'll be easier for us when Dawn comes back, if Nymph is willing to stick around."

"I don shee why no'." Nymph said as she tore through the second sandwich, "ish gud!"

Twilight chuckled and patted her head with a wing.

Nymph smiled and swallowed her mouthful before asking, "Can I have some Cider?"

"Sure." he said, getting out a glass for everyone and pouring the cider in before bringing all four glasses to the table on a tray in his mouth, setting it down on the table before using his hoof to pass them on.

"Thank you kindly." Twilight said before sipping some and starting to eat.

Nymph ate readily, soon finishing all three sandwiches before leaning back in the chair, only saying contentedly, "I'm full."

Violet was as well, and she smiled at Twilight. "Thank you mom, Mr. Stalwart, and Nymph." She said before pushing away from the table and hopping down to head for the living room.

Nymph got down to follow Violet, intrigued by what she might go to do. Violet went to a corner where a book was and several toys, clearly one she had taken over for herself some time ago and sat down as she picked up the book in her magic.

"Whatcha readin?" Nymph asked as she watched the book levitate.

"Doctor Good Heart's ‘Pony Disease Dictionary: Volume 3.’"

"What's it about?"

"Many common diseases ponies get, such as symptoms and how they contract them, what they do and treatment."

Nymph blinked. "So ponies don't just... get sick?"

"No, of course not." She said as she read.

She looked at Violet confused, "Then how?"

"Viruses and bacteria. Sometimes parasites"

"What are those?"

"Little, tiny, microscopic organisms that infect a host and slowly…" and Violet was off lecturing Nymph on what caused sickness and how it spread, leaving no detail out as she spoke about everything. From something simple as the common cold, to deadly diseases that kill their host slowly was explained, as well as talking about symptoms and white blood cells along with good and bad bacteria. After that she explained how viruses can be used as vaccines for others and cures. She spoke with much enthusiasm and spared no detail, as it was just the two of them.

Nymph started to get uncomfortable and easily distracted, not really understanding half of it, but noticing Violet’s enthusiasm for taking over, something she felt she didn't share with her.

After a few hours, Twilight came in as the sun was getting close to going down.

"Dinner you two."

Violet stopped her lecture and marked her place in her book before getting up.

Nymph went over to Stalwart and stayed close-by, rather unsettled, "I'm not hungry..." she said quietly.

“It's ok." he said gently, standing up and doing his best 'strong guard' impression, "I'm here after all."

Violet happily went off to eat while Twilight looked at Nymph with concern.

"You ok?" She asked the nymph.

"Tiny things are scary..." She said, staying by Stalwart.

Twilight approached, concerned. "What do you mean?"

"Violet was telling me stuff from her book... the virus bacteria things." She said quietly, her side pushing against Stalwart’s leg for comfort.

Twilight facehoofed. "I told her not to tell foals about that stuff."

Nymph simply stayed by Stalwart, only separating to put a chair next to his and climb up to stay by him when he went to sit down, "I miss Dawn. She's nice…"

Twilight sighed, and after dinner Violet was taken to the basement. After several minutes she came back ears back and head down as she walked up to Nymph. "Sorry about telling you all the things from my book."

"Why are you sorry? You liked it a lot..." She said quietly, still staying by Stalwart.

"It scared you…"

Nymph shrugged, trying to put on a brave front, "I knew changelings were scary, I just didn't know they used things to make ponies sick…"

Violet blinked. "It's not a changeling thing. It has nothing to do with us. It's a naturally occurring thing. All races get sick."

Nymph nodded, not really sure how to react. Very few ponies had ever apologized to her.

"Tell her you forgive her Nymph.” Stalwart said, trying to give her guidance, “if you understand she didn't mean to hurt you, you say ‘I forgive you’ when they say they’re sorry."

"I forgive you?" she asked, not sounding sure of herself.

Violet hugged Nymph. Nymph felt the hug and laid on the chair confused, then tried to give the hug back, feeling clumsy.

There was a quiet click as Twilight held her tablet, having taken a picture of the moment, and Violet soon let go of Nymph.

Nymph had flicked her ear and turned over to the source of the sound, then asked, "What was that?"

"What was what?" Twilight asked, her tablet gone.

"That click sound..." Nymph said, confused.

"I didn't hear anything."

Nymph frowned, since she knew she heard it, then looked to Violet, wondering if she heard it. Violet simply blinked at her. Nymph shook her head then looked to Stalwart.

"I think I'll head to my room now... could you show me where it is?"

"You can stay in my room with me Nymph. We don't have a bed your size right now." He said, getting down off the chair with her following close behind.

Violet watched her go, feeling sad at her going away too soon.

Nymph looked back from a few steps up, sensing the change in Violet, and called out, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing...." Violet said and moved back to her corner.

Nymph went back down the stairs to go to her, "No, it's something. I can feel it."

"I'm fine."

Nymph went up to her and gave her a hug, still clumsy, but a big hug around the filly. Violet blinked, confused. Being used to foals around her age not liking her, especially after she talks about her interested like she did, it caught her by surprise.

Nymph continued to hug, not knowing when to let go. She just knew that the feelings were there, and she would make it better by doing what Violet did. Slowly, Violet hugged back.

"I forgive you." She repeated, thinking that would help.

Violet just held her. Nymph continued as well, still not sure when to let go, but thinking that this was helping anyway.

"Would you like to join us tonight Violet?" Stalwart asked, having watched to foals interact. He was assuming Violet was going to sleep with her mom tonight, and didn’t want them to separate just yet.

Stalwart waited a minute for a reply, then when none came, he turned to Twilight, "What do you think? Want the foals to sleep in our room upstairs or downstairs with you both?"

"Yes" Twilight said.

"All right girls, you'll spend the night with Twilight then." Stalwart said, ‘yes’ not being an answer to an either-or question, but he decided to take it as if it were permission to join them in the basement.

Nymph yawned and turned to face Twilight to be shown to bed.

"Oh, I thought you meant with you." Twilight said

"Well," Stalwart chucked as Nymph yawned once again, "to be fair, you only said yes, but I can take them up to bed."

Nymph finally let go of Violet and pulled gently with a hoof on her leg to come join them.

Violet looked between Nymph and Twilight with a look of indecision as she wanted to stay with Nymph longer but also hadn't seen her mom in a long time

"I'll be ok with Twilight, really." Nymph said quietly, sensing Violet's feelings.

"It's up to you two." He replied, trying to reassure her.

"Come on Violet, let’s get to bed, I'm tired." Nymph said, turning to her.

Violet thought that wasn't really her issue, but she nodded anyways and followed looking back at her mother. Nymph headed to the basement, willing to delay being with Stalwart because Dawn wasn’t back yet, at least if it made this filly she was curious about happier.

Violet blinked as they went down into the basement, thinking they were about to go upstairs.

The basement didn't have lights like anywhere else. Electric lights had been set up as well as two computers, a radio station, a metal foot locker at the end of each cot, and a locked metal cabinet with a key code lock and the word ARMORY stenciled onto the front.

"What’s this stuff?" She asked, never seeing anything like it.

"It's mom and sire’s stuff."

Nymph explored without touching, looking at it all in confusion, but liking the screens the most. Everything was off at the moment and Violet watched her. She tapped the glass carefully before turning to Violet.

"You tired yet?"

"A little."

She grinned mischievously, "We should get a cake and stay up all night! I’ve never done that yet."

"Where would we get a cake?" Violet asked.

"I dunno...” Nymph said, deflated at the obstacle in the way.

"How about candy?"

"Ooo, that sounds good too!"

"We just need to get past mom and Mr. Stalwart..." she said scratching her chin.

"Oh. How would we do that?" Nymph asked

"I'm not sure...." Violet said, pondering before starting to bring up different plans.

On the first floor, unbeknownst to the foals, Twilight was discussing the fact she overheard the two planning on staying up all night. She planned on letting them, considering they'd probably fall asleep anyway.

Nymph tried to come up with ideas that would work, only to be shot down by Violet, and Violet's suggestions kept involving things that Nymph couldn't do, like walking on the ceiling. She stayed up another half hour with Violet, yawning loudly and often. Soon Twilight came down, yawning loud and wide.

"You two can stay up another ten minutes but then off to bed ok?" She said sounding tired before climbing into her cot and was instantly asleep.

Nymph looked at Violet and looked over to the cot. She thought it looked comfortable enough and rethought their plans.

"Let's get the sweets tomorrow..." she said quietly.

"Why tomorrow? She's asleep, and Mr. Stalwart is probably asleep too."

"I'm tired..." She yawned again, whining slightly. "You go ahead, I'll" she paused to yawn once more, "Stay here..."

Violet's ears drooped. "No we will go to bed." She said moving towards one of the cots.

Nymph followed, laying behind her and falling asleep with her head on Violet's back, Violet having passed out the instant she laid down on the cot. Nymph snored quietly, rather comforted by being able to sleep alongside another.

A soft click echoed in the room as Twilight stopped her sleep to see the two foals and stored another picture of them together in her datapad. She watched as Nymph seemed to squirm to be closer to Violet when she tossed in her sleep, almost looking like they had been good friends for a long time.

She headed upstairs to start breakfast after a few minutes of watching her foal.

Stalwart woke early that morning, having gotten enough sleep and growing antsy from the lack of patrols, even with the recent runaround he had gotten with the thieving ring he still craved to be up and about. He went downstairs and noticed sounds from the kitchen and went to investigate.

He found Twilight, making pancakes and humming a tune, with her back to him as she swayed her hips to the unheard music.

"Morning." he said quietly, so as not to surprise her. She didn't seem to respond and continued cooking.

He chuckled quietly and got his coffee readied, thinking about what the next challenge for himself should be. He was concerned about this danger out in Manehattan, but if Tere was right, he might not be of as much help as he wanted to be.

Stalwart turned to her and offered, "Want some coffee too?"

Twilight jumped, not having heard him enter at all and spun around as a blade shot put of her hoof.

"What! Oh, Stalwart... didn't hear you. That's odd, since my ears are turned up..." She said as she eyed him for a moment.

"Sorry?" he said uncertain, looking at the blade out of her hoof and feeling both cautious and concerned, "you looked like you were enjoying your music though. Did you want some coffee?"

"What music?" She asked confused, retracting the blade.

"You were humming weren't you? Don't think it was my imagination." he shrugged. "Coffee, or no?"

"No. I'm fine. A bit concerned I didn't hear you though... that's... very much not like me." Twilight declined.

"Something on your mind?" he asked, sipping the still hot beverage before wincing.

"No. Just the case and wondering why Storm never came back down stairs yesterday." Twilight said, "Have you seen her?"

"She kept to herself so far and is sleeping in the guest room last I checked. To be honest, she's never gotten along with me or Dawn, but she was also a lot less argumentative so I don't know what happened there." He explained, "Did something happen?"

"Oh, nothing but training." Twilight smirked as she went back to cooking. "Just starting her on some serious training is all."

"Ah... So she's just too tired to be a mule to everyone?" he joked.

"Well, I'm sure she's fine. She's a tough pegasus, in her own way. She just seems to lack simple pony decency to others." He chuckled lightly.

"That's for sure." Twilight chuckled, smirking out of sight as she cooked.

He sipped the coffee again after stirring in some cold creamer, getting more satisfied as it got to a more drinkable temperature.

"So how did you sleep?"

"Decent. Still tired, but I can't sit still for long."

"I know how that feels." She chuckled. "How's your patrols been going?"

"Productive. Tere's keeping me on my hooves and teaching me a lot."

"That sounds like something he'd do. His job is a lot like yours, only without patrols and not usually dealing with criminals, but noticing little details here and there and connecting the dots to form a bigger picture."

"Well, I wouldn't mind having them as a partner for longer term. We've worked really well together." He said, drinking half of his cup once it reached the right temperature.

"Well, you can work with him while we are here." She said as she started to finish up

"I intend to." he said, thinking. "Any way to tell when you're going back?"

"Not at all."

He was quiet for a moment before asking, "Will we at least get time to say goodbye if it happens?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good..." he smiled gently, as if preoccupied with concern over something before he nodded to her and left his now drained mug of coffee on the counter, heading to the living room couch.

Twilight put it in the sink as she finished making the last of the pancakes.

Stalwart sat on the couch, contemplating what he should do in pursuing Tere, and to what degree.

Twilight placed to food on the tables. "Breakfast."

Stalwart looked over to her and then slowly got out of the couch and headed to the table, sitting down and eating slowly as the wheels continued to turn.

The two little ones emerged, still half asleep but drawn up by the smell of food.

Stalwart only noticed them after they had climbed into their chairs, Fire Storm starting to come down the stairs herself at the smell, but turned to the restroom instead.

Twilight smiled as she watched everyone come to the table, eyeing the small pair in particular.

Nymph leaned against Violet, and Violet leaned against Nymph as she yawned. Nymph reached for the pancakes on the table, just taking a bite out of it without any utensils

Violet did the same, reaching her head to grab a pair of pancakes with her mouth, then ate as politely as she could without utensils, too tired to try right then.

Stalwart chuckled as he watched them eat. Nymph finishing her pancake at a relaxed pace. Violet had more to eat, but ate quickly and finished shortly after, yawning wide and her body shaking in place from it.

"How'd you two sleep?" Stalwart asked, suppressing a chuckle at the pair.

"Fine..." Nymph and Violet said at once.

Stalwart chuckled again as Storm joined the room, then paused at seeing Twilight.

"Breakfast is ready." Twilight smiled, gesturing to a plate of pancakes.

Storm wordlessly went to the table and began to eat, looking exhausted.

"How did you sleep?" Twilight smiled.

Storm simply shook her head and kept eating, quieter than usual.

Twilight finished her food and waited. "We will be heading out in an hour."

Storm nodded her understanding.

"Is Chrysalis going with?" Stalwart asked, "or is she staying for Nymph?"

"She is staying here for Dawn." Twilight corrected.

"I'll stay and wait for her then." Nymph added, starting to look more awake now that she ate.

Twilight nodded, smiling and glad that Violet will have someone her own age to play with.

"Can I see Dawn today?" Nymph asked as Storm downed a glass of milk she had poured from the fridge.

"I don't see why not. Though she is in a Cocoon." Twilight warned.

"That's another reason why I wanna see... I don't remember mine or anypony else's, and no pony's done that before." She replied, quietly mumbling, "and I wanna see her."

"I have no issue and I know Queeny wont." Twilight nodded.

"Good. Has Violet seen her either?" Nymph asked, turning to look at her.

"Nope!" Violet said.

"Can she come?" Nymph asked readily.

"Don't see why not."

Nymph buzzed her wings happily at the news.

Storm briefly opened her mouth, almost about to speak, but glanced at Twilight and closed her mouth again. Twilight noticed the motion and turned to Storm.

"Yes?"

"I said nothing." She shook her head, not wanting to get in trouble.

Twilight only smiled at her. She'd ask her later when it was just them. she turned to the rest and added, "I'm sure Stalwart would like to see her too."

"I would actually, yes." He nodded.

"Then how about you all go camping?" She smiled.

"Oh?" Stalwart asked, "that sounds fun. We'll have to get some marshmallows, chocolate, and crackers then."

"Why?" Nymph asked. Violet looked at Stalwart as well, curious at this new item from never having camped before.

"What, you foals never had S'mores?" He asked, a bit surprised but getting a broad smile, "Oh you two are in for a treat. If Tere's coming along to watch Violet, We're going to do just fine I think."

"I'm confused." Nymph said, "Why are we camping?"

"Yeah, why are we camping and where?" Violet echoed.

Stalwart turned to Twilight before saying, "Cause it might be a bit of a trot over to where Dawn is, so we are gonna have some fun on the way! Shame I don't know where Tere is, I'd check when we should make the trip."

Storm looked at their excitement and smiled a little at their excitement, but she wanted to be back with the guild again and remembered she still had several days left in her promise holding her back.

"I'm sure he is around, and where you're going is in a small wooded area perfect for camping." Twilight said smiling.

"Sounds good. I can spare the time. My squad has really buckled down and has stepped up to where I can give them a bit of leeway for a few days until we return." He chuckled, "Come on fillies, come help pack for our adventure"

Violet quickly followed and Stalwart, Violet and Nymph went upstairs and to the closet where he stored his camping gear.

Twilight looked at Lapdog still smiling. "So then, what were you wanting to say Lapdog?"

"I value my life too much to answer." She said, shaking her head, "It's nothing."

"I promise not to hurt you." She said smiling sweetly. "So tell me what you were going to say."

She hesitated, still feeling like she'd be punished harshly if she spoke, "I learned my lesson." she answered quietly.

"I said." Twilight said firmly, a hint of danger to her voice. "Tell me what you were going to say."

"It wouldn't be worth their time..." she said quietly, cringing in anticipation of the repercussions.

"What wouldn't be?" Twilight asked simply.

"Seeing green in that egg thing... There's not really much to see through it anyway." She said, looking away and wishing she had just kept her mouth shut earlier.

"I know that." Twilight said. "It's why I suggested they camp so it's not a wasted trip."

Storm nodded slightly, hoping to the princesses that the issue will be dropped if they're in agreement.

"And next time I ask you a question." Twilight added, the hint of danger feeling like it increased, "I expect it to be answered Lapdog. I won't be so forgiving next time."

"Yes Ma'am." she said, unenthusiasically. She made a mental note to shut up and only speak when spoken to moving forward, if only to avoid this crazy pony's wrath.

"Now then, I apologize for having you pack yesterday and not go anywhere. I ended up wanting to spend time with my daughter."

"It's your time, use it as you see fit." she said simply, mentally thinking 'still ticks down my time till I'm free again.'

Twilight suddenly got up and walked over to her, grabbing her head

Storm looked at Twilight confused, fear rising as she thought, 'what the heck did I say wrong this time!'

Twilight removed the bandage and lifted her head up as a small flash light appeared. "Stare straight ahead and don't blink."

She continued to look ahead, not blinking, and not being sure whether the bandage was the real reason for this sudden change in behavior. Twilight shined the light in both her eyes quickly.

"Looks like your concussion is recovering well. How do you feel?" She asked as the flashlight vanished.

"Okay I guess?" She answered hesitantly, not wanting to show any further weakness to them.

"Good." She nodded, satisfied, "By tonight you should be ok."

Storm didn't answer, simply looking on for further instruction and following her last thought's advice to stay out of trouble.

"Anyways, are you still packed?"

"I am."

"So as soon as they are ready to head out we will too." Twilight instructed.

Storm nodded slowly, going off to get her pack and preparing to leave. She was unaware of the purple one watching her and enjoying the view, simply walking with her usual sway she had from years of high self confidence and ego.

It wasn't long before she returned with her pack in tow, Twilight's own just behind it, partially covering her own cutie mark as it laid on her back.

Twilight smiled as she saw Lapdog got her pack as well. "Someone is taking initiative " she said as she patted Lapdog's head.

She shrugged and quietly said, "Just keeps me from needing to make the trip twice..."

"That's assuming I'd have you do it." She said. Her pet was already thinking like one.

She frowned on the inside, having assumed she would have been told to fetch it. She knew that she would have ordered green to do so herself, but that didn't matter. All she could tell herself is that she would do what she had to to stay out of trouble, and that was worth a little extra effort.

Soon, the others returned as Tere walked in. Storm looked over to Tere, curious about who they were, but not saying anything as she waited for the next order. She couldn't help but wonder if Twilight was going to tell Tere about the trip or just let them find out from Stalwart on his own.

"Tere, pack your bags. You're off to camp near the hive." Twilight said happily and the drone bowed his head and went to grab a few things.

Fire Storm stood by, soon seeing Stalwart with a full pack sitting on his back and saddlebags on his sides, heading downstairs with the foals and going to the kitchen to get the snacks. The foals had theirs packed, Violet had one bag's side full of books. Nymph simply had what she brought with her. A small pack of clothes, her necklace with her Everfree Patrol guild emblem worn like a collar, and a few survival supplies for warmth.

Twilight blinked at the collar-like necklace. That was odd to her.

The three of them were soon back out of the kitchen, Stalwart looking for Tere, "I heard the door open, Tere come back?"

She nodded as the changeling returned with a small pack.

"Excellent. Let's head out then, the foals are awake and ready, we even packed up a nice lunch to eat later, didn't we?"

Violet nodded vigorously and Nymph grinned.

Tere took the form of a green earth pony. "Follow me." He said handing Twilight two tickets.

Stalwart chuckled and followed after Tere and the foals, making sure he could keep an eye on them both from behind.

The pair followed after excitedly as Twilight stretched and headed for the door, having already informed Stalwart of the plan to leave this morning last night.

Fire Storm followed Twilight out, closing the door behind them as they did so.

Twilight smiled. "I got us the royal car so we will be alone and undisturbed."

Fire Storm looked at her concerned, but said nothing. She almost began wondering what they were going to do in the car but shrugged it off. She would find out soon enough.

"So tell me. How many seconds till your deal is up?" They walked on.

"I'm not counting by the second." She said, "but it's three days, unless I counted wrong somehow."

"Figured as much." She said as she became Stonewall by magic.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I figured you'd be counting." She said smirking. "Can't wait to be let off the leash and go back to your nice safe little guild."

She tried hard not to grumble as she sensed Twilight was goading her. With a bit of difficulty, she suppressed her frustration.

"Then tell me this, what's the biggest mission you've ever been in?"

"Myself and Night, headed out to a dispute between the buffaloes and the ponies, which were about to get out of hoof."

"Another one?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm... how out of hoof?"

"We avoided any fighting, but it was a close call."

"So have you ever been tested in real combat situations?"

"Not really?" She said with a shrug.

"Hmm. Well, that may change."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. We are after someone who no doubt has recruited some fighters. The best he can find and he will slowly build more."

"Oh? Think they'll be able to fight as well as you can?" she asked, more caution in her voice than in days past.

"Maybe so. Maybe no. Depends on if the target finds anyone from back home."

"How would we know?"

"By the fact they'd be very effective when they did make a move. But honestly, unless they are carrying around something from back home we won't."

"So what were you going to have the guild do about it?" Storm asked, now wondering what they had come for in the first place.

"Make you a squad linked to a few others." She said.

"What do you mean?"

Twilight sighed. "You'd each be folded into an existing squad as guides "

"Ah." she said simply, not volunteering any further information as she continued to follow. She didn't see how some of them would be effective guides, considering not all of them went everywhere or were good with directions.

They soon reached the train station. There they spotted about a dozen ponies and a griffin.

Storm looked around, more interested in the griffon than the other ponies, but kept to herself so she could continue avoiding trouble with the metal princess.

They all looked at Stonewall as she approached, quickly stopping their talking and standing straighter. Storm looked between them, not sure of much than that they were the ones Stonewall wanted to pick up.

"Alright lads. File in." She ordered.

The group all hefted their dark green duffel bags before boarding the private car. Stonewall moved towards the royal car right behind it while they had, Fire Storm following and looking around the car once they went inside.

A few pieces of furniture laid about, acting much like a narrow but long bedroom of sorts. It was intended as a leisurely way to enjoy a trip and it showed extra touches for being a royal car. She shrugged, setting down their things and going to climb up onto a booth seat to lay down on it.

Twilight smiled at the privacy, her magic showing that the windows were enchanted so that no one could see anyone inside. She dropped her disguise once they were aboard and the door closed.

Storm settled in to her seat, pulling out one of her books on interesting locations to visit in Saddle Arabia and resumed reading, hoping to be left alone.

"You're a reader?" Twilight asked in her ear, close enough that Storm felt her breath.

Storm jumped in surprise and felt her fur rise, moving away before saying, "Yeah... I try to find out about the places I want to go to. Why?"

"Just didn't expect it is all." She said, smiling at her.

"Why not?" she asked, barely concealing her testiness. She did not like that her relaxation was being interrupted, "I like to travel and learn new places."

"Eh, just didn't seem to be your thing." Twilight said casually.

Storm kept quiet, wondering if she was being goaded for being thought of as a dumb fitness buff or something. She rarely thought of what others thought of her, but no one ever bothered to learn what she was really like other than Nightfall. It's not like she was that hard to understand.

"Ever read Daring Do?"

"Yeah, of course."

Twilight smiled wide and pulled out a daring do novel before Storm could blink. The cover read "Daring Do and the Chest of Life"

The cover showed Daring, trekking through a desert ruin with a certain purple unicorn in a dark green uniform following behind.

"I haven't seen this one b-" she hesitated, recognizing the unicorn and the uniform. "Oh."

"That's because it hasn't been written yet and I don't think events will play out the same here." Twilight smiled.

"I see." she said simply, still curious but at the same time unsure if she wanted to know more if it included this strange Twilight as a part of the story.

Twilight blinked at her reaction and her ears drooped. This was easily one of the proudest moments in her life. Not only meeting one of her heroes but also getting featured in a book.

"I guess it couldn't hurt to take a look." She replied as she reached for it with a hoof and opened it up

Twilight perked up and hoofed it to her with a smile.

The story followed Daring as she finds information on the Chest of Life. An ancient artifact from before the Unification and thought of as just a myth. She began to hunt it down, only to find a heavily armed group is after the items as well, and they have no problem permanently taking out the competition.

She narrowly escaped them the first time, and the second time she got trapped in some ruins when the group comes under fire and retreats. There she meets Twilight, who had a small group of soldiers also looking for the item simply to keep it from falling into the hands of the terrorists wanting to use it to ascend to Godhood.

Through the adventure, Daring learns more about Twilight and comes to see her as a trusted friend. Eventually, both of them get captured by the group and are tied up, put near where the group had dug up the artifact.

Upon opening it they released a powerful energy that began to disintegrate them all. Twilight and Daring had found a warning before that no one was allowed to see inside. Using this knowledge, they kept their eyes shut until the screaming and frantic gunfire stopped and the sound of the Chest's lid slamming shut was heard.

They then opened their eyes and waited for Twilight's soldier to arrive after Twilight failed to check in. After a small wait they arrived and cut the pair free. The camp was a mess. Weapons and clothing scattered around but no sign of any bodies. Daring agreed with Twilight that the chest was too dangerous to be left in the open.

The book ended with the chest being boxed up and sent deep into a military warehouse among other similar looking boxes where it would be virtually impossible to find again.

The name of Twilight's character was changed, but anyone who knew Twilight could tell it was her, even if she was a different color purple and had a different CM. It didn't help that they were still being ranked as a captain in the story in order for the author to keep up the charade of the stories being fiction.

She looked up from the book, frowning in thought, a strong shiver of deja vu passing her spine at the thought of Twilight being written about but only the smaller details being changed. There was something incredibly familiar about it she couldn't place or ignore, even as she tried by thinking of how strange the book was.

"Hm, they had a good time i guess." Storm, despite her feelings, still had been excited to read a daring doo book, regardless of the universe.

Twilight smirked, noticing the mare's reaction. "I'd say you enjoyed it since it's only been an hour since I gave it to you."

"Wait, really!?" She asked, surprised. Twilight laughed and pointed to the clock, and when Storm looked, it had only been an hour and the mountains still loomed behind them. "Oh..."

"I thought only I read Daring Do that fast." She chuckled, smiling happily at the mare's eagerness to read.

"I did a lot of reading when i was a foal." She said simply.

"A good skill to have. Many don't."

"Yeah, well," she replied as she laid there with a small blush she tried to hide, "cant be all brawn, gotta have brains too."

"That is true. Brawn only goes so far." She smirked at her, liking that attitude of hers.

"So, did that stuff actually happen?" She asked skeptically. "I mean, this is a fiction series after all."

"Don't know about here, but back home they were labeled as such. In reality, Daring Do was the author under a fake name. She kept records of her adventures as those books."

"Hm, I didn't know that." She replied, "I couldn't find those places in the books, so I wrote them off as fiction.

"Lost ancient ruins tend to not show up on normal maps."

"I went to those places myself." She said more firmly, "I know what to look for, especially after Nightfall had us doing trades for ancient relics."

"Oh? So you went deep into the jungles where no pony has set hoof since before the Unification?"

"Those buildings would have to be seen from the air, and I've flown over a lot of it, yeah." She said confidently, starting to feel comfortable.

"And yet they remained undiscovered for centuries." Twilight smiled.

"I don't know what to tell you. You say it's real, then fine, but maybe ours really is different." She shrugged, "Who's to say?"

"True," She said smiling. "but who's to say what's real and fake? The world is a strange one and sometimes truth is stranger than fiction."

"You could say that again..." She replied, thinking about her own strangeness she experienced firsthoof.

"So what's the strangest thing you've seen or experienced?"

"A boyfriend of another species from another world who stole my heart, dragged me into his hairbrained schemes and became the host to a villain." She chuckled, "Nothing stranger outside of you all showing up."

"True. That is strange. Mine as you can guess is ending up with someone who used to be my enemy and ending up starting a family with them. Never saw that coming for my love life." She chuckled.

"Not sure I could do that." she said shaking her head.

"Hey, I didn't either. I only recruited her because of her intelligence. I never planned any relationship outside of professional. Certainly not sexual or romantic." She said and smirked. "And let me tell you, sex with a powerful shapeshifter... nothing comes close to how good it is."

Storm smirked as she pictured her own lover using such skills, rather than Chrysalis and replied, "I could see the appeal."

Twilight smirked back at her and nodded.

Storm looked up at her and then wondered if she should ask about what the wildest thing they did was, but then stopped herself, knowing it was rude to ask about other ponies' sex lives.

"I had sex with Luna who was my sex slave." Twilight said, reading her mind. "I'd say that counts as wild no?"

Storm blinked before replying with a broad mischievous smile "I never knew you had a thing for her. Good to know."

"Are you kidding? She's hot as Tartarus! Have you ever seen her body? All muscle."

"I, no, I figured you'd have more a thing for your mentor." Storm replied, settling in contentedly to this rather odd girl talk.

Twilight smirk turned into a look of being ill. "That's really disgusting you know that? She's like my mother."

"W-well, I suppose when you put it that way..." she replied, starting to feel horrible for mentioning it, then worried about her response she apologized quietly, "Sorry."

Twilight looked at her for a few more minutes then smiled and patted her head. "It's fine."

"So..." she paused, trying to think of another conversation point, "if she can be anypony, and you liked being with Luna, does that mean you've had her be other ponies too?"

"Of course. Some as lovers, others as pets."

"Pets?" she asked, wondering if that was the same thing that night had introduced her to a while ago, when he was on good terms with green.

"Yes, pets."

"And what ponies have you made your pets then?" Storm asked, careful but curious.

"With Chrysalis? Pretty much everyone I know who isn't family."

Storm looked at her in more genuine surprise, "Huh... never would have thought you to be the type."

"What do you mean?" She blinked, confused.

"Oh, just knowing Twilight, the one here anyway, She's totally the Princess of the Friendzone. Hard to see her getting laid without giving her giant books on the subject, and even then."

"Seeing as I was just like her and still have a lot in common I think you'd be surprised." Twilight smirked.

Storm shrugged again, deciding not to pursue the conversation further. She already had a near miss talking as it was, and she didn't want to risk making another mistake to upset them. She looked back up to Twilight a moment later and saw Twilight smirking at her.

"What?"

"Just wondering where I should start training you Lapdog."

"W-what do you mean?" She asked, internally hating being called lapdog again

Twilight just smirked at her

Storm looked at her confused, heart starting to pound as she suspected they were about to try something. Her heart belonged to Nightfall, and she resolved to be his alone. She did not fool around after all. She was a loyal mare of her word.

Author's Notes:

I don't really have anything to say for this chapter that wouldn't be a spoiler.

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