After a small wait, Celestia could be seen coming to the room, along with a baggy eyed Luna. They entered and took a seat, Celestia sitting slowly, Luna nearly falling onto her cushion, sitting up at the table.

With them having entered and sat, Dawn took that as her cue to sit down at one of the remaining cushions, her three ‘guards’ staying nearby around the table.

"You said you had urgent news to discuss with us.” Celestia opened, “What is wrong? What happened?"

'Do you want to take the lead, daughter?' Chrysalis asked in support

'I must, and I will.' Dawn replied as she took a deep breath, steeling herself once again.

She told the story of their arrival in Manehattan after visiting home for a week, only to have been met with Storm having been harmed, healing her, finding the bracelet, Stonewall being lightly injured in scanning it, and then the events of the Griffin, including her deception in avoiding the drugs and alcohol.

The guards were silent, though Storm moved closer to Stonewall at the reminder of the shooting.

Celestia and Luna listened intently, surprised in multiple places in the tale before Luna commented, "That would explain a couple things in the dreams I watched of late, but still, a foal-napping? And of a princess at that?"

"Not just a foalnapping." Dawn said with an emotional distance she didn't feel before the meeting. "They admitted intent to cut up and serve Stonewall to me to eat.”

Celestia and Luna both looked to her in open horror, having missed that piece of information from the reports.

"But, you did catch him, yes?" Celestia asked.

"We have, and we turned him into a leader of the displaced griffons that had turned up to help Stonewall with the investigating of Flare. He will be treated according to their customs, although-" Dawn hesitated, considering how her next words should be phrase with care.

"Go on." Celestia said, concerned.

"Considering how dangerous he was, how he flipped his allegiances so readily to save his own feathers and beak, and was not loyal even to money and kept trying to deceive… Despite my mark and my position, I do not have sufficient reason to risk the lives of ponies around him on the hope he can fight a natural impulse." She said, trying to sound fair, despite her hesitation. "Unless we could keep him so secure that it would rival the prisons of Stonewall's home in security, I fear he will take the lives of other ponies to feed himself once again."

"And what are you suggesting be done about it?" Luna asked, the smell of fear and concern hanging in the room.

Dawn could feel the pressure now, something that weighed on her heavily, but she knew what she needed to say, as much as it hurt her and her emotions so much to do so.

'Mom, give me strength.' She said quietly to Chrysalis, intending it more like a prayer than a request.

'I am here.' Chrysalis replied, bolstering her legate with positive emotions.

"I am suggesting… he be executed." She said quietly, without emotion as she looked at them.

The princesses looked shocked and outraged at the comment, even Storm looked on in shock while the other two guards stood unfazed. Celestia was the first to reply.

"How could you even suggest such a thing! You are the princess of hope! You of all ponies should know the importance of second chances!"

"There are many worse villains who had turned to our side once given the chance, myself included." Luna added.

"Luna," Dawn said, in a calm voice in the face of such anger as a cold feeling spread through her body, "You sought recognition and love from your sister, and once regained, have returned. Discord, once shown the strength of friendship, stopped viewing ponies as toys to play with, from what you both have said. This is not the same-"

"Of course it is!" Celestia said, raising her voice.

"Let me finish." Dawn said, being more firm and cool, but still no louder than she was before. She noticed how Celestia and Luna looked at Dawn with concern, and she could taste a lot of fear and anger from the both of them. She knew she had to explain herself clearly, and spoke again without hesitation.

"This is a disease of the mind." She said simply. "My world that I was from before this one, as well as that of Stonewall I'm assuming, are familiar with those whose minds are not typical to the average pony. Some have no sense of empathy or symapthy, others have no sense of right or wrong. There is no teaching such beings this. We have tried for years, decades, centuries even, and shy of medication which we do not have or dedicated facilities for those with mental disorders of this magnitude, it is not possible. They will do it again and again and again, no matter how earnest their tears are at the time."

"But you are the princess of hope,” Celestia protested, then frowned as she began to speak again, “Perhaps we acted too quick-"

"You think I want to be telling you this?!" Dawn replied quickly, her voice raised as her buried anger surfaced along with tears clouding her vision. "You think that I want the griffon who was otherwise an interesting and courteous entertainer to die just because he tried to drug and kidnap me?! That's not it at all! I do hope! I hope for the safety of all ponies and creatures. That is in jeopardy while he is alive and loose. I hope for foals to not need to live with warnings from their parents about dangers like him out in the world, that we can get the medicines and facilities to handle it. I hope for a point where such issues are a thing of the past… But today is not that day, and we need to do the best we can with what we have. So unless you have a way to fix issues of the mind or keep him secured, I have no other options…"

Dawn stood there, tearing up as she tried to get her emotions under control, just for a bit longer. She took a deep breath and tried to empty her mind as her eyes closed, trying desperately not to let those tears fall.

Celestia and Luna looked at her, then between each other and used their horn magic to discuss among themselves.

'Dawn… I feel I should inform you the chef has been dealt with… Oberleutnant Gresham handled it with a field trial.' The queen said.

'Tell me later.” Dawn replied, fearing the worst when she heard that. ‘I have a lot on my plate right now and can’t hold back if it’s not good news. Just, after they leave, ok?'

‘As you wish.’ Chrysalis agreed, understanding.

It was another several minutes before they finished their conversation and turned to Dawn.

"Dawn, we have decided to take the chance and work on rehabilitating him." Celestia said, "And once this Flare character is dealt with, you will be in charge of his recovery."

Dawn took a sharp breath, a sinking feeling in her heart as she suspected the queen’s news would prevent this. Quickly, she reached to Chrysalis.

'Oh no, please don't tell me he was executed.' She asked while she replied to the princesses, “Please give me one minute. I need to check with the griffons who we turned him in to.”

It was hard, trying to ignore the stares that she got from Celestia and Luna. They were being polite, she knew, not prying into things nearly so deep, and yet she couldn't help but feel dread as she waited for the answer, using her magic to act like she was using her telephone spell.

'He was tried based on what we had on him, his own words and actions. He confessed to hunting and eating people of a foreign land, attempted murder of what was perceived to be a member of that nation’s military as well as the attempted foal napping and rape of a leader of that nation. It's not too hard to tell he was a serial killer, one beyond help.' the queen said.'Oberleutnant Gresham listened to it all as well as looked over the evidence and came to the same conclusion… to which the Chef was subsequently executed by service pistol.' The queen told her.

Dawn felt a calm cross over her as the circumstance was now fully out of her control and she turned her attention fully to the princesses, a single tear falling down her cheek.

"I'm afraid that is no longer possible." She said, quietly, in a somber tone. "Zyphon was tried this morning by his peers. He confessed to hunting and eating our citizens, attempted murder of our guard, and attempted foalnapping and even... rape... of me. The leader of the Gryphons present, Gresham, has already executed him under griffon law."

Storm looked on in horror at the news as the Princesses looked to Dawn with a degree of anger that would have made the young princess wilt not ten minutes prior.

"Dawn, we are very disappointed that you did not have them hold their decision until they had talked with us as you did. The griffons have their own rules, but this is Equestria, and our laws are to be followed while our citizens are present or endangered." Celestia said, her and Luna getting up from their seats. "Is that all this meeting was about, or do you have more to say?"

'Somehow, I get the feeling telling them I'm half changeling won't be appreciated.' Dawn commented to Chrysalis. 'What do you think mom, should I say any more?'

"I have a question." Stonewall said stepping forward. "As I recall you gave me the authority to go after Solar Flare with the full authority of my station back home correct?"

Celestia turned to Stonewall and hesitantly answered, "Yes."

"Then with the authority you gave me in overseeing the matter of Solar Flare, I issued this order with the authority of my station." Stonewall said, pulling out a folded piece of paper and held it out for them to take and read. "The order has been sent out to all forces from back home."

Celestia hovered the note, unfolding it to read it out. Dawn was curious about what it said, but knew she would be informed afterward.

BY ORDER OF EQUESTRIAN DEFENSE FORCE HIGH COMMAND A HUNT/KILL ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TERRORIST KNOWN AS SOLAR FLARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

ALL EQUESTRIAN DEFENSE FORCES ARE TO BE ON ALERT FOR ANY INTEL ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE TARGET.
SIGNED, PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE AND MAJOR CHRYSALIS

Celestia read it with a frown, then replied, "This is a different situation."

"How so?" Stonewall asked

"Solar Flare is a known criminal, one who has received several chances before and at every opportunity has created harm for the ponies around him." Celestia replied. "From what you and Dawn have said anyway."

"Yes, he has." Stonewall said. "That griffin though was what is known as a ‘psychopath.’ They are people who will continue to do what they do because it is an impulse, a need to do it, they have to kill. It is not a matter of if they will, but when. He was worse than Solar Flare. Solar Flare is a madpony, but he believes what he is doing is right and it is an ideology he is following. It is not a need, but simply a want. He could possibly be turned, however unlikely. That griffin on the other hand was like that from the time he was hatched because his brain was mis-wired. I am sure had we been able to look into his past, we would have seen many, many instances of him showing this behavior long before coming here. And a search of his butcher shop, I am sure, will show he has killed and consumed others over a long period of time and is very practiced in it."

Celestia paused, then looked at Dawn and then to the door, still holding that note as she blinked, then nodded, "We will keep in mind what you said as well." She paused before asking, "Dawn, how is your pregnancy? I don't remember you being that far along when you fought Svikopi."

"I… took an extended rest in the refuge town that you were allowing built, and somehow am only two or three weeks from giving birth now. We still don't quite know why, possibly that what I had tried had never been done before."

"What exactly did you do?" Celestia asked with a brow slightly raised.

'Me and my big mouth...' Dawn thought, mentally facepalming.

'I am here my daughter.' The queen said sending her support.

'Should I tell her?' Dawn asked. 'And should I tell all of it, or just how I was cocooned maybe?'

'That is up to you how much you tell them, but with that slip of the tongue you need to tell them something.'

"I was asked if I would be willing to visit the hive. They knew my desire to look after foals, and I volunteered to share love with some of them and their young directly. After I did for a little while, I got to rest in one of their cocoons so I could learn what that was like." She said, settling for a half-truth. 'Please forgive me mom. I'm not ashamed of what I am, but after their outburst earlier, I will admit I'm afraid of further rejection.'

'Daughter.’ Chrysalis replied, her tone indicating a smirk, ‘We are beings of deception to survive. You have done nothing wrong as far as I am concerned.'

'Thank you.' She said, 'My birth mother was incredibly frustrated with my constant attempts at deception for simple things growing up. It feels odd to be encouraged it here.'

Celestia seemed to give Dawn a look of concern once again, looking between her and her 'guards'. "I hope they are healthy." She said simply before stepping out from the room. Luna frowned and got up, the bagginess of her eyes even more clear as she gave Dawn a glance of concern before leaving the room.

"Hmm, I expected more." Stonewall said. "This takes a lot of getting used to."

'Your birth mother wasn't a being who had to know how to deceive others in order to survive' Chrysalis reminded her.

"In what way?" Dawn asked, turning to her while replying to Chrysalis, 'True.'

"Well, I expected questions, maybe outrage, offers of help, something about what it should have been outside of being upset at you." Stonewall said. "Still haven't had much of a reason to show them what me and Queeny look like."

"Outside the original time you mean?" Dawn asked, pointing out when they first came over those weeks before.

"Yes. Back then we didn't have any of the information we have now and nothing was going on."

"Fair point... were you hoping to have a reason to show her your actual selves?"

"Yes. I was hoping to use it to make a point and emphasis. So far they seem to be mostly… keeping their distance."

"Or they weren't done and want more time to discuss how to handle this among themselves." Dawn said as she went to the still open door, "Let’s go somewhere private. Will my old room do for now?"

"Yes." Stonewall said as she moved to follow

Dawn led the way to their room, then once they arrived she hopped on the bed to relax with an aggravated sigh.

"What the hay just happened?" Storm exclaimed once the door closed, "you ordered a pony to be killed?!"

"Yes." Twilight said dropping her disguise.

"Because he was going to eat you?" Storm asked, still outraged.

"First, he was a griffin, so he does need some meat in his diet anyway, but second, he ate many ponies before us." Dawn said sadly. "Frankly, I’m more concerned about what they didn’t say. This is too easy. They were about to strip my authority as a princess over this if what they nearly said was any indicator."

"Oh we didn't kill him.” Twilight corrected, “Gresham did who is only partly under my command by choice."

"But Celestia had a point, their rules were to be observed and I didn’t give them that chance." Dawn shook her head before asking Chrysalis in the link, 'would you be willing to be with me if I'm pulled aside alone, as a witness?'

'What do you mean?' Chrysalis asked, wondering what Dawn was up to.

"I know but the Commandos can be…” Twilight hesitated before saying, “overzealous at times when it comes to people like that chef.”

"I can’t say I blame him." Dawn replied as Storm stayed quiet, listening to everyone, "I just fear the two of them are going to punish me for not giving him the chance at rehabilitation."

‘She's not really in trouble, is she?’ Meadow asked Twilight, ‘After all, she didn't actually give the order.’

'I don't know.' Twilight said back.

The Queen pulled Dawn close, sensing the mare’s anxiety and held her. Dawn leaned against her adopted mom, ready to share the thought of having her with should she be called when a knock on the door occurred.

"Yes? Come in." Dawn called.

Twilight was back in her disguise instantly and the queen carefully let Dawn go, having stayed in her disguised form.

A guard with no helmet came in, a unicorn with a green mane and white coat.

"Sergeant Stem ma'am." He said, introducing himself, "The princesses require an audience with you, alone."

'I can be clothing or something else.' The queen offered.

"I will attend. Lead the way." Dawn replied tensely, her throat feeling constricted and she walked to the door to follow the guard, ‘Too late for that now I think. You can monitor me through the link tho, right?'

'Yes.' She said.

‘Good, I want a witness to this, not to mention your mate’s input.’ Dawn replied as she followed the guard to the sisters’ tower, a place she knew well from her first days in Equestria. ‘That is one more good thing about joining the hive.’

‘We are never alone.’ The queen agreed, knowing that was where her daughter was going as she stayed in the back of her mind.

Dawn was brought in front of Celestia, who was sitting alone in the tower room on a cushion in her customary place across from the door to face it. Dawn approached to sit at her own usual place, a bit left from the door on the opposite side of Celestia, noting how the guard did not leave when she was delivered and seated.

"Dawn," Celestia said gravely, "we are really concerned about what has been going on and your decision. You are trusted as a princess, and the actions we have heard were unsettling at the least."

Dawn stayed quiet, waiting for the chance to speak and standing as rigid as if she were attending a funeral.

"I believe I’ve started to realize that no matter how much you have exemplified the hope and selflessness in your years in Equestria that made you rise to become a princess, you require more training in our ways. That is why Stem is here. Moving forward, any actions you wish to make as a princess must be approved by him when you have not reached Luna or myself."

“As you wish.” Dawn said tensely, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, echoing the queen’s own frustration at this predicament. ‘So they made me or helped me become a princess because I made a bunch of decisions they agree with and now want to strip away that power because I went a different direction. Funny, since if they bothered to give me that instruction in the first place upon being a princess that might have been avoided.’

'I can't wait till one of the Princesses shows up.' Chrysalis replies, suggesting her own sisters and giving the clear feeling they are much more reasonable and better leaders. ‘How these two have functioned for so long without problems escapes me.’

"I also have another matter that I wish to discuss, but you must promise that what we say will not leave this room,” Celestia said, “am I clear?”

"Crystal clear." Dawn nodded, smirking internally even as a bit of guilt crossed her mind over the potential betrayal, 'She only asked if I understood, not to complete the promise.'

'You are learning daughter.' The queen replied, amused and approving.

"I am concerned about this Twilight." Celestia said frankly. "I hoped that her return to Equestria might have returned her more to her old self. What have you noticed? Why has she so readily turned to killing?"

"Because this is a land where ideals can flourish. I myself am an idealist, and my hope and desires for how I want to see the world work meshes well with the ponies here." She said, considering her next words carefully as she asked, 'What else should I say, suggestions?'

'Whatever you think is right.' Chrysalis said.

"It’s very likely she's gone through a lot, and changed to survive. I’ve gone through similar pains in the past and if we get burned too often by pain of any kind, a person or pony has no choice but to change or keep getting that pain."

"And yet you are still kind and understanding, aside from this griffin situation." Celestia said, sounding half condescending, half inquisitive.

"I wouldn’t presume to know what she has gone through,” Dawn replied, feeling her tone grow colder at the accusation, but trying to keep herself polite, “and based on her wounds that are still within her, and her magical machinery that replaced her legs, it's far far worse than my own hells."

"That brings us to the real reason I brought you here." Celestia said, leaning up on the central round table separating them. "Dawn, in your spare time, I want you to develop a travelling mirror to that Twilight's home so when she is rescued, you can still visit her and be her guiding light back to the way she was."

'How naive and insulting, to think that the Commander is not how she should be, just because they cannot fathom why she became how she is now.' Dawn commented to Chrysalis, doing her best effort not to frown deeply.

'I would be willing to share what Twilight has shared with me, I can do it through your spell quite easily.' The queen offered, a sadistic level of curiosity on how they'd react to the horrors her mate has overcome.

'No. They do not deserve that courtesy yet, if they would pass judgement so soon.' Dawn replied, then turned to her ruler, "Celestia… you are not only asking me to conquer my fear of relics, but do what nopony else has done since Starswirl the Bearded. In addition, you are asking me to attempt a kind of redeeming a different world's version of your pupil, despite not knowing what they’ve been through or attempting to understand it."

"Our Twilight has created one actually, and visits her friends from time to time." Celestia commented, as if in a gentle correction.

'Oh sure, because your star pupil can, i can... though in a way, that is high praise from her.' Dawn said to Chrysalis, biting back her anger and sarcasm.

'Yes it is. But Twilight only used an already existing mirror that only opened at certain times and got it to be open whenever she wanted. She did not start from scratch.' Chrysalis said, watching her Twilight try to wear out a line in the floor by pacing.

“I…” Dawn paused, then sighed, frowning as she shook her head, then realized she had a way out by how things were phrased. Keeping the comment about the mirror Celestia mentioned in mind, she agreed, “I will only promise to do my best on that task. I cannot promise any more than that.”

"Good." Celestia nodded, "I would also think it’d be good for you to have Stalwart with you as well-"

"He's currently one of the two guardians chosen for protecting the young queen of Chrysalis,” Dawn clarified quickly, knowing where she was going with that, “not to mention her status as Twilight's daughter."

"Ah, right." She said, seeming thoughtful.

"I hope to not disappoint you Celestia. You and Luna have been good to me." She said, deliberately using the past tense, not ready to forgive the insult of how she was possibly not ready or worthy of the title of Princess of Hope somehow, "and I would hate to see our relationship soured over one mistake. In my old world, we have a saying, 'to err is human.' I know I can or even will make mistakes, though I will do everything I can to make the right decision as often as I can. Please keep that in mind."

"That is all that we or anypony could ask." Celestia said softly, a gentle frown appearing on her face before she gently added, "You're both dismissed."

Dawn noted this and tried to sample their emotions, the feeling being faint as she turned to leave with the Sergeant at her heels. She was mildly surprised at the discovery that they experienced sadness and self-directed regret, thinking, ‘Perhaps I made an impact with what I said…’

The queen patted Dawn’s head in the link at a job well done, ‘Good. It will be good for them to have a voice of reason speak to them from time to time.’

The queen turned to face the situation that was happening in the room while she listened to Dawn’s thoughts that followed.

'Such an impossible set of tasks though. Trying to revert the Commander, which I have no intent on doing… that's like having me unlearn or unexperience what I have to make me like I was back in high school, when all those hardships and missteps helped shape who I am to be a decent person! Then to be stripped of my princess power except by permission by the Sergeant, not even a captain like my husband, and then to add insult to injury having me make a damn mirror? Granted, travelling between our worlds would be really convenient, and something that I'd like to look into now that they bring it up cause it’d let me keep in touch when you go… but damn.'

'Toss in trying to change the positions of the stars and keep the monsters of Tartarus locked up alone and you'd have a full hand.' The queen smiled.

'Oh, only those? Sure, why not, just for extra credit.' Dawn chuckled, replying in the link as she finished walking down the stairs.

Storm looked at Twilight’s pacing and chimed in. "So what’s got you so bothered?"

"You heard what they said at the meeting, and now they ask for her to come alone." Twilight said as her mate watched.

"Yeah, and? It's probably nothing." Storm shrugged, "Besides, what's worrying about it going to do?"

"It's my job to worry." Twilight replied simply.

"Your job is to worry?” Storm snorted, “What good will that do?"

"No, my job is to worry about things that could have a major impact on the world and operational capabilities of all EDF and friendly forces."

Storm blinked, unsure what in the world she meant, "Sooo what's green got to do with it?"

“She is a friend.” Twilight replied, even as Meadow tried her best to give predictions based on what little time she had with Celestia and Dawn and if things are the same. She wasn’t confident, but Twilight let her. The mare was trying to help in her own way.

A knock came to the door a minute later and Twilight reconfirmed her disguise was in place then opened the door, stepping aside to allow Dawn to come in.

“Princess, is everything-” Stonewall started to say, then stopped, noticing that another guard was with her, the guard from before “who are you?"

"Stonewall, meet Sergeant Stem, my instructor and guide to effective use of royal power and Equestrian Law." Dawn explained, trusting that Twilight would get the undertones involved.

“Ma’am.” Stem replied with a polite nod.

"I see." Stonewall said and looked at Stem before making introductions for herself and the two other guards in the room. Her tone was polite, but a taste of anger and concern emanated from her, "It is a pleasure to meet you Stem. I am Stonewall, this is Fire Storm, and Morning Glory. We are the Princess’ personal guard assigned by Captain Stalwart."

'Mom, if he doesn't leave us alone, would you take Stonewall aside and let them know what happened? I get the feeling you would anyway, but still…' Dawn asked her mom as she tried to ignore the emotion’s taste as best she could before adding, “Sergeant Stem, we were planning on departing for Manhattan in one or two days. Would you mind if our lessons start upon arrival?"

"I have no objections, but I am expected to stay at your side, for your protection as well." Stem explained.

‘I will.’ The queen said as she observed the new guard.

"Don't you think three guards can handle protecting her for the most part?" Stonewall asked.

"For protecting the Princess, yes,” Stem nodded, “but I have a duty to fulfill, and I will not fail Princesses Celestia and Luna."

"I agree you won't.” Dawn nodded, “I have a great deal to learn from you, and I appreciate your being here. For now, I'd like to ask a bit of time to myself today, to rest from the events in Manehattan, and we can review procedures and the like tomorrow. Will that pose any issue if I stay in the palace?"

Stem hesitated then said, "No, I suppose not."

"I'll make sure you're notified if I wish to leave. Thank you for understanding Sergeant."

He nodded and turned away as Dawn closed the door and quietly said in a quiet voice, "Secure the room."

In a moment, the room wall glowed and Stonewall nodded.

"So, mom, mind telling her or should I?" She asked, turning to chrysalis.

The queen nodded and quickly filled in Twilight about the conversation, Twilight growing heavily annoyed and Storm staying very quiet throughout as she listened.

Dawn sighed after they finished, having climbed up into the bed and laying down on it as she waited for the explanation to finish before she added her piece.

"Bear in mind, I'm under no illusion that I can, will, or even want to change you Commander. But as Chrysalis said, I found it rude and insulting that they presumed so much about you… For what It’s worth, I am sorry." Dawn explained, feeling empathy for her, even if she didn’t feel at fault for what happened.

"Like I'd let you,” Twilight snorted, “but thank you. Chrysalis is the only one I allow to shrink my head. The issue is, we have basically had a leg lopped off at the knee with our baggage."

"I don't know what she's thinking." Dawn said, frustrated and emotionally exhausted, "It's bad enough being told to do that, but to make a travelling mirror when she knows I’m scared of relics as it is, as well as the unofficial removal of my position as a princess… I just… I can't even."

Twilight walked over, hopped on the bed, and hugged her. Dawn laid on the bed, surprised at first then returned the hug.

"I'm sorry, I just…” Dawn replied, stammering at first, “This is so much on my plate… and it's not even a bad idea, the mirror I mean, cause I don't want to have to choose between this world and yours and it'd be an option. I just… between Flare and Celestia and now the mirror as well-"

"Enough." Twilight ordered.

Dawn immediately silenced herself and got ready to listen to her, still tense at the stress she had piled on herself, ears splayed behind her head as she looked at the commander with worry.

"Relax my little pony." Twilight said calmly. "Calm yourself. You are letting your stress get too high and you need to relax and let it melt away."

Dawn nodded and closed her eyes, letting herself lean against the Commander’s form, whispering back, "Sorry, I just care, like a lot."

"Shhh it's ok." Twilight said starting to stroke her mane. "Just relax and calm yourself. Slow breaths. And relax."

Dawn calmed herself slowly, starting to feel her mind go blank even as a tear arose to her left eye. Her eyelids soon closed fully as she started to breathe slowly and consistently.

"Good. Just listen to my voice and relax. Calm your mind. No need to think. Just relax and listen to my voice." She said slowly, stroking her mane.

Storm raised a brow as she listened, turning to Chrysalis for an explanation as Dawn relaxed further. Dawn soon laid herself down as she was petted, letting her disguise no longer hide the collar she still wore bearing Twilight's mark.

‘What are you doing to her?’ Meadow asked, watching in amazement at how well Dawn reacted.

‘Relaxing her.’ Twilight responded quietly then turned back to Dawn. "There. Relax… sleep my little pet. Sleep and dream happy dreams and rest well."

Dawn fell asleep no sooner than she was told to, barely hearing 'rest well' before she was out like a light. Twilight moved off the bed slowly and stretched before carefully moving away toward the others.

"Well, that was effective. Seems Green got screwed pretty badly though huh?" Storm commented with a wry smile.

"We all did.” Twilight said seriously, “Once we leave here, I don't see Stem leaving us alone very much."

Meadow agreed, even if only to Twilight, ‘Sure didn't sound like it.’

“So what does that mean then?” Storm asked, feeling like it didn’t matter much.

Twilight sighed and looked at Storm. "Which means we won't have any privacy or time to ourselves."

Storm frowned, more due to not wanting more oversights as it was. She wasn’t bound to anything like they were, but even so, it was clearer it affected her too.

"By which I mean no harness." Twilight added, "I doubt you'd like Stem being around to see you in it."

"Oh, that...” Storm hesitated, not having thought of that either and beginning to frown more, “right."

Meadow, in her attempts to be polite, turned her attention back to the ideas to help protect the body she now had, even if shared.

"I can see about finding ways to make time, but can't guarantee it." Twilight said, walking over to pat Storm's head.

'What do you think of all of this?' Twilight asked Meadow. She hadn't gotten a chance to tell the others they were alive, and now it looked like she wouldn't have that chance.

Storm smirked and let out a single chuckle before looking away.

'I think she's in a rough spot. Celestia and Luna sound like they're not wanting her to have any power, but do too much without it. I mean, we can’t fix magic things!' Meadow replied.

'She probably can, but the issue is heaping all of this into her and then limiting her authority.'

'She can!?' Meadow asked in surprise, then refocused herself onto the other part Twilight mentioned, 'Still… I get what you mean, she is being asked the impossible…'

'Yes. She could maybe pull off some of that without the leash, not to mention it will severely hurt our operating capabilities.'

'Actually...' Meadow thought out loud, 'Dawn had her authority from Celestia taken away, but you were given your own, right?'

'Yes… I was given my full authority of my rank back home. That means as a Princess and military commander.'

'So who's to say you can’t appoint her temporarily under your command? I mean, she'd have to deal with the fallout, but still...' Meadow offered.

'True....she's had her authority removed which means we aren't equal rank now.'

'The hard part would be doing it in a way that won't cause an issue.' Meadow agreed.

'Yes… it would need to be done in the field out of necessity.'

'Why is that?'

'Because if it's done in the field out of necessity, then it's like a field promotion or one unit aborting and joining another to improve strength of both.’ Twilight explained, 'I could even field commission her as an officer.'

'I see. I’m sure she’d like that.' Meadow replied timidly, glad there was someone getting that much support, though wishing there was some for herself.

'Maybe.' Twilight said and checked the time, seeing the clock say just a bit before noon.

'I want to help too somehow.’ Meadow commented out of the blue, ‘I was gonna stay up thinking of ways to help, but as soon as you fell asleep last night, it went dark... I think I fell asleep or something too.'

'Ah, no worries.' Twilight shrugged.

'I just feel like I should learn to do things you can’t or help make you better at things somehow to be useful… Can you think of something like that I could help with?' She asked timidly.

'Um… not really?'

'Oh. You're good at everything?' Meadow said, intimidated.

'No? But I don't really know what you can do or could do that would help me.'

'Ok... I'll keep thinking then.' She said, growing quiet as she turned her focus inward

'Ok.' Twilight said, not sure what to do since they couldn't leave yet.

There was a knock on the door, and a young mare poked her head in.

"Hello? Princess?"

She looked like she was only in her teen years, between the squeaky voice and only three quarters the height of a typical adult. Stonewall approached the door in Dawn’s stead.

"She is currently sleeping, what do you need?"

"Oh. I was asked by the chefs to drop in and ask if she or her guards wanted something to eat."

Stonewall looked at the others.

"I'll just go in town and eat with my folks." Storm shrugged.

"Oh, well that’s fine. I'm new, but I love cooking! Do either of you want food?' The mare asked hopefully.

'Maybe she's an intern or apprentice or something?' Meadow offered at the odd behavior.

"I'll take a hay burger and fries." Stonewall instructed.

"Grilled vegetable kebob." Morning Glory added.

"And have grilled cheese sent up for when the princess wakes." Stone commented afterward.

Her face lit up as they made orders, taking out a notepad and wrote the orders down with her pencil in her mouth. She quickly started smiling.

"Be right back!" She said as she scampered off, order in tow.

"Well,” Stone blinked. “that was weird."

'She was cute.' Meadow said with a clear smile in her voice

'True. She also had a nice flank.'

Meadow giggled gently before noticing the mare poked her head in again.

"Sorry about that, I forgot to ask, what drinks did you want?"

"Anything will be fine for me." Stone said while Glory nodded in agreement. "The Princess will take non-alcoholic cider."

"Got it. I’d recommend some raspberry tea with the hayburger and for the kebob, it’s very fresh and will really compliment the dish!" She said with a grin, soon pulling her head back and her quick trot echoing down the hall.

"She seems lively." Stone said.

"Tea sounds damn good right now.” Storm shrugged. “Mind if I go home and not be seen as a guard now?"

Stone dropped the disguise for her "Be back my mid-morning ok? And stay safe."

Storm nodded agreement, stepping out and going to her home to eat.

It took the young mare a good twenty minutes to return with the dishes ordered. A cart was pushed ahead of her into the room after a knock on the door. As she lifted the covers for them, the dishes were less ornate than most royal dishes, having a kind of home cooked look to it with how the kebob’s sauce was pooled not so neatly under the kebob, or how the burger was not perfectly round. In spite of these minor flaws, the smells were permeating the room enough to be mouthwateringly enticing.

“Thank you.” Stonewall nodded toward her.

"Let me know how I did! I left a survey card on the tray. I'm open to any ideas you have so I can do better later in the castle or if I get my own restaurant!" She said cheerfully before stepping out of the room to return to her duties.

Stone set Dawn’s meal by the bed, blinking at that news and mouthed, ‘survey card?’ to Glory, who shrugged with equal amount of confusion. Dawn shifted on the bed, remembering to don her alicorn form once again as she looked around.

"What'd I miss?” she asked before noticing her plate on the bed. “Ooooo food... thank you."

"Lapdog went home to eat, a very strange servant came by to take orders of food and I chose your meal." Stone said, taking a seat to eat. "Sleep well?"

"It was a good catnap..." She replied, smiling as she saw the grilled cheese sandwiches, "Awesome, I was feeling like I could use a good snack."

Meadow watched as her other self ate greedily, 'Damn that looks good right now...'

'I may have that for dinner.' Twilight bit onto her meal, chuckling into her head.

Meadow gasped as she tasted the food as Twilight ate, sighing contentedly, 'I may not have an appetite, but that tastes amazing after not having had food in god knows how long...'

'Well get used to it. I'm an alicorn, so I need to eat more than the average pony.' Twilight said as she ate.

'Yes ma'am!' Meadow replied happily.

Twilight chuckled as she ate her meal.

Dawn ate her sandwiches ravenously, not afraid to get a little grease on her muzzle before she turned to the tray, hoping for more and noticing the card. "Oh? What's this? Oh a hand-made survey card! What, did the royal cooks not make our food?"

"I'm not sure really." Stone said. "The servant who took the orders and brought it said they were part of the meal. No clue why."

Dawn chuckled, "Didn't read the card huh? Says she's new to the kitchen staff but loves to cook and wants to do better and test any ideas we have for her professional career, so she's asking for feedback to be written on the back."

"No, I didn't as it's very unprofessional of a Royal Chef." Stonewall said as she ate.

"And what if she's not going for royal chef?" Dawn asked, still smiling, then pulled out a pen from the desk to write her feedback on the card.

"She works in the kitchen. That is her job title." Stonewall said. "If she not a royal chef then we've probably all been poisoned by an impostor."

Dawn rolled her eyes in a playful manner, feeling very cheerful in spite of her ordeals before and finding the idea a very positive one for the aspiring cook.

Stone went back to eating her meal, and when she finished, Meadow sighed contentedly.

'It is so nice to feel what it’s like to have food in a belly now… I know I don’t have a proper appetite, but I’m so glad to know what it’s like to feel satisfied and taste food again…’

‘I’m still hungry though.’ Twilight commented.

'Odd, I could have sworn this is what it felt like to feel like I had enough to eat... still, if you're going to eat more I'm not gonna complain.' Meadow giggled.

Dawn turned to Chrysalis and Twilight, grin on her face after the enjoyable meal, "So, how was your food you two? Any way you'd want to see her improve?"

"The food was fine." Stone replied.

"Food is food." Glory shrugged.

'That would draw attention if I ate too much.' Twilight said. 'As an alicorn, I have a much higher metabolism than a normal pony do to the fact I'm growing and will be somewhere around Celestia's size.'

'So what'll you do if you're still hungry and need more food?' Meadow asked, intrigued.

'Ignore it till I can get a proper meal.'

'I see.' Meadow said, saddened at the idea of a person going hungry after what she had gone through with hunger before.

"You're quiet… everything ok?" Dawn asked, looking at Twilight.

"Just talking to Meadow." Stone said

"What do you mean,” Dawn blinked, “you've not said anything to me."

"Oh right, with everything happening, forgot to mention she ended up here." She tapped the side of her head. "Somehow."

"Who ended…” Dawn blinked again and shook her head and stared intently at Stone, “What?!"

"The you from the bracelet."

Dawn struggled to process what Stone was saying, the disjointed speech throwing her into confusion. She paused and recalled what they said, piecing it together before she opened her eyes wide, jaw dropping, "You mean… she's not dead?"

"Nope." Stone smiled.

"I… oh thank god…" Dawn said in clear relief, eyes tearing as she closed them and tried to regain her emotional center with some breathing exercises.

Stone nodded, then noticed Glory looking at her with concern. Stone headed off her concern by saying, "I'm sure I'm not hearing voices."

"Are you sure?" Glory asked.

"Yes… Dawn ask me something only you know about your former life." Stone suggested

"Ok, what's the first name we gave ourselves for online use and to our first D&D character in high school?" Dawn asked.

'That's easy. Lycian.' Meadow replied.

"Lycian." Stone said

Dawn nodded, sharing the memory with Chrysalis of her literally going one letter at a type and seeing if she liked the combination.

"Is she able to do anything other than talk to you?" Dawn asked, intrigued at their abilities and confirming they were alive.

'Show them' Twilight said.

Meadow used her magic to lift up the pen for the survey and made it dance on the bed before playing a song from her memory using Twilight’s horn, a piano piece inspired by a game from her youth.

Twilight blinked and looked up at her horn, glowing a faint green color, as she felt the familiar tingling of the magic but without the expectation of how it would feel ahead of time. "OK that really does take some getting used to."

"I recognize the melody,” Dawn smiled, “though in that case, why haven't you tried just using the horn to talk?"

‘Wait, I could have done that?’ Meadow replied to Twilight in surprise, only just now realizing that if that’s true, she really could have done that at any point, even in the bracelets.

'How should I know? I can't do that spell at all or feel your magic except as a slight pulse on my horn.'

Dawn tilted her head, intrigued by the lack of response, "Not as simple as I thought it'd be huh?"

'I'm… trying, but no, it's not.' Meadow frowned.

"She said she's trying, but it doesn't seem to work."

"Well, I'm just glad she's alive…" Dawn said genuinely. "Guess we just don't know how to die in either world huh?"

"That's ok, death’s been after me for decades." Stone chuckled

"Oh, so that's why he's not gone after me. He's too busy looking for you." Dawn smirked, then softened, leaving the survey answer she put on the tray left behind.

"Yeah he keeps coming close but just missing me by a hairs breath." Stone said chuckling.

Dawn shrugged, smiling at first, but then her mind started to focus once more on the issues she dealt with earlier that day. Her frown slowly disappeared as she tried to consider her options with what Celestia unfairly asked of her.

Stone watched her noticing the shift, ready to intervene if needed once again.

"Do… do you think I should go with you to Manehattan, being as pregnant as I am? I want to be of help, but I'm afraid now that I would be a liability, and then to count the fact that after my foals are born, I would do anything for them just like any parent, but I also wouldn't want to spend time away from them and don't want them in Manehattan."

"To be honest?” Stone sighed and sat back. “No, I don't want you there in your condition. As much as I can trust you, you are a liability."

"That's… rather what I thought as well, though I didn't want to admit it before now." Dawn nodded, feeling disappointed but understanding. 'I'm sorry mom. Looks like I only added to her worry by coming to Manehattan then.'

'What do you mean?' The queen asked.

"It's fine.” Stone waved, “I promised Stalwart I'd send you back when things got far. Plus I’m sure he'd like to be present for his foals to be born."

"Maybe the aftermath,” Dawn smirked, “but not if I end up cursing him to carry the next foal he wants us to have." She paused and responded to her mother, 'I caused your mate worry by coming to Manehattan being so pregnant. I got to show off to some of the soldiers, sure, but still…'

'You didn't worry her at all.' The queen said.

"That would be amusing." Stone said.

"Somehow, I doubt he wants to stay a mare for nine months or more to bear the foal." She chuckled weakly, "And that's assuming I get the gender change spell to work right."

"Gender change spell?"

"Yeah. Heard about it once as a way to let a pair of mares have a foal if they wanted to without a male donor." Dawn explained.

Twilight blinked at the news.

"Doesn't matter either way, unless you wanted to impregnate somepony." Dawn shrugged.

"Um… how exactly does that spell work? Purely for academic purposes I assure you." Stone said, though Dawn could taste a sweet alcoholic taste of lust.

Dawn snorted and smiled, "Well, from what I've gathered, which isn’t really reliable yet, it uses magic to help the body go through undoing the puberty they went through and redoing it for the other gender. It can be done quickly if given enough power, but can affect the subject with nausea. Beyond that I still have the book at home that needs a good reading."

"Does it have a Time limit?"

"Only if done in a simple change of equipment downstairs, and that lasts on the user's magical stamina and concentration." Dawn smirked, thinking she knew where they were headed with that.

"I see… So… for sake of the hypothetical… could you cast the spell to change equipment?"

Dawn repeated, "I still have that book at home and that needs a good reading, though I can guess if you wish I-"

"No, no… probably should read the book first." Stone said quickly.

"I'll have a changeling read it and relay the information to me." Dawn finished her sentence, adding clarity.

"Oh, ok." Twilight said as a drone near her home moved to obey.

'The instructions for the spell should be near the back if I recall.' she instructed, 'You can find the book in my room on the top shelf under the pile of mismatched towels.'

Dawn learned the spell, cast it on Twilight, and tried to entice the mare. She was disappointed however, when the wrong thing was said, joking about how Twilight’s mark could have had a tower, and the connection was missed.

Twilight left the room, feeling upset even as Dawn focused on her failings.

The queen sighed

'I'm sorry...' Dawn said, feeling tears come to her eyes far too readily.

The queen hugged her close.

Dawn sighed and leaned into the hug, 'I mean, I wasn't trying to ruin the mood, I just... I don't know... I should probably apologize to her too...'

'I'm not sure… I think she thinks she's the one who messed up.'

'Still doesn't mean I shouldn't apologize.' Dawn replied.

'I...really don't know here.'

'I will apologize to her, for making her worry.' Dawn said, 'Where can I find her?'

'I don't know. She left the room.'

Dawn frowned, unsure what to say, but distanced herself in the link from all but her mother as she laid there, wondering how it was that she mis-spoke, other than to not make that reference any longer.

Numerous drones approached her respectfully in the link, relaying their concern for her.

She shrugged them off, simply letting them know she felt like she had disappointed her queen and their mate, and wanted to correct it soon enough and had to deal with her emotions first.

They informed her she hadn't disappointed the queen or her mate, and they were more concerned with her being upset.

'Damn pregnancy… I'm such a mess.' she thought to herself and anyone listening. 'Doesn't help that I'm going to be away from the two of them after they leave for Manehattan.'

The drones gathered around her, trying to give her the sensation of being hugged and held. They were upset that she was upset and wanted to do everything they could to support her.

Dawn apologized, soon drying her eyes, if only for their sake, and reached out to Chrysalis, 'Mom… sorry about my outburst earlier…'

'No its fine.' She nuzzled Dawn in reply.

'Not to me… but thank you.' she said calmly, feeling slightly more in control.

Chrysalis continued to hold Dawn, even as she laid and enjoyed the bed, feeling when the foals kicked. Dawn groaned briefly when they shifted and pressed against her bladder, forcing her to rush to the restroom.

Twilight left the castle as Stonewall before changing her disguise when she was out of sight of their guards to look like a dark gray unicorn with a blue mane and not like a royal guard anymore.

'Where are we going?' Meadow asked

'I don't know.' Twilight said as she walked.

Meadow stayed quiet, still wanting to be useful somehow now that she had company, yet not knowing how. It’d been so long since she had socialized.

'Anywhere you want to go?'

'I… well, not really. I didn’t go out much.' She confessed.

'Ah… ever been flying?' twilight offered.

'I'm terrified of heights.' She confessed.

'Oh… ok…' Twilight said. She had planned to go for a fly, but that plan was now canceled and she just walked.

'Oh!’ Meadow stammered quickly, not wanting to inconvenience them, ‘b-but don't let that stop you... I'll be fine.'

'No its fine.' She said as she walked

'Sorry…' Meadow apologized before getting an idea. 'You said you were hungry earlier, are we going to go eat then?'

'Sure. Anything you'd like?'

'I'm fine with anything.' She said cheerfully, glad to have an idea accepted.

Stone nodded and went to the one place she knew was in the city, no matter the version of the world. She began smiling as the familiar atmosphere washed over her and she approached the bar that held the perfect escape.

Author's Notes:

Well....that tosses a wrench into things....

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