Storm finished her food and then put away their plates, tail swaying with each stride and unconsciously showing off to Twilight

Twilight blinked as she watched, then spoke up, "So, I was going to head out and stretch my wings a bit. Care to join me?"

"Sure!" Storm said readily, stretching, "Feeling a lot better now anyway."

Twilight nodded her acknowledgement and changed into a pegasus guard, putting the same disguise on Storm.

"Why am I being given a disguise anyway?" Storm asked, "If anything it'll make me more likely to be pulled aside to do some other sort of task I can’t do, won't it?"

"Yes, but how would it look if an unidentified Pegasus was flying to or from the Castle?"

"It happens often enough I suppose. I don't know.” Storm shrugged. “Doesn't seem odd to me."

"Ok, let's rephrase. The Princesses are well aware of who Flare is and what has been going on."

Storm blinked once at Stonewall, expecting a part two to the explanation.

"Storm, do you remember what that Zebra did to you?" She asked "Or tried to do?"

"Of course I do..." She said quietly, "How could I forget?"

"And the Princesses are aware of the event. Tell me, if the guild was vast and with hundreds of people and a bunch of other guild houses, how would you respond to learning of a growing threat towards your guild. What would you do?"

"Restrict access and increase ways of knowing that they're actually insiders... Yeah, point made." Storm said solemnly.

Stone nodded and walked over and gave her a hug.

Storm leaned into the hug and admitted quietly, "Yeah... guess I did overlook that one... little... detail."

“Shhh…” Stone said as she reverted to her natural form and began stroking Storm’s mane. She hated bringing it up, but it was needed. "it's okay."

Storm snorted, "Of course it's ok. No harm done right?"

Stone kissed and nuzzled the top of her head.

"Hey…” Storm chuckled, “I'm not a filly, I can take being wrong once or twice."

Stone chuckled and ruffled her mane

Storm laughed again, "Hey! C-cut it out!"

"Cut what out?" She said and ruffled her mane again

"Hey! I said cut it out!" Storm laughed again, trying to squirm away and held a playful grin on her face.

"And I asked what you meant, as you haven't told me." She said, smiling.

Storm shook her head to put her hair back into place before teasing, "I think you know full well what I meant, mistress."

"Ooohhh… you mean this!" Twilight said and grabbed Storm, holding her so she couldn’t get away and started to really ruffle her mane.

Storm laughed and squirmed every way she could, trying to get out of Twilight's grasp.

Twilight held her firmly as she kept ruffling her mane with vigor.

Storm laughed and fell down towards the floor, squirming and continuing to try and escape, making the critical error of opening up her wings in the process.

Twilight chuckled as she tucked her legs under herself beside Storm as she slowed the ruffling of her mane and started to preen the mare.

Storm laughed louder and flailed, crying between each word, "I... don't need... preening!"

Twilight kept doing it, making the mare laugh more and more as the ruffling and preening continued. Storm’s was flailing getting weaker and weaker while Twilight moved on to the other wing.

"P-please stop… It tickles… hurts…" Storm gasped.

"Hurts?" Twilight quickly stopped, concerned.

Storm gasped for breath and let it out as she got each breath, still chuckling lightly, saying in between each breath, "Haven't… laughed… so hard… in years!"

Twilight chuckled, relaxing as she realized what happened and gave a quick nuzzle before standing up. Storm slowly stood up as well, still getting her breath back as Twilight stretched.

Storm chuckled weakly one last time before saying "Any more feathers you're gonna pluck or are we ready?"

"I think we are ready." Twilight said with a final look over her wings. She smiled and became a guard again and headed for the window.

Storm followed, ready to take off.

They took to the air and Twilight circled the castle to gain height with the help of the thermals before heading off into the distance.

Storm followed effortlessly, keeping in formation as expected. Once they were away from the city, Twilight dropped their disguises and now Storm could see Twilight fully, including her mark. Storm continued to follow, curious where they were headed.

"It always feels so good to fly." Twilight commented.

"Always." She echoed. "Wonder why Dawn never does, even ratite does it all the time."

"Ratite?" She asked not knowing the word. "Who's that?"

"Calls himself Charred. The weak red mailpony we have at the guild."

"Huh. Met him a few times." Twilight said. "Seems nice, though it’s an odd nickname he has. How'd he get it and what does it mean?"

"Called him it ever since I caught him spying on our guild like a rat and being a fanpony over Nightfall. Didn’t even fly away, scurried into some filthy underbrush like a little rat. He's a ratite, a pegasus thats bad at flying and a sneak. The batponies I know are better friends, even if this one's turned out half-decent after a lot of work." She said dismissively

Twilight stopped in midair instantly.

Storm hovered with her. "What?"

"So what you are saying is … it's a slur."

"A bit, I guess. Why?" Storm asked, shrugging.

A metal fist connected with her face that was attached to a very angry looking alicorn.

Storm grunted and started to lose altitude as she recoiled from the pain, tumbling head over hoof. Twilight grabbed her in her magic and hauled her close enough that they were muzzle to muzzle.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear Lapdog. I. Cannot. Stand. Prejudices. Of. Any. Sort." Twilight sternly answered, mane starting to float on its own and eyes glowing white with magic.

Storm stared at her with a level of fear she had not displayed before, surpassing that of the death by fire and when she was pinned by Twilight before with a knife at her throat.

Twilight let her go after saying that and took a deep breath closing her eyes as she took several more and her mane fell back to normal.

"I am sorry." Twilight said, slowly opening her eyes and revealing they were back to normal. "I… cannot stand prejudices but I shouldn't handle it like that."

"I…" Storm barely managed to say, adrenaline coursing through her as she tried to stop the shaking. She started feeling like she witnessed something unfathomable, a princess, and one so strong, apologizing to her after nearly threatening to obliterate her for what she said. "I won’t use that again."

Storm was ignoring her swelling and bruised fur on the side where she was punched, not even registering pain yet, or her half closed eye. She was still quivering in place as she fought her urges to run or fight back.

Twilight made a very quiet sound as she noticed the bruising, horn glowing as she healed it as best as she could, then bowed in the air. "Name what it is you desire as an apology, and if it is within my power it is yours."

"N-no, I just said something that really upset you, its fine." Storm said, wincing as the pain finally began to reach her and a headache ensued. "Besides, you already patched me up-"

"It doesn't matter, my reaction was inappropriate and uncalled for and I wish to make amends." Twilight said, still bowed and eyes closed.

"Seriously, it ok…” Storm said, fear starting to subside as nervousness at the odd behavior took its place, “You're kinda creeping me out acting like this."

"Then I will owe you." Twilight said, slowly moving to be flying upright again. "And I apologize for creeping you out. It is not often Princesses need to apologize and it is a very formal thing to do so."

Storm stayed quiet, unsure what to say. She followed along for several minutes before asking solemnly, "So name-calling really gets to you huh?"

"I was reduced to nothing more than a number and treated no differently than one treats a test animal, despite being clearly not an animal. I cannot stand others being reduced like that." Twilight said as they flew back at a more sedate pace.

"Damn…" Storm mumbled, barely heard over the wind. "I... I guess I never looked at it that way."

"I have been working on my temper over the subject, but back home there is an entire group dedicated to removing the changelings from Equestria. My first experience with the beginnings of the movement was when a group of ponies beat three workers in the street who were simply walking to get construction supplies for a project, and every hospital in Canterlot refused to help them. The only one who could walk carried the other two out of the city to the nearest base… It took all night and because of that, one of them died of his inuries and the one was left unable to fly and the one who cared them lost his left eye."

Storm looked at her in horror at the notion. She had no love for changelings, but for ponies to be so cruel to another citizen? She wasn’t sure if her own issues with changelings would keep her from helping them or not, but it sounded wrong. The conflict between her own issues with changelings and realizing how that was treated if they’re called citizens made her uneasy, unsure what the right answer is.

"Those ponies were arrested but there were more… and still are many like them. Even with all the good the Hive as done for Equestria, they cannot let go of their hate." Twilight explained sadly.

"I… I didn’t know..." she said, still stunned by her dilemma.

Twilight sighed. "It's fine. I reacted in an unbecoming manner of a Princess."

"And I was a mule." Storm said with a small smile, "Come on, everypony makes mistakes."

Twilight slowly smiled back at her and reached out to pat her head appreciatively.

Storm chuckled, flying a bit closer and then flipping upside down and maneuvering under her for a hug midflight, "Hey, cheer up. Seriously. I'm fine now, and you got your message across. Whatever."

Twilight slowly hugged back. "Sorry… I don't like making people I like afraid like that."

"I'm fine now, mostly.” Storm said, hesitating as she remembered how Twilight didn’t have an issue making her afraid when they fought. “Besides, I can feel sorry for your enemies if that's what they're up against."

Twilight chuckled and ruffled her mane. Storm let her altitude fall so she could flip back over, returning to flying at Twilight's side, while Twilight had the same demeanor as before as they flew.

Meadow stayed quiet throughout, incredibly intimidated by Twilight’s anger just then, though just as afraid of heights. They soon reached the castle, disguised as guards again, and entered the room.

Storm sighed contentedly as they entered the room, flopping onto the bed as Twilight dropped the disguises and got them some water.

Storm chuckled at herself and said, "I don't end up feeling this wiped out after a fly normally, have I really gotten that out of shape?"

"No clue, with all the other strenuous activities, I’m surprised." Twilight said, returning with glasses of water.

Storm laughed, shaking her head, "I'm fine, really."

Storm accepted her glass and they both drank.

Storm set her glass down, took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly, stretching out her body as she stepped down from the bed, ignorant of how Twilight enjoyed the view from the brief stretch.

"So what's on the agenda for the rest of the day?" Storm asked after the stretching finished.

"Not sure. I'll need to talk to Queeny later about my outburst."

Storm frowned but said nothing, looking out to check the time. She had made her peace with the idea and if they couldn’t let it go, better to just let them and not hold it against them.

"What is it?" Twilight asked.

"You're really not gonna let that go, huh?" Storm asked back.

"She's my therapist. I sort of need to talk to her when I lose control, and not till you call in your chip."

Storm sighed and gave her a light punch on the shoulder, "You already know how I feel about it, but go get her. I’ll be fine here."

Twilight nodded and left the room.

Dawn was laying against Chrysalis, napping contentedly after her own therapy of having her mother nearby when a knock came to the door. Dawn sleepily opened the door, barely awake from the knock. She was surprised to see Twilight in the doorway.

"Hey, I need to talk to Chrysalis."

Dawn nodded, stretching before getting off the bed and headed back to the other room.

Chrysalis could tell something was wrong and sat across from where Twilight did.

"So tell me what happened...." Dawn heard before she entered the bedroom

Dawn closed the door out of respect, then when she went back to the room and found Storm lying on the bed, she borrowed her as a body pillow for her continued nap. Storm opened her mouth to protest, but closed it when Dawn seemed to fall fast asleep and simply rolled her eyes.

Twilight and the queen talked for some time, the Queen shadowed from the link the whole time. Dawn, still awake, wasn’t sure what to expect, hoping all was ok, and sent her love.

After a couple hour the queen walked into the room. Dawn perked her head up, looking at her in concern, 'Everything ok?'

"Yes, Twilight just needed a talk." She said climbing back into bed to join her.

'All right.' Dawn replied in the link. Storm yawned, stretching out before getting off the bed, feeling awake and rested.

Twilight was sipping tea in the living room. Dawn looked over to the tea, then went to the restroom before coming back to the bed to be with Chrysalis, who held her once she returned.

Twilight held a coin out with her mark on it to Storm.

Storm looked to the coin and took it. "What's this for?"

"I told you I owed you for my outburst. This marks that you have one favor."

Storm looked at it again and shrugged, pulling out her pouch and putting the coin inside

Dawn sighed contentedly against Chrysalis, checking in on the hive to ensure her room could accommodate herself, her husband, and the foals as needed like she had instructed before.

She was pleased and appreciative that they were being done exactly as she wished them.

"Tea?" Twilight offered.

"Sure." Storm shrugged.

Twilight poured her a cup. Storm accepted the cup, sipped, and started to look over to Dawn and Chrysalis.

"So, we've got the evening ahead of us, any plans?" Storm asked.

"Not especially." Twilight answered.

Dawn chuckled and leaned in to Chrysalis, planting a kiss on her neck before asking, "What if we go ahead and go do something together since we'll have to part ways after tomorrow?"

"What did you have in mind?" Twilight asked.

"Maybe eating out at that one bar you showed me. My treat."

Twilight smiled and became a green pegasus with a pink mane. "Lets." She said in a slightly high pitched voice.

Dawn chuckled at the still odd combination of colors, stepping down. "Coming my queen?"

"You are going as yourself?" Chrysalis asked stepping down as she became a blue earth pony with yellow mane.

Dawn nodded, still being her princess form. "Should I not?"

"It is your call Dawn."

"I would like to.” Dawn nodded, “I don't have any issues being myself, just not a changeling out in public yet. I won’t until their perception is changed, unless I need to be that force for change."

Twilight nodded and smiled as she began to head for the door. Dawn followed, content at the choice they made.

'Does she mean that cafe you took me to? We get to go again?' Meadow chimed in, hopeful at the idea.

'I'd imagine so.' Twilight replied.

'Awesome! Think I'll be able to be seen by her n all?' Meadow asked excitedly.

'No clue. I guess we could go with them, but it seemed they wanted time together.'

Dawn followed after everyone stepped out, closing the door behind them. She smiled as she was led on, commenting to Twilight, "Hey, I don't quite know how you got there last time. Is it any issue if I had you show the way for us?"

"Chrysalis knows the way as well." Twilight chuckled, but started to lead the way.

'She seems to be missing the point that I wanted all of us togather before we split up tomorrow on our separate destinations.' Dawn commented quietly in the link to her mom.

'Despite everything she's been through she is still socially awkward to an adorable degree.' The queen said. ‘Like you in some ways’

'Most definitely.' Dawn chuckled silently

'I always wonder and dread the day she learns to pick up on such cues.' Chrysalis thought.

'She will be truly a master queen of manipulation I believe.' Dawn replied, 'Such cues I do not register consciously over half the time, but I can analyze them and what I do pick up helps me manipulate others as is. If she picked up on them? Oh dear...'

'Yes she is already quite good at playing The Game.'

Dawn smiled happily, her thought of asking about ‘The Game’ paused when she noticed Stem's watchful eye in a side corridor as they progressed, but she paid him little attention. It wasn’t worth worrying about right now. She had a small party to celebrate with her friends before they parted.

Stem seemed to move from his position and walked toward them.

“Hey, I’ll meet you in a bit, I need to take care of something.” Dawn said before separating from the others.

Twilight eyed them carefully, concerned but followed through with her disguise.

Dawn walked toward Stem and once close enough, spoke up, “Sergeant, can I help you?”

“I was instructed to be with you. Are you departing?” Stem asked.

“Yes, I am being visited by some friends of mine and we were about to go eat out at my expense before we had to part ways again.”

“I see. What establishment were you patronizing?” Stem asked, looking over the princess briefly.

“A place I’d visited a couple times, the Ivory Wheel.” Dawn explained.

“Interesting. Where is this place?” Stem asked.

“Admittedly, I’m horrible with directions, so I still have to rely on my friends to guide me there.” Dawn said with an embarrassed smile. ‘Best part is, that’s completely true!’

“Very well, what kind of food will we be getting?” Stem asked.

“Stem, I understand your orders, but this is not a point I will be using any authority from my position. Having an unexpected guest they’re not prepared for would not be polite or appropriate.”

“And yet you are aware I am to accompany you.” Stem countered factually.

“The plans I had made with them was before you were appointed and I had forgotten to inform them of the change.” Dawn replied, “I am sorry.”

“Then we will consider this a lesson in keeping your guards informed.” Stem said, still sounding factual, but he sounded less bothered than usual and a slight note of cheer coming from him that Dawn could detect. “Imagine a situation where you are leading and go off to a room and fall prey to an enemy’s trap. How would your guards know you are missing?”

“Point taken. I have informed you that I am going to the Ivory Wheel, and in case you’re wondering how long we will be, I would estimate up to two or three hours counting travel time. Any other questions Sergeant?”

“Very well,” Stem nodded, “I will be expecting your return.”

Dawn gave him a curt nod and quickly trotted to catch up with the group.

Twilight watched Dawn approached, speaking up when they were close enough. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, had to explain why he wasn’t joining us for this excursion. Let him know you were friends who weren’t expecting other visitors to pop in.” Dawn said, “We should be left alone for now with that. Just gotta make sure we keep the same disguises or have a good story ready in case he catches the difference.”

Twilight nodded before turning to lead the way through the streets of Canterlot down some back allies until they reached the Ivory Wheel and entered it.

Dawn and Meadow both smiled at the environment as they entered. Dawn was glad to see the familiar decorations and Meadow eager to have a body of her own once more, stepping to the side of the group as the same pegasus server from before approached.

"Hey Commander, Major, always good to see some regulars." She said grabbing some menus. "Right this way."

The pegasus led the group to a large corner booth while Dawn and Meadow smiled wide, setting the menus down on the table there while Twilight and Chrysalis dropped their disguises.

Dawn looked over at the commander, curious how they wanted to sit when she paused and noticed Meadow, freezing in surprise briefly before sitting down.

"Hi..." Meadow said shyly.

"Oh right. Meadow Dawn." Twilight said, gesturing from the unicorn then to the alicorn, "Meet Meadow Dawn."

They both laughed, then sat across from each other, Twilight smiling as Chrysalis sat beside her.

"So you can come out like Starlight huh?" Dawn asked.

"Not yet no."

"But you're out right now."

"Only when we're here." Meadow clarified.

"Welcome to the Ivory Wheel!" Twilight said chuckling. "Don't question how it works, it just does."

"Best... place... ever." Meadow emphasized with a grin.

"New favorite place to go to, got it." Dawn smiled.

Storm frowned as she looked between the two, a hoof going to her head, "Having two of you that looks the same is just... wow."

"Yup that means they can double team you Lapdog." Twilight said with a smirk.

Dawn smiled while Meadow looked on in surprise and embarrassment at the comment, making Twilight laugh.

"Guessing you never had that fateful stormy night with Stalwart huh?" Dawn looked at Meadow, making the joke due to Meadow's staring at her pregnancy. She regretted joking about it quickly.

"No... we were going to meet his family when Svik... he's a timber wolf now. Lured him with my body there and I was forced to watch him get taken..."

Twilight gritted her teeth as she re-heard that story amidst Dawn looking at her in horror at the idea.. "Don't worry. We will fix it."

"Yeah..." Dawn said solemnly, "nothing should stop you from getting your mate..."

Meadow nodded, swallowing and taking a deep breath before looking for the server, surprised to see them at her side and setting down a stiff drink in front of her.

"If it's any consolation," The waitress said as she handed out drinks, "he's barred from entering this establishment."

"Ah..." she said quietly. "Thank you, what is this?"

"Mead. You look like you could use a drink. Comes from the finest breweries in Skyrim." She said

Meadow blinked, recognizing the name, "but... that's just..."

"Interesting." Dawn smiled,"I was curious what Juniper berries smelled like... I don't suppose you have a branch out in VanHoover?"

"No. Only in the Capital." She said.

"Ah... Might have to convince Stalwart to move if you have such a wide variety of stock." Dawn said with a small note of sadness.

The waitress chuckled as she left them their drinks to order their food.

Dawn and Meadow both ordered burgers, Twilight and Chrysalis had barbecue chicken with greens, while Storm ordered a fruit salad and a drink of the bartender's recommendation.

"So, do we call you Dawn too? Unicorn Dawn? One of our old names perhaps?" Dawn asked, trying to be helpful.

"I'm fine with Meadow..." she said timidly.

Twilight smiled and ruffled Meadow's mane. Meadow giggled and leaned toward Twilight.

"She your third pet Twilight?" Dawn teased.

"Hmm, maybe." Twilight chuckled.

Meadow opened her eyes wide at the suggestion, "W-what do you mean?"

"Oh nothing." Dawn said sing a sing song voice.

Twilight chuckled and sipped her drink, entertained at her friend’s antics.

Meadow sipped the alcoholic drink she had then blinked, looking at the drink with a cross of wide astonishment, surprise, and confusion.

"Are… you ok Meadow?" Dawn asked with a slightly confused grin, trying to hide her amusement at the expression and failing.

"I… don't know what it was I tasted."

"Well, the waiter said it was mead."

"I still don't know what it was I tasted..." Meadow repeated, causing Twilight to chuckle and pat her back with a wing.

Meadow looked to Twilight, feeling warmed by the drink as she sipped at it, still not sure whether she liked the taste.

Storm was looking between them all, arms on the table as she took in the atmosphere, "Not a bad looking place.

"Best place in all Equestrias." Twilight said smiling.

"I'll have to bring Nightfall here then." Storm said, "I'll have some of that if you're not gonna drink it all gr-er, Meadow."

Twilight sat back and leaned against Chrysalis as she enjoyed her drink and watched as the drink slid over to Storm. Storm lifted the drink, sniffed it with a smile, and gulped the drink down.

"Damn, that was pretty good."

Twilight chuckled more, a small smile staying on her face as Storm eyed the mug and then looked around.

"Where's that server? I'd love another one, since Dawn here's payin'." Storm grinned.

"I'm only paying for one drink, maybe a refill of a simple non alcoholic one, not for you to get drunk off your wings, Lapdog." Dawn smirked, not sure if she wanted a repeat of last time.

"What! That's not-" Storm protested before she was interrupted.

"Lapdog, don't argue." Dawn said, necklace with Twilight's mark in plain sight.

Storm sighed and frowned, but clearly more sullen over the command.

"Don't worry I'll pay for your drink Lapdog." Twilight chuckled again, watching to see how the new Storm acted drunk.

Dawn frowned slightly, but nodded. She had brought a little over two hundred bits, just in case expenses were to arise, but she fully expected to spend a bit with the four of them. Even with the inclusion of Meadow that was still 20 bits a person she was willing to spend, treating them like dollars at a restaurant.

Twilight tilted her head at Dawn seeing her frown. Dawn shook her head, trying to say it was nothing by continuing her observations of Storm, who was turned to look around at the establishment as she waited for more drinks.

Another arrived very soon from the pegasus, the mead for Storm now and root beer for Meadow. Meadow smiled, drinking it and eyes widening in simple joy at tasting root beer once more.

"Oh my gosh, I haven't had this in forever!" she giggled. “You know, ignoring the first time.”

"The Ivory Wheel aims to please all customers." Twilight chuckled.

Dawn smiled, knowing her smoothie desert she planned on ordering afterward would be wonderful as well with how attentive the place is.

"This is definitely my kind of place." Meadow said, feeling right at home.

A few moments later their orders arrived and were placed before them. All their drinks were refilled and the Pegasus smiled wide. "If you need anything, just wave."

Dawn and Meadow looked at their food greedily, waiting patiently for the waiter to depart before starting to dig in to their nearly identical meals.

Storm chuckled and started to sip at her mead before getting a mouthful of salad.

Twilight used her knife to start to cut her food into bites her teeth could handle. Chrysalis cut her own chicken into larger pieces.

Dawn and Meadow simply lifted the burger with their magic, partly held in place with their hooves, and took bites directly. Their nearly identical smiles at the flavors spread easily, though they both had a little bit of sauce on their lips until they licked it off.

Twilight smiled as she watched, seeing the similarities of them show up.

They ate slower afterward, trying their best to savor the food, alternating between fries and ranch dip and the burger itself.

Storm looked at them with a muted expression, as if taking in what she was seeing, yet not comprehending a piece of it. In truth, she was surprised to see Dawn and Meadow both eating meat, and feeling no guilt over it.

Twilight was enjoying her chicken as Chrysalis seemed to eat it with little care for like or dislike.

Dawn and Meadow ate until they were full, Dawn giving up on her idea for dessert. Storm was enjoying her drinks, and outside of being a little slurred in speech, she was much more agreeable and fun loving, if feisty when it came to challenging her on details or doubting her. Twilight smirked as she watched Lapdog get drunk.

"So Lapdog, I'm sure you wouldn't want to tell Meadow here about all the fun things we've done with your harness on huh?"

Meadow blushed deeply as Storm replied, "hay, and lots of it."

She held a serious look for a few seconds, confusing Meadow and Dawn further before bursting into laughter. The pair of green ponies looked at each other with matching blinks of confusion.

Twilight blinked, also confused. "Huh?"

"Wha? You don' smoke things where you're from? I don', but still." Storm said, surprised at the lack of understanding.

"Cigarettes and such, but not sure why anyone would smoke hay." Twilight said

"They wouldn'. Nevermind." Storm said, sipping her drink and shrugging, "so the hay is a ciggrette?"

"A rolled up white piece of paper with various chemicals and dried plants, and ponies breathe in the smoke."

"Oh those things." Storm frowned.

"Yeah. Not really healthy for you." Twilight said.

"Stupid things. Smell bad, bad fer ya, and cost a lot." Storm said before downing her drink.

Dawn and Meadow said nothing, as Storm already summed it up well enough, though Dawn started wondering about more mature things regarding her unicorn double, considering the embarrassment she had earlier suggested they thought intimacy.

Twilight sipped her drink and selected another piece of meat, not having expected that response from Lapdog.

Storm ate the rest of her salad before saying, "It’s what they said bout eating meat, but you three seem fine..."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

"Eating meat is bad for ponies innit?" Storm asked.

"Not in my experience." Twilight said. "Granted it made me sick at first, since I never had it before."

“If it was good for you, wouldn’t have made ya sick.” Storm mumbled with a frown, then she shrugged and returned to her drink, craving a large cookie.

The server brought the desert menu and refilled their glasses.

"Trust me, if not for the fact meat was the only food left, I'd have never tried it." Twilight said.

Storm looked at the menu and saw the large cookie and said, trying to fluster Dawn, "Hey Dawn, you're getting us this cookie."

"Sure." She smile mischievously, "who are you sharing it with?"

Twilight smirked as she watched the exchange.

Storm looked at her and then looked around, "There somepony else at this table I don't know of?"

"All right..." Dawn said, "I'll order the family sized cookie monster... vanilla ice cream ok?"

"There's always room for desert." Meadow said happily, ignoring her already groaning belly.

Twilight chuckled and ordered a simple yellow cake with white frosting and Chrysalis got a shake.

Dawn frowned, "Wait, now I want a shake. Dammit mom!" she laughed, "I don't suppose if I order the shake I can take it with me can I?"

"I don't see why not." The queen said shrugging. "As long as you don't spill it, as we aren't getting another."

"Well… I figure if it supports Meadow being out and about, but she can't yet otherwise, I was worried that anything ordered won't make it out of the building for some sort of universe crossing rule thing." Dawn said, checking on the 'tab' of her bill's cost.

"Anything you order will be sure to fit the world." Chrysalis assured her.

Dawn smiled, weighing the cost of the bill with her funds she brought. Admittedly she had extra, but she wanted to figure out what she would pay at this rate, yet didn't want to be rude by asking the waiter. 'I don't suppose you know how much my bill should be so far huh? I lost track.'

'102 bits.'

'Good thing I overkilled the budget for this then. Seems like we're having a good time at least, and that's what matters to me.' Dawn said to Chrysalis before saying out loud. "We'll go with the desserts then and I'll get a strawberry shake."

The server came over to take their orders for dessert

'Don't worry, Twilight has bits too.'

'But I said I would cover it all....' Dawn pouted internally as she relayed the orders. Once the order was placed and they walked away, she blushed at her own insistence, 'I really can be a foal sometimes huh?'

'No idea what you're talking about little one.' Chrysalis replied with a smile, treating her like a nymph.

Dawn giggled more and showered her with love. She felt spoiled just for being herself. She watched as Storm wobbled in her seat but otherwise was grinning widely as she enjoyed her time here. It was a pleasant change from all the times before where it was condescending attitude day in and day out.

Twilight smiled and patted Lapdog’s head with a wing for being good, well behaved pet.

Storm laughed a little when patted and chuckled, "I'm not a filly, but ‘cha like pattin’ heads..."

Dawn laughed in response, "It feels good to be petted doesn't it?"

"Course it does." Storm said.

Twilight smiled and started to stroke Lapdog mane with a wing slowly.

"Who’s a good filly?" Twilight asked her.

Storm simply laughed and said, "Dawn, obviously. She's clueless!"

Dawn looked at her confused, wondering why she said that, only to hear Storm laugh again.

"See?"

Twilight chuckled a bit and looked at Dawn with a look that said ‘don't take it seriously’ before looking back at Storm.

"Oh? So you're not a good filly? Then I guess no time in the harness since that's only for good fillies."

Storm laughed again saying, "That' a good one. Me? Good? I’ve always been the 'bad mare', and I like it!" She said, letting out as small burp before adding, "'sides, I wanna see her tied up an' turn th' tables."

"Oh? And why that?" Twilight asked, still stroking her mane.

Storm simply smiled and looked at Dawn mischievously. Dawn tried to sample her emotions, but they were too muddled to understand.

"So then, you're the bad mare, is that why you like being in your harness?" Twilight asked.

"I don' know why I like it, I jus' do." Storm shrugged, "I never ques'ion what I like."

"Maybe you can show off your harness after lunch."

Storm snorted and then shrugged, "Maybe."

"My little Lapdog." Twilight smiled, continuing to pet them.

Storm laughed quietly again, then asked, "Where's the restroom? I gotta piss."

"Down the hall past the pool table, mares’ on the left."

Storm smirked and then headed over in that directly, looking for all the world outside her change in behavior and slight speech issues that she was fine.

"Well, she definitely has changed." Twilight said looking at Dawn. "You've done very well."

"I...” Dawn smiled, a hint of nervousness behind it, “don't quite know what to expect out of her anymore, but she's still spirited, and not as mean it seems like, so I'd call it a success too."

Twilight nodded and patted Dawns head.

"Well, thank you. I tried." Dawn giggled quietly as a thought crossed her mind, 'as soon as Nightfall meets with her, won't he notice something's changed? People, and ponies, don't change so quickly normally.'

'Maybe.' the queen said.

'Well... it's nothing I view as a downside, it will only make her stronger, and a better ally to the hive.' She replied, trying to distance herself from her emotions, guilt wanting to plague her for changing someone.

'Yes it will, and she is still herself as shown by how she speaks when drunk.' Chrysalis pointed out, sensing how Dawn had her doubts.

'True… she still has plenty of fight in her. Hopefully it serves her well.' Dawn said as Storm returned to her seat.

'Did you know she came to visit you in the hive while you gestated?'

Twilight smiled and raised her glass to Storm as she sat down.

'I vaguely remember it being mentioned at one point' Dawn said, watching Storm smile confidently and downed half of her glass in one sitting. Twilight chuckled as she drank her own in one shot.

Dawn watched the two of them until the dessert round arrived. She happily sipped the drink, then hesitated as she felt a familiar, yet unpleasant note in her stomach.

'Fun...' She thought to herself.

Twilight looked at her, noticing the expression change. "What?"

Dawn blinked, then shook her head, not realizing she was so transparent in expressing herself, "I just got the feeling I usually get when I want to eat something, but if I continue it won't agree with me in the end. I may have just overeaten as it is or something…"

"You should lis'en." Storm said smirking. "Ya got brains but ya need to listen to yer body too..."

"What is it you're wanting to? A few bites of it won't hurt." Twilight said

"My body seems content with the food it already has, and I feel either the warning that I've gone too far, or that eating more will cause issue." She said, looking at the drink sadly before smiling as an idea crossed her mind, "Well, I could take it home with me and keep it refrigerated for the morning at least"

Twilight smiled and nodded.

Meadow had no such inhibition, pulling a slice of the cookie and some ice cream over it and took a bite before opening her eyes wide in childish joy at the quality of such a simple treat.

Twilight chuckled again and ruffled Meadow’s mane. Meadow leaned into Twilight as she continued to eat the cookie and ice cream, which happened to stay in place with her magic.

Storm simply laughed, "Such an overgrown filly. More than this one even!" she said, gesturing to Dawn.

Twilight had to chuckle at that as she sat back and just enjoyed the time. It was easy to forget about what was coming here, surrounded by all these ponies, easy to just relax and enjoy the moment. The calm before the storm as they say.

Meadow frowned at Storm’s claims of her being a filly, and put a bit of ice cream on Storm's nose before she realized, then giggled, "Stop putting food on your snout then."

Storm grinned and reached for a napkin to wipe it off. "When we're outta here, you got yerself a food fight."

Twilight couldn't help it, she had to see the reaction, so she leaned over and licked the ice cream from her snout.

Storm blinked in surprise and looked at Twilight before grabbing her by a hoof and pulling her into a kiss on the muzzle, holding for a second and then said with a mischevious grin, "That was mine." before going back to her cookie.

Twilight chuckled after the kiss, a bit surprised at it and ruffled Storm's mane

Storm chuckled and finished off her slice, taking another and saying, "Dawn's full. Dibs."

"Hey!" Dawn frowned at the prospect of missing out on dessert before smiling mischievously at her again, "All right, you can have it, but now you owe me, Lapdog."

"Yeah yeah." Storm shrugged dismissively, "I'm not foalsittin' if that's what yer thinkin"

"Aww. Big, bad Lapdog afraid of a couple of foals?" Twilight said with a smirk.

Storm snorted and swallowed, "You kiddin? If they'r like me, I'm terrified." She laughed briefly before eating more of the second slice.

"Never knew you to back down from a challenge." Twilight said then shrugged. "But I guess if you're afraid and can't do it, I understand."

Storm punched Twilight in the shoulder, harder than she really meant to, "Hay now, I'not one to back down... Didn' say that..."

"So you will be helping foalsit. Excellent." Twilight said.

Storm waved her forelimbs and shook her head, "I ain' no foalsitter, d-don' make me use my favr."

Twilight frowned. Seems Lapdog was able to keep her head while drunk. "Very well."

"Oh, I'm not letting her off the hook that easily." Dawn smirked, knowing how evil this was going to be. "I'm the one she owes the favor to, and I think foalsitting for a weekend is just the way to pay me off, with interest of course."

Twilight looked at her and tilted her head.

"What? What did I say wrong? She owes me for the extra slice of cookie." Dawn looked to her, now confused, explaining a small smile, "So, I'm saying she can foalsit for me in exchange at some point."

"Ah." Twilight nodded, now getting it.

Storm set down the last third of the cookie slice, having eaten her fill before leaning back in her seat contented, rubbing on her belly lightly with the side of a hoof.

Twilight smiled at her. "All full?"

Storm nodded, "All good." She said before closing her eyes, falling asleep within about 10 seconds.

"Well, at least she's a good drunk, maybe." Dawn said with a small smile, "at least if that's any indicator."

Twilight chuckled and nodded, looking at the others briefly. "Ready to head out?"

"Yeah. I'm ready to go back. We gonna take the train now or in the morning?" Dawn asked.

Meadow looked around sadly, trying to hide it, but she already was missing and treasuring her ability to interact with everyone, turning to Twilight and Chrysalis, though she didn't know why.

Twilight smiled and sat back. "Eh, no reason to go just yet."

Meadow sighed quietly in relief and leaned against Twilight, being quite grateful for her comment to wait.

"Well, all right then." Dawn said, looking at how contented Meadow was. "As long as they don't mind Storm being passed out, we should be fine."

"Not at all, as long as she doesn't cause issues for other customers."

Dawn nodded, watching how Meadow stayed against Twilight's side, looking for all the world like an overgrown puppy nuzzling its mother. She started to think deeply on their situation.

'If I went through what she did, would I end up like th- of course I would... we're practically the same person but with slightly different results... and yet here I am, so much better off for the adversity I had with Nightfall's requests and then Cherry's disease, and fighting Svik at that...'

'It just takes a pebble to start a rock slide.' The queen said as she watched the two.

'So true... I want to say that it wouldn't take much to make her like me, but then again, the reverse is also possible, and is it right of me to want to change her to reflect myself? Any argument I would give could conceivably be used back on me...' She said back in the link, continuing to dwell.

'Yes and no, but I believe it is Twilight who will have the most influence on her now, and the rest of us will be minor influences in comparison.'

'Yeah… I mean just look at her.' Dawn smiled, 'Lost puppy finally got adopted, and she can't stop showing it… I don't blame her either.'

'Oh?' The queen asked as she sipped her drink.

'What?" Dawn asked, confused because she thought what she said was simple.

The queen relayed a feeling that she was prompting her to go on.

'With all the hell she's been through, she finally has someone helping her and isn't betraying her or viewing her only as a tool. After so much of that abuse, most would be willing to give their loyalty for a little bit of comfort and care in return.' she said, quietly passing on the feeling that she knew she would too.

The Queen only smiled as she sipped her drink and Twilight put a wing around Meadow.

Meadow let out a small sigh and Dawn could swear she saw the horn glow faintly with the sound of purring.

'Odd thought, and I don't expect you to know the answer, but just to ask it... I wonder if she's limited in what form she uses while here. I mean, she hasn't been able to appear in the world yet, but maybe because she didn't know how- Hang on a sec!' She stopped, suddenly looking alert and a little excited, 'Did you manage to get any of Starlight's memories?'

'They are in him yes, he will know who he is and all he knew before.' Chrysalis replied, not sure where Dawn was going with that idea.

'No no, Like, can you access his memories or did you beforehand so we could figure out how he manifested in the world and relay that to Meadow?' She asked excitedly.

'He was not part of the Link.' She said simply.

'Oh… well that's slightly disappointing... Still, perhaps she can and doesn't know it, like it's simpler than we think?' Dawn wondered before speaking up. "Meadow? If you don't mind my asking, what have you already tried doing to appear in the world around you and Twilight?"

"So far, she can use my horn for magic, and can be seen at all times by me as if she was physically there, as well as interact with me, but nothing else." Twilight said.

"But, you remember Starlight vaguely right? He was able to manifest using my magic since we shared it, but if you have your own and separate magics... I was thinking she should be able to take a form or at least observe. Starlight always told me that he could see anywhere around me as well as hear." She explained.

"Don't know… but… Meadow pick up my glass with your magic."

Meadow blinked and then used her own magic to lift Twilight's cup, making Twilight's and Meadow’s horns glow.

"See what I mean?" Twilight said as her horn glowed yellow, "Starlight was different than Meadow here, as he was part of you where she's a separate entity entirely."

"True, but still..." Dawn frowned, considering.

"I don't really know much about magic. I didn't know what it was I was gonna do for work 'n stuff once I got my basic education out of the way." Meadow explained.

"Oh right... you didn't have the motivations to learn advanced stuff so quickly like I did." Dawn frowned, considering.

"So far, she has always manifested where I can see and feel her but she is limited to my perceptions."

Dawn went into thought, considering what that would mean, "And she hasn't tried speaking through the horn or anything like Starlight did, right?"

"She tried to make music but nothing happened." She said.

Dawn raised a brow. "That's odd, that's something that I learned how to do and started doing within my first week at magic kindergarten..."

"I... I just don't know too many songs anymore." Meadow frowned, getting sad.

Dawn looked at her and then started to play a simple song from a game she grew up watching her parents play and listened to.

Twilight listened and watched as Meadow gasped in recognition. Meadow smiled and started to hum after a dozen seconds, a copy of the song started to play through Twilight's horn and it was playing in stereo quietly.

Dawn altered her own side, improvising as they went, adding to it as Meadow repeated what she knew without meaning to. As the song came to an end, it faded out from them both and Dawn replied, "Told you."

Twilight rubbed the base of her horn. "That felt… uncomfortable…"

Meadow gasped, "I'm sorry..."

"Odd, it's not supposed to have any feeling. The horn isn’t the speaker for vibrating, the magic is..."

"I felt like my horn was… fading? Rippling? Phasing in and out? Numbing… all at once I guess…" She said, still rubbing the base of her horn as if making sure it was still there.

Meadow frowned, "I'm sorry Twilight..."

"That is a weird feeling it sounds like." Dawn agreed, even if she was very disconcerted by that difference and tried not to show it.

She nodded. "It was.....unpleasant."

Meadow chimed in quietly, "I won't do it again then. Not if it's uncomfortable for you."

"It's fine just… not very often." She said, lowering her hoof.

Meadow shook her head but took a deep breath and let it out slow. She wasn’t about to make her host upset.

"Hey Meadow? Are you only able to appear as a pony? Or can you be other things too since you aren't limited by a body?" Dawn asked.

"Huh?" Meadow exclaimed, startled, "I... I don't know, I hadn't really thought about it."

"Well, she is basically just a projection in my eyes with no actual physical form, just a mind I guess. Honestly, it would make sense if her form is chosen by herself or reflected how she sees herself." Twilight said.

"But how would I change it?" Meadow asked, confused.

"Good question." Dawn replied, before being cut off by a loud snore from Storm.

"Well… if it is just based off you… then the only reason you look like that is because that's how you are seeing yourself." Twilight said thoughtfully.

"Is that all it is?" Meadow asked, thinking of her human form, then a couple fictional forms she used to imagine about, wondering if that was open to her.

"Maybe. I mean you identify as a pony, due to seeing it as your body. It's sort of what you probably see when you think of yourself, the body is you. But as a mind, you don't really have that as an identity restriction like the rest of us, as you are formless."

Meadow continued to consider what she was told, thinking of herself, she honestly didn't see herself as a pony, not after over a year without being one, but she couldn't help it after being around them so much. She started to question who or what she was, and the expression on her face betrayed her fear and concern as she grew quiet and looked down at the table.

Twilight put a wing around her and pulled her against herself as she saw the fear on the young mare's face.

Meadow let herself lean against her, feeling as lost as ever, not sure how she wanted to tackle this dilemna.

Dawn felt sad, knowing that she gave her this problem, if unintentionally.

"Hey relax kid, unraveling what you see as part of your identity is no small task." Twilight said. "It took me years and a lot of talking to Chrysalis to come to terms with who I had become compared to who I was long ago, as we are almost entirely different people."

Meadow nodded, half hearing her first sentence, but when it came to her describing herself she listened intently, as if trying to see her own path based on what she had done. She no longer felt fear, only uncertainty and was still deep in thought, as if trying to absorb what she was told like a sponge.

"Yeah. Before… honestly I felt like a monster for what I had done. I knew my past self would call me a monster and be sickened by what I had done as a soldier. That wasn't even counting the issues with these," Twilight said as she lifted a steel hoof and rotated it around and around before popping the fingers put and wiggling them. "as well as the scars. I didn't look at all like the socially awkward bookworm who lived between the covers of a book.

"I came to realize though, appearance doesn't make a person who they are. The person who set me down this path was smaller than average and wearing a lab coat, just like I used to and many of those I looked up to. But he was nothing like them even slightly. He was quite literally a monster. But you'd never know by looking at him as he was small and soft spoken.

“Then there was White Rabbit who looked like a very pleasant and friendly sort and was extremely polite but would sacrifice his own subordinates without a second thought just to achieve his objective." She said as she thought.

"Then we have Chrysalis here. Large, sharp teeth, fangs, every part of her screams dangerous predator, and yet she is one of the most caring individuals and empathetic you will ever meet.

"Appearances has very little to do with who you are and what makes you you. But it is what people think of when they think of themselves because we are bound to that form." Twilight said as she watched her drink swirl in her glass, the amber liquid reflecting some of the light.

Meadow absorbed part of what she said, starting to swim in imagining the things she said, but started to give her more and more of a hug, caring little about her own plight in the process. She felt a bond between the two of them, that they had gone through so much they were kins of some kind. She thought about how Twilight had made it out, and that should mean she could too. It gave her hope, something that she desperately craved to feel once again.

Twilight kept her wing around the formless pony as she continued to swirl her drink in her cybernetic fingers. Remembering how these machines had replaced her hooves’ innate magic, how they were used to pick up things she had lost along with the limbs themselves.

Meadow seemed to flicker in the light as she continued to hug, becoming just a little bit more human as she felt hands instead of hooves, scratching firmly at her shoulder on the other side as she tried to give Twilight her own strength in a way, before growing solid once again before saying quietly, "At least we're not alone right?"

Twilight blinked and looked up at the ponies gathered around the table with them and chuckled.

"Yeah kid, we ain't. Not by a long shot." She squeezed her with the wing.

Meadow smiled, gave Twilight a kiss on the cheek, and faded from view, joining Twilight from the inside, saying quietly, 'You know, that would have been the best movie scene right then.' She joked.

'I know, it was just that cheesy. I'm the mistress of the crappy sap filled speeches as I can pull them out of my ass at the drop of a hat.' Twilight chuckled in her head.

'Well… It was beautiful to me. Thank you… Wait, why did I disappear from view! I'm not done having fun yet!' She said, laughing.

'Not a clue. You’re the one who controls that, not me." She chuckled out loud and shook her head.

"Sorry, that was a bit... dramatic." Meadow said as she faded from view, smiling with an embarassed blush, unaware that her mark was no longer quite the way it had been. Her fur was slightly darkened, but it held the grassy hill in the forefront and behind it was Twilight's star instead of a sun, with pink lines going out from it in a circle like dawn's yellow triangles of sunlight.

"Eh, everyone loves a bit of drama in their afternoon soaps" Twilight said.

Dawn blinked, looking at Meadow under the light, "Is it just me, or does she look a little different now?"

Twilight looked at Meadow and blinked as well. Meadow blinked back, looking at herself, "I don't look any different. You ok Dawn?"

"You… are a bit darker yeah." Twilight commented.

"I-I don't know what to tell you." Meadow frowned.

"Eh." Twilight shrugged and downed another shot.

'I wonder what happened. Maybe her perception of herself changed and that's why she didn't notice it?' Dawn asked, bouncing ideas off Chrysalis

'Sounds like a solid theory if I ever heard one for this situation.' The queen said back.

'I'm curious about her mark then, if that's the case. If you can't see it now, I would ask if you could tactfully look at it, provided I don't get the chance and spot it out to you.' She requested.

The queen reached up and put her hoof around Twilight and yanked her into a very deep kiss right there at the table and shared her senses with Dawn. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Meadow’s mark as she distracted her Legate with the dance of their tongues.

Dawn blushed deeply, as did Meadow, and Dawn barely noticed amid all the other sensations before trying to stammer, "M-meadow... your mark..."

The queen broke the kiss with a mischievous smirk and sat back with a sigh as Twilight leaned against her.

Meadow missed Dawn's comment and leaned against Twilight, joining their little cuddle pile, suddenly sparking a small bit of jealousy in Dawn's heart before she quenched it

The queen sent the feeling of being in the cuddle pile to Dawn since Storm was between the three of them and Dawn.

Dawn sighed happily, then actively looked if there was a tactful way to join the cuddlepile, feeling an overwhelming need to join them

The queen smiled and moved the unconscious Lapdog close to herself and hen held her arm out for Dawn to move closer. She'll have to cuddle Lapdog as well.

Dawn wasted no time, cuddling her subordinate between herself and her queen, Storm mumbling, "Don' forget the wine N’f’ll..."

Dawn chuckled and decided to plant a small kiss on their fur, hoping they have a good dream. The queen smiled and nuzzled the top of Dawn’s head.

Dawn sighed happily and nestled in, content at their closeness and the bond, as if this was some big family with Twilight and Chrysalis as her moms, Meadow as her twin sister, Storm as a feisty younger sister, and missing Violet as the really young sister who everyone looks after.

'Don't worry, tomorrow you get to see her and Nymph. I'm sure you'll find a place for her in this strange little group, if Violet hasn't already made her into her henchpony.'

'She would do that wouldn't she?' Dawn chuckled. 'Well, all the easier to have her foalsit then.'

Meadow sighed happily, "I'm glad I got to meet all of you. I'm so happy it's...."

Meadow paused, starting to cry as she spoke, overwhelmed with happiness at that moment. Twilight put her wing back around the mare and pulled her close smiling.

'Yes, Violet would as soon as she can without even meaning to.' Chrysalis replied.

'She is a young queen after all, but what is a Queen without her loyal family of drones?'

They queen chuckled in the link as she thought of Dawn and Lapdog.

'I am your Legate after all.' Dawn replied, 'You brought in a new drone, and one might argue that Meadow is a drone of Twilight's.'

'How so?' She asked surprised at the last part.

'Depends on what she is able to do or is willing to do for Twilight. If she were brought up to speed on magical spells for example, I could see her acting on a defensive or assistive manner. If she started being able to interact with the world like Starlight could, she could watch Twilight's back and protect her from harm in her blind spots.

'Hmm. I never thought of that … that is worth exploring.'

'It'd give Twilight something to do other than maintain her weapons if desired, especially since I've heard she can be a good teacher, if a bit zealous.' Dawn said, remembering her own world's Twilight.

'Yes, she is. She loves to teach, even if she doesn't realize it. I've seen and felt how she is when she teaches and when those she is teaching succeed.'

'So, I think a gentle comment to her about possibly educating Meadow in magic to have her help out, especially in the defensive sense or healing like my magic, since we know I can do those two things, might get the ball rolling.' Dawn commented as she continued to cuddle, nearly ignoring that they were in public, but behaving herself.

'I will next time we are alone.'

'I know Chryssy. Something told me those wheels were turning in your head wanting to give Meadow a purpose... ok, that's the nice way of putting it.' She teased.

'She is in my mates head. She better not be dead weight or a liability!' The queen said firmly, her emotions making it clear how she felt about anything possibly causing issues like that for her mate.

'Exactly...' Dawn replied, 'Though you have to admit, hard to picture her as a deadweight in potential if I've already demonstrated some as it is, no?'

'You have drive. She was a nearly broken mare almost scared of her own shadow.'

'Do not write her off so much just yet… while I may not have been quite as broken as she was, I have been driven close to that point before, and every time we have bounced back if given the time and resources to do so. Our pride prevents us from accepting charity, save for if she was completely broken. I don't see that in her, though I could be reading far too much into it...' Dawn laughed in the link, 'Who am I kidding, it's another version of me, how could I not?'

'I can it sense her at all. I do not know what to think. All I can judge by is what I see.’

Dawn simply smiled, thinking about how she'd see Meadow prove mom wrong, when a foal kicked, then the other. She groaned internally before returning her mind to their surroundings and this family of sorts that she was so readily bonded to.

'We are a weird family.'

'But beautiful.' Dawn said, loving every bit of it.

Chrysalis chuckled in reply.

Dawn yawned long and deep, saying, "I think we'd better head to our bedrooms… I'm going to fall asleep here if we keep this up. I'll go pay our bill. Is it appropriate for me to tip the waiter?"

'Yes. This is a typical restaurant for wherever.’

Dawn got up, heading over to the bar to have her bill be created, paying for the meal in full, then counted out her remaining money. She then made sure she gave the waiter 20% of the bill in tips in a smaller pouch which she discreetly gave when she asked for a way to put the shake in a travel container.

The server smiled and got her what she asked for and Twilight was now a large earth pony mare with the passed out Storm on her back.

Dawn thanked the server again and carried her drink as Meadow got up, showing her altered mark more readily to those awake, as she was in the lead.

Twilight followed behind, Storm straddling her back and using the top of her head as a pillow

Dawn noted the mark, thinking as she saw it, 'I wonder if she needs a new name if there's a different mark. We were named by Celestia when we arrived based on it.'

'Perhaps, but what?'

'Well, it still has a meadow and a star instead of a sun, so a simple approach might be starry meadow or meadow star, but if we want to go with possible symbolism, she might view the meadow as a place of comfort and looking up at a wishing star, so maybe something like wishing meadows...' she rambled, still thinking.

'Perhaps… we shall talk to her about it sometime, as I think it would be best if she chose it.'

'Agreed… bring up defending Twilight to her too and she'll likely pursue it of her own accord.' Dawn suggested as they stepped outside, Meadow disappearing from view from all but Twilight.

Twilight looked around. "So then, back to the castle?"

"Please.” Dawn yawned and nodded, shifting to her regular princess appearance, “I didn’t realize I was so tired till now."

Twilight chuckled as she started to walk.

"Dibs on the lapdog bodypillow, unless we're all resting in the same bed," Dawn said with a smirk.

"I wouldn't mind a nice pile." Twilight smiled.

"One bed it is then" Dawn nodded, yawning again.

Twilight led the way with Storm on her back. "I mean who wouldn't want to sleep with several sexy mares draped over them?"

"Sounds like a good dream." Dawn said, stumbling lightly when they reached the upward incline.

"You ok?" Glory asked beside her.

"Really tired. I don’t risk flying like this, but I'll likely pass out once I lay down." She warned, voice getting quiet, low and monotone.

The queen was worried at her clumsiness.

'Don't worry mom, I’m just tired, promise.' Dawn consoled, 'I always get this way when I'm tired.'

'Ok…' she moved closed.

'Blame the foals.' She teased gently.

They arrived in the palace easily enough, and Dawn opened the door, letting the others in. As they entered, Dawn closed the door behind them and Sergeant Stem approached.

"Princess." He said simply, standing attentively with a grim face.

Glory looked at him, speaking up, "The Princess is tired and wishes to rest. Unless it is urgent please return in a few hours."

"It is urgent." He said, "but very well."

"Sorry sergeant." Dawn apologized, "I fear what you say right now might go in one ear and out the other, but if you can sum it up in a sentence, I will try to r-"

"You are being magically spied on." He said. "I have taken steps to block it, and your room and a space around it of three paces..."

"I see." Dawn said, feeling a little more alert as concern flushed her body. "We intend to take a train back to Vanhoover tomorrow, you, me and one guard." She nodded toward Chrysalis. "Would you safeguard it for me and give a full report tomorrow?"

"At once." He said before trotting off.

Twilight was standing the doorway listening. Dawn could tell that despite how relaxed they looked, they were far from it, her mother being the same.

Dawn sighed, then went into her room last. "That… well..."

"Is concerning but he said he took care of it. We will speak to him after you sleep." Twilight said, becoming Stonewall, "Or I can now actually."

"Make sure it is a blocking spell and what degree of skill he shows in it if you would please," Dawn said before yawning, her fatigue returning.

Twilight nodded and dumped Storm onto the bed and headed for the door as Chrysalis locked the door behind Twilight and held Dawn.

Dawn climbed into bed and passed out tiredly, laying on Storm's side, only to be held tightly by her.

The queen smiled and slipped into the bed and held them both while Stonewall headed swiftly in the direction Stem had gone.

Author's Notes:

Ah a lovely night out for the gang, drinking, chatting and having fun.

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