"It's fine I'm more concerned about you." Lust said.

Meadow gave Lust a kiss on the cheek, "I'm fine, at least for now."

Lust nodded her agreement, what Meadow said was true after all.

Meadow looked at Lust with concern, she almost expected Lust to be more ready to take advantage of the gesture. She pulled Lust gently toward the couch, "Come, let's sit, I'm a bit tired after all that you just told me."

"Yes, yes." She said her voice still sultry but it was clear she was keeping her urges in check due to concerns for Meadow

Meadow laid on the couch and looked at her, "You're not yourself... is there something you're not telling me?"

"Just in shock and concerned about you. … I don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything, and despite being Lust I do have ethics and morals after all."

Meadow laughed quietly and pulled her in for a kiss, "I am fine my friend. Thank you for caring about me." She said with a small tear in her eye. It made her happy, thinking that she was cared about, and it wasn't until Lust said so that she felt it.

Lust hugged her back. "Anytime. We are all in her together after all, and if we can't rely on each other, who can we?"

Meadow kissed gently before saying through more tears, "Well, not exactly used to being cared about, if you know what I mean."

"I’m… not sure really. … Sorry."

Meadow chuckled quietly and hugged her close, "its ok."

Lust hugged back. Meadow spent an hour in the comforts of Lust and her home before excusing herself to go to Scholar, walking down the streets toward the library.

She reached the marketplace with ease. It was filled with abandoned stalls and to one side was a large tree with a sign reading Golden Oaks Library.

She walked in, expecting it to be a vast place, considering all of Twilight's learning.

It was a small library with a real small-town feel to it. There were books on shelves molded from the wall, a small reading area with a statue in the middle of it, stairs to an upper floor, and three doors, one of which covered by a curtain.

"Scholar? Are you there? I wish to learn protective magic please." She called out.

There wasn't a reply. Dawn looked around, interested in anything covering magic that looked easy.

The shelves were lined with books that seemed to cover every topic imaginable. She continued until she reached the magic section and looked for something like magic for foals. There were many, many books to sift through, and halfway through doing so, she heard a door open behind her.

"Scholar?" She asked quietly as she looked away from the shelves.

She saw a purple pony in a lab coat and sweater, their face behind a book. She could see a messy bun poking out above it as well as what looked like a pencil approaching the wall of books. The librarian could be heard muttering as they walked.

Meadow approached her slowly, "Scholar, could I have your help when you're free?"

The mare didn't seem to hear her. She went to the magic books and started pulling some off the top shelves and putting others, back all the while muttering about forces and numbers.

Meadow frowned, folding back her ears sadly before going back to looking for magic books, not wanting to disturb them. Meadow walked sideways along the shelf before walking into a chair out of place, whooping and falling head over tail onto her back

"Owww… that hurt."

"Huh, what?" The pony said in surprise, lowering the book.

Meadow groaned as she got to her hooves, "Hi Scholar… guess I was so busy looking for a book that I missed that chair.

The chair was wrapped in magic and moved back exactly where it had been.

"Um, hi. … Who are you?" Scholar said, voice betraying how she was unused to visitors.

"I'm Meadow, and I was told by Lust you were the pony to go to for learning magic."

She blinked and adjusted her glasses. "Ah right, Lust. … Magic. Yes, yes, I am pretty much everything Twilight knows about scholarly matters outside engineering and medical."

"Right…” Meadow nodded, “Well, I made a shield when Twilight was sparring, but I hardly know anything about magic, and… I want to protect her better, and know what the hell I did."

She blinked and scratched the back of her head. "Yes, I suppose I could teach you, I guess."

"Thank you. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting, but thank you." Meadow said, relieved.

Scholar turned and started walking towards the door she had come from with her stack of books in tow. Meadow walked closely behind.

The door they walked through led to stairs that in turn led to the basement. Meadow kept following, feeling nervous, but patient. She entered a world of white and ‘shiny.’ The basement was massive and filled with more equipment of all types than… well, anything. It was definitely a lab. There were computers and machines and chalkboards with equations and papers scattered around and a dedicated espresso machine.

"Oh wow, I haven’t seen a computer in forever!" She said, looking around with a smile.

Scholar looked at her and blinked.

"Ah right, primitives." Scholar said with an ‘AHA!’ tone.

"We do what we can with what we have...” Meadow chuckled, “So I don’t really know a lot of magic. Where should I start?"

“Um…. I’d suppose the basics.” She said.

"Fair enough,” Meadow nodded, “I can use a light spell and telekinesis, but only like if I had hands. The shield spell today was new and unintentional.”

"Hmm. Interesting. … Interesting." Scholar said, grabbing a coffee cup and placing it on a table. "Pick it up."

Meadow nodded, lifting by the handle like if she had a hand under Scholar’s eye

"Okay set it down."

She set it down, waiting for the next command. Now the mug was wrapped in a purple glow.

"Pick it up." She said, holding it down.

Meadow gripped it and tried to lift, struggling against them.

Meadow lifted, only getting so much strength that she would have had as a human before, about five to ten pounds. She shifted her grip from the handle to the bottom of the mug, hoping it would help.

"Okay stop."

Meadow stopped, breathing a little more as she recovered from the concentration needed

"Hmm. Very weak. I wasn't using any magic… are you sure you actually put up a shield? Did it stop anything?"

Meadow nodded, feeling a bit down, "Yeah, it stopped Fire Storm from punching and kicking Twilight."

Scholar blinked at her in surprise. "She's a trained fighter with a very high PSI for a hit… are you sure you stopped a strike from her?"

Meadow nodded, "Positive, Twilight had me do it again intentionally after Storm noticed and brought her attention to it."

"But, you barely had any power…"

Meadow frowned, "I don't know what to tell you. I don't know how I did it, I've admitted that."

"Why are you glowing?” Scholar asked abruptly.

"Huh?" Meadow blinked, looking herself over. She discovered she was wrapped in dark purple magic slowly growing brighter and started to panic, "Scholar, what’s happening to me!?"

"I don't kno--" Scholar began to say, but was cut off.

Meadow vanished in a flash and found herself in what looked like an office with a heavy wooden desk in it. Behind it sat a human in a black jumpsuit and military cap, frozen with a calm look on his face as he watched the door. The window behind him showed it was night.

Meadow looked at him, frozen in fear, worried at what was going to happen.

He didn't move at all. In fact, nothing moved, and she was standing off to the side of where he was facing. She started looking around, wondering what she should do, whether he was alive or not.

"What is your purpose?" She heard the monotone voice behind her ask.

"I… don't know. For now, I'm wanting to repay Twilight's kindness by knowing how to protect her."

"Why."

"Because it's the right thing to do?"

"Why."

"Because no one else was kind to me in so long… and I want them to be happy and safe like they make me feel."

Suddenly the room before her began to move as the door was kicked in and five humans and a shorter figure… wait, that was a unicorn Twilight. Her scars looked far more recent, all of them wearing dark green tactical armor and armed with assorted weapons. All of them but one were aiming at the man behind the desk, the fifth watched the door.

"Ah, Commander. So good of you to drop by. I wondered when you might make it." The human behind the desk said calmly.

"Shut it, White Rabbit," Twilight said, her voice sounded full of a quiet rage threatening to escape, very different from who she was now.

"Now, now. No need to be so rude." White Rabbit said.

"Fuck you" Twilight spat back and looked at the large human to her left who held an LMG and opened her mouth to speak. As soon as she did, a small knife seemed to materialize in the large human's eye and he fell back, squeezing the trigger and sending a spray of bullets into the ceiling.

Meadow looked on in horror but realized she had forgotten what soldier had said, that these humans weren't real and they were their enemy. She instinctively put up a shield between herself and any humans, while keeping an opening toward this Twilight, unsure what was going on.

Twilight screamed as she looked back towards White Rabbit, firing her SMG wildly, the bullets hitting the heavy oak desk as it sailed through the air at the group, having been thrown by the human behind it.

Twilight had to be tackled by one of the other humans out of the way.

The human who was watching the door was turning to see what was happening. The desk slammed into him and the wall with him between it before falling to the floor, the soldier’s body crumbling like a sack as White Rabbit moved with impressive speed. He jumped the desk and disappeared down the hall.

"No!" Twilight screamed and grabbed the soldier who had had been hit by the desk and immediately started CPR, the room filled with a sickening crunch each time. All his ribs had been broken by the desk.

"Come on McKay! … Come on, stay with me!" Twilight yelled before being dragged off of the downed soldier by the two males of the group, the women looking in shock at how fast the tables had been turned had been on them.

"He's gone, Commander! There's nothing you can do!" One of the soldiers yelled before punching Twilight in the face to snap her out of it.

Meadow came forward, magic at the ready, trying to do something to help him recover when she realized he was an ally. Her magic glowed around her horn as she instinctively went about assessing the damage, trying to undo it any way she could possibly do.

Her magic said nothing was there. Twilight stood there, staring at the downed soldier as the others tried to figure out what to do.

Twilight shook her head and adjusted her helmet before eventually taking it off and staring at the bodies. Slowly purple flames begin to bloom at the edge of her eyes and she spoke in a flat emotionless voice, not unlike the alicorn with a black mane from before.

"Do not leave this room… no matter what you hear, remain here." She said to the others before stepping over the bodies and exiting the room, leaving her helmet behind.

Everything froze once more.

Meadow looked on in confusion, tired from her effort, but wanting to help somehow. She obeyed with the rest and waited.

"This was my birth." The monotone voice said behind her.

Meadow looked behind, expecting to see Reaper again.

She was where Meadow expected, with the same blank expression as before.

Meadow nodded at Reaper, starting to have a better understanding as she looked back at the scene, seeing the death of the human as she tried to understand better what happened and what drove Twilight to what she was.

"I am the Last Reaper. Those two… those two were Reapers as well, under the one named Grimm."

Meadow nodded again, turning her attention respectfully to Reaper as she listened more.

"The one known as White Rabbit tried to finish off the Reapers, but he missed one and I made him regret that oversight."

Meadow nodded yet again, "I don't want to see her cry… that was… She deserves more than that."

"Perhaps." She said. "Perhaps not. It is not my place to say. It is my place to punish. "

"Then it will be my place to heal." Meadow said, "My counterpart knows how, I can learn from her."

"Perhaps." She said. "But you know nothing and are all but useless as anything but a pleasure toy."

"Perhaps now, but I will not stay that way." She said, not liking that view of herself. "That's why I was going to Scholar, to learn."

"To what end? You are quite useful for pleasure and she enjoyed you very much.” Reaper said factually, despite the monotone voice.

"But that doesn't mean it has to be my only purpose..." She said sadly, not wanting to be relegated just to that, "If my magic is separate from hers, I can help defend her without her using magic, or heal her wounds while she fights, or… or…" she faltered, trying to think of other more useful things.

"Come." She said, turning and seeming to walk through the wall.

Meadow followed, wondering what she would see next.

She walked face first into a solid wall. Meadow groaned, rubbing her snout as she tried to figure out how to follow, "Reaper, I can't walk through walls, little help?"

The pony appeared through the wall. "Stop thinking like you are a pony. You aren’t. You are a projection of pure thought. You are not solid."

Meadow put her hoof on the wall, "but it feels real. I thought if you could go through, then I could too-"

"It's not real, and you are thinking you are solid. Stop."

Meadow frowned. She didn't think that she was solid as far as she knew. She genuinely believed that she was able to do what the others could, and if that meant being ghosts in a memory, she could do that too.

She closed her eyes, took a slow breath in and out, and then stepped forward, repeating to herself that she was a ghost in a memory.

She felt nothing as she walked forward. She walked forward a little more and then reopened her eyes and tried to look for Reaper again.

They were in a hall of doors and Reaper was walking before her.

Meadow followed Reaper quietly, not as scared of them any longer. It seems they wanted to be understood, and she would grant that wish.

"You should fear me for I am death incarnate." She said

Meadow shook her head, "You said it yourself earlier, you are what protects her from further emotional or physical harm when Twilight can't handle it any longer. You are the sword of a knight's sword and shield, willing to cut down those that would cause harm so they cannot again."

"Yes, and I do not care for the life of other creatures. They are simply things to be snuffed out."

"Well, we might disagree on that one, but you do what you have to to protect Twilight… You won't hear me argue over that."

Reaper didn't say anything as they walked.

Meadow continued to follow, calmer because of a growing understanding, wondering what else the Reaper was going to do or show her.

Soon they reached a void. Meadow looked at them, confused as to what would happen next.

"Now,” Reaper said as she turned to the mare, “show me what you can do."

Meadow looked at Reaper confused, "What do you mean?"

"Magic."

"I... hope you understand, I don't know much magic at all, not intentionally. Only some levitation, light, and music spells." She faltered, nervous.

"Show me." She repeated still without emotions

Meadow made her horn glow, trying to lift Reaper like they were solid, in case that's what they meant. Consciously, she gave it everything she had, but she unconsciously held herself back, sorely limited by her own fears and overthinking.

"Stop thinking. Do."

"What do you mean?"

"You are holding yourself back with trivial matters."

"I… I didn't think I was… what trivial matters do you mean?" She asked, still not getting any clarity.

"You fear failure and make magic more complex than needed. Do you need to think to breathe? To grow your mane? Your heart to pump? Your eyes to blink?"

"Wait… so is magic just guided by intent then? It's not more than that?" She asked, surprised.

"It is, but it requires no more thought than walking."

Meadow frowned, then looked at Reaper in a new light and tried again, letting her intent push instead. Now her lifting power seemed stronger, an average unicorn's strength.

"What is it you wish to do?" Reaper asked.

"Defend Twilight." She said simply.

"Then if that is true why do you wish to not use your full strength? All you are doing is proving you would be better for pleasure and nothing more." Reaper said, still seeing the mare hold back.

Meadow felt herself grow angry at that comment, though she didn't know why and pushed harder, pushing her back instead of lifting. With the added focus, she started to use her full strength, which started to rival that of her alicorn counterpart if she had not ascended. Despite her best efforts, Reaper did not budge.

"That is exactly it."

She pushed as hard as she possibly could, feeling like he was telling her she still was only good for pleasure, and she hoped, no, knew she would be far more than that.

"Enough," Reaper said

She stopped, looking at Reaper with narrowed eyes, as if unsure what it was that would happen next.

"I will teach you."

"You… you will?" she asked, confused.

"Yes. You can actually be of use outside of pleasure."

Meadow sighed in relief and then stood up, a little fatigued but otherwise happy. She bit back the desire to say 'told ya so.'

"You did but words and actions are very different.” Reaper said unbidden, “Words have no meaning."

"I didn't say anything..." She said, eyeing them confused. She internally shrugged after a second, not caring too much about how they guessed, and instead wanted to learn. Her point had been made.

"This is my world, my domain," Reaper said as if it explained everything.

She paid attention but didn't see how that phrase mattered and began waiting for further instruction. If she was going to be the teacher, she expected they wouldn't brook much argument, let alone insubordination.

"Let us begin," Reaper said and began to speak of Magic in detail and would randomly quiz Meadow on things that had been discussed. All in that emotionless monotone.

Meadow tried her best to keep up. She would raise a hoof to chest level and try to interject if she was lost or did not understand, requesting clarity, often in simpler terms.

Reaper ensured their requests were answered. Though Meadow felt as if she was being treated as a child, Reaper referred to everyone but Twilight and a few others as creatures and didn't care about them. She tried to accept that being treated as a child was most likely a compliment.

Meadow took a moment to realize this, but accepted the title, unconsciously adopting a foal-like size and stature to reflect this title as they trained. She learned quickly once she realized what things she was saying and how they pertain to each other.

Magic seemed to be both very complicated and yet remarkably simple once one knew what was behind it. It wasn't some wondrous thing that just worked by… well, magic, but there was acute science behind it. It had rules, action and reaction, physics, and cost to name a few.

Meadow grasped a lot more than she feared, absorbing it like a sponge. Thing continued like this for an indeterminate amount of time. She had no sun or lighting to indicate anything here, as if time itself had lost meaning, much like a mare had warned her so very long ago.

Meadow's head started to hurt after a while, and her learning started to slow. She eventually raised a hoof to indicate her trouble, rubbing her head and trying to let her mind have a break to process it all.

"Very well. We shall break for now." Reaper said, standing there in the void to allow Meadow to rest.

Meadow walked over to the teacher, leaning against them as she said, "So much stuff to learn…"

"If you wish to be more than a pleasure apparatus, yes."

Meadow nodded, her head clearing slowly, "I... I will get there..."

"Yes, you will." She said as if it was a fundamental truth.

Meadow sighed as the headache finally subsided before saying, "Ok, I think I can handle more... feels like we've been at it for a while."

"3 days 5 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds." She said

Meadow blinked then opened her mouth, stunned speechless, "you mean I've been awake and learning for over three days straight?"

"Yes. Though in the material world it's been only 10 seconds."

"Did you slow down time?"

"No." She said. "Time has little meaning in this realm."

"We're going to be fully trained by the time Twilight wakes, huh?"

"Indeed, or you'll die trying and be a good pleasure apparatus."

"No dying please, I'm allergic.” Meadow chuckled, “Ok. Let’s see what else I can learn."

Reaper began to speaks of energy blasts, how there are places in the body that one simply needed to crush with magic to end a life. Reaper went into detail about how fragile the creatures were, then moved on to pyromancy, electric-based magic, sound-based magic, and many other schools of offensive magics.

Meadow disliked the focus on offense but learned it nonetheless.

Eventually, they moved on to traps, shields, how to redirect energies with them, and how to a form and disperse them. They taught her how to blind enemies with light spells, how to heal, conduct surgery, and diagnose issues.

Meadow took in this information much more readily, asking clarifying questions more often and trying to practice the spells more frequently and with more native ease. Despite this, she needed to pause more often as she spent more of her building magical strength each time and had to recoup.

As they continued and it felt like her magical knowledge and ability grew, so did her stature as she appeared to grow to adulthood once more.

"Now we move onto dark magics." Reaper said after what added up to 2 years of teaching.

"Dark magic meaning..." Meadow asked for clarity.

Purple flames appeared at the edge of her eyes, much like Twilight's had in the memory and a large dark X crystal burst out of the ground between them.

Meadow blinked, looking at the effect as she was taught to, Reaper always requiring observation, and said, "Ok... so you look scarier, but what exactly is it?"

"Dark magic. A manifestation of the negative emotions that dwell within all creatures. Very deadly when used by one who is trained and knowledgeable, and dangerous in the hooves of the foolish and imbecilic."

Meadow looked at them more carefully then, realizing it was analogous to 'the dark side' and similar ideas, but it was much more real now that it was in front of her.

"Very useful as the crystals it allows one to create are quite strong and effective for blocking paths as they do not need to be maintained once created.

Meadow nodded, knowing that she should listen until this lecture was completed.

"But one should be wary and on guard not to lose oneself to dark magic. It has claimed and corrupted many before. Some were very powerful magic users who were driven by curiosity, others used it to do good before being corrupted. Some became corrupted through no fault of their own who never used it before but came in contact with a pocket of it. It is easy to lose oneself to their darker emotions and become a monster who must be put down."

"Like how justice can become vindictive or oppressive any number of corrupted versions of positive traits.” Dawn nodded her understanding.

"Exactly. Anything can become corrupted. Even a desire to protect can turn into oppression."

Meadow nodded, "So even as I learn this, and at times I might be justified in using it, all things should be used in moderation."

"Yes." She said.

Meadow took a deep breath to calm herself and become mentally ready before nodding and beginning her lessons anew.

Reaper began to guide her through accessing her anger, her hurt, and her sadness. Meadow had plenty of it to spare, ready access to it from family harms and rejection even before her encounter with Svikopi and what she endured with him.

"Now, focus it all… focus it into a mass. Supply it into reality and give it shape where you desire."

Meadow used her training and focused her anguish into making a solid yet fiery wall in front of her, intent on separating the two of them with it.

A massive wall of black and green flames sprung to life between them and Reaper had to teleport back to keep from being consumed. Reaper realized this one has much in way of negative emotions to fuel dark magic.

Meadow cut it off in concern for her mentor, suppressing her negative emotions to call out, "Are you alright Reaper?"

"Quite." She said approaching once more. "You have much power in the dark arts."

"I do?" she asked, unsure if that was a good thing.

"Yes. That wall was quite large and the heat was intense."

Meadow nodded, starting to get lost in thought, speaking out loud softly, "Then I have a lot of negative emotional power... makes sense I guess."

"Quite."

Meadow took a deep breath again and let it go for the moment, asking respectfully, "what next teacher?"

Thus, they began to practice control of Dark magic and learn what it could do. None of it was meant to help, clearly, and only served to attack and destroy. She was taught what she could make with it as well.

Meadow learned well, from walls of fire being her preferred method, she also learned a stronger beam of magic, and a burning hoof punch that didn't harm herself but would cause the foe to be burned or hurt.

After those, she was emotionally and magically exhausted, laying on the ground and struggling to get up onto her hooves again to continue to learn.

"Rest now. There is time for it." Reaper said.

Meadow nodded and laid there, "Sorry… to slow… you down."

"Time is meaningless." Reaper explained, much as they always had.

Meadow shook her head, thinking Reaper might have been frustrated at her frequent need for breaks.

Reaper’s tone had never changed nor had her expressions

She laid there on her side for a while, wondering how it was she was taking in so much information without having memory issues like she always had.

"Because you are pure thought and memory. No longer with biological functions in need of the mind to divert attention to."

She blinked, still not knowing how to process this. She did not want to let go of it. If she was only thought and memory, then she barely existed, at least, that was her fear.

"You exist. A body is merely a shell that contains your mind. You are your thoughts, your opinions, your memories and experiences, and your personality. What makes you you is standing right before me."

Meadow nodded, comforted somehow by that, saying, "Then... what am I? I know more or less who I am, but what?"

"You are a being made up of pure energy contained within the very same thing I am contained within, though with more freedom.”

"More freedom? How? Where are we contained?

"Within Twilight. However, you are able to leave her when she is awake in a limited sense as you are not part of her."

"What about taking on a visible form like Starlight Dusk did before I lost my body?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Starlight Dusk, my 'self' or mask that I wore while I was thought of as a stallion, was able to manifest in life, visible to all, heard by all, all of that, just no body."

"Hmm… yes, that is similar to what you are yes. Only Twilight is the one you may see you unless you learn to possess others."

Meadow frowned, "Starlight never had to possess others, and I don't intend to start."

"Others cannot hear you unless within the place that is not a place."

"Now you're talking in riddles, where's that."

"I believe it is called The Ivory Wheel."

"Oh! That place!" she said, instantly a lot less short and a lot more cheerful due to the memory of it.

"Yes, the place that is not a place."

She snorted, but kept her smile, "Well they have damn good food, and it's a shame I can't pay for the food I eat there."

"That is an irrelevant fact."

"Fine, We'll push that aside, you're all about business anyway. What's next." She said, trying not to let her resentment of a little joy being quashed so readily show.

Reaper began to quiz her and test her on all she had learned. Pushing her, forcing her to push past her weaknesses and overcome what held her back

Meadow learned, often resisting without intending to as she sought to not use more force than necessary, or fearing her own tiredness. She soon pushed despite the fatigue or her caution, getting more and more right in actual practice instead of just quizzed knowledge being correct.

The quizzes slowly ended and were replaced by tougher and tougher tests meant to push her to her limits in all she had learned and past those limits. Reaper even created targets as needed for her to use what she had learned against, both for attacks and defense

Meadow felt like she was in boot camp, donning a military-style outfit because of it, and failed the first few times each trial, but succeeded in the end as she learned what she was doing wrong.

Reaper, despite her sheer lack of empathy, regret, and generally clear signs of sociopathic nature and inability to recognize most people as people, was surprisingly patient and only pushed Dawn a little at a time and corrected her when needed. She was most definitely not one for pep talks or words of encouragement.

Meadow pushed herself nonetheless, tired, and almost desperate for some recognition and praise, yet going on and on as it was without the reward, hoping to get some from Twilight when all was said and done.

Her only reward from Reaper was to move onto more advanced studies. Pausing only when Meadow needed it, but she remained, teaching her what she desired to know and pushing Meadow to better herself. Reaper never allowed her to doubt her ability, challenging Meadow that if she wanted to give up, she could be a pleasure apparatus for Twilight. It was the only form of encouragement given, to push Meadow forward.

Meadow did get pushed onward, away from just being a form of entertainment as she progressed more and more, and yet she still craved approval and positive reinforcement, wondering when this eternity would end and Twilight would wake.

"It has been… ah yes… 5 years by the pony calendar." Reaper said randomly after Meadow completed a test.

Meadow blinked, she hadn't realized it had been that long. She missed having the contact of another, hearing the friendly backgrounds of the other ponies and being able to converse with Twilight about anything they wanted, even if she hadn't done so prior.

"I believe you are ready for field studies now."

"Meaning?" Meadow asked

"I believe the phrase is ‘Rise and shine.’" She said before the void faded away and Twilight slowly woke up with a small yawn.

Meadow smiled, feeling more confident as she checked their environment out of habit from Reaper’s training, noting the time, the company present, and the mare up against their body. She smiled mischievously and pet Storm's side while scratching at an itch that was surfacing on their flank before exploring the car carefully, still wearing her idea of a military camo uniform.

She was still in the train car, as the nap had only lasted a little over an hour. "Well… that's an interesting look." Twilight said as she looked at Meadow.

"It's been way too long since I got to hear your voice." Meadow said smiling, "Damn I've missed it. Morning."

She blinked and looked at the clock on the wall. "It’s just been an hour."

"Time is relative, especially when you're learning." Meadow said, getting up and walking to the window, enjoying the sights while scanning for possible threats.

"Interesting look." Twilight repeated

"Been through a bit since the last time we met." Meadow shrugged, turning toward Twilight, "But I'm definitely ready."

"Ready?"

"Don't worry about it. Just know that I've got your back." She said, grinning before saying, "protection or otherwise."

Twilight blinked.

Meadow rolled her eyes, "Let’s just say I learned about a million things while you slept, and I can do a lot more than be the uncertain mare I used to be when you fell asleep."

"I… see?" Twilight said, confused at where this came from.

Meadow looked back out the window, no longer interested in conversation of that subject. She knew she couldn't explain what she went through and didn't intend to just yet.

Twilight blinked and got up to get something to drink, having a plan for how to wake Lapdog in the best possible way when she got back.

Meadow walked with her, staying at her side.

Twilight looked at her, observing the new behavior

"What?" she asked simply, able to perceive Twilight and their surroundings fully.

"Nothing, just you're practically mounting me."

"Ah." Meadow replied, stepping respectfully to the side and standing still, instead looking out to the rest of the cabin and out the windows.

Twilight got herself some juice and sipped it, watching the landscape go by with the compatriot.

Storm slept soundly, and Meadow was comfortable with knowing she was in the company of others once again.

<<<o>>>

Glory smiled as the train pulled into the station of Vanhoover. "We have arrived Princess." She said.

"It is good to be home." Dawn nodded, walking slowly.

Stem followed, keeping a watchful eye

They walked on, Dawn heading toward the tree home, intending to stay there, then sneak off to the hive, when at the doorstep there was a dripping from her hindside, yet Dawn was oblivious to it.

"Um, Princess… we may have an issue." Glory said from behind her.

"What is it?"

"It is time." Stem said, "your water broke."

'Medical teams, I am about to go into labor, water's broken. I require escort to the hive and a birthing chamber.' Dawn said in the link, then gave orders to Stem, "Stem, I've contacted medical staff, and am going to my second home for security."

'Mom, do we want him with?’ Dawn asked Chrysalis in the link afterward, ‘We need his blocking spell. I won’t maintain it in labor, but he'll know more about changelings for it. I vote it’s worth the risk to protect from Svikopi.'

'It is, worst case we take care of him after you recover one way or another.’ The queen said. Dawn quickly became aware of the extensive mind control spells and memory alteration spells that could be used if not accepting a more… permanent solution.

Dawn groaned as she evaluated those options. She understood their importance, but it felt like it was a poor moral choice to affect him this way yet. She decided that it was something she would worry about later. She had something far more pressing to deal with right now.

"Stem, you are coming with. I will need your services to prevent spying at the secure location. We are heading ten miles to the east."

"I understand, partially, but w-" Stem replied, before Dawn cut him off with a loud grunt, going down to her knees on her front legs as contractions hit and hit hard.

"Just breathe. Slow even breaths." Glory said… No, not Glory. Chrysalis. While she still looked like a pony, she had dropped the persona.

Stem looked at her in surprise before getting ready to fight when the contraction subsided and Dawn barked at his aggressive behavior

"So help me Stem, you will not stir up trouble or I’ll have you in the room with me for stress relief! You are to work with her and my medical sta-aaaah!" She gasped, her horn sparking as she contracted again strongly.

Stem frowned, flinching at the noise, but nodded as Stalwart came running.

Six griffins touched down with larger than normal wings, carrying a stretcher as they walked swiftly towards Dawn the remaining distance.

Dawn panted, stepping to the stretcher, legs wobbling as she panted with as regular breaths as she could manage.

Stem stood nearby, concerned about the events and the medical staff, but not arguing, readying a flight spell, with transparent wings at his side.

Dawn was helped onto the stretcher and secured by her mother, then before Stem could make a move he was grabbed by a Griffin, as was Glory, and then they were in the air flying fast.

Stem squirmed in their grip before settling in, realizing there was little to do. Dawn groaned, getting respite from the contractions for a few minutes, before yelling out again at a new wave.

They flew fast and another Griffin joined them, carrying Stalwart, who was plucked from his dash toward her, the drone making sure that he was as close to the stretcher as permitted.

Dawn groaned before another contraction wracked her body. It took away her voice as her face contorted from the pain as she laid there. She internally hoped her labor didn’t last long like her mother had with her, remembering them saying it took a good half a day.

Her mother was right beside her, speaking to her through the link. 'Easy now, just breathe. We are almost there.'

Dawn barely registered that she had been holding her breath and breathed once more as the contraction reached a steady point. It held her lower half like a vice for a few more seconds before releasing her, sending a tired wave of dull ache across all her body.

'I… will be fine mom… fuck this hurts. '

Stem observed the mound of earth that they headed toward and Stalwart kept his eyes only on Dawn, worried for her sake.

The Griffin carrying Stalwart stayed close to her as they began to fly down.

'I know little one, I know.' She said, sending her love.

Dawn reciprocated it as she clenched at the stretcher, tensing as the elevation changed. She always struggled with a feeling in the pit of her stomach at those changes but insisted to the team not to change their approach for her comfort.

As they landed, another contraction hit and forced her to curl up in exertion and she struggled to breathe through the pain, trying to force it as she whined unintentionally before laying back down from the release that came after.

The griffins immediately reverted to their natural forms and galloped inside, using magic to hold the stretcher so it was a smooth trip for Dawn. Chrysalis quickly moved alongside the stretcher, now in her natural form with her head held high.

Stem frowned, galloping off after them, with Stalwart immediately after and pushing himself to be at his wife’s side.

Dawn's breath shook as she relaxed, dreading the next moment of pain, yet finding herself also wanting it to come and be over with.

'How far in are we going? Birthing chambers or my bedroom or what?'

'Birthing chamber. Not far, almost there.' Chrysalis replied as they moved fast, navigating the maze easily.

'Got it.' She replied, "Stem, I need you to set up that spying spell block for the hive until further-"

Dawn cried out in pain, another contraction tearing at her body. Her lower half seemed to press in all around her as her legs were forced to be pulled tight to her stomach for several seconds. She flopped back onto the stretcher once the contraction finished, breathing heavily as she fought every instinct to pant and forced herself to breathe calmly where she could.

Stem heard the order and was frowning heavily, suspicion filling the air and mixing with Stalwart's sharp taste of concern present. Stem started to cast the spell, but he only made it strong enough to cover Dawn and those in a ten-foot radius around her.

"She wants you to set up the anti-spying spell for the entire hive. Now!" The Queen barked at Stem as they ran, looking back at him yet not missing a single turn.

Stem frowned, "I do not take orders from-"

"Sergent!" Dawn yelled, "I gave you an order, and this hive is protecting us if anything happens, so fucking do it!"

"Sergent," Stalwart growled in a low voice, "You swore an oath to protect the rulers of Equestria and the princesses. Dawn doesn't order ponies around, so you do it or I'll make you do it!"

Another yell of pain ripped from Dawn’s throat. Stalwart winced and looked over to her briefly to make sure she was all right before he stared Stem down as they ran after the changelings.

Stem looked at Stalwart briefly as Dawn’s panting filled the corridor, then his horn glowed brighter and he used his full strength, setting the spell to cover the whole of the hive, saying, "I'll need to tie the spell to a crystal that can store energy to maintain it."

A hoof sized red crystal was shoved into his face.

"Do it." Chrysalis said, holding it in her magic "if you need bigger, you will have it."

"This is sufficient." Stem shook his head.

The gem began to glow as Stem poured the spell into the gem, making it glow with a green light that would have matched his mane if it weren’t for the tint of the gem itself. The light was faint at first and grew in brightness before starting to fade before Stem spoke again.

"It will persist as long as there are creatures that pass with magic ability, and will recharge by borrowing a little energy from each one that passes if they can spare it." Stem said, no malice detected in his voice or emotions. What emotions Dawn could barely taste seemed to give mostly distrust, with some degrees of concern.

Dawn panted on, hoping that they just had yet another false labor when another set of contractions made her almost want to roll on her side. She resisted, magic pouring up into her horn unbidden before a beam of lime green light burned a line on the ceiling before Dawn could hold it back.

'Better get those inhibitor rings.’ Dawn panted heavily, ‘I can barely hold back from the pain and anger from this.'

The Queen held the gem above them and a drone flew overhead, snatching it from the air and heading deep into the hive as dozens of drones sped to ensure it stayed powered.

The healer drones slid three rings onto Dawn's horn before they started to enter the birthing chamber. Two drones stopped Stem but allowed Stalwart to enter. The Queen stopped outside the room as well, despite being allowed wherever she wanted in the hive.

"I am here to protect the princess. Step aside." Stem frowned, trying to command them.

Stalwart stepped into the chamber, ignoring the sergeant as his wife yelled out again in pain. He saw how her horn was glowing, but making no more sparks. She seemed to be unaffected by the feedback of the rings as they were strained, wincing and twisting herself as her body assailed her.

"Are you married to her or the father of her unborn little ones?" Chrysalis asked.

"That's irrelevant." Stem said factually, his frustration only barely showing, “My duty stands."

"Your duty does not trump basic medical practice of staying out of the way so the Healers can do their duty." Chrysalis replied.

Stem frowned, but then turned to stand at the side of the door, facing outward, "I will stay, only because the captain is with her."

Dawn yelled out once again, her horn glowing bright with the force of magic trying to come out as a vent for her pain and interrupting the conversation outside. It forced her to curl up on her side briefly before another break from the pain would come and she could straighten her legs and back out as she laid on her back again for air.

"Lay on your side Legate." A healer instructed, helping to roll her gently onto her side, voice drifting into the hall

"Besides,” Chrysalis added once the yelling had stopped, “I am quite sure Dawn does not want you to see under her tail."

Stem frowned, then shrugged, "A mare is a mare."

"Sorry…” Dawn nodded, letting herself be rolled onto her side, “thought it would be like a human birthing… silly, right?"

Dawn was panting and tried to smile softly at them before another contraction hit her and stole her words away. It didn't force her to move her legs like before but she made her magic glow bright as she fought the inhibitor rings. The pain from the feedback was hardly noticeable compared to the pain vice squeezing on her belly.

Another ring was added for safety as they carefully and slowly moved her back legs apart. Once done, they relayed instructions to her on what to do, monitoring her closely.

Dawn’s labor continued on for another hour, making hardly any progress. The time between contractions grew longer and Dawn rested as best she could, holding onto Stalwart weakly. She had made a couple more burn marks in the wall by then. The darker lines almost unnoticeable by the material of the hive as it began to slowly fade.

The caretakers ensured many inhibitor rings were nearby, in case she managed to break the ones on her now. Past experience with Alicorn births helped a great deal with their caution and expertise.

Dawn sighed as she relaxed, Stalwart rubbing her back gently. She had a headache by this point and checked in with her mom, 'How's Stem holding up? … behaving?'

Stem had stood guarding the door, pulling out a scroll at one point and prepared a message, writing at a casual pace.

'He seems to be reporting in and I am debating preventing him from doing so.' Her mom said, monitoring Dawn through the link as she watched him.

'You have my permission, not that you need it. What is he snitching about? Can you tell?'

'It seems to be that you are in labor and where we are.' Chrysalis said as she reviewed the contents.

Stem had his message mostly written, trying to obscure it with a bit of illusion magic even though it did not fool the Queen, who watched what his quill actually wrote.

His message by visual confirmation only suggested he only spoke of Dawn going into labor after arriving in Vanhoover. Chrysalis pieced together how he believes there is a concerning connection between Dawn and the changelings, citing a group of changelings coming without magic being used to reach them and Dawn was the one who gave that update, not Chrysalis. He was also writing about other actions he disliked, such as her going to a restaurant where she could have a public incident and how he was ordered to protect the whole hive with the anti-scrying spell.

'Is there harm in our location being known to Celestia? I could have sworn she already gave permission knowing a hive was bound to be s-' She replied, her conscious thought cutting the idea short as a new set of contractions started all over again, causing her to wince, then groan as it ended several seconds later.

'I do not mind her knowing it either. Now focus on what you are doing.' She said sending her love. She decided to risk it going out, knowing this Celestia most likely kept all messages.

Stem sent his message between the yells of pain that could be heard behind him. Dawn began to curse openly now, even at one point from anger gripped Stalwart firmly by the hoof and told him he was carrying the next foal if they have any more.

She barely registered his answer that he would, or the Queen’s amusement at the similarity with how Twilight had made the same threats. She was in constant pain, apologizing to Stalwart when he replied that he would. She couldn’t taste any emotions right then, her body repeatedly being wracked with pain. The queen could taste something that reminded her of strawberries emanating from him toward his mate and knew he meant it. Dawn cried after several minutes of pain on and off, the contractions getting closer together.

Stalwart stayed at her side, rubbing her back slowly where he was allowed, looking to the medical staff for suggestions or guidance as Dawn breathed hard, the contractions getting longer and more frequent.

They nodded for him to keep doing as he was, encouraging him to talk to her and keep her focused. They were busy preparing and knew she was close to the goal.

Dawn cried involuntarily once again, but not with any noise. She laid there, thinking of her human mother, how this must have been only the start of what they went through. Parts of her were sad that she had not gotten to have her birth mother here for the birth, or for their fragmented relationship.

Dawn took a deep breath, and let it out slow, repeating that process as she sought a calm center somewhere in this turbulent ride. A sharp intake of breath followed as another contraction hit her harder than ever, making her world swallowed by pain, combined with ever so slight relief that she didn't have a unicorn last they knew. The contraction left her feeling weak and barely able to think of anything, a dull haze of pain leaving her staring blankly at the ceiling before another contraction hit.

"Legate, it's time to start pushing." The eldest healer instructed once their inspection was complete.

Dawn groaned as the dull pain subsided, then gasped as yet another contraction came and she tried her best to push along with it. Her eyes teared up from the pain as she felt like she was fighting her own body to push the foal out. She had to stop every few seconds, getting a couple of pants in before a contraction would hit, harder and harder.

"You are doing good." The healer encouraged.

Dawn tried to sense what they were doing through the link, but her connection felt weakened, as if she was barely aware. She could tell they were communicating with each other, but any further attempts were halted short as another contraction hit.

Dawn yelled when it felt like her body was trying to split itself in half, stealing her breath. Magic built up and poured out of the top of her head, making the rings glow. Her yell lasted for several seconds as she pushed. Her magic surged again and four rings cracked, three breaking off her horn entirely and began melting on the ground.

More rings were brought to replace them as the healers removed the fourth cracked ring and replaced the four on her horn rapidly. The eldest healer began to move, as if guiding something.

Dawn whimpered, holding her husband's hoof tightly as she got a moment’s breath, only to be hit with pain once more. She pushed as hard as she could, despite feeling like she was being split in two.

Relief soon came after the excruciating pain between her legs, a cool sensation spreading across her belly as the muscles finally relaxed. Another few seconds and crying filled the air.

"It’s a filly, pegasus." The healer said as he severed the cord. The healer gently gave the foal to one of the other assistants to clean the foal and check it as he spoke again, "We aren't done yet, but halfway there."

Dawn sighed in relief as she heard the announcement of her foal but then felt her body get heavier and weak as she was told she wasn't done yet, only then remembering she had twins. She breathed, dreading the next set of contractions and the waiting itself for one to come.

The Healers checked over the filly in another room, making sure she was in good health.

Dawn looked over to Stalwart, who gave her hoof a squeeze. Dawn flinched briefly, then let out a weakened yell as a new contraction hit, weaker than before but still just as painful. Her body let out more magic without her intent, breaking another ring and making the healers replace it once more.

The healers worked as Dawn continued to push. Dawn yelped as a sharp pain hit her from below and the healers began moving frantically.

Dawn cried, yelling out in a hoarse voice before whimpering, worried she literally had broken apart down below, her fear hitting a peak as she continued to push at their instruction. She cried more as she caught sight of a bloody scalpel placed on the tray where the surgical kit laid. She barely registered something shifting as she quickly looked elsewhere before she was disturbed at the sight, only catching the lead healer’s horn glowing.

Dawn tried to push on, feeling weaker and immense pain, trying not to panic. Despite her efforts to calm herself, she noticed her vision getting blurry and it was getting harder to keep her eyes open.

She felt something jabbed into her arm as she was given a shot to clear her head, making her gasp in surprise and wince at the sharp pain.

“Stay with me legate." The assistant healer said. "Almost there. You are doing great."

She felt her mind slowly clear, breathing regularly as she stared at the ceiling, not daring to look at what they were doing.

'Mom... don’t tell me what happened until I’m healed or won't risk being sick...' she said, feeling like even her mental voice was small and timid. Each breath felt cool and sharp with a flavor she couldn’t place, and stalwart had his hooves on her back.

The Queen held her in the link as the Healers worked and Dawn continued to push.

Suddenly the pain stopped and crying filled the air. Dawn could only feel a dull throb through most of her body and a sharper throbbing in her forehead and horn.

The healer handed the second foal off and began to work with the surgical kit.

Chrysalis held the weary princess in the link and shared what the healer in charge of her foals saw as they were cleaning the young ones up. Dawn watched the foals, a light coat of fur on them both, the pegasus having a bright yellow coat with an orange mane, the colt a pearly white coat with green mane.

'They’re beautiful…’ Dawn cried appreciatively, letting the knowledge of being a parent wash over her before she noticed the colt, ‘a unicorn? Wasn’t he going to be an earth pony?'

'Seems your magic being different interferes with our scans.' Chrysalis said.

'Heh.’ Dawn smirked inwardly, feeling her body shiver and fluff up her fur to trap in heat instinctively, ‘They’re healthy?'

The healer in charge of the foals sent back an affirmative answer as they wrapped the foals in bundles.

'Was… I in danger?' she asked, feeling weak still and a sudden sharp pain down below reminding her of that scare she had.

'No. The Healers are all very skilled. There was just a complication when the unicorn’s horn got caught somewhere it shouldn't have been, that’s all.'

Dawn groaned, not happy about the complication but nodding, 'I definitely wonder how mothers of unicorns make it through reliably then… I'm half afraid to hear how often they have complications from their horn unless it's just a small nub.'

'It is a small nub.’ Chrysalis replied, pointing out the colt’s small bump, ‘And they rarely do, but like all foals, sometimes they are in the wrong position.'

"Stalwart,” Dawn spoke up after listening to Chrysalis, “please come in front of me again… I want to see you."

Stalwart moved beside her again, having stayed out of the way of the healers as they worked when the surgical kit was brought earlier. He took her hoof gently and gave her a small smile.

"It was scary, watching you go through that... I never felt so helpless before, unable to do anything but watch."

"You were here." Dawn said weakly, breathily. She took a deep breath and thought, 'I still feel strange, like I lost too much blood. Everything tingles.'

'The Healers are handling it.' Her mother reassured her. 'Though you will be taking it easy for a while.’

‘I'm glad I have them. I don't know how I would have managed if all of you weren't here." Dawn said weakly in the link as her husband continued to be with her, holding her carefully.

Stem stood outside the room, watching for any motion and listening for any sounds he could as the princess’ cries had ended, and now he was in the dark about what was going on. He eyed Chrysalis in an unspoken request.

“You may enter now." Chrysalis told Stem as the healers finished and placed a blanket over Dawn.

Dawn laid there, holding her husband's hoof as Stem entered. Her alicorn form still being maintained, and the only hint of her changeling-ness was her eyes.

"Care to explain yourself, Princess?" Stem asked, his voice not betraying any emotional upset.

Dawn frowned, trying to taste emotion from him, yet all she could taste was that weird medical flavor in the air from her earlier shot. "Explain what exactly?"

"Why we have ended up in a changeling hive for one," He said, "and why one of them called you legate would be another."

A healer stepped around Stem, carrying two bundles. "And here we have your two little ones, Legate." The drone said, voice having a slight hiss to it as she placed the foals beside Dawn. "Took a bit to calm them but they did eventually."

The healer bowed to Dawn before exiting.

"Thank you." She said quietly, feeling the two foals up against her and calming her instinctively, even as tears ran out of her eyes once more.

"And why do you need to know Sergeant?" Stalwart asked sternly.

"Stalwart… he is basically Celestia's eyes, ears, and educator for me on how I use authority."

"He what?!" Stalwart asked, starting to raise his voice when Dawn held a hoof to his muzzle to quiet him.

"Stem." She said as sternly as her voice would allow. It sounded worn, hoarse, and dry. "We are in a changeling hive because this hive is an ally to us. We have already had permission to build the hive based on Celestia's goodwill, and they, in turn, have been of invaluable assistance in keeping our population safe from Solar Flare."

She coughed weakly and rested her head, when Stem asked, "And them calling you a 'legate?' What does that mean?"

"She is your Princesses' chosen ambassador and liaison to our army, so I thought a title would be befitting such a position." Chrysalis said behind him, standing at her full regal height with her crown on her head.

Stem seemed to frown slightly, his horn glowing as the quill continued to write, "Strange, she did not mention that to me."

"It's true, but my rank as Princess is higher." Dawn said wearily, using a limb to gently stroke the bundles holding her foals to herself, 'Or at least, a good partial truth. Thanks, mom.'

"Is that all there is to it?" He asked.

"Stem, that's enough. After everything she went through tonight, you've interrogated her enough." Stalwart said quietly.

"Stem," Dawn added, feeling tired and wanting to enjoy her foals’ closeness, "You often find the answer you were looking for in the first place. Be careful your suspicion does not cloud you from the truth." 'Hopefully, that is vague enough that he does not pursue it further, but I suspect he will not.'

"Then I have one last question." Stem said, "Why did you want the spell to cover the whole hive?"

"Because we do not want our enemies to know we are here. We have been keeping a low profile, and with it, our enemy will move thinking he is safe while we steadily supply the rope for which they will hang themselves." Chrysalis said.

Steam frowned, "And why is that? You think they will simply walk into your hive?"

"Stem, that was your last question. I require rest and recovery, and want to enjoy my first foals with my family." Dawn said quietly before falling asleep, a forelimb holding the foals up to her underbelly instinctively as a wing stretched to drape over them.

Stalwart nodded, standing guard by his wife as he waited for Stem to leave.

Stem finished his writing and curled up the scroll, sending it by fire before he was picked up unceremoniously in a green glow and carried out of the room by Chrysalis.

"You heard your Princess."

Stem squirmed in the magical grasp and then looked at her, "I was going to leave on my own."

His indignation was transparent, and beneath it was the underlying suspicion, as if wondering why the queen would enforce the will of an ambassador.

"Just making sure." She said, depositing him outside the doorway and closing the curtain while two changeling soldiers took up positions beside it.

Stem stood by, eyeing the soldiers before asking, "Do you always place guards near ambassadors?"

Stalwart heard the comment, and quietly walked over to the curtain and poked his head out. "Stem, shove it and let my wife rest."

"I outrank you in this matter Captain, but I will return when she is better." Stem frowned, walking away.

Stalwart shook his head, "The hay is he even doing here anyway?" he asked quietly, so that he couldn't hear.

"The princesses feel Dawn doesn't know how to handle authority or be a princess. They are displeased with what she's done and Stem is here to educate her on what to do and seem to spy on her and report back to the White One." Chrysalis explained.

Stalwart frowned, "Seriously? Why?"

"How should I know? I don't have the faintest idea what's going on in their stupid pony heads. I barely know what's going on when The Royal Sisters are involved, and now I'm dealing with two others who don't seem to know which end of the spear goes into your opponent." Chrysalis said in in a hushed, but an annoyed whisper. It was clear this decision was not looked on favorably.

"Stem's one clearly, who's the other?" Stalwart asked.

"Other?" She asked confused

"You're dealing with two others who don't know about how to use a spear?"

"It was a figure of speech. I meant this world’s Celestia and Luna."

"Ah... fair enough. They focus on magical prowess, but don't use weapons beyond their hooves that I know of." He shrugged.

"It’s a figure of speech meant to signified they aren't the brightest bulbs." Chrysalis said as she hit her forehead with her hoof with a loud echoing clack.

"No, I got that." He smirked at her repeating it, "I just wanted to point it out even more… And Chrysalis? Thank you for helping my wife. It looked serious back then."

"She is my daughter." She said, features softening "Why wouldn't I help?"

"You're right," Stalwart said, "but thank you nonetheless."

"Now be with her. I have placed some of my elite soldiers outside the door. They will defend you two ‘till their last breath."

"Hopefully that won't be necessary." He smiled. "But thank you." He said as he headed toward the room, moving to lay next to her and keep her comforted

<<<o>>>

Svikopi appeared before Solar Flare, knowing that it had been enough time that he could say plenty of what was going on, despite knowing something happening to the tool he had given as a gift.

"I know the identity of the ones in command of investigating you. A green alicorn who appears to know changeling magic, and a purple alicorn with many scars. They don disguises like changelings, though in Manehattan, the purple one wears a white coat of fur for their disguise."

Solar looked up sharply, a small dagger halfway out from under the desk he now used before he stopped and frowned at his sudden guest.

"Don't you ever knock?" He said as he returned the dagger to its place and sat back, thinking. "A green alicorn. … interesting… and tell me of this purple one." Flare said, concerned as he contemplated the news.

"The purple one seems to be in charge of the soldiers that patrol Manehattan and reports to the green one. They go together when the green one travels some of the time, though the green one appeared very pregnant all of a sudden in the last week. The purple alicorn does not behave like the rest and has numerous scars. Her legs do not look like the rest of her body."

"What do you mean, ‘don’t look like the rest of her body?’"

"Different color purple than the rest."

"Goddess damnit, it's Sparkle!" He said hitting the top of his desk before quickly calming, acting as if he never got angry.

Svik shrugged, "I intend to get to the bottom of the green one and its changeling magic. I've pursued unlocking the secrets of it for two years now, and I'm not about to give up now that I'm this close. After the green one is in my possession, I'll take care of the purple one."

"That is most likely Sparkle’s second in command, Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings’ Ridgeback Hive, or Major if you want to use her military rank." He warned. "Both of them are deadly as commanders of any military force or in direct combat."

Svik shook his head, "Unlikely. That one takes a different form. I have seen the green one stay green after, only one glimpse of a dark green set of plates along her spine where the purple one and chrysalis were beside her indicate her changeling nature."

"So there is a new player on the field… Their daughter is too young… interesting." Flare said thoughtfully.

"As I said, I intend to find out why the green one has changeling abilities. She will be useful for my experiments."

"Yes, yes, I am more interested in why Sparkle is working with her. She wouldn't work with anyone who wasn't competent or useful."

"She's a princess that no one has heard of outside of Canterlot or Vanhoover. Rumors I've been able to gather say she is new, so she still is weak. As far as competent, I haven't seen her perform any spells worth mentioning." Svik shrugged.

"Then you have missed whatever it is Sparkle sees." He said. "I know Sparkle, she only surrounds herself with the best. All those who she promotes to power are all highly competent and skilled in their fields. Titles like Princess are just window dressing that means little." He said.

"I'll keep that in mind." He said, turning aside, "I have preparations to make. Do you require any further observations?"

Flare thought for a minute before speaking. "Do you know where they are based? She wouldn't use a compromised base and would have moved, as well as most likely have an auxiliary base that acts as a listening post or relay station to handle logistics."

"They seem to travel between Canterlot and Vanhoover frequently enough, but their new base in Manehattan?" He shook his head, "Not yet. They seem to have found a way to block my spell from viewing them or hearing them any longer. I am working on a way around it.”

"Very well, keep me posted. If they are here, even a squad force, then they are a major threat to our work." He said sighing. "If you can find where they are, I should be able to handle keeping an eye on them."

"I can manage that." Svik said confidently.

With that matter settled in his eyes, he disappeared from the room, returning to his lab and putting together a new disguise to go where his prey was last seen, just west of Van Hoover. It would take him two days, and he was certain he would not be stopped.

Scholar: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/75/dd/70/75dd70cf04906043a160a2f525ec760e.jpg

Author's Notes:

The moment youve all been waiting for!

More Reaper and Dawn finnally has released her spawn!

Also just wanted to say congradualtions to one of our most avid readers for making it out of the hospital. Get well soon.

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