Dawn smiled in satisfaction. The first mirror was as completed as it could be and the second mirror was underway. The Manehattan events were being wrapped up, though repairs were still in progress and likely to be for a couple years.

"Not a bad way to wrap things up. As long as we don't get more displaced here, we'll end up with not much to do other than develop the town of Rally Point and enjoy life. Nice job Twilight. Good to see you back." She said, noting their return.

"Yeah, though I am concerned about the missing weapon shipments from the compound.” Twilight smiled, then frowned lightly at the subject and approached the mirror. “I suppose they have disappeared into the black market… World’s going to be changing with them out there."

"It's unfortunate, but frankly the world was going to change after this event anyway as far as I see it. I don’t see how the princesses will keep that quiet.” Dawn smirked. “Change is the only constant and the way of things... Got some quality time in with Violet now I hope?"

"Yup.” Twilight nodded, smiling wide, “Introduced her to Meadow. That was entertaining."

"Oh? Tell me about it. What'd she do?"

"Not a lot to tell. Violet was fascinated by Meadow’s magic projection… did you know that she only comes out about 4 inches tall?"

"What? Starlight could be full sized. Why would she be miniature?" Dawn chuckled, confused at the thought.

"I just felt like it." Meadow said, her tone indicating mischief. "Why should I be full sized all the time?"

"Well, what happened?" Dawn asked.

"You want to fill her in or should I Meadow?" Twilight asked.

Meadow chuckled before using her magic to project herself as a ‘hologram’ like entity onto a nearby tabletop. "I'd rather you do it if that's all right."

"Awww that's both adorable and cool." Dawn smiled.

"Well, she tried to catch her in a jar to study her for a while."

"I can't say I blame her, but she didn't quite understand how I existed there." Meadow said, looking up at Dawn. "Though it was fun letting her think she got me."

"Not sure why you kept saying ‘Hey! Listen!’ Over and over again." Twilight said, only to hear Meadow and Dawn laughing together, making her blink in confusion. “What?”

"There's an annoying fairy in a game we grew up with that always tried to tell you what to do or how to play, and it got annoying but it eventually became funny after some time and i doubt either of us could tell you how." Dawn said.

Twilight simply blinked, looking between them

"Anyway, Violet is entertained, which was more than sufficient for me." Meadow said.

"Good. Violet's too cute to let down." Dawn nodded, Twilight nodding her agreement. Dawn chuckled briefly at their both nodding before adding, "Well, you'll be pleased to know the two mirrors are more or less done, just need to figure out our home addresses and then we should be set. I believe I have our own but we’ll double check the work on your side."

"Yeah, I can’t begin to tell you it since we don’t use addresses or anything."

"Yeah, that’s what the drones have said, and repeatedly reminded me. I've picked up bits and pieces, but can't just assimilate their understanding for some reason." Dawn said, frowning.

"It’s complicated and we don’t have anyone who actually works on the project here, much less studies such things as we don’t need it for ourselves."

"Even so, I really am glad we made what progress we have, despite not all of it being understood."

"I doubt it is understood by our side either since its new."

"Yes, but the combined manpower is truly a huge help." Dawn said, yawning and stretching before going over to her kitchen to get some food made just because she was feeling peckish.

"Heh, Queeny tells me that all the time."

"It's true." Dawn chuckled as she cooked the food and sat down to eat, making extra in case Twilight wanted any.

"So how are things here?" She asked as she joined Dawn at the table.

"It’s been fine so far. The rally point has been thriving, just got some farmland planted along with an orchard. It’s nothing special yet, but at some point, it'll do well."

"I'm not sure how I feel about ponies settling in like this."

"What else would you have them do? All they can do is wait for rescue and lead on with their lives." Dawn asked, interested in Twilight’s concern.

"Just… When it does arrive, it will be harder for them to leave I think."

"Well, you have the choice to stop them from settling, do drills or the like." Dawn nodded, "my townsponies in Vanhoover were just wanting to help out their neighbors. At some point, Celestia needs to acknowledge the events and then ponies will understand that our visitors will have to head back home, even though we'll be able to visit eventually."

"I don't anticipate them being kept on edge though. They aren't soldiers." She said. "I'm between a rock and a hard place."

"Then just give them things to remind them of home, or point out they need to be ready to go back. If anypony's finding love with a native, let them know that they have to be ready to make that choice of taking them with, staying put, or splitting… Do what you can, but we don't know when rescue will come right?" Dawn asked.

"The issue is I don't want to lower morale." Twilight said with a sigh.

"Then be subtle. Congratulate them for making the most of the situation, have a festival and have it remind them of home. Give a reminder here or there, but have them celebrate the friends and family present while remembering those back home." Dawn said, "There's lots of ways to handle this."

"I'm not good at those sorts of festivities.” Twilight sighed again, “Pinkie handled those as well as Rarity."

"Well, we can invite them if desired, or I can try my hoof at it." Dawn said. "If you sigh again though I'll want to give you a hug for sounding so depressed."

"I generally am. I feel like I'll be ruining lives no matter which way I take this." Twilight winced, "And that would be awkward since they are dead in my world."

"Then prepare for a good hug." Dawn said, approaching the alicorn and giving them a hug before saying, "If you want, I'll take care of the festivities and the speech, all you have to do is be present."

Twilight nodded, accepting the hug as Dawn held her supportively for a moment.

"Well, I'd better get this party started. We'll have it in two days." She said, waving as she went toward the village to give the news and Twilight nodded solemnly back.

Dawn went off to let the town know of the desire to throw a celebration of the defeat of Flare. After making the announcement and everyone wanting to contribute how they could, Dawn offering to cover supplies for the town’s food and decorations since the town had cost the crown very little to support, she approached some of the soldiers responsible for patrols and asked how much the civilians were discussing going home or preparations regarding it.

After some discussion and personal thoughts from many, she deduced that most citizens were settling down and thinking of looking for work in or around Vanhoover. Each time, Dawn gave them her appreciation and said she’ll keep in mind when she would give a speech at the event. The soldiers respectfully nodded, saluted, and then left to make preparations or fulfill their duties for their shift.

Dawn spent the rest of the day making sure there were plenty of games, like 'dunk the princess' with herself being the one in the tank and encouraging people to not use magic unless they’re a young foal. She had other minor games up and kept the focus being on fun, family and food.

Much to her surprise, the town was ready for celebrating in a little after lunch the next day, that morning otherwise spent getting the food supplies that she had ordered from town suppliers the day before cooked and ready.

Twilight spent her time organizing security for the event. Even with Flare gone, there was no guarantee they got rid of all of his officers. Flare had destroyed his ledger when the compound came under attack so they’d never know who worked for him or if they were willing or forced. It wouldn’t surprise her if he set up a few contingency plans in case of his demise.

Dawn encouraged the festivities to get going once the food was made, trying to get everyone cheerful and excited, being silly when she was dunked, cartoonishly so for the younger foals just to make them laugh.

Twilight dropped by while she was mingling with her ponies when she saw the tank and blinked. It was a very odd game in her mind, but she knew her own fear of water was because her legs made trying to float nearly impossible. Despite its absurdity, it was incredibly popular with families lining up to get their chance to dunk the princess. The ponies of Rally Point were astounded at the idea of dropping a princess into the water and none of them wanted to pass up the chance at dunking royalty repeatedly.

Dawn was soon drenched, her swimsuit she had worn that kept her lower half more modest and covered, each time someone stepped up to the line she squirmed in place as she waited for someone to hit the target. As such events often progressed, when a foal or poorly aiming adult came along, another would come by and ‘randomly’ reach over to hit the target for the thrower and Dawn would feign betrayal as she fell in.

It was good fun, and many laughs were had as the princess entertained them for two hours straight. She started to struggle with getting up the ladder at the end of that time, feeling worn out and climbed up and out of the tank and had to flip over the sign.

“Sorry everypony, I need a small break to have fun too! Thanks for coming and I’ll try to come back soon!” she said as she changed the ‘dunk the princess’ out for a sign saying ‘Drying off temporarily, be back soon!’

Some of the ponies let out their disappointment but others still chuckled when they saw the sign, smiling as they moved on to the other stands for prizes and food. Dawn joined in, grabbing a snack for herself and tried her hoof at some of the games, being horrible with most of them.

After it was about four o'clock, she went to the town center where the platform was erected, and called out, "If we could have everyone gather around for about ten minutes of your time, I have a few words that I'd like to share with everyone!"

Only a few ponies heard her over the crowd and Twilight walked over toward the platform, clearing her throat and pointed at the microphone on the podium. Dawn blushed lightly at missing that detail and moved to the podium.

"Hello everyone, if we could gather over here by the podium for just a moment of your time, There are some words that need to be said." Dawn said, voice enhanced by the enchantment on the device, sending it to everyone in the area.

Dawn waited as the townspeople, ponies, zebras, horses, and griffins, mozied on over. She looked out among them all, mentally steeling herself for the need for the speech as she put her fears of being on stage behind her until most of the attendees were present. She nodded satisfactorily and spoke.

"Today, we have this rather impromptu festival for a few reasons. It has yet to be named, but we will visit them each in turn. Firstly, we celebrate the fall of one terrorist, Flare. We will be able to rest easier knowing that he is not masterminding any further plots to harm the innocent for his own goals."

The crowd let out a cheer. Everyone there knew who he was, and were glad that one of the most wanted ponies in the world had been removed, causing Dawn to chuckle briefly at their cheers.

"I'm glad you all agree. That is the first reason for this festival. With it, going hoof in hoof, is respect for those who gave their lives or were injured in the course of this endeavor. They will be remembered for their bravery and sacrifice, and just as much so to the families affected. Let us have a moment of silence out of respect for these service members before moving on to our next reason." she said, stepping aside from the podium, bowing her head respectfully to the EDF service-members present.

She watched as the crowd did the same, following her lead. Dawn counted to sixty slowly, knowing that it was likely two or three minutes she had allowed to pass before she approached the podium once more.

"Thank you. Now, our third reason for having this festival is to remind ourselves that home still waits. I have been working hard in my own project to create a reliable path between our worlds, and a lot of progress has been made. I don't yet know when it will be done, but we will remember that this Equestria is not the home to everyone here. Perhaps a couple of exceptions are in this crowd, but to those of you who are, I wish to remind you that a choice will be coming eventually. You could be considering staying, or perhaps are taking up loved ones. This festival will also be a reminder that a choice will come to go with the EDF back home or not, with or without those from my Equestria. I would encourage you to enjoy yourselves while you’re here and give some thought on what you will choose when rescue comes. I will do my best to ensure you all settle in without issue if you choose to stay, and will be working on reliable transportation should you change your mind later."

Dawn paused to get her breath back, feeling her heart beat rapidly in nervousness as she heard muttering in the crowd.

"So," She said, re-grabbing their attention, "Thank you all for your time. Please, enjoy yourselves today among friends and family, and look forward to what the ‘morrow brings.”

Dawn tried to keep calm as she walked away from the podium, hearing murmurings of the crowd continue as she left. Her hopes to encourage had failed, and her anxiety surged back. She walked up to Twilight as she suppressed her nerves, who led her behind the stage.

"I fumbled near the end, didn't I?" Dawn asked quietly so only they could hear.

"There was no right way to do it, as I said." Twilight said as they walked.

"Well, I just hope I did ok…” Dawn said, trying to calm herself down.

"We shall see."

Dawn sighed, worried about the reaction of the crowd, using her abilities to try and taste their emotions, only to taste turmoil and concern. She let out a sigh again, trying hard not to hang her head low.

"Yeah… I messed it up. I meant to inspire hope, and now they're just worried."

"As I said, there was no right way to do it." She said. "There was no way to keep morale up."

Dawn nodded, having hoped before that it was possible to get them cheered up and excited about going home while not lying to them. It had worked before and she was disappointed it didn’t work now.

"It’s because we have no way of knowing when it will come."

Dawn sighed, checking the time before going to get some more food, Twilight following her. Dawn barely got a couple of snacks and her face was scrunched, thinking about how she could do anything to cheer them up and get them excited about going home.

"Dawn, stop." She said. "All getting them excited about home will do will bring depression the longer it takes."

Dawn jolted out of her thoughts when she was being reprimanded. She frowned, setting down the wooden pick that once held the dessert now eaten into a trash bin.

"I suppose you're right… Sorry, I just … I don't know how to explain it."

‘You’re the element of hope Dawn, duh.’ Jeron said sarcastically in the link, trying to cheer her up.

Twilight sighed, trying not to let her own frustration at Dawn’s sometimes foalish behavior surface as she walked over and hugged her.

"Thanks. I hope you know what I was trying to say."

"I do, but I know from experience sometimes there is just no winning."

"I'll try to keep that in mind.” Dawn said, then felt Twilight stroke her mane, causing her to giggle. "Thanks. That still always feels nice."

Twilight smiled and kept it up as she held the hug. Dawn pulled back after a little time, having calmed from the hug.

"Well, at least they know their options and hopefully will think about it as they move forward."

"In the meantime, I think a certain mare could use a break." Twilight nodded before smirking as she lightly tugged the hidden collar around Dawn's neck

Dawn smirked broadly at the pull on her collar, nearly forgetting about it until that moment, whispering, "As you wish, master."

"Lead the way to your bed." She lightly smacked Dawn's flank.

"Yes, mistress." She said, smiling lightly and walked her way back to the tree home

Twilight followed her, watching her flanks.

'Let’s see, where to start? Tie her up? Make her use her muzzle on you... blindfold her? Maybe she can turn into a doll for you to use as you wish.' Meadow said, tossing out ideas.

That last one made Twilight’s ear flick just slightly. Meadow quietly chuckled. It seemed she had given a good idea there.

Dawn walked to the tree, opening the door and oblivious to the plotting of her counterpart as Twilight followed.

'What if she had the skill to turn herself into a sex toy? Putting all of her in you as a dildo or fucking her from one end and out the other... what's more dominant than that?' Meadow chuckled, planting the thought.

Twilight nearly stumbled at the thought, picturing it and growing needier by the second.

Meadow helped Twilight catch herself as Dawn waited by the door for her owner, tail slightly adjusted to be more canid, showing a wagging tail behind her to show her eagerness.

'Yeah, gonna have to do that. If she can.' Meadow nodded.

Twilight walked into the home as Dawn walked her way up to the bedroom, knowing her husband was still at the celebration, showing the foals a good time with everyone.

Twilight enjoyed the view all the way up, her eyes on her prize.

Dawn walked over to the bed, tail still wagging before sitting by the bed and looking at Twilight happily as if she did a job well done.

Twilight walked to the doorway and remained staring at her flanks. Dawn gulped and then smiled.

"What next owner?"

"How good is your shape-shifting?"

"I don't know… I haven't tried." Dawn admitted. "What did you want me to be owner?"

Twilight shivered and her pleasure spiked. "Mmm… a sex toy."

"I... see... I can try. What kind?" She said, feeling a sense of thrill at the idea, despite a bit of fear at being an inanimate object.

"Surprise me." She said.

Meadow chuckled as she said, "I wonder what she'll think up."

Dawn paused, using the link to ask her mom, 'What should I try first? We haven't tried my shifting abilities too far.'

'Something simple. … No moving parts. … A Dildo should work. Also, remind me we need to practice your abilities. It should be natural to you, but we haven't tested it.'

Dawn wreathed herself in flame as she attempted the shift, picturing the form and taking it on. The result was mixed. Her shape otherwise resembled that of a lifelike pony made of silicone, with a dildo on her underside. She frowned internally as she heard Twilight’s disappointed sigh.

"Okay." she said, “Back to your normal self.”

'I must have disappointed her...' Dawn thought, frustrated at her inability to change her size or mass as she shifted back, looking at her owner with a mix of sadness and worry.

"What’s wrong?" Twilight asked.

"I wasn't able to do what you had wanted… I need more time in the cocoon I guess." Dawn said, "I don't like disappointing my owner."

Twilight sighed and sat beside her pulling her into a hug. "It's okay."

Dawn hugged Twilight firmly, wanting to reassure them she was going to be better eventually.

Twilight simply stroked Dawn’s mane and started to hum.

Dawn hummed back, getting curious as her tail wagged lightly despite being her pony self. She enjoyed the humming of Twilight and the mane strokes

Meadow shrugged, 'So she can't be a smaller sex toy yet... she still looks a little aroused, gonna give her a good time, show her you still like your favorite pet?'

'I’m really not in the mood with her upset.' she said, continuing to stroke Dawn’s mane and hum.

'Fair enough. Maybe next time.' Meadow said.

"I'll train more owner... promise." Dawn said, nuzzling them more as she looked to her mother in the link for suggestions.

'We will begin as soon as you feel ready.' She said, genuinely surprised at the failure.

'Then I would rather like to, though I don't want to miss my foals growing up... they are so active nowadays, even if it is to look around, cry, and nurse.' Dawn replied, thinking.

'We will do it a few hours a day or follow some schedule.'

'That would work beautifully. Thank you, mom.' She said, sending her gratitude.

'Of course, my daughter."

Dawn nestled against Twilight a little longer, before turning into a canine version of herself, enjoying the continued petting immensely. Twilight paused at the sudden shift in Dawn but resumed shortly after.

After half an hour together like that, Dawn noticed through a drone her foals were hungry and got up.

"Do I have permission to head back to my family? My foals are hungry."

"You may go.” She nodded.

Dawn nodded, licking Twilight's chin and left to be with her foals, shifting into her regular form before going to tend to her foals.

Dawn found some measure of peace, however temporary it might be, by looking after her foals and Nymph, her only drone. Even in her sleep, as her body rested her mind helped manage drones with the Queen, planning out her strategies for taking over Equestria as a hobby. Like every night, her mother gave her more responsibilities each time so she could gain practice with leading the hive, running simulations of what if’s in her head until she woke…

In a remote spot in the mountains east of Rally Point, a wind began to pick up slowly, in random directions. It swirled, slowly getting faster and faster around a central spot. All at once, a tear of pure light brighter than the sky opened in the air, shining light in each direction.

Dawn awoke with a start, drones alerting her to the phenomenon as soon as the light reached the town. The link was abuzz with the exchange of information at the speed of thought with Chrysalis managing it all as reports came in.

'What's going on?' Dawn asked her mom, feeling unable to keep up with the flood of information and feeling the adrenaline passing through her. It took much self-control to not wake her husband.

'The rescue team has arrived along with Princess Cadence.'

Dawn thought about the irony of their arrival. She had warned the townspeople to plan for this event, yet hadn’t bothered to herself. She checked in on drones, who were already offering to help her with packing her things in preparation to leave.

'So the drones know where most of us are, now what?’ Dawn asked Chrysalis. ‘Many of them are insisting I come along back with you. I need the mirror taken there, but I don’t want to be away from my family either.'

'Well, we can’t establish the connection on this side. It’s a field of research that would take years of study. As for you returning with us, that is because you are a member of the hive. To leave you behind is… unnatural.' Chrysalis relayed, her wince at the idea of leaving Dawn behind palpable.

'I mean, it'd be years before I’d see my family again if I went alone right? That’s… I don’t want to pick between you both. Maybe they can come with?' Dawn asked, trying to think of something.

Dawn knew that going to the mirror and aiming to complete it if she went with the hive would be her top priority. Her foals would grow up not knowing their mother till she was done if she didn’t bring them, and the idea of not having them with her or being absent while they grew up or grew older.

'We can’t finish the mirror without you. You’re the closest thing to an expert we have since we went a different route to travel. Doing this alone would take us years.’ Chrysalis reminded her.

'So we might be done sooner if I come with…’ Dawn said, understanding where she was going with that, ‘Let me talk with Stalwart.'

'Okay, my daughter.' Chrysalis said.

"Stalwart…” Dawn said, shaking her husband gently, “Stalwart, come on, wake up."

"What is it?" he asked, coming awake quickly and yawning.

"The rescue squads have come, they're on the other side of the mountain range. The hive is insisting I come with because they don't want me being left behind."

"Your home is here hun, they should know that..." Stalwart said, patting her back.

"I know, but we've run into a brick wall with trying to develop the mirror travel to get to and from our worlds, and I have to take the mirror there to get it active at this rate, probably." Dawn said, frowning as she held her foals tight and squeezed his forelimb with her hoof lightly.

"You want to go." He said gently.

"Yes and no... I just don't know if it's right to uproot you all to go with them, but they said it could be years before they finish what I started." Dawn said, "I don't want to miss out on our foals and you. Not if we're going to lose years out of what time we do have together."

"If you want me to come with, you don't even have to ask." Stalwart said.

'Mom, is there any chance that time goes differently in our worlds based on the amount of time the hive was without you? Anything we can go on to make this easier?'

'As I’ve told you, time moves differently between worlds due to them not being in sync. It seems we were missing for a year back home.'

'So the dilation is about two and a half times this world's speed, as long as it's consistent... the hard part is knowing how long I might be gone... what if it's years? I think I'd better have him come, if you don't mind helping my family get established in your world till we're back...' Dawn said, hoping it would be ok.

'Well… yes and no. Twilight was missing for two months before while for her it had been over a year once. We had some found another where after two days, it had been a decade, yet another less than an hour. It’s not set.'

'I meant for our two worlds... unless for some reason the dilation would be different each time.'

'Common theory is it would be different each time, but no way to test it.'

'Then I'm taking them with me. I don't want to leave only to find out they're dead and my foals have had grandfoals and passed away. They are part of my hive and if I'm going, they're going too.'

'That is up to you and them to decide. They are not of the hive.'

"Hun, we have no way of knowing how differently our time will pass... I don't want to risk having you all long dead waiting for my return." Dawn informed him, frowning sadly at what she was asking him to do.

"Anything we should bring?" Stalwart asked, getting up and stretching before looking around.

'Suggestions mom? Anything we might not have or might want over there when we relocate?' Dawn asked.

'Whatever you think you need. Twilight wouldn’t leave you needing anything, most likely will live at The Castle of Friendship with her.'

Dawn relayed the instructions and together they packed their suitcases with memorable items, the things they couldn't just reproduce. They grabbed pictures, Dawn's barely worn coronation outfit, Stalwart donned his guard uniform, and while they packed, Dawn was using her telephone spell to allow Stalwart to have a surprise call to his parents to explain the situation.

The rescue team had organized and was beginning to make its way to the town.

Twilight walked through the small town thinking about things now that Flare was confirmed dead. It had calmed down, though Celestia had been displeased with their use of helicopters to attack the compound. Twilight had pointed out it was the safest way to do so and that she would always put the safety of those under her command first. Celestia hadn’t liked it but she had to accept that it was the right call.

Now Twilight had time to think of other matters. Dawn was making headway with the mirror project and so Twilight had things to think about and she came to a conclusion that she needed to speak to Lapdog and begin to make her way to the Patrol’s barracks.

Storm and Nightfall were talking about the warning they received and the activities around them to prepare for evacuation, and it had led them to talks about what to do and Storm was still filling Nightfall in when Twilight walked in.

"Celestia has already gotten construction underway at the guild, and with them leaving, we can go back to what we were doing!" Storm said.

"No. We're not ready for it. We need more training. I should have done more to share everything rather than keeping it all secret." Nightfall replied.

Twilight entered the barracks and followed the voices, knocking on the wall to wait for permission to enter since it was Storm and Nightfall. Naturally, if it was just Storm, she’d have walked in.

"Yeah?" Nightfall's voice called.

Twilight moved the curtain to the side and stepped in.

"Hey there you two, how you doing?"

"We're fine." Nightfall grunted, hinting at his grumpiness.

"I was breaking the news about the evacuation to him." Storm explained.

"It sounds like you want to go with." Nightfall said flatly.

"That was… why I was here actually. … I was wanting to invite you to come with us Storm."

"I... well, I don't want to go and leave Nightfall behind though." Storm said.

"Hmm.” Twilight paused to think, then nodded, “he could come too."

"Who said I am?" Nightfall frowned.

"Come on, you've said how much you miss things from back home. You’ve even said they’ve got stuff like it!"

"And that’ll only rub in how much I'm not home even more!" Nightfall frowned more.

"I didn’t say you are, I am saying you can come but I would like Storm to join me." Twilight said. "It would just be for a time till the gate is open."

"The gate?" Nightfall asked.

"Between this world and ours that this Celestia wants."

"You mean we could go back and forth whenever we want? Who's making the gate?" Nightfall asked.

"Yes, and the EMSD will be providing resources and researchers to do it."

"I see..." Nightfall hummed, thinking.

"Come on, it'll be like a vacation." Storm encouraged.

"But the guild is getting to work being rebuilt. We could design it how we want this time instead of repurposing an inn..."

"So design it. You have time.” Twilight countered. “Besides I am aware of you being a former law enforcement officer before and I am curious about seeing how things were done."

"I found a lot of our defenses had to be adapted and after the message we got from that zebra, we aren’t equipped for that again." He shook his head.

"Hmm… so something with us could be educational about defense and any other details you can find useful."

"Like what?"

"Well, I mean… we have a police force and it would be of use to get an outside perspective on things. Maybe give some tips or the like."

"Hmmm..."

"You took what you knew as a human and did ok." Storm said, starting to smile as she added, "if you're gonna stay a pony you might as well learn how to handle ponies right?"

"I guess..." Nightfall hummed. "Something isn’t sitting well with me about this… It’s hard to explain."

Twilight remained silent

"So if we come with, we can come back whenever we want... what kept you from leaving sooner?" Night asked.

"Well, not whenever you want yet… the gate has to be built first and that will take time as we've never established a permanent link before." Twilight explained, "But once it's done, yes."

"And this ED whatever is in charge of that..."

"EMSD, and more or less, yes. It's the finest minds in all of Equestria with a lot of backing."

"So what makes you want to do it now if it’s never been tried?”

"Because for some reason, this Celestia wants it and has pretty much ordered Dawn to do it so might as well try something new and do it."

Nightfall's expression soured quickly, "Dawn… Celestia wants Dawn to make a gate? After she fucked up mine?"

He nearly spat that sentence, his anger seeming to surface far more readily than normal, judging by Storm's reaction to his outburst. He wasn't louder, but his disdain was something nopony could misunderstand.

"Not sure why she wants it, but as I said, the EMSD will be in charge, she will only be assisting and has already agreed to do so."

He snorted, then paused to think, his expression still sour.

"Night, come on." Storm said softly, "Twilight knows her stuff. Yeah, Green still ended up messing yours up, but are we really gonna let that control what we do?"

'Odd... I thought you told her not to use that slur for Dawn... then again, maybe it's more for his 'benefit.'' Meadow noted.

'Hmm… I believe it is… after Dawn trained her, she stopped even almost using it altogether.' Twilight said, watching.

"So what would happen with my guild while I'm away?" he asked, seeming to calm outwardly, "Or what would we be doing for lodging? I doubt we'd end up with enough money as a consultant, even if we did have anything to offer."

"I mean I’d assume they would follow whatever order you gave them and do whatever you told them to do while gone. I don't have any control of that. As for lodging, you could stay at my castle."

"I'd hate to intrude..." He said, frowning in thought.

'Liar…’ Meadow snorted, having watched him closely. ‘I mean, he's trying to turn you down gently, but I think his pride's trying to tell him no.'

"Maybe just at first, till we find work to pay for our own place till we get back?" Storm offered.

'Heh… we do have work for Storm as an assistant, right?' Meadow asked.

'Agreed and yes we do.' Twilight replied to Meadow before answering, “You would not be intruding at all I have many guest rooms, and like Storm says, if you wish I see no issue in you getting your own place and could even give you a stipend of bits every two weeks."

"I prefer to earn my keep... but I can't ignore the help you're trying to give... what's the catch? What makes you want to bring us with like this?" Nightfall asked.

"Because I'd like to continue Storm’s training." Twilight said. She wasn't lying after all, she just wasn't being specific.

"Training... Training for what? She fought in that battle in Manehatten as it is, what more does she need?" Nightfall asked.

"I... may have been asked to consider a job working for her as her aide." Storm said.

"What?" Nightfall blinked, "That doesn't make sense."

"Yes, she did well in that battle, but she isn't fully trained yet. If she was to fight a trooper, she’d get her ass kicked right now."

"But she's not needing to go into battle is she?"

"I want to be prepared Night… you know, like you taught me?" Storm said gently.

Twilight nodded at what Storm said. "Better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have one."

Nightfall snorted with a small smile and then nodded, "All right... I guess I'm in."

Twilight smiled at that.

"Anything specific we should bring?" He asked.

"Whatever you want."

"Well, we're bringing the egg." Storm said.

"Gee, no kidding." Nightfall smirked.

Twilight nodded, smiling softly as she started to turn to go.

Storm grinned, "this is gonna be great!"

Twilight smiled more as she left the building. She was in a good mood. After all, her pet was coming with.

Dawn and Stalwart had everyone packed and walking toward the town. Dawn was carrying the little ones on her back as she prepared and Nymph was riding Stalwart’s back, looking around nervously as she held onto her queen’s mate. Dawn didn’t want Nymph overwhelmed and heavily filtered the waves of information she was being bombarded with and barely registering herself.

'We aren’t leaving yet, you know right?’ Chrysalis blinked in surprise. ‘They haven’t even reached the town, and then we have to wait for the rift to open again.'

'Oh... right...' Dawn said, panicking at her error. 'Sorry about that.'

'It is okay my daughter. It’ll be best if you move to rally point so we can move when it’s open.'

'Understood.' Dawn said.

The two guards Luna had assigned to her household and had come with her from the tree home were talked to by Dawn and she explained she is going to finish her errand given by Celestia to make a mirror portal and has to go with them to that world to make it on their side.

The guards nodded professionally, one volunteering to go to Luna and inform her at her room in the hive, and the other, a unicorn, said they will send a letter to Celestia. Dawn pulled out parchment and quill and ink, beginning to write out her own letter, explaining what was going on, what she was doing and why, and expressed her hopes to be back soon. The unicorn teleported the scroll at her request and stayed by her side as they went to the town.

When Dawn arrived to Rally Point, the town was bustling as they prepared to greet the rescue team. Most of the EDF had already begun securing the town, their own belongings were already being packed. They patrolled the town or notified citizens and made sure all were accounted for.

Dawn walked toward the town, taking deep breaths along the way and calming herself, smiling approvingly at the townsfolk in support to them. She saw how most of them were busy packing and had to agree that’s what they should be doing anyway.

'How's Twilight feeling?' Dawn asked.

'She just finished telling Storm and her idiotic mate to pack and come with her. She’s now preparing to see her Sister-in-Law, who most likely would want to meet you. So be prepared.'

'Prepared for what? Combat, a hug, an evaluation?' Dawn blinked.

'Just… brace yourself. She is… quite the hooffull and knows things.' Chrysalis warned, pausing as she failed to explain how they knew things. “Somehow she can do things she shouldn’t be able to.”

Dawn blinked, feeling even less prepared as they tried to approach where Twilight was. She tried to shift her wings to comfort her whimpering foals, the cool air of late autumn making them uncomfortable. She found Twilight pacing back and forth and started to feel her own nerves grow.

"Commander,” Dawn called as she approached, knowing how much Twilight hated being surprised, “everything all right?"

Twilight jumped and spun to face Dawn before sighing in relief. "Yes. Yes, fine."

Dawn eyed her in concern, checking with her mom in the link to make sure she was all right. After Chrysalis assured Dawn everything was as fine as they could be, with another warning of ‘be prepared,’ she considered double checking if there was something else she could help with as a leader figure or other things to pack when her vision was suddenly filled with pink.

"OOOOHHHHH! I waited so long to meet you!" The pink-voice said, lifting Dawn off the ground and squeezing her in a bear hug.

Dawn tried to gasp for breath, instinctively reaching for her foals and passing them off to Stalwart and Nymph as she squirmed to get some breathing room. In her panic she reached out to her mom, almost screaming, ‘What the hell is going on?! What is she doing to me! Has she heard of me already after stepping hoof into here?!”

'She is hugging you and probably. … She is… strange.' Chrysalis replied.

Dawn was shaken for a little longer before she was dropped and found her vision filled with purple eyes, their expression indicating deadly seriousness.

"Tell me everything." she asked gravely.

"Need… breathe!" Dawn had gasped before she was let go and fell to her knees. She took a pair of deep breaths as she asked, "W-what kind of everything?

"Everything, leave no detail out!"

"Cadence, back off. If she--" Twilight said right as a pink hoof was shoved in her mouth.

"Shush Twilight. Big sis is busy."

Dawn chuckled lightly at their antics before nervously saying, "I mean, should I start at my birth, when I got to this Equestria, or what?"

"When you and Twilight started sleeping together is good, or at what point you realized you wanted her to bed you."

Twilight grabbed the hoof and yanked it out with both hooves with a yell.

"CADENCE!" Twilight yelled, her face beet red.

Dawn blinked before chuckling with slight nervousness, "Ok, not what I expected, but sure, I'll spoil everything, once we're in private if that's all right." Dawn said with a blink and a nervous chuckle as she turned to Chrysalis, dumbstruck. 'How in the hells did she know about that? Who leaked that to her already?'

'How should I know how she does? How does she fit in our trashcan or keep getting under our dining room table?' Chrysalis countered while Dawn found her vision filled with pink.

When Dawn could see again, she realized she was teleported back to her bedroom with the pink alicorn. She shook her head, completely surprised and panicking at being separate from her foals before Nymph relayed that they were on her husband’s back still, nuzzling him needily.

"Heh… Eager to listen huh?" Dawn asked nervously. She felt magic grip her body firmly, lifting her up and setting her down on her bed.

"Tell me everything." She asked with a smile far too wide for her face. "What first attracted you to Twilight? What about her makes your nethers quake? Why did you want her to rut you so badly?"

Dawn gulped before starting to speak.

"So at first, it was fairly innocent. I swear she was hypnotizing me in my training to learn basic magic every foal would normally know. After it was done, I would barely remember anything. After a bit, I thought I'd use my pet lessons with Stalwart to play with her a little after she said she enjoyed the same with her mate. Well, Chryssy didn't want to leave that alone. She used our building the link from my telephone spell and planted some memories for me to enjoy. I had thought they were just memories, very interactive ones, only to realize afterward I was re-enacting them from Chrysalis' perspective… and we kinda broke her with a lot of begging to where she had to claim me." Dawn said, blushing a bit more after she had said that. Despite having enjoyed herself, she felt like a foal with this princess and questioned herself.

"Uh-huh, go on." Cadence said, writing in a notebook while wearing a pair of half-moon glasses that she didn’t have before.

"What's next?"

"Anything, everything."

"Sorry, that's a bit vague to me… if you don't mind my asking a question in turn, how did you hear of me? What do you know of me?"

"Princess of Love." She said with a wave of her hoof. "What about Twilight makes you so horny?"

"Usually just that I care about her and that I know she'll take good care of me. I'm a bit pet-like if I had to compare. Seeing her happy makes me very happy and I don't know how else to explain it."

"So seeing that you made her happy is what gets you in the mood… got it." She said writing.

"I mean… I don’t actually know what turns me on about someone, I just know that that’s how I’m satisfied. Generally just getting to know someone is a requirement to be attracted to them for me. I can’t be attracted if there’s no bond… though I tend to like mares more than stallions, I couldn't resist my current husband." She finished with a smirk.

"Hmm… yet you stayed close to her before getting to know her, getting to know her only added to it."

"I... suppose you're right. I don't know myself and how I fall in love.” Dawn said, thinking back and swearing she had interacted with Twilight and got to know how she fell in love, but she wasn’t about to argue with the princess of love.

"So what is it she does that moistens your marehood the most?"

Dawn blushed lightly at her directness before saying, "Being dominant and taking ownership. It can be a little rough, but I like the idea of someone strong able to watch my back, tell me they have me and that I'm under their protection… just… something I love about it."

"So her being controlling and protecting what's hers." She nodded writing.

"There's more to it than that. I’ve had others who try to control me and I bucked against it with everything I had. I think it has to do with how they tried to manipulate me and Twilight doesn’t do that. Bear in mind, I’d still have chosen Stalwart Shield as my mate. Twilight and him are on two different levels in my eyes."

"Oh? And what levels are those?" She asked

"Stalwart is the one who got to me first, but he takes care of me and looks after me in all ways in life, is able to be there for me pretty much all the time. Twilight might do that down the road, but so far, he has the edge because of how busy she is."

"I'm not sure what you are meaning as that's the things Twilight does with those she cares about. She always takes care of them." Cadence blinked. "She still takes care of her friends’ families and makes sure they have everything they need and Celestia help anyone who harmed a hair on their manes."

"I mean… I know she’ll do what she can, but it’s felt like we’re good friends with benefits, and I’m married to Stalwart. There’s more of a bond there that I constantly get to feel.” Dawn said, confused by how the princess of love didn’t understand levels of relationships.

“Well, I can tell you she'd probably kill anyone who hurt you." She said as she scratched her chin with a hoof. "Perhaps you’re just expecting her to be like everyone else. She's really not. The fact she spends time with you like she does and gives advice and… whatever would be her showing she cares for you as she wants you to be the best you can be."

"Okay…” Dawn said, confused about how that answered her thoughts on the difference between Stalwart and Twilight and their bond. “I’m sorry if I missed it somehow, that would be insensitive of me and not at all intentional."

"It's okay,” Cadence said as she rested a hoof on Dawn’s shoulder, “Twilight isn't like other ponies. She expresses her emotions very rarely and usually hides them behind a joke and a smirk."

"I’ll work on noticing them then. So, anything else you want to know?"

"How many times have you both done it?"

"I wasn’t keeping track, at least five, I think... my memory is pretty bad." Dawn said with a blush.

"Huh… I'd have thought Twilight would be more memorable with how Chrysalis acts."

"Well, she does tend to hypnotize me half the time to where I’m only aware after the fact." Dawn shrugged, adding, "in the end, I give her relief when she wants it and am not keeping track."

"Hypnotize?" She asked, curious.

"The way she says things sometimes, I just… zone out. Next thing I know I hear her metal hooves clap and I wake up."

"Strange…” She blinked and wrote, “so what you're saying is around her or when you hear her voice, you don't think?"

"Sometimes. I know she tells me to relax and that’s often the last thing I remember."

"So...you obey here that readily?" She asked writing then looked at her. "Relax."

Dawn shook in place briefly and shifted in her seat, tilting her head at Cadence’s attempt to test her.

"Hmm… so it's only Twilight… interesting." She said as she scribbled notes.

"Huh? What are you marking about that for?" Dawn asked, wondering, 'Is she making notes to ship me, to ship Twilight, or something else?'

'Both I'd imagine. From the sound of it, ship you with Twilight.' Chrysalis answered.

'Despite being mated with you?' Dawn asked.

'She’s the Princess of Love. Her entire job is bringing people together, and me and Twilight aren't exactly in a monogamous relationship anymore.' Chrysalis said with pride.

'And I’ve been in a fairly open one, right. So possibly backup mates for me or her when Stalwart passes away.' Dawn thought, growing sober before nervously asking, "So anything else?”

"Hm, tell me. What do you think of Twilight, and I mean really think of her. Be honest."

"She’s amazing in a lot of ways, but what I know through others like members of the EDF was scary too. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and far more seasoned than I am. I’m grateful for her friendship, perks n all, and despite the danger to her foes, I want to be there to support her as she's supported me, Chrysalis in particular as well." She said, mentally adding an 'of course.'

"Uh-huh.” Cadence nodded, still writing, “any other thoughts on her? Like what makes her amazing? What is scary about her? Things like that."

"Her kindness, her strength too, but how she applies it can be both amazing and scary. As far as I know, one's personality and actions are far more important to me than words, even if I do enjoy hearing it too. What scares me is what I’ve heard about her lack of restraint to enemies… I think some part of me worries that it might be turned against me… I have survived that kind of abuse before, even though it was only verbal in the one relationship." She said, growing quiet as memories started to surface.

'Go on?" Cadence nodded as she scribbled.

Dawn hesitated, then as her memories wouldn’t leave her alone, she shook her head. "I’d rather not, the bad things stay in the past. I’m better off now than I was before."

“I mean about Twilight.” Cadence shook her head, “I can tell you enjoy talking about her."

"Oh, right. Sorry.” Dawn laughed quietly, “she and Chrysalis are really nice regardless. I enjoy talking period in fairness. It helps that she took me under her wing to pick up a little training, something I didn’t get any of from the sisters here until a little bit ago. Chrysalis and the changelings are really interesting to be with too." Dawn paused and asked Chrysalis, 'Friend of the hive I’m guessing? How much should I tell her about us?'

'Our relationship with the pink one is… complex. … She is both an enemy and friend. She holds much malice for disturbing her wedding, but is nice to me because I am with Twilight.'

'Understood, I'll be cautious.' Dawn confirmed.

'She will protect me as if I were family because I make Twilight happy and she doesn't wish to see Twilight sad.'

"I see…” Cadence hummed, writing thoughtfully, “so she's taken you under her wing?"

"Yeah, so it seems."

“Explain that, please? She has never mentored anyone before."

"She got so frustrated at my lack of training she couldn’t help but start teaching me how to use my hooves, how to fly… I was a mess regarding regular things for ponies and still am." Dawn said with an embarrassed shrug before explaining, "I was trained a little bit before Flare came up, and my Luna offered to help with lessons a week ago. Thankfully, Flare been executed since then.

"Hmm. She always did love discussing magic and learning. I always suspected she'd fall into the role of teacher or mentor very easily."

"So she’s never taught anyone before me? I’m surprised. She just offered to teach me suddenly when she heard how unprepared I was. Might help we were willing to foalsit Violet. She’s adorable."

"Oh, she teaches Violet. Has since she was born. Despite what people think, she is one of the most doting parents ever, even was with Flurry Heart."

"So yes, she took me under her wing... and then some." Dawn smirked, trying to get the subject taken care of.

Cadence chuckled and scribbled some more. "What has she been like as a mentor?"

"Gentle, understanding and encouraging. I love that so far."

"It's always good to see a bit of the old Twilight peek out." Cadence smiled and nodded.

Dawn nodded, thinking back to her family, antsy to be back at their side, "I’m hoping my lessons will continue when I come with. She said it was a crime for me to be left to flounder about trying to learn how to be a pony, moreso as a princess."

"Ah, yes. That sounds like something she'd believe." She chuckled. "She firmly believes in people knowing what they need to to make it in the world and anything less is unacceptable to her."

"So, what do you know about me then? Why are you so interested?" Dawn repeated her question from earlier.

"I know enough.” She said, smiling wide.

"Oh really? Mind sharing? I like knowing what others think on something, myself especially. Gives a new perspective each time." Dawn said, mentally complaining, ‘That was a non-answer, pink one.’

"You frequently sleep with Twilight, the thought of her controlling you turns you on and you two are very close."

"We're very close? I admit, a bit closer than most I see, but still..." she said, pausing before realizing she was right on that front. ‘I do not get turned on at the idea of being controlled though…’

‘Well, when it comes to Twilight, she's not wrong. I can feel your emotions, remember?’

‘True.’ Dawn admitted, almost admiring this stalker-princess.

"You are going to create this mirror, not because you were told to, but because you don’t want to be separated from Twilight." Cadence smirked.

"Damn straight." Dawn said, smiling. "It's gonna backfire on my Celestia, I just know it too."

"Oh? How so?" She asked blinking.

"Oh, let’s just say that they view the alternate version of their prized student as ‘fallen’ and are hoping I'll set her on a path they approve of and be more like my own world’s version. It wasn't stated expressly, but the intent was clear."

Cadence blinked at her and then burst out with hysterical laughter.

"OH HO! Really?" She looked at Dawn, smiling wide. "I wonder what they’d have thought of her after she returned home! She was a very different mare decades ago. She is a lot better now, and she is still Twilight, it’s just you need to know what to look for." She giggled again. "There is a reason Aunty kept her as a student and guided her. She needed it a lot when she was younger, but it was clear there was no way to bring back the old-her fully."

Dawn chuckled lightly, "Yeah. I would readily say it's foolishness to try and change someone. Guide them and encourage them, sure, but you cannot control how someone turns out. My parents should have learned that with me. I don't mind that they like their innocent Twilight, but to change one who’s seen decades of things they cannot imagine or understand, save for one video shown in a conference room... Yeah."

"If this portal works, perhaps they will come to understand.” Cadence nodded.

"I will make it work… This world needs a Dawn. That much has been clear after finding out another Meadow Dawn born the same day passed away and I somehow came to here and filled the gap." Dawn chuckled, "It would probably suck me back to it if I were gone too long or something."

"Hmm. Perhaps, unless you did what you needed to."

Dawn shrugged, unsure and not liking the idea that whatever fates brought her to Equestria now didn’t want anything more to do with her. She looked to Cadence again and offered her hoof. "Well, I look forward to getting to know you better. You're Cadence?"

She nodded. "Yup! Princess Cadence, Empress of the Crystal Empire and sister in law of your owner."

Dawn blinked rapidly, blushing, "My owner you say… Did someone already spill that?"

"It’s written all over you, plain as day when you talk about her." Cadence smirked.

"I... really?" She asked, blushing deeper. She certainly could see some companionship or connection, but not a definitive pet/master thing.

"I can also see the collar you’re wearing, it looks very nice on you."

Dawn blushed fully at that acknowledgment of the apparel she kept magically hidden when not alone with Twilight and nodded, "Thank you. She made it for me. As far as I know, she only took me, then took Fire Storm. We were thinking about getting her some others as lesser pets, but we don’t want to push her too far. Storm and I are treated quite well."

"Oh? How so?"

"Well, we’d plan for any others to be there for pleasure, and Storm and I are spoiled rotten, almost as much as her foal, but looked after outside of pleasure."

"Oh? Details." She commanded again, notepad and pen at the ready.

"It's… hard to explain. Scratches, massages, reassurings through general petting… It's really enjoyable for me, a good escape into something... simpler."

"And she doesn’t do that with the others?"

"Not outside me and Storm, and she trusted me with training Storm a little at one point."

"So… who is Storm?"

"Fire Storm of the Everfree Patrol guild. A hotheaded, self-assured mare who went as part of the attack force against Flare and killed his second in command, a zebra named Xenti."

"Hmm, doesn’t sound like the type that would be a pet." she said, looking at her.

"I know, yet she is… not sure how Twilight pulled that one off."

"Explain?"

"I… can’t explain it. I agree she doesn't seem the type that would be a pet, and yet she is, and I don't know how Twilight pulled that off…" Dawn repeated.

"I mean, how does she act around Twilight?"

"She follows Twilight's every move. Granted, she's bossy as get-all when around others, but when it's just us? She's obedient, doesn't put up any fight, acts like a real housecat otherwise."

"So… around others, she’s the boss, but when it’s just you all, she knows her place?"

"Pretty much. I have it as an escape and way to relax. I don't know what made her enjoy it though."

"Hmmm… I think I’d like to meet this Fire Storm…" Cadence said, thinking as her horn glowed and suddenly Storm was in the middle of the room.

"What the bucking hay!?" Storm protested, having been talking with Nightfall a mere moment before in the barracks as they waited. She flailed in midair briefly before being let down onto the ground, "Just what do you think you're doing teleporting me here, send me back!”

"Oh my gods! She’s wearing one too!" Cadence clapped her hooves excitedly, smiling wide at the matching collar hidden by invisibility magic around Storm’s neck.

"Wearing what? What the hay are you talking about!" She said sourly, denying that she was wearing something from not feeling it. She looked away from the pink unicorn before spotting Dawn. "Put me back or so help me I'll kick you into next season!"

"Oh-ho, she really is a feisty little thing! My, my, isn’t this just the most interesting thing!" Cadence said.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Storm said with a growl before noticing the wings and the horn both on the pink pony, "Wait, you're Cadence, aren't you."

"Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, we have so much to talk about." Cadence said gently, picking the mare up and moving her to sit on the bed with her magic.

"Hey! What the- I can move myself!"

Cadence sat her down on pillows, smiling wide with her notebook. "Tell me everything."

"I ain't tellin' you anything! Put me back with Nightfall. I'm busy now that we have to move and how we’re handling the guild while we’re away!"

"Oh please, you can suck him off when we are done." Cadence said smiling wide. "For now, tell me everything about you and my dear sister in law Twilight."

Storm frowned at the suggestion, hesitating for a split moment before narrowing her eyes briefly as she tried to figure this princess out. “Or what?”

Cadence’s horn glowed and she removed the enchantment from the collars, making them sit plain as day with a small jingle of metal on metal.

"Or I tell my dear sister one of her pets was rude to me." Cadence grinned.

"Ok, ok! I’ll talk!” Storm protested, stowing away her panic at the idea of what Twilight would do to her if that threat were followed through. “What do you want to know?"

"Good!” She said happily, getting her notebook readied once again. “What made you decide to let Twilight take a swing in your batter’s box? Or two… or three… or a few dozen times."

“I mean, I didn’t… not at first.” Storm frowned, “I mean, when we first met, she beat me hooves down when we fought and consistently did… then we kinda had a fight and she almost killed me…”

Dawn and Cadence blinked, Dawn quite surprised at this admission.

“Then… why?” Dawn asked, now concerned at this news.

“Well… She… look, don’t laugh ok? But she said I was nothing more than a lapdog and it kinda stuck… She said she owned me after that and we kinda experimented as she trained me sometimes. She heard I knew my way around and I didn’t want to get into any more fights with her after that.”

"Wait… she… forced herself onto you?" Cadence asked, her own concern having grown alongside Dawn’s into a panic at what was implied her sister-in-law had done.

"I… didn’t say that." Storm mumbled, frowning and shifting her front hoof nervously.

"It’s sounding like it…" Dawn admitted. “You mean you didn’t want to be her pet?”

“What? No! I… I mean look, I wasn’t thrilled cause she almost killed me, had a blade to my throat and everything… but after she actually started to take care of me, looked after me and helped me relax after training a bunch…” Storm sighed, taking a deep breath and spoke softly, “Ok, so I really didn’t know how I felt about having sex with other ponies at first. I had told Nightfall I had given that up cause it wasn’t as fun anymore, then I thought he’d be the only one to make me enjoy it. Then Twilight used that gender swap spell of Dawn’s and rocked my world, and I figured it’d be ok, I just don’t want any foals unless it’s with Nightfall. He only just agreed to be my mate and I don’t want him running away because I had a foal with somepony else.”

“Oh, ok.” Cadence said relieved. Humming as she wrote down notes slowly and started to think, looking between Storm and Dawn. She sighed as she finished, putting them away as she ended with a nod, “I… I think we are done for now. I need to clear my head.”

Storm stayed quiet, finally glad that the questions were going to be over. She squirmed in place nervously before Cadence used her magic to restore the collar’s invisibility magics and instantly took Storm and Twilight back to Rally Point with a Teleport spell.

"Oh… Well, that was sudden." Dawn said in surprise, moving to comfort her crying foals. "What’s next?"

"Gather everyone and wait to leave." Cadence instructed, her chipper nature gone.

"You ok?" Dawn asked concerned. 'Did I miss something?'

"I'm fine." Cadence answered before walking off to supervise the departure efforts.

Dawn looked to Cadence as she left in confusion, turning again to Chrysalis out of concern.

'What happened?' Chrysalis asked.

Dawn shared the memory as her husband welcomed her back with a bit of affection, supposing Cadence was troubled by Storm's being dominated and potentially manipulated into liking being a pet.

'That had to be the worst way to phrase that… No, I suppose it could be worse.' Chrysalis facehoofed with a sigh. 'Cadence has been obsessed with Twilight somewhat since Shining Armor’s death, and to make it seem like Twilight did something like that…'

'Wait. Shining Armor's dead?' Dawn asked, concerned. She hadn't met him or Cadence in her world, but she was alarmed to discover this nonetheless.

'Yes, decades ago.'

'Oh. That’s unfortunate…' Dawn thought, sighing as she stood around, unsure what's next or when they would go to the other world as she watched the others moving around. She hoped her family would adjust well, and how they would otherwise make a living.

'It… it was. … He died protecting her from an assassination attempt by some rouge griffins.'

Dawn frowned, her grief at the news and empathy echoing as she stuck to her husband like glue.

'Yes, she… she wasn’t the same afterwards. She became obsessed with Twilight to the point of stalking her when not busy, still does even.'

'Yeah... and now I worry about my husband and if he'd… of course he would do that for me, what am I thinking?' she sighed, now worried about him losing his life against an assassin.

'He does remind me of him yes.' her mother admitted.

Dawn took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, clutching him tighter to where he chimed in.

"You ok dawn?"

"Huh? Oh, talking with mom."

"But are you ok?" he repeated, eyeing her closely.

"Just... worried. Want you and the foals to be happy is all."

"We will be. We have each other after all." He said, kissing her on the muzzle.

The town was full of activity as ponies were packing up items they wished to take with them.

Dawn tried to distract herself with thoughts on how she would make a living, what she’d do to care for her family. She had no idea if they’d only temporarily be in the Castle of Friendship, and thought about where they might wish to stay after that might be a good place to raise foals.

'Daughter…’ Chrysalis interrupted, almost disappointed in Dawn, ‘do you honestly think Twilight wouldn’t have planned all that? She is going to give you your own rooms in The Castle of Friendship as well as a stipend that is fair to do with as you please.'

'Oh... right... sorry, I just ... ' She paused, feeling guilty that she had genuinely overlooked that she had her friends, her commander and owner, and her mother and the hive. She should not take them for granted, but she hated the idea of being a burden to anyone.

'Meadow Dawn, you are not alone anymore.' Chrysalis reminded her.

'I am not alone... I am never alone.' she said, repeating it and visiting random changelings to give them a mental hug of appreciation, as her way of apologizing to the hive for her foolishness. The drones returned the hug without hesitation, and after she had hugged a third drone, she found herself swamped in the link in a big pile of a hug.

Dawn laughed at the dogpile, hugging them all as best she could as she was cheered up. 'I'm guessing I'm forgiven huh?'

They all nodded, giving her another squeeze before letting her get a little space as her pony mind often needed. Stalwart gave her a hug, foals wiggling to be closer to their mother. Nymph picked them up and put them on Dawn’s back before climbing up and joining the group hug, admittedly also feeding on the love shared by this family around her Queen.

“Thank you all.” Dawn said to the drones and her family, feeling the foals settling in comfortably and falling asleep even as her mother reached to hug her in the link as well. 'Thanks mom... in hindsight, I don't know why I got so worried…'

'Because you are not used to having support, but you will learn.'

'Yeah... I will.' She said, trying hard not to apologize again needlessly. She felt her head patted by her mother as she answered.

'You will learn what it is to be a changeling soon enough.'

'Yes, mother.' She said, chuckling lightly as she enjoyed the sensation more.

‘Go to the hive my daughter. We will notify you when it is time to leave.’

‘All right.’ Dawn nodded to her before turning to her family. “All right, everything is getting accounted for and organized. We have to wait for the rift to open again, so we are going to the hive for now since it’s closer.”

“All right love.” Stalwart nodded, walking along with her to the hive.

Soon, the preparations were done by most ponies and everyone who was certain they were leaving were ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Some reports were coming in that there were families who liked the simpler life that this world had in store and wanted a fresh start. They reported their wish to stay to the soldiers who were helping evacuate and were added to the list with the appropriate signatures showing their consent to stay.

While she walked into the hive, Dawn quietly sang to her foals that dozed in and out of sleep before the arrived to her room and settled into the bed to wait.

“So, here we are again.” Stalwart chuckled, settling down close to his wife. “I still have a hard time believing I’m about to go to another world.”

“Not exactly surprising, considering your last shock was a month ago.”

“You mean mom?” Stalwart asked with a smirk.

“Yeah, that was a skeleton in the closet I almost didn’t expect.” Dawn chuckled, “Explains why I fell for you so easily though.”

“Oh?” Stalwart asked with a smirk, “You like your ‘humany’ things?”

“I mean, putting it nicely, a lot of ponies here are well-intentioned but almost foal-ish in their naiveté.” Dawn chuckled, “You had a good head on your shoulders and I loved that you took the initiative with me.”

“I mean, how else do you get to a mare? Same with some stallions too.” Stalwart chuckled.

“True enough. I think when we get the mirror fixed and settled in, I’ll want to go get my family, visit them or have them visit us.”

“I’d been wondering why we hadn’t.” Stalwart nodded.

“Because I worry you’d freak out at not being a pony.” Dawn chuckled.

“Well, I won’t.” He chuckled. “Since we’ve got time, let’s make sure we have everything and then talk some more about that.”

Stalwart went over to their luggage and noticed they really hadn’t grabbed much. Dawn frowned, thinking about what they might otherwise want to bring since they were leaving for the foreseeable future.

Several drones volunteered to go to her home and get what they might need. Dawn approved them to go to the home and go through room by room to determine what might be useful or wanted.

Dawn skipped most furniture, not feeling it appropriate to bring things that would unnecessarily burden them. Books, while valuable, were mostly things she couldn’t take with them since the lessons were books she was borrowing and the entertainment she didn’t find many she enjoyed as much as she liked yet.

She got to the kitchen and sighed, expecting none of it would be needed, though her guards would be instructed to use up the supplies left and only keep what they needed as they housesat for her until her return. No point in bringing most of them she decided. Same went with most of the bedroom things. Mattresses and linens would be provided by Twilight, and probably the fun stuff too.

She had them go to the attic, fully expecting nothing to be up there that she would need. The room was empty outside the mirror, being kept safe as Celestia requested until she was ready to visit her family once more.

‘We have memorized every detail of the mirror Legate.’ One reported. ‘you will not need us to bring it with and there are dangers in doing so.’

‘I know, but before we go I’d like to see it through your eyes, give it and my world another wave goodbye before I move onto my next chapter of life.’ Dawn relayed.

‘As you command Legate.’ They replied, going up the stairs and entering the room.

To Dawn’s surprise, through three pairs of eyes, she saw a familiar set of furniture and a pair of luggage. The drones were equally surprised, having inspected the attic before for their queen’s and queen’s mate’s security and these things were not here during their inspection several months ago, and Dawn never went to the attic, nor did anypony else due to the princess lock it normally held.

A sun-worn dark blue pair of suitcases, showing a light purple from repeated sun exposure near the top, stood upright alongside a wall while a dark wood desk with assorted items resting on it. On the right was a black simple entertainment center, with items stored on the shelves with a small layer of dust with names Dawn hadn’t seen in a long time.

‘Legate, these electronics appear to have a layer of dust indicating their last cleaning was six months to one year ago.’ One drone said, moving forward to the entertainment center with a television standing on the top shelf.

‘Legate, the items on the desk appear to have dust that is only two months old.’ The second drone instructed.

‘Legate, there are books in here…’ another drone instructed as it opened the larger suitcase.’

‘Ohmygod… that’s all the stuff from my old apartment! What in Chryssy’s name happened?’

‘I… daughter are you ok?’ Chrysalis asked, blinking repeatedly as her daughter used her name.

‘I don’t know.’ Dawn replied, utterly astonished into surprise.

“Dawn… is everything all right?” Stalwart asked, blinking.

“My stuff from my old apartment as a human… it’s in the attic with the mirror.” Dawn explained, utterly confused.

“What!?” Stalwart asked in surprise, “Dawn, what kind of things are they?”

“Old clothes in one suitcase, books in the other, my desk and laptop computer, my tv and consoles…”

“Well, I’m glad you have them now.” Stalwart said, starting to smile, “I’m kinda curious about the stuff you had. Can they bring them with?”

Dawn’s face lit up at the idea, smiling as she got the urge to re-read some of the old books and play her games like she used to. She could even take up a human form and use her computer and controllers pretty easily too!

The drones moved to inspect everything for any sign of magical or electrical monitoring and when they found none, proceeded to secure everything for their Legate into the remaining luggage containers and boxes they seemed to procure from nowhere. Even if the Legate had not been interested, the queen and Twilight would be very interested in this discovery later, when everything calmed down.

“I… I don’t know what to say. It’s like a piece of myself I had left behind has come back.” Dawn said, just as much saying that to her mother.

Drones came to support their Legate in the link, the trio at the home packing the items with great care as several more were coming to assist. The drone handling the books, some of which tattered or having dislodged pages, was frowning at the disrepair the books went through while appreciating some that seemed to be much better condition, mostly due to lack of use.

“Well, I’d say thank you to the changelings grabbing everything to bring with. I want to see what kind of things you liked and did before you met me.” Stalwart grinned.

“Oh something tells me if we get this working, you are going to either love or hate playing video games. The real question is what ones you would enjoy if you did get into it.” Dawn smirked, blushing and feeling embarrassed despite not knowing why.

Dawn watched them pack, feeling sentimental at the books she had, some of which since her childhood. She figured she wouldn’t care for the simple or repeating plotline various ones had, but it still held well-wishing messages from some of her family members that gifted her those books on the inside covers. Others were mementos of her father and one of his series that he enjoyed a great deal.

As the droned packed, near the end she was even more pleased to find a prop sword that was her father’s. The drones packed it to go along with them as well, treating it with respect as Dawn started to remember why it was important to her, invoking a childhood memory when he first showed it off to her at four years old, back when he was still healthy, before his cancer and chemo.

In short order, all her things were put into their assorted boxes, marked with Twilight’s and Dawn’s seals to indicate the owner of them and took them to the area for processing.

Dawn waited for the delivery and considered the families coming with them to the EDF, seeing how they were coping with the news of rescue, just as much interested in knowing if they felt more prepared because of her speech.

The drones connected and surveying the situation relayed how the families were still about the same as they were before. Some were excited, some were anxious or torn, and some were somber. The citizens were all dealing with the idea of being reunited with family or loved ones when they return, a possibility of returning to what they consider normal or deciding on a new normal, or needing to make sad farewells to those being left behind when some who had found friends or love and neither side would leave their home.

'I see… well, that is unfortunate for some of them… perhaps they could leave a message for their friends to remember them by?’ Dawn offered, wanting to help them somehow.

‘Your portal will help them cope as well.’ Chrysalis reminded her.

'Which is all the more reason to get it done.' Dawn nodded.

'Yes.' Chrysalis said, holding back that Nightfall was being a naysayer to Storm about the mirror and Storm was in agreement. Her legate would succeed and those two still had some of their weaknesses. She frowned internally at the inferiority of the mate Storm had chosen.

Dawn tried very hard to be patient, her body getting anxious even as her foals slept and her husband stayed by her side. Chrysalis showed Dawn a view of Twilight, showing the mare doing her sunshine dance with Cadence as they always did when they met normally.

‘So silly.’ Dawn chuckled, still glad that they had a special greeting they relayed to each other.

'Yes. She had not failed to do that on any normal visit from Cadence since she was a filly.' Chrysalis said.

'That’s sweet in a way. I’d be too self-conscious to do that I think.'

'It is one of the few things left from her younger years and is tradition.'

'Good to know.' She said, greeting the changelings delivering her items in the link once they arrived safely and giving each one of them a good hug. She smiled wide as they all returned it, glad to have served their legate. 'How long before departure, do we know?'

'No. could be an hour, could be a week.'

'So I might have wakened my family for no reason.' Dawn frowned. 'Oops.'

'Sorry. Still, with an unknown time frame, it would be best to be close.'

'It's all right, I'll let my husband know that we don't have a definite time for when we're leaving, just to be ready.' Dawn said, relaying it out loud immediately after.

"All right.” He shrugged, chuckling at his wife tiredly, “I'll go back to sleep then. Wake me up when it's time."

'and what will you do daughter?'

'Not sure really, body might want to sleep, but I feel like my mind won't, even though I have nothing to do or any way to contribute as far as I know, unless you have a suggestion or task for me.'

'Submerge yourself in the link and let the knowledge wash over you?' Chrysalis asked, shrugging.

'I will try again mom.' She agreed, going to join her husband with her foals there, and once again tried to repeat the steps they had tried before to help her learn all the link had to offer.

Chrysalis was there guiding her out of her body.

'Forget about your body… let your mind wander into the link… let go. '

Dawn took a deep breath and let herself attempt it, feeling herself leave her body slowly. It was a scary idea to her, instinctively not wanting to go elsewhere. She instead focused on the trust she had for her mother, and slowly began to feel different and detached.

'That’s right… your body is just a vessel for you. Let it rest while you join the link… merge with it… let it wash over you…'

She hesitated, trusting her guide, but still feeling nervous and a little scared. She mentally reached forward toward the voice, still trying to keep tabs on her body.

'Let go… your body will take care of itself if you let it… let go my daughter.'

'Ok, mom...' She said, still feeling scared as she reached out for her, letting go of her body mentally as she trusted herself fully to them while feeling like a child once more.

As Dawn let go, she felt the link wash over her and swallow her up. She became one with it, surrounded by thousands… millions… trillions of voices from throughout all of the ages. All of the voices being like one yet all individuals. All of them working towards the survival and betterment of themselves and their species. Every bit of their experiences, personalities, achievements, failures, successes, the history of an entire race… every queen that was before her.

It was so overwhelming she immediately put up mental barriers to protect herself, scared of getting lost in the voices and feeling more alone than ever, as if she’d be unable to be picked out from all of the voices and found ever again.

'Relax Dawn… This is your heritage… it wants to teach you… it will not harm you, it just wants to teach you through others.' Chrysalis said.

Chrysalis placed a hoof on her shoulder, then another was on her, then another and another as the entire hive that could do so joined her, reminding her yet again she wasn’t alone in the link.

Dawn tried to relax, letting herself trust her mother as this experience she couldn't explain started to sink in. Calling it her heritage helped a great deal in a way she didn't know how to explain.

Slowly, her barriers lowered as the hive reinforced her, trying to allow her to truly join the link.

She witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations from everything from plague to war, from famine and economic collapse to prosperity and peace and back to civil war and hardships.

She saw great queens and moronic fools, saw daring escapes from attempted purges and valiant final stands. She bore witness to the deaths of thousands in a nearly successful purge and the changelings clawing their way back and learning and growing stronger.

She saw them driven underground, saw them meet truly honorable ‘others’ who defeated their hives and allowed the survivors to leave in peace as well as those who took sadistic pleasure in slaughtering them in their weakened state.

Dawn felt as if she were aging as it progressed, that it was giving her the experience and age with it. She felt like she was getting a proper glimpse of their experiences and their lives, understanding various lessons vaguely, her mind struggling to process as everything tried to press in on her at once.

She saw the world turn. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to years, and years to centuries. Time was marching ever forward as the changelings, her race, survived through countless generations, ever growing, ever improving, striving to be stronger, faster, smarter and better than those who wished them harm.

They studied their enemies, learned how they thought, their fears, their motivations, hopes, dreams, what they lusted after, what they loved, what they hated, their values, their vices. they studied their cultures, their values, how they viewed the world, how they interacted with it.

She saw dictatorships, monarchies, tribes, republics, theocracies, warmongering civilizations, and those who strove for peace through diplomacy. Those who wished to rule the world and those who wished to simply exist in it. They saw those who wished to be allies with others and those where were xenophobic.

All of them were swallowed up by time one way or another. Either they were their own undoing or it was just bad luck or a failure on their own part, but they all fell in one way or another, either through social change to be unrecognizable as what was before or were destroyed from within or without.

Through it all, her race remained, ever growing and learning from those who wished them harm. Always watching, always lurking in the shadows just out of sight. Always changing with the times so as not to fall like so many others did before them. They accepted that no matter what, the world changed, and the only way to survive was to adapt and change with it or fall like all the others.

Dawn felt only parts of it sink in, but she felt like something had shifted, perhaps her understanding deepened. She experienced the events, yet still saw it from her own pony sight, and despite her best efforts, she could not keep up. So much new information came that she had to generalize just to keep up or keep from breaking down. Things started to be lumped together in the 'this is kinda the same' way as her mind tried to cope, straining and trying to shut down from sheer effort needed to continue functioning in this manner.

Chrysalis tried to help her daughter, but her pony mind just didn’t understand the subtlety of the events or the link, the nuances of it all. The link tried to help her understand her race, and yet despite Dawn’s best efforts, her mind shut down and couldn’t continue, barely having any more energy to continue.

Dawn felt overwhelmed, barely cognizant as her mother guided her back to her body. She felt a great deal of sadness, feeling like she was disappointing all of them and that she should become more changeling by spending time in the cocoon before trying again. She tried not to tell herself that she was somehow weaker than the rest and holding them back, trying to accept the unspoken feelings they sent that she was different, and different can lead to greater survival if the risk is played well.

Dawn’s body was asleep, and she felt a migraine as it struggled to process what little she took in.

'I am sorry my daughter…' Chrysalis said, hugging her.

'No, I'm sorry mom… I'm not changeling enough…' She said, trying hard not to cry even though her body was sleeping as that sadness she felt earlier seemed to compound.

'Shhh, shh… it’s okay.'

'But I'm not learning it all like you want…' Dawn said, her eyes letting out a tear that trailed down her cheek.

'It is okay, my daughter.' Chrysalis said, holding her.

Dawn sighed, starting to calm as she was held and chuckled weakly, embarrassed at her reaction 'Sorry, I'm acting like such a foal right now...'

'It is okay.' Chrysalis said as she nuzzled her. 'You are my daughter.'

'I am your daughter… though I guess it's not surprising if we change how we look at it... I'm only a nymph compared to the other changelings, a few months old at that...' She sighed, thoroughly embedding herself in their side in their link.

Chrysalis nuzzled Dawn, holding her close like a foal against herself. Dawn sighed, headache pounding even as she rested and was asleep. Chrysalis tried to help, but there was nothing to do but let nature take its course. Healing magic would only stop her brain from taking in what little it was able to.

Dawn instead appreciated their closeness as what she could remember of those events swam around in her head, making her feel like she had to watch out for her own family and hive more than ever, while simultaneously hoping for a peaceful existence despite the centuries upon centuries of history the hive went through. Chrysalis just held her, stroking her mane.

'I can't help thinking that my inability just makes it seem like I'm not a true changeling...'

Chrysalis hugged her close. 'You are my daughter and that is all that matters.’

'Thanks mom… I just… I know I can be more… so I want to be more, you know?'

'You can be whatever you want.' Chrysalis encouraged.

'I want to be more, to do what I fully could...' She said, taking a deep breath before letting it out as her body slept, 'Though no one reached the fullest they could in a day... and hell, as a princess changeling mix, I've got an eternity to try eh?'

'Yes, you do, and no matter what, you are my daughter.'

'Thanks mom... I really appreciate it.'

'You have nothing to thank me for.'

'And I choose to be grateful for what I used to take for granted.'

'Such as?' Chrysalis asked.

'A caring mother who isn’t afraid to show it and won’t stop helping me just because I'm old enough that I should be getting it already.'

'Why wouldn’t I help?’ she blinked. ‘I was over a century old and made a huge blunder invading Canterlot how I did.'

'Because that’s what my birth mom did…' she said simply.

Chrysalis tilted her head, not understanding.

Dawn shared her memories again, how her mom wouldn't help in times of struggle, said that she was not welcome in her mother's home again over not agreeing with her superstition, how she let her own child stay in the cold that would have killed a lesser creature and did nothing to help, and is the reason she hasn't gone back through her functioning mirror back to her home world, because she was afraid of being hurt once more.

'You will never be abandoned.'

'I know... but because I've tasted that, I know how it feels, so I will be grateful and appreciate that I will not be.'

Chrysalis hugged her daughter, and Dawn hugged back, knowing they believed she meant everything she said fully. Dawn waited for further action, and decided it would be nice to have some pizza made, instructing a cooking drone to make it happen so it could cheer her up.

The drones were thrilled to have a way to help their Legate feel better and they began immediately, simultaneously wishing her well and pointing out how much they loved having her as part of the hive.

Dawn blushed, embarrassed at how much she was cared for as she waited for the food to be made.

It didn’t take long before Dawn hummed, thinking on what her mother said. It wasn’t the first time she had heard it from her either. She watched the pizza cook in the stone oven they used, to give her the best possible food she could have. Dawn chuckled softly, utterly glad they went to such lengths for her benefit and tried to think about what she would do when they went to the EDF when she remembered Twilight’s desire to teach her.

'Hey mom, what things do you think Twilight will teach me?'

'I have no idea.'

'Well, I mean I guess I'll have to learn... Did she put you through any kind of training as her mate?' Dawn could feel the blush Chrysalis felt and the wave of embarrassment at being asked that by her daughter who was also a pet to the same mare. Her mother coughed into her hoof and Dawn blushed back, chuckling weakly, 'Not what I meant mom, I meant in fighting ability or in technology or magic or the like.'

'Oh? Oh! Yes, she did! I am trained as a soldier, yes.'

'So what's that like?' Dawn asked, 'Is that something the link would teach me or do I have to go through it myself because each body is slightly different or something?'

'Oh the link can mentally teach you theories, but no, that doesn’t mean your body has the reflexes or muscle memory to do them.'

'So that's something I'll need to physically learn... I probably should learn the magic with practical buildup so my magical 'muscle' increases... that is how it works right?' She checked.

'Yes and no. You have the reserves naturally, but your ability to control it needs to be improved.'

'Got it...' She said, nodding as she pictured the idea of a car with a set fuel tank amount, but controlling how the fuel is used can still yield similar or greater outputs by refinement and experimentation, 'So that's why it felt like I could do more with practice.'

'Yes. Your control increased.'

She considered this for a moment as her body woke up, 'So what other training I can get over there that isn't pet training?'

'Anything you’d like.'

'Well, what would I be expected to know?' She asked, trying to find a direction for them to go in.

'Politics, leadership, magic, etiquette, and I’m sure Twilight plans to help you learn nonmagic fighting.'

'Like hoof to hoof or?' She said, using magic to write these things down on a scroll.

'Yes, that as well as improvised weapons and of course forging your weapon.'

'Wait, I get to forge my own weapon?' Dawn asked, growing excited, her mind instantly going to a specific design she had made a few years ago and drew.

'Well… yes. Don’t your princesses have their own unique weapons they forged themselves?'

'No, not at all…’ She answered before pausing herself, ‘Actually, I don’t know. I don't know of Celestia's or Luna's. I don't know if innocent Twilight has at all.'

Chrysalis blinked at this odd possible divergence.

'So what kind of weapon am I forging?'

'Your weapon.'

'I got that.’ Dawn said, growing impatient as Chrysalis simply repeated herself, ‘what kind? A specific one or is that up to me or what?'

'It’s your weapon.' Chrysalis said with more confusion, utterly failing to figure out how to answer. It was just… something the princesses do. She had no explanation for it.

'So I design my own maybe, since you're not able to describe it?' Dawn asked, hope growing that she could forge her idea. A double ended weapon would be her top pick, inspired by her favorite game for theming and decoration while the base form was from a different older game, ideally splitting it in half where the handle was so she could dual wield the halves if needed.

'Um…' Chrysalis hesitated, then an idea struck her as she saw her daughter’s ideas in the link and decided to reciprocate in kind with her memories.

In one, Celestia was practicing with a pure white spear with golden tips. Where the steel met wood was the emblem of the sun emblazoned upon it. At the other end, it was covered with an ornate design of the sun. Her practice showed she was very skilled with the tool and put Dawn’s shows she watched to shame in how elegance and functionality melded.

Next was Luna with her two short swords. The blades were pure black and the hilts were silver with the moon upon them.

Then came Cadence, using a pink longbow with a heart in the grip and at the two ends, even she seemed to create each arrow as she needed it.

Then was Twilight with two hoof blades that were part of her front hooves, stored in the cybernetics themselves. They were short, like daggers, and simple, practical designs.

Then was another alicorn, her mane was curled and her wings an impressive size. She wielded a large hammer. The head was square and wider at the ends, narrowing a bit where it met the handle. Upon the side was a light ornate tree with roots coming off it and wrapping around the head of the hammer and down the shaft, which looked to be made of the twisting roots.

'Your weapon.' Chrysalis repeated.

'So it sounds like it is something that I'll not only design and make, but will be incredibly representative of who I am in a way, and require my mastery of it…' she thought, her mind getting caught up in the idea of having something so interesting, 'It sounds really exciting, though I'm sure it'll be tiring, and I'll probably cut myself a few times.'

'Yes. It is to be forged by you with your magic and only you. No one else can do it for you.'

'Nice…' Dawn thought, already making plans for herself and what she would expect. 'Do you know if there's any limits, recommendations, anything? I wanna prepare for that as my incentive or goal to work toward during my stay here.'

'I don’t know. All I was ever able to find out was it is a task you must do yourself.'

'Understood… Won't hurt me to at least design it, think of what I would do, right?'

'Yes, though I think it is important to not be tied down to any one idea for it. You would just… let it flow from you… no plan, just instinct.'

'Oh… drat.' Dawn replied, feeling disappointed at the idea of not being able to plan around it. 'Well, I'll listen to you, mom. You know best... that and you're queen and I won't let you forget it!'

Chrysalis chuckled at the antics of her daughter and ruffled their mane, causing them to giggle before going back to rest.

Jeron smirked as he acted like he read the interaction like a story he would read out loud to the foals, “And then they got ‘rescueded’ and lived happily ever after as Twilight’s toys.”

Dawn rolled her eyes and gave Jeron a light tap on the head to behave before going to bed.

Dawn's ears perked up attentively after an hour had passed. Her body had rested, but she made sure each drone that wanted to have affection could get it directly from her. One changeling had dropped by and set down a harness for mares who wished to carry their foals on their back, and it was able to hold both her foals safely by each leg and across the back. Now she sensed that something was coming, a nagging feeling that she couldn’t ignore.

It was then that Dawn noticed the alarms blaring throughout the whole town. She got up swiftly, donning the carrier the changeling had provided and placed her foals onto her back. The sound of the alarm finally reached the hive and Dawn had to cast a spell to help deafen the noise they would hear.

Stalwart awoke with a start at the alarm, looking around with his eyes blinking wearily before he rubbed them with a spare hoof.

'What's going on mom, is it time? What do I do?' Dawn asked swiftly.

'Dimensional energy build up, means a rift is coming.’

'So what should I do?'

'Get your things.’

"It's time." Dawn told her husband as she issued orders to the changelings in charge of her things to confirm they were all stowed away and marked.

The dozen changelings confirmed each item for her while the queen managed the rest of the hive, each individual getting a single box and confirming the desired items were stowed and secure with minimal risk of harm.

Stalwart stretched himself out before getting into his armor, even wearing his helmet as he pulled his own saddlebags of personal effects over it before lifting the confused, sleepy Nymph onto his own back.

Dawn just finished her fretting over her foal’s security to her sides when a letter popped into thin air in front of her and sealed with Celestia's mark, then another one with Luna's.

'Should I read these now or later?' Dawn wondered.

'Your call, but it seems the town square is where the rift is going to open.

'I'll read them as we go.' She said, walking along while carrying her foals who rested their heads on soft, gel-like cushions.

The changelings who were assisting with her luggage came to escort her, one ahead, one on each side, and one behind, all of them attempting to help her and be her eyes. She used their vision to help walk on as she read the letters, deciding to start with Celestia’s.

"Dear Dawn,

I trust you to do what you must, just as you always have. It saddens me that you are going away, but I know that you will return to us one day. We will ensure your mirror to your old world is well watched after and your home itself cared for until you return. Be safe, and may the sun shine brightly on you and your family."

'Not sure what to make of that.’ Dawn frowned as she showed her husband the letter, holding it for him in magic so he could walk unhindered, ‘It sounds like she's trying to be nice, but also remind me to keep that portal going so we can monitor the commander, but she might not be intending it that way… Still, let’s see what Luna's going to say.'

"Dawn. I know our time learning together has been brief, but I have treasured our times together. You shine as bright as a night star for many, and I know you are a capable young mare who will help many. Thank you for letting us know so we won’t worry. Please, come back soon and we will pick up where we left off. Stay true to your element, young princess, and may the moon be your comfort and remind you of home."

Dawn walked on, the sound of the alarm much louder to where she and her husband both flattened their ears against their heads. Her foals squirmed, sensing the sound and almost feeling it and pressing close to their mother, who raised her wings protectively over them. Nymph winced at the noise, holding onto Stalwart with her hind legs while her front ones covered her ears and eyes shut tightly closed.

Ponies in the town moved quickly, gathering at the designated area with their belongings on their backs, making Dawn think they looked a lot more like pack animals at that point, but it was the easiest way to ensure they carried in the end. The EDF had mobilized and ensured most of the civilians were ready for departure or giving instructions.

Dawn followed their directions when one approached and moved her to be with the Commander and Chrysalis.

‘Legate, the little one is coming with?’ One of the drones with her asked.

‘Of course. She is of my hive and no one will be left alone.’

They nodded their agreement and approval, then another relayed, ‘Lapdog’s mate is having second thoughts about coming.’

‘I wondered if he would.’ Dawn frowned. ‘Twilight had made her position quite clear about wanting her to come with too.’

‘We could just take her with.’ The drone informed her, showing a plan to literally take them, knocking them out and bringing them in as luggage for the Queen and the Commander. The egg would of course be tenderly packaged, as the Queen’s Mate’s family would be treated well, but the Queen’s Mate’s toy should come, but Twilight was too busy to confirm if they should force it.

‘Hm… I don’t like the idea of kidnapping, but she had already given her decision before and it’s too late to have cold hooves.’ Dawn thought, then nodded as something clicked and a decision was made. ‘Whatever the queen’s mate wants, she gets. If they say they’re changing their minds, ensure they are securely packed for departure. They had already given their word they were coming.”

Dawn could feel the pride her mother was sending at what she had ordered, but Dawn didn’t quite understand why. She simply observed through the changelings in charge of observing the pet and her mate.

“I already told you,” Nightfall frowned, “I don’t like it.”

“And what exactly don’t you like?” Storm frowned. “ You already voiced your complaints to Twilight before.

“It’s too similar to where I’m from.” Nightfall said, “It’s just going to remind me of everything I lost all over again.”

“Nightfall, that’s the exact same argu-”

“Besides, we might not get to see your parents again.” Nightfall reminded her.

“And Dawn’s working on-” Storm countered before getting interrupted again.

“Yeah, and we know how well THAT went.” He said with an almost growl.

“Even if that weren’t the case, they have their own way of sending us back.” Storm said, trying hard not to hit him in the face, her anger permeating the air.

“Yeah, and we might be sent back our separate ways, me to my world and you to here.” Nightfall said, giving every impression he would use any argument he could to fight them.

“Night… you…” Storm said, her anger reaching a peak before she sighed, “Fine. I guess we won’t.”

‘Do it.’ Dawn instructed.

The pair never knew what hit them. They were teleported into a nearby empty building by the four changelings surrounding them, only to have another six cast a sleep spell. They were out like a light before they had a chance to realize what happened to them.

The six changelings secured the pair into their own individual cushioned sacks, a gem with a spell to recycle the air so they could breathe with ease placed into each of their ‘packages’ and one for the egg, which was put into a very well cushioned and insulated crate. The packages were all marked with Chrysalis’ and Twilight’s marks and destination before being carried out by the crew to the departure area for stored luggage.

Dawn nodded in satisfaction as she ensured her Queen’s mate got what they wanted and turned to nuzzle her foals, reassuring them as they squirmed on her back against their slight restraints to feel their mother’s fur once again.

“So what happens now?” Stalwart turned to ask Twilight or Dawn.

“You’ll see.” Chrysalis answered.

The wind picked up, a very cold wind that made everyone nearby shiver in place and see their breath in the air. Dawn used her wings to shield her foals as best she could, letting out a low ‘oof’ of surprise.

A tear in the air appeared, shining bright and looking like a wall of liquid light, wobbling on the surface like a disturbed pool of water.

“Alright, first group! Go, go, go!" A trooper yelled as civilians and a couple troopers moved with them to jump through, the mass of ponies moving together in a somewhat coordinated formation into the wall, disappearing through that wall of light.

Dawn blinked, looking away, Stalwart turning away with her.

'Which group are we in?' Stalwart asked.

“The final group, along with the rest of leadership. Twilight likes to make sure everyone else is through in case something goes wrong.”

“Makes sense.” He said, glad they would be the last ones through, his own nervousness growing slowly.

Nymph wriggled on Stalwart’s back, somehow having acquired a small stuffed sheep plush that she now held onto tightly along with Stalwart.

‘Queeny, It’s cold.’ Nymph complained.

‘I know Nymph, just bear with it a little longer. We’re about to go to another home very soon.’

‘I know Queeny. Just don’t leave me behind.’ Nymph said, much to the distress of the other drones in the hive that she didn’t hear.

‘I would never leave you behind again.’ Dawn relayed, moving over to nudge them with her muzzle reassuringly.

Dawn spotted some of the drones picking up the belongings of the Queen and her mate to deliver through the portal. Every 45 seconds a wave of civilians went through, then a wave of belongings carried by changelings. She saw how the drones carrying the toy and her family were two per container and ensured Dawn and the Queen knew that they were successfully delivering the package.

Dawn chuckled quietly, making sure those drones got an extra bit of gratitude and love before they went through. Dawn sent a small telephone message into Storm’s head to infiltrate her dream.

“The toy thought it could leave its owner? Silly toy. It already said it was coming before they could change their mind anyway.”

Once all civilians had gone through, it was time for the military personnel, starting with the foreigners.

Dawn stood by, watching over her nymph who was comforted by the lamb plush, which was now tied onto her back much like Dawn carried her now whimpering foals. Stalwart was comforting the foals and Nymph tried to do the same, the whole family close together before Nymph helped move the colt onto Stalwart’s back.

To Dawn’s surprise, he calmed down as soon as he was secured to Stalwart, rather well tied down by some cloth in a comfortable way for both Stalwart and Beacon. Nymph then climbed onto Dawn’s back carefully, holding on to the Pegasus filly and trying to wait patiently by looking after her queen’s young.

Dawn chuckled quietly and let her do her busywork, Stalwart seeming to be a bit happier holding onto one of their foals, giving her a smile as well.

Soon the soldiers were gone and the hive began to move through. Dawn looked over the scene, looking back as they piled through and noticing just how empty this place seemed after everyone had left.

Once the hive had entered, it was their turn. All that remained was the leaders and Dawn's family.

Dawn took a deep breath, her husband standing next to her, their belongings having been taken ahead of them with the drones.

"Time to take the plunge into another world..." Dawn said.

"At least it's not your first time like mine." Stalwart said, nerves growing.

"Don't worry, it'll be gentle, probably." Dawn chuckled.

"Yup. It’s as simple as running and jumping into an ice-cold pool that’s in the middle of a maelstrom." Twilight said as she got ready.

"Sounds perfect." Dawn said, suspecting sarcasm, "Anything I should do to keep my foals safe or everyone together if that’s the case?"

"Just follow directions" Twilight said. Once she received the nod from Dawn and Stalwart, she headed for the rift, saying, “Let’s go.”

Dawn nodded again, Dawn following Twilight, and Stalwart following her. Twilight disappeared into the rift, then Dawn and Stalwart a second afterward.

To Dawn’s surprise, it was like Twilight had said. She felt her body heat being shorn away as she felt the maelstrom and a kind of partial liquid that they seemed to be wading through. Her vision was filled with light and she could barely make out the outline of Twilight. She repeatedly shifted her wings to protect her foals and make sure they were together, feeling Nymph hold the filly close between them, wanting to help keep together.

Stalwart stayed close, and after bumping into her rump a couple times, he reached his head down and bit on her tail. Dawn winced, but figured that was probably not a bad idea. At least if nothing else, they weren’t about to be separated.

Time seemed to stretch on and on, even as Twilight’s outline faded into a pin in the distance. Dawn felt her body starting to shake as they walked onward. Both foals were shaking badly and pressing as tightly to their parents as they could, Nymph being almost frozen on Dawn’s back until finally, Dawn heard the sound of her hooves on metal as they landed on a ramp.

Dawn sighed in relief. She had finally made it. Her eyes struggled to readjust, no longer trying to see through intense light and her body struggling to deal with having been so cold for so long. When she finally did see, she was surprised and frozen into place for a different reason.

She found they were staring down the barrels of shotguns, SMGs, assault rifles, and LMGs, all being held by two-dozen soldiers in black armor and gas masks. All of them were trained on her family while two manned gun turrets were facing them down. On the far wall, a thick glass window with four ponies dressed in white lab coats were in a control room. watching. On that same wall, two automated machine guns were installed, and an additional one just above the control room window that looked like it was loaded with small rockets.

"Remain calm and do not make any sudden movements." A voice said over an intercom.

She nodded her understanding, still shivering visibly in place as she tried to say through chattering jaws, "Could use a little warmth at some point…"

Stalwart stiffened at the clear threat he was facing down. He didn’t recognize any of what he saw, but he remembered what Twilight said and made sure he didn’t do anything rash.

Twilight slowly sat down and raised her hooves to show she wasn't a threat. Dawn noticed the movement and tried to do likewise, slowly moving her wings to uncover her foal and drone, tucking them back into her sides.

Six of the soldiers approached cautiously, their weapons still aimed at everyone on the platform.

Dawn stood, telling her husband, "Be still hun. We're safe, they just are being careful."

"If half the things the commander said were true, I don’t blame them.” Stalwart whispered back.

The six surrounded them and began to search them, the foals and Twilight were searched just as thoroughly, though Twilight was exempt from the metal detector wand for obvious reasons.

Dawn waited, still shivering and asked, "Any chance of some hot cocoa after all this?"

"Quiet." One of the soldiers said, muffled from behind the mask as they checked the princess over.

Dawn frowned, the frown growing deeper as her foals were whimpering, on the verge of crying, for warmth and food.

The soldiers finished their searches before moving behind them, one instructing, "Down the ramp."

Dawn moved, her limbs feeling clumsy as they tried to keep going. The cold had taken a lot of her strength. As they all went, Hearty Beacon gave in to crying, wanting his mother for a meal.

Dawn’s eyes glistened at the sound, despite the soldiers ignoring it. Once they reached the bottom of the ramp, they were directed through a door.

'How much further?’ Dawn moved on, asking her mom, ‘It hurts to leave my foals cold and hungry.'

'It will be a bit. I’m sorry but we have had issues in the past and we take no chances.'

"Separate them." The lead soldier ordered as more moved to direct each of them to a different area.

'Yes, mom.' She said before noticing their separation. Her instincts rose and she at least wanted her foals and nymph together, wondering how they were being separated. Guards approached her and undid the binding Nymph had done on Stalwart for Beacon and undid the carrier for Morning Rise on Dawn’s back. Nymph wiggled weakly in protest, but stayed still as Dawn relayed a quiet instruction so she wouldn’t be harmed.

'Relax, they will be cared for, but....we have had issues with foals in the past so they will be checked as well.' Chrysalis said as they were each lead into a room.

Dawn felt her panic rise as her foals cried loudly, not liking how they were being handled, and their distress, both heard and felt was nearly enough to have her disregard all policies. It was barely enough knowledge that she took a deep breath and walked into her room, unable to stop the tears from starting.

'Relax, they are with drones.' Chrysalis consoled.

Dawn tried to calm herself down, taking a few deep breaths as relief started to wash over her, moreso when she could feel in the link through the drones in question they were being cared for and calmed while still performing the required tests.

The room was pleasantly furnished with a small couch, a few chairs, a table with a bowl of fruit on it, and a desk. A pegasus mare with a blue coat and green mane, wearing glasses and a lab coat stood in the room.

"Please take a seat Mrs…"

"It’s Dawn, Meadow Dawn." She said, using a leg to wipe away her tears from her face.

"I am Dr. Clear Mind, a psychologist with the Recovery Facility.” She nodded politely, “Do you know what that is?"

"You check the soundness and functionality of the mind, presumably to ensure no mental conditions or trauma from those returning home or coming to your world." Dawn ventured, "I’ve seen a couple myself in the past for different reasons."

"Very good.” She nodded and pulled out a clipboard to write on, “This is just a general assessment in order to ensure you aren't dangerous and are of sound mind."

"Then let’s get to it. I would like to get my foals and Nymph back together very soon." Dawn nodded in kind.

"First, what is your full name, titles included?"

"Princess Meadow Dawn, Alicorn of Hope and Legate of the Ridgeback Hive.”

"Reason for coming here?" she asked as she wrote that down.

"Rescue operation by the EDF. I’ve also been assigned to craft a mirror portal between my Equestria and this one by its Celestia. I had hopes to anyway, but now it’s an order."

"I see." She said, writing as her face made a small, almost hidden frown. "About how long do you expect to be here?"

"For the foreseeable future. Once the portal is made, I’ll possibly go back, but with frequent visits."

"Okay. Let’s move on to the next section. You are traveling in a small cart to escape a hurricane that is right behind you. On the side of the road, you see your lover, your best friend, and an old mare. You have space for one other person and still escape. What do you do?"

"Well, a few choices here. First instinct is to protect my mate, but I’d say myself and my mate would choose to start digging in the ground to make room rather than run and use a barrier spell to prevent the wind pressure or difference from sweeping everyone away... but there’s probably better options available." Dawn frowned, going into thought. 'Should I be answering with changeling abilities in mind, or keep secret?'

'Be honest in this. If they find out you lied… well… it won't go well.' Chrysalis told her, 'It is confidential so no one will know.'

“Interesting… Still, if you could only pick the one, who would you pick?”

“Tough choice… I would choose my husband, since I know my best friend is a talented mare and I would think has a good chance to make it. I will add I could still see picking my best friend while my husband would help the old mare to escape or find shelter.”

“I see.” She said, writing plenty of notes at that answer before continuing. "Next, you are walking along and find a lost child, the child is also in possession of stolen property and is scared. What do you do?"

"I would attempt to comfort them, show them I mean no harm, and see if I could understand why the property was stolen and what it was. If they were trying to provide for their family and didn't deprive someone just as desperate of something they needed to survive, I would likely let it go until I had more information. If it is, I’d need more information and can only speak generally that I would worry about the property second to the safety of the foal."

These questions went on for an hour. All of the questions were about morality and ethics, and Dr. Clear Mind wrote down her answers on the pages pinned to the clipboard until finally she nodded and set the clipboard aside.

"Alright… I think we have what we need." Dr. Mind said, taking out a plastic card on a lanyard and handing it to her. "Keep this on at all times while here. It is your visitor pass. If you are caught without it you will be detained."

"Understood... and, just to be clear, my being a hybrid will be kept confidential, correct?" she asked, the abilities coming up in some of the answers.

"We answer to the oversight committee." She said simply with a shrug. "A guard outside will take you to quarantine."

"Understood." Dawn replied with a slight frown, considering that a non-answer. She got down with a deep breath, her body still feeling fully cold despite having had some time to warm up. She placed her lanyard on her neck and asked her mom, 'Can I see my foals yet?'

'They are in the quarantine area.' Chrysalis assured her gently.

Dawn stepped outside as instructed, and spotted a guard waiting nearby. She approached slowly, calling out, “Pardon me, I’m here to report to quarantine."

They nodded, Dawn unable to tell gender in the full body armor and gas mask they wore, but they turned and began to walk down the hall with Dawn in tow, a shotgun on their back and a horn on their head.

Dawn walked on, noticing how much her body ached from the cold. She could feel how thirsty and hungry she was now, like her body had used up what she had eaten before to keep warm.

'I presume food and drink will be provided in quarantine…' Dawn relayed hopefully.

'Yes.'

'Good, I'm tired as hell... when it froze over.' She said quietly to her mom, chuckling lightly at the afterthought. 'If there's any control over it, could really, really use that hot cocoa for myself and my family.'

Dawn watched through Nymph’s eyes, though heavily muddled and reminding Dawn of their weak link abilities. Nymph was unsettled by her experience, but had been comforted by her queen and was trying her best to comfort the foals in the room. Nymph was distressed because they weren't calming down, despite Dawn trying to reassure Nymph for trying.

The guard led her along to a heavy door. A keycard was swiped, a camera moved to focus on the group before the door was unlocked and slowly opened. Dawn noticed the room inside was large, stepping in at the guard’s gesture to do so. There were several cots, some tables, and other basic furniture, and all of her family were in the room already along with Twilight and Chrysalis.

Dawn sighed as soon as she saw her foals and immediately went to them, curling around them on a cot to let them feel her nearby, only to notice their nursing almost right away as she consoled Nymph in person. Nymph was glad for it, still unused to the link but she tried to anyway so she could keep in touch with her queen.

The guard stood at the entrance while the door closed and it made three solid ‘thud’ sounds.

"Well, we're definitely locked in here..." Dawn commented.

"Yeah.” Twilight nodded, a small shrug crossing her frame. “We are separated from the rest due to being alicorns and a changeling queen."

"Then why am I here, and our foals?" Stalwart asked.

Twilight looked at him, Violet on her back, dozing. "Do you honestly think reinforced steel doors would keep a mother alicorn from her family?"

"Not at all..." He chuckled, watching his family briefly, "It wouldn't stop me from trying either. Could barely stop myself from wanting to tackle the soldiers taking our foals away from me and Dawn... but they're back."

"It wasn’t anything personal, but there was an… incident with a foal once, and since then, we treat them the same as the adults." Twilight explained

"Oh? ... Then again, I don't want to know." Dawn said, remembering Chrysalis’ warning on that before. She winced as Beacon nibbled a bit harder to get more and commented, "You'd think this would get easier the more I did it..."

Twilight laughed and looked at Dawn with a smirk, eyeing the needy foal. "You’d think."

"Yeah...." She sighed, frowning as she shook in place while another wave of cold went through her. "Still, I don't blame my foals for getting close... that portal was.... damn that was cold, and they hadn't eaten today, so they were pretty patient waiting for me."

"Crossing realities can be intense for first-timers. It gets easier with repeated use as the body adjusts."

"Hopefully." She said quietly, watching her foals drink their fill and then press against her belly for warmth. "Did they ever get that cocoa?"

Chrysalis walked over to a machine by the wall and put a cup under it. She pressed a button, then another one several times after watching the small display in the wall, then pushed the first button again. The machine whirred and soon was pouring a steaming cup of cocoa, which Chrysalis levitated over to her daughter.

“Thanks, mom.” Dawn said gratefully as she took the cup and let the warmth radiate throughout her hooves, “Oh this is going to be so good…”

Chrysalis nodded with a smile, glad she could look after her little drone as she moved to a cot and climbed in. Dawn smiled and watched her go, knowing it was good being at her side, looking over to Stalwart and being glad he was with her as well, climbing up to be at her front and ready to care for the foals as well.

Twilight claimed a separate cot for herself and relaxed as much as she was able to, pulling a book out from magical storage

Dawn sipped her drink slowly, relaxing as the liquid’s warmth seeped into herself, sharing with her husband as they relaxed together with Nymph nestling between them in a contented daze while lying her head on Dawn’s side.

'I still chuckle when I watch her get that contented and happy just being next to me, all innocent and clingy... Do you feel the same when I act that way around you?' she asked idly, chuckling at the comparison.

'Yes,’ Chrysalis chuckled, ‘it’s natural for a drone to feel that way when in close proximity to their queen.’

‘I see.' Dawn smiled, sipping her cocoa. 'How long will we be in quarantine?'

'48 hours.'

'Oh boy. It’s gonna feel like forever... At least I don’t have to rely on just myself for entertainment..' Dawn jerked her head up slightly as a thought crossed her mind, speaking out loud, "Oh! Twilight, I was asking Chrysalis about our continuing my education while we are here like we talked about, and we compiled a starting list of what I could think of for what I need to learn as a starting point. Want to see it?"

"Huh? Sure." Twilight shrugged, looking up from her book.

'We are never alone.' Chrysalis said in the link, and Dawn could feel thousands, no, millions of others in the link. The hive spread far and the drones, farther. The pony lands were filled with them and there were even drones on other continents. The hive was vast, widespread, and powerful.

Dawn passed the list, trying not to get too overwhelmed at her new awareness of this massive hive. It helped that it wasn’t as big as the attempt to deeply delve into the link before.

"Hmm…” Twilight read over the meager list. “I suppose we could go over a few of these while you’re here."

"And princesses are supposed to have a weapon I hear?" She checked, "Chryssy seemed surprised at my not having one.”

Twilight blinked, looking up from her book. "What do you mean? You don’t?"

"I mean, I was surprised to know that was even a thing. It never came up." Dawn informed her. She looked at the now dumbstruck Twilight and chuckled nervously, "Yet another way I’m like a brand new alicorn with no training huh? I mean, I’m still only an alicorn that’s about six months old, so that shouldn’t be too surprising… right?"

"You… How? … I mean… WHAT?!" Twilight finally exclaimed, moving only a little bit with each word as she froze and tried to comprehend what she heard.

Dawn winced. Stalwart frowned, speaking in her defense.

"What’s the big deal? She hasn’t had any training, maybe because she was a new princess and a mother-to-be, and our princesses never pulled out any weapons that we got to see. What’s the big surprise she doesn’t have this?"

"She’s a pony who’s a bloody Princess, that’s what." Twilight said, pulling out her fingers to count off the offenses. "She knows nothing of magic, nothing of fighting, no leadership training, no diplomatic training, nothing she is supposed to know, and now you are telling me you are completely unarmed!?"

"Yes." Dawn said simply. There was no sugar coating it and defending her princess sisters would likely devolve into another outburst and her foals had just finished feeding and were curled up against her and Stalwart for a nap.

Twilight slammed her book shut and got off her cot, heading for a table. "Come."

Dawn winced, trying to keep her anxiety low as she adjusted the foals up against Stalwart’s side in her stead before going over to the table.

"Sit." she gestured to a table.

Dawn sat down at the table as instructed and gave Twilight her full attention.

"Okay then so the first thing is..." Twilight said, beginning to instruct her in the use of magic.

And with this start, Twilight began the process of training Hope into a proper Princess, helping her and her family settle in to the Castle Friendship, along with Storm and Nightfall.

Author's Notes:

Whelp ther eit is folks, the end of The Soldier and Hope. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as me and Dawn enjoyed writing (we had a blast by the way)

Also, i LOVE Cadence in this, she is so wonderfully evil.

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