It was much, much later before Velvet finally left the room with Sunburst laying his head onto the table with a thud. She wasn’t his mother but the guilt, oh sweet Celestia, the guilt she had laid on him for his thoughtlessness was seriously comparable to the stuff his mother could do. He shivered in terror at the thought of what she would say as Velvet had promised that she would contact Stellar Flare after this and he had no doubt she would do s-

“Sunburst?” Starlight asked cautiously as she stepped into the room.

“Starlight?” Sunburst looked at her in surprise. Sure, she was a grown mare now, and she’d changed her manestyle, but there was no mistaking that face. “You’re… here?”

“Yeah, I…” Starlight looked at him. “My gosh, look at you!”

Sunburst did; trying to see what she was mentioning. He didn’t see anything special on him and was about to say it when Starlight shook her head and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “You’ve really grown up, haven’t you,” she said. “Physically, at least.”

“I… er, yeah,” Sunburst admitted. “Starlight…”

“Shh.” Starlight held up a hoof. “Don’t speak.” She looked down. “Princess Twilight told me about what happened, why you never wrote.”

Sunburst looked down too. “Oh.”

“Sunburst…” She shook her head. “Why would you ever think I would be ashamed of you? You were my best friend, my only friend. All I ever wanted was to know you were there, and when you weren’t… when you took off and never contacted me again… I almost thought you didn’t care anymore, and it broke me.” Raising her head again, she looked at him. “I wouldn’t have cared about your grades, or your abilities. What I cared about was you.”

Sunburst looked at her, before sighing. “I get it, I was an idiot,” he said. “I’ve had that drilled into me more than once already today.”

“But you don’t have to be,” Starlight said softly as she sat down. “We can start again, you know? Reconnect? See what we still have in common, maybe build new interests together?” She looked away briefly. “Princess Twilight’s been giving me friendship lessons since we met, and I kind of had that one drilled into my head last week, about getting to know people better through spending time together and finding common interests while still learning to appreciate that they like different things from what I do.”

“I think I’d like that,” Sunburst said. He coughed nervously. “That is, if you don’t mind spending your time with a big geek who spends more time researching than spellcasting.”

“As long as that big geek is you, that’s all that matters,” Starlight said, smiling at him.

“Well, that’s a start,” Velvet muttered, moving away from the door with Celestia and Twilight both watching her. “The poor colt isn’t that bright with fillies but I think they’ll be fine.”

“I would be impressed but then I recall your work with two other youngsters,” Celestia said with Twilight frowning in confusion.

“What are you two talking about exactly?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “As far as I know, Shining and Cadance never had issues like those two-in fact, they were clearly in love back when they were teenagers to the point I saw it but Oh!” Twilight blinked as the other horseshoe dropped and gave her a flat look. “Really mom; you were playing matchmaker?”

“Well not exactly; I was working to help repair their friendship by giving them a nudge in the right direction but it was pretty clear why Sunburst leaving Starlight left such a deep wound,” Velvet said as the trio began to walk down the hallway.

“How did you even come to that conclusion so quickly? You spent just thirty minutes lecturing Sunburst and maybe even less with Starlight?” Twilight asked, trying not to sound incredulous and actually work out the logic behind it.

“That is the privilege of being a mother who has seen this before, Twilight,” Velvet said, using her magic to fuss with Twilight’s mane. “Celestia can attest.”

Celestia nodded as she watched Twilight fix her mane before doing the same as Velvet did her own magic. “I’ve seen it many a time with some of my former students, both at my school and those I personally took under my wing, though even I can be taken by surprise.” She glanced in Velvet’s direction. “For instance, until Moondancer confessed her feelings, even I didn’t know how she felt about you.”

Fixing her mane again, Twilight smiled. “Yeah… I just wish I’d seen it sooner.”

“Love rarely works that way,” Velvet said with a sigh. “I feel that those two won’t realize it for a long time.”

“And that is just Starlight to Sunburst,” Celestia said with a sound bubble descending around them; no doubt to respect the privacy of the two ponies in question as the trio were beginning to pass servants of the castle. “We don’t know how he feels about her truly yet. He might not return those feelings or even have feelings for anyone.”

Twilight nodded. “You know, I actually see some of how I used to be in him,” she said. “Socially awkward, a total bookworm, blind to how people felt… though at least I wasn’t a total shut-in. You know I checked with his neighbors before I called him here, and they said they barely noticed him coming in or out, except to go to the shops? Never had anyone over, except on business - like someone coming to fix his furnace,” she added when she saw their querying expressions.

Celestia nodded back. “I read that report,” she said. “I think… I think, deep down, he’s been a lot lonelier all these years than he might admit.”

“Hopefully she will be able to help, romantic angle or not,” Velvet said. She quirked her head. “I know you’ve given Starlight some private friendship lessons, but have you thought about inviting them to attend your school?”

Twilight blinked as she considered that. “You think they’d go for it?”

“Maybe,” Velvet told her. “I do know you have mostly younger students, but there are some adults who’d be interested.” She nudged Twilight. “I know I’d be interested in reading your syllabuses, at least, to compare the cultural lessons to everything I know.”

“I’ll make sure you get a copy,” Twilight told her. “Some of them are… pretty interesting.”

“As would I,” Celestia said. “I would be glad to learn what your school is doing and see how mine could benefit from the fresh ideas you have come up with.”

“I’ll send you copies too,” Twilight promised. “I know at least that removing Neighsay’s bigoted policies would be a major step in the right direction.” She looked at Celestia. “Have you found where he’s disappeared off to yet, by the way? I know he was a pain, but that doesn’t mean I want anything bad to happen to him.”

“No luck, unfortunately,” Celestia said. “He or any of the many ponies who’ve disappeared in recent months. Even Discord has yet to find any trace; it’s like they’ve been magically hidden from our view.”

“Do you think it’s that… whatever it is, that escaped from Tartarus before its gates were sealed?” Twilight asked.

Celestia looked at her. “Twilight, I’m afraid that’s exactly what it might be. Or worse, though Discord has assured me that it is not a Power gone renegade - all of them that he can find are behaving themselves, and the ones who can hide themselves from him are among the highest-ranking and not the sorts to cause trouble.”

“He could have also just skipped town and is using some trinket to mask himself,” Velvet said. “Sometimes the simplest of answers is the correct one.”

Celestia nodded. “He does have quite an impressive collection of amulets, with a variety of magical abilities,” she said. “But as much as I’d like to think it was something harmless like that, I can’t help but worry.”

Twilight nodded silently, before changing the subject. “How are Tempest’s lessons going, by the way?”

“Fairly well,” Celestia said. “She is an eager student and is willing to admit when she’s made an error, then take steps to correct it. And Grubber has been rather well-behaved when he sits in with us - he does not disrupt things, unlike some students my school has had in the past. He might not be able to use magic himself, but I think he finds our lessons fascinating to watch regardless.” She smiled. “He has proven to be rather like Spike and done well with the non-magical aspects of the lessons - he takes good notes for her, and is always willing to help find what she needs in the books.”

Twilight and Velvet both smiled, and Twilight looked especially happy. “He and Spike did get along very well when we were all traveling together,” she said. “It really surprised Tempest, but she was happy for them.”

“That’s always good to know,” Celestia said.

“So Twilight,” Velvet said as they approached a juncture in the hallway, “Are you planning to return to Ponyville tonight?”

“Well, that was the original plan…” Twilight admitted. “But then things took longer than I expected to come together, so I sent a note back telling them about the delay.” She blushed. “If you don’t mind, could I stay at home tonight? It is getting late and I can always catch the morning train.”

“Of course,” Velvet said with Celestia blushing as she had begun to say the same thing before realizing who Twilight was talking to. “You’re always welcome to stay with your father and I.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you.”

“And the same goes for you,” Velvet added as she looked at Celestia. “You’re family, after all, and you deserve a night off.”

Celestia smiled gratefully. “I’d be honored,” she said. “As well as to taste the food of the one who trained Spike.”

Velvet chuckled, shaking her head as the three of them continued on their way. “I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” she said. “And I even have an extra cheesecake in the fridge if either of you feel like a late-night chat.”

Both alicorns smiled.

It was early in the morning a month or so later when the large group disembarked from the train after it arrived in Ponyville, with some of them heading off in different directions.

“Be excitin’ to see your homestead here,” Slice n' Dice remarked as she and Applejack walked together, five little fillies rushing ahead of them excitedly with capes fluttering in the wind and several adults looking very pale and terrified. “After all tha time you spent at mine.”

Applejack nodded. “An’ you an’ Bramley an’ the boys can finally meet Granny,” she said. “She’s been eager to meet ya all. Wish they could’ve caught the same train.”

“Ah know, Applejay, but they had to head back an’ check on things back home first,” Slice told her. “They’ll be here in a day or so.”

“YEAH!” a loud voice said as Bulk Biceps walked past them on one side.

Fluttering on the other side of the cousins, Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Some fun at the Games, huh?” she asked.

“You said it,” Slice agreed. “Ya know, Ah think Ah’ve spent more time away from home this year than Ah have the entire rest of the time since Ah moved out there?”

“No kidding,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “Canterlot for the Royal Wedding, the Crystal Empire for the Equestria Games, and now here. Hope you enjoy yourself visiting as much as we did at your place.”

Slice smiled. “It’ll be interestin’ to see the Acres, that’s for sure,” she said. “An’ Bramley’ll be real happy to meet some new foals here.” She looked ahead at the quintet. “She’s a wonder.”

Applejack nodded. “Wishin’ ya had a few little ones of yer own?” she asked.

“One of these years, maybe,” Slice said. “Gotta meet the right stallion first. Or mare. Ah’m not picky. Ain’t too many back home though.”

“Well, here’s a hoping ya can find someone that won’t mind coming ta live with ya back in the Packlands,” Applejack said with a wistful sigh.

“The Apple Itch coming back?” Slice asked her.

“Somewhat,” Applejack said with a shrug. “Ah felt more alive out there than Ah’ve done in a long time but it ain’t where mah kin - ‘cept you an’ yer brothers - or mah friends are. Besides…” She looked at her. “After Ah got home last year, Ah spent some time talkin’ with Granny, an’ Ah found out some important stuff about the Acres an’ our family that Ah never knew. An’ Ah wanna show you that part after we get there an’ get settled in.”

“Applejay?” Slice asked, giving her a worried look.

“It’s the spot where mah folks got married, Slice,” Applejack said, somewhat wistfully. “Ah think you should see it.”

At that, Slice nodded and smiled. “All right, little miss. Lead on, cous’.”

Applejack snorted. “Yer only a year or two older than me, Slice,” she said, bumping into her side.

“A year or two older is still a year or two older,” Slice said back with a smirk. “Hay, doesn’t one of our cousins joke about how she still counts as the older one when her little sister was born just ten minutes later?”

Applejack chuckled. “Ya got me there,” she said with a sigh. “Though Ah’d wish Ah was the older one fer once. Ya know, of all mah friends, Pinkie and Ah are the only middle siblin’s of the bunch? Twilight’s got an older brother, an’ Rares, Fluttershy an’ Rainbow are all the older ones. But Pinkie and ah have both older an’ younger siblin’s.”

“Well maybe next time, squirt,” Slice said with a chuckle, pushing Applejack’s hat down her head as she ran forwards.

Chuckling back as she fixed her hat, Applejack ran after her, ignoring the telltale shout of the Cutie Mark Crusaders embarking in a new crusade.

“Vinyl, Scolopidia, darlings,” Octavia said as she looked out the window before glancing at her wives. “I am not sure if I am mishearing things but I do believe I just heard five Cutie Mark Crusaders running down the street.”

Vinyl chuckled. “The kids are finally back in town, huh? Going to be fun out there…”

“Should give my soldiers some extra training,” Scolopidia muttered with a smirk. “Those fillies are very good at coming up with stuff that my hive hasn’t ever seen before.”

“Scolopidia, dear, those fillies are very good at coming up with things that nobody has ever seen before,” Octavia replied. “Their creativity knows no bounds when it comes to new ideas for attempting to earn their Marks.”

“And yes, I will go make sure my changelings know they aren’t to spoil the secret for them,” Scolopidia said as she stood up from the table, fluttering her wings out before heading towards the door, only for Vinyl to stop her.

“One moment, Scops,” she said as she wiped her mouth on her arm before placing a kiss on her wife’s cheek. “Have fun.”

“My, you got a clean kiss,” Octavia said with a mock frown. “What did you do to be so special?”

Scolopidia looked indignant, before Octavia’s expression turned to a smile. “Just joking, my dear,” she said. “Enjoy yourself.”

“Oh yes, dealing with stubborn old changelings and guards that would like nothing more than I just let them tell those girls the true secret of getting their Cutie Marks is exactly what I want to deal with,” she said rolling her eyes as she teleported over to Octavia and placed a kiss on her lips. “See you later dears.”

When she’d gone, Vinyl shrugged. “She does know they’ve been told the truth before but didn’t get it, that it’s a moment of self-realization that does it, right?”

“Probably does, but it is just some sort of changeling translation issue,” Octavia said. “Like she said, there’s so many different variants of the word love?”

“Yeah.” Vinyl sighed happily. “You know, the two of us asking her to marry us was one of the two best decisions we ever made?”

Octavia smiled. “And I suppose the two of us proposing to one another was the other?”

“You got it, Octy.” Vinyl said as she shook her mane. “Now I think we should get ready or Tympanum will rat out to Scops that we’re not working again.”

“I could swear that Tympanum is Scolopidia’s advisor and not ours,” Octavia noted.

“Doesn’t stop her from trying to poke her nose into our business too,” Vinyl told her. “It’s like she doesn’t have anything better to do.”

“Well you two are the Queen’s consorts,” Tympanum said, appearing in the kitchen with a clipboard. “As I said multiple times, you two do represent our Queen now, so both of you, Vinyl,” Tympanum gave a glare at the unicorn. “Do need to be more representable in your fields.”

Vinyl shrugged. “She married us for us, not for the image we present.”

“While my wife may be rather blunt in the matter, she does have a point,” Octavia said. “We married for love. And while there are times I do wish Vinyl would tone down the wilder aspects, they’re a part of her that I’ve long since come to accept.”

“That love is there is no doubt, Madam Octavia,” Tympanum said with a flicker of wings that both of them had learned long ago was their way of tutting at them. “The changeling nobles have no issue with you, it is just the Equestrian nobles that are more perturbed and are raising the ruffled feathers.”

“They’d do that no matter what kind of image we presented,” Vinyl said with a snort. “Sure, the nosier and more obnoxious ones got tossed out for good after what Princess Twilight and then Prince Blueblood pulled, but a lot of the ones still there are always looking for an excuse to complain anyway. I think it’s one of their hobbies.”

“It would still make it easier on all of us if you played along, Vinyl,” Tympanum sighed as Octavia gave her a cup of tea. “You are among the high nobility and they do love to waste everyone’s time with their pointless complaints.”

Vinyl shrugged. “I know, but I am what I am,” she said. “The ones whose opinions matter the most to me already like Octy and I just the way we are, and they legally outrank the obnoxious ones, if you know what I mean.”

“That all four of the Princesses regard you well is a point in your favor,” Tympanum admitted. “But as that was a failed attempt to try and steer you in a better direction that all of you can attest to, we can now begin the day’s agenda.”

Both of the mares rolled their eyes as Tympanum began to read the day’s agenda and exchanged glances. Had they been able to read minds, both would have heard the same thoughts from their partner… and if Scolopidia had heard them, she’d have agreed.

Really, do all royal advisors have to be so stuffy?

“So Twilight, are you excited for tomorrow,” Rainbow Dash asked as they all sat on the massive picnic blanket. It was unusual to have a picnic dinner but there was simply not enough space for all of her core friends at the table anymore, especially not after the Cutie Mark Crusaders - or at least Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo - tried carpentry repair again. (Apple Bloom probably would have done a good job, based on prior experience, but she was preoccupied on another project at the time.)

Twilight nodded. “Absolutely,” she said. “The School of International Culture and Friendship is finally opening to its first day of class, and I can’t wait to see how it goes!”

“I’m sure it will go well,” Rarity said as she was passed the salad by Slice. “You have put in so much work for your school and you have got the best teachers working for you.”

“Rarity is right,” Trixie said as she placed some food on her plate before doing the same for Moondancer, the two mares smiling at each other. “You’ve taken every step necessary to ensure everything will work out, and quintuple-checked them all. Things will go well for your school, Trixie is sure of it.”

Twilight smiled at that before sighing. “I just hope that the students can take what I am trying to teach to heart,” she said. “I hope that everything we did the last year amounts to something that others can learn from.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “The kids have already been making friendship; there’s a group of six of them hanging out together most of the time, and not a one of them is the same species. Not to mention a couple of transfers from the Ponyville Schoolhouse who admitted they wanted to try for a fresh start.”

Twilight beamed at that. “I had heard about those two,” she said. “Cheerilee was sorry to see them go, but wished me the best with helping them.” Then she looked thoughtful. “I hadn’t heard about the bigger group though.”

“Surprised you didn’t, seein’ how Ocellus is one of ‘em,” Applejack said. “Kid’s really comin’ out of her shell now.”

At that, Twilight smiled. “Mom will be glad to hear that,” she said. “I’ll be sure to tell her later on if Spike hasn’t decided to do so on his own.”

Spike shook his head as he added more fuel to the cookfire. “I’ll let you do it, Twilight,” he said as he turned the fish over before he looked back at the girls. “Next helping should be ready in just a bit.”

“Good; I’ve been waiting for this all night long,” Pinkie said. “Next to me, you might be the best cook in all of Ponyville, Spike.”

“Thanks Pinkie,” Spike replied. “Though I have been thinking about going to a cooking school when I am older so I can get even better.” Spike then turned over some food over the grill before looking at Twilight. “Though I am not sure if those three would survive if I were to leave them alone for that long.”

Twilight, Moondancer and Trixie puffed out their cheeks, looking indigent before chuckling. “Yeah, point,” Twilight admitted with Trixie and Moondancer muttering lightly that they could be trusted with the cooking. “But if you truly want to go a cooking school, you know you have my full support and I will write a letter of recommendation for you, as well as getting as many as I can, right?”

“Thank you Twilight,” Spike said smiling widely, with the rest of their friends nodding their heads in agreement.

“You will have many letters of recommendations, my Spikey Wikey,” Rarity said. “After all, you’ve had Princess Celestia herself more than once appear just to sample your cooking and try to run off with the entire batch.”

“Does she really?” Slice asked, clearly amused. “An’ Ah thought Big-Cheer was a big eater.”

“Havin’ lived around him for a few months, Ah can’t disagree on that,” Applejack said. “But if’n you want to talk big eaters, we once saw Pinkie swallow an entire cake that was bigger than her head.” She shook her head. “We do try to follow the laws, like you do… but for Pinkie, the laws of physics are only suggestions.”

Slice shook her head. “Ah’ll take yer word for it,” she said. “She looks a bit too lean but Ah’m not going to put it past ya; not one to spin a yarn, Applejay.”

Pinkie, who was filling her plate, tilted her head. “I just burn off the calories really fast,” she said. “Gotta keep in shape for all that baking I do.”

“Really; that’s how you’re able to move about?” Rainbow Dash asked with a smirk.

“Well that and a bit of Pinkie Pie secret training,” she said with a giggle.

“Pinkie’s appetite and abilities aside, yes, Princess Celestia tends to eat a lot,” Spike said as he took a serving for himself. “Especially when it’s me or Grandma cooking.” He glanced in Twilight’s direction. “They both wrote me about the night you stayed over.”

Twilight smiled. “That was a good night,” she said. “Especially the morning after,” she added, licking her lips.

“Oh?” Moondancer asked. “Did Princess Celestia show off some of her cooking?”

“Yes, actually,” Twilight said. “Did she do that for you too, when you were living in the castle?”

Moondancer nodded. “She said she finds it relaxing.”

“She’s said that to me too,” Twilight told her. “I’m not surprised.”

Moondancer smiled. “Well, after over a thousand years, you’ve got to pick up a few hobbies,” she said. “And she is good at it.”

“No kidding,” Spike agreed.

Twilight smiled at the pair, before sighing. “Sometimes I wonder…” she said. “How I’ll take it when I’ve been around that long.”

Moondancer nuzzled her. “You’ll do fine,” she reassured Twilight. “I mean, you’ll have the other Princesses with you. And other immortals.”

“You should listen to Moondancer, Twilight,” Trixie said, looking a bit longer at the yellow unicorn. “She knows what she’s talking about.” She looked at Spike. “Trixie has read up on dragons, by the way,” she said. “I am fairly certain that with his biology, Spike will live just as long as you. Even without any extras, there are dragons alive today who predate Equestria’s founding.”

“Yeah…” Twilight smiled. “You’re right.”

Talk moved on to other subjects, such as the various things they’d all been up to that summer, and the latest news from the Packlands.

“Swift-Pad wrote me to say he and Maxilla had a lot of fun on their honeymoon, and to thank me for telling them about my experiences in Ornithia,” Twilight told them. “They went back home for a bit after that, but they’ll be down here tomorrow morning, in time for the grand opening.”

“That’s good to hear,” Fluttershy said. “And Well-Hidden said he’d be here too - he’s been away a lot with his duties, but this is one of those events he wants to watch. And there might be a few others around.”

“There’s also other good news, Twi,” Dash said as she lifted a piece of cake to her lips. “A certain group we all know and hate has gotten into really hot water lately.”

“The Pony Vegan Environmentalists?” Twilight asked.

“With you knocking out a lot of their biggest donors and that a majority of the world is coming together, a lot of their lesser donors are also pulling out,” the pegasus said. “That and they tried to pull their stunts again near the griffon and yak borders and it really didn’t go good for them.” She grinned. “Prince Rutherford put out a notice that if they ever showed their faces around Yakyakistan again, he’d make them sit through a performance of some of the yaks’ worst poetry ever - the kind of stuff total amateurs make up when they first start trying and pretend never existed once they’re ready to do the good stuff in public. And that’s something his people haven’t done even to their most heinous criminals in a couple hundred years, but these guys were so annoying he’d bring it back for them.”

“And the griffon Chief Councilor Gruff was even harsher; he threw the lot that didn’t run fast enough into prison,” Rarity said. “They thought since the wolves hadn’t actually bothered to arrest any of them in the past, they could get away with their antics there as well.” She chuckled. “They were rather mistaken, as the griffons proved.”

“They also thought that they could just get Equestria to spring them all but Celestia felt it was best not to interfere with a fledgling government’s decisions,” Moondancer said, her hoof resting on Trixie’s, with the blue mare blushing but clearly not complaining. “Personally, I think that’s just the public reasoning. If I were her, I’d be happy to have them out of my mane regardless of who was holding them.”

“Though I suppose she is making significant measures to get them out as it wouldn’t look good if she were to let them just rot,” Twilight said with a soft frown. “But she is right that we can’t just demand them to give them back to us as it could undermine their authority this early on.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “I think Gruff plans to send them back eventually anyway, once he’s made his point. Gilda says he’s been complaining about not wanting to have them around any longer than necessary.”

“I am glad that I am not in charge of this yet,” Twilight said. “And I am glad for the training I am getting. I don’t mind helping run things, but… well, I have enough responsibilities as it is. I do not want to end up running the entire country as its sole active alicorn Princess for a lengthy period of time, and I have let Princess Celestia know that.”

“What’d she say?” Slice asked curiously.

“She promised that she’d make sure all three of us got staggered vacations, so if one or two of us felt the need to take some time off for a while, they could,” Twilight said. “She fully agrees with me that forcing one pony to run the country, with the help of assisting councils or not, is not something that any rational being would do - even Starswirl knew that, it’s why he picked two alicorns to run things together instead of just one.”

“That’s some sound logic there,” Applejack said with the rest of their friends nodding their heads in agreement. “Logical as ye are, ya ain’t cut out fer sole leadership just yet.”

Twilight nodded. “Celestia said that running a government is like being in the middle of a thousand carefully arranged plans – all of them on the verge of coming apart at the seams, every single minute of the day. And that after a thousand plus years of handling that sort of thing all by herself, she’d never want to inflict that kind of experience on me.”

“I wonder what Luna’s take on it will be,” Spike said.

“Oh, she agrees,” Twilight said. “Especially after she took charge during the war. She might not be on the front lines as much, stepping back to spend more time with her husband, but she fully approves of the three of us balancing things more.”

“Indeed for I do plan to make the most of my life with my husband,” Luna said as she and Pharynx flew down to join them on the picnic blanket. “As well as adjust more to these modern times with my changeling by my side.”

“Princess Luna, you’re back!” several voices exclaimed in delight.

Luna smiled. “Indeed, we are,” she said. “Pharynx and I weren’t about to miss out on the grand opening of Twilight’s new school, after all. And we aren’t the only leaders who intend to be there for the opening ceremonies.” She leaned down and placed her head beside Twilight’s. “Besides, we missed seeing all of you.”

Twilight smiled. “It’s good to see you too,” she said. “Both of you.”

“Glad to see I’m getting some attention,” Pharynx snarked good-naturedly. “Twilight.”

“Pharynx,” Twilight returned. “How were the beaches?”

“Oh, they were good,” Pharynx said. “Loved the midnight swims. Even if we did have an unexpected visitor at one point.”

“A seapony?” Pinkie asked excitedly.

Pharynx shook his head. “A really cranky shark that mistook Lus for a seal. One biff to the nose sent it away though.”

Fluttershy looked somewhat disapproving, but Twilight nodded understandingly. “Sharks do prefer prey that doesn’t fight back,” she said. “Both seapony kingdoms that Spike and I visited have had issues with them in the past before the sharks learned better.”

“Are the sharks actually sapient though?” Trixie asked.

“No,” Twilight told her. “In this world, at least, they’re like the pigs the Apples raise; they can learn, but they don’t have true thinking, feeling minds like we or a lot of other species do.”

“Though that might be changing,” Luna said. “I have examined their minds while they were asleep and found some interesting thoughts within. They could be on their way, just like the windigos are back on their way to intelligence.”

Trixie’s fur stood on end. “The windigos? They’re still out there?” she asked nervously.

Pharynx nodded. “My people ran into them once in a while back in the day,” he said. “For the most part, we didn’t bother them, and they didn’t bother us. But then something happened, and they devolved into… well, non-sapience,” he said. “We don’t know what caused it; there’s lots of theories; including how their new state is what led them to encourage the blizzards that led to your people moving further south. But Lus and I went to check on them, and some other things we know are out there. They’ve been mostly dormant in the ice all this time, just laying there, like they’re in hibernation.”

“But, as I said, they seemed to be returning to their original levels of intelligence,” Luna said. “We are hoping that once they do, it might be possible to bring them into the fold, so they can join all other races as equal partners.”

“Though it will be a very long time before that will happen,” Pharynx said a bit more seriously than normal. “And a lot of careful monitoring so that no one takes advantage of them during the whole process and that they don’t slide backwards or become a real threat to the world again.”

“Trixie is not sure whether to be relieved or scared,” Trixie muttered. “Trixie is reminded of how she felt when she learned Grogar was real.”

Luna nodded. “That’s about how I felt when I learned Lavan used to be real,” she said.

“Who?” several voices asked.

“Lavan was a demon from ancient times,” Luna explained. “A creature of living molten rock. Celly’s and my mother was part of the team that destroyed him, long before either of us were ever born. We used to think he was just an old filly’s story, until we found his petrified form when we were out exploring once. After that, Mother and Father explained how they were certain he was gone for good; all that was left was an empty shell.” Luna sighed. “Or at least that’s what Celestia told me; I was too young to actually remember all of it.”

“Whoah.” Rainbow Dash grinned. “So monster plot-kicking runs in the family, huh?”

Luna smiled. “Verily.”

“Um, Princess Luna,” Moondancer began to ask only for the princess to cut her off.

“Please, Luna is fine as you are a dear friend,” Luna said as she sat down, smiling at Pharynx as he lifted a plate over to her, causing a few eyebrows to be raised and wide smirks on others’ faces. “Thank you dear.”

“A few questions then, um Luna,” Moondancer said. “What actually happened to your parents? I have gone over the records of pre-Equestria founding, even went over your journals - with permission of course, but this is the first time I have heard any mention of them.”

Luna looked very sad all of a sudden, staring off to the distance. “That is a… delicate and sorrowful subject,” she admitted. “The truth is, Celly and I don’t know for certain, though we do believe we know the cause. A long time ago, there was trouble elsewhere and they, along with the rest of our tribe went to go deal with it. It was a great Event that affected us all and very few ever came back from it. My father and mother either died during the Event or they now rest in the Valley of the Alicorns, but we have not been able to confirm it either way.” She looked down. “Not long after the few returns we do know of, Equestria was founded. Soon after that, Starswirl came to our homeland and asked my sister and I to take over leading Equestria, and we agreed to accompany him back here.”

She looked at the others. “Since then, we have not been able to return to our old homeland, though we tried many times. It is as if it is simply sealed off.” She looked down with her husband nuzzling her side. “Neither I nor my sister has had the courage to visit the Valley, both too scared of what we will find there. Somehow, not knowing is better as there is some faint hope that they may return one day.”

Moondancer bowed her head. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Your apology is accepted, Moondancer,” Luna said with a tearful smile. “It may be painful to think of them… but ‘tis better to remember and work past the pain, rather than to pretend it never happened. When I do think of them, I try to remember the good times, and the joy that I felt then.”

Pinkie nodded. “I do the same when I think of Granny Pie and Nana Pinkie,” she said.

“Your other question, my dear pony?” Luna said as she leaned against her husband who was rubbing her back with his wings.

Leaning against Trixie, Moondancer cleared her throat and said, “I would like to ask you more on night magic, Luna,” she said with Luna sitting upright quickly enough to cause Pharynx to tumble. “There are vast fields of magic that few know anymore since your departure a thousand years ago, and I’ve been very curious to learn more about them but the time was never right for it, considering the war and your own marriage and honeymoon. It’s… well…” She gestured to her flank. “The magic of the night itself, with what little I could find, has always been something that fascinated me and the rest of the girls.”

“That is...” Luna said, blinking while a wide smile began to form on her face. “Rest of the girls?” she asked slowly.

“There is a whole group of ponies that Twilight and I used to go to school with that all tried to examine what night magic, and the similar schools of magic, were like,” she said as she fixed her glasses. “Though I am sure there are mo-”

She cut off when Luna darted forwards and pulled her into a tight hug, a squeal emitting from her lips, Trixie scowling with a pout as she was pushed away from the yellow mare. “Oh joyous stars, I thought it would be far longer before interest in my night would rise to such levels but I am happily mistaken!”

Moondancer blinked in surprise, before returning the hug. “Remind me to introduce you to the members of the astronomy club then,” she said. “They might not have been into the magic side of things, but they loved the patterns of the stars, and the stories behind those patterns.”

Luna stared at her before turning her head towards Pharynx. “Dearest of husbands, we wish to adopt this one,” she said, falling back to the Old Canterlot style of speaking as she held Moondancer close to her chest. “May we do so?” she asked while widening her eyes.

“As you wish, my love,” he said with a chuckle. “Moondancer, would your family object?”

Moondancer gave him a smile. “No, I don’t think my sister will mind at all,” she said.

“Well that is anoth-” Pharynx began before Luna used her magic to seal his lips.

“We must apologize, dear Moondancer, for we were not thinking perfectly rationally just now,” Luna blushed as Rarity was now squirming with delight. “As there are at least two new members of the royal family on their way now.”

“Wait, two?,” Rarity blinked as everyone was either gasping at Luna’s implications or were trying to figure out what Luna meant by two. “I know that Twilight isn’t pregnant as she has been far too busy to entertain herself in that manner, nor do I think she would be that far into a relationship without informing us. And I don’t recall anything about Celestia so that must mean-”

Luna’s eyes went wide before both her and Pharynx facehoofed. “They had not informed you yet, have they,” Luna sighed into her hoof, groaning. “They were so looking forwards to telling you in person and we had thought they would inform you sooner that you will soon be an aunt, dear Twilight.”

“I knew,” Twilight said. “Cadance wasn’t… quite as quiet as she thought she was, when she told Shiny at your wedding reception, and I was right there. I don’t know if they know I know yet.”

“That is good then,” Luna said. “But you had not told your friends yet?”

Twilight blushed. “I thought I’d let Cadance and Shiny tell them,” she said. “It is their news.”

“Well, then that is quite all right,” Luna said. She looked at Moondancer. “And while I may not have been entirely serious…”

Moondancer smiled. “As long as I can be there for the foal-naming ceremony, I’ll be fine,” she said. “But really, Morning Espresso - my sister - wouldn’t mind if you wanted us to be part of the family. And I think our parents, whatever part of Elysium they’re watching from, would be happy too if you meant it.”

“Well, give us time to think on it and Luna’s hormones to balance out some more,” Pharynx said as he used his magic to unseal his lips. “She has been prone to more impulsive decisions of late and this isn’t something we should do on impulse.”

“I can wait,” Moondancer assured them. “I’ve had… a lot of practice.”

Then she lowered her head to Luna’s stomach. “Hi, little one,” she told it. “Does your aunt Celestia know about you yet?”

Luna’s hoof hit her face again, while Pharynx grinned. “See, that’s another thing we need to take care of, when we get back to Canterlot,” he said while dodging his wife’s wing attempting to swat at him.

The others laughed.