Author's Notes:

Well this is a day out early. Mostly because I wanted to take a little break from writing, I have been going pretty hard at it lately and needed a little break. No writers block as of yet but its sure to come one day.

I would like to ask for y'alls opinion on something however.

Would you enjoy this story more if it was a little more broken up? As in more chapters but less words per chapter. I'm cool with either way. But I'd be able to post twice a week as opposed to once. Its up to you guys. Please comment below with your opinion.

Again as always thanks for reading.

Peace.

It had been five minutes since she asked him a question. Celestia was beginning to believe he hadn't heard her. So she asked again.

"Orion," His ears perked up. Oh good she had his attention this time. " Are you the reason Twilight came home crying a couple of weeks ago?"

He stared, looked down, then back up as realization dawned on his face.

She loved to watch ponies think. Each one had a unique way of posturing that no two ever seemed to do the same way. His was adorable, with that baby face of his scrunching up, trying to work out just what to say. Truth be told she already had figured out early on of what happened. Twilight visited him during the start of her heat, something Celestia has warned her about. She got too close and he panicked, and sent her away. Smart on his part.

That was often a normal event sadly. Poor colts no matter how much you warn them often don't know whats going on till the scent fills their heads, then well, they are trapped. The fact that Twilight's clothes were not ruffled when she had come back, spoke volumes on his own self control. He was truly of stronger stuff.

But because of that mistake, the poor filly had kept herself locked up in her room for almost two weeks now.

"She, ahhhh, yeah she kinda, how do I put this...shit she came on to me while she was visiting me and I panicked and got her the hell outta my room before I did something stupid."

Celestia blinked. What under the Sun was 'hell'? And did he really just swear in front of her? Amazing. No pony had spoken like that to her, or in front of, in years. Centuries in fact. Not since Luna. Her heart throbbed painfully at the thought. "Sister I still miss you."

Shaking away her melancholy she looked back at the squirming colt. She knew he was hiding something else. The way he spoke implied more, but she didn't believe she could just pry it out. Her senses were telling her that much. But he seemed to have told her the truth so far with what happened with Twilight.

Truly all she wanted to do was put him on the spot for a little, she didn't often get moments like this. She felt like a mother judging a colt for her daughter. It was a bit thrilling for the elder alicorn, though she never had foals of her own. She decided to let him off the hook. For now.

"Oh I see. Both of you got your first experience of Estrus Season didn't you. It can happen from time to time. But usually its less tame then what you two went through. Most cases involve the colt loosing his head and attempting to go with his instincts." He visibly relaxed, then seized up again as she spoke on. This was so much fun, okay, new tactic.

"You're originally from Stalliongrad, correct?"

"Uh, yeah. I suppose I am. Don't remember much of that hellhole to be honest. I grew up in Manehatten for a bit then came here." He paused and looked at her directly. "I take it you were the one to request my file five years ago so you'd likely know all about the how and why I came here."

Her eyebrows rose. Not just because he used that strange word again but because he knew she had requested his information. "Yeah I know that look. I only knew because Mrs Evergarden left it out on her desk when she had to finalize one of the adoptions of the others. I got curious and peaked. Truth be told I at first thought it was someone trying to adopt me. But now, with you asking, I figured it had to be you. The only reason why is because Twilight said something about me, didn't she?"

Clever. He put two and two together just that fast. And remembered that far back so quickly. A smart colt indeed, her student had not exaggerated. Still, something was off. It was nagging at her. "His face," she had suddenly realized. It was too calm.

He was suddenly too put together, like a mask had been donned. Like her when she had to deal with the public. There was no nervousness now. Only that calm demeanor. "That is interesting."

She wasn't sure what to make of the change in the colt. And 'someone'? The way he spoke seemed to point him out as a foreigner. But Stalliongrad nor Manehatten were outside her realm for him to use that over the other. Though the city state of Stalliongrad was practically independent. So where had he picked up the different pronoun usage. This was all too strange for her to ignore.

Keeping her own mask up she continued. "Well I suppose you would have gotten curious. But I must ask. The way you speak is, odd. 'Someone?' My ponies don't often say that." She knew she was changing subjects too fast. But she wanted to get a reaction out of him. Anything at all really.

If that put him in a panic, he didn't show it in the slightest. Yep, that mask was firmly on and she doubted she could shake it off without, either doing something far outside the norm, or delving into his mind. Something she was loathed to even consider. The pain it would cause would likely scar him for life. And no matter what her instincts were telling her she would not risk that. He was a colt after all. Not a harden criminal.

"Well doesn't it sound rather exclusive when you use pronouns like that? Saying 'anypony' excludes every other race. Its a nice nationalistic touch but I feel it is too much and too obvious. I prefer to speak my way. Honestly, it's easier to just include everyone rather then go out of my way to say it the pony way. I feel like including everyone when I speak is less exclusive to others."

No twitching. No eye movements to indicate a lie. He was being truthful. Or he had the best poker face she had ever seen. A thirteen year old with that kinda control over their emotions was not likely.

He could be a changeling. Loathsome creatures. But his magic showed no green aura, just that odd black and gold coloration the examiners had reported on. Odd but not overly rare, several ponies in her kingdom had two different coloration to their magic. Though that usually matched their eyes.

But no. The mask was there, yet he wasn't lying to her. This unnerved her. Now she realized why the teachers progress reports on him spoke they way they did. He's an enigma. One that refused to crack. She was actually getting frustrated and excited at the challenge at the same time. She reevaluated what she knew of him.

His improvement in his capacity of magic, while not unheard of, was still remarkable for his late stage of development. Most ponies that were having growth issues never improved much after their third year. It was becoming more common in colts as of late. A worrying trend she has noted the last fifty years. He seemed to have gotten lucky in this case.

His improvements did not just jump forward, however, it was a gradual thing. It took months for him to finally come into what the doctors considered his own. So that wasn't suspicious. He was very strong, not anywhere near Twilight but far an away stronger then the others in his class. Cloverleaf did note that he never showed his full strength to anypony else. It was as if he didn't want them to know how much he had improved. Another flag. Colts his age were all about showing off.

While his grades were exemplary, his participation was still lack luster. Better then his transcripts told for Manehatten. But still not normal. Not for one as smart as the reports seem to indicate.

The only class he really seemed to thrive in outside the norm was the science classes. On days they covered chemistry. Some of the concoctions he came up with he already knew what they did. Miss Hearts listed several ingredients in which when mixed, made a chemical that melted clothes. But only as an aerosol. He made that very clear. Proved it too, much to the embarrassment of one, Fancy Breeze. Another flag.

Truthfully she should have had this sit down years ago. But she had been so busy. Setting up a new rail line that ran to Applelosa and the fallout the noble classes had over not levying extra taxes because of the line's construction. And now just recently, looking for the one who fixed her gate to the old castle had consumed much of her limited free time.

That pony would reveal themselves. One way or the other. She had been setting out guards disguised as street toughs to follow Forager for the past few months. She would not risk exposing her regular troops to whomever the enchanter was. No need to show her hand. So far, nothing.

"Yes, I suppose that's more conscientious of you. There is merit to that line of thinking." Time to trip him up. "Honestly, I was merely trying to unite the tribes back during the unification war. To get them to think of themselves as one. It may have gotten away from me by then."

"Hah! I friggin' knew it!" That was it. The mask still there.

"Buck me he is a hard one. I feel as if I am interrogating a spy." Then he threw her for a loop.

"So why did you blush so hard when I called you 'beautiful'? An elder being such as yourself shouldn't get worked up over a little colt complimenting her, should you?" He had a devil's grin. The tone said he knew exactly what he was asking.

She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing would come. What was she to say? That she hadn't had a suitor come calling for over half a millennium? That because some nut cases sprouted up venerating her as a Goddess, her dating pool had dried up? Damn this colt. And whats with that grin. It did not belong on one as young as he the cocky little pony.

"Ah cat got your tongue, your Highness?" Oh he was being smug now. But she had no retort. Well she did but she couldn't engage him like an adult. He was still to young. This was entirely unfair. He was goading her. The brass on this colt, revenge would be hers one day.

Just as she was finally about to speak, to reprimand his way of speaking to her, Twilight burst into the room talking to fast to interrupt.

" Oh Princess I almost did something horrible two weeks ago!" She wailed.

Orion's ears pinned back and he shrank down almost immediately, eyes wide in shock. "I visited Orion at his home after you told me it wouldn't be wise for me visit any colt that day. But he had been avoiding me somehow and I was so frustrated, so I teleported right to him and I was talking to him and getting closer and my heat was getting worse and he was looking dazed and I had no idea what was wrong till he grabbed my hand. Princess I was reaching for him! I was, I was... " She broke down sobbing. With her hands holding her face.

Celestia was in a bit of shock. It's one thing to know. Its another to be bombarded by your student with company present. Especially, if the company in question, was the subject of the confession. A quick look to the colt showed him equally stunned, and nearly sliding off the couch, his eyes wide as they could possibly get.

"While I am, happy that you came to me Twilight, I'm afraid this confession couldn't come at a worse time."

Twilight had dropped her hands a little looking at Celestia with tear ridden eyes, and snot in her palms. She had really been worked up over this it seems. It was then she noticed the room's other occupant. And her eyes got wide.

Orion did something very strange then. Something she would never have seen coming if she had lived a million years. What was expected to be an awkward encounter, turned into a sun blighted circus. He grinned.

"OH THANK GOD, TWILIGHT! YOU CAME JUST IN TIME! PRINCESS CELESTIA WAS JUST ABOUT TO HAVE HER WAY WITH ME!"

"WHAT?!" How, why, when did he come to this conclusion? What would make him even think she would try something like, THAT?

Twilight was of similar mind. "Wha- Orion, why would the Princess even try and do that?" Snot and tears forgotten, whisked away subconsciously with a spell she had learned long ago for such instances. "She's the PRINCESS. She would never do that."

"Right on Twilight, you tell him and set him straight my student". She clearly underestimated him, and his ability to tell a very tall tale with the limited information he had at hand.

"Oh really? Then pray tell, were there any guards outside?" A slow head shake of no from Twilight. Celestia was wondering how he even knew that. "That's because she kidnapped me right off the street! In broad daylight no less! There are witnesses!"

It was at this point Celestia needed to intervene, but the teapot suddenly flipped over leaving her to scramble to dodge then try and focus on cleaning up the mess. The Saddle Arabian rugs were not cheap. He just kept going. That slight glow in his horn fading. "Oh that little...."

"Twilight there were a guardsmares as witnesses..." Twilight had slowly turned to Celestia in horror.

"Oh no Twilight. Don't let this scoundrel of a colt fool you like this." To late of course. Celestia opened her mouth to refute his blatant lies and slander.

"PRINCESS HOW COULD YOU!" With that she teleported to Orion, they both popped out of the sitting room. Leaving Celestia to wonder how it all descended into madness, as she tried desperately to clean the stains out of the carpet. She began to chuckle. "So absurd."

Orion was laughing. Why was he laughing!?

"Orion this is serious! Princess Celestia tried to have her way with you! Why are you laughing?!"

"Because...." He was laughing to hard to respond. " Oh God that was....because...Jesus Christ couldn't have any..... better....Because...I Lied! BWHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHA!" He was laughing harder now. He was on his knees holding onto her skirt trying to stand and failing.

He fell on the floor and clutched his sides as he howled in laughter."Her face! D-did you see her FACE!? She was all like nu uh, she looked like a deer caught in the head lights, and you were all like, 'how could you my princess'! Oh god that is too much!" Twilight was beginning to realize she had been had.

"You....you lied to me? Are you kidding me?!"

Recovering and on his knees again, responding through his fits, "Yeah...hahaaaaaa... had to use you to get out of a grilling by your 'Not Mom'. I think she was about to ask for a stool sample next the way she was digging into me. Had to....hoooo had to get outta there soon."

He had just risen to his feet when he was hit with a deafening scream of outrage.

She seemed to have teleported him into Canterlot Glistening Lake. Neat.

He swam to shore knowing he was lucky just for the outcome. Getting away from Celestia had been a gamble for sure, but she was asking some very unassuming questions. Warning sirens had been going off in his head for most of their 'talk'. His attempt to fluster and turn the tables would have only lasted so long, and he was desperately looking for a way to keep it going. Should have taken some improv classes or something in his human life.

When Twilight burst in on them telling of the events of two weeks ago, he furiously thought about how to use this to his advantage. It hit him like a bag of bricks, and he smiled. He would have owned those improv classes.

Bonus to all this. The spell matrix Twilight used to teleport wasn't hidden like it normally was. Because of this he had compared it to the notes in his head he had seen in the more advanced text books he had 'borrowed' from the other, older students. He now had a working understanding of how the spell functioned. He could teleport. No more running from horny women for this guy.

Getting to shore he gave his new found spell a short test. It worked perfectly. Though he dropped two inches when the spell finished. So a tad bit too high. No matter a bit of practice would have him bouncing about like a pro.

"It's always better to have an up close example when learning these things. Thank you Bookhorse." Feeling ballsy he teleported away . Arriving inside his room, four feet from the floor and upside down. The resulting crash woke Chip from his conked out position on the wall. Not seeing anything, he shrugged, got comfortable and quickly fell back asleep.

Laying in a pained position with his ass up the wall and his head crammed into the floor, Orion groaned. "Okay, so I am going to have to practice this a bit more then I thought. At least I got the destination correct. But the landing, needs work."

Due to the way Celestia had prodded with her questions. Constantly shifting the subject like she had, started to eat at him. The paranoia was natural he supposed. If she was suspicious then her finding that room would be a disaster.

That, and if Twilight could teleport in on him randomly, then it might be wise to mitigate the consequences of future disasters. Such as Celestia teleporting in on him. He was kicking himself for not realizing the full ramifications of what he had done. "Should never have agreed to fix that damn gate."

So he decided to uproot some floorboards in the corner of the orphanage's only library. The wait for everyone to go to sleep was annoying, and avoiding Chip was difficult. For some reason that man came to life at night. He set the boards in a way that would allow him simple access with levitation, and had the added benefit of having a bookshelf placed over the top. Hopefully, he wasn't stupidly too late and she had somehow already figured it out. No way to tell.

Maybe he should see if he couldn't make a mind reading, something. Hell he was grasping at straws. He didn't know the first fucking thing about mind reading or how to navigate the complex thought patterns a mind possessed.

Stuffing the books, notes and the things he had managed to craft into the small space he closed it up, keeping only the walkie talkie with him. Grabbing a random book, he walked out of the library. No Chip, no wandering other orphans looking for water or some other nonsense.

Orion felt, better. A little more assured. But he was going to put a pin in crafting for awhile. It didn't last a month.

It took him 3 weeks to perfect the teleport. Holy hell was it a lot more involved then normal. During that he had figured out a way for multiple teleports. He called it Blinking. He kept it secret to himself for the time being, just in case it wasn't anything new and he was just going to embarrass himself.

This was also about the time when he learned that his greatest creation, had a major flaw. The band of metal around his arm had a half-life. It had evaporated on his last teleport, burning the hell out of his arm. A quick healing spell took care of the burns and lost fur. Another thing he had learned from his ill gotten books.

Further testing showed that the more power he drew through the bands, the faster they decayed. Turning back to the books by Bearded Star, he reasoned out that to have longer lasting enchantments he needed gold and gems. The gold making for a better conductor, and the gems allowing for the re-connection when they fell out of sync. Otherwise everything would eventually burn out the way the steel band did. Shit he was stupid.

"Where the hell am I-" The walkie talkie squawked to life.

"Lad? Hello? Am I using this damnable thing right?!" Sometimes the universe just wants to fuck you in the ass without lube. Other times it takes you out to dinner, shows you a good time, and actually uses the astro glide.

Grabbing his own hand radio he hit the button fast, "Yeah I am reading you loud and clear old man! It's good to hear your voice again. Glad to see you found the radio. What do you think?"

"Orion, this thing is amazing! Could you imagine having one in each home? So everypony could talk to everypony else! Its amazing!" He couldn't help but laugh at the Old Minotaur's childish enthusiasm. And he appreciated how fast he picked up on the ramifications this device brought.

"Yeah I already have something in mind for that. Gonna need WAY more crystals then just these two." He knew he was capitalizing on his peoples work. He didn't care.

"So you couldn't have called at a better time. I need gold and a few gems if ya got any. My left bicep band evaporated on me. Turns out enchantments made in steel have a shelf life the moment they are made. Didn't even know till it burned off the fur on my arm. Should have read the details instead of hitting the highlights. Gold seems to not have that problem, but only so long as gems are in it. So it can be re-tuned easier thus no need for replacements, just reconnect and go."

"Shit lad, gold is easy to come by if you got the bits. I think I can supply you with the gems, but all I got are amethysts at the moment, had a surplus order and I am finding it hard to find a use for em so you can have four."

"That is perfect. Forager, you have once again pulled my ass from the fire!"

As good as his word, the gems and a little bit of extra gold was in the next dead drop out by Canterbury Park. Forager picked a huge ass stone by the lake to hide it all under. Apparently, when him and his wife spent too much time there, those tailing him grew bored and took a nap. Dumbasses.

Orion wasted no time in crafting two new bands. They went very well with his fur, even with the amethyst gems in place. They had to be cut small but still serviceable and he only need one for each band. The problem was when he pulled magic through the bands, the gems lit up like National Lampoon's Christmas.

This was going to be a big problem, fortunately, with an easy solution. It would be tedious to reconnect them to the flow of the ether but having the gems covered in gold meant no glow and all he had to do was peel the gold off and reapply after connection was reestablished.

The last steel band went into the floor boards in the library as well. No sense in just leaving shit out for randos to find. Plus he figured studying it would allow him to better craft enchantments into steel longer. Gold can get hella expensive.

The increase in the magical power was a shock. Gold was a very good conductor of magic, more then he had planned. Who knew, right? Apparently Bearded Star, should have read more of the book before ever starting this. He was repeating himself more and more lately. Might have avoided a whole mess of problems. Self Dumbass. Though he likely wouldn't have met Forager otherwise. The universe tends to unfold as it should.

This did go far in inciting his need to learn more about the effect of magic on materials. Though he was taking notes on the various chemical regents that were available. He would have to be careful however, didn't want to blow himself or anyone of consequence up. Mostly himself. Screw the others.

Just one more year of Jr. High. Or as they call it, Advanced Prep Classes. Then to High School and all the angsty bullshit that comes with it. "Why do I have to go through all this schooling again? Ooooh right, jackass portal dumped me here because jackass scientist wanted to get his ego stroked something fierce. Jackass."

He was talking to, and answering, himself. That was beginning to worry Orion. He might just be going crazy.

The day had started out so well. Classes were going well and he had chosen to have lunch outside to enjoy the fall air. The leaves were just turning, still mostly green, but reds and yellows were starting to make themselves known. For the first time since he arrived he was starting to truly enjoy himself.

He had taken to leaving the bicep bands hidden just outside school in a old potted plant that no one seemed to mess with. He figured if someone did find them they couldn't be traced back to him. Detection spells were only good for the most recent casting. Its been a few weeks since he had forged them.

He patted himself on the back. For once thinking of the consequences. "Wonder how long that will last." He thought ruefully.

It was a good idea considering the sudden increase in guard presence. It was obvious that Celestia was combing the city for him. Lucky she didn't know who she was looking for. But damn she had a lot of soldiers on hand to throw about.

Seemed they were going through the school on a regular basis. He's been checked a dozen times so far. It seemed any suspicion on him was gone as he hadn't been frisked in two weeks.

That bit of good news meant he could start wearing them regularly again.

So the day was going fine. Then one, Golden Trot, had to go and fuck his day to hell and back. No one had told Orion that he had transferred back from Trottingham Preparatory. Wonderful.

"Well look who it is! The meat eating monster orphan!" That had gotten the attention of every pony in the yard. Turning slowly around, he noticed Golden casually walking up. The boy had gotten big. No doubt of that. His blond mane immaculately brushed, same with his light blue fur. It looked like someone had starched the hell out of his uniform.

No lunch in hand. A red flag that told Orion the moron was looking for a fight. Or to make an example. Great. The other ponies were looking at him, then to Orion. They were realizing that the jackass was talking about him. Well this was all nice while it lasted. Maybe Twilight would steer clear now.

"Welp, hadn't had to break any bones since Manehatten. But seriously. I'm an adult. Why the hell am I getting caught up in high school drama bullshit. We're not even in high school yet!" Standing up, Orion knew better then to allow a fight to start with him sitting down. He didn't wait for the rest of the spiel that ass-hat likely rehearsed before coming to school today. Try and mitigate this as much as he could.

"Since your staring at me bud, I'm assuming you are talking to me. What the fuck do you want?" Orion didn't yell or growl. It was a bored tone. Hostile, but bored. Because this shit was boring. He didn't want to be throwing down with an ignorant child. He wanted to eat his lunch and head to his next class.

Golden was about to respond but the swearing threw him off a bit, he blinked and continued on. "Why you of course. Filthy, meat eating orphan." He had friends. Oh boy. More punching bags. He didn't want to do this. This was bullshit.

"Dude, everyone knows I'm an orphan. That's old ass news. Come on its been what? Four, five years? Surely you rehearsed a better insult then that. By the way, your punk ass was an orphan to, ya dingus." Orion was slowly rolling his neck and arms, tensing and relaxing his muscles. He was going to knock this smug fuck's teeth in.

Again Golden just blinked and blushed in embarrassment. None of this was going according to his plan apparently. He opened his mouth to retort, then thought of something, and then just flicked his hand. Orion was not expecting to be trussed up with magic this fast. His horn wrapped in a orange aura. "Okay, may have under estimated this turd burglar." He was using his new lackeys to help him. Pussy. He recognized the skinny one behind him, the blue mane cut short coupled with copper colored fur, Prickly Shower. He had his horn lit up, orange.

Prickly Shower was born with a chip on his shoulder. He lashed out at everything. But then again he shared in his fathers, unique, traits. So that might have explained his attitude. That and he was short as hell. Orion just couldn't get over the fact that someone married, and bore a child, for his father. Talk about using up all your luck. The rate Prickly was going, no girl was ever going to give him the time of day. Let alone a herd. That doesn't explain why he was targe- oh yeah. The meat thing.

Golden Shower, turns out that was his actual name. He laughed his ass off when he found that out. Bismuth, the pony who told him, just stared at him in bewilderment. But it turns out his dad is a pony supremacist. Nazi ponies. That's a thing. He is part of a whole organization with frats and everything. But that hate for other species translated over to the son rather well.

The others, Orion vaguely remembered them, seemed to have the same feelings as they all sneered at him.

Golden Trot had a very smug smile on his face. "Eat it up now because your about to become my whipping boy here in a second." He didn't want to beat up on children. But these are children with magical powers and knew how to use them. Fuck em.

"Oh I am not gonna let such a dangerous predator, like you, roam about any longer. You have endangered the lives of others long enough just being here. Nopony knows how long before you would have caved and bitten into somepony."

Wrenching Orion's mouth open physically he showed off the canines he never really advertised. "See everypony?! I told you. He isn't a pony, just a filthy mixed breed. Some Diamond Dog likely raped his mother to produce him. No, she likely begged for it, willingly. The whorse." Ah, petty your mom's a hoe taunts. This was so tiring.

Orion looked about to see if any teachers were observing, to stop this before it got outta hand. And found Mr. Shower in the window. Smiling of course. Standing next to him stood a tall blond maned stallion. White furred he was smiling to. "I see, so that's how it was going to be."

Switching to a new tactic, "You do realize every teacher knew about these right? They let me stay knowing what they were for. I've never bitten anybody." Grinning teeth flashing in the afternoon light. "Well nobody that didn't deserve it." Might as well use this as a teaching moment. The rest would likely leave him alone after this.

Golden for his part maintained his composure, except for the sudden widening of eyes and a brief look of fear. The rest visibly recoiled. Bummer that they maintained their hold on him. In time.

"So you admit to your carnivorous nature!"

"I also eat vegetables and fruit ya moron. For your education, a person who eats both plants and meat is called an omnivore. Now go collect your gold star, get your little juice box, and fuck off." No need to shout. Fuck for brains was doing that enough for both of them. He had a pair of lungs. And he was still attempting to settle this without a fight.

"Only because you are forced to. Sooner or later you will break, your instincts to eat flesh claiming you. A beast is all you are after all. You will leave this school. Leave this city. Never to return. No creature of such filth as you should ever soil these streets with your presence." He had his hands on his waist now. Oh ho ho, he definitely rehearsed.

"That's a lovely speech, how long did it take you to come up with it? Did daddy help you write it up? Did he rub your butt and say it was more special then all the others he touched?" Orion may have went too far with that.

"You do realize I don't actually care about you or what you say, right? You come in here to make up a boogy man, so you can get to be the big bad hero. But we all know you won't feel fulfilled until a mare has taken a dildo the size of a baseball bat, and crammed it up your ass. You're gonna make your daddy in the window over there so proud." Okay now that was too much, he knew it, and by the expressions on the bystander's faces, they knew it too. He was so done with this shit.

The gasp of shock that echoed around the yard only made Orion smile though.

Golden's eyes had kept getting wider and wider as he went on. Trembling in rage he struck Orion square a crossed the jaw. "Dear God, you even hit like a beta male." Then the rest of his entourage piled on raining punches at him.

This was actually starting to hurt a bit. Trip to the nurses office was likely in his future regardless of the outcome. But it looked like he wasn't going alone. As one, the group seemed to forget all about holding his body still, and he seized upon the opportunity. "Sorry Mrs Evergarden, but I did promise not to strike first after all."

He targeted Prickly first, as he still had his horn on lockdown. The high pitched scream that followed silenced the yard. Prickly stumbled back gripping his shattered muzzle as he fell onto his ass. Golden just stared. The slack-jawed piss drinkers that had joined him on this idiot idea, tried to back up. Orion didn't wait, pulling his magic in he sent out a shockwave that knocked everyone back. Poor Prickly was sent flying to. He was starting to feel a little bad for the Nazi Horse. No, he was a prick. Fuck him too.

The use of that spell was almost too much for him. It hurt his horn and head like hell. Now he had wished he hadn't left those bands in that pot. They would have helped out so so much.

Cracking his neck, he sized up Golden Trot, who was stumbling to his hooves. No grinning or smiling now. The headache of exertion erased that. In a deaden voice he spoke to him,"This is what you wanted. The big bad predator to show his teeth. Hope it was worth it."

Orion rushed him, dodging the half-assed attempt at a magic beam and proceeded to meet fist to face. The blood pumping loudly in his ears, drowning out all else. The rage took over.

Twilight was racing down the halls of the school to warn Orion of the incoming assault by Prince Blueblood's son. She had heard some fillies laughing about it in the bathroom. Fear for him shot down her spine. She had bolted out the door after cleaning herself up. She hoped that she wasn't too late. He could run before it got bad.

Turning a corner she saw Prince Blueblood and Mr. Shower standing before the windows. "Oh no, its already happening!"

It was as she was racing around them, thinking she could still somehow help, that she noticed they were staring slackjawed. Furrowing her brow she looked into the yard. Her legs slowing down, and her jaw slowly dropping.

Orion was using Golden Trot like a flail. Beating the other students who had joined in on the ambush with him. It was bizarre. He was laughing. Teeth flashing in the sun. "Wait, are those....canines? He's a predator?!" The occasional fire of magic at him met a shield that he had somehow learned to use.

Orion whipped about and slung Golden right toward them. The crash and sound of air escaping as Prince Blueblood was struck in the stomach with his own son. They fell into a groaning and coughing heap on the floor. Twilight was on her flank still looking outside. "Was he always that big?"

He stood there, students clearing the yard in a panic. His sweater vest was gone, his shirt torn but still on. His pants seemed to have survived with only mild scuff marks. The muscles under the shirt were tense, hard. He had a split lip. A black eye. And the face he wore made Twilight almost wet herself.

His teeth were bared in a viscous snarl, no more smile. His hands squeezed the air, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His grey eyes were dead, but there was a fire deep inside that threatened to burn her to dust, and he wasn't even looking at her. It was almost like he wasn't there anymore. Replaced with this, monster before her.

She had not realized he had moved before he was in the broken hallway with her. "So fast..." She was terrified. This was not the colt she had been trying to make friends with.

Sure he was aloof and not social at all. But to go from the quiet pony she had first escorted through the school to this. It was too much. To sudden. She scrambled up onto her hooves and backed away.

This caught Orion's attention. His gaze snapped to her and she couldn't help but flinch and break eye contact.

"Ah, Twilight. Go and get Principal Far Sight please. It seems that I let myself go to far. Might want to contact the Princess too. It seems I have broken her nephew as well."

The sound of water splashing on the tile jerked Twilight's attention to Mr Shower. He had soiled himself, standing stock still.

"Oh, and I guess call a clean up crew, too. Seems Mr Shower has pissed himself."

It was all too much for poor Twilight's mind to comprehend. She fled down the hall in quiet terror. Unable to scream, jaws agape anyway.

Celestia sat in her throne. Looking at her nephew and his son. The poor colt had to be wheeled in on a chair. His left arm, and legs both, broken. A long road to recovery for the foal. Blueblood stood hunched over his adopted son. He looked like he had suffered close to the same fate. His arm in a sling, but the doctors assured her it was just a sprain, though his ribs were bruised as well.

Her gaze then shifted from him to Orion, in chains. A lot of chains.

His left eye had swollen shut, so a bandage had been wrapped around it. The lip had been stitched closed. The clothes he wore, were tattered, but miraculously his pants survived what looked to have been a small war. His horn was fitted with a null ring.

There were guards arrayed around him, spears pointed to him. She didn't think that was really all that necessary. But she left the chains and the guards be for now.

"Let me get this straight nephew, Orion, by himself attacked your son out of the blue, and his friends. For no reason whatsoever other then his carnivorous nature had taken a hold of him?"

"Yes he DID!" His whiny high pitched voice had always grated on her. If he wasn't part of the nobility she would have found some way to remove him from her court. Just to be free of that voice. That's why he was regulated to Trottingham. Where had his family's dignity gone. "He was a mad beast. He even attacked me! I think he would have bitten into me had your student not gotten help when she did." A strangely kind look was directed to Twilight, from him. Gratitude was a new thing for Blueblood. It still looked like he was chewing glass.

Twilight for her part was staring at the floor trembling, every now and then she would look at the colt in chains and that trembling would redouble for awhile. "I wonder what she saw."

Looking back to Orion, who had remained calm and quiet the entire time, mask firmly on.

"And you? What do you have to say on all of this?"

The colt went to open his mouth but was interrupted by Blueblood, "Why bother asking that savage what happened. Its obvious that he doesn't have a rational thought in his head. I demand him to be banished to tartarus! NOW!"

"Wow for a subject of the Princess you certainly seem to think you call the shots Blueballs." The guards barely contained their laughter. Indeed even Celestia had to take a moment. Orion was just giving the prince a look, with one eyebrow raised.

"Y-y-you DARE?!" He roared. He was stopped from striking the colt by her on magic.

"Blueblood you will contain yourself. Now. Orion please. Tell me what happened from your view."

The colt looked to the raging prince, then back to her. "Simple. I went to far in the lesson plan. Afraid I may have gone overboard a little. To be fair they were beating my ass something fierce. So, where to begin? I was just eating my lunch..."

The tale he told held too many details to be a lie. That and his eye movements and posture told much. He was bored. This actually meant nothing to him. He knew he was in the right. And as Celestia listened, she knew it too.

But by her sun, this colt was dangerous if the reports and what he said were actually true. The mention of his eating meat, a need she already knew from the files she requested, caused her guards to stiffen. To do all that, without using much magic, she couldn't reason how a pony his age could fight like a seasoned veteran.

The guards around him tightened their grips on the spears, she could see the nervousness in their eyes. Most had never seen active combat. When he got to the part were he used poor Golden Trot like a bludgeon, the mentioned colt paled at the memory, and one of the guards actually stepped back.

Orion had noticed and stopped his story mid sentence. "Hey, hey. Relax my guy. Just don't stick me with your spear and you won't be on the receiving end of something similar. Be cool." This did not ease the guards fears at all. "Oh come on. You have a demi-goddess sitting right there. She could nuke my ass from orbit. There is no way I can fight her. So chill." He turned his attention back to her and began again. Though now she was only half listening.

"Demi-goddess?" She supposed that to many that might be true. Even a little flattering to hear it spoke aloud. But what was a 'nuke' and what did he mean by orbit? Internally shaking her head for questions best left to later, she quickly reviewed what was said. He had finished his tale and was waiting, with that same bored expression.

"Orion, you physically used a student to beat five other students. You threw him through a window into his father. You're not painting yourself in a very good light here."

"You asked for the truth. Not some half-cocked lie. I admit I went to far. But, in my own defense, Blueballs here and Mr Shower watched the whole thing unfold from start to finish, without trying to intervene at all. That is negligent on their parts. They should never have allowed it to become a brawl like it did."

That was new information, Celestia glanced back to Blueballs. Damnit he had her thinking it now. He was sweating. Ah, so it was true. Likely having his son prove himself to him. Seemed like something he would do. Delving into the backdoor she had implanted in Blueblood's mind long ago as to never hurt him, she found the memories she was looking for.

"Mother's light!" She saw everything, the goading he had done to Golden the night before. The smug laughter between him and Shower just before it all came to a head. And the fight. It was more of a slaughter. Those colts stood no chance. Orion had become a monster in front of them.

He had used an intimidate spell. Where had he learned that? She had to laugh to herself. The part where he used that poor colt as a weapon was just too silly to actually be real, and yet there it was. In another time she would likely be howling with laughter.

Pulling her mind back she looked at the assembled group.

"Blueblood you goaded your child into this. To picking a fight, all because of Orion's dietary needs. The colt cannot help what his body requires and you acted far beneath your station. Golden. You should never have listened to your father. I know you want to make him proud but there are certainly better ways then to pick a fight."

Looking over to Orion she magic'd his constraints off. And pushed the guards spears up, holding them so they calmed.

"Orion, you have a knack for getting yourself into trouble -." She was then interrupted.

"Excuse me? I didn't start this. I didn't even go out of my way for this. I was behaving. This big steaming pile of dog shit thought it was a good idea to sic his son on me like some attack dog. I had nothing to do with that thought process lady!"

She stared in shock. The guards didn't know what to do. Blueblood and his son had fainted. He dared to correct her. Her. Ruler of the Sun. High Princess of the nation of Equestria. Her anger swelled before she even realized it.

"You dare speak to me that way?" The words were quiet, whispered death that seemed to carry a wave of heat into the throne room. The kind matriarch of the sun no longer sat on that throne. "You are but a foal, what wisdom do you possess that makes you think you can speak to me in such a fashion?" Any shred of kindness her visage usually held was gone.

She knew her mane had caught fire. This colt had embarrassed her in front of her student, of which she found the humor in, but now he was openly challenging her own judgement. Who did he think he was? Her mind was becoming clouded with anger.

He was sweating, but he was actually glaring back! What was this? He should be terrified of her. She commanded the sun. She has lived thousands of years. Who did he think he was?!

"I know right from wrong, Princess. And you are not being fair by handing any blame to me for defending myself just to placate these two worthless piles of shit. Is this really how you think? That you have to lay blame equally on everyone? Even if the victim never initiated anything?"

She was seething now. The throne was beginning to blacken under her. The new cushion just shy of bursting into flames. Her retainers fleeing her vicinity. The guards had backed up to the double doors. Her student, though she noticed it only later, was staring in stark terror at her. She had backed up behind one of the pillars. Fear in her eyes.

He was questioning her. HER. "No, he's right. I am just shuffling blame among both parties." That sudden thought brought everything back into focus. She slowly brought her anger, her fire back in. The red in her vision receding.

"He disturbs me, that's why I am acting like this. What is more, he reminds me of General Ironwall. That was the only stallion to ever challenge my way of rule. The fact that he too, was right, seems to make me see this colt as him. No, Celestia, just like Ironwall this foal is right as well. Damn."

Taking deep breaths, she steadied herself looking away. "You're right Orion. I-I am sorry. I was thinking of being fair to everypony regardless of what happened." She glanced at him seeing the smile of self satisfaction on his face. "Don't look so smug. But be proud. You are one of two ponies to ever correct me and be right. DO not make the mistake you can open your mouth to correct me whenever you see fit. And you still went to far."

"I can agree with you on that. Honestly, I didn't mean to go as far as I did. But my previous history with Golden... may have had more impact then I thought. Before he was adopted he was a pain in my ass. I know, its no excuse but it is an explanation for what happened." Sweat, but no fear. Just like Ironwill. The resemblance was uncanny. Even the broad jaw. He was quickly growing into a fine stallion.

"As such as you admit that you have taken it too far, you're suspended from school for one month." Orion grimaced but otherwise didn't comment. "You will also be subject to community service during your suspension."

"Awww come on, can you just toss my ass into the dungeon? I'll stay there for the month." She chuckled. He was being funny. And the humor was going far to sooth her bruised ego. When had she gotten so short tempered. It was like she was on a hair trigger these days.

"No, no dungeon for you. Go commit a real crime and I may think about it." She was feeling better. Though admitting she was wrong still stung, almost painfully so. But in a way it was good she supposed. Being right all the time would be boring.

The guards had returned. Not sure what was truly going on. She knew they were going to be gossiping. The colt that stood up to her and won. He didn't know it yet, but he was going to have a legend sprout around him soon enough. "Heh, just like Ironwall."

"Well, I have nothing more for you. Though, Orion have you ever put thought to joining the guard? A pony of your talents would be incredible in the force. I can see you going far."

He roared with laughter, "I knew you'd end up saying that! HELL no, your Highness. No offense intended. Thank you but no. I have trouble with authority as it is. No reason to throw fuel on the fire."

She giggled herself. It was a sudden thought, she never truly believed he would say yes. Though he is young yet, priorities change as one ages. But one more question had popped into her head. A question that had been on her mind for some time now.

"Orion? What is this word you keep using, 'hell?'"

"Oh that's a way easier way to say Tartarus."

She blinked. He had been using that constantly, he had been secretly cursing in front of her. Not much of a secret if he readily told her, but still.

"Don't go teaching your classmates that. I don't need little colts and fillies running around swearing about tartarus."

"Heh, no promises Princess."

She laughed again, "Oh and Orion?" He looked back expectantly before being escorted out. "The null ring stays on during the month of your punishment."

"SERIOUSLY?!"

She just grinned back. Revenge can be as sweet as cake.