Twilight had done her part. Tiara secured, there was no reason for Umbra to stay, but before she went back, she had someone to face. "Thanks, for giving a hand... But I'm with her." Umbra hiked a thumb at where Twilight had already fled. "We'll keep our strange stuff to ourself, promise. Don't be mad for the whole 'not really a--"

Celestia placed a lone finger on Umbra's lips. "You were a fine teacher, but you don't belong here."

"No... That's true. I just wanted to say thanks." Umbra lifted her shoulders in a helpless motion. "So we'll get out of your hair."

"Confusing, perhaps, but you didn't hurt anyone." Celestia gently shooed Umbra. "Go on. I'm sure you have friends waiting for you."

"I do." She pulled Shifting closer. "One right here. Let's go!" With that set aside, they returned to the right side of the mirror. Twilight was eagerly in the welcoming hooves of friends and family.

Luna was watching them. "There you are." Oh, no, she was looking at Shifting. "I will want your report, immediately." She strode off with a purpose.

Umbra raised a brow, her restored tail flickering behind her. "Did you make her mad?"

"The opposite, I think, mostly?" Shifting hurried off, back to being a crystal bat pony.

Which left Umbra by herself, but only briefly. Celestia calmly walked over, sitting in front of her. "I'm glad you're back."

Umbra burst into giggles. "You're not going to get this, I think, but I met the other you, in there." She pointed to the mirror back and to the side of herself. "And I think I get you better now."

"In a good way?" Celestia leaned in, craning her long neck with a gentle smile.

"I think so." Umbra considered a moment. "It's... You're doing your best to keep an eye on a chaotic situation, but you care, a lot, even at their worst."

"That sounds... accurate." Celestia angled her ears at Umbra. "Are you something I should be mindful of, or something I should protect?"

"I'm on your side, promise." Umbra raised a hoof as if giving an oath. "I may look... odd... but I promise."

"And why should I?" The question, bold, perhaps even rude, but her tone was gentle as if inviting Umbra to put her at ease.

"Because I love this world?" ventured Umbra. "I may be from another place, another mirror like that one." She angled her head towards the named mirror. "But this world is my home, and the people in it are my people. I want them to be happy and safe." She smirked suddenly. "And you've already heard half of this I bet."

"I have, but hearing you say it was something else. Something I needed to hear." She offered the side of her cheek, and it was met with another, the two touching gently. Any past misgivings were gently set aside between the two princesses. "Was the... No, I shouldn't pry." Celestia turned away.

"Why not?" Umbra scooted right around the larger princess. "I'd want to know about another version of me."

Celestia raised a brow, but her smile came back. "Since you're so eager to share..."

So Umbra told Celestia about Celestia, if she were a principal of a high school instead of an unaging princess of an entire nation.

"So Twilight got her tiara back." Shifting inclined her head. "I wasn't that helpful, um, ma'am."

"I see..." Luna spun in place, from away from Shifting to towards her directly. "And what did Umbra do? Were they assistant or hindering?"

"Helping, so far I could see... She was older than I was... I wonder how old she is..." Shifting frowned with thought, but Luna's hoof clop on the ground stirred her back to attention. "Sorry! She was helping."

"How old Umbra happens to be is outside your mission," huffed Luna. "Tell me exactly what she did."

So Shifting did, at least the parts she had seen.

"She, hm, quite a talent... The ponies of that other world simply accepted her as one of theirs, even one of ranking, without question?" Luna fluttered her wings with obvious irritation. "Why did the princess summit have to already be over...?"

"You're all here." Shifting waved a bit vaguely. "Couldn't you just call a quick extra meeting?"

"Tradition." Luna looked over her shoulder at her small servant. "Besides, they are all distracted with Twilight's successful return. They will have little desire to speak... No... You've done your part. Thank you." She rose and began to march towards the door leading out of the room. "Good work."

Shifting had survived! She hurriedly scampered from the room with a giggle of triumph, only to run into Umbra a few turns later. "I thought you'd be celebrating, with Twilight?"

Umbra reached to pat the head of her favorite changeling-bat. "Tempting, but this is more their thing than mine. Like you, I didn't help all that much. Oh, wow... Pony!" She stretched her restored body with all its different muscles. "Species dysphoria, take 2! It's still a nice body, even getting used to it."

"Now that we're back... Can you tell me about coffee?"

Umbra hiked a brow at that. "I refuse to believe ponies never heard of coffee, so I choose to accept this is a changeling thing."

"Maybe?" Shifting let out a squeak. "Gonna tell me?"

"So, you take this bean." She gestured in the air at a small thing. "And you boil it, like tea, but a bean instead of some leaves. You drink what happens and it gives you energy, a real pick-me-up. Addictive as all heck, so, really, skip it."

"An... energy drink, that you get addicted to." Shifting at least had some idea what it was then. "You got used to the energy it gave?"

"Exactly!" Umbra flashed a big fanged smile. "Exactly. You get used to that energy, then you need it. That's bad."

"Sounds bad." Shifting squinted at Umbra. "I have another question."

"I have all the answers you want, Shifting." She brushed against her friend and resumed walking. "I was heading back to my room."

"How old are you?" Shifting crashed into Umbra, who had stopped there in the hallway. "Bad question?"

"Awkward one, and bold." Umbra turned back to Shifting. "And hard. I was like one of those things through the mirror, then I was a pony." She gestured over her equine form. "So how physically old am I? Over there, I think I was in my 30s or late 20s. Is an Equestrian year even the same as where I'm from? I have no clue! I swear, not trying to be obtuse about this."

Shifting let out a little oh of a noise. "That is complicated..." They resumed their walk. "Am I too young?"

Umbra swerved an ear, but didn't slow. "To be a friend? No. Super mega duper no."

"You keep sending confusing signals." Shifting accelerated in front of Umbra. "So I'm stealing your power."

Umbra hiked a brow. "If you mean friendship, I already gave that up. Drain away."

"Even more powerful!" Shifting grinned at her, little bat fangs on display. "Adulting."

Umbra gasped with alarm. "Oh no. I didn't think anyone in Equestria had that power."

"I learned from the best." Shifting buffed at her chest, looking so very proud. "Umbra, do you like me, romantically, or not?"

Umbra huhed. "Wow, that... was an adult question, asked in an adult way. Laying it all flat on the table. I am... super proud of you." She went in to smooch the top of Shifting's head, but the crystal bat danced away.

"You're avoiding the question," accused Shifting, crossing her arms. "If not, that's alright, but I want it to be clear one way or the other."

"No pressure..." There was a lot of pressure. "Alright..." She looked Shifting over with a different set of eyes, a different perspective. "You are a pretty bat." She leaned in, voice lowering, "You're a mysterious changeling." She righted herself. "You're nice, and thoughtful, both big positive points in my book. You're adulting! Which is also a big point." She wobbled a hoof at Shifting. "The question, in my head, is do you really want to get involved with this mess?"

Shifting resumed the walk at Umbra's side. "You're not a mess! You're a very neat pony. So adult. So mature! The opposite of a mess."

"Who's involved with the ruling princess." Umbra threw her head in the direction she thought Cadance to be. "And her boy, er, stallion. Who happens to be the hero of the city, and known defender against what bumps in the dark, because she is the dark, so who better?" She snorted at her own humor, a smile returning to her. "Saying I'm a straight forward thing would be a bad lie."

"We're good at lying." Shifting came in closer, brushing her side against Umbra's. "So, am I too young or not? That was the question."

"Right." That was the question, which she just didn't answer at all really, shoot... "You're an adult, right?"

"Yep!"

"I figured you were..." Shifting lived by herself and minded her own business. There were no caretakers, there were no adults in her life, besides Shifting. Well, and Umbra... "Well... Alright... If you're an adult and you like me, then I will put aside my... first instinct and say that's good enough." She leaned over and bit Shifting's nearer ear, not being dodged that time. "I'm still hella complicated."

"I look forward to studying this puzzle." Shifting pounced, easily held up by the larger Umbra as they went down the hallway. "If she lets me."

Umbra swiveled an ear back. "So... to be clear, we need to have, like, a dozen Serious Conversations."

"Ready!"

"Starting with the fact that I'm in an open relationship, which makes thing complicated all on its own."

"Ready!" Shifting would not be dissuaded, hugging Umbra from above. "They're not mean... I won't ask you to...stop... But I won't join. That's alright?"

Umbra blurted into laughter. "Wow!" She looked over her shoulder at Shifting grinning at her. "Bold! I'm not really looking for a fun time with more than one pony at a time anyway, truth told. One is fine. And if you want them, feel free to talk to them, like an adult."

"Adulting is quite a weapon." They were quiet a moment, but Umbra's door was coming closer. "I'll let you get to your things. See you tomorrow?"

Umbra's red horn began to glow as she plucked up Shifting and set them down gently. "One thing first." She opened her door and peeked her head in. "You in here?"

"Ma'am?" Purple Polish was there, waiting. "Good to see you back, ma'am."

"Did you just wait here the entire time I was gone?" Umbra peered at her servant with a mix of awe and horror.

"Most of it, ma'am. That is my job." She peeked past Umbra to Shifting. "Should I get snacks for two?"

"It does involve her." Umbra's horn glowed, sliding the hesitant crystal bat into the room. "She's courting me." She pointed to Shifting if that wasn't obvious enough. "So treat them properly if they show up. I want to be bothered if they want me, even if I'm sleeping or something. Do not filter them." It was like adding a friend on a cellphone, except it was old timey, so telling your maid was the next best thing.

"Of course, ma'am." She looked over Shifting with new eyes. "Are they... qualified?"

That got her a little boop on the nose by Umbra. "You will not filter her. Besides, she helped defeat the shadow creatures and she was a big help in the mirror I just came out of." Okay, the second part was a bit of a lie, but the first was all true! "So we're both heroes, and a hero and a hero isn't a bad match at all."

"Oh, no. That's a fortunate pairing." Polish seemed entirely pleased with it laid out like that. She went off to get the heroes a snack.

My computer is feeling unwell... but the words could not be stopped!

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own written here at atreon!

Join my discord to chat!