LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME

Chapter 11: Puttin' on the Ritz

“Miss Sparkle? She'll see you now.”

Twilight looked up from her book to see Amethyst Star standing next to the open door to the Mayor's office. Slipping the book into her dimensional pocket and pulling out a rolled up scroll, she made her way over and smiled at the younger unicorn. “Thanks, Amethyst,” she said with a polite nod. She walked in and saw the mayor already standing next to her desk.

The earth pony gave her a sort of nervous and uncertain half bow, half nod. “Welcome, Miss Sparkle. What can I do for you today?”

Nodding in return, Twilight floated the scroll over to the other mare who took it gingerly. “First of all, I have a formal request for you from The Princess. The gist of it is that she would like to hold a special ceremony here in town tomorrow.” She noted the dismay on the Mayor's face and quickly added, “Nothing fancy or over-the-top, but it will be a formal event. I'll be helping with the set up this morning as well as after my afternoon class. I'm sure that between my friends and I, as well as a few other key ponies, we'll be ready in plenty of time.”

Looking over the scroll's message, Mayor Mare felt her eyes go wide. “Why, this is... this is incredible! Never before have so many local ponies been given so many honors before!” She looked at Twilight and said, “We're just a small town, filled with small ponies. We're not used to so much... attention.”

“Well, when you grow such exceptional ponies like these, you have to expect a certain amount of accolades to come your way,” Twilight replied with a grin. “You should take it as a compliment that the citizenry here are a cut above the norm.”

“I should say so,” Mayor Mare replied. A nervous smile worked its way onto her face as she said, “You know, many of us consider you to be as much a part of this town by now as any of us that were born and raised here.”

Twilight blushed and looked away, but her smile was genuinely happy. “Thank you. Th- that means a lot to me,” she said in a low voice.

The mayor looked again at the letter and quirked her mouth in thought. “I notice that there's not anything mentioned about your accolades, Miss Sparkle.”

The librarian looked at her in confusion. “Why would there be? I was just doing what was expected of me as a representative of the Princess and Bearer of the Element of Magic.”

Mayor Mare shook her head and hid a smile at her sudden idea. “Well, I suppose you better get to it, then. I'll start organizing things here on my end.” As Twilight stood to leave, she added, “Oh, could you send Spike over when you go to your class with a progress report? That way I can take over while you're teaching, and there will be a continuous flow of work.”

Nodding thoughtfully, Twilight replied, “Sounds sensible. I'll send him over at two, then. I'll see you this afternoon then, Miss Mayor.” With a final respectful nod, she left.

The mare leaned back in her chair for a moment, letting her plan fully crystallize in her mind. When she was satisfied, she leaned forward and pushed the button on her intercom. “Miss Star, please come in here. There's a letter I need to dictate.”

(\ /)
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*(“)(“)

A slightly singed Twilight ran into the classroom to find her eight students and one teacher/fillyfriend eagerly awaiting her. “Sorry I'm late, everypony. There was a small fire on the stage, and then the trained songbirds just made it worse, and... you don't really care about any of that,” she said finally seeing the eager faces of her students (and the adoring face of her fillyfriend). “Well, let's get started, then.”

She walked over to the chalkboard, dropping off her saddlebags on the way, and began writing on it. “Let's get through the instructional part done so we can get to the practical that I know you've all been waiting for.” Within moments, a simplified diagram of a spell shape had been drawn on the chalkboard. “Now, who can tell me where the starting point for this spell is?”

As the lesson continued, Cheerilee was once again struck not only by how into the lesson the foals were, but also by how far they had all come. After just five months, they had learned more than in all the years of tutors she had been having come over to teach them. Granted, they did tend to stray from proscribed curriculum, but since it was the Princess's prize pupil teaching the class, the school board had not uttered a peep about it. Not even the inspector they had sent over after the incident with Snips and his flying scissors had anything negative to say; not after he got a good look at who was doing the teaching.

Now here they were, learning magic two grade levels above them, and eagerly asking for more. Why, even Snips and Snails were asking for extra credit work. Twilight tried not to give out too much of that, however, because she didn't want to interfere with their regular schoolwork. However, that didn't stop them from independent study, which frightened them both witless. A long parent-teacher conference put much of those worries to rest, though occasionally one of them came in showing off some new trick they had taught themselves. Dinky Doo especially was prone to doing that. Just last week, she had come to them both and proudly showed them how she could magically regress an apple back into a seed. Even Twilight was deeply impressed by that.

The earth pony was shaken out of her reverie by Twilight addressing her directly. “Cheerilee, would you mind passing out the books, please?”

With a blush, she got up and passed a small book to each foal. When the last was out, she resumed her seat in the corner, but Berry Pinch raised her hoof. “Miss Twilight, I already know this one. My Mama taught it to me.”

Twilight looked at her in surprise. “She did? Well, why don't you trade with the pony next to you, and we'll see how that works out for you.”

The maroon filly traded book with Snails, who whispered to her, “Why'd you do that? You could have had it easy.”

Leaning close, she whispered back, “But then I wouldn't know if the spell was working or not.”

Returning to his normal posture, he said, “Oh. I didn't think of that.”

“Okay then, my little ponies,” Twilight said with a quirky smile as she thought of the Princess like she always did when she said that, “Let us begin. Focus on the form, building the pathway layer by layer. Remember that this isn't a race, so take as much time as you need to do it right. Speed comes with familiarity, not the need to impress. Now draw on the power slowly. Let it fill up the pathway you've built until it reaches the center, and...”

Nine horns lit up with their distinctive glows, and six fillies, two colts, and a mare opened their eyes as one, letting the glows fade into nothingness. Twilight looked out over her class and said, “Maintenant, jetez un oeil à votre livre et lire, pour moi, ce qui est là, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie looked down at the little book and read out loud, “El sol es guiado a través del cielo por Celestia— Ay! Estoy leyendo en Reiñol!”

Twilight nodded in satisfaction and turned to her next victim, this time speaking in Reinish as Sweetie Belle had. “Snips, lea la primera línea de su libro, por favor.”

Snips leaned over his book and spoke slowly and carefully, “Datang ke Gallopfrey. Melihat keajaiban Timur jauh.”

“Baik,” Twilight said in Gallopfreyan. “Berry, anda seterusnya.”

Berry Pinch read the first sentence of her Neighponese book as if it were written in plain Equish. “Anime wa, neighpon no shuyō na sangyō desu.”

Once again, Cheerilee was left stunned as the children answered Twilight in languages they had no way of knowing. It's difficult enough to cast a spell that allowed one to understand, speak, and read one new language, but they're doing it in multiple languages, on the fly! This is incredible for children their age!

Twilight dispelled their magic, and they then cast it again several times, practicing until they got it right first time, every time. By the time class ended, every filly and colt was exhausted, but talking animatedly about the lesson. They were eager to show off to their parents and eagerly ran off into the waning daylight.

As Twilight was erasing the chalkboard, Cheerilee came up and hugged her from behind. “You never cease to amaze me, Twi.”

The librarian looked over her shoulder at her fillyfriend. “Huh? For what?”

“These fillies and colts have learned more under your instruction than they have with all the tutors before. You. Are. Amazing,” she said, kissing her after every sentence.

Blushing, Twilight turned around and rested her forelegs on Cheerilee's shoulders, while the other mare never relinquished her grasp on Twilight's barrel. “I'm just repeating the lessons given to me in Canterlot. In fact, some of my speeches are taken verbatim from my old class notes.”

Cheerilee gave her a raised eyebrow and asked, “You mean you saved- Of course you saved your classroom notes from elementary school. I bet you have them in a file cabinet sorted by year and class, don't you?”

Twilight's blush deepened and she looked away. “Maybe,” she replied in a quiet voice.

“You are sooo cute!” Cheerilee said and kissed her.

Deeply involved with the kiss, they were startled out of it when a familiar voice shouted out, “Ah-ha! I knew we'd find you here!”

The moment shattered, they looked to the door with a guilty expression to see their fillyfriends standing there, smirking. “Trixie! Spitfire!” Twilight exclaimed.

Spitfire came up and started pushing them out the door. “Come on, you two. We still have a lot to prepare for tomorrow. The stage is set up, but we still need to work on the decorations, and we left Rarity arguing with the Mayor about just what set to use.”

Trixie came up alongside them as they passed other ponies in the street, adding, “And perhaps you could talk some sense into your baker friend. She seems to think that a DJ is the solution to all musical needs. Trixie refuses to become ennobled to the sound of 'WUBS', or whatever it is she calls it.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. It had already been a long day, and tomorrow promised no respite as well.

(\ /)
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News Flash needled Buried Lead in the ribs. “Yah see? Yah see?” she viciously whispered. “Ah done tol' yah there'd be more than just knighting! Nobles!”

Buried Lead shook his head at her exuberance. “Newsie, calm down before you draw their attention. I'm sure that Plain Sight was just too busy to let us know there was a change in plans. Watching over that mare has got to add years to your age.”

The unicorn mare smirked up at him and got a glint in her eye that always made him nervous. “Oooh... Ah see. Suddenly into mares closer to your own age, now. Should Ah be worried?” she asked while playfully bumping flanks with him.

Glad that her mischief took this relatively safe route, he smiled back at her. “And miss out on this hot piece of flank? Never.” With a kiss, he led her off towards the house they were renting for the duration of their assignments. “Come on. I think that with the telephoto lenses, we can get some fantastic shots of the stage from the second floor of our house.”

News Flash shook her head. “Nope. Only one of us will be ponying that station. Y'all'll be a little higher, and a lot closer.”

Buried Lead shook his head vigorously. “Nope. Nopenopenopenopenopenopenope. Nope. Nothing doing. The deal we have going is too precious for us to go ruining it by pushing the boundaries. We will not be abusing the small amount of trust we've built up just to get pictures that we could use a telephoto lens to get.”

“You always could try to contact her or wait for her to contact you, you know.” The two reporters gasped and whirled around to find a griffon standing behind them. “So you want to get a little closer for the ceremony, huh?” Limnear walked around them with an appraising eye. “Well?” she asked after a moment of silence.

Buried Lead hemmed and hawed nervously until News Flash jumped in with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” She ran up to her and tried to give her best cute face. “Please Missus Griffon! Talk to 'er and ask for us! We'll be happy to return the favor someday! Pictures, a favorable story, whatever y'all want, it's yours!”

Limnear looked them both over carefully, noting the worried look in the stallion's eyes at the promise of a favor to be named later. “Alright, tell you what. I'll clear it with the boss lady, and you two set up. Just make sure to remain unobserved, and follow all the other rules. This will be for the ceremony only.” News Flash jumped up, pumping a hoof in joy. “However, I want something in return.” She licked her lips, savoring the dismay on Buried Lead's face.

“Pictures.” Her single word sent a wave of noticeable relief through the green pegasus, but that didn't last as she elaborated. “Sexy Pictures. Of me, taken by the both of you. Tonight.” She inspected the talons on one forefoot, making sure that their keen points were plainly seen. “I'll also be taking all prints and negatives with me. Tonight. And if word of this gets out to anyone I'll be paying you another visit.Capice?”

Both ponies gulped audibly and nodded. Without further word, the griffoness flew off again. Buried Lead glared at his younger companion, who just shrugged and continued their trip home. “He who dares, wins.”

The stallion followed several paces behind and muttered to himself, “I wish you'd pay as much attention when I try to tell you to look before you leap.”

(\ /)
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*(“)(“)

Twilight stared down her opponent, taking in her measure and weighing her options. A grimace of determination gave her a stern countenance. “It doesn't have to go down this way. There's still time to walk away.”

“The same goes for you, Sweet Cheeks,” Spitfire replied, her face equally grim. A smile creeped up onto her face and her hoof shout out, only to bounce off of a purple dome. She withdrew her stinging hoof, holding it close to her chest. “No fair using magic!” she cried.

The purple dome formed a bubble around the last biscuit and floated it over towards Twilight who waited with a wide butter knife smeared with strawberry preserves. “I could claim the same thing about your athletic dexterity, but I won't,” she retorted, happily applying the spread to her prize which she had split apart.

“Only because you won this round,” Spitfire groused.

Twilight chuckled and was about to put the biscuit half in her mouth when she noticed Cheerilee and Trixie eying the food and licking their lips. With a sigh of resignation, she gave each half to one of them. “This is only because you're eating for two now.” She put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Or should that be four?”

Cheerilee looked to Trixie and smiled. “You know what would go good with this?” The showmare shook her head and Cheerilee answered, “Clover honey!”

Trixie's eyes got wide and they ran into the kitchen. Twilight turned to her remaining fillyfriend and asked, “So, you ready to become a noble tomorrow?”

Shaking her head, Spitfire replied, “I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one. I mean me, a Baroness? Vill I haff to talk in a funny ahkzent, like zis?”

Spike and Twilight let out a giggle, and the librarian replied, “I don't think so. It might help though, just so you can get into character.”

They were interrupted by loud moans of pleasure coming from the kitchen. Twilight looked to Spitfire. “Mom wasn't kidding about the weird cravings. I guess they're more than just a funny joke.”

Spike made a disgusted face, partially from the noises emanating from the kitchen. “Personally, I hope they never reach the pickle and ice cream stage.” He stuck his tongue out at the mere thought of the combination.

“It's not always the same for everypony, Spike,” Spitfire replied. “When my Mom was pregnant with my brothers, she craved buckwheat noodles and applesauce flavored with wasabi; usually in the middle of the night.”

The usual purple scales on the baby dragon took on a distinct greenish tinge and his cheeks bulged. Twilight glared at Spitfire. “If he throws up because of that, you're the one who's going to clean it up, Missy.”

Sidling up to him, she replied, “Oh, come on. This little guy is tougher than that. Right, Spike?” To emphasize her point, she slapped him on the back... only for him to lose some of his dinner on her lap.

As the little dragon ran to the bathroom to avoid spilling anything else on the floor, Twilight smirked at the thoroughly betrayed mare. “I warned you. Spike is very queasy about certain foods. Ever since he saw Applejack and Apple Bloom making applesauce by hoof, he hasn't touched the stuff, despite repeated explanations by Applejack that they were just fooling around that day, and weren't really making applesauce.”

Twilight levitated a damp washcloth that she hoofed over to the still pole-axed Wonderbolt. “Enjoy,” she said sweetly as she walked out of the dining room. Entering the kitchen, she found Trixie and Cheerilee had finished feeding each other the remnants of the biscuit, and had somehow managed to cover their hooves in honey. Cheerilee had a blushing Trixie's hoof in her mouth and was sucking on it like a foal at teat. “Oh, honestly, you two! I think that being pregnant has made you hornier than ever!”

Cheerilee took the hoof out of her mouth and made a show out of licking it clean. The bedroom eyes she shot at the librarian made her squirm in place. “Methinks the lady doth protest overmuch.”

Twilight ran out of the kitchen yelling, “Spitfire! They're making me think sexy thoughts! Make them stop!”

(\ /)
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*(“)(“)

It was a unusually warm day for Amorurary. Warm enough for the guards making a sweep of the stage for hidden dangers to not need their regulation scarves or boots, though some still wore them. Twilight stood talking to the newly promoted Overwatch Captain, Dead Reckoning. “So instead of using the standard, yet woefully inadequate Pied Piper's Rat-B-Gone, I went with a much more comprehensive Pigpen's Vermin Shield and followed it up with a Summer Breeze's Zone of Ultimate Comfort.”

The white unicorn nodded. “Aye, Ah have to agree thae it is a mooch better spell, noo. We recently went over t'it in the guards' stables, an' the number o' varmin-related health issues hae dropped tae eight parcent, or thereaboot.”

“Really? Shining's been trying to implement that change for years. Good to see it finally went through,” Twilight commented. She glanced up and shouted to a pegasus in the sky. “No, Cloudchaser, move that cloud over there. No, a hundred yards west. There!” She looked back at the captain and said sheepishly, “Sorry, just trying to get the lighting right. When the time comes to start, we should have a beam of sunlight hitting all of the stage if my calculations hold.” She looked at him funny as he chuckled quietly. “What?”

Dead Reckoning shook his head. “It's nawt. Jus' thinkin' how ye haven't changed since the first time we met. You're going to be a wee bonnie hoofful for a lucky somepony- or should Ah say, someponies?” He gave her a playful elbow in the ribs.

Twilight looked around nervously, making sure nopony heard her, but all she saw were the clouds above, and the stage below. One was too high to clearly hear anything, and the other too low to hide anypony. “Shh! We're trying to keep that secret until it's too late for anypony to do anything about it!” she hissed.

“Ach, calm doon, lass. There's naepony aboot tae hear,” Dead Reckoning replied quietly.

Unconvinced, Twilight looked around nervously. “Still, it's better not to even mention it obliquely, Captain. I'd appreciate it if you didn't until it's over with.”

Dead Reckoning nodded. “Aye, Ah'll do that n'all, but ye need tae calm yuirself. Fashin' yuirself so will do nawt but gi' ye a braw headache.”

Rubbing her temples, Twilight nodded. “I think you're right. I'm gonna go take some aspirin. I'll be right back.”

As she left, the Captain watched her, shaking his head. “A right bonnie lass, but strung way too tight for her oon good.”

(\ /)
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*(“)(“)

Twilight checked her mane one last time to make sure the stripes were all to one side, then turned to inspect Spike's scales. Naturally, he resisted, trying to push her hooves away. “Twilight, I'm fine! You're fine, they're fine, we're all fine!”

She ruffled the spines on his head playfully and smiled down at him. “Alright, Spike. Just making sure we all look our best.” She turned to her fillyfriends and nodded in approval. Trixie and Spitfire, used to appearing before crowds, naturally were well-groomed, wearing their respective "Class A" uniforms. Even Cheerilee, who looked a little nervous about the whole proceedings was wearing her “Sunday best”, which consisted of her mane styled in a particularly complicated coiffure held in place with a pair of heirloom hair sticks encrusted with amethysts designed to look like a bunch of grapes. “Well, let's go, girls. Nobility awaits!”

The five of them walked out of the house, heads held high, and made their way to the town hall where the stage was set. They nodded and greeted friends and neighbors as they passed, and were greeted in turn. They arrived at the backstage, and nodded to the guards who held the curtain open for them. Backstage, they saw the Mayor talking to Celestia, both of whom turned to them.

Bowing to her first, Twilight ran up to the alicorn and nuzzled her. Celestia chuckled at her student's apparent agitation. “There's no need to be nervous, Twilight. I've performed this ceremony literally hundreds of times.”

“I know, Princess. I just get so jittery in front of crowds,” the librarian replied. “It's why I never liked presenting reports in school.”

“Yes, I seem to recall you enjoying the research portion much more,” Celestia replied with a wistful smile. “Remember that one night I had to escort you from the library?”

Twilight ducked her head and blushed. “Princess, please. Ot-nay in ront-fay of the erd-hay.” Cheerilee hid a giggle behind a hoof while the other two tried to look innocent when Twilight turned to glare at them. Returning to the Princess, she said, “I hope everything goes well.”

“It'll be fine, my Faithful student.”

Twilight's nerves were not to be denied, however. “But what if a giant meteor crashed down the road and a swarm of alien creatures bent on eating everypony popped out and overran usputtingsomeofusintogoo-filledpodstosnackonlaterand-”

Her fear-filled rant was stopped by Spitfire's kiss, as well as Trixie and Cheerilee hugging her from either side. Spitfire withdrew her lips with an audibly wet smack, leaving Twilight's still in kissing position. “Better?” she asked with a sly smile.

“Yeah,” Twilight replied, her lips seemingly stuck in that position for several seconds. With a shake of her head, her face returned to normal.

Celestia nodded to the Mayor, who walked out on the stage to begin. As she gave her warm up speech, the alicorn approached the ponies and dragon. “I apologize that we need to do this in order to see your happiness is assured. Politics these days often make me long for the days when Luna and I ruled with more autocratic power. It seems that the very word has come to amount to a legal way to deny others what should be theirs through common sense.”

“It's hardly your fault, Your Highness,” Spitfire said. “Being only equine, the allure of power is just too much for some ponies to deny.”

“Precisely why Luna and I gave up so much of it,” Celestia replied.

They could hear the Mayor winding down her speech, and Twilight said, “Huh. Shorter than usual. Better get into place, everypony.”

Celestia walked out from behind the curtain to thunderous applause. “My little ponies,” she began when it had died down enough to be heard without invoking the Royal Canterlot Voice. “We are here today to honor several ponies, whose works and actions go beyond the call of normal duty to be expected from any citizen of Equestria. These ponies are to be held up as exemplars of honor, loyalty, caring and compassion. They risked their lives, not for reward, not for fame, not even asking for recognition; but because they saw what needed to be done, and acted selflessly to see it carried out.

“Please join me in honoring Cheerilee, Spitfire, and Trixie Lulamoon!” She clapped as the three ponies walked out as their names were called out. The three of them bowed before her, remaining in that position. A dappled gray earth pony guard came forward, bearing an ornate golden sword on a red velvet pillow, holding it up for the alicorn. Celestia's golden magic aura took hold of the weapon and held it up before her in salute. “Cheerilee, Spitfire, Trixie née Lulamoon. Do you swear to uphold the laws and values of Equestria for as long as you shall draw breath? Do you swear to defend the honor and good name of Equestria for as long as your heart beats in your chests? Do you swear to answer any call to duty great or small for as long as you can put one hoof in front of the other or draw a weapon? And most importantly, do you swear to defend and care for the ponies of Equestria for as long as you live, so say you all?”

As one, the three ponies replied in well practiced unison, “We do; so say we all.”

Celestia levitated the sword, barely touching each shoulder of the ponies. “It is my great honor to dub thee, Baroness Cheerilee of Ponyville, Baroness Spitfire of Ponyville, and Baroness Trixie née Lulamoon of Ponyville. Rise, my little ponies.”

They came to their hooves to the exultant roar of the crowd. The cheering and applause seemed to go on forever. Trixie rose to her rear hooves and threw her forelegs wide, lapping up the jubilation like a cat with a bowl of cream. Spitfire took it in good-natured stride, used to the adulation of large groups. Cheerilee, however, seemed a little dizzy, and leaned against the strong pegasus's side for support.

The earth pony guard from before came forth with a gilded box and opened it to Celestia. From it, she levitated a medal hanging from a wide purple ribbon. Over each neck, she laid the medals of office, and gave each a kiss on the forehead, causing each to blush slightly. They felt a thrill of magic in the kiss that suffused their bodies, and wondered what this gesture that Twilight had told them nothing about signified.

Celestia returned to the podium and cleared her throat from an uncharacteristic hitch. “There is one last bit of business to be done today before we conclude this ceremony. Madam Mayor?” She nodded to the tan earth pony and conceded the podium.

The Mayor resumed her place and looked out over the crowd. “There is one more honor we have to confer today, and it is one that requires the vote of all townsponies. I'd like to see a show of hooves. All in favor of adopting Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon as adopted native Ponyvillians, say aye!”

There was a momentary pause as the last minute election was held; but the silence was quickly shattered by an enormous ”AYE!” from everypony gathered.

“All opposed?” The only sound to break the silence was a demure cough from a yellow pegasus that had overworked her vocal chords. Smiling, the Mayor happily said, “Motion carried unanimously! Twilight Sparkle and Spike, please come forward!”

Twilight and Spike stepped out from the backstage in a daze. They approached the podium, and Pinkie-Pie ran up to give them each a “Congratulations on being adopted by Ponyville” gift basket, and the mayor placed a red ribboned medallion around each of their necks. The tan mare gave them a warm hug and said, “Welcome to the family.”

(\ /)
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*(“)(“)

With a disgusted grimace, Luna practically growled out the words, “Then by a vote of one-hundred and twelve to sixty-one, the motion is carried. Bill number one- five- four- eight- three- seven- nine- six- two- B- stroke- seven will be sent to the House of Commons for debate and voting.” She slammed the gavel down with far more vigor than was entirely necessary and rose from her seat.

The Bailiff shouted, “All rise for her Royal Highness, Princess Luna of the Moon!” All the ponies complied and bowed to her respectfully as she left in a huff.

There was some milling about, mostly like-minded nobles congratulating Golden Bit on his victory in pushing his bill through, despite the uphill battle it now faced in the House of Commons. Despite that, Golden Bit had timed this vote too well. Too many of his opponents were away, taking care of problems that had conveniently cropped up to oppose the vote in person.

Golden Bit paused in soaking up his accolades as he saw his son walk in to the Parliamentary floor, an act that he hadn't done since Golden Bit himself had brought him in as a colt. He did not care for the determined look in his eye. Blueblood never looked that way, especially not at his father. Resuming his mask, he excused himself and walked over to see what brought him here.

Before he could even open his mouth, Blueblood tersely said, “Father.” Just the tone sent a chill of worry down the Duke's spine, and he wondered what sort of obstinance he'd have to be putting down this time. “I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Watch your tone, boy. I brought you into this world; believe me, I can still take you out of it just as easily.” He sheathed the steel in his voice within the soft veneer of a false smile that had disarmed many a pony before.

“I've just come by to tell you that you've failed. The Princesses have already taken measures to mitigate the damage your plans will do. Twilight Sparkle is safe from your manipulations, and soon, so will I.”

Golden Bit had never heard his son speak with such confidence before. Under other circumstances, he would have been proud; the first time in years, but now? “What have you done, boy?” he hissed.

Blueblood gathered his courage and puffed out his chest. “I've done what I can to protect her from you. I'll not see Twilight Sparkle used and passed around like a commodity. She deserves better than that, and by Celestia, I'll see that she gets better.”

Golden bit watched his son leave, wondering how he could salvage the situation.

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*(")(")

Cunning Eye picked at his teeth with a splinter as he surveyed the destroyed camp. Tents lay strewn about with holes in them, pony-sized equipment was either broken, or in the process of being broken by the five minotaur and eight griffon subordinates which dominated the clearing. Those not busy actively destroying the camping gear, were eating the food or counting the few bits they had taken from the ponies who now were cowering in front of their leader. Cunning Eye took the splinter from his teeth and flicked it at the old stallion between the eyes, who was trying to shield his daughter and grandfoals with his body. "I hope we understand each other now. This territory belongs to the Hegemony, and we don't appreciate trespassers. You want to camp in our lands, you go through proper channels and get a visa and a permit. Got it?"

The colt in his mothers' arms tried to say something, but with a mouth full of hoof, the best he could do was mumble and glare.

Cunning Eye smirked at the colt. "Got something to say, kid?"

The old stallion shifted so that he was blocking the minotaur's view of the foal. "No sir. Message received."

The minotaur lashed out faster than the ponies could react, backhanding the stallion, sending him sprawling to the ground. "I wasn't asking you, old timer." He looked back at the colt, who was too shocked to even move. "Well, kid? Want to say something? I'm right here."

The colt wisely held his tongue and just shook his head while glaring at the much larger creature.

Cunning Eye let loose a deep belly laugh. "I thought not. You ponies are all the same. You act tough hiding behind your princess' skirts, but on your own, you're just cowards. You should take this as a good lesson, kid. Don't mess with someone unless you're sure you can stand up to them on your own." Turning to his subordinates, he whistled to get their attention. "I think these trespassers have learned their lesson. Sergeant Cooper, escort this scum from above until they leave our borders. The rest of you, return to base."

Cooper, a griffon with a snapped off tail licked his beak as he watched the mare help her father up and lead her children off into the woods. He was about to take to the air when Cunning Eye called out to him.

"Sergeant!" He waited until he had the griffon's full attention. "Remember, we want some survivors, or this whole excursion was pointless."

The griffon nodded before taking to the air, a grin plastered on his beak.

Author's Notes:

This one was a little difficult to get out I don't mind saying. Not sure what it was, but I just wasn't feeling it with this one for the most part. Maybe it's time for another time jump? We'll see how the next couple go.

The usual disclaimers go here. I own the arrangement of the words, News Flash, Buried Lead, Limnear, Dead Reckoning, and Golden Bit. All else is owned by Hasbro and Lauren Faust.