LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME

Chapter 19: What Have I Done to Deserve This?

The alicorn smiled as she landed on the dragon's back. Dominating his mind had been foal's play, really. She was always surprised when she found a chink in a dragon's armor. They were so massive and intimidating that it was easy to forget that they were just as susceptible to folly as any other creature, and neglecting one's mental defenses was tantamount to inviting oneself to being taken over. The green dragon beneath her flew straight and level so as to not throw her off as she concentrated on her next spell.

She looked up at the dragon stooping in a dive upon her, made a quick mental calculation and erected an invisible wall of force above her. The attacking dragon never saw the wall, and smashed into it like a bug on a window. The sickening CRACK when it struck, caused her to wince in sympathy and grimace as the dragon slid off the invisible wall, leaving a smear of red behind until she dismissed the magic holding it together.

Unseen from her right, another dragon swooped in to breathe out a cone of freezing cold. Shock raced through the alicorn, causing her to lose her grip on the dragon's mind, but that was immaterial, as her ride plummeted towards the ground, already dead. Fortunately, she was made of sterner stuff, and spread her wings, the motion leaving behind a trail of frost as it became dislodged from her feathers.

She activated a dormant enchantment, and sped after the white dragon, following its every jink and juke. A quick glance behind him alerted him to her presence, and he dived down to the treeline, hoping to lose her like he did with so many larger, pursuing dragons. However, she was no dragon, and was far more maneuverable than he; and with her enchantment, just as fast. The white dragon ran out of obstacles as they came to the end of the forest, and into the burning village he and his nestmates had been pillaging.

He swooped around a column of smoke, and smiled as he noticed that she was no longer behind him. The smile disappeared, however, when she came at him through the smoke, and tore through the fragile membrane of his wing. No longer able to maintain airworthiness, he plummeted to the ground, and crashed into a burning building. The dragon tried to regain his footing, but slipped on a pile of ashes and charred bones.

The alicorn landed a few dozen yards away and neatly folded her wings. She walked towards the battered white dragon, menace gleaming in her eyes. “This village t'was home to over fifteen score ponies. It stood for over a century. We ask thee; what honor lay in its destruction? In the slaying of its ponies? For what reason dost thou lay siege t'it? What profit was in this foul deed? Answer, wyrm!”

The dragon waited until she had come close enough, then unleashed his chill breath again. A rime of frost coated her, which she shook off as if it were nothing more than room temperature water. She glared at him. “Thou darest attempt to slay us with cold? Dost thou know not that to We who move the stars in the Vault of Heaven, thy most bitter of cold is belike an ocean breeze to us?”

“Nay, monster,” the dragon replied with a smile, “I need'd only to hold thine attention.” Performing a back flip that belied the dragon's great bulk, he took cover behind the charred remains of the building as the alicorn turned around in time to see a golden dragon bearing down upon her. Claws the size of swords struck, slapping her against the wall. A second set of claws struck, slamming her against the wall again, before a tail as large around as the trunk of a mature oak tree slammed her a third time, sending her through the pulverized wall.

The gold dragon took a deep breath a breathed a cone of intense flame where she believed the alicorn fell, turning the stone walls and debris into slag. When the flames were extinguished, she warily watched the cooling molten rock, waiting for something to happen. The white dragon walked around the building and looked to the still-glowing rock. “Did we succeed?” he asked.

As the gold dragon took a breath to answer, the rock exploded outwards, and the purple alicorn burst free, her eyes glowing with an eerie white light as she regarded them, and blood dripping from quickly-healing wounds. FOOLS! THOU THINKEST THOU CAN SLAY US SO EASILY? THOU SHALT SUFFER, NOT FOR THE TEMERITY OF ATTACKING US, BUT FOR THE SLAUGHTER OF THESE INNOCENTS! MAY THY GODS HAVE MERCY ON THY SOULS, FOR WE SHALL NOT!” A beam of green light shot out from the tip of her horn and struck the white dragon, turning it ashen gray, before it disappeared entirely.

The gold dragon recoiled and flapped her wings in an attempt to get away, but another beam reached out to the same effect on her. The alicorn landed and sent a blue beam of energy into the clouds above. The clouds grew bigger and darker until a torrent of rain fell upon the burning village, quenching the fires.

She walked among the ruins, looking for survivors, but could find no signs. The alicorn sat down and leaned against a building, letting the cool rain wash away the blood and grime of the fight. “Would that We were quicker this time, We might have saved at least one...” She sighed as she considered her options.

The sound of rubble shifting caught the alicorn's attention, and she whirled to face the source of the sound. She pointed her horn at the pile of rubble from which the sound originated and calmly said, “Stand fast! Who goeth there?”

The rubble shifted again, revealing a tiny black head. At first, the alicorn thought it was a horribly burned pony, but then she noticed that the shape was all wrong. “A dragon?” She approached the still form, and saw that not only was it wounded, it was still but a hatchling, as small as a foal. The purple alicorn lifted the rest of the debris off of the small form and saw that not only was it badly hurt, it was also extremely young, being only just large enough for it's wings to have grown in. She leaned in and examined the young wyrm, and whispered, “What is thy name, little one?”

The hatchling was of course, in no shape to answer her query, and just mewled pathetically, seeking some comfort for it's injuries. “We cannot bring thee to our home. T'is no place fit for thee.” She silently considered the tiny dragon for a moment, even going so far as to wondering if killing it would be a mercy. She shook her head and shivered at the thought of slaughtering one so young, even one from a hostile nation. “Neigh. We shall not sink to their level. We suppose that there is but one course of action left to us. Let us just hope that fair Nyx will care for thee.”

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Waking with a start, Twilight sat up in bed so fast, it made her head spin. She wiped at her eyes and noted that her hooves came away wet. Taking a deep calming breath, she looked to her left and watched Spitfire sleep. She held Trixie in her hooves like a doll, and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

Twilight ran a hoof through her sleep-tousled mane and sighed. I guess that's a check in the nightmare box. We'll have to wait until tomorrow night to see if two of us Elements sleeping together will counter them. Twilight had suggested the experiment to see if them sleeping in the same room would really prevent the nightmares, so all of her friends were sleeping alone tonight. They agreed that the following night, Applejack and Rarity would sleep together, and finally, Pinkie-Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy on the night after that. She thought that this might give them a threshold point to determine their sleeping arrangements.

Knowing that it would be a while before sleep would come back to her, Twilight quietly got up and laid the blanket back over her mares before stepping out of the room. She made her way over to the nursery and watched her baby sleeping. At least, she was sleeping before Twilight stepped on a toy that let out a loud SQUEAK, waking her.

Twilight picked up Sunny and sat down in the rocking chair. “Hello, my Sunshine. “Mom's sorry she woke you.”

Sunny Days curled up in her forelegs and nuzzled against the purple coat. “Wuv 'oo Mom,” she murmured sleepily and was soon fast asleep again.

Rocking gently back and forth, Twilight quietly hummed a lullaby, and contemplated the filly's future.

“Bad dream again?”

Twilight looked up to see Cheerilee standing in the doorway, concern etched upon her face. She continued humming as she nodded. After the song was finished, she put the filly back in her crib and walked out of the room. “I still can't remember what happened; just a great feeling of sadness and loss so enormous, it felt like my heart was tearing in two.”

“Do you think it was brought on by nerves from Spitfire leaving tomorrow?” Cheerilee asked, rubbing her cheek with her alpha's.

Running a hoof through her mane, Twilight breathed out a sigh. “Maybe. I don't know. This whole business with the Hegemony has me so worried for her, even if we know that she can take care of herself.” They walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.

“It's not just losing her that I'm afraid of,” Twilight continued. She wrapped herself up in a hug as if to fend off the cold, and actually shivered. “I'm afraid of doing something terrible if something does happen to her. Did you know that if I were to pump as much energy as I could into a single spell, I could level a small city?” she asked with a haunted look in her eyes. “I've done the math, and it... it frightens me, Cheery. I don't want to put anypony in the position of having to put me down if I lose it, but-”

Cheerilee silenced her with an impassioned kiss that went on for what felt like forever, but ended all to soon. “That's not going to happen, Love. First of all, you have Trixie and I, not to mention all our little ones should something happen to Spitfire, Celestia forbid. Secondly, you have far too many friends and family that won't let you fall from the straight and narrow. Thirdly, and most importantly, you are a good pony. Good enough that you would not let yourself do something that terrible, even if you do lose your mind to grief.”

She pulled the distraught mare into her embrace, resting Twilight's head on her chest. She kissed the crown of her head and gently rocked her back and forth. “I'm sorry I'm not better at this, Twi. It's all kinda new ground to me, so I'm unsure just what to say. These aren't the kind of worries that most earth ponies grow up concerned about. Maybe we should talk to Trixie about this in the morning.”

“No!” Twilight exclaimed, pushing Cheerilee away at arm's length. In a quieter voice she added, “No. I don't want to add to Spitfire's worries just before she ships out. I want her head and conscience clear for whatever she meets out there. I refuse to be the cause of her not being at her best.”

Cheerilee sighed and stood. “Then I suppose we can do it after she leaves in the afternoon, but mark my words, we will discuss this before going to bed again.”

Twilight stood and nuzzled her. “Alright, Cheery. Let's just try to go back to sleep for now, okay?”

The teacher nodded and followed her alpha back to their bedroom.

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The appearance of an airship in a town like Ponyville was always a big deal; bigger even than the troops that had bivouacked on the outskirts to meet it. Making it an even bigger event was the fact that this airship was made for war. Even though the hatches over the gunports were closed, the menacing look of the vessel left no doubt in anypony's mind just what it's purpose was.

Ostensibly, it was picking up troops here because it could lay in ballast at the same time as well as it's proximity to griffon lands, but Twilight couldn't help but feel that Celestia had assigned it this port of call so that Spitfire could have a few more hours at home before leaving her. Deep down, she knew that the Princess wouldn't put her student's convenience above those of so many others', but the flattering thought was still hanging on in the back of her mind.

Twilight turned away from the window and watched Spitfire carefully pack her spare flight uniforms into her ditty bag, along with a few personal effects and basic toiletries. She pulled a pair of goggles off of Sunny Days, who was trying to keep them from falling off of her face. “Ma f'y?” she asked.

Spitfire kissed her forehead, causing the filly to giggle. “Not today, Sunshine. Ma's got to go to work.”

Not liking the answer she had received, Sunny Days crawled into the half full ditty bag, prompting Trixie to pull her out of it. “No, no, Sunny. That's not for playing,” she chided. Trixie shifted her great bulk and gave a squeal of surprise. “Ooo! She's kicking!” She placed Sunny's hooves where she felt the filly in her belly moving around and grinned at the fascination on her face. “You feel her, Sunny? That's your little sister!”

Sunny giggled and tried to push back every time she felt the foal inside push out. Trixie finally had to pull her off before something was bruised, namely her. Sunny beamed up at her and exclaimed, “Sissy push good, Mama!”

Trixie swept her up in a hug. “Ooo... you're so sweet, you're going to give us cavities, Sunny!”

“She's not the only one, Trix,” Spitfire said, leaning down to kiss them both.

With a fierce blush, Trixie playfully slapped Spitfire's rump. “You better stop that before you start something you can't finish,” she said with a smirk.

Spitfire looked up at the clock on the wall and grimaced. “I suppose we'll have to save it for when I get back.” She glanced over at Twilight and asked, “Is Cheery supposed to meet us over at the launch?”

Twilight nodded in reply. “Yes. She was going to let school out early so we can say goodbye.”

“Then I suppose we should get going.” The Wonderbolt shouldered her bag and sighed as she took one last look around the bedroom. “I'm going to miss this place while I'm gone.”

Twilight sidled up to her and said, “Don't you mean that you're going to miss a nice, big, fluffy bed?”

“Filled with hot desirable mares?” Trixie added.

Spitfire grinned at them as she placed Sunny on her head, and her blue overseas hat on top of the filly's. “That too.”

They walked out to where the airship's launch was docked near the pond. A long, flexible tube dropped from the airship into the water where it was steadily sucking in ballast. The two pegasi ponying the tube were avoiding splashes from the two hippocampi who now called the pond home. As they walked past them, Twilight called out to them. “How's that portal holding up, ladies?”

They stopped splashing the pegasi and swam over to the edge of the water. “Oh, it's the magical one, Sister!” one exclaimed.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, Scylla,” she patiently told the sea pony. “Not 'magical one'.”

“Mmm... so many delicious ponies visiting us today. We must be doing something right, dear Sister,” Charybdis commented.

Spitfire put a foreleg around all of her herd and replied, “Sorry Ladies, but they're spoken for.”

“Greedy,” the hippocampi playfully said in unison, before swimming back out to splash the circling pegasi again.

The ponies arrived at the launch's docking point to find a cloud designed for lifting supplies and ponies, and pushed around by pegasi, three of which were standing nearby. Trixie shook her head at the absurdity of the regulations required by the military. “Trixie still does not know why you are required to board in this fashion. One would think that being a pegasus, you could just fly up to it.”

“It's for everypony's safety, Trixie,” Spitfire replied. “A pony does not approach a warship, even in dock, without the proper clearance unless they don't mind being blown out of the sky, and warships don't let just anypony approach in case they're hostile. The same goes for wet navy, too.”

Standing under the ship, they could appreciate it's true enormity. The shadow it cast actually covered a good portion of Ponyville, causing some to worry about the effect this might have on their gardens. The armored gondola that hung beneath the massive lighter than air envelope was painted sky blue, except for the ship's name painted on the bow, proclaiming this to be the Euryale.

Twilight squinted, trying to read the name. “Euryale? Then this is from the new Gorgon class carrier?”

Spitfire grinned at her. “Yup! Twice as armored, with three times the launching spaces as the previous class. This baby can put a third of her pegasus compliment into the air in a single salvo!”

Cheerilee came around the corner of a building and galloped up to them, completely out of breath. “I'm not... too late?” she gasped out.

“Just in time, Cheery! We just got here, too!” Twilight answered.

Leaning against the pegasus, she caught her breath. She looked to Trixie and Twilight, both of whom nodded to her. Pulling back, the teacher said, “We got you something. A sort of good luck charm and something to remember us all in one.” She bent around and pulled a small, flat box from her saddlebag and dropped it into Spitfire's hoof. “Now, we're giving you this with the understanding that you will come back to us. None of that 'on your hooves or on your shield' nonsense, understand?”

“You didn't have to do that,” Spitfire said, opening the box. Inside, was a white silk scarf with their four cutie marks embroidered on it. Spitfire's eyes started tearing up as Twilight used her telekinesis to put it on her, knotting it, aviator style. The Wonderbolt gathered up her mares, struck speechless. A couple of tears escaped her eyes, but she wiped them away so quickly, nopony was sure that they even existed.

They stood there in their group hug for many minutes, silently giving each other support. Sunny didn't understand what was going on, but wasn't about to be left out of a hug, and gave each head a squeeze and a kiss.

“Final Call for the Euryale!”

The mares parted reluctantly, three of them openly crying. Spitfire pulled Sunny down from her head and gave her a hug and a kiss, both of which were eagerly returned. Loathe to let her go, she placed the filly on Cheerilee's back and stepped away. She saluted and said, “Captain Spitfire, requesting permission to depart, Countess!”

With tears still streaming down, Twilight returned her salute. “Permission granted, Captain. Return safely, and give them Tartarus!”

Spitfire turned smartly, and boarded the sparsely occupied launch, and kept her eyes on her herd, until the pegasi pushing it docked with the ship.

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Spitfire looked around the boatbay, watching the ponies going about their duties. A young earth pony stallion wearing a lieutenant's bars came up and saluted. “Captain Spitfire, Ma'am?”

Returning the salute, she said, “I have that pleasure.”

“Admiral Herring-Bone sends her compliments and requests your presence in her ready room at your earliest convenience.”

She nodded in reply. “Very good, Lieutenant. Lead on.”

They made the trip in companionable silence, finally stopping before a door. The young stallion knocked on the door, and a crisp contralto voice from the other side declared, “Enter.”

Spitfire stepped in and walked up to the desk and saluted smartly. “Captain Spitfire reporting for duty, Ma'am.”

The tan pegasus looked up from her paperwork and returned the salute as the gray tressym on the chair's back regarded the new arrival. “At ease, Captain. I take it that you've already gone over your orders, so I won't belabor the point. Your Wonderbolts team has been chosen due to it's specialized training in taking down larger aerial foes, so I don't expect that we'll have much trouble in that regard, but I'm going to be counting on your levelheadedness more than your fighting ability to keep things from escalating that far.”

She rose from her desk and walked over to a small refrigerator tucked into a cabinet. As she pulled out two bottles of cider with a wing, she said, “What you may not be aware of, is just who cut your orders.” She hoofed over one of the bottles and gestured towards the small couch.

Sitting next to the admiral on the couch, Spitfire was struck by the size difference between them. Though a pegasus like herself, Honor obviously had some strong workhorse genes, and they showed. She stood fully a head taller than the agile Captain, and had a wingspan half again as wide. Combined with her military carriage, she looked like she would be right at home fighting by Commander Hurricane's side. Spitfire gave herself a mental shake from her internal musings, and asked, “I'm afraid I don't understand, Admiral. You mean the Admiralty didn't cut my orders?”

Honor popped the top of her bottle with a flight primary and took a swig. “Oh, I'm sure that officially, they came directly from the Admiralty to you, but that's not where they truly originated. You see, it seems you've made a rather powerful enemy recently.”

Spitfire stopped in the middle of removing her bottle top and looked at her in confusion. “I don't know who I could have possibly ticked off, Admiral. The only ponies I've even seen recently are my herd and my subordinates in the Wonderbolts. I haven't even had time to make my usual weekly report to the Princesses.”

Popping the top for her guest, Honor replied, “That's the thing. It's not anypony you've directly insulted or anything sensible like that. No, you see, it's somepony whose plans you thwarted by herding with that filly of yours, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh, don't tell me some tin pot dictator of a noble was morally outraged by that.”

“If it were a moral objection,” Honor shot back, “I probably wouldn't be so disgusted. Confused, maybe, but not disgusted. No, you simply had the misfortune to snag the most desired filly in all of Canterlot, if not Equestria. Politically speaking, while she has yet to exert any of her power, she has the most desired thing a politician could have, namely, the ears and gratitude of the Princesses. A lot of nobles would give their left everything to have that.”

Spitfire snorted in disgust. “Don't that just figure. I finally get the mare of my dreams, not to mention two of the best herd-wives a mare could ask for, and somepony puts me in their sights.” She took a pull from her bottle that drained half the contents. “Why can't they just leave us alone?” she sighed.

“That's partly why I'm here, actually,” Honor said casually.

The Wonderbolt quirked an eyebrow at her. “Admiral?”

“Let's suppose for a moment that a certain purple unicorn you know shares a mutual friend with me. Also suppose that this friend- one that's known Twilight since she was just a foal, and used to sit with her- asked for my help in protecting said unicorn's best interests.” Honor drained the last of her bottle, and toyed with it in her wings, rolling it back and forth. “Let us also suppose- just for the sake of argument, you see- that I also accepted the help of a couple of... professional shadows to help keep said unicorn's interests safe.”

With her eyebrow still cocked, Spitfire replied, “That's a lot of supposition, Admiral... but a comforting thought, nonetheless.”

Honor gave her a crooked smile. “Indeed. So if I were to say... oh I don't know, assign these shadows to a certain team so as to ensure this unicorn's interests...”

Spitfire shrugged. “Whatever an admiral decides to do with her command is beyond question, especially in the field. However, I certainly would try my best to make the newcomers feel welcome and fit in- if it were my team, that is.”

Honor clapped a hoof on her shoulder, sending a jolt through the smaller pegasus. “I'm glad to hear that Captain. You'd be surprised at how often an officer refuses to cooperate fully with orders, even when it's something done for their own good. It's the mark of a good leader to know when to accept help offered.”

“And it takes intelligence to tell the difference between offered help and charity,” Spitfire replied with a grin.

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The ship's departure was an even bigger event than its arrival. It seemed like every pony in Ponyville turned out to wish Equestria's soldiers well. Many tears were shed, and most ponies stood there waving and watching until the ship disappeared from view. It was several hours later, safely ensconced in their home, that found Twilight and her herd ready to finally talk about what was weighing almost as heavily on their minds as the absence of one of their herd.

“So, if I have this straight, you're afraid that you'll lose control like when Cheerilee was foalnapped, and tear apart the griffon nation? Is that what you're saying?” Trixie asked, her eyes wide. “Do you think that it's even a possibility?”

Twilight nodded grimly. “I do. I've done the calculations, and if I pour everything I have into one big spell, I could flatten a city; not a major one, but still...”

Spike gasped at Twilight. “Whoa, I bet that there aren't many who could claim that.” Unable to help himself, his eyes drifted over to Cheerilee, more specifically, to the blanket that covered her lower half where little Sunny nursed.

Cheerilee herself was unaware of his gaze as she reflected inwardly. “Now that I think on it, maybe we should ask the Princesses for advice? I mean, if anypony has ever had to deal with this problem, they have.”

Toying with a loose thread on her cushion, Twilight said in a timid voice, “I don't want to bother the Princesses, especially when they're having foreign relations trouble. Some ambassadors can be really touchy.”

“I think that laying waste to a hostile nation over a lost or injured spouse is something that they'd want to concern themselves with,” Trixie said. She looked over to Spike and snapped at him. “Spike! Stop staring at Cheerilee, and take a letter!”

Almost instantly, a parchment and quill dripping ink appeared in his paws. Twilight ruffled his head spines as she dictated the letter to him.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My apologies if this letter finds you at a bad time, but I have a personal, yet urgent need to see either you or Princess Luna. The foalnapping last year combined with my reaction to it, as well as Spitfire's deployment to the border has raised a valid, yet disturbing notion within me. To wit, the possibility that should something happen to her, my... darker nature may take over, causing me to retaliate.

I would like to discuss with one of you the possibility of this happening and possible ways it can be prevented at your earliest convenience. It need not be in pony, but some reassurance is greatly desired. I eagerly await your reply.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Spike rolled up the letter and breathed on it, sending it on it's way. They didn't have long to wait as Spike burped up a letter just minutes later. He unrolled it as he cleared his throat, then read it.

My Faithful Student,

This is indeed a grave concern to have, and you are right to worry over it. I shall make some time in my schedule for you to visit tomorrow. A chariot will be sent to you, and should arrive by 9am tomorrow. Your herd and Spike if they so choose to accompany you, are of course welcome to attend as well. I look forward to seeing you then.

Your Faithful Mentor,

Princess Celestia

Twilight actually looked elated at the prospect. “Well, it looks like we know what we'll be doing tomorrow, huh?”

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With a rueful sigh, Plain Sight settled into her watch position. It took weeks to get the spot just right, but it really afforded the best position for surveilling Twilight's home. A cool evening breeze rustled the leaves, making a nice counterpoint to the midsummer crickets singing their songs as they came alive now that the sun was setting.

Plain Sight smiled as she watched the scene of domestic bliss within the home. She could tell that there was some tension and unease, but that was normal in any home where one of the members was away on deployment. She was so absorbed in watching Twilight and her herd, that it took her a moment to notice that the little filly was staring directly at her. Not sure she could believe what she was seeing, she experimentally waved, and gasped to see Sunny wave back.

She saw Spike approach, and say something to her, and the filly pointed out the window towards the spy. Quick as a flash, Plain Sight ducked behind the shrubbery where she was supposed to be hiding. Never had that happen before! NOPONY has ever noticed me like that!

She was startled again when a pony joined her behind the bush, and seemed to be just as surprised as her to find her there. “Oh! You're actually using the blind, Boss.” High Hide realized what he just said and stammered an apology. “I- I- I mean, it's not that you don't follow procedures, it's just that-”

“Enough,” she whispered, heading off a lengthy series of excuses. “What is it?”

High Hide scratched the back of his head, a bad sign by his boss's reckoning. “It's about Forty, actually. He thinks it's unfair that you and uh... er, you know...”

“And he's wondering why he can't take Silva somewhere nice, is that it?”

Realizing that he was displaying a nervous tell, High Hide put his hoof back on the ground. “That's pretty much the long and short of it, Boss. He says he's ready to file a complaint against you if something doesn't change soon.”

Plain Sight shook her head and facehoofed. “Ugh. Kids. Every single one of 'ems a lawyer. I should just let him get her pregnant. Teach him some responsibility.”

High Hide looked shocked. “You mean that they...”

“Limmy and I have already broken them up several times now. I'm this close to slapping a chastity belt on her and calling it a day,” she said, holding her two forehooves close together. “I swear, if I hadn't made that promise to Limmy before she left...”

She sighed and shook her head again. "We got bigger hay to fry right now, though. Alert team alpha that we're going to Canterlot tomorrow. As for that stupid bull, you leave him to me. I'll beat some sense into him if I have to.” She sat there a moment, lost in thought before realizing that High Hide was still there. “What are you waiting for? Go!” She almost smirked as he scrambled to carry out her orders belatedly.

Author's Notes:

How was that for a dream? It's hard to toe the line between violence and keeping in character for what is essentially a non-violent character, but I think I succeeded this time. I was going to have charred corpses in that fire that the dragon slipped on, but thought that would be a little overboard. Ah, well. There'll be other stories for ultra-violence. I hope the cavity-inducing scenes with Sunny more than make up for the violence's exclusion.

The usual disclaimers go here. I own the arrangement of the words, Onyx, Sunny Days, Scylla, Charybdis, Plain Sight, and High Hide. Honor Herring-Bone and Kibitz are owned by David Weber, but I claim their ponification. All else is owned by Hasbro and Lauren Faust.