The next few days were... eventful.

Twilight, being Twilight, had spent a good portion of her time in that accelerated time bubble writing out, and rewriting, and re-rewriting, the treaty-slash-trade-agreement for the Cosmic Synchronizer project.... before finally collapsing in despair. She was a scholar, a researcher, the Alicorn of Friendship and the blinking Bearer of the Element of Magic, but she was utterly, utterly hopeless at drafting laws. Her final draft, scribbled on a takeout order napkin, had been "We all build magic clocks and everybody's friends, yay." Celestia and Luna had taken pity on her and turned her exquisite thesis on the Synchronizers and the mangled mess of her Treaty and handed it over to a team of pony lawyers and legislators for, ahem, "fine tuning."

She had been lauded, toasted, praised and feted. The nobility of Canterlot had promptly tried to ply her with an honorary dinner in celebration of her extraordinary accomplishment. Twilight had appeared, thanked them all profusely, showered praise on Time Turner and the rest of the staff that had helped her with the actual construction-- and then disappeared. Literally. She teleported right off the stage, leaving a slowly panicking Time Turner to absorb all the terrifying attention and hero worship being showered on them. It was a fortunate thing that Derpy and Dinky were there to help him through his multiple panic attacks.

As for Twilight, she had teleported straight to the observatory, where Spike, Nyx and Ink Spot were already waiting. She had shut the windows, barred the doors, told Lightning Blitz and Sundiver nopony was to get past the front door, asked the Quartet to fix them all a quiet dinner by the fireplace... and had fallen on Nyx, Spike and Ink Spot like a drowning mare on a liferaft. "Oh Maker, I missed you all soooo much,"  she said, doing her darnedest to cuddle with all three of them at the same time.

Nyx hugged back but still giggled at her. "It's only been five days," she said. She was happy to snuggle into Twilight's side anyway.

Ink Spot was the first to get it. "No it hasn't, Nyxy sticks," he said, pulling Twilight in close from the other side. "She used a time spell--- didn't you, honey." He looked Twilight in the eye, his face and voice sober. "While five days was going on out here..."

"Five years was going by in there," Twilight finished for him.

"I was there as much as I could be, but--- I was on the outside." Ink Spot's face was sober.

"Oh." Nyx's eyes grew round as it sank in. "Oohhhhh...." she burrowed into Twilight's side. "That... that must have been awful."

"I would... I would come out every now and then, to fetch things we needed or order another bulk delivery of fast food--" that had actually been convenient; so long as the burgers and hayfries had sat outside the timefield, they could sit there (from their perspective) for months at a time and still be piping hot and fresh as when they were ordered--- "And I would... step out and peek in on you all... to see how you were doing, to remind myself that... that I wasn't abandoning my fiancee--" she nuzzled Ink Spot--- "That I wasn't letting your childhoods slip away without me..." she nuzzled Spike and Nyx tenderly. "But I could only come out for such short times--- every 4.29 minutes I was outside the time bubble, I lost an entire day... " Her eyes grew wet. "It was so hard. SO hard, not, not letting on what I was doing--"

Even Spike looked stricken."Geez, Twilight..." he said.

Ink Spot looked his fiancee over, scanning her face. He could see the strain in her eyes; five years worth of desperate work on a top-secret project, five years of what had to be utterly grinding loneliness... He did the only thing he could think of, and kissed her on the forehead. "Hush," he said softly. "It's over now. We're here, and none of us are going anywhere."

From his perch Peewee began singing softly; it took Twilight a moment to recognize it, but she realized that the melody was from the Firebird's song. Now there was a lonely creature, she thought. Then again, who knew? Perhaps there was another Firebird somewhere, sitting in their nest, patiently singing its welcome home....

Spike suddenly chuckled. "Heh. You'd better brace yourself, Twilight," he said. "Sooner or later Pinkie Pie is going to figure out she owes you five birthday parties at once."

Twilight giggled. "Oh yikes."

Down in the castle kitchens there was a crash. Pinkie Pie stood transfixed over the dropped mixing bowl, whisk in hoof, her eyes glazed. "Party... sense... tingling....."

The sun set, the moon rose and the stars came out. Up on the peak of Canterlot mountain, a rainbow-maned pegasus settled in for a landing. She spread out a picnic blanket on the bare stones and, after briefly consulting a compass, sat down facing North. With deliberate motions she donned a pair of flight goggles, a crash helmet, and a scarf, throwing its loose end over one shoulder to trail in the breeze.

With an enormous grin on her face, she pointed her forehooves at the North Star.

"Wwwwwooosssssshhhh...."

Down in the abandoned meeting hall--- now permanently re-christened the Synchronicity Chamber--- a lone clock repair pony sat and regarded the humming, whirring, ticking contraption as it spun serenely through its cycles. He was still trying to decide if this was bad or good news for his job. He'd spent a lot of time thinking over what the flutterpony had said. a LOT of time.

The Princesses power the clock now. But all the cosmic whatevers on the Council, including the princesses, SET the clock. But they're all synchronized to each other, and tied to the balance of the forces of nature... which were influenced by the cosmic whatevers on the Council....

"That only raises more questions!" he shouted accusingly. The echoes of his voice rang in the empty chamber. Defeated, he hung his head and left, beelining for Donut Joe's and something drowning in sprinkles.

When a pony has a clock, he knows what time it is. When he has two, he's never quite sure. Either way he's probably late for supper.

Dawn, the first dawn of a new era, broke over Canterlot. And then proceeded to go about its business as if nothing had changed. Luna, however, was not so inobservant as the typical pony. Even without the gentle (and surprisingly soothing) ticking of the Cosmic Clock in the Alicorn Plane and the background of her mind, she would have known something was amiss.

For one thing, Celestia had missed breakfast. For a living herald of the dawn to miss breakfast was unheard of. For a moment Luna pondered the approximate location of King Triton at the moment and speculated on something scandalous-- but inquiries revealed that the King of the Western Sea was out and about in Canterlot, doing of all things some shopping and other touristy things (it really had been far too long since his last visit.) Puzzled at this turn of events, Luna made her way to her sister's chambers... where the mystery was solved.

Many times over the years, Celestia had half-lamented, half-jested that since bonding with the sun she had forgotten entirely what it felt like to sleep in late. (waking up, raising the sun and then dragging herself back to bed didn't count, in her mind. She never quite got back to sleep.) Now, with Twilight Sparkles' wonderful Clock (1)tending to the rising and setting of the Sun, for the first time the Sun Princess could indulge in that mysterious pastime. Luna found her stone dead asleep on her bed, lying on her back, hooves curled up, sunbeams dappling her belly as she slept. She had an absolutely blissful expression on her face. Every now and then a gentle snore rose from the royal snout.

Luna stifled a giggle. Then she recalled how their mother had woken them when they were foals and had been naughty enough to sleep in late. An evil grin slowly spread across her face. She carefully tip-hoofed over to the bed. She leaned over Celestia's bare tummy, took in a huge, gleeful breath---

Celestia's eyes snapped open. "Don't you dare," she said.

Too late, she was committed! Luna lunged.

BRAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPP!!!!!!

"Yaaaaagggggh!"

All four snowy hooves shot into the air as Luna proceeded to give her sister the Almighty Royal Belly Zerbert of her life.

The next moment Luna could be seen fleeing Celestia's chambers, shrieking and giggling like a loon, with Celestia in hot pursuit.

Golden beams of dawn fell through the high windows of the Palace of the Clouds, home of the ki-rin Emperor. The Emperor was at his morning repast. Po knelt before him, waiting for his master to speak.

After several minutes, Zheng He set down his chopsticks (2) and regarded his servant. "You have gone to some length be before me this early, young Po," he said. "Speak."

Eyes downcast, still seated on the floor, Po spoke, his mouth dry. "My Emperor," he said. "Your graciousness to me, to bring me along on this journey to this land of wonders, has been more than I can say. I have seen-- I have experienced such things!... And I know that I have repaid you poorly." The Emperor frowned. "You showed me favor and I brought embarrassment upon you. I had hoped to redeem myself by aiding the Princess Nyx in her efforts to save her kingdom and to unravel the fabric of lies cast upon us... but still I--" he swallowed, heartsick. "What deed must I do, to obtain your forgiveness?"

"And why is it that you believe I look upon you with disfavor?" Zheng He said.

Po looked up, surprised. "Master? Ever since the scandal... with that... newspaper... whenever I have walked into a room where you are, you have averted your eyes, refused to look at me-- turned and walked away..." to his alarm, Zheng He began shaking. It took him a moment to realize the Emperor was shaking with suppressed laughter.

Zheng He paused to take a breath, and then Po heard something he never imagined in all his life.... Zheng He's booming laughter. "Oh, my boy," he said, gasping for breath and wiping a tear from his eye. "I was not angry with you for that. No..."

"You... weren't?" Po was racked between disbelief and hope.

"I am sorry, my boy. I did not turn away from you because I was angry. It was because I did not wish you to see me laughing!" His astonishingly deep chuckle rolled through the room again. "When that ridiculous pony newspaper came out... that look of utter, wide eyed horror on your innocent face, it--" he sagged to one side, clutching his ribs and choked, tears rolling down his cheeks. Po sat through it all, his face hot as a bowl of steamed rice. He never imagined one could feel so relieved and so mortified at the same time.

Eventually the Emperor regained.. some of his composure. "Oh, Po, my servant... my student... my son." Po's ears flicked back in astonishment at the turn of phrase. Only a master's closest disciples were called in such a manner. "Life's foibles are many, and your stumblings, such as they were, were only innocence. That others tried to besmirch your honor-- out of callous apathy, no less-- is no reflection upon you, in my eyes." A golden hoof reached down and rested on Po's shoulder. "Only you can stain your own honor." He leaned forward. "And Po? another important lesson; forgiveness cannot be earned. Only given. And its only price is that you admit that you need it."

Po was moved. "Th-thank you, Master," he said, lowering his head again.

Zheng He sat back. "For now, young Po," he said. "The Princesses are hosting something of a, I believe they called it a 'breakfast banquet' for the, ah, 'Royal Brats.' " His eyes twinkled. "Should you not be attending?"

"But what of my duties?"

"Your duties will wait; they are going to change somewhat anyway," Zheng He said mysteriously. "Besides, would you not wish to share the good news with your friends?"

"Good news?" Po said blankly. Wordlessly, Zheng He pointed down. Po looked at his own hooves; the light of the morning sun had crept across the floor as they had sat together and bathed his hooves in warm light. His hooves, once dull iron grey, gleamed gold. Po gasped in wonder.

"It seems this is the one thousand and first day you have labored in service to me," Zheng He said as Po raised his hooves to his wondering eyes. "You have been diligent, your burden was light, yet you have focused upon your duties with a meditative intensity, and you did not neglect your own exercises in serenity in your few off hours, either. And, as you have been inside my Palace the entire time... self evidently your feet have not touched base earth...

"In my lifetime I have seen not a few ki-rin ascend. But never one so young. I was already fond of you, my student--" he chuckled again. "But now I am truly impressed.

"Oh, you have grown so much my boy! And our time here has truly made you bloom. You have striven for loyalty, you have persisted in honesty, you have shown kindness, you have lent your hoof to those in need of generosity-- and to judge by those pictures in the magazine," Zeng He grinned, eyes twinkling, "You have tasted much of laughter--- and in the face of tradition and habit and expectation, you chose to value Friendship above all else. This is but a first step in a great journey before you. You are no longer my servant. Now, my son, you are my first, and most treasured student."

Po looked up at him, a boiling cauldron of emotion. "B-but... I walked on base earth! I was in the streets of Canterlot... and-- you said because it sits upon a mountain--"

Zheng He shrugged. "So I was wrong. As the ponies say, 'sue me.' " He smiled. "Though this might be of some pragmatic value. Many of our people who seek ascendance may come here as tourists, for a thousand day sabbatical, perhaps? I think you have discovered an interesting tourist trade." He shrugged again. "Beats spending three years living on stilts.

"But for now, I believe you have a banquet to attend, and friends to celebrate with?"

Joyfully, Po got to his hooves, bowed profusely and turned to go. Zheng He cleared his throat. Po halted in his tracks. "Yes, Master?"

Zheng He motioned him closer. "I recall seeing one picture of you in that article... stealing a kiss from a sea pony?"

Po's face flamed. "I-it was a game... called 'spin the bottle'...?"

Zheng He leaned closer and grinned. "And?"

If the young ki-rin blushed any harder he would have passed out. But he smiled all the same. "Like sea salt candy," he confessed.

Zheng He's deep laughter bubbled up again. "Go on, go on," he said, shooing the boy along. He watched, smiling, as the boy galloped off, only pausing at the door to summon his magic and tentatively weave his very first riding-cloud.

"Be young," he sighed. "Even immortals only get to try it once."

Killdeer-Adder strode down the hall towards the dining room. "Awww, yeah," Killdeer said. "Beautiful morning ain't it?"

"Too true," Adder said. "After all that insanity yesterday it's good to be alive. Awesome sky-ride yesterday."

"Heh, I had no idea that Canterlot had such gnarly wind currents around it. Whoa, I can smell Spike's waffles from here...."

"So THERE you are."

Killdeer-adder froze. Down the hallway towards him came his grandsire, the Emperor of the Gryphons and master of the jet streams. The majestic old bird strode with domineering confidence through the marble halls of the palace, snowy head held high, golden wings arcing, his tail-brother Cobra arched high over his back. His overwhelming presence almost made the mortal gryphon guards flanking him completely disappear. His majestic appearance was marred only by the sour expression he wore on his face. It had always seemed to be there, at least whenever Killdeer-Adder was around to see him, but it had become more pronounced every day they had been in Equestria.

Emperor Eagle's expression had become especially sour since the previous day. He had come to the Council hoping to get Princess Celestia over a barrel and get a little payback for the loss of the Gryphon wars all those years ago. Instead he'd come out the other side without a single one-up on her, and thanks to the Council, was going to be 'leashed to a damnable Pony clockwork toy till the trump of doom,' in his own words.

Killdeer-Adder was too young yet to control the winds, let alone the jet streams-- but feeling and reading them was fairly simple, and it was obvious even to Killdeer that guiding them was a complex and difficult job. And from what he'd learned, the Cosmic Clock was going to make Grandpa's job easier than ever.  Killdeer-Adder thought Grampa was just being a grouch. But what else was new? "Hey Grampa," he said, lifting up his Neigh-bans to look at him.

"I have been hunting all over for you," Emperor Eagle growled. Kind of disturbing coming from an apex predator. "What is this nonsense I hear about you asking for sanctuary with the pony Princesses?"

"Not asking, got," Killdeer said. Both Eagle and Cobra looked shocked. Eagle's eyebrows nearly flew off the top of his head.

"Celestia gave you political sanctuary??"

"Actually," Adder said, tipping his head to the pony guards trailing after Killdeer, "It was Luna who granted us amnesty. As you can tell by our escorts." The thestral guards flexed their webbed wings and pawed a hoof or two, but said nothing.

The elder gryphon actually digested this for a moment before getting that expression on his face: the weary, longsuffering, at-the-end-of-his-rope expression he always seemed to get when he was talking to Killdeer-Adder.  "What... what game is this you're playing?" he implored.

"No game, Grandpa," Killdeer said. "We're emigrating. And we're getting political sanctuary from the Princesses to keep you from dragging us back."

Emperor Eagle-Cobra sputtered, flailed, flared his wings and his eyebrows, before finally spitting it out; "You crack-shelled, scramble brained hatchling, WHY??"

Killdeer's careless smile faded. He looked enormously sad. "You say stuff like that, and you gotta ask why?" His grandfather's beak snapped shut. "Layabout. Crackshell. Slacker. Sorry Good-For-Nothing. You got a dozen names for me, Grandpa, and none of them even sound like 'grandson.' " He snorted and shrugged. "You never really cared for me. Neither did Dad. He practically threw me away, threw me at you, and the only reason you drag me around is because you're the Emperor of the Winds and he's the mortal High King of the Clans, and you figure I  could be used to merge the two halves of the government under your claw." The old gryphon's eyes went wide with surprise at his surfer-dood grandson's astute analysis.

"But I'm not what you wanted. I'm not smart enough, not clever enough, not 'noble' enough--" he made quote-marks in the air-- "like a proper High Gryphon is supposed to be. You were ready to make my and Adder's lives a complete Tartarus-pit because of some tabloid reporter embarrassing us--- not you, US--- in front of the ponies." He sighed. "And, well, Adder and I decided we weren't going to spend the rest of our freaking immortal lives living like that." He looked around at the palace around them, and Equestria by extension. "I took one look at how they got it here, and decided: this is better."

"Too true by tenfold," Adder nodded.

His grandfather gave him a look filled with derision. "And what persuaded you that your situation here would actually be better than what you have back home?"

"Princess Nyx," Killdeer said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "She screwed up. I mean, really screwed up-- not just 'did something embarrassing in the newspapers' screwed up, but big time. But still the ponies still forgave her. The princesses forgave her. She got a second chance, just because she admitted she needed one and asked for it. A lot of ponies still are mad at her, and some hate her, even-- but most of them forgave her, just like they forgave Luna. And I said to myself, 'I want that.'

"You? You still haven't forgiven that bard for what he said about you five hundred years ago." He tipped Eagle-Cobra a knowing look. Eagle blustered, his ruff standing out like a porcupine coat.

"I suppose you think you're going to do dandy here," Cobra said, taking over for the sputtering Eagle. "Did you stop to reflect what you're going to bring down on the heads of your new friends? A Gryphon prince abdicating to the pony lands... you'll embroil them in an international incident the likes of which--"

Adder blew a raspberry. "Over a princeling who's one of a dozen in line for the throne of the High King, and one of four for the seat of High Emperor?" He said. "You'd get more mileage over losing the king's butler to the ponies."

"And plenty of gryphons will be glad to see me go," Killdeer said matter-of-factly. "Not every gryphon was thrilled with your plan to consolidate the royal power, Grandpop. I'd just be one less immortal from my Dad's bloodline for you to use."

Cobra persisted. "You won't be a prince here. No more royal quarters--"

"--full of royal breakables," Killdeer added.

"No more royal allowance--"

"--which you never let me spend anyways," Killdeer groused, deadpan.

"No more servants to tend to you--"

"--To spy on us, you mean." Killdeer and Adder both rolled their eyes. "Give it up, Grandpop. Life with you redefines the word 'gilded cage.' "

"But what will you DO with yourself?" Eagle said, almost pleading.

Killdeer grinned. "For now... we're one of Princess Luna's personal trainers."

"Personal trainers?" Both Eagle and Cobra blurted out, surprised in spite of themselves.

"Skysurfing," Killdeer said. "She caught some of my bodacious cloud-cutting last night and she's jonesing to try the sport herself. Sweet gig; ain't fancy shmancy like being a guest prince, but the staff quarters are plush, the salary's good and I get access to the castle facilities.

"Including the royal kitchens," Adder said.

"Beyond that... who knows. Maybe I'll take up training other ponies. Some of those guards said I pulled moves they didn't think were for real, and they wanna pick my brain to make the flying guard wings more effective. Maybe I'll go into business for myself, making sweet skiing and skysurfing gear. Maybe I'll just get a nine-to-fiver, or odd job. Or maybe I'll just move to the mountains and be a ski bum." His expression sobered. "But I know one thing that I'll never do. I'll never be the kind of prince you needed.

"Come on, Grandpa!" he said, patting him on the shoulder comfortingly. "We both know I'd never be royal or noble or majestic enough to be a real king. The best I could be for you or for Griffonia was a sock puppet... and I really didn't feel like lying around, waiting to see if you can stick your mitt that far up my butt." Adder snorted; several of the guards did too.

"What.. what will I say to your mother?" the Emperor of the Winds asked. The old gryphon's stern visage lost its edge; he looked, for the first time in Killdeer's memory, truly old.

"Uh, 'hello' might be a start. You haven't spoken to her since that time she told you off for bullying me." The elder Gryphon actually cringed. "Grandpa...." Killdeer hesitated. "Grandpa, deep down inside I'm still that little fuzzy chick who thought the world of you. And I'd like to think that somewhere way deep down inside, some part of you still loves me too. But Adder and I, we can't live like this-- and we're doing this for ourselves. I just hope that little bit down inside you is happy for us."

He dropped his claw from Eagle's shoulder and stepped away. "Look on the bright side, Gramps," he said, flipping his shades down over his eyes with a smile. "You've got twenty-five other grandkids; one of them's bound to please you. " He tossed off a wave and headed for the banquet hall.

Nyx sat back, patting her tummy. This... was a good breakfast.

And not just because of the massive overdose of waffles she'd snarfed down. Though that was awesome. Mom had even let them bring out a whole buffet of toppings--- whipped cream and sprinkles and chocolate syrup and candied fruit and a jillion other tooth rotting, absolutely-not-it's-bad-for-you stuff to put on their golden toasty breakfast treats.

Everyone that was special to Nyx was there. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and their parents were all seated on one side; the Royal Brats (and even some of their parents) were seated on the other. The Bearers of the Elements of Harmony were all present too. Spike, Mom, Ink Spot, and she were there, all up at the head of the table, right next to the Princesses, who had joined them somewhat late. And it even looked like Nyx had gotten her wish; Sundiver, Lightning Blitz, and the Quartet all had seats at the table with the rest of them this time.

The Ponyvilleans had been nervous at first, but soon had warmed up to the chatter and were surprisingly right at home amongst nobles, diplomats and royal children. That was Ponyville for you; even if they panicked easy, so much weird happened there every day that the natives couldn't stay bowled over for long.

Spike of course was overseeing the waffle making; he was standing behind a row of waffle irons, an apron around his neck, chef's hat on his head and proud as punch. Who wouldn't be, with royalty from around the world begging for his batter recipe. The apron only barely covered the bandage wrapped around his middle. He'd apparently pulled something when he tried to speed-grow, and he had to go about with one of Zecora's herbal compresses taped to him... but he'd be fine.

The waffles were disappearing at an amazing rate. The Princesses had joined in and were putting the rest of them to shame; Celestia was eating waffles triple-stacked with multiple toppings with every plate, and Luna was practically plowing face first into her plate. She had discovered whipped cream and gone hog wild; she looked like the aftermath of the Creature that Ate Cloudsdale.

Mom was having an interesting time of it, too. Pinkie Pie had cornered her. There were now five miniature birthday cakes sitting in front of her, each with its own candle burning away. "Okay," Pinkie Pie beamed, sliding the first cake forward. "Now make a wish, blow out the candle and cut the cake, Twilight," she said. "I missed five-- FIVE!!-- of your birthdays, so you're gonna get five little Pinkie Pie miniparties to make up for it." She waved a pink hoof. "Go on!"

Twilight blew out the candle and looked up. "Pinkie, really, it isn't necessary to---"

Pinkie lunged forward till their noses were touching. "Cuuuuut the CAAAAAAAAAKE," she said, her eyes bugging out and nearly poking Twilight's.

"Aheheheh." Twilight laughed nervously and, never taking her eyes off Pinkie Pie, cut herself a slice. She looked over at Ink Spot, who was silently laughing. "Help me," she said.

"I'll help eat the cake but I'm afraid you're on your own after that," Ink Spot said, amused, as Pinkie Pie set up a miniature pinata over Twilight's plate.

Time Turner was at the breakfast too, sitting between Dinky and Derpy and looking rather happily shell shocked. Twilight wasn't the only one who'd been afflicted by five year's separation. He'd gotten a look at the paycheck for his "one week job;" between the generous base salary, hazard pay, bonuses, and oh yes, five years' salary all in one go, it was quite a tidy sum. Derpy was deliriously happy and Dinky was over the moon; to celebrate, Time Turner had gone out and bought Derpy an engagement ring.

And a new house.

Killdeer was there, cutting quite an impression with the Ponyville foals. Currently he was doing an imitation of his great-aunt Goshawk-Garter at a lawn party; his high squawky voice as he pretended to sip tea had half the foals doubled over in stitches. Po was floating next to the table on a little cloud, happily showing his gleaming gold hooves and chattering about his new place as the Emperor's protege' to anypony who asked.

Doubloon was acting fairly excited as well. It seemed that Triton's kingdom was going to be "entering more open and robust relations" with Equestria--- whatever that meant-- and Doubloon's father was consequently getting promoted to Ambassador to Equestria. It was kind of funny; she was so unhappy and homesick when she first got here, and now she couldn't stop talking about how her family would be moving into a new embassy here where all her new friends lived...

Nyx was still wondering about what "more open and robust relations" meant when Triton came in and inadvertently answered the question by walking to the head of the table and giving Celestia a long, slow, lingering kiss.

Everything. Stopped. Dead. You could hear a pin drop; in fact you could hear several forks, glasses and one unfortunate stack of plates hit the floor. After a moment their lips finally parted. "Hmmm, kiwi strawberry syrup," Triton said to Celestia with a grin. "Interesting." Celestia's cheeks glowed like a sunrise.

Rarity shrieked like a steam whistle. In the next instant every being present began shouting, cheering, and, in the case of several of the females like Rarity, bouncing up and down and screaming with glee.

Somehow the fashionista made herself heard over the hubbub. "I don't believe it! Oh oh oh oh, your Highness, your Majesty, how long? When? Where? How? And when shall we start preparing the wedding? Oh my STARS I will make you the most fabulous wedding gown---"

"ACK!" Celestia exclaimed. "My DEAR Rarity, do we have your permission to have a second date first?" Rarity eeped and put her hooves to her mouth, tittering, chastened. Celestia looked up at Triton. "Please pardon her, I'm sure she's just over-excited..."

She expected Triton to look shocked or embarrrassed. Triton did look shocked... but he also looked pleasantly intrigued. "Well..." he said in her ear. "I certainly wouldn't be so gauche as to say I'd object.... or so dishonest... so... perhaps?"

Celestia's cheeks pinkened again. "Perhaps," she agreed with a smile. "No rush, after all..."

Nyx giggled. Celestia had a special somepony! If they got married, where would they live? Canterlot or Atlantis? She wondered. This was certainly a day, no, a YEAR for surprises.

"Goodness, I think I timed my entrance wrong!" someone said with a bubbling laugh. Nyx turned around; standing next to her was Songhili, a happy seal smile on his face.

"Hi Songhili! You're a little late, but there's still plenty of... waffles? What's all this?" Nyx said. The selkie pup was dressed in flowing silk robes and a tiny coral coronet. He was accompanied by six selkie adults, wearing sashes decorated with seashells and looking very important. Two of them pulled out a seat, which Songhili promptly took.

"Will there be anything else your Majesty?"

"No, thank you Steward," Songhili said. "You are dismissed. Feel free to avail yourself of the waffle bar."

Nyx mentally ran like greased lightning through the list of honorifics--- Highnesses and Graces and Lordships and Sirs and Dames--- the Quartet had hammered into her brain.  "Your Maj--- you're a PRINCE?" her jaw dropped.

"King, actually," Songhili said. Nyx didn't know how it happened but her jaw dropped twice. "Yes, I am Songhili, the King of Formosa, Ruler of the Selkies and the youngest ruler ever crowned. Coroneted after my great great granduncle passed away," he said.

Nyx's jaw shut. "All this time..?" she said after finding her voice.

He looked apologetic. "Please forgive me. I had no idea how to break it to you. I feared it would change our friendship; you and your friends are the first to treat me like 'one of the group' since I was coroneted. Since my great great granduncle named me as his heir, really."

Nyx propped up her elbow on the table, cheek on her hoof. "I never woulda guessed."

An explosive gigglesnort came from across the table. Nyx looked up to see Sweetiebelle snickering at them. She caught Nyx's eye and threw one foreleg over her brow, pretending to swoon. "Alas, the sweet young maiden never suspected that he was the heir to the crown, not even after sharing his passionate embrace that night--" Nyx nailed her in the face with a spoonful of boysenberry sauce.

Bubbling laughter escaped from Songhili. "Things here have often been strange and hard to understand... but I have never had more fun in my life!"

Nyx turned away from Sweetiebelle, who was still giggling herself sick as she wiped her face with a napkin, and looked at King Songhili soberly. "I said that I would do whatever it would take to make things right with the Selkies, Songhili," she said. "And I meant it. I guess this just means I can ask you straight. What can I do?"

"It is no debt with us," Songhili said, smiling. "As I said before, our island was little more than footpaths and grass huts. We are more at home in the sea." He frowned thoughtfully, nose scrunching up. "Though as for that..."

"Yes?" Nyx leaned in.

"I am sure you have noticed that, even when we walk upon proper legs, we are a bit--- waddly," Songhili said. Nyx hesitated, then nodded. "Which is why we put so little effort into our dry-land homes," Songhili continued. "Getting about is a bit tiresome."  He held up a paw to his mouth conspiratorially. "I have been thinking; there is ONE thing from Equestria that might be of use to us if you could help us obtain it..."

He whispered his request in her ear. Nyx giggled, then pulled a quill and a piece of parchment from her saddlebag and carefully wrote out the request. The paper was scrolled up, and passed from hoof to hoof to claw to flipper to hoof until it reached the head of the table. Celestia opened the scroll, read it, and burst out laughing. Luna read it and burst out laughing as well. "Well, sister?" Luna said. "I am agreeable to it, if thou art."

"Very well," Celestia said, eyes twinkling mirthfully. "Proposal granted, King Songhili." Songhili bobbed his head in a bow, pleased.

And thus it was that one year later, workers from Ponyville would begin laying out a street system of water slides across the tiny island of Formosa.

After everyone, even the ever-ravenous Gossamer, had eaten their fill, Celestia rose to her hooves and tapped her water glass for attention. "In the spirit of friendship... and inevitable disclosure," she said in rueful amusement, casting a look at King Triton, "I would like to take a few minutes and make some announcements-- which we shall be making to the House of Nobles later this same day. Still, it never hurts to practice." The crowd chuckled. She took a deep breath. "The first and the most obvious: yes, King Triton and I are courting." Polite but happy applause went up.(3) "This does mean that we will be opening up with more trade ties and other interactions... though as for that we would be doing those things anyway. Equestria and Atlantis are good allies who have been poor neighbors, falling out of touch for so many years." She looked back at Triton and smiled. "We won't be allowing that to happen again."

"Secondly, thanks to the timely intervention of the Cutie Mark Crusaders-- " a thunderous cheer went up from the colts and fillies on one side of the table. "And the youngsters who have become known, affectionately, as the Royal Brats--" Cheers and whistles erupted from the other side. Celestia laughed. "Yes, indeed. Three cheers. Thanks to their, ahem, proactive measures..."

"I'm looking that one up when I get home," Pipsqueak said suspiciously.

"...An insidious conspiracy was unearthed among the house of Lords. One to unseat our lawful rule and replace it with a puppet tyrant of their own choice. One that would have imperiled our nation, our way of life, and even our world. The wretched ponies who collaborated on this dreadful and criminal plan have been identified, arrested and are now awaiting trial. They will be tried, judged, and if found guilty, stripped of their names and titles, and punished accordingly." Several ponies cringed. Equestria had abandoned the headsman's axe for any save the most depraved of crimes, but the punishments that could be brought down were grim enough.

"All save for one, Duke Blueblood." Gasps of shock and protest went up. Celestia sighed and explained. "Due to his... dissipated lifestyle, the shock of his exposure and incrimination was too much for his system to bear. The doctors say that several blood vessels in his brain ruptured, reducing him to the mental state of a newborn foal." She looked pitying. "He will spend the rest of his life in a nursing home, being cared for as if he were an infant." Stunned silence greeted this. "At our discretion the Compassion of the Crown has been granted; no charges against his wife will be levied... as she will have the heft of the burden of his care from now on.

"As to his son... Prince Blueblood, please stand." The stallion got to his feet. Nyx jumped in surprise; she hadn't even noticed him sitting there. "You are, by your own confession, complicit in some of the lesser shenanigans--" she cocked an eyebrow-- "in which Duke Blueblood was involved. The penalties from them are rather lengthy." His ears drooped a bit and his lower lip wibbled. "However, because of the hold he had over you as your parent and scion, and because of your forthrightness in coming forward to expose his more insidious machinations, we will again extend leniency and dismiss most of the charges."

"Most?" Blueblood said, dread in his voice.

"Most." Celestia said firmly. "You are the last of your lineage, a descendant of Princess Platinum herself. However your willingness to be passively used for petty acts of malice by whomever held your pocketbook speaks poorly of you indeed." His head hung low. "And it must not be seen that ponies, regardless of their rank in the peerage, may go about causing malicious mischief against their fellow ponies and against the crown without consequence.

"Therefore, my sister and I have agreed upon an appropriate punishment."

Luna got to her hooves and looked at Blueblood with a stern expression on her face. "Prince Blueblood, it is our judgment that you shall be commissioned to the work of undoing thy father's mischief in Western Sea. You shall therefore be provided a vessel, crew, and staff, and be sent forth on an ambassadorial tour of the Kingdoms of the Western Sea to mend the relations between our nations. Only when you return-- successfully, with good report-- from a tour of all those nations, will you be regarded in good standing and your name cleared."

Blueblood looked dumbfounded. "A... diplomatic voyage?" He said. "Of the Western Kingdoms?" Celestia and Luna nodded. "ALL of them?" To everypony's astonishment, instead of a pout or a whine or a look of dismay, an expression of utter joy spread across his face, like a foal on Hearthwarming Morning who expected only socks but instead found that train set he'd been coveting through a store window all winter. His eyes practically glowed. He bowed. "Your Highnesses-- I cannot thank you enough-- I-- I--  Since I was a foal, poring over my father's trade maps, I only dreamed of--"

More than one pony glanced at the Prince's cutie mark, a compass rose, and understood. The Princess of Dreams softened her expression and lowered her head next to Blueblood's. "...A tall tall ship, and a star to steer her by?" she quoted with a half smile. Blueblood started, then nodded, abashed.

"I will do the best I can, your Highnesses. I..." Blueblood grimaced in a rare moment of self awareness. "But... what if I bodge it up? I... am the last pony anypony would pick for diplomacy..."

"It's simple darling," Rarity drawled. "Remember how you treated me at the Grand Galloping Gala?" Prince Blueblood nodded, suspicious. "Just like that, only the exact opposite." He withered under her tart glare and the laughter at his expense.

"That is part of the lesson, Prince Blueblood," Celestia said. "Learning to behave like a prince... whether with a prince or a peasant. But that said, good help goes a long way in covering up one's own flaws. Choose wisely before you go."

"And bring presents," Triton advised, amused. "Diplomacy is a lot like courting, I have found, and flowers and candy never hurt." He gave Celestia's ear a teasing nip; she elbowed him.

"I always heard it compared to saying 'nice doggy' while looking for a good-sized rock," Ink Spot muttered... a little too loudly.

Twilight elbowed him a good bit harder than Celestia had Triton."Inky!"

There was a petite gasp. "You'd better not be throwing rocks at any poor doggies," Fluttershy scolded, scandalized.

"It's only an analogy--" Ink Spot protested manfully, to no avail. Fluttershy was off in a lecture-mode tizzy at the very idea, and the rest of the mane six were torn between trying to calm her down, teasing Ink Spot for his verbal slip, and egging her on...

Twilight watched her friends and family, heart warm. Here they all were, the ponies that meant the world to her. More than the world... after her time in the five-year bubble, their importance to her had only grown. Having them here was like an oasis in a desert. She was NEVER going to let herself be separated from them like that again.

Celestia finally rang her fork against her drinking glass again. "That set aside, there is one other matter that everypony present should be made aware of," she said. "Well, most of us-- and those that don't would hear of it in tomorrow's papers so no harm done. Anyway..."

"As you may guess, the deposing of so many nobles has thrown the House of Lords in disarray. Nearly a full third of the House was entangled in this plot to some degree or other." There were some discomfited murmurs at that. "The balance of power has been... well, knocked right off its plot, frankly.

"After much arguing, lamenting, squabbling and hair-tearing, the remaining House of Lords, and Luna and I, have come to the conclusion that there is only one solution to prevent endless years of infighting and power-grappling. To maintain the balance of powers, they are drafting a bill to have the authority vested in the House to be divided between the House of Lords... and the youngest of the Triarchy, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

A minor tumult of astonishment greeted this news. "While new lords will be named over the lands that that deposed nobles have lost, it will be as minor landholders. Their powers, legal authority, and influence on the legislative process will be transferred to Princess Twilight in perpetuity...."

She spoke on for several seconds. Twilight didn't hear her. She was lost in her own little world...

It was okay. She was familiar with the territory, and she'd already stocked up enough provisions to work out her little fugue. Five years literally living in a bubble had given her a lot of time to contemplate. She metaphorically looked over her notes, her accumulated observations, checked her calculations on her mental blackboard and nodded in satisfaction at the results. Time to put the pure sciences into the applied.

"... And we cannot say how proud we are of our Twilight for how far she has come," Celestia was saying. "But suffice it to say-- um, yes, Twilight?"

At some point Twilight had risen from her seat. "Celestia, Luna... your Highnesses... I want to thank you for this, and for all that you've done," Twilight said serenely. "And I especially want to thank you for telling me this, because it gives me the opportunity to say this now."

"I abdicate."

1)Luna refused to call the thing by its full over-wrought name. It had gears, it was a Clock, and that was the end of it.

2)Tricky to use, even with cloven hooves.

3)And at least one "About time, strewth."