//------------------------------// // Storming the Castle // Story: One Bolt, Spreading Harmony // by Boltsinger //------------------------------// It was a peaceful morning in Ponyville. Everypony was going about their business, setting up for a full, productive day while some steady, confident hooves made their way through town. Ponies looked at the source of the steps, some of them dropping their jaws at the sight, while others outright fainted. Eventually, the hoofsteps came to a stop. Right at the door to the Castle of Friendship. A thundering knock came to the castle's front door as Boltsinger walked through the foyer, sending a measure of pain through his eardrums. He trotted over to the door, rubbing his ear with his wing. “You can stop knocking! I'm coming!” He groggily opened the door, finding a somehow towering figure casting a shadow onto him. He reeled back a ways, getting a look at what created the shade. In the doorway stood a dark, orchid-coated mare with opal eyes and a rose-colored mohawk of a mane and tail. She wore a form-fitting black suit and shoes, evidence of a scratched-off emblem on the flanks. His first thought was that she might have been an Earth Pony, but closer inspection revealed that she was a Unicorn, albeit with a broken horn. The expression on her scarred face was stoic, perhaps even judgemental, as she looked at him, confidently crossing the castle's threshold. Boltsinger put on a nervous smile as she drew nearer, gingerly waving his wing. “Um… Hi. Welcome to the Castle of Friendship.” The mare's stoicism gave way to a smirk, looking down at him. “Hello.” She extended a hoof to him. “You're one of the servants here, right?” Boltsinger's eyes went wide for a moment. He let a small, almost unnoticeable scowl onto his muzzle as he approached her, giving her a greeting hoof bump. “No, we don't have servants here. I legitimately live here.” She gave him a look of mild disbelief, turning to look into the castle proper. “So you know where I can find Twilight?” “She's in the dining room eating breakfast.” He stated, trotting ahead. “Come on, I'll show you the way.” “Thank you.” She slowly followed, taking a look around the castle. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here… I wonder how she’s doing?” “She’s doing really well.” He informed her, taking a look back. “Been running the school like she always dreamed, and she seems really happy with everything as a whole.” He laughed to himself, looking forward again. “Now if only she’d stop asking me to become a teacher!” “And why does she want you to be a teacher?” “She insists that I have, and I quote, ‘a lot to teach the next generation’.” He explained, drifting his eyes up to the ceiling. “I mean, I certainly don’t mind subbing for the girls when they need me to, but having a class of my own? What in Equestria would I even teach?” “Good question.” The mare deadpanned. Boltsinger chuckled. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.” He took another look back at her. “Never got your name, by the way.” “Never gave it.” She replied. He cocked an eyebrow, opening his mouth to reply. She breathed a sigh. “You’re not going to stop asking until I tell you, are you?” “Nnope!” “Call me Tempest.” She finally stated, taking a long stride past him. “Tempest, huh?” Boltsinger scratched his chin with his wing. “Where have I heard that name before…?” He stewed for a while, coming to a halt as the memory came to him. “You’re Fizzlepop Berrytwist! Twilight said you were coming for a visit!” Tempest stopped with a hard stomp of her hoof. She glared fiercely back at him, gritting her teeth. “Call. Me. Tempest.” The look in the armored mare’s eyes sent an otherworldly chill down Boltsinger’s spine, reminding him of what Twilight had described Fluttershy’s Stare to be like. He quickly sat down, his ears as low as his pupils were tiny. “Yes ma’am!” He started his walk again, taking a few quick breaths and slapping his face with his wings. “Well, one introduction deserves another!” He took one more deep breath, looking ahead with as much confidence as he could muster. Come on, Bolt, remember to use your actual title this time. “I am Prince Boltsinger.” Tempest looked back at him. “You’re serious?” “Eeyup.” He replied, his expression unchanging. Silence filled the hall, quickly giving way to the sound of Tempest’s laughter. “How in the world can somepony like you be a Prince? Are you related to royalty, or something?” Boltsinger rolled his eyes, trotting past her to the nearest door. He kept his stern expression as he opened the door, revealing the Princess at the table with her face in a bowl of oats. Boltsinger cleared his throat, pulling his spouse’s attention. “Honey, somepony’s here to see you!” Twilight wiped the oats from her face as the guest came to the doorway. At the sight of the tall mare, she lit up like a happy horn casting spells. “Tempest!” She disappeared in a flash, appearing next to her friend and pulling her into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it!” Tempest met the embrace in kind. “It's good to see you, too, Twilight.” Twilight pulled away, putting her wing around the stallion in the room. “So I see you met my husband.” She looked over at him. “Did she scare you?” Boltsinger scratched his cheek, giving a sheepish smile. “Um… Define ‘scare’.” “He was cowering when he saw me in the doorway.” The dark mare deadpanned. “And again in the hallway.” Boltsinger’s ears went low as he averted his eyes. “Ah. Well, if you want to get specific.” The Princess gave off a giggle, making ready to speak as a cry echoed through the halls. “Well, that’s Nova! I’d best go get him.” As the Pegasus spread his wings, Twilight lit her horn, moving them back into their resting position. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek, lighting her horn. “I can get there faster, anyway.” With a flash of magenta, Twilight was gone, leaving Tempest and Boltsinger alone once more. She turned to him with a hint of surprise. “So… Husband? She mentioned a husband in her letters, but you’re certainly--” “Yeah, yeah, ‘not what you expected’.” He interjected, waving a dismissive wing. “That’s what everypony says…” Tempest’s features softened, raising her hoof to reach out as the magenta flash appeared again. Twilight appeared from within with a sleepy-eyed orange foal nestled in her wing. His face was still wet with tears that the elder Alicorn wiped away with her nose. “It’s okay, sweetie. We’re here. We’ve got you.” Nova opened his eyes fully, looking at the ponies in the room with him. With one more sniff, his face turned to a smile while he reached his forelegs toward the other orange pony in the room. Boltsinger sent his offspring a wide smile, leaning in and nuzzling the baby’s nose. “Hey, there, little Prince! Are you ready for breakfast?” Nova nodded emphatically, spreading his wings as his mother released him. He flew onto the stallion’s back, peeking over his shoulder at the newest face in the room. “Mommy’s got a friend over today that she doesn’t get to see very often. Her name is Tempest!” He stepped up to the guest, turning to his side so that the foal could get a better look at her. “Can you say ‘hello’ to Tempest?” Tempest looked down at the now sparkly-eyed colt. His smile was as big as his little muzzle could manage, and his wings fluffed out on either side of him. He took a breath, trying to get a sound out, but could only manage an unintelligible babble. “So… this is your…” “Our son!” Twilight confirmed, floating in some food for the foal. She lifted him off of Boltsinger's back, placing him in a nearby high chair. “Little Prince Nova! And it's time for him to have his breakfast.” She snuck a sly look over to Tempest. “Would you like to feed him?” The orchid mare reeled back, looking between her friend and the squishy-looking little pony she’d just met. “Me? Oh, no. My horn can’t hold things very well. I’d probably just hurt the baby.” Boltsinger sat in the chair next to Twilight, smiling up at Tempest. “No magic, no problem. He doesn’t like to take from a floating spoon anyway.” He reached into a pocket that hung on the back of the high chair, pulling out a spoon glove and tossing it to her. “That’s why we have this.” Tempest caught the garment, staring down at it. “Well… I guess…” She looked back at the baby, beginning to remove the shoe from her hoof. “If you insist… I’d be happy to…” Sliding the spoon glove into place, she sat in front of Nova, shakily dipping one of the three spoons into the mashed food. Twilight giggled at her friend's awkward movements, standing up and transporting her dishes away. “I wish I could stay and catch up with you, but I've got class coming up. We can talk more once the school day is over, though!” Boltsinger cocked an eyebrow at his dearly beloved. “Wait, you mean you scheduled to get together on a school day and didn’t plan around it?” He shook his head, rising from his spot. “Where are your notes?” Twilight produced a stack of note cards from under her wing. “Right here. Why?” Boltsinger jumped past her, taking the stack in his teeth and landing on the other side. He looked them over, nodding with little understanding, but a lot of determination. “‘Cause I’m going to need them if I want to sub for you properly.” “Are you sure? It’s a pretty advanced lesson.” “And you write notes for your notes for your notes. If I just follow those, I’ll be fine.” “But don’t you--” Boltsinger put a feather to her mouth. “No ‘buts’, Your Highness. You take the day to spend time with your friend.” He retracted his wing, making his way to the door. “I can take Nova to see Zecora after school.” Twilight cocked her own eyebrow, finding herself met with an unusually confident expression from her husband. “Okay. If you’re sure you can handle it.” “Trust me. I’ve got this.” He assured her, trotting out the door. That afternoon, Twilight and Tempest sat in the master bedroom, laughing together over a photo album. They had been swapping stories of their adventures since their last meeting, offering new perspectives on the lives they had led since last they saw one another. “Boltsinger still gets flak from Princess Luna about all of the crashes he’s had in Canterlot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her crack so many jokes!” Tempest’s laughter died down as she smiled down at the picture of three pony-shaped indents above a door in Canterlot. “He sure sounds like a piece of work.” “He is, but no more than any of my other friends.” She looked out of the window, letting a soft grin onto her muzzle. “I just hope he was able to handle the classes today.” Right on cue, Boltsinger came to a shaky landing on the balcony, trudging over to the door with a laughing purple dragon on his back. He opened it, stepping inside and slumping onto the floor. “I… don’t got this…” Twilight stepped up to the stallion, laying down and crossing her forelegs. “Didn’t you have my notes? What happened?” Spike’s laughter escalated, sending him rolling off of Boltsinger’s back. “He was so nervous that he dropped them in the first minute!” He lost himself to his laughter for another moment. “When he finally picked them all up, he gave the whole lesson… reading everything in the wrong order!” “Aww… That must have been so difficult!” The Princess cooed, patting her spouse’s head. “I’ll make sure to number my note cards from now on, just in case.” Boltsinger looked up at her with a weak smile. “That would be appreciated.” He repositioned his legs to properly hold himself up. “So, is Nova ready for the trip?” Twilight nodded. “He's all set! But what about you? Aren't you tired?” Boltsinger shook his head, rising up with a quick flap of his wings. “Nnope. Stamina for days, remember?” A short burst of laughter erupted from the Alicorn, sending her hooves over her mouth with a faint blush. She looked over at Tempest, who bore the smuggest of grins at the sight, gingerly placing one foreleg over the other. She brought her composure to the forefront again, standing up. “Are you sure? I can take him if you want some rest.” “Trust me, this is one thing I have got.” He went into a hover, moving for the door while brushing his tail against her muzzle. “You just have a good time with Tempest. I'll handle the parent stuff.” “What's wrong, Bolt?” Tempest started, a slight tease in her voice. “Don't want to spend time with us today?” The Pegasus’ wings froze for a moment, sending him into a short wobble as he looked back at the mares. “What? No! I'm just wanting to see Zecora! It's been a while, and we have some questions for her, anyway!” “He's right. There's a few things we've been meaning to talk to her about.” She looked into the hall with a measure of concern. “Nova’s been having a lot of fits lately. At first, we thought it was because he might be afraid of something that sets him off, but according to Pinkie, he had the same reaction in a cave full of friendly party supplies!” “Not to mention his recent fit where he cried so loud it nearly shattered both his and my eardrums.” Boltsinger added. “We're hoping Zecora might be able to offer some insight as to what might be going on. Thus, taking the little Prince to see her.” Boltsinger concluded. “I see… Well, have fun!” The Unicorn stated, waving her hoof. “Don't let the Timberwolves bite!” Boltsinger recoiled, feeling the snap of his wings siezing up as his hooves hit the floor. “Timberwolves, huh…?” He brought his hoof to his muzzle. “Hadn't thought of them… And this is gonna be Nova's first time in the Everfree Forest, too…” Twilight looked between her friend and her husband, lighting up like a bulb above her head. “I have an idea! Why don't we all go?” Tempest looked at her friend like she was suggesting a jump into the middle of the ocean from the clouds. “All of us? You honestly want to go to the Everfree Forest?” “Why not? It’s not like it’s my first time.” She replied, heading for the hallway. “Besides, it’s a great chance for you two to get to know each other better.” “Hmmm... “ Boltsinger looked over at the mare on the couch, lingering on a particular thought for a moment. Twilight had talked at length about her and how capable she was, and he had to admit she intimidated him, but he had a feeling she was being deliberate. “Having you along would be good protection… Okay. Let’s go.” “Don’t I get a say in this?” Tempest wondered, motioning to herself. “What if I don’t want to go into the Everfree Forest?” “It’s not like it would take that long.” Twilight retorted. “We go to Zecora’s hut all the time! It’s perfectly safe.” “Yeah, just a quick walk, and we’re golden.” The stallion added. “I’ll just get the baby and we’ll be off!” As the Pegasus rose again from the floor, Tempest let out a deep sigh. “Yeah… Go and get… the baby.” Crickets chirped. Owls in the distance hooted ominously. The trees loomed down, images of distorted faces scraped into the bark. The Everfree Forest was alive like no place in Equestria, and a quartet of ponies had begun their journey through it. Tempest marched in the middle, keeping her head on a swivel, while Twilight and Boltsinger walked on either side of her. Nova sat in the baby carrier strapped to his father, looking at the black of Tempest's armor and the reflection he saw within. During their hike, Twilight and Tempest had been chatting about various subjects, ranging from the status of their friends to how much the Unicorn had been learning since her travels had begun. All the while, Boltsinger simply kept pace with the pair, more silent than anypony had ever seen him before. Until Twilight spoke up. “So, Bolt, have you got any interesting stories for Tempest?” She asked, her voice almost egging him on. “I told her all about those wings of yours, and I bet she'd love to hear about some of the ponies you've helped over the years!” “Nah. not much of what I've done is all that exciting.” He stated, waving his hoof. “I just fly places and… I think I mostly just make noise.” Tempest's smirk made a return as she gave him her attention. “Oh, come on, you don't have even one little anecdote? It's not often you meet a Prince who also has such unique magic!” The large mare's gaze sent a chill down Boltsinger's spine, making his body go more rigid and slowing his movements. “Y-y-y-yes. That's very true… And... it's not often that I remember what all I've done after the fact.” He knocked on his head with his hoof. “Lightning in my brain, after all. Anything interesting I can remember, Twilight was probably there for, and can tell it better.” He brought his wing over to tickle his son's nose, getting a small giggle for his efforts. “And if not, it probably involved this little guy.” Nova's laugh continued with the tickling, bringing a tingling to his nose. He made a sharp inhale, sneezing with a force that only a baby could provide. At the sound of the sneeze, Tempest visibly flinched. Her eyes went wide, and she stopped for a moment to look at the colt. He wiped his nose, shaking his head as if to free up his sinuses, and looked back up at her with a smile. “He's just so… small…” She muttered under her breath. “Of course he's small. He's a baby.” Boltsinger replied. “Haven't you ever seen a baby before?” “Of course I have!” She spat back, once again sending the stallion a glare. “Just... not very often.” Boltsinger looked back at the fierce Unicorn, getting a smirk on his face as an idea formed in his head. “Well, you know, you could always get more experience…” He lifted Nova from the baby carrier, holding him up to her with his forelegs. “You wanna hold him?” Tempest stopped in her tracks, looking at the tiny creature held before her with a glint of insecurity in her eye. “Not… particularly…” “Not even a little bit?” He stressed, pushing forward. “He clearly likes you!” Tempest took a tentative step back. “No, I'm fine! Really.” “Are you sure?” He continued, holding the baby higher until she was within the reach of little hooves. Nova reached out, putting his hooves on Tempest's nose. Twilight giggled for a moment. “You're enjoying this, aren't you, Bolt?” “Maybe a little.” He confirmed, turning back to smile at Tempest. “Come on! Give it a shot! He's just a baby!” “I SAID NO!” She finally shouted, rearing back and changing direction. “Get that… that squishy little thing away from me!” She flicked her tail, tickling the foal's nose for another sneeze. At the sudden ‘achoo’, she took off, galloping into the woods. Twilight and Boltsinger looked at the retreating mare with a dumbfounded blink. They turned to each other, nodding in unspoken agreement, and took off after her. The deeper recesses of the Everfree Forest seemed to span miles. The winged ponies flew on at full speed, listening for the sound of frantic galloping, but finding it coming from multiple directions at once, intermixed with the eerie sounds of the forest itself. All the while, they called Tempest's name. After a while, they came to a clearing, skidding to a stop and gasping for air. “Where could she have gone?” Twilight asked. “I wish I knew!” Boltsinger answered, letting his rump hit the ground. “Of course, it would've been nice if she hadn't run away to begin with!” “Speaking of that…” Twilight began, turning to face him. “What exactly made you do that?” “Do what?” “Force Nova in her face!” She exclaimed. “She wasn't exactly hiding her discomfort, there! So why did you keep pushing?” “Because she kept pushing my buttons!” He retorted. “Ever since she arrived I could swear she's been deliberately intimidating to me! I just thought it would be a good way to get back at her.” He reached back to the foal he carried, booping him on the nose. “Besides, Nova really does like her.” Twilight let out a sigh, knowing full well what her spouse meant. “Believe me, I know just how intimidating she can be.” She sat next to him, laughing with nostalgia. “When I first met her, she incapacitated Celestia, Luna, and Cadence in less than a minute!” “Wow…” He scratched his mane with his wing, giving a nervous laugh. “I guess she’s like that with everypony, huh?” The Princess nodded, patting Boltsinger’s back. “Exactly. Once you get used to that, she’s really a lot of fun.” She stood up once more, taking a deep inhale through her nose only to scrunch her face up at the smell. An uncomfortable smile came to her lips as she began to turn around. “Oh, my. Smells like somepony made a stink…” Her eyes went wide when she saw the source of the smell. Behind her oblivious husband and squirming son was a veritable legion of Timberwolves, hunched over and ready to pounce. Twilight instinctively leaped forward, wrapping her forelegs around them and instantly erecting a barrier as the lead wolf made its move. Boltsinger put his forelegs around the mare that held him, looking her in the eye. “Twilight, what’s going--” She pointed behind him, where he saw claws raking against the barrier. “... Oh.” He pulled away from the hug, taking a deep breath and giving his muzzle a hard slap. “Okay… Ooooooookay…” He unstrapped the baby carrier from his barrel, passing Nova over to his mother. “Take Nova, and when I inhale, teleport me outside the barrier.” Twilight took the foal as suggested, giving her favorite stallion a look that seemed to ask if he was insane. “Why? I’m the one who has magic!” “Magic that can better protect precious cargo!” He stated, knocking on the barrier behind him. “That’s more important than anything!” He turned to face the Timberwolves, slapping his muzzle again. “Cover Nova’s ears. I’m going to give these Timberwolves a nice, stern, talking to.” Twilight looked down at Nova, then up at her husband, breathing a sigh of relent. “Okay. I’m trusting you. Just… Please be safe.” Boltsinger sent one last smile back to her. “I’ll do my best.” He spread his wings, rising to all fours and taking an immense breath that filled his lungs to capacity. As directed, Twilight activated her spell, sending him away in a flash to appear flying above the orb of magenta magic. With a jutting of his head, Boltsinger released a scream at the very top of his voice, creating a sheer force of sound that shook the earth around them for as far as they could see. The might of the noise slammed into the Timberwolves at full power, causing the weaker of their pack to burst into splinters. The remainder of the wolves dug their claws into the ground, holding fast against the force for the duration. After ten seconds of constant screaming, the noise finally died down. Boltsinger came to a landing in front of the barrier, breathing heavily and glaring at the monsters with flared wings. “You hear that? You want my family, you go through me!” The wolves met the Pegasus’ powerful posture with a growl, slowly stepping closer to him. He let out a wheezing growl of his own, dragging his hoof on the ground. After a brief staredown, the lead wolf let out a roar, lunging at the pony before it. He swiped his wing forward, creating a gust of wind that sent it flying into the two behind it. Two more leaped forward, met with a similar response. Boltsinger planted his hooves, quickly stretching his wings and flapping forward with all of his might. The wind his wings created sent at least three of the creatures into the air. This went on for several minutes, with more and more of the wolves joining in each attack. Boltsinger held fast, but was beginning to feel the strain. With every wolf that went flying, another would land just a little bit closer to him. He gritted his teeth as the lead wolf stepped closer again. He flared his wings again, wincing as a jolt of pain swept through him. The wolf took full advantage of the opportunity, jumping towards him with its maw open. Boltsinger looked back at the ponies in the bubble, giving them a reassuring smile before balling up his wings, bracing himself for the worst. Which never came. The lead Timberwolf yelped in pain as a hoof slammed into it from the side. Boltsinger followed the hoof to its source to see Tempest, her face alight with fury. She kicked off of the wolf, performing a backflip and landing gracefully in front of the stallion with a ready stance. “I heard your scream! Is Twilight safe?” The wide-eyed pegasus’ rump fell to the ground, ecstatic to see the Unicorn. “Yeah. Barrier.” “Baby too?” “Eeyup.” “Good.” She glared at the Timberwolves, the broken remains of her horn sparking with magic. “I'll handle this!” Planting her hooves, she loosed an erratic surge of magic that spanned every color in the spectrum. Upon contact with the first target, it and the creature exploded, the magic shooting forward to the next to repeat the process. With every Timberwolf, there was an explosion, leaving piles of twigs, leaves, and splinters where they stood. With one final blast, the splinters and dust settled, leaving naught but the equines left in the clearing. Tempest turned to Boltsinger, offering him a hoof as the barrier dissipated. “You held out pretty well.” Boltsinger accepted the hoof, rising to his hooves. “That’s high praise, coming from you.” Before Tempest could respond, Boltsinger ended up tackled in a hug from behind, a large portion of the weight landing on the base of his wings. “Oh thank goodness!” Twilight began, squeezing him tightly. Boltsinger gave off a pained yelp from the wing contact, letting her know to back up. “Sorry…” She pulled away, giving him a quick glare. “Don't you ever scare me like that again, okay?” Boltsinger nodded, giving her one more reassuring hug. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best.” He got back up, looking around the forest. “Well, I think we’re good and lost now. You wanna help us find our way, honey?” Twilight took a bow and spread her wings. “I’d be happy to!” And with that, she was in the air. The ponies sat in a hut full of masks, potions, and pottery with a boiling cauldron in the middle. Nova, in particular, sat on a stool, being examined by a Zebra with blue eyes and a mohawk mane, with gold hoop earrings and sets of even more gold rings on her neck and right foreleg. “So first was a scream, and then a fell howl. I take it that something outside ran afoul?” She chuckled to herself, “Whatever happened, for your safety, I’m glad. Let’s just hope no more adventures like that one are had.” “You and me, both, Zecora.” Boltsinger affirmed. He looked to his sore wing, attempting to extend it only to wince in pain. “Of course, it probably wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t insisted on messing with Tempest… “ He turned to the mare in question with a remorseful expression. “I’m really sorry about that. Twilight told me about… well, you, and I realize now that you weren’t trying to push my buttons. I just got so intimidated that I felt like I had to fight back somehow.” Tempest laughed into her hoof. “Apology accepted. But, if we’re being honest here, I really was messing with you a little bit. It was just a little fun, though.” She cast a glance at Nova, letting a soft smile onto her muzzle. “And… I suppose it was probably silly of me to have been so scared of a little baby, anyway.” “Actually, that reminds me. Why are you so scared of him?” The Pegasus wondered, following her gaze. “I mean, there’s plenty of reason ponies have been scared of him in the past. He’s a powerful little colt. But I don’t think that’s something you’d be so worried about.” With a flushing recoil, Tempest averted her eyes. “Well… It’s not that I’m actually afraid of him… It’s more that I’m afraid that… well, that I might hurt him.” She brought her full attention to the floor, and the hooves upon it. “I spent so much of my life alone, or fighting, or in some kind of danger… I don't really know how to be gentle. Physically or mentally. I didn’t want to get too close for his own sake.” Boltsinger sent her a knowing smile, stepping up beside her and patting her back. “Well, if my brother is any indication, if you can learn to hug somepony after a long time fighting, you won’t have any problems being gentle.” Tempest looked at the stallion curiously. The smile on his face was completely sincere, with nary a hint of cynicism. After all of the things they had gone through today, he was still willing to be friendly and welcoming. It reminded her of the friend she had come to visit. The pony that saved her. She sent him a smile that was as genuine as the one she’d received, looking back at her lilac-coated friend. “I can see now why you married him. He’s a good one!” “The best!” The Alicorn confirmed. She walked past the reconciling ponies, taking an inquisitive look at her foal. “So, Zecora, do you have any idea what’s been going on with Nova? Maybe even cook up something to help him out?” “Hmmm…” She started, putting her hoof to her chin and examining more thoroughly. “A condition like his, from what you’ve described, cannot be solved by something imbibed.” She reached into a cabinet, pulling out a lollipop and handing it to the baby. “It takes careful attention and the utmost care to handle a foal with an issue this rare.” “What kind of condition is it?” The Princess asked, taking the foal in her wing. “It’s nothing that’s harmful, if that’s your concern.” She assured, pulling a book from her shelf. “And it’s something from which many ponies can learn.” She flipped through the pages, landing on a particular section. “With speaking and social life, his pace may be slowed. And in regards to his senses, they may overload.” “Overload?” The parents simultaneously repeated. Zecora nodded, passing the book over to Twilight. “You know how we all have sight, hearing and smell? It seems that Nova does all of them too well. When things are too much, they make this little one dizzy. Why, it’s no wonder he gets up in a tizzy!” “So, he’s got his father’s ears, and more?” Twilight looked down at Nova, who was happily sucking at his treat. “Then it’s no wonder Starlight’s bubble of silence calmed you down, huh?” She turned her attention back to the brewer. “Thank you, Zecora. I’ll make sure to read as much as I can about this.” “We both will.” Boltsinger corrected, putting his uninjured wing around his wife. “You can count on it.” “You’re quite welcome, my friends.” Zecora said. She cocked her head to the side, getting a glimpse of the redness on Boltsinger’s wing. “But, I must advise… Perhaps flying home might not be so wise? If you would like, I can come along. Perhaps, then, the trek won’t take quite so long?” Boltsinger flashed a grin at her. “That would be great, but I must compel. I insist that you stay for some dinner as well.” The Zebra and the Pegasus shared in a laugh, moving toward the door. Following the others on the way out, Twilight walked beside Tempest. “So, you know you’re welcome to stay the night tonight, right?” As they exited the hut, Tempest looked up at the sky through the trees, letting out a sigh. “That’d be nice, but today is my only day off for a while. I’ve got to get back to Canterlot before long.” “Canterlot? What’s in Canterlot?” “Training.” She stated, fixing her gaze forward. “I’m joining the Royal Guard. I feel like, now that I’ve seen Equestria proper and… gotten over my hang-ups… It’s time to put my skills to use for everyone. Plus, my experience under the Storm King has to be good for something, right?” “That’s wonderful!” Twilight exclaimed, pulling her friend in for a hug. “And with the new drill sergeant they’ve got, you’ll get in in no time flat! Plus, I can come visit you! I’m in Canterlot all the time, taking care of royal business, visiting my other friends…” She went on talking about the possibilities of her living in the Equestrian capitol, keeping a close hold on her the entire time. Taking the opportunity, Nova fluttered his wings, making a short little hop onto Tempest’s back, where he nuzzled up to her neck.