Both of Aurora's parents were silent as Smarty finished the end of their story. It was almost half a minute before either of them attempted to speak.
"It's... strange," her mother said. "I almost wish I didn't know. That you'd be dealing with things like that, I mean. But at the same time, knowing how well you handled it... how well each of you keep the other safe... I'm proud of you Aurora, and the pony you've turned into." She smiled. "You too, Smarty. It feels like I'm letting you go far too soon... both of you... but please don't let me be the reason you keep these things to yourself. As much as I hate to hear that you were hurt, I can't stand not knowing."
Written Script nodded firmly. "If you need to tell us anything... it won't leave this room." His gaze softened as he looked at his daughter. "The reason you won't pick up your utensils... you can't, can you?"
Aurora shook her head. "It's not permanent, but the leylines in my front legs were destroyed in the struggle."
Both of them winced.
"It should only be a few days at most, though. I can manage."
Cherry set down her spoon. "Wait, that doesn't add up. I'm no medic, but aren't leylines supposed to take months to heal?"
Aurora tilted her head. "But Celestia said... oh wait."
"What is it, dear?"
She sighed. "It probably has to do with the second big thing I need to tell you."
Both blinked in mirrored surprise and apprehension.
"I didn't really explain why I got taller."
Written frowned. "Wait, I thought it was all that magic... no, you said that growth magic was different than life magic, I think." He looked back at his daughter. "But this is a pretty... sudden change. How could this not be from all that magic?"
"Not directly, no. In a way, it's the reason why we ended up running away."
Smarty winced. "Remember that secret they kept from us? There was actually a pretty good reason for it."
Cherry snorted in frustration. "Just out with it already! Stop stalling and just tell me. My heart can't take it much longer."
Aurora took a deep breath. "Mom... none of the Princesses were born alicorns."
Both her parents froze for a few seconds. "Um... wow. Sweetie, I don't think either of us are supposed to know that. But what does that have to do with you growing two inches in one day -"
Cherry froze suddenly, exchanging alarmed looks with her husband, before turning back to a guilty-looking Aurora.
"A-also, Princess Celestia doesn't just... take students randomly."
"So all alicorns were unicorns once? That doesn't seem fair."
"All the Princesses, yes. I don't know if there were any before Celestia and Luna. I think it's more of a biology thing, though. When most Earth ponies and pegasi use magic, they need to use muscles and stamina, too. Even with the stuff I know, the pure magic stuff is actually the least useful. It was only my obsession with not doing anything most Earth ponies did that ended up training my magic like unicorns do. And it's not like pegasi just shoot off lightning constantly, when flying is a lot more useful and fun."
Her father sighed. "I guess. It still doesn't seem very fair, though."
Cherry gave her daughter another worried look, this one for a completely different reason. "I'm really glad you can stay for a while, Aurora, but if this is slowing down your training with Princess Luna... I guess I'm just not sure what to think."
"I'll... find some time for training. Celestia seemed to think this was important, though. Almost more important than the training part. Especially before I have to hide for a while."
Cherry shook her head vigorously. "We could visit more often! If this ascension thing is really as dangerous as you said it is, we'll make the time to come visit."
"No, it's not just that. It's the time to make friends... and visit old ones. The time to go outside. Things the Princesses don't have the time for. Or have too much status for. Sure, they have each other, but.."
Her mother sighed. "No... I understand now. As your mother, I hate it. I only want for you to be safe. But at the same time... you need time to have fun. Be with ponies your own age." She chuckled. "Or just your own maturity level. I'll take what I can get."
Aurora smiled. "Thanks, Mom." She looked at the clock on the wall and blinked. "Wow, it's really late." She glanced at the door. "But I suppose I need to get back to normal sleeping patterns if I want to visit my friends."
Written Script chuckled. "Seven is a perfectly reasonable time to go to bed. Besides, it isn't like the Princess never sent us letters; I know how much you like to watch the sunrise."
She grinned. "Thanks for the food. And the advice." Aurora looked down. "But I'm sorry for dropping all of this on you at once."
"It's okay, dear. Really. Now, go get some rest. I'm sure you have plenty of plans for tomorrow."
Aurora trotted into her old room and laid down on her old bed. It was surreal, returning to something so normal, after so long. Compared to her bed at the palace, it was small, a bit lumpy, and the plaid blanket clearly clashed with her coat. But it was home.
She fell asleep within seconds.
Aurora woke to the familiar feeling of Smarty nuzzled up against her, but everything else felt strange and foreign. Yet at the same time, it felt like the most normal thing in the world.
Her life had changed so much since that day of school. The fight with that bully. Broad Strike was his name. She remembered.
But now, everything he said seemed so trivial. Nothing a simple talk with one of the teachers couldn't solve. Really, the compass seemed more like an excuse, in retrospect. It was the insult that really pushed her over the edge.
In a way, it was both the best and worst thing that happened to her. The chain of events it set off were certainly not an easy ride. But even aside from what might have happened underground, was she really going to be happy, continuing to bounce from school to school, void of direction in her life?
It wasn't just those books that led her to attempt entry into Celestia's school. It was her cutie mark. Her purpose in life. To deny that would be unthinkable. Life had been hard, but even someone like a donut shop owner worked hard to do what they loved.
As she looked out at the sunrise, Aurora sighed. As scary as everything seemed, she really was happy. And today, she would make decisions that would affect the rest of her life.
It was far too early to visit Meadowlark and still be polite. Not that she knew where she even lived. Only ponies working in retail got up this early.
At least it wasn't Sunday or Monday. She should be working at the school around nine in the morning.
This left Aurora at least two hours of doing nothing.
Or...
I need to keep up with my training. Even Mom agreed with that. I have Smarty to help me, but despite our training with Luna, we aren't exactly experts.
An image flashed in her head, of the golem's broken form.
More importantly, I need to learn how not to hurt ponies. Despite what Luna might think, there are plenty of times where lethal force is not required.
She leapt from the bed onto her hooves. She had an idea how to spend her morning.
"Smarty, come on. We have somepony to visit."
Aurora had seen this old place many times in her exploration of Canterlot. It was a small martial arts dojo, yet unlike the ones usually meant to appease tourists or most city folk, she had met the owner. He seemed like the kind of pony that could help her.
It was also closed. As in, out of business.
But he still lived here, based on the lights in the second story window. She knocked.
Smarty raised an eyebrow, but otherwise kept silent.
As she had expected, the stallion in charge was awake, and Aurora could hear him come downstairs to check what crazy pony would be knocking at this hour.
He sighed when he opened the door and saw the two ponies waiting for him. "Can't you read? I'm not accepting any new students."
Aurora blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, sir, but you're the only pony I could think of in Canterlot that could help me."
He rolled his eyes. "Flattery won't help you. I'm done with helping every teen in Canterlot fulfill their little power fantasies. Even the ones that don't just quit after they realizes it takes real work."
The old stallion had started to close the door, but she reached a hoof out to stop it. "Wait! No, it's just the opposite."
He opened the door slightly. "Hm?"
"I have too much power. I want to learn how to fight ponies without... you know... killing them."
The stallion's eyebrows skyrocketed. "Well, I must admit, I've never heard that one before." He opened the door more fully. "But such a statement requires proof. Come on in."
Only when they both were in and the door closed did he speak again. "You don't look like a pony who has tasted the guilt of death. But your eyes show me genuine fear."
Smarty spoke for her. "It was a golem. In training. A bit too realistic."
"Even stranger. Most instructors do not bother with such a method, as the concentration required is far too great. Especially when the students are so young."
Smarty simply nodded.
"Let's just say I believe you for now. But I still have to test your strength. As much as I abhor the practice, I do have a few concrete slabs in the basement. Wait here, and I'll go retrieve them."
The old master stared at the ground, and the concrete slab that had been shattered. The young mare had insisted that he not place it on supports, and he had been skeptical. But this showed far more conclusively what she had been telling him. She was dangerous, and she had asked to be less so.
Still, he was advanced in years, and had given up teaching for more than just the attitudes of the residents of Canterlot. And he knew of no ponies she could realistically spar against. Certainly not the pegasus filly who followed her around. This mare's strikes were most certainly reinforced with a large amount of energy.
"Are you familiar with the magic that flows through your hooves?"
Aurora blinked. "Yes, actually."
"Do you know how to control that flow?"
She paused for a moment. "To an extent, though I have a feeling that you mean something more precise."
He shrugged. "Not really. Just... use less. I find that the simple solutions are the best."
"I suppose." Aurora gave him an uncertain look. "But in a combat situation, I would usually need to run around a lot. Having a bigger concentration on my back legs than my front would be rather... strange."
He blinked. That was certainly unusual. As a master of his own sort of martial arts, he normally dealt with one-on-one situations. But this mare was talking like a guard, even though she still looked far too young to join.
"Are you, by any chance, a member of the Junior Guard?"
Aurora blinked. "I hadn't thought of that. Do you think they'd teach me this sort of thing?"
Apparently, his assumption was incorrect. This mare certainly was strange. But she didn't seem to be the sort that would be involved in criminal activity. Whoever she was, it wasn't up to him to pry.
"They would, of course, teach you plenty of non-lethal methods of takedown. That is, after all, a large portion of a guard's job. But moving around with suppressed magic - that is something you will have to practice on your own. Still... what you have said confuses me. What you said implied that you would be fighting with your front hooves, yet you stomped on the concrete with your back hoof. Most ponies buck their opponents. And if you did plan on using your front hooves, why did you not punch it?"
Aurora cringed. "Sorry. The leylines in my front hooves are destroyed."
The old stallion jumped back. "Destroyed‽ What manner of spell..?"
Aurora paused. "I'm... not sure I should tell you. It's... I guess I could say that it's a kind of dark magic, at least."
He sighed. "I suppose I shouldn't press. In fact, I think I might recognize you. You're the Princess' new student, aren't you?"
She blushed. "Yeah."
"Well, I don't know what kind of free time you have, but that Guard stuff might be what you're looking for."
"Um... thanks for your help, I guess. Sorry for bothering you so early in the morning."
He smiled. "What are you talking about? The sun's up, ain't it?"
Aurora returned his grin, walking back outside. It wasn't what she was looking for, certainly, but he had given her a start, at least. Something to try.
And just maybe, a place where she could make friends like Celestia had said.
First, though, she had an old friend to visit.