//------------------------------//
// End of the Royal Sleepover. 
// Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. 
// by Symphonicdysonince 
//------------------------------//

[Leo]

Everyone was settling in for the night after Scootaloo had shown off her summon. The Ninjask had settled beside the filly in her bed, taking its cues from Eros. Although, Eros kept at least two sheets between herself and Sweetie.

Due to Triphyle's size, he couldn't really fit in Apple Bloom's room, but still wanted to sleep alongside her. Apple Bloom solved this by stringing a hammock up between his tree and middle mountain. Us Eevees had all decided to get comfortable on his back, as well.

I lay awake, trying to get used to sleeping on dirt again. Eventually, I gave up and stood, grumbling.

<<Can't sleep?>> Vince whispered beside me.

<<Yeah.>> I sat back down. <<Of all the stupid things, I can't sleep on dirt any more.>>

<<So you're going to climb the tree?>>

<<Eeyup.>>

<<You know that the tree is a part of Triphyle, right? And your usual method of climbing is to attack the tree?>>

I paused, glaring at the tree. <<Welp, looks like I'm not sleeping tonight.>> I looked over at Vince. <<What're you doing still up?>>

<<Thinkin'.>> He settled onto his back. <<Did you know that we missed our one year anniversary here?>>

I cocked my head. <<No we didn't. That's still a few months off.>>

<<Our years!>> He growled, <<Human years! Not this bullshit schedule the ponies keep.>>

I gave him a flat look. <<Okay, first off? Time is subjective. If you're waiting five minutes for a bus, it feels longer for you than for the bus driver. Secondly, human's have fucked up their own calendar because of two men's arrogant pride. That's why February is so short and leap years exist. The pony's calendar hasn't changed since it was put in place.

<<Finally, I did some digging, and it turns out that they need to treat this like a schedule because the world will die if they didn't. Tirek and Discord each fucked the world up badly when they were in charge, to the point where I'm surprised that the atmosphere didn't just decide to fuck right off. All this control the ponies have over the world is to try to fix the damage done. The Everfree is what the world was supposed to be like and is a sign that things are healing.

<<But, you spend a couple thousand years doing something and then the deviations seem wrong, so now the natural is unnatural.>> I finished with a huff. <<But yes, I didn't even notice that we had missed our anniversary.>>

<<Didn't take you for an environmentalist...>>

<<I'm not, I'm just disappointed that nopony gives a shit about their own history.>> I sighed. <<If I didn't know any better, I'd say that they were bred to not care. But lets talk about less depressing things.>>

<<Sure.>> We lapsed into silence, broken only by the sound of breathing and shifting. Triphyle suddenly shifted, rocking his shell as he did so. In doing so, he had given the hammock a gentle rocking motion. Neither of us had said anything for so long, I thought that Vince had fallen asleep when he finally spoke up. <<I think I miss smoking the most.>>

<<Hmm?>>

He rolled to look at me. <<Not that I think this body can handle a dart, and I haven't been craving nicotine since we got here, but I miss the familiarity of it. Ya know?>>

<<I think so.>> I nodded.

<<I miss my sisters.>> Lulu piped up. <<They were annoying, and got in the way more often then not, but I can't help but miss them.>>

<<Oh, hey.>> I shifted to look at the Vaporeon. <<When'd you wake up?>>

<<When this lug here decided to move.>> She lazily waved a paw at Triphyle's shell.

<<Me too.>> Yomega spoke up.

<<GAH!>> Vince jumped, flinching into the rocky spires jutting from the shell. We all gave him confused looks. <<Sorry, sorry. I honestly forgot that you, Twilight and Spike were here.>>

<<We've been here for four days.>> Yomega deadpanned. <<It's not our fault you forgot that we had to ride in a separate train car.>>

<<What do you miss?>> Lulu asked

<<Oh, Minecraft, Don't Starve, Dark Souls, Smash...>> Yomega tapped his chin. <<My computer in general, really.>>

<<Even the debugging?>> I smirked.

<<Especially the debugging.>> He nodded. <<What about you?>>

<<Thumbs.>> I answered, thinking back to the form Luna had me sign. I had to put the damn quill between my toes. <<I miss the useful little bastards.>> I spent some time staring at my paws, before looking up at Yomega. <<Hey, if I evolve into a fighting type, think I'll get my thumbs back?>>

Lulu shifted to a more comfortable position. <<What makes you think that?>>

<<Some, if not most, fighting styles utilize grapples and throws. Kinda need thumbs for that.>>

"If'n yer done yappin'," Apple Bloom yawned, "I'd like t' get some sleep."

<<Sorry!>> We chorused.




The others woke up to me staring at a wall, dried blood stained my fur from where it had trickled from a shallow cut on my forehead. Lulu quickly washed the evidence away before anypony could notice. We were gathered up by a Night Guard, who introduced herself as Night Shade, and led us to the dining room we've been using since we got here. Flashes of light followed us as the rings kept Triphyle near us.

This morning, Celestia was waiting for us. She waved our escort and our genuflections away, and stood, she approached the fillies and their summons. While both Triphyle and Zepher leaned in and sized up the white alicorn, Eros stayed on the far side of Sweetie from the Princess. With a motherly smile, Celestia gave the Ralts her space.

"I'm sorry I was unable to come meet you all earlier, royal duties have unfortunately kept me occupied." She gracefully waved a wing at the table. "Please, let us enjoy breakfast while we catch up."

"Will Princess Luna be joining us?" Rainbow asked.

"I imagine that Night Shade is going to collect her now." Celestia said with that knowing smile of hers.

I tuned out the small talk she made while I waited for the food to arrive. With a yawn, I leapt up onto Rainbow's back. <<I'mma rest here 'til food gets here.>> I murmured, resting my head on her neck. 

"Wonder which'll get here first, Luna or food?"

I woke up when I was blasted off of my perch. Luna had arrived with her usual bombastic flare, with all the volume that entails. I lay on my back in a daze, fur fluffed out in fear, while I waited for my hearing to return. Rainbow looked down at me in concern, holding a bowl in her mouth.

"Ya gun'ah 'e o'ay?" She asked as Fluttershy came into view.

<<Luna or food?>> I asked, beginning to float. I looked over to see Luna's horn glowing, with a sheepish smile on her face. <<Which got here first?>>

"Um, she came in with it." Fluttershy answered as Rainbow placed my bowl down.

I looked in to see that there was something flaky in it, practically swimming in what I assumed was berry puree. <<What is this?>>

"Rainbow asked the cooks to prepare something with fish for you." Fluttershy explained.

Rainbow nodded. "Going to need your energy up for when we get home."

"Unfortunate that you must leave so soon." Luna stated. "I was hoping to talk."

<<And you wait until now to mention this?>> I snarked.

"I'm sure she was busy, too." Fluttershy assured.

<<Hurry up and eat.>> Yomega ordered from his spot under the table. <<We've got to leave in five if we want to catch our train.>>

<<Who ever made this schedule sucks.>> Vince griped.

I mumbled my agreement as I got to work on my food, ignoring Twilight updating the Princesses on her findings.




Shortly after we stepped off the train in Ponyville,  Apple Bloom moved off to the side to summon in Triphyle. Touching a hoof to her bow, and to the ring inside, she called out. "Triphyle! We're here!"

A circle of bright white light traced itself on the ground. In a flash, it filled itself in in an explosion of light. When we could properly see again, Triphyle stood, shaking off his dizziness. With a satisfied nod, Apple Bloom tapped her ring twice. Both rings glowed as she toggled the auto-summoning back on.

With that, we began to leave the station proper, only to run into Zann going the other way. He hobbled his way over to us, fumbling with his bags for something. With a happy bark, he pulled a set of envelopes out, holding them out to the older mares.

I sat beside him after the mares had taken their invitations. <<Kinda defeats the purpose, doesn't it?>> I asked as the mares started walking ahead.

<<How so?>>

Yomega tapped his metal shoulder. <<'Cause you're delivering them, we can guess that Pinkie's holding a surprise party for the summons.>>

<<I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.>> The Flareon declared, a massive grin splitting his face. <<By the way, we're throwing a surprise party for the Crusaders and their new friends tonight at AJ's barn. Don't tell them that though.>>

<<You're secret is safe with us.>> Lulu sighed with roll her eyes.

I joined the chuckling, a slight frown growing on my muzzle. <<I gotta warn Eros. I don't think she likes surprises.>> I barely waited for them to acknowledge what I had said before jogging off. I quickly approached the Ralts, slowing so that I wouldn't startle her. <<Hey, I gotta tell ya something.>>

She paused, glancing at me. I used the chance to get closer to her. I cleared my throat as we continued walking. <<So, I'm not sure if you can understand me, but, ah...>> I awkwardly looked away. <<Could you, uh, maybe nod if you do?>>

I couldn't quite see her eyes, but I'm sure she rolled them. I felt a presence brush up against my mind, and I let it in. The next thing I know, I'm staring at the sky with my pack mates worriedly looking down at me. I rolled over to find Eros. She was pressing herself against Sweetie's side, staring at me with wide, frightened eyes.

<<:What are you things?!:>>