//------------------------------// // For Want of a Rider vi/vi // Story: A minor variation // by notMurphy //------------------------------// For want of a Rider part vi of vi For want of Brilliance Dearest Sweetie Bell,    This is your sister writing to you from school. I want you to know that I miss you and Mother and Father, but things are quite exciting here at school. We just learned about the Ancient Pony Philosopher Achi-meadows. Do you   know what he said? He said that the principles of leverage apply at any scale, in fact he once quipped that given a large enough lever he could move Equestria... unfortunately the Demon Dischord took him at his word and Philosphy was introduced to the difference between theory and practice. You know what? I just realized that it's possible to argue that the Demon of Chaos caused the invention of science. Isn't that fascinating?    This letter is getting away from me, as it were. What I wanted to tell you is that The thing about leverage is it seems to apply to non-physical things too, and that's why I'm proud to tell you that you are now an Auntie! I can't wait for you to meet your Nephew, Heathspike Bell. Of course I will have to wait, since classes have just started and we won't be able to visit until the Harvest Break after Nightmare night.    There are so many wonderful things to learn here! I don't know where to start, but Miss Amelia studies ancient civilizations, so I may give that a try. The pictures of those ancient ponies are so curious, as though they wore and did things in completely different ways than us. Can you imagine? Ah, the Hall Mistress has called lights out in five minutes so I'll have to finish up. All my love, Your sister, Rarity Bell    Rarity pulled her ears back and covered her face with her hooves. "-three different cases against the school itself as well as a personal threat from Mr. Heavy Tone to feed the Principle a 'Hoof Sandwich' if we even broached the subject of Sexual Intercourse with his daughter. As you can see this is quite a mess."    Her instructor, Subtle Glamor laid a hoof on Rarity's back and stroked, making soothing noises. When the filly had calmed, the Silver-blue mare turned to the school's board of directors. "Is it entirely necessary that the child be present for the recounting? She was excited and someponies forgot to check outgoing mail. I hardly see how that is her fault."    The headmaster shifted on his hooves, obviously uncomfortable. "Well, it is not... entirely necessary that Miss Bell be present for the actual recounting. But the principle that one's actions have consequences is an important lesson, certainly one she should learn in light of our... embarrassment."    'All I wanted was to share a little bit with my baby sister. How many ponies can claim to have a dragon for a Nephew?' Rarity schooled her features and stood more stiffly, prepared to accept whatever punishments the headmaster felt she deserved. 'I will not bring disgrace on either my Family or my School.'    "With all... due respect. I have to tell you that what I see is a bunch of old ponies that have been caught in an embarrassing state and are looking for somepony to blame - preferably one who can't fight back!"    "Mrs. Glamor! This is highly irregular!"    "Sir, your tie is irregular. This ... witch hunt is downright obscene."    Somepony had the sense to usher Rarity out of the room as the adults raised their voices and began shouting in earnest.   Outside in the hall was a blue unicorn filly with silver hair, pushing a conical hat around the floor. Rarity trotted over to investigate. "Hello, what are you doing?"    "What am I doing?" the blue filly asked, turning around and unceremoniously sitting on the floor. "That is not how one introduces themselves. Give me your name." She would have sounded imperious if her voice wasn't two octaves too high.    "My name is Rarity Bell, how do you do?" The other filly seemed to be waiting for something, "and... you are?"    "Trixe Glamor, mistress of the sorcerous arts!" She managed to send off a sparkling light that spun in on itself, Rarity found herself clomping in applause.    "Ooh, that was pretty. All I can do is move things and find things... sometimes."    "Well, I intend to become the Greatest Magician in all of Equestria, so I suppose it will be my duty to assist you in learning more of the 'mystic arts' so that I may usher in a new age of Renaissance Magic." she smiled earnestly and shifted her posture slightly, "S-so, how was that?" her voice was much more pleasing when she wasn't trying to be bombastic.    "Beg pardon?"    "I'm trying out for the school play, I want to play the powerful Wizzard who eventually saves Turtle Land."    "Th-there's a school play?" 'You don't have to get involved, keep it together.'    "Of course there's a school play! They have one every year. Last year they put on 'The Orangutan Librarian' and ponies came from all over Canterlot to see it! I'm from Hoofington, but I know that all the important ponies spend time in Canterlot." A thought seemed to occur to the blue filly, "where are you from?"    "I, err... Ponyville." 'Well, it was nice having a friend, while it lasted.'    "I don't think I've ever heard of Ponyville! What's it like, tell me." She scrabbled right into Rarity's personal space and pleaded, "tell me!"    "Well, the first thing that catches your eye is the town hall..." she began recounting details as the... her friend? As her friend took all the information in raptly.    "He doesn't do much, does he?" Trixie seemed disappointed, glancing at the ball of emerald and purple scales. She caught what she was saying and backpedaled quickly, "he... he's got your mane?"    "Oh, ho hoho... don't be silly, I adopted Heathspike. And yeah, he doesn't do much, he's a baby dragon." Rarity beamed at the hatchling dragon.    "S-so your Dad played Hoofball? My father is an accountant." She sounded like she was chalking up numbers on a mental abacus and coming up short on her side.    "Well, yes, but he retired some time ago, almost five years. I don't even remember when he was an active player."    "Still... Oh, I can show you the special spot I found!" Trixie's enthusiasm returned with a vengeance.    There was a view of the castle, that was nice, but Rarity didn't see what Trixie found so exciting about this spot. And then the Sun started to descend, and she saw the pony standing on the balcony visible from the fillies' hiding spot. The tall, regal, pure white pony - larger than a typical adult pony - whose Ethereal Mane couldn't be mistaken for anypony else. Rarity watched in rapt attention as the solar princess ended the day and called forth the Moon to begin the Night.    She turned to her friend, water at the edges of her eyes. "I don't know what to say, thank you Trixie. This was wonderful. The Princess!" Trixie nodded, grinning like as to cause the top of her head to fall off. Dearest Sweetie Bell,    It is I, your sister, writing to you again - a little wiser in the arts of discretion now. I know you can't really understand these letters yet, but I want you to be able to go back when you're older and see that I have always loved my little sister. I'm starting my second year now, and this year we start studying actual spells! As you may know, the difference between a Unicorn's Special Talent and a spell is that all Ponies have a talent, but not all Unicorns can learn spells, and the number and kind they are capable of learning are limited by their Special Talent.    The teachers are divided about what exactly my special talent is, my Cutie Mark being subject to a great deal of interpretation - but what they do know is that I earned my 'Mark through a great burst of Magical Power so I have the potential to be able to learn some powerful magic. I ... just have to keep studying all the subjects so the teachers can see what I'm going to excel in. It feels as though I'm being presented with a sumptuous buffet of rich choices, although I do understand that it won't exactly be Me choosing, it will be my Inner Self and it has already chosen, I just get to learn what that decision was.    In the meantime I have been extending my research into the past. The things ponies in the past thought, and wore and did are all fascinating! I mean, we know now that a lot of what they thought was wrong, that Love and Friendship and Harmony are the most important principles, but nopony had thought of those things yet, so they didn't know any better. In any case, as I know more, you will know more. Your loving sister, Rarity Bell    She felt a sinking feeling in her chest as Trixie approached her, placement scroll clutched tightly in her magic. "S-so, how did it go?" Rarity tried her best to sound chipper, up-beat, hopeful even.    "Why don't you tell me, mistress of the Oracle?" Rarity winced at Trixie's harsh tone.    "You do realize I never tried to out-do you? I'm here to learn, to improve my prospects. I-I could care less about prestige, and I don't think I'd accept an Accredited Position if they offered me one."    "Argh! That's my point! You don't care! What good are you to me as a rival if I feel no fires of competition? I work best with a foil, you know this to be true!" Since she had joined the Drama Club she had been throwing theatrical lines into her speech incessantly.    "I-I'm sorry, it's just... No - you know what, I'm not sorry." She pulled on her best haughty scowl. "My natural talents just show through better than yours. If you're going to catch up darling you'd best start getting up an hour earlier." 'You want a rival how's th-'    Trixie's face had crumpled into whimpering incomprehension. The tears brimming in her eyes seemed to embarrass her further. Without another word she turned and fled. 'No! It was an act! You said you wanted...'    "Trixie? Trixie! Trixie... oh, Trixie..." 'that was a lever I should not have pulled.'    Leverage, it was the principle upon which the world moved. The art was to find the right fulcrum and to apply even pressure. In fact, it was so easy to shift things that Rarity had begun to cultivate the art of not applying pressure, of letting the world slip over her. Certainly when she was not engaged with the world she couldn't cause damage to other ponies. She practiced in private because she was afraid of her own power.    She was up to seven ponies worth of mass, in as many as twenty-five separate pieces, although if she went above seventeen she started sacrificing some fine control. Her divining spells were less likely to be harmful, but she had learned the hard way to be very, very careful in her wording.    It had taken six months of pleading and groveling, and an intervention by Trixie's mother - no longer Rarity's instructor - for Trixie to take her friend back into her graces. It was never the same afterwards, something precious had gone out of their interactions, but at least Rarity could protect Trixie from herself - for the most part.    Trixie had thrown herself into drama and psychology, with a minor in stage magic. At first Rarity had found this encouraging, until she realized that Trixie was trying to find a way to replace raw magical talent with flash. The realization had been further prompting for Rarity to withdraw further into the world of her studies.    She had almost missed it. Her head stuck so far into a book, she hadn't really paid attention when Trixie started picking a fight with the transfer student Blue Flame. They had declared a magic duel on the school stage. Since it was taking place on the stage, Rarity had assumed it was some sort of stunt the two had worked out before-hoof.    The blazing orb of blue fire that had been lobbed was no prop. The short notice had meant Rarity had required a huge outpouring of magical energy to stop the spell in it's tracks. 'Interesting that energy requires so much more effort than matter for me to manipulate.' After grabbing the fireball and squeezing it until it extinguished itself, she had caught up both participants before they had the presence of mind to set up proper protective wards. Blue Flame she had flung into the school fountain, effectively putting a 'damper' on her offensive capabilities for the moment.    She had then turned to her 'friend', and unleashed all the rage that her worry had caused her over the self-same friend she took it out on. "Are you quite satisfied with yourself? How many ponies would have worshiped your half-burnt flank, I wonder?"    "Release me this instant! This is intolerable." Raged the helpless unicorn.    "No, what is intolerable is that you feel threatened by anypony else having even a bit more special about themselves than you. That is Not tolerance." She knew she was overstepping her bounds, but she wanted to push this lever far enough that Trixie would never make her worry for her safety like this again. "There is nothing wrong with not being above average. You say it."    "W-what!?"    "There is nothing wrong with being average, I want you to say it. Now."    "B-but a pony's special talent is the thing that raises them above aver-"    "Yes, it raises them above average, just like everypony else. Tell me, Trixie dear. Your father must have discussed mathematics with you. When an entire population has spikes in their readings, what happens to the average of that population?"    "It, the average increases but-"    "Indeed it does, so to say that everypony has something that makes them above average. Well, that would be impossible wouldn't it, Darling?"    "W-well in the strictest sense of the word yes that would just be the new... but the Spirit of Excellence that-" Just a slight increase in pressure, not even enough to make her breathing any harder, but she noticed, oh she was sure Trixie notice when she Squeezed.    "So, is there anything WRONG with being average?"    "No. There is nothing wrong with being average." Victory did not have any savor when it came with a side of humility for her only friend - but she was doing this for Trixie's benefit, the pony had no sense of self-preservation.    "And, statistically speaking, the average of your average in magical aptitude, what would that be? Hmm?"    Trixie's eyes pleaded as her mouth began to move. "A-average. Higher in illusions and lesser in healing, but effectively... average."    "And there's nothing wron-" The dull sound of her head being struck was a distinct 'thwock!' noise.    "What do you think you're doing to my daughter!?" Screamed an enraged mare. The painful distraction made Rarity lose her hold on Trixie, who was currently floating over the Cymbals in the Orchestra Pit, so the resulting crash was far more cacophonous than it really had any business being. "I trusted you! How Dare You Harm My Baby!", silver-green light enveloped the white unicorn, hauling her cruelly into the air by her neck.    "Stop."    "Did my child ask you to stop?"    "Tried to stop, her."    "Speak up, or are you not as confident when you're not the one causing fear!?"    "Tried to stop... duel, fire... ball." This was bad, she was losing air rapidly. She needed a fulcrum. Not one big enough for the world, but large enough... there. "Please." One last appeal, so witnesses could say she gave the teacher a fair chance.    "Oh no you don't deceiver, you're staying right there until the authorities arrive." She was obviously out of her mind, which made the next part harder, but self preservation trumped most principles.    Such wonderful, beautiful chandeliers the school had. Suspended by an ingenious set of wires so thin they seemed non-existent, like magic, really. One break in the right place and... The crash drew whatever faculty weren't already on their way. The horrible pressure on Rarity's neck was released and she sucked in a lungfull of air before catching herself in her own magic and setting herself down gently. 'I'm sure they won't mind if I rest for a moment before explaining the situ...' She collapsed, spent.    "Upon examination of the sworn and warded testaments of no less than twelve students and three gardeners, we find that Miss Rarity Bell was both justified in her defense of her fellow student Trixie Glamor, and caused no lasting harm to fellow student Blue Flame. She may have been in error speaking to Miss Glamor, but did not cause her any harm and may have prevented a further escalation of magickal violence."    "Educator Subtle Glamor was unfortunately unable to correctly asses the situation when she arrived to see her daughter, the aforementioned student Trixie enveloped in Levitation Magic and in obvious distress. Her response was wildly inappropriate for an educator of her caliber, and while this council makes no judgement about the actions of a mother attempting to protect her child, we do find that she gave Miss Bell cause to fear for her life."    "That being the case, this special council finds the accused, Miss Rarity Bell to be blameless in the maiming of former Educator Subtle Glamor." The ruling held no joy for Rarity, she felt no sense of vindication. 'The difference between legal 'right' and moral is large indeed.' She left the courtroom without making eye contact with anypony. There was nopony there to meet her - at her own request her family wasn't to be informed of the event until after a verdict had been reached. Though irregular, the request had been honored considering the Bell Family's previous behavior.    "Well, I do say your credentials are quite intriguing." The white unicorn with the well brushed blonde mane was smiling in what Rarity was sure he thought was a charming manner.    "I'm sorry, you are?"    "Prince Blueblood Heart. Charmed, I'm sure."    'The only thing I'm sure of is that I shall want a shower after this encounter.' Rarity scanned the room for exits.    "Well, I have certainly never had the pleasure. If you will excuse me I was-"    "Oh, don't mind me, I'm content to watch and contemplate the subject of pleasure." 'Ick.'    "I have no intention of ever minding you, Prince Blueheart."    "Hah, there is that wit you have become so famous for, Miss Bell."    "As of seven o'clock tonight that will be Junior Assistant Professor Bell." 'GO AWAY you horrible twit! I am not going to bed you just so you can brag about being able to stable any mare in Canterlot. I am perfectly aware of my reputation as the Ice Princess.'    Unfortunately, the Prince's Special Talent did not seem to include telepathy. "Perhaps you would consider-."    There were fulcrums aplenty in a colt in Stallion's clothing like this clown. She decided she could afford one more enemy among the many she had made - and she did mean Made. "The Heart family you say? I seem to remember that some eight-hundred years ago half the house was involved in some minor tiff called the, what was it? Oh yes Lunar Rebellion I believe it was. The other half of the house had been so torn by loyalties that they had not in fact joined the Rest of the court in putting down the Rebellion until such time as victory seemed inevitable. You know, there's this quaint theory that it was in fact this fiasco that gave the phrase 'Half-Hearted' it's name. Ah ha ... ha ha ... ha..." She deliberately pronounced each ha as unhumorously as she could.    The gobsmacked Royal fled with what was left of his dignity. 'Those who refuse to learn from history are vulnerable to their own assumptions my dear prince Blue-Tit.' Dearest Sweetie Bell,    I do hope this letter finds you well. I heard about your accident and feel grateful you escaped with only a chipped tooth. You simply must learn to be more careful. The next time I come through Ponyville I shall give you a few lessons on Posture and Poise. My studies continue unabated, and I do believe that my theorem on the tracing of fabrics from burial sites as a way of proving theories of ancient trade routes may finally be showing fruit! Cross your hooves for me, dear sister.    I ran into Dr. Mareson the other day. He and Miss Amelia are doing well. He still won't tell me about that silly escapade you and their son had last Summer when I brought you on my internship, but I think everyone is in better humor now.    Oh, Heath has started learning to write. Perhaps the two of you can be pen pals! In the meantime I have begun poring through every fairytale I can find to keep his interest in letters aflame, as it were. I've been noticing an odd pattern in legends concerning the origins of Princess Celestia. Probably just an ancient affectation, certainly nothing to worry about. But, when I know more, you will know more. Your Dutiful Sister, Rarity HI IM SPIKE, HELLO AUNTIE SWEET    What had begun as idle inquest into an oddity became an obsession for Rarity. There was hardly any material to go on; after all, of all the books to preserve from ancient times, how high on the list were children's stories? But over the course of years, as her education progressed, Rarity became convinced that the legends of   Nightmare Moon were based in fact, that there had once been a Dark Alicorn.    More disturbing in some ways was a book of prophecies that included a set of astronomical events supposed to begin a process of undoing Ancient Magics all over the world. If the Mare in the Moon was in fact a mad Alicorn who represented Night the same way that Princess Celestia represented the Day, then there would of course have been powerful ancient wards placed to hinder the Nightmarish monster's escape. Those wards would be undone by the alignment which would begin in just a week, and continue for the next three years, increasing in intensity the waning of ancient dweomers and spells.    Modern astronomy had discovered the effect of Astrological Events on enchantments five hundred years ago, so modern wardings would be largely untouched - but the monsters of history had largely been defeated and contained long before then. 'I must ask the Princess if sufficient work has been done buffering ancient sites against this.' The hubris of questioning a goddess was easy to pull off when the safety of her family was involved. 'The Princess may not have any immediate concerns, any family she might have had are millennia dead and gone, their surviving descendants so watered down as to be nobility in name only. But my loved ones are alive, and I will do whatever is necessary to protect them. Subtle Glamor, I finally understand you, and though I know you could never do so, I wish I could ask your forgiveness.'    The first outrage had been that she had used Heathspike as... as a mailbox. The obvious discomfort the anti-digestion of a magic scroll had caused her little Spikey was enough for her to contemplate her own 'Lunar Rebellion', although she did have to admit she wouldn't have been able to implement a way of shifting the day and night, either one of which would be disastrous to be stuck with for the rest of eternity. Her conviction to remain a loyal subject was sorely taxed by the casual brush-off the reply entailed.    "The nerve! Musty old books indeed!" 'Calm down Rarity, letting her majesty get you upset only causes you to fall into her trap.' She had not planned for this eventuality, but she could still turn it around.    "Spike dear?"    "Yes, Rarity?" He had stopped calling her mother a year ago, 'it's for the best I'm sure, but I still miss it.'    "Take a letter, address it to the Royal Society of Records... I'm reconsidering their offer to document the Millenial Aniversary of the Summer Sun Celebration." Never mind that her best recommendation to the Society had been the fact that she had relatives in the area, and so would not incur costs for lodging, this was a lever she could use to move her setback, and perhaps the world.    "Captain Shining Armor, her Majesty Princess Celestia's Royal Guard and current envoy for preparations entailed in the organization of the Summer Sun Festival. Reporting. Ma'am. Miss Junior Assistant Professor Bell." 'Oh, so he heard about that?'    "Actually Captain Armor, it's Just Assistant Professor Bell these days, but I only pull that mouthful out when I'm harassing Royalty. You may call me Rarity." 'Do try not to bait him too far.'    "Ma'am, I'm not exactly comfortable fraternizing -"    "*Snort*, hahahaha... oh, please excuse me Captain Armor. As enjoyable a set of hoofcandy as we could debate you might or might not make, I am not interested in being tied down at the moment, and I'm certain your Marefriend would have something to say."    "Again! How do you mares always-! Er, I mean-"    "Oh, do indulge me this one thing. The answer to the question you don't want to ask is threefold. First of all you carry a lingering scent of perfume on your person, one that no self-respecting Stallion would use, but which would be enchanting on a flower-colored mare, if I don't miss my guess." 'Oh this is too much fun. Watch yourself Rarity, you cannot afford to alienate him this early.'     "Secondly, you know I have little use for show Royalty and feel defensive. The Sparkles have never exactly been upper crust, oh your family has a long and proud tradition of National Service, mostly in paperwork. So it can't be on your own account that you feel defensive, and the Princess has nothing to fear from little old me." 'So long as she stays out of my way.' "So your special somepony must obviously have rarefied blood."    "And?" Shining Armor grated, torn between feeling annoyed, amused, and curious. "What was your third clue?"    "Why, simply how irresistible you seem. Haven't you ever noticed how Mares seem attracted to a Stallion who already has a mate? It's a scientific fact." 'It isn't, but he doesn't know that.' The look of horror on his face said that clearly enough. "Oh do calm down Captain, I assure you your virtue is safe from me."    "Can we get back to the purpose of this meeting? It sounds like I'm going to need to spend more time packing Sexual Harassment forms than I originally anticipated." The remark would have been more antithetic if he hadn't been smiling when he said it. 'Oh good, he does have a sense of humor. That will be very helpful.'    "Do you have a sibling Captain?"    "Younger sister, is this more of your amature sleuthing? I was told you were a History Professor, not a Mystery Writer."    "Ahahaha... there may be hope for you yet, Captain. No, I was hoping this time. When a mare dodges a subject, it means there is something she hasn't figured out how to broach-"    "Not my problem, spit it out or I'm gone." 'Oh very good Captain Armor.'    "Aha, yes. Well then, I admire your honesty. Ahem, I believe that a Monster from ancient Children's Stories is going to be unleashed upon the world as the first of a plague of ancient evils which will seek to destroy everything that we hold dear. I believe that Princess Celestia for whatever inscrutable reasons is hiding the extent of her knowledge of such threats, and that her life may in fact be in danger. These events seem to be unnaturally focused upon Ponyville, and I would have a much easier time investigating them with official assistance." She drew in a breath.    "Unfortunately, the same reluctance I mentioned before has caused the Princess to discount my well researched and fully documented Solid Scientific Evidence, meaning that I am denied official channels. So, under pretense of supporting some stuffy society I come to you, to beg you for your help before everything we hold dear is swallowed in eternal night." To sell it, she batted her eyelashes shamelessly.    Shining Armor nearly fell out of formation laughing. "Hahahahaha ha... oh, Buck it, just call me 'Shining', Rarity. I like you, in spite of myself. Heh, eternal night." 'Should I feel this pleased that I have managed to lie by telling the absolute truth?' "Heh, we'll be departing tomorrow at oh eight-hundred hours. Pack lightly, we'll be back before you know it."    "Oh, one last thing Ca- Shining. My son will be accompanying us."    "Uh, Rarity, this isn't a trip for a colt to-"    "My adopted son is a dragon, and is probably more durable than you, Shining dear, with all due respect." 'Cel-Faust help me, you know I think I do actually have some respect for you.' My dearest sister Sweetie Bell,    I'm certain Mother and Father have already told you, but I'm coming to town soon, and would love to see the filly you've grown into. Heath will be coming with me, I believe it's been at least a year since you two last met - and I assure you he is far better about controlling his hiccups now than ever before.    I will have some minor business to attend to, but all things being equal I should love to attend the Summer Sun Celebration with you. Have you had any more luck making friends since you last wrote? I do hope so, any pony that spent the time to get to know you would certainly have to see how wonderful a pony you are, just like I know it.    Also, please forget my attempts to find out about your little escapade - sometimes in my desire to see you safe and happy I forget that a mare's got to have her little secrets, so I shall respect your privacy on the matter. Never forget how much you mean to me, my family Your loving sister, Rarity Bell    She ran as fast as her hooves would take her, Spike held on for dear life. "Gah! how could I oversleep!? Last night I thought worrying about the fate of the world would prevent me from ever falling asleep!" She failed to make the obvious connection.    As she slowed to a trot to cross a hoof-bridge, three ponies from her old school greeted her, tentatively. The Cream with Pink Haired unicorn in the middle cleared her throat, "Moondancer would like to know if you could attend her party tomorrow evening?"    'Argh! No, slow down. If the world is worth saving, it is because of ponies, not in spite of them.' "Actually, Moondancer*, I would love to attend your party, assuming that the sun ever rises again you may expect me anon." A cleared throat distracted her for a moment. "Ah, yes, I trust Spike is invited as well?"    "Oh, of course, Moondancer would never refuse the company of Canterlot's most adorable dragon."    "I'm Canterlot's ONLY dragon." 'Looks like somedragon is being a grumpy-butt.'    "Moondancer stands by her statement." All at once the inappropriate use of third pony speech reminded Rarity too much of - she had to leave, now.    "Un-until tomorrow then! Goodbye! Oh, excuse me Lyra, coming through!"    "Look, Professor, I know History is your best subject, but that doesn't mean you can ignore the present."    "Shining Armor? Do me a favor would you? Shut it." Neither Armor nor Spike stopped laughing until they were halfway to Ponyville. Artwork by: Inspired_Light To be continued in 'A minor variation, For want of a Battle: part i'