//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Return to the Carpet // Story: One Thousand Years Ago, Book 2 // by Scroll //------------------------------// Cozy Glow lands back beside her traveling companions on Marwaii. Her hooves make an audible clomp sound on the wooden pier when she does so. “So . . . any luck spotting them?” Cheese asks her friend hopefully. Cozy closes her eyes for a second as she shakes her head before opening her eyes again and answering, “Not as such. I thought I could track them by noting the frantic activities of the other natives in the area, but even they seem to have calmed down. I can no longer tell where they are based on that evidence alone.” Sunset casts a long sigh, then says, “Well . . . I figured it was a long shot.” She focuses on Cozy with renewed hope. “What about the Carpet? Is it still in the docks?” Cozy looks at then nods at Sunset before answering, “Yes. I definitely spotted that. The Carpet is still sitting cozy in the docks while looking pretty.” She tilts her head slightly before she resumes. “I had considered flying over to them and asking if they arrived yet, but then I figured we can all do that in person. It's not that far.” She straightens her head again and looks off in the direction of the parked airship for a moment. After that, she looks back at her friends. “In the meantime, I figured I'd return and report what I have and haven't spotted so far.” “Hey! I got an idea!” Cheese spoke up brightly. “Why don't you simply fly higher? That way you can see even more of the terrain around you!” Cozy could tell, based on her friend’s enthusiasm, that she's honestly forgetting the problems with that suggestion. The sheer stupidity of it causes Cozy to reflexively face-hoof herself for a brief moment before lowering her hoof back to the pier deck as she says, “No, Cheese, that isn't going to work. Sure, I could fly higher, but that would only make everything smaller and harder to spot individual details. You do understand how distance and perspective works, right?” “Oh. Yeah. Right.” Cheese flushes with embarrassment. She then waves it off. “Sorry, sorry. I forgot. I'm not used to flying.” Cozy squints one eye at Cheese as she reminds, “You've been on an airship, Cheese, for the past several days. One would think that would make matters of perspective quite clear. Also, haven't you seen Ponyville from the heights of Canterlot? Think you can spot Mayor Diamond trotting to city hall in the morning from there?” “I said I'm sorry! Geeze!” Cheese now complains in annoyance. “Just drop it already.” Then she pauses a moment as she thinks about it. A moment later she giggles at herself before saying, “Well . . . Mom always said if we do something stupid, we might as well have the good sense to laugh at ourselves for it.” She shrugs. “After all . . . everypony makes mistakes.” A few seconds later she brightens again with another idea. “Hey! I got a better idea!” She focuses on Cozy. “Why don't I use the Communication Crystal to contact Stygian? After all, he does have another one of those crystals. Also, you should consider contacting your mom and report what happened so far.” “Communication Crystal?” Doctor Pink Heart asks in confusion. Cozy growls at Cheese before complaining, “Cheese . . . that was supposed to be a secret.” “It is?” Cheese asks in surprise before her face fell into depression. Likewise, her fluffy pink mane deflates a bit. “I'm sorry. I just can't do anything right at the moment, can I?” After a moment of consideration she realizes, “I, ah . . . I don't think anypony told me that it was a secret.” Now it is Cozy's turn to look confused. “But . . . weren't you there in the Prince's meeting before we took off from Canterlot?” Cheese shakes her head as she answers, “No. I was too busy trying to arrange Rumble to show up on that day.” “I guess we forgot that you weren't there,” Sunset realizes. “I guess it's our fault for not informing you that particular detail was a secret.” “Communication Crystal?” Doctor Pink Heart reminds again. Sunset sighs before explaining to Pink Heart, “Look . . . that was a slip of the tongue. We promised the Prince to hide certain details so we can't explain that to you right now.” She looks at Cozy. “Cheese does have a good point, though. Let's continue our way to the ship and go someplace private. We can attempt to contact Stygian and your mother from there.” Cozy looks down as she thinks to herself, That is a good point. Why didn't I think of that sooner? I guess I'm just not used to having a resource like that. She looks in the direction of the ship. But communicating to my mother from this distance requires the Crystal to be near a strong ley line. I'll have to check if there is one nearby. She looks around at her local environment as she thinks, There probably is a good one nearby considering all the life and magic that is in this area. At the very least we should be able to contact Stygian. Unless there is no magic in the area at all, the Crystals should be able to contact each other at a short distance. She looks down. That is, assuming, he didn't lose his Crystal or died. “Well, in any case,” Pink Heart says as she magically turns her wheelchair in the direction of the airship, “we should resume our way to the ship. The others might meet us there anyway and we have to make sure we protect our little princess here from yet another ponynapping attempt. There is also the matter of the potential changeling to report. Furthermore, I want access to my lab so I can test the blood sample I've collected. I'm about seventy percent sure I'll find it filled with some kind of toxin.” “The changeling,” Cozy muses under her breath then speaks up more loudly, “Hey, everypony, before we proceed back to the ship, I have a request I'd like to make.” The others look back at Cozy. In Pink Heart's case, she has to turn her entire wheelchair to face Cozy again. When she has their attention, Cozy speaks on. “Look . . . I don't mind us sharing the attempt to ponynap me, but we should seriously consider keeping the detail of the changeling to ourselves.” “Why?” Cheese asks curiously. Cozy's eyes shift to look at Cheese as she points out, “Because . . . what if somepony on the ship is the changeling?” “That's a dangerous line of thinking,” Sunset says in discomfort. “If we start thinking like that, we could develop paranoia about everything and everyone.” “Changelings tend to do that. They used to relish it,” Cozy says grimly. “Remember . . . we're talking about one of the bad ones now. We can't afford not to consider the possibility that one of us on the airship got replaced.” “Well,” Sunset pauses for a moment of thought before resuming, “We can be pretty darn sure none of us is a changeling. We traveled together ever since we left the ship.” “Stygian and the prince also traveled together,” Cheese reminds. “Plus, we saw the changeling’s emerald fire near us during the moment of heightened activity presumably wherever our friends are, so it is highly unlikely that any of them got replaced unless we're talking about more than one changeling.” “That's possible, but unlikely,” Cozy says. “Most of the changelings have been accounted for. If there are some left who have not reformed then it's probably only a small hoofful. Then again, it seems to me these agents were always under deep cover. If the changelings back at the hive never accounted for these ones, it's possible that they have never known about this group. In that case, there is no telling for sure how many of them there are. The only one who probably knows is the former changeling queen herself. I'd expect her to be tight-lipped about those details even if she still had her sanity.” Which reminds me, Cozy thought to herself, she mistook me for one of her agents last I spoke to my former partner in crime. She even referred to me by a specific name; that of Zexizmel. Maybe that is the name of the agent following us. “If what you say is true, why should we not warn our friends at the ship of a possible changeling infiltration?” Cheese asks in concern. “Because doing so would also tip the changeling off that we're on to it,” Sunset answers, then sighs. “I hate to admit it, but Cozy is right. We should verify the identity of each one before we make any open declarations.” “Well, since we can trust each other at least, we can work with what we've got,” Cheese brings up. “I'll concentrate harder when we get back to the ship to see if my body reacts strangely to any of them. If one of them has something to hide, I might be able to sense it.” She focuses on Sunset. “Once I have a suspect, you can use your mind-reading crystal to double-check my findings, just like that one time we found the culprit back in Sire's Hollow.” Cozy growls before complaining to Cheese, “Cheese, that is another secret we were supposed to keep to ourselves.” “Well how was I supposed to know!” Cheese exasperates. “No pony told me to keep that to myself.” “It should have been obvious,” Cozy counters. “We seem to have a lot of secrets among us on the ship, don't we?” Pink Heart observes. “I'm normally not one to judge, but these issues don't seem conducive to trust and cooperation among those of us on the ship.” “And you're asking us to keep yet another secret from the others,” Cheese complains to her friend. “I can keep a secret if I'm well informed about them, but I don't have to like it.” “You know . . . it occurs to me that there is only a small hoofful of ponies who left the ship who are also alone,” Pink Heart brings up. “Those at the ship itself are probably well observed, and we possibly saw one changeling nearby us during that time. Rumble and Rockhoof also got separated from the group, but if either Stygian or the prince reports seeing either one of them during the time Cozy got attacked, they are probably in the clear. The one pony we can't account for in either scenario is Mirage.” Cozy widens her eyes a little in stunned realization, then proceeds to look at Sunset as she says, “It would fit the m.o. of the evil changelings to keep one of their operatives near royalty. Chrysalis would have plenty of incentive to want to keep tabs on somepony like Prince Salizar. Thanks to me, there is now a second royalty on the airship to keep track of.” “But we shouldn't forget that it was the Prince himself that sent Mirage on an unknown errand on this island,” Sunset reminds the group. “Plus there is the fact that this changeling, if indeed there was one, actually saved Cozy from harm . . . but to what end?” “Prince Salizar probably wouldn't know that his servant is a changeling,” Cozy figures. “They are normally very tight-lipped about that fact. Revealing herself as a changeling defeats the point of assigning her to him. So, whatever errand the prince sent her out for, it likely wasn't with the knowledge that he's working with a compromised agent.” “And you know . . . I haven't been getting much feelings from that particular pony,” Cheese adds. “Yet I always felt in my gut that she has something to hide. She always seemed so . . . elusive. I used to think it was because she was guarding state secrets along with her prince, but now I'm not as sure.” “Evil changelings are empaths too in their own right, at least a bit,” Cozy informs. “I've been told that they can smell emotions. Certain types of emotions makes them salivate with hunger.” She looks at Cheese. “This could mean she was aware that you are a possible empath as well and therefore took additional precautions to guard her mind. Plus, if she is a changeling, she's probably been in deep cover for a very long time. I also get the feeling that any agent that is so top secret that Chrysalis wouldn't even trust that knowledge to the other members of her hive would also have especially superior quality training. We might be looking at one of the most skilled changelings the hive has ever produced. So good that they might be able to hide their intentions even around other empaths and mind readers.” “So we have a suspect,” Sunset concludes. “I'll do what I can to check to verify our suspicions, but in the meantime, it probably is best we keep this little detail to ourselves.” “None of this changes our destination,” Pink Heart puts in. “Only our actions once we get there. So, if there are no further suggestions which may delay our course, then I suggest we get a move on. Agreed?” Cheese nods as she says, “Agreed.” Sunset echoes, “Agreed.” Only Cozy hesitates as she stares at Pink Heart, then says after a few seconds of silence, “There is just one more issue we need to deal with. I would appreciate it if you kept other accidental details of our conversation to yourself. In exchange, I could request to the prince to allow you to be included in further details of what we discussed here.” “I don't require a bribe as incentive to hold my silence,” Pink Heart says back. “But, that said, if you all do choose to include me in the details of whatever secrets are left between us, I both promise to keep it to myself and I'll listen attentively. Whatever they are, I'm sure my employer had good reasons for making that request. Based on what I've learned so far, it's easy to imagine why he may have made that request, but for the moment, I don't want to speculate too much since it risks drawing the wrong conclusions. I prefer to verify my theories before I put serious stock into them.” “A wise policy,” Sunset agrees. “I used to think a lot like that back when I was Celestia's student, and even before that.” “But you agree with it no longer?” Pink Heart checks with Sunset. “In a way, I still do,” Sunset says while rubbing the back of her neck for a moment. “But that said, there were times that I've learned with my friends in ah . . . someplace distant that I have to trust my gut sometimes. In the absence of evidence, I have to cautiously draw whatever conclusions I can when time is of the essence. Over time I'd say my instincts have gained some refinement.” She grins to herself. “You could say I've gained a few levels in that department.” Based on the look in Sunset's eyes, Cozy figures there wasn't a strong chance her companions would get that nerdy reference but she still felt compelled to make it. Pink Heart's response is to lift an eyebrow at Sunset curiously. She also pauses a moment as if giving Sunset an opportunity to explain herself. Sunset does indeed use that opportunity to explain, “It's, ah . . . local dialect of the lands I came from. I don't need to get too much into it.” She sighs a bit sadly. “Though now that I mention it, I suddenly feel a bit homesick.” She frowns. “I miss my friends and my video games.” “Well, um . . . games can be quite stimulating, I'm sure,” Pink Heart says. “As a psychologist in training, you'd probably be even more aware of the psychological ramifications of it than I am.” “Sure,” Sunset casually agrees with a light shrug. “In the meantime, we should probably get moving.” This time no pony disagreed. They resumed their journey back to the airship. “There they are!” Missus Brizbe calls out excitedly while standing on the main deck facing the port side. She waves a dark claw hand high above her head. When she does so, it is the only part of her clearly visible above the rail since the rest of her is too short. The only reason she is able to spot the approaching group is to view through the bars of the rail of the ship. In response to Missus Brizbe's notice, Blaze, who is leaning with her hip on the rail of the ship and facing inwards towards the ship, turns her long and flexible neck one-hundred and eighty degrees in order to look in the direction her adjacent shipmate had indicated. Upon doing so, Cozy Glow inwardly shudders at the sight. It is like watching her mother's pet owl spin his head around. It may be a natural ability of the species, but some part of Cozy can't help but imagine a neck-snapping as her own would upon such an action. Of Cozy's group, Sunset Shimmer is the first to ascend to the upper deck. Daisy anxiously meets Sunset at that point. Despite that, Sunset is the first to speak between the two. “Are the others back yet?” Sunset asks Daisy just as anxiously. Based on Daisy's initially stunned then disappointed reaction, Cozy already figures out the answer. A moment later the quartermaster confirms Cozy's suspicions by saying, “No. No one else has come back yet. Truth be told, we were hoping you could provide us an update.” Sunset's ears fall flat as she says, “Sorry. We just got back ourselves.” “Excuse me,” Pink Heart brings up to remind Sunset she is still standing in the way. During that time, the doctor has to envelop her whole chair in her magic to help hold herself in place in such a slanted position up the rail. “Oh! Sorry,” Sunset expresses as she resumes her trek up to the upper deck then quickly side-steps out of the way, thus giving the good doctor plenty of room to rise to the upper deck. “Thank you,” Pink Heart responds politely. Her magic shifts from her chair to just her wheels as she forces it to spin enough to rise the rest of the way onto the ship. Cozy, then Cheese, follow suit. “About the only thing we do know is a spike of activity somewhere further into the island,” Sunset explains as her full party arrives on the top deck of the ship. “It made the natives frantic. My guess is the others ran into some trouble after all.” “We came to the same conclusion,” Daisy agrees as she looks over to Blaze for a moment then back to Sunset. “In our case, I guess you can say Golden Compass was our lookout in this situation. She parked herself high up on the clouds, you see, in order to give her a better perspective of the island so she could draw a map of it, I guess. Her work was interrupted when she saw a great spark of light flare high into the air. Shortly later frantic activity rose in that same area. After that, she packed up her work then flew back here to report her findings.” “Sounds to me like the others did run into some trouble,” Cozy figures. “Professor Stygian was anticipating that. I'd bet my right hoof that it was him who caused that magic flare. Most likely it was a signal to the other members of his party to do . . . something. Either that, or their opponents caused that signal for some reason. Possibly it was a call for some back-up.” “We can't safely assume too much from here,” Pink Heart cautions as she spins her chair about to face the group. “Let's just wait for the others to arrive back and see what they have to say.” “How did your activities go?” Daisy asks the group in concern. “We've had some progress, but ours was interrupted by the activities on the island,” Pink Heart reports. “Shortly after the frantic activities arose elsewhere on the island, somepony tried to ponynap the princess here.” “Oh no!” Daisy exclaims in shock at Pink Heart then looks at Cozy in strong concern. “Are you hurt?” Cozy shakes her head then opens her mouth to verbally answer but stalls then shifts her eyes at Pink Heart when the doctor beats her to the punch. “Not as such,” Pink Heart answers which draws Daisy's attention back to the doctor. “I examined her myself shortly after the attack. Other than the shock of the experience, the princess seems none worse for wear.” “Oh good!” the quartermaster exclaims as she releases a sigh of relief. When next she speaks, her concern returns. “But . . . shouldn't we try to find out if the others need our help?” “The 'others' left well prepared for action,” Blaze says confidently as she holds her pose with arms crossed across her chest and the back of her hip still leaning on the ship rail. “Rockhoof is a legendary action hero and his friend, Stygian, is a master strategist. Those two are used to working together. You know Prince Salizar and Curb Stomp can hold their own in a fight. Curb Stomp alone could probably solo an entire arena of champion fighters. As for Rumble . . . he seems a well-capable pony and he could always fly away if worse comes to worse. Let's not forget about Glenda either assuming the others found her. She's challenged and beaten many adventures before. Frequently she did it outnumbered as well. Rather than them, I feel sorry for the lot that dares to face our companions.” “You're probably right,” Daisy concedes while still looking a little worried. “What alarms me more is the attempted ponynapping of our local princess here,” Blaze continues as she reaches up and rubs her chin between her thumb and pointing finger. “The timing seems suspicious, and how did anypony know she would arrive on the island today? Unless the news showed up here by dragonfire, it is unlikely for anyone to know she would arrive here ahead of time, yet the situation almost seems coordinated.” “It might be a coincidence,” Sunset offers tentatively. “It's possible the attempted ponynapper didn't even know how valuable of a prize he had.” “It was a he?” Blaze double checks. “Last I checked,” Sunset answers. “Pink Heart examined him closely as well.” “How did the attempted ponynapping fail?” Captain Tidus asks as he approaches the group on the top deck. “Obviously it must have since the princess is standing here, but why? Did one of you stop him?” “Actually, that's the most interesting part,” Sunset mentions as her gaze shifts to Cozy. “We owe her rescue to a mysterious benefactor. Some creature took out the attempted ponynapper.” “Took out?” Blaze repeats as she widens her eyes in surprise. “As in kill?” “No. Just knocked unconscious,” Pink Heart answers. “I did discover a small puncture wound on him. Since then, I gathered a small sample of his blood and used my magic to preserve it. I'll have to analyze it in my lab in order to determine anything else.” “If he's alive and recovers, that leaves someone for the authorities to question,” Captain Tidus figures. “You did report this to the local authorities, correct?” While Pink Heart and Captain Tidus were talking to each other, Cozy Glow glances at Cheese in curiously to see how her friend is taking all this news. When she does, she notices an oblivious look to the yellow mare as she happily bobs her head back and forth as if listening to some song stuck in her head. Upon seeing this, it reminds Cozy of a few moments when she saw Cheese's mother do the same thing at times and the only pattern the princess can decipher is it seems to happen whenever Pinkie is at least a little bored. During such times, her mind wanders. It's times like this when her friend strongly reminds her of Cheese's parents. That's not too mysterious, she supposes, because the influence is strong on both sides of Cheese's family. But, just when Cozy is starting to think Cheese isn't following along, all of a sudden she meets eyes with her friend. At that moment Cheese passes Cozy a cheerful wink. It seems like a look of assurance, as if the yellow mare is trying to convey, “Don't worry. I'm still paying attention.” A faint fond smile touches Cozy's lips and eyes as she lightly shakes her head. During that time, she reminds herself that the very moment anypony starts to develop some assumptions about a member of the Pie family, that is also the moment that is a setup for a surprise later on. Cozy looks back at Sunset in time to notice the older mare hesitating with the answer to the captain's question. It's as if Sunset is trying to decide how to explain the reasons for not informing the local authorities about the would-be princess ponynapper. Looking around, Cozy notices that the others present seem to pick up Sunset's hesitation as well except for Blaze who is looking over her shoulder at something. Whatever she sees, it nabs her attention. “Captain,” Blaze speaks up before Sunset does. When the others around her look at her, she uses that attention to thumb behind her as she says, “Our intrepid companions have returned.” “Really?!” Brizbe asks with surprise mixed with relief. Right after she asks, she ran up to the rail of the ship and gazes beyond it. Meanwhile, Sunset breaths a quick breath of relief as well for two reasons; the return of her friends, and a timely interruption from an uncomfortable subject. Examining them herself, Cozy grows alarmed to notice two of them are missing, Rumble and Rockhoof. In concern, Cozy approaches Stygian as soon as he arrives on the top deck and asks him, “Where are Rumble and Rockhoof?” “Rumble I sent on an errand,” Stygian replies to Cozy quietly. “We did run into some trouble so I sent him on a scouting mission to ensure things remain clear. With his camera and expert flying abilities, I know he can keep a safe distance while also gathering the evidence I need. “As for Rockhoof, he left of his own accord.” Stygian pauses a moment to cast a small sigh before continuing. “I'm sure he'll be back before long but not before he becomes well acquainted with a local tavern and all of its wenches. It is customary of his culture to boast upon victories like the one we have achieved, especially if he was involved with a direct battle to accomplish it.” “Which this was, I take it,” Cozy figures. “A battle, I mean.” “It was more like a landslide,” Stygian elaborates in the same hushed tone. “Curb Stomp lives up to his name and reputation quite well, and I already knew Rockhoof was a one pony army. Our opponents barely stood a chance against us. After all, they were only expecting and prepared for Glenda alone, and even then, she probably could have soloed them. This is her bread and butter, after all.” “I'm glad to see you are all alright! I'm so relieved!” Daisy cries out to those who rise to the top deck. “Of course we are,” the prince replies confidently as he rises to the top deck. He is closely followed by his minotaur bodyguard. “And we're successful with our mission as well. Behold . . . our new traveling companion.” “Careful. I haven't officially decided on anything yet,” Glenda cautions who is also the last to arrive on the top deck. The prince passes her a downright cocky grin as if he already knows what she will decide, but he decides to “play” along by bowing to her and saying, “Forgive me for my assumption. I shall, of course, do everything in my power to persuade you to accompony us. Perhaps we should start with an introduction to your fellow shipmates as well as a tour of the ship?” “I suppose,” Glenda says with a careless shrug. Right after that, she passes a firm look to the prince as she goes on to say, “But let me get one thing straight with you. You may own the ship and the crew may either be paid or sworn servants. That's fine. They can take care of the ship and you to your heart’s content. The only reason I might tag along is to explore the dungeons of foreign soil. When I do, the thing you need to understand about me is I . . . work . . . alone!” she assures with fierce determination. “This is non-negotiable, and I am not here to make friends either. Do we understand each other?” Wow! Cozy thinks to herself. My mother might have considered this a friendship emergency. “I see,” the prince replies a little stiffly. He seems caught off-guard by that declaration in Cozy's perception, but that seems a little weird. Glenda is a famous explorer of their age, right? Wouldn't these little idiosyncrasies be known to him at this point? “About that,” the prince continues, “we should discuss this in greater detail in the privacy of my meeting room. There are extra details about this mission you need to be aware of.” “Information that is on a need-to-know basis?” Pink Heart figures as she turns her chair to the prince. “It's my recent understanding that there's a lot of that going on here.” Prince Salizar regards the doctor with a bit of surprise. He follows up that look with a scan at her recent companions as if trying to ascertain, at a glance, who might have spilled what secret. He actually locks eyes on the correct target as well, staring at Cheese a second longer than the others. “Look,” the doctor brings up, “allow me to assure you that I don't find too much offense at this. You are well entitled to your secrets. The fact you are a political leader makes this all the more understandable, but let me get one thing straight with you as well.” The prince returns his gaze to the doctor as she goes on speaking. “I came aboard to do a job, and that is to help heal those I come across. I would also like to research foreign substances in order to use them to improve my craft. Not just for myself, but for all healers who trot my hoofsteps ever onward. That is why I am here and that is what I do. Keep your secrets if you wish, but if I ever find out that you are using that leverage to endanger us, we're going to have issues.” “There is always a chance for danger when exploring the unknown,” the prince counteres. “But that said, I can assure you I'm not trying to intensify that danger on purpose. I care for everyone aboard my ship. Even the passengers. Any careless decision on my part taints my reputation as a leader. Believe me, I always keep that in mind.” “You do what you feel is necessary. I'll trust you for now,” Pink Heart replies. “Don't give me an excuse to change my mind.” The prince's gaze lingers on the doctor a moment longer. During that moment, he squints his left eye slightly as if trying to determine something about her. Whatever that thought is, he loses focus on it when he spots his last servant rise to the top deck. “Permission to return to your side, My Liege?” Mirage requests. “Have you accomplished your mission?” the prince asks his servant. “Yes, My Liege,” Mirage replies. Prince Salizar nods in satisfaction as he says, “Then I gladly welcome you to return to my side.” “Touch her,” Cozy quietly whispers to Sunset. “Use your magic geode now!” Upon making that request, Cozy notices pained hesitation on Sunset's part. Thanks to her knowledge of her human counterpart, Cozy is able to determine the reason for Sunset's hesitation, so she goes on to say, “Look . . . I know you don't like scanning other people's minds without permission, but if Mirage is what we suspect she is, she isn't going to give you that permission, and what we don't know may hurt us. Remember, she may be one of the bad changelings. Such a creature can do some serious damage on a voyage like this. Believe me, I know. I worked with Chrysalis herself for a while.” A look of sad acceptance sank into Sunset's eyes. There is resolve but it is mixed with regret. She nods at Cozy in understanding. After that, she focuses her gaze on Mirage before she moves to intercept. “That's a really pretty dress you have on,” Sunset says in an admiring tone as she stands in the way of Mirage returning to her master. “You look so beautiful in it.” “Why thank you,” Mirage replies for just a moment. She gazes back at her master and almost moves again until Sunset speaks again. “Is that silk? It really looks so smooth,” Sunset says in an admiring way. “May I touch it?” “Perhaps later,” Mirage answers before stepping forward. She seems to lean to her right but then suddenly twists and spirals around Sunset's right side in order to get around her obstacle with the grace of a skilled dancer. This fools Sunset for a moment. She looks to her left, followed by her right side then spins about to notice Mirage already behind her and proceeding close to the prince. After that, she catches a glance with Cozy as she causes her eyes to give a blaze of determination and firmly nods yes. Sunset's head shifts down as she closes her eyes, gathers her courage, then looks back at Mirage with greater determination. This time she ignites her horn and uses it to envelop Mirage with a teal aura. The earth pony has only a moment to notice this before being forcefully yanked back next to Sunset who immediately uses that moment to touch the dancer. The prince widens his eyes in surprise at this. Curb Stomp growls and, for a moment, makes a threatening step towards Sunset. “Please, your majesty, don't!” Cozy urges. “We have a good reason for doing this.” In response, the prince lifts a hoof to signal for Curb Stomp to stop. He does, but he looks back at his liege as if to ask, “Are you sure?” The prince replies to that look with a nod as he continues to eye Sunset touching Mirage. While that happens, Sunset's eyes glow momentarily white. There is a twitch of movement from Mirage as well as if she was about to floor Sunset, but upon noticing her master's nod of acceptance to Curb Stomp, it convinces her to reluctantly allow this to happen. Six quiet and tense seconds later, the glow from Sunset's eyes fade. When that happens, she grows momentarily dizzy. As she starts to sway, it is actually Mirage herself that reaches a hoof to steady Sunset. After all, she is the closest at that moment. “Okay . . . what just happened?” Daisy asks in confusion. “More need to know secrets, I suspect,” Pink Heart figures. She turns her chair to face the prince before she asks, “So . . . I take it Sunset, Cheese and Cozy are also cordially invited to your meeting chamber for a private discussion?” “You’re quite astute, Doctor,” the prince replies. “Though there is one flaw to your guess.” He looks over to those Pink Heart guessed as he declares,” Ladies,” he says as he sweeps his gaze exactly to the ponies Pink Heart specified. “With the exception of Miss Pie, I would be honored if you join me in my meeting chamber as well.” “Oh?” Cheese blinks, momentarily startled to realize she’s the sole exception to that invitation but she shrugs it off a second later. “Um, well . . . okay. See the rest of you later. And, ah, Glenda,” she calls and waits till she has the griffon's attention before going on to say, “I’m so glad to finally meet you in person. I should also warn you that, although you aren’t coming with us to make friends, I do notshare that sentiment.” She stands up on her hind hooves as she throws up her forelegs which casts forth a burst of party confetti. After that she declares, “Welcome to the team!”