//------------------------------//
// Verse 52 
// Story: The Nightmare Knights Become A Band 
// by SwordTune 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Falls. A confluence of streams, both physical and cultural. Where the rivers met to give breath to endless fine mists and streaking rainbows, the plateaus which reached high up once narrowed the gap between the pegasi and earth pony cultures. In the valleys below, the swinging open of doors and clatter of hooves along paved streets sung louder than they ever had that year, signalling to every living soul, from the field mice scattering with the rattle of incoming trains to the ravens and crows following the sizzling scent of food carts, that the trade fair had begun. 
At the base of the Rainbow Falls, small hamlets aggregating into a town opened their eateries and their meagre banks to the influx of traders and travellers. More than ever, the trade fair was booming. For every pony visiting, a griffon, hippogriff, changeling, dragon, kirin, or yak wandered afield, staring at the droves of other creatures. For one day, Rainbow Falls seemed to be the most populated place in the world. 
And even it phased Daybreaker. She blinked at the cloudless sky, the glaring sun shining brightly. How could the sun itself feel more cheerful? In the midst of her confusion and disorientation from the tide of ponies behind her, she kept up her best effort to remain concealed, suppressing the flames of her mane and hiding her face beneath her jacket’s heavy hood.
Ponies and yaks pushed past her to line up for the tram running to the plateau, while others shuffled slowly up a traditional path etched into the side of the mountains. All other creatures who could fly brushed wingtips with one another as they took off on more direct routes.
Daybreaker pushed her clouded memory to recognize the natural landmark, yet the roads and buildings had nothing in common with her world. With each step further, she felt the ticket in her jacket pocket weigh heavier until she had to pause on the side of the sidewalk and clutch it as if it would fly out and escape. A massive yak shoved past her, barreling through the crowd before him as he struggled to see through the thicket of fur over his face. She snarled, immediately feeling the air beneath her hood rushing out as her magic fueled her flames.
Daybreaker pulled her hood down and suffocated the flames, waiting until the faint smell of breakfast grabbed her attention. She took a moment from her frustration and turned her head up to a sign above to read, in fat, red lettering: THE REIGN INN. 
Whatever could be said about this world of ceaseless peace and comfort, Daybreaker couldn’t deny the fresh scent of sweet grilled onions on hearty omelettes. The stench of sulfur from the dragons living in her city often hung in the air and polluted the taste of the food. But even in this world, among what few dragons there were, most were polite enough to withhold their fires when inside wooden buildings. 
She looked back to the train, following the crowd of creatures walking their way up to the plateau of the falls. The wait for the tram stalled as more queued up than it could carry, and the narrow steps carved into the stone choked with the herds of ponies coming off the train. Daybreaker looked at the shrinking shadows from the town’s buildings. Luna’s performance began in the evening, but it wasn’t even noon. Breakfast first, then the trade fair, Daybreaker decided. 
She pulled down her hood further and made her way into the diner before the doors suddenly swung open, knocking her horn aside. A flash of anger sparked in her, but she stuttered as two bright-coloured mares pushed past her.
“I’m just saying, this is the best time to get an apology gift for him,” said the mare with a rainbow-coloured mane. That one, Daybreaker barely noticed. It was the yellow-maned pegasus who caught her eye. Had they met before, she wondered. 
“I am not getting him any kind of gift,” the yellow-maned mare replied. 
“Oh come on, he’s literally the only reason you have a job right now.”
“I can get employed wherever and whenever I want.”
The rainbow-maned pegasus snorted. “That’s fake news, but whatever. You better get something, or I’m gifting him something stupid and saying it was from you.”
Daybreaker watched them as they found a clear spot in the street to spread their wings, carrying their conversation with them. One of Luna’s? She dismissed the thought as she entered the Reign Inn. It couldn’t be, she thought to herself. What are the odds?





Luna used her magic to levitate their stage props and equipment into place, lining up the false trees with the markers Poppin had placed with chalk. The Knights’ manager had been busy, it seemed, while they were away in other realms. Her blonde mane streaked across the sky, moving back and forth between questions from the Trade Exchange’s event coordinators and the ponies setting up their merchandise stall.
“Svengallop’s rubbing off on her,” Tempest noted, plucking the strings of her new v-guitar, courtesy of Coco Pommel. The ebony had been further darkened with pitch-black paint, and iodized metal inlays produced the illusion of a starry night sky captured beneath its polished resin finish. 
Luna chuckled. “She works on Bridleway productions. I have no doubt this is not the busiest she can get. That said, I appreciate not having to worry about ordering and selling merchandise. That isn't why I wanted to play music.”
“Yeah, but the extra bits never hurt any pony,” Tempest said, scanning around the set. “Speaking of orders, where are the outfits Coco made? I haven’t had a chance to try mine on yet.”
“She placed them in the closet backstage before she left for the fair.”
“She left already? Shame, I wanted to thank her for all this gear.” She ran her hoof over the guitar once more. “It’s crazy how she can make all this stuff, even when she works with dresses and theatre costumes.”
“Theatre can be anything, so I’m not terribly surprised,” Luna replied. “That guitar of yours is doing well. Do you like it?”
“I think it’s the nicest thing I’ve ever owned.” Tempest replied.
“Why’s that? I would have thought Cadence provided well for her Northern Watch.”
“Oh, it’s nothing like that. I’m just not used to buying a lot of things.”
“Hey!” Svengallop’s voice cut into their conversation as he came from backstage with his keyboard in tow. “Are the trees in place? I want to make sure they’re not blocking how the sound projects off the stage.”
“Sure thing, go ahead and rush the former sovereign of the night as she handles all the menial labour.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine, you don’t have to be so whiny. Lightning’s late anyway. She just got here with Rainbow Dash. How are those two late to anything, anyway? They’re two of the fastest flyers in Equestria.”
“I was wondering what was taking her so long. Lightning?” Tempest called out. “Are you there?”
A distant response echoed from the dressing room.“Yo, waddup?”
“Haul your lazy ass out here, Svengallop’s talking and I need you to drown him out.”
“Can’t, I’m looking for my drumsticks!” She shouted back. “Did Starlight teleport the wrong set?”
Svengallop furrowed his brows, groaned, and then yelled through the backstage door. “She teleported all of them! Just use one of the other pairs we have.”
“No, mine is special.” Something clattered in the back, and they all listened as Lightning stormed onto the stage with a pair of drumsticks in her hooves. “These are all 5A’s!” She tossed them at Svengallop’s hooves. “And the tapers aren’t short enough.”
“Girl, chill,” Tempest tried calming her down, “Coco brought the new gear Luna ordered. They’re probably lost among all the props.”
“Okay, but I’m not playing without my sticks.”
“They can’t be that special. They’re just sticks.”
“And guitar strings are just strings,” Lightning retorted. “My sticks are 2B with a short taper, which means they’re thicker and heavier. The arrow-head tips give a really sharp sound and they’re the only ones that let me hit as hard as I want. I have to use them!”
“Alright already, stop yelling at us,” Tempest said, standing up and putting her guitar down. “I’ll help you find your drumsticks. Sven, you coming?”
Svengallop turned to Luna while his eyes followed Poppin through the air. “Everything good out here?”
“Show’s not on for another seven hours. I believe we can handle it.”
“Sure, whatever.” Svengallop sighed, putting down his keyboard and followed behind Tempest. 





“A-are you sure, Princess? I don’t believe I’m qualified to—”
Twilight turned away from her mirror after levitating a clip into the back of her mane, securing a few stray hairs that had begun to grow out. She faced her aide, Raven Inkwell, and her overburdened clipboard that threatened to burst from the sheer mass of papers she carried.
“You might be more qualified than me,” Twilight said, motioning her to come in. “I always do my mane the same way. I never really learned another style.”
“Y-yes, well, I’m not exactly a hairdresser either,” Raven said as she put her clipboard on Twilight’s desk and tentatively levitated a lock of her hair, twisting it around the others as she began a braid. “I can have the royal stylist here in minutes if you’d like.”
“Oh, relax a little. I can’t expect you to do paperwork all day. Besides, friends are supposed to do each other’s hair.”
Raven furrowed her brow slightly. “Pardon me, Princess, but isn’t just something you read in a book? In fact,  I think I recall Celestia receiving a certain letter about a slumber party.”
Twilight blushed, embarrassed. “Well, that’s how I used to do things. But I’ve had Rarity do my hair a few times, and it’s always been a good way to catch up and chat. I think it’s nice.” She paused and then turned slightly to look back at Raven. “But you don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Oh!” Raven tightly wound up the first braid. “No, not at all, Princess. I just thought you’d want me to get a head start on your agenda today. There’s a lot to do in the palace while you oversee the Trade Exchange.”
“A lot of petitioners to talk to, you mean,” Twilight said, sighing. She levitated Raven’s clipboard and flipped to the first unfinished task on the docket. Unsurprisingly, she recognized more names than she would have liked. 
The royal court was supposed to be an open forum, where any pony could speak their mind. But most ponies didn’t know what to say to a princess even if they could. And among them, a lot simply didn’t have the time. Ask a construction worker if they’d like to petition the Princess or work overtime, and the answer would explain why the list of names included the same bankers and aristocrats that had been visiting the palace for the past year. 
Twilight’s eyes settled on one name. “What’s Blueblood doing on here? I thought he already had an audience.”
“He pulled strings to get another reservation. He’ll be joining the meeting with the railway committee.”
“Since when did he care about trains?”
“Probably ever since he found out the net worth of the Friendship Express’ CEO is quadruple his own. But I wouldn’t worry about him. I managed his activities for Celestia, I can certainly do it now.”
“I feel bad for leaving you here,” Twilight said.
“Nonsense. You are an icon of the state. With so many creatures travelling this year from beyond Equestria, it is imperative that you make your appearance at the Exchange.”
“Maybe I should suspend all palace affairs for the day.”
“And set back your schedule?” Raven scoffed incredulously. “You know as much as I do how much chaos that will cause. We’d be cutting corners by the next Summer Sun Festival.”
“I know. But a mare can dream.” Twilight kept her attention on the list, inspecting the other names listed alongside Blueblood’s.
On the backside of the list were the notes in preparation for the meeting. Half of them were submitted by the committee members themselves, stating what they planned to discuss with the throne. The other half were penned by Raven herself. Pertinent details and fact-checks were all listed next to each topic. 
Chief among them seemed to be the issue of teleportation pads cutting into the business of passenger trains and light freight. According to Raven’s notes, teleportation travel reduced luxury and passenger business by a third during the winter months. And yet, Raven had noted, based on the tax records of the treasury, businesses that relied on travel and trade had only flourished in that time. 
Twilight furrowed her brow at the final notes on the page. To support their businesses, the committee wanted to propose a plan for royal funds from the treasury. A financial “safety net” they called it, to maintain Equestria’s railroads. She didn’t have to look at Raven’s notes to know what that entailed, she had outlined half of the royal budget herself. 
Supporting the railroads would mean stripping funds from infrastructure and repair projects, including funds to new campuses across Equestria that were planning to teach the School of Friendship’s curriculum next year. 
Twilight flipped Raven’s clipboard over, placing it face-down on her desk. Heavy freight was completely untouched by the teleportation industry. In fact, with more businesses being able to travel and make deals, investments in bulk goods were booming. She didn’t believe for one second the rail companies needed any more help.
“They won’t play the system to their advantage,” Raven reassured her, reading the frustration on her face as easily as one might hear a foal crying when it was upset. “Celestia rarely caved to the whims of so-called elites. But they’ll soon discover that while the world has changed, the Crown still rules fairly.”
“I have no doubt,” Twilight said, smiling as Raven finished pinning her hair up in a braided bun. “Well then, that looks quite nice. At this rate we can fire the royal stylist and save a few bits.”
Raven picked up the clipboard and turned to the final page, jotting down a quick note. “Lay off Miss Estile. I’ll be sure to inform the head of staff, Princess.”
“Wait… Are you pulling my tail?”
“I suppose both you and Miss Estile will have find out next week at the royal baking contest.”
“Har-har, good one,” Twilight laughed gave her a dry laugh. “Hey, while your at it, have we set up a safety commission to look into the teleportation companies yet?”
“We have not.”
“Well, remind me to set up a meeting with Neighsay about it. I’d be surprised if any of the fearmongering from the railways are true, but they’re not wrong about there being no oversight. I know magic, especially teleportation spells, but there hasn’t been a need for official magic safety until now.”
“I will add it to the docket,” Raven said, scribbling it down. “By the by, as an accomplished magician, do you think it’s safe? It would cut down a lot of travel time if we could have one in the palace.”
Twilight rubbed her chin, mulling the thought over for a moment. “Well, in principle, it’s not impossible. Traditionally, teleportation spells have to be done with a focused, clear image of the place you want to go. Even then, it can be easy to send yourself too high or too low. The main risk is sending two teleportations at the same time, but by sending request and availability notices by teleportation, the companies claim they avoid that issue.” 
“And the spell itself is fine? Not every unicorn who provides teleportation is a trained wizard.”
“Well, they use a modified version that relies on fixed coordinates, and it doesn’t take as much skill as free teleportation. Like I said, in principle you should end up on the other side without any issue, as long as they have a way of inputting accurate position data into the spell.”
“Well, no pony has reported missing limbs, so that’s a good sign.”
“Sure is. We can talk more about it later, right now I should get going. It’d look pretty bad if the Princess of Equestria was late to the Trader’s Exchange.”
“Want me to have the pegasi carriage prepared?” Raven asked, waving the clipboard around. “You haven’t bee out of the palace in a while. Are you sure you have the right ‘positional data?’”
Twilight rolled her eyes as she stood up from her chair. “Okay, so we’re being a little funny today, I see how it is.”
“Just keeping things lively,” Raven winked.
“Well, if I teleport into a mountain, at least I know you can keep Equestria from collapsing in on its own bureaucracy.” And just then, with a flash of light from her horn, she was gone.