When they got back to town, the townspeople were relieved to see that the princesses were alright. However, they started to murmur when they saw that Eclipse was with them. They wondered if somehow, the Princesses had bargained with Eclipse in exchange for freedom- But, then, Celestia spoke. “Our wonderful subjects, this is occasion to celebrate! For, our father, Eclipse, was consumed in darkness, and wasn’t himself. But now, thanks to these seven heroes-” She then motioned to Janice and her group of friends as they came forward, then continued, “-our father has returned to his old self once again.” At this, the townspeople cheered, but soon died down when they realized that Janice was one of those heroes mentioned. Celestia noticed that the town had quieted far too quickly, and so she decided to ask something. “Why is your joy short? Is something the matter? If it is about Eclipse, you have nothing to worry about- he will not be placed in a position of power until he has earned the trust of our subjects once again. Though, from now on, whenever you see an eclipse in the sky, it will be his work, not ours.”
Then, Mayor Ivory Scrolls came forward, shaking her head. “It’s not that that worries us, your majesties.”
Luna then spoke up. “Then, what is it that concerns you so much to cut off the celebration?”
Applejack came forward and huffed, then pointed at Janice with a hoof. “Oh, just that she’s not what she came to us as! She hid her true self from us! She ain’t pony, she’s a Kirin!” At this, the town started go into an uproar.
But then, someone spoke. “What did you just say about my half-sister?” The crowd then took their eyes off of Janice to look at who had spoken. It was Maestro, and his eyes were covered by the shade of his mane, and his coat seemed to take on a darker hue. Something primal then took a hold of the crowd. Fear. The only one that seemed unaffected was Applejack.
Applejack huffed. “Ah said-”
Maestro growled. “That was a rhetorical question! I know what you said. You said that she’s not a pony.” He then lifted his face and glared at her. “I dare you to say that again!”
The crowd backed away as they looked at his eyes. Something about them seemed… different. Applejack then huffed. “Why are you protecting her? You should be at her throat just like the rest of us! After all, she’s not a-” suddenly, she found herself staring into a pair of blue-green eyes that were filled with rage. Applejack then backed away a little. “Woah, there sugarcube! What’s got you so riled up? Why’re you so mad at me?”
Maestro then snorted, dragging a hoof across the ground. “Are you really that dense? It’s obvious!” He then huffed. “Do I really have to spell it out for you? I’m taking this personally because Janice is family. Did you ever think of that?”
Applejack then scoffed. “But she lied to you about what she was! Doesn’t that make you angry?” Applejack soon found herself struck across the face.
Maestro then spoke. “I’ve known that she was a Kirin since the day we first met up. She knew she could trust me not to tell her secret because we’re family.”
Applejack was finished nursing the injury- at least, for now- and spoke up. “So you protect her because you’re related? How do you even know that? You implied that you never saw her born by whatever parent you share.”
Maestro sighed, and tapped the locket around his neck. “You see this locket? There’s only five others like it in the entire world. Our father gave these out to his six children; Servo, Chessmaster, myself, Aurora, Story, and Janice.”
Applejack then raised an eyebrow. “How do you know it’s not a fake?”
Maestro chuckled. “Watch this.” He then tapped his locket, which then shimmered with a faint turquoise glow. He then walked over to Janice, and touched the lockets together. Everyone was struck with awe as her locket was now glowing faint azure. Before Applejack could say anything about proving ownership, the glows of the lockets expanded to encompass their respective wearers. The glow then died down, and Maestro then walked off to the side a little. “Of course, if Chessmaster were here, his would glow a faint gold… Aurora's glows sunset red and Story's glows yellow-orange... and Servo's glowed indigo...” He then sighed. “But, of course they're not here, so…”
Applejack then decided to ask something again. “So, were you ever mad about Janice being a Kirin?”
Maestro shook his head. “Nah, I’m not one to care about what somebody is. Didn’t you hear my song when I opened my shop? There’s a line in there that goes: It don’t matter what you are, I won’t turn you away. Did you think that line only applied to my business practices?”
Applejack sighed. “Look, ah’m mighty sorry ‘bout callin’ her a non-pony, but…”
Maestro turned and looked at her. “It’s water under the bridge. But, that’s only part of what you want. You also probably want to know why I am the way I am, right?”
Applejack looked at him in shock. “How’d you… Did you read mah mind?”
Maestro burst out laughing. “Oh heavens, no! I can just read people very well.”
Applejack cleared her throat. “So why do you not care ‘bout what sompo- er, somebody- is?”
Maestro calmed himself down a little, and was about to respond when a voice was heard. “Dad! You’re alright!” The ground shook a little as a rainbow dragon lumbered towards Maestro. The dragon then hugged him. “I was so worried for you!”
The entirety of those gathered for the extravaganza were in shock at the sight. Maestro then chuckled. “Alright, Prism. You can let me go now. I’m alright, as you can plainly see.”
As Prism let go, Applejack spoke. “She… that dragon… she’s your… daughter?”
Maestro nodded. “Not by blood, of course. But I was the one who hatched her egg, and took it upon myself to care for her, like a father would.”
Applejack still seemed to be a bit shocked. “Ah see… How’d you even come upon a dragon egg?”
Maestro hummed. “I think that’s a story for another time. We should probably get back to the Extravaganza.”
For once, it seemed everyone was in agreement.
Later, during the festivities, Celestia and Luna took Janice and her friends aside. Celestia spoke first. “There is a reason we have called you away from the celebration. There are matters that we should discuss.” Then, using her golden magic, she summoned a chest that was a cool gray with yellow and blue swirls accenting it. Celestia opened it, and it was empty, save for a white pillow inside. “We need to store the Elements for safekeeping. We have no clue when we will need them again.”
But as the others were about to take them off, Maestro spoke up. “If that is the case, then shouldn’t they stay with us for quick access? That seems to be the best way to be prepared at all times for some kind of ancient villain returning.”
Luna then tapped her chin in thought. “You might have a point. But, to give them to you for safekeeping without a title recognized by the government would be unwise. At least let us guard them until a ceremony of that caliber can be arranged.”
The others put the Elements in the case, and Maestro drew close to the chest. He then placed his Element in and spoke. “Just make sure to put some warding spells on the Elements themselves, to be extra careful.”
Celestia nodded, and then teleported the chest away. “Now, onto other business.” She and her sister then turned to Janice. “I believe it is time we return to Canterlot. Grab your things-”
Then Luna cut in. “Actually, Tia, I believe that Janice might want to stay with her friends. Am I right, our dear pupil?”
Janice then gasped. “You’d let me stay here? Thank you, Princess Luna! I’ll make sure to write to you both about my new experiences here in Ponyville as often as I can!”
Celestia chuckled. “Very well. It seems I am out-voted.” She then turned to Maestro, who was now hauling his portable shop with him. “And what are your plans, Maestro?”
Maestro scoffed. “Plans? Who said I had a specific plan? My only direction is going from town to town in a random order.”
Melia then turned to Maestro. “You’re abandoning us?”
Maestro rolled his eyes. “Of course not! I’ll visit as often as possible! I just won’t stay for long. Just not my style.”
Janice chuckled. “You never change, do you? Just be safe, alright?”
Maestro saluted. “Will do! I’ll see you all in about two weeks, maybe more. I’ll make sure to keep in touch.”
As Maestro went off into the sunset, a question was left hanging in the air between the friends. What will happen to us in the the future? Will we need to protect Equestria again? Only time will tell…
Cold Heart looked through his gazing orb and chuckled. Oh these fools have no idea what I have in store for them… And that’s exactly what makes this so amusing… He then went over to a wall and looked at a particular oval-shaped platinum locket with a chess king engraved on it that was hanging on his wall. He stared at for a bit, then chuckled. I wonder what he’d think about seeing this here… He then walked off and vanished from the room.
To be continued in “Janice Adjusts to Ponyville”