An Extended Holiday

by Commander_Pensword

152 - A Hunting We Will Go

Extended Holiday
Ch 152: A Hunting We Will Go
Act 24

---

Pensword was quietly amazed at the, well, magic of modern magical healing. His cast had been removed, freeing his wing, and he felt not much more than some simple stiffness. While his feathers had not fully regrown, the doctors had told him that there was no way to speed their recovery. Feathers were complex, and it was better to let them grow naturally. He looked at the setting sun, surrounded by his children as they waited for the rest of the family to arrive. One Pegasus in particular was having a great deal of difficulty, and was letting everypony know it.

“Come on, we don’t have all night,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. She shifted from hoof to hoof, wings twitching, completely projecting the image of a schoolfilly about half her age.

Pensword chuckled. “Actually, Rainbow, we do. Once we’re all present, we’re going to have a tale presented by one of our historians. After that, I’m going to train you all in proper weapons use and some techniques to help with hunting. That will then be followed by a course teaching you about the different positions, offices, and functions within the Tribe. Depending on who you are, we then will be conducting interviews with each of you outsiders as a baseline, from which we can figure out what we need to work on. The next five days will then be tailored specifically to address where you each fall short, and towards helping you hone and leverage your strengths. The sixth day, or night really, you all will conduct your guided hunt.”

“Let me guess. Solo hunt on the seventh?” an Earth Pony mare asked worriedly as she rubbed her forelegs together.

“Oh, no,” Pensword assured her. “We’re not that mean to outsiders. If you want, by all means, do a solo hunt. But the Seventh is going to be a wedding ceremony for those that passed. After all, spring is on its way, and we’d rather not risk anything. If you pass, why wait?”

A pair of clattering noises brought everyone’s attention to the last pair of Unicorns to arrive as they dropped their weapons. Two Thestrals quickly helped them recover their gear and herded them in line.

“Good,” Pensword spoke as he walked to sit among the others. “Star Dancer will be telling us the story of our creation tonight.”

An indigo Thestral with silver mane a few shades darker than Pensword’s trotted forward to stand next to the fire, wings spread open. “Welcome, children and hopeful children of the night stars and the Moon. Tonight, I will speak to you about how the Thestrals received their wings and fangs, and why the night warms us but shuns others.” His gaze went to each of the newcomers slowly before speaking again. “In the beginning,” he began, and the moon slowly moved along her course watching the story unfold below her.

---

Grif was practically shaking as he ushered the last of the Ponyville foals he’d invited into the clan building. He’d needed the entire assembly area and a massive screen for this night to work. Fortunately, he’d managed to discreetly get a projector and projectionist willing to help his endeavor. A table had been carefully set up with little bags of popcorn and different types of candy and all sorts of things that Colgate would kill him for later. He hummed loudly, twirling his son around gently as he waited for the last of the adult guests to arrive.

“Daddy’s got something very special set up tonight,” he told the baby, grinning widely.

A loud knock sounded at the door, and all eyes turned as the heavy wooden portal swung ponderously open. Vital Spark stood in the open doorway, his bride-to-be flanking his side. The two hovered closely to one another as the stallion smiled knowingly.

“Hello, Grif. I’m proud to say I haven’t spoiled a thing.” The Unicorn winked conspiratorially. “Are we all set for tonight?”

“Everything’s been arranged. We’re just awaiting Pensword and his family. Then we can start. I really can’t wait.” Grif laughed as he passed Tazeer to the colt. “Here. Hold your godson, will you?”

“Sure. I can–.” Vital froze and blinked in surprise. “Wait, what?”

“Avalon and I have been talking, and we never really named Tazeer’s godfather. Pensword is godfather for the girls, after all. So, we talked it over and decided to award the position to you.” Grif smiled.

“I’m not going to have to put on a dress and magic up pixie wings, am I?”

“No, your job mostly involves spoiling him rotten, unless something happens to me. Then I count on you to teach him what he’ll need to know.”

“You realize I suck at doing stuff the usual Gryphon way, right?” Vital pointed out. “But hey, if he needs someone to be a role model, I suppose I can manage that without screwing it up too badly.” He smirked and winked at his friend again as he lifted the cub in his magic and levitated him through the air, much to young Tazeer’s delight.

“You need to have more faith in yourself! Now go find a seat in the back. We don’t want you blocking the view of our smaller friends, after all. Help yourself to any of the refreshments, please.” Grif sent Vital a knowing grin. “Be our guest”

Vital chortled in the most terrible Phrench accent he could manage. “Any gray stuff?”

“It’s delicious!” Grif winked as he ushered the couple on.

The doors opened to the sound of a toy drum as Pensword, Lunar Fang, Fox Feather, and a very confused Night Terror with two Thestral foals on her back walked in at the head of a host of eighty Thestral foals marching with sticks in their hooves or under their wings. Pensword was at a loss as to how he’d ended up where he was. Inigo and Cristo were beating the toy drums. And as they marched into the space, they went wild on the instruments, signalling the foals to disperse and take their places. A number of them sat, though some of them claimed perches up near the ceiling or in crevices, while others went for the food.

Pensword walked up to Grif. “Uh … yeah, I brought an army of foals, like I warned, since you agreed to allowing my wives to come. Oh, and Night Terror is on foal duty tonight.”

“They should fit well with the army of cubs and the other army of foals from Ponyville.” Grif smiled. “I don’t think you’ll find they have much opportunity to misbehave.” He reached casually into the passing foals and scooped up Moon River, then set her on his back. “I have a special surprise tonight, something I’ve been working on for some time.”

“How? How did you do that?” Fox Feather gasped as she hovered in the air to herd the children, even as she sought for the little foal. “I was—but you—you caught her with ease!” She frowned, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. “Unless ... she wanted you to catch her.”

“Who do you think taught her so much?” Grif asked. “She is my goddaughter, after all.”

Lunar Fang laughed as her distended stomach swayed in time. “Let it go, Foxy. Just let him have his way. He’ll be surprised when she turns on him like she did on me today. She’s in an odd mood.”

Grif chuckled. “Well, my friends, I have only one rule tonight: All adults must, I am afraid, sit at the back, as I do not want their height to ruin what's to come for our smaller guests. If you can find your seats, I just need to wait for Hammer Strike and Rarity. Then we can begin.”

Fortunately, they’d barely gotten settled at the rear when the aforementioned couple stepped through the doorway. “Sorry about that,” Hammer Strike started with a frown. “I got wrapped up in something.”

“Namely one of my bolts of cloth,” Rarity giggled.

Grif smiled. “Glad you could make it! If you want to find a seat at the back, we can get started.”

Pensword laughed as he took a large hoofful of popcorn from his bucket. He knew only too well that a movie was about to be shown, perhaps the first one to ever appear in Ponyville. The real question was, why invite all the foals from Ponyville? Did this have something to do with that new studio he’d heard about?

Once everybody was seated, Grif gave a signal and the lights dimmed. He moved to the front of the room with a careful step, which proved difficult with how excited he was. A spotlight found him as he made his way up and stood before the crowd.

“Monsieur's en mademoiselle's, I thank you all for taking the time from your busy schedules to join me here tonight. As many of you are aware, my good friend Taze enjoyed telling tales before he left. And I’m sure many of you have noticed it is a pastime we both shared. One such story he told me was about a man, a man in his world who made it his life's work to tell stories to children in the most joyful way he could. It is a tale from that man that I have invited you all here to hear.” He raised a halting talon. “Yes, you will hear it. But not from me, my friends.” He smirked. “Tonight, I will be showing you the story in color and sound, not only as Equestria’s first full-length animated feature, but also the first time it has ever been shown to an audience anywhere on Equis. It is my great honor to present, for your consideration, Beauty and the Beast, written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, adapted to animation by Walter Elias Disney, and now readapted in Equestria by Grif Grafson Bladefeather. Enjoy, my friends.”

Grif gave a bow as the spotlight went out and the reel began to roll. He quietly made his way around the crowd to his seat, but stopped as he caught sight of someone he distinctly didn’t remember inviting.

It was a Gryphon, a parrot and some form of cat Grif couldn’t fully identify, but it was clearly predatory in nature. He was massive, easily twice Grif’s height, and broadly built. He was predominantly a lighter shade of blue, with two white red-tipped feathers tied to the side of his head. A large accordion sat against his chest, tied to a length of cord around his neck. Cautiously, Grif approached this mysterious stranger and tapped his shoulder, signaling him to follow.

The Gryphon gave a soft smile and acceded to the request.

Grif led him to a small nook off to the side, where they wouldn’t be seen or heard so long as they kept quiet. “Excuse me, but what are you doing here?” he asked. “No offense, but this was supposed to be a surprise for the kids.”

“I’m sorry.” The intruder’s gentle smile persisted. “I just can’t help myself. Where there is a good story, I tend to follow.”

“How did you get inside? Are you family with one of the guards?”

He shook his head. “My family is far from here, though they tend to visit from time to time. I simply wander toward the sounds of a story. It is my way. I hope I did not interrupt it for anyone.”

“No, just, now I have to go over a possible security breach.” Grif sighed. “Just ... keep quiet about this, okay? It’s not for the public yet.”

“Don’t worry. I can keep things to myself.” He gave a knowing smile. “I appreciate the stories both of you have given me.”

“Excuse me?” Grif asked

“Both of you. Grif and Taze. You’ve given myself and others quite the tales to listen to.”

“Taze returned home,” Grif said bluntly.

“Oh, I know.” His smile never left. “He left to allow you freedom, would you say?”

“I suppose that's right.” Grif nodded. “Have I seen you somewhere before?” he asked. He couldn’t see a clan symbol on the Gryphon. “Are you with Pensword’s bunch?”

“Where there is a story, I tend to follow. That, and you do tend to frequent Berry’s Tavern,” he replied with a faint chuckle. “I am technically not a part of Unity, though I do pop by from time to time.”

“Y—are you an embodiment?” Grif asked in an even lower tone.

His grin widened before he offered a hand to Grif. “My name is Kass, keeper of stories.”

“I didn’t think you guys had names, at least from what I’ve heard. None of the others ever gave any,” Grif commented as he took the hand in his own.

“That’s simply because we aren’t supposed to.” Kass nodded back to the theater. “Come now. I believe we’ve already missed a good few minutes of the beginning.”

“Yeah.” Grif nodded, a bit dazed as he followed Kass back to the main room.

---

“Now, Rainbow Miriam Danger Dash,” Pensword began, ignoring the expression Rainbow Dash gave. “As you know, you have done some things none of the others have done.” Pensword grinned just enough to show a glint of fangs. “You fought the Changelings on the day of Shining Armor’s wedding, faced down Nightmare Moon herself—and that is not even mentioning the fact that you are training to be a Wonderbolt. In recognition of all you have achieved, this is to be a special kind of interview. I want you to boast. Tell me why I, a chief, should allow you to entice my son into bringing you into my clan.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Another interview?” she groaned. “And why’d you use my full name? No one but my family uses my full name.”

“And yet you wish for me to become you father-in-law. Does this not give me the right to use it? Certainly, it gives me more of a right to it than Grif.”

Rainbow Dash’s posture did not wilt, much to Pensword’s delight. “Yeah, well, he gets away with calling Princess Celestia Sunbutt. Do you know the Guard named a procedure after him?”

“Oh, yes,” Pensword responded with a coy grin. “Code Grif, when someone insults the Princess. I was wondering if they’d dust that off again.”

“Again?” Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow out of curiosity, then deadpanned again.

“Yeah. It’s funny how a procedure I wrote back in the third war is seeing use again. However, I noticed that you still haven’t answered my question. What is your boast? Of all that you have done, what do you think would bring you and your hopeful clan honor?”

The edge of Rainbow’s mouth ticked downward as she mulled over the question, testing the words on her tongue before she replied. “I’m the first pony in generations that can perform the sonic rainboom, and I am the fastest Pegasus in all of Equestria,” she pointed out as she dusted a hoof against her chest fur, a gesture of confidence the commander was very familiar with. “Then there’s the obvious distinction of being the Element of Loyalty. That means that not only would I make an awesome wife for your son, but I would be loyal to your clan and tribe as well. I faced down Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, and an entire horde of Changeling drones. I kicked their flanks in combat, too.” She spread her wings wide. “And I can say that within the year I will be the youngest Wonderbolt ever inducted into the ranks.”

Pensword nodded, weighing the precise place to prod, before simply saying, “Adequate.”

“Adequate?” Rainbow Dash growled. Her wings twitched outward and her feathers puffed out. “Who can beat me?”

“Oh, Cosy’s sister comes to mind. Surviving a Coup, learning to smith from the Hammer Strike. Then there are a few mares out in the camps that can hunt down and skin brown bears with only a knife and one arrow.”

Rainbow tossed her mane and snorted derisively. “I’d like to see them try to beat me in hoof to hoof combat. I’m very close to a Thunder Anvil.”

“That’s in Pegasus tactics,” Pensword corrected coolly. “You are nothing when it comes to Thestral combat.”

“Oh really? Fine!” she shouted. Her hooves stamped the ground and her wings flared to their full span in a sign of challenge. “Sign me up to learn, and I’ll soar through the ranks in no time flat!”

“Funny, since there are no ranks, just out-and-out brawling,” Pensword replied with a smirk.

“Then give me a sword and a guide and I’ll hunt any animal in that forest to prove I’m worthy of Kahn!”

Pensword’s smile widened. “Very good, Rainbow Dash, Hopeful of the Pen Clan, Extension of the Bear Tribe. Your posture and expression became pure aggression there. You forgot yourself for that moment and were fully prepared to do anything—even to fight me, if your body language was telling true. While the Pegasi of today are very civilized and reserved, thanks to centuries of politics in Canterlot, the Thestrals and the Pegasi who live with them here are not so. We—” He stood, and spread his wings proudly. A third of his plumage had returned, making the appendages at least somewhat presentable. “We find our base in emotion, and we show this emotion through our wings. You have done that here today. You stood your ground when I dismissed your claims as nothing impressive. As such, you have passed the test of combat boasts.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “I’d love to hear your boast then sometime.”

Pensword’s mouth twitched, a hint at a decidedly more predatory gin. “Wait till the day of the wedding. You’ll hear a part of it. Come now. It’s time for you and your guide to plan what animal you’ll be hunting to prove your worth.” He already was planning to allow a pin for Thestrals in the military to denote their animal of adulthood, and he’d see that Rainbow Dash receive one as well, assuming the measure was approved. Adoptive daughter, indeed. He dismissed the mare with a gesture of his wing, only for her to stand her ground instead.

“Before I go, there is one more thing.” She stared right at Pensword. “I read a few documents while I was on cloud duty, and I know I can make a request for who I want as a guide.”

“Yes?” Pensword replied as he raised a curious brow. It was impressive to see the mare taking preparatory action outside of the bare essentials.

“I want your wife Lunar Fang to teach me and be my guide in the hunt.”

Pensword leaned forward on his desk. “You think you qualify for her to teach you? You really are a rash filly. She’s the head of the entire clan. You invite much risk with your request, and it leaves you open to what could be a much harder hunt than need be.”

“And make it look like I got by on a pass because of who I know or my titles?” Rainbow snorted once again. “I’ve heard how she treats Grif, Hammer Strike, and even you. With her as my guide, it’ll put a stop to anypony spreading rumors that I got through on your good word alone. I want the hardest test, because I know I can do it. If your wings weren’t in such bad shape, gramps—”

“Gramps!” Pensword exclaimed as he ruffled his feathers. “Well then, it appears I might just have to pick the animal myself, and make sure you and Lunar Fang don’t lollygag.” He stopped at the sight of Rainbow’s cocky smirk, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You sly, Discord-loving—” he muttered.

Rainbow grinned cheekily.

“Out,” Pensword said curtly. “I’ll have to think on what you’ve just done before I reply. It is unwise to respond to such blatant disrespect in haste.” He continued to maintain his glare as Rainbow left the room. She managed to maintain her bravado, but Pensword could see the slight droop in the edges of her wings before she tucked them away and strode through the door.

The moment she was gone, Lunar Fang trotted out from behind a wooden screen. Her expression was grim and her eyes hard as she fixed them on the shut door.

“She’s learned a lot,” she said in a low voice.

“She has,” Pensword agreed. “By insulting me like that, she’s forced us to give her the hardest test we can, just like she wanted.”

“But she also called you out to hunt as well. She’s putting you on the hunt sooner than any of us wanted.”

“She’s smart.” Pensword nodded solemnly. “Kahn has made an interesting choice, and it is pushing Miss Dash to new heights.”

---

Pensword sat patiently in the lobby of Golden Oaks Library, looking at Grif as they waited for Twilight to appear with the news she wanted to share. Hints of scarlet, orange and gold from the setting sun splashed through the windows to run across the polished wood of the floor.

“I can’t believe you did that. Bringing the story to Equestria. It was amazing, cool, and—” He chuckled. “Did you hear what Moon River said at the end?”

“Adorable, wasn’t it? We already have plans for the next seven in a row, but I had to start with my favorite.” Grif smiled. “Best part is it will make funding the hive easier for Me-Me.”

“That is good to hear.” Pensword looked pensive. “What’s awesome is if you need to use any material, I do have Robin Hood with me in my collection. And with it being anthropomorphic animals, it doesn’t have to be changed too much.” He chuckled. “That was my favorite as a foal … child,” Pensword corrected himself.

“Glad you enjoyed the surprise.” Grif grinned. “So when’s Twilight supposed to arrive?”

A twinkle sound and pompf later, Twilight Sparkle was there with a wide manic grin on her face, heavy bags under her eyes, and a veritable mountain of paperwork in triplicate that hovered around her in an unconscious flurry not unlike a maelstrom. They slammed heavily onto the table, perfectly organized and sorted alphabetically.

“I have a plan!” she declared happily. “I found a loophole we can use against the EEA. It isn’t perfect, but it should give us the leeway we need to ensure Neighsay and the other Ponies can’t interfere. We really do need to see about getting them out of office, though. That kind of blatant racism really isn’t healthy, and Neighsay has a long record of prejudice.”

“I’m not surprised. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sees Thestrals as non-ponies. Still, what is this plan, Princess?” Pensword asked, eyeing the teetering tower of paperwork with no small amount of trepidation.

Twilight, on the other hoof, had adopted a more thoughtful expression. “Actually, that’s a good idea. If we can catch him in the act of disparaging or disrespecting Thestrals, it would all but destroy his credibility. He’d have to be removed from office, or at the very least heavily censured. As for the other plan, it’s simple. We’re going to form an exploratory committee, one designed to test how well Ponies interact with other species and races. If we can show verifiable data that such interactions are possible and even beneficial, then Neighsay will be forced to approve, as will the entire EEA.”

Twilight smirked maliciously. “And the best part is that these kinds of tests can take years at a time to finish. Years that will be spent exclusively under the scrutiny of Equestria’s greatest defender, a Pony whose honor and patriotism cannot possibly be questioned.”

“And this will save the money Neighsay is already attempting to withhold?” Grif asked.

“The hold is still in place. He can’t touch the money being put directly toward that particular establishment. The issue is that he feels the classroom can only be modified and improved specifically for Ponies, ‘in accordance with EEA standards.’” She rolled her eyes as she waved her hooves to make air quotes. “By making Ponyville the host town for this experiment, remote as it is, it would be an ideal location to ensure no outside influences have the chance to alter events. It should also give jurisdiction to the local school to use the funds for the sake of its students in said project, both Pony and Gryphon, without discrimination or prejudice. Any signs of such prejudice would immediately lead to a disciplinary hearing with either me or Hammer Strike, depending on the nature of the abuse.”

“It’s not just Ponies and Gryphons,” Grif said.

“Thestrals fall under the classification of Ponies, so Neighsay couldn’t speak out against it, if that’s what you’re worried about. Is there another race or species that’s moved into the Everfree that I’m not aware of yet?”

“Potentially. The next few generations may include Hippogriffs, for one,” Grif noted. “But Unity takes in all kinds, and we don’t know what we might need.”

“Since the point of the system is to test incorporation and adaptation, as well as how other races interact in a common school setting, we should be able to include plans for when such new races surface or are born.” She furrowed her brow. “I think I remember reading something about Hippogriffs somewhere in the royal archives at Canterlot. But that was such a long time ago….”

“The point is we can’t come up with more funding like this for a considerable amount of time. We need to make sure everything will go right,” Grif explained.

“I concur. I doubt I’d ever be able to raise the amount I did the first time around for at least a few more years,” Pensword said.

“Trust me, it’ll work,” Twilight assured them. “The details are all here, including notes on the fine print and old clauses we’d utilize to justify the expenses and how your donation would fit within the confines of it. There won’t be any wiggle room. And if they try, there are means to ensure they honor the letter of the law. It hasn’t had to be invoked before, but Princess Celestia isn’t stupid enough not to leave at least some form of check against corruption.”

“I hope so.” Grif nodded. “What do you need us to do?”

“Stand as character witnesses when the presentation is made before the committee. We’ll need Hammer Strike to stand as well, since he’ll be nominated as the technical overseer of the project. You all have standing as the warriors who battled against the Gryphon threat in the Third Gryphon war. Neighsay won’t be able to disparage you or consider you spies. As for who Hammer Strike delegates his responsibility to and how it’s executed, that will be entirely in his jurisdiction. I believe Me-Me has several children who were made for those sorts of tasks. You might consider asking her for help, especially if you want to consider incorporating Changelings into the school as well.”

“As Me-Me prefers speaking with you, Grif, I’ll leave that to you to follow up,” Pensword answered. “And I will stand as a character witness.”

“I’ll work on it.” Grif nodded. “Thank you for your help, Twilight.”

Twilight nodded. “I love Ponyville. I’m not about to let anyone try to destroy the bonds of friendship we’ve forged here, no matter who or what they may be.” A hint of orange licked around the Alicorn as her mane frizzled. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and regained control. “If it comes down to it, and they still try to stop it…. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d be willing to hire you to fix the problem the other way. But only as a last resort,” she said forcefully.

“That’s fair enough.” Grif nodded. “That kind of decision shouldn’t be made lightly.”

Twilight shuddered. “I wish it never had to be made, period.” Then she sighed. “Sorry, Grif. I’m not saying you’re any less for having to kill. It’s just something I wish nopony had to do, you know?” She yawned heavily. “I think I’m going to go back home now. I feel like I could sleep for three days straight.”

“You are home, Princess. We are in your library, and your bedroom is right up there.” He pointed with a wing.

“Oh, yeah … right.” Twilight yawned and levitated a series of books under her. “Good night, everypony. Turn the sign on the way out, won’t you?” she asked. A few seconds later, she was snoring contentedly atop her nest of books.

Pensword smiled at the scene as he led Grif out of the room and flipped the sign on the door to CLOSED. “Well, this was productive.”

“Very,” Grif agreed. “Now I just hope it works.”

---

Hammer Strike hummed to himself as he tapped his pencil against a sheet of parchment. On said parchment was a different take on one of his previous weapons in an attempt to give it more weight and density, while retaining its balance. He retraced a few lines and erased others while he kept thinking on the shape and how to make it work.

At the moment he was in his office, having settled any meetings or documents that needed his attention. He was left with the rest of the night to himself.

Or so he thought, until a flash of sunlight completely bleached those plans, then vaporized them. Celestia stood in the middle of his office with, of all things, an artist’s palette, a tripod, paints, a variety of brushes, and a large canvas hovering in her magic.

“Oh, Hammer Strike. Thank goodness you’re not busy. I need your help with something, if you have the time.”

Hammer Strike’s eyebrow slowly raised as he looked to the gathered tools. “I’ll assume it has to do with painting. What seems to be the problem?”

“Well, when I was a filly, I fell in love with the concept of artistry. Painting was an outlet of sorts. Now that things have quieted down somewhat in government, I thought it would be an excellent time to pick up the hobby again. I was wondering if you might be willing to give your critique of a piece I’ve been working on thus far.”

Her horn glowed and a sketch materialized on the canvas, followed by a series of colored strokes that filled in vivid oily streaks. Three Alicorns stood above a far smaller one, with their horns touching hers as what appeared to be waves or sparks of some kind traveled along all four structures.

“I thought I’d start off with something familiar,” she said.

Hammer Strike hummed to himself as he looked over the painting. “Well done, though personally I find the transitions between the colors to be a little harsh. Nevertheless though, it’s certainly a good piece.”

“You think I should try more blending along the lines, then? It had occurred to me, but it seems that all of us tend to keep our colors rather separate most of the time. Then again, the way Luna’s and my mane work could give a little leeway in that regard,” she mused as a tiny sponge dabbed away at the paint. “Anything else?”

Hammer Strike frowned as he scanned it over once more. “Potentially some more use to the empty space in the upper portion of the painting. While the blend will assist somewhat, it’s still a decent spread of open color before the border,” he finished with a shrug.

“I was planning to save that for the background, possibly the throne room in Canterlot. Though I may go with the astral plane, instead,” she mused. “Actually, now that I think about it, I’m surprised you haven’t tried a hoof at painting, yourself. You draw up plans and blueprints all the time. Painting isn’t all that far of a leap from that.”

Hammer Strike went to respond only for it to break down into a small frown. “I suppose not. The thought just never really crossed my mind.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t, with all the focus you put into smithing. Luna used to be the same way, you know.”

Hammer Strike chuckled. “I figured as much. I suppose I could look into it. It would certainly give me more to do in my off time.”

“And it’s a great way to keep the hands busy while you think. Some of the most expressive paintings in Canterlot were the products of emotional or spiritual turmoil. That, and potentially some zealousness mixed with a level of adoration that borders on the extreme,” she admitted with a hint of a blush in her cheeks.

Hammer Strike hummed to himself. “I suppose I’ll have to take a trip to Ponyville or Canterlot for supplies sometime. Got any recommendations for a shop?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Try Far Sight’s Paints and Oddities. It’s a tiny shop, but they have a surprisingly large selection from a variety of places around the world.”

“Canterlot?”

“Yup. Though you could always ask Rarity if there are any local places here in Ponyville worth looking at. And I’m sure a few vendors would be only too glad to have the chance to set up shop in New Unity, if there’s a market there.”

“I can make a trip to Canterlot, though I’ll need you to take something back with you,” he commented as he reached into his coat. He pulled out a small dagger and held it out for her. “I need you to place this where there aren’t that many prying eyes. Embed it into the ground, if possible, or place it within a stand.”

“What does it do?” she asked as she took it into her magical grasp.

“It simply acts like a mark for me to ‘recall’ to,’” Hammer Strike replied with a faint smile. “Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve told you about this yet. If you’d like an example, teleport somewhere with open space and I’ll show you how it works.”

“Very well,” Celestia agreed and immediately teleported to the field that had only just begun to recover from the titanic clash Hammer Strike and Luna had in their sparring match the year prior.

Seconds later, a ring of blue fire appeared, and Hammer Strike soon stepped through. “Different from a standard teleportation spell, as it’s pretty much just a portal through thaumic means.”

“How do you sustain it?” Celestia asked as she peered curiously at the flames.

“Though my own reserve of energy, though I can tie the energy drain to other things. If I worked at it, I could perhaps connect it to the power released from the planet itself,” he replied, turning to glance at his portal once more.

“Your grasp of this power always leaves me in awe, Hammer Strike.” Celestia sighed and shook her head. “I’ll find a place where this won’t be disturbed. “Perhaps near my rose bushes.” She smirked. “Unless a random falling human happens to appear, I think it should be relatively safe.”

Hammer Strike smiled and rolled his eyes. “Is the shop still open at this time?”

“Probably not. It’s rather close to midnight. Though the owner is planning on growing into a twenty-four-hour business soon, since Thestrals tend to prefer a night shift, assuming she can get enough clientele interested in visiting during those hours.”

“I’ll have to keep an eye out, then.” Hammer Strike shrugged, before closing his portal. “Since I have the night free, I might as well wander for a bit, see what Luna is up to. Perhaps see if there are any good stores open, before I return.”

“Luna is travelling the dream plane by this time. Perhaps you should ask her to teach you how to dream walk. Then you can visit her, if she’s not in the waking realm.”

Hammer Strike chuckled. “I don’t think that’s within my abilities. Even thaumically, that would be somewhat dangerous for me to test and perform.”

“Fair enough. Care for a lift to the town square?”

“Sure, it would give me more time to wander, and if I am needed back in New Unity, they can have Vital Spark message me using a crystal relay that I store in my pocket,” Hammer Strike replied, tapping his vest pocket for emphasis.

Celestia smiled radiantly. “Good. I can show you some of the better stores without having to worry about the whole city falling to pieces trying to bow to me as I pass. That actually did happen once, you know. So many Ponies knelt at once, it caused a literal earthquake.”

Hammer Strike chuckled. “Then let’s get to it.”

---

“So, was the whole rhyme thing a ruse to make me cast the spell, or is it really impossible for you to speak normally in Equestrian anymore?” Vital Spark asked in Zwahili as he sipped from the cup the mare had offered.

“The latter,” Zecora responded in the same language as she joined him at the other side of the table. “Fortunately, it only applies to that one language, and I have had the opportunity to learn many others. Of course, it’s still fun to speak in couplets from time to time. It adds to the more mysterious aspect of my nature, and I thought if Ponyville was going to be afraid of me, why not make a game of it?”

“And the poison joke?”

“I did try to warn them. However, I am grateful to Twilight Sparkle for her efforts to dispel Ponyville’s misunderstanding. It is far easier being accepted in a community than living as an outcast.”

“Amen,” Vital agreed fervently. “I went through more than enough of that growing up.”

“Speaking of which, we never did have the chance to discuss your history, after you regained your memories. Now that things have settled down, perhaps we can remedy that error.”

Vital frowned. “That’s a fair point, especially since you’re part of my family now. What did you have in mind?”

“What are you willing to tell?”

“Zecora, you’re my sister. Of course I’m going to tell you as much as I can.”

The shamaness chuckled. “Then perhaps we should start at the beginning. I know much of your Earth, but I wish to know of your life, specifically.”

“Now that one may take us a while.”

“If you can make time to tell your fiancé, you can make time to tell me.”

“And how would you know I’ve told her anything?”

Zecora took a calming sip of her tea. “First, because I’m not a simpleton. Secondly, because I know you. You’re the most honest and open Pony I’ve ever met, with few exceptions, and that’s saying something.”

“And third, because you happen to be the avatar of a powerful deity that can listen in on conversations pretty much anywhere on this or any other world?”

“We don’t eavesdrop, Vital Spark. That would be rude,” Zecora said coolly.

“You just help nudge events in the right direction and offer the guidance only a deity can in certain situations,” Vital retorted just as calmly.

“A fair point. Now, are we going to talk about your family and life on Earth or are we going to keep circling each other, until the day is over and you have to stay the night?”

“You know Trixie would kill me, if I went missing without sending word back to the castle, right?”

“Then you’d best start talking, hadn’t you?”

Vital sighed. “All right. You win. Now, where to begin? I suppose we’ll start as all stories start, for what else is life but a story?”

“Vital Spark, do stop trying to be Grif.”

“I’m not!” he promised. “I just like telling a good story, too. Even if mine is better in writing than narrating on the fly.” He chuckled. “All right. I’ll try to keep it focused. But allow me one last reference before I do.”

Zecora sighed. “All right. Let’s get it over with.”

Vital cleared his throat. “Once upon a time….”

---

The music of flute, pan, and drums faded as the fires crackled and the murmurs of voices lowered. The sun had set long ago, and the darkness lurked around the fire rings like a restless thief, scrabbling away with every flare up to play across the bushes and trunks on the White Tail Woods border. The hunters stood in a line at the front, having drunk the drought of wakefulness provided by the Head Chieftess for this event. Their eyes were clear and their postures sure. Each felt prepared for the hunt ahead, with their guide standing alongside. They were ready to leave.

Rainbow Dash was dressed in a simple harness with a bow, a quiver of arrows, a skinning knife, and a hatchet. Lunar Fang stood in her light armor, while Pensword watched. It had been decided that he would not be hunting just yet. His feathers still hadn’t fully regrown, but the large brown rabbit in front of him was proof that he was not yet too old to stop hunting. Rainbow Dash had gotten grief for that remark, but she didn’t care. Those that were important to her, whose opinions mattered, knew she did it to get him to join the fun.

The Thestral leading the ceremony nodded. “Very well, hunters. You have till the moon sets to come back with the animal your guide has trained you to hunt. We look forward to adding your animal to your annals and welcoming you into the tribes as one of us, outsiders no more.”

With that, the Hunters went in pursuit of their quarry, filtering out and disappearing among the trees to leave Lunar Fang and Rainbow standing alone in the moonlight. Only when the two of them were the last there did Lunar Fang reveal what they would be hunting: an adolescent male bear. It wouldn’t harm the population to remove a little competition for when springtime rolled around.

Still, they’d wait for a time before leaving for their own hunt. The sounds and smells of the other hunters would either drive the bears coming out of their hibernation to investigate or to leave the area. Whether it was pausing a few moments for the perfect opportunity or waiting hours for prey, patience was an essential cornerstone of any hunt.

The moon had moved farther along its track, and Rainbow Dash, to Lunar Fang’s amazement, proved utterly silent while using the tracking skills she’d been taught. However, despite her impressive stealth, she still missed some hints at the trail for their prey. Lunar Fang would step in from time to time to offer correction. The training had been a rushed course for the outsiders, but it would be enough.

It wasn’t long before Rainbow Dash groaned and threw her hooves up, taking to the air in the midst of a meadow. She crossed her forelegs in impatience.

“What gives?” she said. Her frustration was clearly evident in her huffs and countenance.

“What do you mean, Miss Dash?” Lunar Fang replied. The shadows hid her smile. “I’m letting you lead the tracking.”

“Yeah, and we’re going in a circle. The bear tracks don’t seem to lead anywhere!”

Lunar Fang was impressed, but didn’t say anything. “Well, bears do travel about.”

“Oh yeah?” She was gone in a burst of speed. Lunar Fang looked worriedly after her and was about to spread her wings when she heard the heavy whump of something impacting the soft loam. Turning, Lunar Fang saw Cristo, Inigo, and two other foals their age, each wearing molded boots resembling bear paws.

“I thought the tracks were a little odd,” Rainbow Dash said. “And I used my ears to listen. Kind of hard to ignore a few giggles from foals.” She stepped forward with her wings flared. “Now how about you tell me why you lied to me?”

Lunar Fang answered the challenge with her own wings flared to show she wasn’t cowed by Rainbow’s aggressive stance. “You called my mate, your future father-in-law, Gramps. While it might not be so negative in Gryphon culture and when using the age as a distinction, the term in the tone and context you used could and usually is used to denote a stallion that is too old to hunt and must rely on those younger to do the hunting for them.”

“Yeah? Well bear hunts are a group practice. I remember that from two nights ago. You never hunt for a bear on your own.”

Lunar Fang grinned as she moved about to face Rainbow Dash. “That’s funny, because the hunt that made my Pensword a stallion, a full adult in Thestral culture, was a hunt for a mad bear.” She giggled as Rainbow’s jaw went slack and the mare’s eyes widened. “In fact, the bear that was in the area was not meant for you. It was being hunted by the Gryphon children of Pensword for the joint weddings tomorrow. Since you saw through the deception, and the night is growing old, we’d best go hunting for your real target: a deer. You’re competitive enough that I know you’d never go for a rabbit, and thus the deer is a perfect fit for your warrior spirit.” The mare chuckled as she stepped forward into the foliage. “Come along now, Miss Dash. Our quarry is waiting.”

Rainbow Dash paused to look back to the foals and waited for Lunar Fang to no longer be in ear shot. “That was an awesome prank you pulled on me. Keep those skills up, and I might just tap you for a little fun in the future.”

The foals giggled and took flight as Rainbow Dash sped to cach up with Lunar Fang, only to be smacked in the nose by the leathery wing.

“No speed flight,” Lunar Fang admonished. “You’ll spook the deer. From now on, we’re on the ground, and you’ll be following me.”

Rainbow Dash nodded.

The next two hours were slow and silent. Not a word passed between the two. While they could hear a few noises of other hunts on the winds, it seemed the deer had vanished.

It wasn’t until well after midnight that they found a few deer standing in a clearing. Rainbow barely restrained herself, though she chewed her lip in anticipation as she drew her bow and nocked the arrow. Lunar Fang was more concerned about the surroundings. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she took in the clearing. It was the middle of the night. The herd should have been resting or huddled together. However, right now they were standing and alert, with tails raised. Something was making them uneasy, and that could only mean one thing. A hunter was nearby, and it wasn’t them.

The herd bolted when the bowstring snapped and one of their numbers fell to the ground. Rainbow Dash sped to the kill to make sure it didn’t suffer. Lunar Fang galloped forward with her mouth open to shout a warning, but it was too late. She swerved left as a wolf sailed through the empty space she had occupied and plowed into the ground. Lunar Fang capitalized on the wolf’s brief moment of confusion, leaped again, and landed on top of the canid’s skull, driving her hooves into it with a sickening crunch. A yelp of pain was all that emerged from the creature before it died. Lunar Fang narrowed her gaze as she glared around the clearing. Multiple pairs of eyes flashed in the cover of darkness.

Rainbow Dash glared as she planted herself firmly and spread her wings wide. “You will not take my kill!” she shouted.

The wolves fanned out to either side, and Rainbow Dash leapt into the air, hovering close to the ground. Lunar Fang noticed in an instant how the Pegasus’ eyes tracked each of the predators, her ears twitching toward the sound their paws made on the grassy loam. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash spun, nocked an arrow, and fired. The arrow soon found its mark and downed the wolf after piercing its side. Another wolf tried to dart around and leap on Rainbow’s back. Lunar fang surged into action and bucked the wolf mid-leap. She gathered her strength for a killing blow, but another yowl of pain from a second arrow strike changed the pack’s mind. The scent of blood combined with the aggressive stance of the hunters drove them back to the edge of the clearing, leaving the two wounded and their dead companion.

Lunar Fang grinned. “Congratulations, Miss Dash, Deer-slayer, Wolf Ears. You just scared off a wolf pack.”

Rainbow Dash quirked her brow in confusion. “What did I do? You’re the one that killed the wolf.”

“And yet you knew where each wolf was the moment you were in the air. You kept situational awareness that usually takes years for foals to learn. In short, you just proved you truly have what it takes to be adopted as a full Thestral. But come, we’d best bring the deer back to the camp to skin it. The blood from the kill and the wolves will draw other predators to us. We should finish off these other two wolves and mark our trail back. Assuming the bodies remain undisturbed, we’ll send a party back for the wolves. Now come on. It’s time to go clean a deer carcass.”

---

“You know, Grif is going to have a whole media empire by the time this is all over,” Vital mused as he levitated a container of cider that had been carefully bottled and stored over Trixie’s cup. A set of candles had been laid on the small table in a pentagon with a sixth larger candle at its center. He smiled at the mare and felt the butterflies dance in his stomach again. Then his brow furrowed.

“And now that I think about it, this is our first official date night, isn’t it? Most of our outings have been namely for business or someone else’s gathering. I’ve got a lot of lost time to make up, don’t I?”

“To be fair, things have hardly been quiet since we started out,” Trixie pointed out.

“True. But I’m still going to spoil you rotten.” Vital smirked as he levitated curiously colored torn pieces of flesh onto a toasted bun. “This recipe is from an old family friend. Barbeque pulled pork. Trust me, you’re going to love it.”

Trixie hesitantly picked up the offered food and gingerly took a bite. She let out a low moan and shut her eyes.

“I know, right?” Vital chuckled. “You should see the look on your face right now.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell us meat was this good?” Trixie asked, taking large bites.

“Because you weren’t carnivores or omnivores before. Your bodies weren’t capable of digesting meat properly.” Vital shrugged. “Meat was just sort of a regular thing for me back home. Without that protein, I wouldn’t have developed the way that I did. And you wouldn’t have the mage you see before you today.” He smirked as he took a swig of cider.

“So, any more secret recipes from home?” she asked as she finished her sandwich in one massive bite.

“Do cookies count?”

“Why wouldn’t cookies count?”

“Because you have them here in Equestria, and my recipe may dull in comparison to the others that already exist here.”

“You never know.” Trixie shrugged.

“Trixie, we have Pinkie in Ponyville,” Vital deadpanned.

“Yes, but I’m not marrying Pinkie.”

“Is this an official interview, Lady Lulamoon?” Vital teased. “I should have brought my references.”

“What, I can’t get to know your culture?” she teased back. “I hardly know that half of you.”

“You’ll be getting to know a lot more of it when we visit Earth again…. After they pull me in for another official debriefing. I am still technically the official ambassador for Earth to Equestria.” Vital leaned back, looking thoughtful. “My mother did teach me how to make a pretty good angel food cake, but it’s been ages since I tried making one. I don’t know if I’d be able to get the recipe right. Though I do make some pretty good oatmeal raisin cookies.”

“I’m sure you’ll find something.” She smiled.

“Don’t you mean we’ll find something? We are going to be bound together for the rest of our lives, after all.”

“The rest of your life, anyway,” Trixie said with an air of contemplation.

“Are you saying you won’t let me visit, after I go? You wound me, fair lady.”

“I never said that.”

“Good. Because like it or not, you’re going to be stuck with me, young lady. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live and beyond. I don’t care what Grif says.” He rose from his chair and trotted next to her, then kissed her cheek and nuzzled her mane. “I’m always going to be with you. Well, except when we get separated by business, I suppose.” He winked at her and quickly sidestepped the wing smack Trixie directed his way.

---

Pensword looked upon the hunters and their guides as they gathered in front of the lodge to clean their kills and recount their adventures. He smirked at the familiar sound of prideful embellishment. Every youth and prospective member wanted to sound important. His gaze flicked to Rainbow Dash and Lunar Fang, who had taken the cake, quite literally, since the reward for best hunter story was a cake. Of course, Lunar Fang embellished the tale, but he was willing to overlook it since Rainbow Dash had left such a powerful impression on his wife in the first place.

While the wolf clan was saddened at the loss, they understood why the deed had to be done. And since the two were merciful, rather than letting the wounded wolves suffer, the Pegasus garnered greater respect. The stew for tomorrow would prove most interesting with the addition of wolf meat. Pensword just hoped the interest would turn it into a happy memory.

He paused as he noticed the other Thestrals carrying a pelt that seemed to have been cured the last few days, along with smoked meats. Night Terror seemed to be the Thestral of honor, and he could see that it was a cougar that had been skinned and hunted. He approached the mare, intrigued by the find.

“Why’d you go after the cougar?” he asked.

Night Terror replied defensively. “The Cougar attacked me first. It was him or me. I guess I must’ve done something wrong, because they took one look at the pelt when I brought it for curing and demanded I accompany them to personally present it to you with the food.”

Pensword flicked his gaze down, then back up, and froze. His face staid stubbornly blank as he signaled Lunar Fang over. She took one look at the mare, then at Pensword, then over his shoulder to the pelt. She nodded.

“Night Terror, you are to stay in the camp. You will not be leaving until we come to speak with thee again.” She paused a moment, then whacked Penword with a leathery wing. “That’s for getting the old Equish stuck in my head.” Then she yanked gently on his ear. “Come along, dear. There’s a discussion that needs having.”

Pensword nodded numbly, as he followed her into what they were using as his tent for the hunt. There, he found Preston organizing paperwork. “Just the person I wanted to see. Preston, I need Grif here. Yesterday.”

Preston stiffened at the tone and nodded curtly. “I’ll forward it immediately.” His eyes and horn flashed as he forwarded a message through the hive mind.

Grif arrived fifteen minutes later. He approached, Pensword but said nothing.

Pensword looked Grif in the eye and fidgeted with his hooves. “Grif, the spirit of the hunt has pushed us forward, straight into a … well, something of a situation. As you know, Night Terror has been spying on us; however, the last few nights, she has had a cougar attack her. Upon skinning the kill, unknown to her, the mark of a bat in flight was found. That mark means that the mare who killed the animal should either be married to the lead stallion or dismissed from the tribe. Too much time has passed, and I have caught her eyeing me with mixed emotions.” He sighed. “Since you know her true intentions, I feel that you should have a say in this. How should we proceed, courtship or banishment? Tradition is forcing my hoof. Those are the only two options.”

“What would her father do to her if we sent her back?” The fact that they both already knew the answer went unspoken.

“What any Noble does to a bat that comes out of the closet: banishment or death. And with how many foals we got last year, I fear she will have only one option. After all, thanks to some of your networks, I doubt Blueblood would ever allow her to truly take ownership of the forests he promised her.”

“How do you feel about her?” Grif asked.

Pensword hummed. “She has potential. She reminds me of the original Thestral that married Private Blueblood. She’s learning so much, and she carries the potential to reconcile house Blueblood with the Thestrals after centuries of divide. She might even bring the family all the way back to being an ally.”

“Is that really all you’re considering in the matter, Pensword?” Lunar Fang pressed.

“I’m trying to look at it from an impartial perspective for now, dear.”

“Well, I can’t decide this for you, Pensword. This is something of a private matter,” Grif said as he looked pointedly between the pair. “In the end, as your friend, I can only tell you to go with your gut on this one.”

Pensword nodded decisively. “Then I’ll have to call in a favor with a few Gryphons. If I am to court her, she needs protection from Blueblood’s assassins and assassins in general. I doubt other Thestrals will like the idea of me marrying a spy in Blueblood’s employ. That also means we’ll have to travel to his manor to get the dowry he owes her.” His mouth hardened into a grim line. “I know the spark of love for her is there. It’s just … my hoof is being forced sooner then I had hoped. I’ll make my proclamation, and I need you or one you trust at that proclamation to keep her safe. I’m sure one of Blueblood’s other spies will be running back to him the moment I make the announcement.”

Grif nodded. “I’ll send you a few guards until you get something set up.”

“Good. Can you be present as a hunter for this next part of the adoption proceedings?”

Grif nodded again. “I suppose I can spare the time.”

Pensword inclined his head in thanks, and the trio returned to the festivities. With Grif in the background watching the proceedings, many a Thestral could already guess what was about to come.

Night Terror felt the spark of panic grow in her chest as she watched Grif and Pensword emerge with grim expressions. Had she just failed? Would she have to return home in disgrace? What would her father think? With great difficulty, she hid the inner turmoil beneath a calm collected mask.

“Rare it is that while spring is yet to come, the hunt brings about what it did tonight. Night Terror, a daughter lost, but now found, does not know just how lucky or how blessed she is by the hunt this night. For upon this night where those wishing to marry one another share their meals and hunts, the fates have brought upon the back of Night Terror, daughter of the first marriage between the Ponies of the Sun and Moon, the ability to reaffirm these ties.

“On the pelt that Night Terror presented to me, hidden from her eyes to allow the kill, is the shape of a flying bat. In accordance with ancient tradition, we are now presented with two choices. Either we send her away, claiming she has not achieved what we desired and the fates say her time has past or we fully embrace her, have her become a true member of our clans and tribes.” He smiled warmly as Lunar Fang dragged Fox Feather to stand by his side. “And grant her the honor that such a kill demands be bestowed. As such, it is with a warm heart and a full moon above our heads that I do hereby accept her and extend to her an offer of courtship. Let the spring courtship of houses Blueblood and Pen begin tonight. Night Terror, you have earned your place in these tribes. Please, join me at my table and dine with my two wives.”

The spark in Night Terror’s chest exploded into a conflagration that quickly shrivelled and curled in a crumpled mess. Marriage. Marriage! She’d never planned on marrying. Her blood was dirty, her pedigree a shame to her father and brother. To do this would qualify as the ultimate betrayal to everything her family stood for.

At the same time, though, Pensword was declared an honorary Pegasus, despite his mixed heritage. He had legal standing among the nobility, and he had been recognized both anciently and currently as an adopted member of the Hurricane Household. Such rank and prestige held weight. And there was a certain aspect to the Pony she found … undefinable. Then there was the matter of the Thestral branches of the family that had survived the purging. She had gotten to know them, to understand them. True, the culture was still something alien to her to an extent. It didn’t feel right, with the way she had been raised in Canterlot. But they had accepted her openly with kindness. They welcomed her into their home. She had played with their foals, gossipped with their mares, learned how to fight and hunt with their guidance.

They were strange, different, but they were not worthy of execution. And Blueblood would surely seek just that, lest a challenge be made in the courts to threaten his position as head of house and divide his fortune and lands even more than they had been already.

And then there was the matter of the tradition itself. Pensword had been very plain in his ultimatum, one that was clearly demanded by their faith in their alien goddess. Either she would have to agree to this courtship and the ultimate union that would likely result from such advances or she would have to reject and return to Canterlot within the next day. She was caught.

At last, she came to a decision and swallowed her feelings. It wouldn’t do to let her confidence fall where everypony could see. Not only would it be a sign of weakness in Thestral culture, but it would also make Pensword suspicious, if not outright hostile for spurning his generous offer in the first place. Then again, perhaps he would simply be sad.

She quickly crushed that last thought. Pensword did not get sad. He got even. History had shown that only too well. She took a deep breath and approached the table, then deliberately took a seat next to Fox Feather. She prayed to Faust nopony would perceive her nerves.

Foxfeather smirked as she slammed a mug filled with some form of hard drink onto the table and pushed it into Night Terror’s hooves. “Drink up, deary. Let’s see just how strong a Thestral you really are.”

Night Terror hid her grimace behind the cup and drank, only to cough up the liquid the moment it touched her throat. The alcohol burned heavily, leaving her gasping for breath and flailing for water. Somepony finally took pity on her, and she drank deeply. She rasped and cleared her throat to try to settle the burning. Raucous laughter soon grated against her ears as much of the clans finished watching the spectacle.

Lunar Fang smiled kindly and nodded her head gently. “Don’t worry. It’s all in good fun,” she whispered. “You should have seen how Pensword reacted during his first time.”

Night Terror smiled weakly in return. “Um … thanks.” The rest of the evening passed with much laughter and merriment. But Night Terror didn’t have an eye for such things. She had more difficult matters to address. What would her father do in this kind of situation? And more importantly, how was she going to tell him where her mission had led?

---

The cold air had finally broken for the first time in weeks, leaving room for the snow to melt. The first herald of spring swept through to loosen winter’s grip, though not remove it altogether. The last fingers of frost clung stubbornly to the snow drifts and shadowy eaves of the castle.

A figure slowly crept out from the brush outside the castle. Several sticks and leaves jutted messily out from her gray mane. Her cloche hat was askew, and the bottom of her purple cloak dragged heavily against the ground, its trim completely soaked in the slush from the snow. A thick set of red glasses sat firmly on the bridge of her nose. She sighed wearily as she approached the outer perimeter walls.

“Bonjour, Madame,” a voice spoke from above the wall as a Unicorn dressed in a full red facemask looked down at her. His Phrench accent was very thick. “Would you be so kind as to state your business? I would be very much in your debt.”

“My name is A.K. Yearling. I’ve come to speak with Lord Hammer Strike and Grif Grafson. They should be expecting me.”

The red-adorned head vanished for a several minutes. When it returned, it peeped over the edge and called, “Very well. You may enter,” before the heavy wooden doors began to open.

Yearling continued her steady advance. She was used to the stares and whispers. That was to be expected as a famous author, especially after everything Rainbow Dash did to make her works popular in this part of the kingdom. She strode past foundations, frameworks, and other buildings, including the lodge. She made a note to return there later. It wasn’t often one had the chance to see Thestral culture in action, and it could prove useful as a plot point in one of her books. The Hall of Paragons was lined with Pegasus staff who gaped as she walked past. Finally, she reached the main gate.

“Could somebody open the gate, please?” she called. “It’s rather cold out here.”

A blocky muzzle peered out over the parapet and nodded. Then he turned to the side and bellowed, “Yo, Demos, open the gate!”

The jangle of chains and a heavy groan heralded the rise of the portcullis and the secondary set of heavy wooden doors beyond. A large rectangular portal inside the gate pulled open for the mare, and she passed through to the courtyard.

“Thank you,” she said to the Unicorn tending the gate. “Has anyone told Hammer Strike of my arrival?”

“Lord Hammer Strike is currently in his office,” Blast Shield said as he approached. “Welcome, Miss Yearling. I’ll show you the way.”

“Ah. You’re Blast Shield, right? Thank you for the invitation to come here for my research.”

“Wow, most people can’t tell me and my brother apart until we tell them,” the stallion noted with surprise. “Well, the invitation was from Lord Hammer Strike. In the end, we just make sure things go smoothly. He’s the one that makes the decisions.”

“I recognized your tone from the letter,” she said simply. “Writing is sort of my specialty.”

Blast nodded, then gestured with a hoof. “Well, just follow me. Lord Hammer Strike’s office isn’t far.” He led her through the great hall and up a flight of stairs to Hammer Strike’s door.

“You’re clear to enter,” Hammer Strike called out through the wood.

“Go on ahead,” Blast gestured. “Don’t worry. He’ll be expecting you.”

Yearling nodded her thanks and passed through the door, closing it gently behind her, before addressing the pony there. “Lord Strike. It’s an honor to meet you,” she said. “Are you ready for our interview?” She cast a casual glance around the room and looked questioningly at the lord.

“We’re clear. I secured the room as soon as you closed the door.”

A.K. nodded. “And Grif?”

“I’m here,” Grif spoke from somewhere outside her view.

“Cloaking spell?” she asked curiously as she removed her hat and cloak to reveal the explorer’s garb that lay beneath. She tossed her mane to return it to its regular style.

“Practice,” Grif answered.

“All right,” she said primly. “Let’s cut to the chase.” She reached into her satchel and pulled out what appeared to be a large book. However, when she opened the cover, a great stone slab was revealed. “The pictograms on this indicate what appears to be an advanced civilization. I didn’t really care too much for it at first, until I saw this over here.” She pointed to a far corner, where a worn compass rose had been etched into the stone. She then produced a parchment. “Here’s a rubbing I took from the surface. It’s faint, but you can just make out the wings surrounding a Unicorn’s head in the center. As you know, the maps of the era from the sisters’ shared rule always showed both sisters’ heads back to back. This one shows only a single head, and it appears distinctly masculine in its features.

“It’s my belief that this tablet could well be a reference or record pertaining to the lost city. The only problem is I can’t seem to translate the remaining characters. It looks like old Ponish at first, but further investigation has yielded several inconsistencies. Magical dating indicates that the tablet itself is as old as, if not older than, Equestria’s founding under the sisters. I theorize this could be an ancient language our ancestors utilized in that era. And if that is so, it’s possible that this document may contain information pertaining to the city in question.”

“The main problem is the lack of the rest of the book, correct?” Hammer Strike questioned before humming. “I could check with Celestia or Luna to see if they remember the language.”

“I don’t know for sure whether it even is a book. If it was, then much of it may have been destroyed, at least this copy. The ruins I found it in were dilapidated at best, and that’s me being generous about their condition.”

Grif nodded. “I’ll see if I can’t track down a copy.”

“I’m still not one hundred percent, so I doubt I could locate it through time.” Hammer Strike sighed. “If I keep pushing things that hard, I might end up causing permanent harm to myself.”

“Not to mention time itself,” Daring noted. “Trust me, I’ve been there.”

“And trust me when we say this. We’re experts on the subject,” Hammer Strike replied simply. “I’ll keep supplying funding to your ventures, if you have ideas for where to go next, but I have a feeling this search is going to last a while.”

“Until we find a means to understand the language, most likely,” Daring agreed. “Once we do, this could provide us a clue to the next step of the journey.”

“Now, have you managed to keep this from your … usual problems?” Grif asked.

“So far, but knowing how things work with these kinds of adventures, it’s only a matter of time before one of them sticks their nose into things.”

“Just so you’re aware, we cannot afford competition on this venture. Should your usual rivals rear their heads, we will not hesitate to dispose of them. In a variety of unpleasant ways,” Grif said grimly.

“I’ll make sure to let them know that. Caballeron won’t be too pleased to hear it, of course, but you scared him half to death. He knows better than to cross you.”

“Well then, if there isn’t anything more to discuss, I should go and inform my associates to look for this book of yours,” Grif said as he looked to Hammer Strike for permission to leave.

Hammer Strike nodded his assent.

“Take the rubbing with you. You can distribute a copy to each of your scouts,” Daring said as she passed the parchment to the mercenary.

“They’ll only need one copy,” Grif assured her. He seized the paper and took his leave.

“You’re free to stay here for as long as you need before you set out. If you have need of any provisions, I can give you clearance to take some supplies before you go,” Hammer Strike said.

“Most of this will likely be me searching for any signs of a cipher or other means of translation. Either that or locating an artifact that can do the work for us.” She sighed. “Either way, it’s going to be off to the libraries for research. I’ll keep you posted as work progresses.” She pulled out a small lamp. Its light was barely an ember. “By the way, my dragon fire lamp needs refilling.”

Hammer Strike raised his hoof, and it ignited with thaumic energy. After a moment, he lowered it and shrugged. The lamp was completely full of the glowing substance, and burned like a small star. “There. That should last you.”

Daring nodded. “I’ll see you later, then.” She gathered her supplies and left the tablet. “Until next time, Hammer Strike.”

“Until then.”

Comments

[Well Geboren]

First! and great chapter, I wonder when they'll tell Night Terror that they'v known from the start that she was sent as a spy.

[Fetch]

9542196
I hope that when they do, they also inform her that her direct ancestors were the FIRST Thestral and Pony to wed. That the entire Blueblood family would not exist if it was not for Thestrals.

I do forsee Penstroke telling the assembled nobles that none of them are pureblood, as that is an idiotic notion to begin with. That he can honestly say that there is not a single noble in Canterlot who does not have at least one ancestor who is not of the tribe they are, and very likely that at least a quarter of them have Unicorn, Pegasus, Earth, and Thestral in their blood. And if they keep trying to hide their past by hiding the truth and their children, then New Unity will gladly take ALL their children away, to be raised with a mindset more in keeping with Equestria, and less with the thinking of Before Hearth's Warming.

Pensword: Oh, and Blueblood? I knew the first of your line. He would be ashamed to see that his descendants have become schemers and cowards.

[Booster Spice]

Another wedding being arranged and no sign of Pinkie? Someone better check in with Ponyville and Canterlot.

Mentioning Pinkie. To the guy of story telling.

General L-Space Theory.

Wouldnt have expected even Dash to get that blood thirsty for a communal meal, live hunt, but her defense was right out of comic changeling dream.

I now get this image of Hammerstrike going hunting or just enemy removal by useing Hulk Clap.

Daring found a prior Hammerstrike location, the male alicorn either stylised, or Pony Of Shadows or othe big bad at that time? She says thers differences between the actual text and Old Ponish. What if the text is a time message, and when written out in Old Ponish, the differences, letter left over or missing, placement etc, are an English or other cryptogram of causal permitted information?

Are there any other racial interactions related to School of Freindship under consideration or way, or are the occasional not Spike dragon or other students going to be turning up in any meaningful secondary way, or is this Adventure primarily restricting itself to the overall Family Unity?

[Grif_Bladefeather]

9542492
technically the normal equestrian mindset is only slightly less racist in general then the canterlot nobility as there portrayed here.

[Bast]

Time to re read some parts as i've forgotten some stuff lol.

[Fetch]

9600718
Oh. Well, I hold hope for New Unity to help fix that.

[EnderHooves]

Foxfeather smirked as she slammed a mug filled with some form of hard drink onto the table and pushed it into Night Terror’s hooves. “Drink up, deary. Let’s see just how strong a Thestral you really are.”

ISN'T SHE A CHILD!?! HOW OLD IS SHE?!? What!!? Is she older or younger than her blonde brother? I was under the impression that she was a foal, little older than the CMC.

[The Correspondent]

His grin widened before he offered a hand to Grif. “My name is Kass, keeper of stories.”

ya cheeky buggers! nice reference there!