> The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm
>  by Caelus Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Part 1: Godling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 1:Godling



A blue pegasus stallion flew through the late afternoon air with practiced ease.  Below, he idly watched the residents of Ponyville go about their daily business.  The ponies were out enjoying the sun, which was shining bright and clear thanks to the efforts of the weather team.
The pegasus banked left, and began a slow, spiraling descent.  His hooves clopped lightly on the ground as he landed in front of a modest house at the edge of downtown Ponyville.  He pushed in his front door and entered the house.  The living space was simply decorated and surprisingly clean for the home of a young bachelor stallion.  The pegasus shut the door behind him with a light kick.  It was still too early to be thinking about dinner, so the pegasus headed upstairs.  He grabbed a clean towel from the linen closet, and headed to the bathroom.  Work with the weather team had been a bit harder than usual today, with a light storm blowing in from the Everfree Forest around mid-morning.  It had been strange, coming with no warning, but it was quickly chalked up to Everfree's unpredictable weather.
The stallion scrubbed the sweat of honest labor from his body, glad to finally be clean.  He emerged from the bathroom, still in the process of drying his mane.  He still had a few minutes before he met up with some of his friends for dinner.  He went into his bedroom, hanging the towel on a hook.  the room, like the rest of the house, was simply decorated.  There was a bed, a set of double bookshelves, a dresser, and a nightstand.  The pegasus lay down on his bed and picked up the book on his nightstand.  He glanced momentarily at the framed picture that sat next to the lamp.
It was a picture of a flame haired mare and a gray-blue stallion.  The words Fly high, Caelus Storm.  Spitfire and Soarin were written across the bottom in black marker.
The blue pegasus opened his book to where he had left off the night before.  He managed to finish two chapters pf the adventure novel before he had to go meet his friends.  Putting the book down, he trotted downstairs and left his home.  He had told Summer Skies that he would meet her in town square.

"See you tomorrow, Storm," Summer Skies said, as the blue pegasus banked towards his house.
Caelus Storm walked inside.  It was late, but not late that he was ready to go to bed.  He decided to finish up his book.  He only had three chapters left to go.  After he finished the final chapter, he turned off the light.  Work tomorrow was bright and early, and he needed his rest.


*  *  *


There was rain scheduled for that day.  An early report from Rainbow Dash said that a storm was gathering in the Everfree Forest, so they were going to just let that one blow through.  Caelus spent most of his time helping the ponies of Ponyville prepare for the storm, whether by taking down loose branches or by picking up sticks in the park.
By lunchtime, the sky was darkening, and ponies were hurriedly finishing up the last of their errands before the storm hit.  Caelus was helping a pink-maned yellow pegasus carry her groceries home.  Her cottage was at the edge of Ponyville, right next to the Everfree Forest.
"Um, thank you for your help," the yellow mare said, her voice just above a whisper.
"It was nothing, Fluttershy," Caelus said.  A sudden gust of wind carried with it a rolling boom of thunder.  "Though, I better get going if I'm gonna make it home before it starts raining."
"Oh, um, good-bye, Mister Storm," Fluttershy murmured.
"Bye, Fluttershy," Caelus said, waving as he trotted down the path.
No sooner had Fluttershy closed her door when the wind really started to pick up.  Rain started falling lightly.  Caelus muttered a curse.  He didn't want to risk injury by flying in the gathering storm.  He decided to take a short cut home by skirting the Everfree Forest, then cutting across the park.  Even though the rain started to pick up, Caelus skirted the forest by several hoof-widths.  No one willingly went into that place.
As Caelus reached the park, though, he came to a stop.  He pricked his ears up, trying to make certain he had heard what he thought he had.  A clap of thunder caused him to flinch.  He strained his ears, and heard it again.
"Hello?  Is anypony there?" a faint voice said.
Caelus blinked in surprise.  The voice came from the Everfree Forest.  Why would anypony be out there in the middle of a storm?  He stopped at the edge of the forest, hesitating before trotting through the underbrush.
The voice grew louder as Caelus drew closer.  It sounded like it was coming from the other side of a screen of underbrush.  Caelus started pushing his way through the thick vines.
"Eep!" the voice said.  "H-hello?  Is somepony there?"  A pause.  "Somepony that isn't a monster."
Caelus pushed his way through the last of the vines, and entered a small clearing.  He stopped short.  in the middle of the clearing was a young unicorn filly.  Her blue coat was covered in mud, and her light blue mane was soaked and tangled.  Upon seeing him, the filly jumped in surprise, then curled up, making herself as small as possible.  She peeked out from behind her hooves, staring at Caelus with big purple eyes.
"um, hello," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the storm.
Caelus was about to question the filly when a deafening clap of thunder boomed overhead.  The wind was gusting so hard that several small branches were falling off of the surrounding trees, with the larger ones creaking threateningly.  Caelus knew it wasn't safe to be outside right now.
"Come with me," he said to the filly, urgency coloring his voice.  "It's not safe out here."
He hoisted the filly onto his back, and took off as fast as he dared through the forest.  When he arrived at his home, he was soaked to the bone.  the filly on his back was shivering.
Caelus had trouble closing the door once he was safely inside.  The sounds of the storm were muffled by the walls.  He shook the worst of the water out of his mane.  He carried the filly upstairs and filled the tub with warm water, just deep enough to give the filly a bath.
"Let's get you cleaned up," he said to the filly.
"Okay," the filly said.
Caelus lowered her into the water.  He left to go get a wash cloth a wash cloth and towel from the linens closet.  When he returned, the filly had submerged all but her head in the water.
"Mmm...warm," she crooned.
Caelus let her soak for a minute before he tackled the mud caked on her back with soap can the wash cloth.  When most of the mud was washed away, Caelus stopped.  The little filly let her wings spread slightly to get the last bit of mud out of her feathers.  She didn't notice that Caelus was staring at her in shock.
By Celestia, he thought, she's an alicorn.  Caelus forced himself to keep calm.  He didn't need the filly to panic.
The filly splashed playfully in the tub, giggling with childish delight.  Caelus took a deep breath, and started washing the filly's mane and tail.  Once she was clean, Caelus drained the tub and dried the filly off.  he brushed the tangles out of her hair.  Clean, he noticed that her light blue mane had traces of pale lavender in it.  Her coat was a deep royal blue, much darker than his own blue coat.
"Now, can you wait while I get clean too?" he said to the filly.  She nodded.
Caelus took a quick shower, cleaning the mud from his coat and hooves.  He dried himself off, and ran a brush quickly through his black and gray mane.
He emerged from the bathroom, and found the filly sitting near the top of the stairs.  She had her head craned around and was using her teeth to straighten the feathers on her wings.  She jumped to her hooves when she saw him.
"You startled me," she said, blushing slightly.
"Sorry," Caelus said.  He was somewhat surprised by her word choice.  She couldn't be no more than six or seven years old.  "Would you like something to eat?  It's almost dinner time."
The filly nodded eagerly and followed Caelus downstairs to the kitchen.  She jumped up onto a chair at the table, while Caelus pulled out everything he would need to make a dinner for two.  He was glad that he had bought fresh groceries the day before.  He made several sandwiches, salad, and a plate of hay fries.  He poured a glass of fresh apple juice for the little filly, and one for himself.
The two ate in silence, the filly because she was enjoying her meal, and Caelus because he couldn't think of anything to say.  He had at least a dozen questions buzzing around in his head, but ever time he was about to ask one, the words stuck in his throat.
The filly was halfway through her third sandwich, when she paused.  Swallowing the mouth full of food, she looked at Caelus.
"Um, Mister Pegasus?" she asked timidly.
Caelus jumped slightly.  "I'm sorry, I never introduced myself.  My name is Caelus Storm.  Though my friends just call me Storm."
"Oh, okay," the filly said, "well, thank you Mist...Storm."
"Of course," Caelus said, "I wouldn't want anypony to be out in this weather." Thunder boomed overhead, seeming to emphasize his point.
"Anyway," Caelus said after a short pause, "do you have a name?"
The filly opened her mouth, then stopped.  She blinked, then frowned.  "I...I don't know," she said, puzzled.  "I know I have one, but I...I can't remember."  Her expression changed from confusion to sadness.  She looked like she was about to cry.
"Hey, now," Caelus said, "don't cry.  I'm sure you'll remember eventually."
The filly wiped her eyes with her hoof.  "Okay," she said softly.
"Maybe you could try to think back.  What's the first thing you remember?"  Caelus asked.
the filly thought for a moment.  "I remember waking up in a cave in the forest.  It was sunny, the the trees made everything seem dark.  I started walking around.  After awhile, it got really cloudy and started raing.  And then you came through the trees, and brought me here."
Caelus was stumped.  If this filly was right, then she may as well have been born today.  Where had she come from?  And what was she doing in the Everfree Forest?  Caelus was so absorbed in thought that he almost didn't here the quiet sobs coming from the filly.
"What's wrong?" he said, concerned.
"I...I can't re-remember anyth-thing," she sobbed, "I-I'm lost..."
Caelus went over and draped a wing over the distraught filly.  "Shh...it's okay," he whispered.  "I'll tell you what, why don't we sleep on it?  Maybe you'll remember something in the morning."
"Okay," the filly murmured.  She followed him up to his bedroom, where he tucked her in.  He turned out the light, but before he could leave, the filly spoke up.
"Storm?  Could you stay until I fall asleep?"
Caelus smiled.  "Of course I can," he said.  He waited until the filly's breathing slowed and she drifted into Luna's embrace.  he crept out of the room and grabbed a spare blanket from the linen closet.  He settled down on the couch and, after the events of the day, was all to willing to get some sleep.


*  *  *


Princess Celestia looked out of her bedroom window.  From here, she could see Equestria spread out before her.  The moon was shining brightly, wrapping the world in its soft, silvery light.
You should be sleeping, Celestia, she told herself.  Yet she couldn't.  Something in Equestria was off.  She could feel traces of powerful magic; a tingling in her horn and at the base of her wings.  Luna had felt it too, and she was just as restless.  She had gone to her room to attend to her duties as Princess of the Night, and watch over ponies' dreams.
The Princess of the Sun took a sip of the tea she had requested from the palace kitchens.  However, she was still tense.  It was her duty to prepare for any possible threat to Equestria and protect her subjects.
Her door was thrown open, startling Celestia into nearly dropping her tea.  In the doorway was her sister.  Her mane was slightly disheveled, and she wasn't wearing any of her royal regalia.
"Luna, what's wrong?" Celestia asked.  Luna took her dream duties seriously.  For her to abandon them in the middle of the night...
"Sister, we have found it.  We must move now, before it is too late," Luna said urgently, slipping back into her usage of the royal "we".
"Luna, slow down," Celestia said.  "You are not making any sense."
Luna took a deep breath.
"Now, explain again," Celestia said, her calm voice betraying her anxiety.  "And this time, please make sense."
Luna glared at her sister.  "I found it while dreamwalking, and I know for certain that it is what we seek."
"Luna, stop being cryptic," Celestia said, annoyed.  "What is 'it'?"
Luna took a deep breath, and whispered one word.  "Godling."
Celestia's eyes widened.  "Where?"
"Near the Everfree Forest," Luna replied.
"Get dressed," Celestia said.  "We leave at once."


*  *  *


It was just before dawn when Caelus was startled awake by a knock at his front door.  He groaned and rolled off the couch, running a hoof over his mane to make himself at least somewhat presentable.  He opened the door.
"Hello, can I help-" he stopped.  Standing before him were the two most important ponies in Equestria.
"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" Caelus breathed, bowing.
"We need to speak in private," Princess Celestia said.  She wore a serious expression, which was mirrored by her sister's.
Caelus gestured for the princesses to enter.  Closing the door behind them, he made sure that the lock was set.  He followed the two rulers into the living room.  He gulped and tried to make himself as small as possible.
Celestia's horned glowed yellow for an instant.  "Now we won't be overheard," she said.  "What is your name?"
"C-Caelus Storm, your Majesty," Caelus stammered.
"Do you know why we are here?" Princess Luna said, her eyes darting around the simple living space.
Caelus gulped again.  "N-no, your Highness," he said, "but I th-think I could guess."
Before the princesses could question him further, a voice called from the base of the stairs.  "Storm? Are you there?"
The little filly stood in the doorway, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her hoof.  "I had a strange dream and..." the filly stopped abruptly when she saw the princesses standing in the living room.  her eyes widened and she hid around the side of the door frame.
Celestia raised an eyebrow.  "Perhaps you should explain yourself," she said.

The two princesses stood silent for a long moment after Caelus finished explaining how he had found the filly in the Everfree Forest.  The filly herself was sitting on a chair, occasionally stealing nervous glances at the princesses.
Caelus fidgeted nervously while he waited for the princesses to respond.  His wings ruffled slightly from his inner anxiety.  The filly noticed, and shrunk down on the chair, trying to make herself even smaller.  Caelus felt the urge to put a comforting wing around the filly.
Celestia spoke, "First, before anything else, we must know the filly's name."  Celestia approached the filly, who whimpered slightly in fright.  "It's okay, my little pony," Celestia said, her voice warm and soft.  "This won't hurt.  I promise."  She lowered her horn to touch the filly's.  The Princess' horn began to glow faintly yellow.  The filly closed her eyes and visibly relaxed.  Her own horn started to glow light blue.
Her eyes shot open.  "I know," she murmured.  "I know my name."  She giggled.  "My name is Kaela Fie."
Celestia smiled and stepped back, the glow fading from her horn.
Caelus looked confused.  "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It is an old language," Celestia said, "In modern Equiish, it translates to 'Cloud Wing'.
"However, there is something else we must fin out," she continued, "and this involves you, Caelus Storm.  Luna, you are better at this than I."
The dark blue alicorn approached Caelus, horn glowing.  Caelus flinched when she touched his head, but stayed still.  His whole body tingled, the sensation tickling his spine, causing the tips of his wings to twitch.  A strange warmth seemed to come from his heart.
Suddenly, it was all over.  Caelus shook his head to clear the dizziness as Luna returned to her sister's side.
"It is done," Luna said to Celestia.
Celestia's smile faded slightly.  She looked at Caelus with an intensity that made him fidget.
"What is done?" he gulped, nervous.
Celestia sighed.  "You, my little pony, are a Guardian."
"A...a what?" Caelus stammered.
Celestia was about to reply when Luna interupted.
"Sister, it is nearly sunrise," she said, "we must return to Canterlot soon."
Celestia sighed again, and looked directly at Caelus.  "You must come with us," she said, "You have five minutes to get together you belongings."
"Wh-what?" Caelus stuttered, "but I have work.  Oh, Rainbow will be really Mad if I leave like this on such short notice."
"This is important," Celestia said, "I am sorry.  Now hurry, we don't have much time."
Caelus ran up to his room for his saddlebag.  he tossed in the book he was reading, a bag of bits, and his flying goggles.  From the bathroom he got a toothbrush, toothpaste, a brush, and a spare towel.
He trotted back downstairs to the waiting princesses.
Celestia nodded, her horn glowing.  there was a bright flash of light, and suddenly, all four of them were standing in a well decorated study,
Caelus fought a wave of nausea, but managed to stay on his feet.
"you did well," Princess Celestia said, "Most ponies vomit after their first teleportation."
Caelus swallowed.  "Can't imagine why."
"My sister and I must raise the sun and lower the moon," Celestia said.  "Please, stay here.  We'll talk when we return."
The two princesses left the room. leaving Caelus and Kaela Fie alone.  The filly immediately curled up on one of the cushions on the floor.  She was asleep in minutes.  Caelus was too nervous to sleep.  He paced the length of the room several times, trying to relax.
It felt like hours passed before the princesses returned.  Caelus stopped pacing and turned to face Princess Celestia, who sat behind her desk.
"Now, I know you have questions," Celestia said.
Caelus nodded, but it took him a moment to find his tongue.  "Where did she come from?"  he asked.
"I do not know," Celestia replied.  She held up a hoof to forestall any remarks from Caelus.  "You must understand, alicorns don't follow a life cycle like that of normal ponies.
"When an alicorn foal is born, they only remain awake for a short time.  After three days, they fall into a Deep Sleep.  their body's metabolism all but stops, and they appear to be all but dead.  usually, the parent leaves the foal in a safe, hidden place, and protects it.  The foal will normally remain in Deep Sleep for eight years.  In that time, their body and mind have matured enough for them to fend for themselves with help from their parent.
"However, something is different about young Kaela Fie.  From what I can tell, she awakened before she reached full physical maturity, but her mental maturity is more advanced.  Which is strange, considering how long she's been asleep."
"And how is that?" Caelus asked.
"About two thousand years," Celestia replied, "give or take a decade."
Caelus blinked in surprise.  He glanced at the little filly, who was still sound asleep.  She looked to be only six, but was born 2,000 years ago.  It didn't make sense.
"So...does that mean I took the filly from one of you?" Caelus gulped.
"No, and therein lies another mystery," Celestia said.  "Neither Luna nor myself have had any children."
Caelus let that sink in.  If Kaela Fie wasn't Celestia's or Luna's child, then whose was she?
"I know you are about to ask, but no, neither of us know who her mother is," Princess Luna said.
Caelus was silent for a long time.  "What did you mean when you said I was her 'guardian'?" he finally said/  "I only found her in the forest.  That doesn't make me her legal guardian or anything."
"Let me explain," Princess Luna said, "When any foal is born, they imprint upon their parents naturally.  However, alicorn foals imprint later, after they awaken from their Deep Sleep.
"Kaela Fie's mother, for whatever reason, has lost her.  When Kaela Fie awakened, she was driven to look for a pony to call her parent.  She imprinted on you, so you are now her Guardian."
"But...how did you know she...imprinted...on me?" Caelus asked.  "It's not like this is a common thing to happen.
"Not anymore," Celestia said, "but long ago, there were more alicorns.  And it was rare, but sometimes a foal's parent would perish.  It was a dark time, and such things did happen.  The first Guardians ended up taking the parent's place.  any pony that became a Guardian was tasked with raising the foal, and protecting them from harm."
"B-but I don't know anything about raising a foal," Caelus exclaimed, "I'm barely old enough to be considered a stallion myself."
"Fate has bound you to this filly, Caelus Storm," Celestia said, "Such a bond can only be broken by death."
Caelus gulped.  "I-I don't know what to do," he murmured.
"We can help you," Luna said, "But the task of being this filly's Guardian falls onto you and you alone."
Caelus felt weak in the knees, but he nodded."  I...I'll do it."
Celestia nodded.  her horn glowed, as did Luna's.  "Caelus Storm, the duty of protecting and raising the filly, Kaela Fie falls onto you.  You must raise her as your own.  you must protect her should she be threatened.  Do you accept the burden of this task?"
"I-I do," Caelus said.
"Then by the power of the Sun and Moon, I bind your fate to Kaela Fie's."
When the glow faded from the princesses' horns, Caelus felt himself grow dizzy and weak.
"come, I will show you to a room where you can rest," Princess Celestia said.  She put Kaela Fie on her back, and led Caelus through the halls of the castle to a guest bedroom.  She set the filly on the bed.
"Rest for now," she said to Caelus, "ring the pull-bell if you need anything."  With that, the princess left Caelus alone.
Caelus dropped his saddlebag on the floor.  he needed to catch up on missed sleep.  He crawled into bed, careful not to disturb the filly.
Kaela Fie shifted, cuddling closer to Caelus.  Caelus smiled and, draping a protective wing over her, fell asleep.
> Part 2: Guardian
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 2: Guardian


When Kaela Fie awoke, she was slightly confused.  Where was she?  All she knew was that she was surrounded by a comforting warmth.  She snuggled deeper into the bed, reluctant to leave it behind.
She dozed for a while longer, but eventually found she could not stay still any more.  She opened her eyes and found herself covered by something blue, feathery, and warm.  she twisted around and saw a still sleeping Storm, his wing draped like a blanket over her.  She smiled.  She nuzzled his side lightly, then wriggled out from beneath the feathered appendage, trying not to wake up the sleeping pegasus.
She jumped off the bed, though misjudged the height.  she stumbled when she hit the floor, tumbling forward and landing painfully on her muzzle.
"Oof," she said.  her eyes teared up reflexively, and she clutched her nose with her hooves.  "Ow," she whined softly.  She pulled a hoof from her face.  No blood.  That was good.  Rubbing the tears from her eyes, she got to her hooves.  she looked around the room.  It was dark, but light filtered through a gap in the curtains.
Kaela trotted over to the curtained windows, pushing past the drapes. The window will was above her head, but if she stood on her tippy-hooves, she could just see out the window.  She blinked at the bright light.  The sun was shining, but was still somewhat low in the sky.  The city of Canterlot gleamed in the early morning sun.  Kaela was entranced by the scene, but soon grew bored.  She left the window and went back to exploring the room.
There was an empty fireplace to one side of the room with a clock above the mantle.  Kaela watched the pendulum swing back and forth for a few seconds before looking at its face.  she tilted her head to one side, trying to make sense of the symbols.  They didn't look like numbers, more like letters.  She raised her hoof and counted off the marks.  The big arm was between the third and fourth marks, and the little arm was between the seventh and eighth marks.  After a few more seconds, the filly left her spot in front of the fireplace.
The room was well furnished.  Near the center of the room was a couch, two chairs, and a low table.  The cushions looked super soft and cushy, and Kaela entertained herself for a few minutes bouncing on the couch.  she continued to look around the room.  the was a wardrobe against a wall, and Storm's saddlebag was leaning against it.  As Kaela walked around the room, a flicker of motion caught her eye.  she turned, startled, and was staring at another filly.  She stared back at Kaela with wide purple eyes.
Kaela raised her hoof, and the other filly did the same.  She approached the other filly, and the filly did the same.  When she was within touching distance, Kaela reached a hoof towards the filly.  Instead of encountering another hoof, she touched a hard, smooth surface.
"Oh," Kaela said, "It's a mirror."  she made a silly face at her reflection, then another, then a third.  Then she noticed how messy she looked.  Her mane was sticking up all over, and her feathers were ruffled and disarrayed.
She tried patting down her mane with her hooves, and was met with limited success.  She twisted around and straightened her feathers.  Once her wings and mane were in order, she continued to circle the room.  There wasn't much else to do.
Kaela walked back over to the bed.  She coiled up and jumped, just making it up.  she crossed the bed to where Storm was sleeping.  She nuzzled Storm's head.
"Storm?" she said, her voice just above a whisper.
Storm mumbled something and shifted slightly.
"Storm," Kaela said, louder this time.
The pegasus mumbled again.  "Fi' mor min'ts."
Kaela narrowed her eyes slightly, then grinned mischievously.  "Hey, Storm. It's morning and it's time to get up," she shouted, shaking Storm vigorously.
Storm bolted upright, tangled himself in the sheets, and tumbled off the bed.  "WHAAAG," he yelled.
Kaela peered over the edge of the bed.
"'M up, I'm up," Storm said, getting to his hooves.
Kaela giggled.  Storm's mane was spiked every which way.
"What?" the pegasus asked.
Kaela giggled again, pointing at Storm's mane.  Storm ran a hoof over his head, partially taming his wild mane.
"Better?" he asked.  Kaela nodded, still smiling.
Storm nudged open the curtains.  "Agh! Bright light! Bright light!"  He stepped back, rubbing his eyes.
Kaela just collapsed on the bed, laughing.  It was a magical sound, like several tiny silver bells.  Storm smiled.
"I see you slept well," he said.
"Yup," Kaela said as her laughter subsided.  "So what're we gonna do today?"
"Well, first we should get clean," Storm replied, "I'm not the only one whose mane needs a good brushing."
Kaela hopped off the bed, careful with her landing this time.  Storm found the bathroom, and found that instead of a tub, there was a large pool.  He tested the water.  It was pleasantly warm.  There were washcloths and bottles of shampoo and body wash already set out.
Kaela stepped cautiously onto the first step.  "Ooh...it's warm."  She dunked her head under the water, then re-emerged.
Storm stepped in, allowing himself to relax.  He let out a soft sigh.
The two ponies soaked for a few minutes before starting to get clean.  Fifteen minutes later, two freshly washed and brushed ponies left the bathroom.
"Hey, Storm?" Kaela asked.
"Yes, Kaela?" he replied.
"When's breakfast?"
"We'll just have to ask, won't we," he said.  He rang the pull-bell.  Not two minutes later, a mare in a maids outfit pushed open the door.
"You called?" she said.
"Yes. We were wondering if we could get some breakfast?" Storm replied.
"Actually, the Princesses requested that you join them for breakfast if you were awake," the maid said.  "Follow me."
Kaela looked at Storm who motioned for her to follow him.  She trotted next to him as the maid led them through the castle.


*  *  *


Princess Luna was discussing the plans for the day with her sister over breakfast.  Her sister was reading the morning paper while sipping from her sip of tea.  Luna herself partook of a much stronger cup of coffee, with several sugar cubes added.  She was about to take a bite of a strawberry pastry when a knock on the door startled her.
"Enter," Celestia said.
The door to the dining hall was pushed open, and one of the castle maids led in a slightly apprehensive Caelus Storm and a happy looking Kaela Fie.  Caelus bowed to the princesses.  Kaela Fie sniffed the air, and looked like she was about to start drooling.
Luna suppressed a giggle, covering her smile by taking a sip from her coffee.
"Please, do join us," Celestia said, her voice warm.
Kaela Fie ran up to the table, hopping onto a chair placed there for that purpose.  Caelus approached much more slowly.  By the time he sat down Kaela had already decided to transfer a stack of four waffles to her plate and add a healthy helping of syrup.  Caelus looked slightly confused at how she had done that so quickly until he saw her levitating a fork with her magic.  She started cutting off pieces of waffle and putting as many on the end of her fork as she could before transferring the food to her mouth.
Caelus started with a short stack of three pancakes avoiding direct eye contact with the princesses.
Luna found the differences in their attitudes to be almost comical.  Caelus was trying hard not to show how tense he was, while the young Kaela Fie was very relaxed.  Though that may have been just because she was hungry.  The filly was thoroughly unashamed about levitating two more waffles to her plate.  Caelus noticed, blinking in surprise.
"Kaela, don't eat so fast," he said, blushing slightly, "you'll get a tummy ache."
Kaela swallowed her mouthful of food.  "But I'm hungry," she protested.
Caelus opened his mouth to reply when Celestia chuckled.  Caelus blushed deeply.
"It's alright, my little pony," Celestia said, "you can eat as much as you like."
Kaela smiled and polished off the rest of the waffles on her plate.
Caelus looked like he was going to say something, but closed his mouth.
Luna turned her giggles into a light cough.  This pegasus really had no idea how to act around the princesses.  He was clearly uncomfortable being around such important ponies.
"So, Caelus Storm, I understand you work on the Ponyville Weather Team," Luna said.
"Y-yes, your Highness," the pegasus said.
"So, tell me, how does the weather team deal with the sudden storms that come from the Everfree Forest?" Luna asked.
Caelus started explaining the procedures that the weather team used for thunderstorms, hail, and even micro-bursts.  After a short while, he opened up a little bit.  He spoke more freely, and his shoulders dropped slightly as he relaxed.
They conversed for half an hour before Celestia excused herself to attend her daily duties.  As her sister left, Luna rose to her feet.  Caelus hastily stood up too.
"Follow me, please," Luna said.
Caelus tensed up again, but joined her, followed by Kaela Fie.


*  *  *


Caelus followed Princess Luna through the halls of the castle.  Kaela trotted happily next to hem, humming softly.  Caelus found himself smiling at the filly's antics.
The Princess led them to what looked like a sitting room.  It was well lit, with the sun shining through the large windows.  There were several comfortable looking cushions arranged on the floor.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," Princess Luna said.
Caelus picked a spot across from the princess, and Kaela curled up next to him, resting her head on her hooves.
"Now," Princess Luna began, "my sister and I have agreed that you need to know about the implications of being a Guardian."
"Like what?" Caleus asked, then remembered his manners, "Princess."
Luna smiled slightly.  "While we are alone, please just call me Luna."
"Yes Prin-er...Luna," Caelus said.
"Now, to answer your question, there will be several things," Luna continued.  "Chief among them being that Kaela Fie's magic will start to rub off on you."
"Like, I'll be casting spells?" Caelus asked, incredulous.
Luna chuckled.  "No.  Nothing like that.  For one, young Kaela Fie is an immortal alicorn.  Her magic effects things in close proximity to her.  The longer you remain around her, the more it will effect you.  The biggest change will be that your lifespan will be lengthened."
"What?" Caelus said.
"Not indefinitely, mind you," Luna continued, "but it will add a few decades to your life, at most."
Caelus shifted on the cushion.
"Another thing you will notice is that your natural pegasus magic will be enhanced.  you'll be able to fly faster for longer, and your reflexes will become stronger," Luna said.  "For unicorns, their magic becomes stronger and their minds sharper, and for earth ponies they become sturdier and heartier, and their natural magic is strengthened."
"I...see," Caelus said hesitantly as he let all of this soak in.
"What about me?" Kaela spoke up.
"Ah, yes.  Just as you will rub off on Caelus Storm, some of him will rub off on you," Luna said.  "For one thing, you will come to regard Caelus as your, for lack of a better way of saying it, your parent.  However, his nature will also rub off on you.  His usual ways of thinking, his attitudes, even some of his mannerisms.  Also, you'll be able to sense some of his emotions," Luna spoke to Caelus again.  "This goes both ways.  The Guardian and the alicorn foal form a strong mental bond.  they will be able to sense each other's emotions.  The stronger the bond, the greater the degree to which you'll be able to sense the other's feelings.
Caelus nodded.  "Like telepathy."
"Yes, in a way," Luna said, "although to a much lesser degree.  this also means that you will be able to find Kaela Fie if she ever gets lost,just as she will you."
"Okay," Caelus said.  He thought for a moment.  "How did Princess Celestia know Kaela had been asleep for over two thousand years?  If I didn't know any better, I would say she is only six years old."
"That's because she is," Luna replied, "or at least, biologically she is.  Her mother probably put her in stasis while she was in Deep Sleep, so she wouldn't wake up alone."
"What do you mean?" Caelus asked.
"Caelus, the last alicorn besides myself and my sister disappeared over 1,500 years ago," Luna said.  "At the time of Kaela Fie's birth, it was not uncommon for alicorns to be hunted by the dark forces that roamed the world.  Kaela Fie's mother probably hid her, knowing she was not going to survive."
Caelus nodded, not wanting to pursue the subject further.  "So, she really is only six years old?"
"That she is," Luna replied.
Kaela squirmed a little, getting bored with all the discussion.
Luna smiled at this.  "Sorry, Kaela Fie.  I know this is not very exciting.  However, this next part concerns you."
Kaela looked up at the Moon Princess, interested.
"Now, due to her age, we must make sure that young Kaela Fie learns to control her magic," Luna said.  "Fortunately, she is past the age where she would have magic surges.  But she still will need to be taught the basics.  Therefore, we have decided that she should be enrolled in magic kindergarten."
Kaela's eyes lit up.  Caelus looked thoughtful.
"Won't an alicorn attending magic kindergarten cause a stir?" he asked.
"It would," the Princess said, "which is why we will hide her wings with a disguise."
"Okay." Caelus said with a nod.
"I get to go to school?" Kaela said, a smile on her face.
"Yes, my little pony," Luna replied, returning the filly's smile.


*  *  *


The next few hours were spent giving Caelus and Kaela a tour of the castle.  Princess Luna informed Caelus that Celestia had insisted that they stay in the castle.  Caelus only nodded unwilling to try and argue with either one of the nation's monarchs.  He was pleased when Luna told him he would have access to the Canterlot Library; the public parts anyway.  At least he would have no shortage of books to read.
Lunch was had in the gardens.  Even Princess Celestia joined them for the simple meal of sandwiches, fruit, and lemonade.  She politely inquired as to Caelus' and Kaela's day was going.
Caelus gave a few short replies but Kaela Fie responded enthusiastically about all sorts of things she had seen, with typical child-like perspective.  The Sun Princess smiled at the filly's antics, giving proper responses of interest or wonder to Kaela's chattering.
"And the guards were a little scary at first, but they didn't move at all," Kaela said, "even when I made a really silly face at them."  She scrunched up her nose, puffing out her cheeks in an imitation of said "silly face".
Princess Luna hid her smile behind a hoof, while Princess Celestia chuckled at the the filly.  She was about to ask Kaela a question, when one of her gold-armored guards approached and whispered something in her ear.
Celestis nodded, serious.  "Thank you," she said to the guard.  " I must go," she said, "someone is requesting audience with me.  It was lovely sharing lunch with you, Kaela, Caelus."  The Princess Left, flanked by two guards.
The trio of ponies remained silent for a moment, which was broken by the sound of light giggles.  Caelus turned to see Kaela laughing, with a bright yellow butterfly on her nose.  The butterfly fluttered its wings and left its perch.  Kaela giggled and chased after it, her own wings spread wide.
Caelus followed her with his eyes as she wandered around the garden.  She stopped chasing the butterfly when it flew over a hedge.  She stopped and sniffed a flower, then trotted over to the base of a statue.  It was a statue of an earth pony mare holding a scroll in her forelimbs.  The filly stared at the statue fora minute before moving on.  She walked over to Caelus, a smile on her face.
Caelus raised an eyebrow at the approaching foal.  "Yes?" he said, returning Kaela's gaze.
Kaela raised a hoof and lightly booped Caelus' nose.  "Tag! You're it," she said, running away giggling.
Caelus blinked, then jumped to his hooves.  "Oh, no you don't he said with a grin, chasing after Kaela.  The filly squealed with delight as she nimbly dodged the pegasus.  And that began their game of chase.  The two ponies entertained each other for the next several hours, though their game evolved from tag to hide and seek to "chase the alicorn around".
Caelus finally flopped onto his back, panting and sweating from the exertion.  Kaela walked over to him, staring down with her head tilted to one side.
"Okay," Caelus gasped, "you win."
Kaela grinned.  she lightly pushed a forehoof against Caelus' nose.  "Boop," she said, then started giggling again.
Caelus heard Princess Luna chuckle, and blushed.  He had forgotten that the princess had been watching the entire time.  He was about to start stammering an apology, but Luna spoke first.
"No need for apologies, Caelus Storm," she said, "but you two should probably get ready for supper."
Caelus and Kaela were led back to their room.  He and Kaela both took a warm bath, cleaning up after their play in the garden.  After being bathed and brushed, Caelus and Kaela went to go eat dinner.  It was rude to keep the Princesses waiting.


*  *  *


Caelus closed the book he was reading.  It was getting late, and he really should begetting to bed.  However, after the events of the day, he had needed to lose himself for a while in the pages of a book.
Kaela was asleep on the bed, tired after the day's adventures.  Caelus smiled.  That little filly was just a little bundle of energy.  She seemed to delight in everything, finding wonder in the ordinary.  His smile turned to a slight frown.  He thought about everything that Princess Luna had told him earlier today.  He shook his head.  He wasn't ready to raise a foal, let alone one that would eventually become a goddess.  Hay, he wasn't even thinking about finding a special somepony yet.
Maybe there had been a mistake, a cosmic mix-up that had brought this about.  he had no special skills.  He was a simple weather pony.  He wasn't exceptionally fast, or strong, or smart.  He really had no traits that set him apart from the next pegasus.  He was thoroughly ordinary.
Kaela made a sleepy noise from the bed, turning over in her sleep.  Caelus felt a smile come to his lips.  He set down the book and walked over to the bed.  Turning off the light, he slid under the sheets.  Kaela snuggled closer to his side, murmuring something.  Caleus draped a wing over her, nuzzling the top of her head.
"Sweet dreams, my little Fie," he whispered.  He rested his head on the pillow and immediately fell asleep.
> Part 3: School Days
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 3: School Days


Kaela Fie looked down, pawing nervously at the ground.  She stuck close to Storm's side.  She looked up at the white and gold painted schoolhouse.  All of yesterday she had been excited.  She and Storm had spent the day shopping for school supplies.  But now that she was here, all the excitement was gone, leaving only anxiety.
She looked up at Storm.  He smiled down at her.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm," Kaela mumbled.
"Don't worry," Storm said, "school is fun.  You'll learn lots of new things, and meet new fillies and colts.  Now, remember what Princess Celestia told you.
Kaela nodded.  "My name is Windy Spirit," she said, "I'm a unicorn filly.  My dad is in the Royal Guard and my mom works in the palace."
"Good.  And...?"
Kaela sighed.  "I can't tell anyone about my wings, or take off my dress."
Storm smiled at her.  A bell rang within the building.  "Come on," he said.  "Let's go find your class."
Kaela followed Storm hesitantly.  They walked down the white hallways, past several doorways where fillies and colts were sitting at desks, listening to their teachers do role call.  Storm stopped outside one classroom.  Kaela peeked inside.
A pink unicorn mare with a strawberry red mane addressed the class.  "Good morning, class," she said brightly.
"Good morning, Miss Maple Shine," the class responded in unison, with varying levels of enthusiasm.
The unicorn mare turned towards the door.  "Now class, we have a new student joining us today."
Kaela felt butterflies flutter in her stomach.  She gulped, trying to hide next to Storm.
Storm gave her a gentle push forward.  "You'll be fine," he whispered with a kind smile.
"Don't be shy," the mare, Miss Maple Shine, said.  Her smile was warm and genuine.
Kaela took a deep breath and entered the room.  She looked over her shoulder at Storm, who smiled at her again.  She swallowed her nervousness, and faced the class.  There were fourteen other foals, all about her own age.  It looked like an ordinary kindergarten class.  More than half the class were unicorns, three were earth ponies, and two were pegasi.
"Why don't you introduce yourself," Miss Maple Shine said.  "Tell us your name, and something interesting about yourself."
Kaela cleared her throat lightly.  Everypony was staring at her.  "Uh, my name is Windy Spirit," she said, "and I, uh..."  Kaela wracked her brain for something interesting.  "I like to read stories," she said.
Miss Maple smiled and told Kaela to pick an empty desk.  She chose one to the far right of the room, in the first row.  To her right was a pegasus filly with a light brown coat and a vanilla colored mane.  Kaela smiled shyly at her neighbor, then pulled a notebook and pencil out of her saddlebag.
As Miss Maple began her lesson, Kaela relaxed slightly.  It looked like it wasn't going to be a bad day after all.


*  *  *


Caelus trotted back toward the castle.  He had stayed at the school until Kaela had taken her seat.  Now he headed to his own destination: the Canterlot Royal Library.  The Library was situated just outside the castle, and was next door to the famed Canterlot University.  If you could afford the tuition fees, it was the best school in all of Equestria.  The library was always open, so students had 24 hour access to the books they would need for their studies.
Caelus pushed open the door.  Inside was a breathtaking sight.  Hundreds of shelves of dark wood held thousands upon thousands of books.  Great chandeliers hung from the ceiling, providing bright but soft illumination.  The rows of shelves were broken up by comfortable couches and broad study tables.  A few ponies occupied small alcoves, where they could study in relative privacy.
Caelus took a deep breath of the familiar smell of old paper and parchment.  He set off into the depths of the library, his hoof-steps muffled by the carpet.
For a while, he simply wandered among the shelves, browsing over the titles of books.  He reminded himself that, as much as he wanted to dilly-dally, he had a mission.  He looked at a sign at the end of the shelf, then oriented himself and headed to another wing of the library.
He made a mental note where he was, and started scanning the titles on the shelves.
Parenthood: A Reference Guide, How to Be a Good Parent, Foals: A Foal's Guide to Raising Kids.  Caelus pulled several books off the shelf, balancing the short stack on his back.  Walking to the nearest study area, he slid the books onto the table with a wing.  He set down his saddlebag and pulled out a notebook and pencil.
Opening the notebook to a new page, Caelus flipped to the Table of Contents of Parenthood: A Reference Guide and started skimming.  "This looks promising," he said, turning to the indicated section.  Gripping the pencil in his mouth, he started to read, taking notes.


*  *  *


Kaela finished taking the last of her notes.  So far, Miss Maple had given a lecture on the history of Equestria, and a lesson on Equestrian.  The lesson on the Equestrian language had been easy for Kaela.  She got every question on the worksheet right.  Miss Maple dismissed the class for lunch and recess.
Kaela sat under a tree with a brown paper bag that held her lunch.  She levitated a lettuce, daisy, and rose petal sandwich to her mouth and took a bite.  Caelus had insisted on making her lunch today, and it was yummy.  Not as yummy as waffles, but Storm had said that was a breakfast food.
After the sandwich was an apple, and at the very bottom of the bag were two chocolate chip cookies.  Kaela's mouth watered.  She licked her lips, then stopped.  She heard some voices arguing quietly.  She scanned the playground, and saw three colts standing over the pegasus filly she sat next to in class.  She couldn't hear the words, the the colts sounded menacing.  Kaela walked closer in an effort to hear what was being said.
"C'mon, I ain't got all day," the biggest colt said.  He was taller than Kaela, with a white coat and a storm-blue mane.  His wings, though small and undeveloped, looked like he was already learning the basics of flight.
"Here, just leave me alone," the pegasus filly said, passing over a pudding cup.
"Pudding again?" the pegasus colt sneered, "You'd thing working in the castle would mean you got better food."
"Hey, leave her alone," Kaela said, stepping up next to the filly.
The colt glared at Kaela.  "You're the new filly, so I'll let you off with a warning this time," he said.  "Besides, I got what I came for."  The colt left, gesturing to his two friends to follow.
Kaela scowled at the colts, sticking her tongue out at their backs.  "Meanies," she muttered.  She turned to the other filly.  "Are you, um, all right?" she asked, suddenly shy.
The other filly nodded as she got to her hooves.  "Yeah," she said.  "Thanks for helping me.  No one ever stands up to Overcast."
"I couldn't do nothing," Kaela said.
"Well, thanks," the filly said, "I'm Wisty, by the way."
"My name is Windy Spirit," Kaela replied, hesitating slightly.  "You know, my dad packed me two cookies with my lunch.  Would you, uh, like one?"
Wisty's ears perked up.  "Really?  You would do that?" she asked.  "But we barely know each other."
"Well, you can't make friends if you don't start somewhere," Kaela said, then looked down, slightly embarrassed.  "We can be friends, right?"
"Of course we can," Wisty said.  She offered a hoof to Kaela, who gently shook it.


*  *  *


Caelus closed the book he was reading with a sigh.  So far he had been through nearly a dozen books.  While he had found some things, he still wasn't entirely sure about how to raise an alicorn.  He looked over his notes, which were more a combination of what he had read and observations he had made over the past few days.

-Young foals need to eat a balanced diet to help them grow healthy.
-Unicorn and pegasus foals eat more than earth pony foals.
-Observation: Kaela Fie eats more than even a pegasus foal.  This may be because she has both unicorn and pegasus anatomy.

Caelus started to go through his notes.  So far he had learned almost nothing concrete.  Half the stuff he read dealt with foals under the age of four, and focused on strengthening the parent-foal bond.  Kaela was already bonded to him, and was a little old for games like "peek-a-boo".
"Studying hard, I see."
Caelus nearly jumped to the ceiling at the soft voice from across the table.  Princess Luna smiled at him.
"Princess," Caelus murmured.  "I'm sorry, I didn't..."
Luna held up a hoof.  "Please, Caelus, call me Luna," she said, "and it is I who is sorry for startling you."
"It's all right, Prin- Luna," Caelus said, "I was just about to take a break anyway."
"Well, might I suggest something?" Luna said.
"Yes," Caelus said.
"If I were you, and I wanted to be a good parent, I would be there to pick up Kaela Fie from school in seven minutes," Luna said.
"What!" Caelus said, drawing angry looks from several students.  He threw his notebook into his saddlebag,, slid it onto his back, and bolted as fast as he could from the library, leaving behind a slightly smiling Luna.


*  *  *


Kaela practically skipped out of the schoolhouse when class had been dismissed.  She was chatting animatedly with Wisty.
"So, this was your first day of school ever?" Wisty said.
"Uh-huh," Kaela said.
"That's strange," Wisty said, "were you home schooled?"
Kaela didn't know what that meant, but she nodded anyway.  "Yeah," she said.  "Oh, there's Storm."  She waved to the blue pegasus, who was talking with another light blue pegasus mare.  Storm waved back.
"He's talking to my mom," Wisty said.
The two fillies trotted over to the two adults.
"Hi, mom," Wisty said giving the light blue pegasus a hug.
"Hello, sweetie," the pegasus said, nuzzling Wisty affectionately.
"Hello, Windy," Storm said.  Kaela nuzzled Storm, happy to see him.
"Hi, Storm," she said.
"Is this your daughter, Caelus?" the light blue mare said.
"Yes," Storm replied, "This is Windy Spirit."
"Hello," Kaela said to the mare.
"Hello, Windy," she said, "I'm Wisty's mom, Summer Breeze.  It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Kaela said, smiling.
"Well, it was nice meeting you Summer Breeze," Storm said, "but we really need to get going."
"Bye Wisty," Kaela said with a wave before following Storm off down the street.
"So how was school?" Storm asked.
"It was great," Fie said, beaming.  "Miss Maple started with a lesson on the history of Equestria.  Did you know that the Running of the Leaves was started as a contest between two farmers to see who was the faster of the two?"
"I did not," Storm replied.
Kaela proceded to recount her day, including how she made her new friend, Wisty.  So excited was she that she didn't notice Storm's slight frown at the mention of bullies.
"I'm glad you made a friend," Storm said, "friends are important."  He ruffles her mane with a hoof.
Kaela ducked away.  "Storm," she said indignantly, still smiling though.
Storm just chuckled and kept walking.  After a few minutes, they arrived at the apartments used by a majority of the servants and staff in the castle.  Celestia had them moved there after there first night in the castle at Storm's insistence.  Though it wasn't as large as the apartments in the castle, it was still well decorated.
Storm trotted into the kitchen.  "Can I get you a snack, Kaela?"
Kaela nodded and hopped up onto a chair at the table.  
Storm made several small sandwiches and set them on a plate on the table.  Kaela levitated one of the sandwiches to her mouth and took a bite.  Storm took his own sandwich, looking off into space thoughtfully.
After they finished their snack, Kaela pulled a workbook out of her saddlebags and started her homework.  Storm sat across the table from her, reading from a short pile of books and taking notes.  Kaela smiled at the thought of Storm having homework too, then went back to her math.


*  *  *


"Storm? Do you know any good stories?" Kaela said as she got comfortable beneath the covers of her bed.
Caelus smiled slightly.  "As a matter of fact, I do," he said.  He made sure to grab some story books when he was at the library.  "I'll be right back," he said, trotting out of the room to go get the book from his saddlebag.  He returned with a well-worn book.
"What's that?" Kaela asked.
"Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue," Caelus said, "one of my favorites.  I started reading Daring Do books when I was about your age.  Would you like me to read a bit of it?"
Kaela nodded eagerly.  "Yes, please," she said, snuggling deeper into the bed.
Caelus sat down next to the bed and opened the book to the first chapter.  "As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle, the wet heat sapped her energy, and slowed her every step," he began.  He got through the first chapter, and was about to start the second when he noticed Kaela's eyes had started to droop.
"That's enough for tonight," he said, closing the book.
Kaela started to mumble a protest, but it was lost when she yawned.
Caelus smiled and nuzzled the little filly.  "Good night my little Fie," she said softly.
"Good night, Storm," Kaela murmured, closing her eyes.
Caelus slipped out of the room and into the main living space of the apartment.  It wasn't large, but it served its purpose.  He sat down at the table, staring at his still open notebook.  He looked through his notes on parenting, which were augmented by his own observations of Kaela.  He made another note to himself.

Note: Kaela shows an interest in reading.  Encourage this interest.

Caelus also made a note to get groceries for the week tomorrow while Kaeal was at school.  The thought of the little filly brought a smile to Storm's lips.  She had only been in his care for four days, yet she was already rubbing off on him.
I guess that's part of being a Guardian, Caelus thought.  He stifled a yawn.  I should get to bed too.  He turned off the lights and made his way to the second bedroom of the apartment.  He climbed into bed, and quickly fell asleep.


*  *  *


"What did you think about that quiz?" Kaela said to Wisty as they walked out to the schoolyard for recess.
Wisty shrugged.  "I thought it was kind of hard," the pegasus replied, "but I'm not good at Equestrian.  What did you think?"
Kaela also shrugged.  "I don't think it was that hard," she said.
"So what do you want to do?" Wisty asked.
Kaela scanned the playground and spotted an unoccupied swing.  "We can push each other on the swing," she said.
"Can I swing first?" Wisty said.
"Sure," Kaela answered.  She positioned herself behind Wisty and concentrated.  She felt the magic build up in her horn, and with her mind, pictured what she wanted it to do.  she released the spell, which gave Wisty a good, solid push.
Wisty cheered with glee as she swung her body to maintain her momentum as she swung back and forth.  After a few minutes, Kaela and Wisty changed spots, and Kaela giggled as she swung high in the air.
For the rest of recess, they traded spots on the swing.  When the bell rang, they followed the rest of their classmates back inside, chatting amicably.


*  *  *


"All right class, remember to study for tomorrow's math test," Miss Maple said as the foals packed their bags.  Kaela and Wisty walked out of the schoolhouse together.
"Do you have any plans after school tomorrow?" Wisty asked.
"Uh, I don't think so," Kaela said, "Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my place after school tomorrow," Wisty said.
"I'll have to ask Storm, but yeah, I'd like to," Kaela said.
Wisty brightened.  "Great, I'll ask my mom," Wisty said.
The two fillies met with their respective guardians.
"Mom, can Windy come over after school tomorrow?" Wisty asked.
"Well, that's up to her dad," Summer Breeze replied.
Both Kaela and Wisty looked up at Storm with pleading eyes.  Kaela could almost feel Storm weighing the options in his head.  Finally, he nodded.
"Okay," he said.  Kaela and Wisty cheered.


*  *  *


That evening, Caelus was helping Kaela study for her math test tomorrow.  It wasn't anything complex, but he wanted to encourage good study habits for the future.  So far though, he didn't think she would need much study time.  She had gotten every question right that he gave her.
"Storm," Kaela said.
"Yes?" he said, returning his attention to the filly.
She tapped the sheet of paper with her work on it.  Storm knew it would be right, and was correct in his assumption as he looked over her work.
"Good job, Fie," he said.  Kaela smiled with pride.  That was another thing he had noticed; he had started calling her by a nickname.
Caelus looked at the clock.  "I think that's enough studying for today," he said.  "So what do you want to do?"
Kaela thought for a minute, then finally said, "Can we read more of Daring Do?" she asked.
"Sure," Caelus said.  Kaela ran from the room and returned holding the book in her magic.  Caelus sat down on the couch, and Kaela jumped up next to him.
Caelus opened the book to where he had left off the night before."'You thought you could evade me and capture the relic for yourself," Ahuizotl said, 'but you were sadly mistaken Miss Do.  And now, you will meet your doom!'  As Daring Do struggled to get to her feet, Ahuizotl blew into a cat shaped whistle.  In an instant, Daring found herself surrounded by Ahuizotl's minions."


*  *  *


Kaela sat at her desk drawing in her notebook. The rest of the class was still taking their math tests.  She was already finished, and was entertaining herself until recess.
Within ten minutes the other fillies and colts had handed in their tests.  Miss Maple dismissed them for recess once the last exam was turned in.
Wisty and Kaela were talking under a tree when Overcast and his two "sidekicks" approached.  Kaela's expression soured, and Wisty gulped.
"Well lookit what we have here," Overcast said, "it's the teacher's pet and her little pegasus friend."
The other two colts snickered, grinning maliciously.
Kaela stood up to her full height, which was still a few inches shorter than Overcast.  "Leave us alone,: she said, trying to sound stern.  However, her throat went draw and she could feel her wings twitching nervously.
"Or what?" Overcast sneered, "you'll go tattle to the teacher?"  He gave his hoof a menacing stomp.  "I think you won't tell her anything.  No one likes a tattle-tale and a teacher's pet."  Overcast got closer, his friends moving to the two fillies' sides.
Kaela took a step back, fear starting to rise.  Her head started to throb, a faint pressure building.  As Overcast kept moving forward, Kaela and Wisty kept backing up until they ran into the tree.
Overcast smiled wickedly.  He raised his hoof in preparation to strike.
Kaela closed her eyes, the throbbing in her head getting stronger as the pressure increased.  It built in strength until suddenly it was released.
There was a flash of light and a shout of surprise and pain.  When Kaela opened her eyes, Overcast wasn't there.  He had been thrown back several feet, looking scuffed and singed.  His friends were helping him to his hooves.  Everyone on the playground was looking at them, many in surprise.
Kaela tried to hide from their stares.  However, there was no hiding from the playground supervisor.  The earth pony stallion looked at the two parties.
"Take him to the nurses office," he said, gesturing at Overcast and his friends.  "As for you," he said, turning to Kaela.
Kaela's eyes went wide.
"You are on the wall for the remainder of recess," the supervisor said.
Kaela spent the rest of recess sitting against the wall of the schoolhouse.  Wisty sat next to her, more to keep her company, which Kaela appreciated.
She wondered if she would get sent to the principal's office.  She didn't mean to hurt Overcast.  She hadn't even consciously summoned her magic.  She had just been afraid he would hit her.  And what would Storm think?  She had never seen him angry, which let her mind conjure up all sorts of terrifying images.
The bell rang and they all went back to class.  Fie kept her eyes on the ground, too ashamed to look anywhere else.  Not even getting a perfect score on her math test cheered her up.  Overcast shot her a dirty look, but the rest of the class only gave her curious glances when the teacher's back was turned.
Kaela shrunk down into her seat, trying hard to simply disappear.


*  *  *


Caelus nodded to Summer Breeze when he arrived at the schoolhouse.  They struck up small talk while they waited for their fillies to be done with class.
What Caelus wasn't expecting was Kaela being escorted out of the schoolhouse by Maple Shine.  Fie held her head low.
Oh, no, this can't be good, Caelus thought as Maple approached him.
"Are you Caelus Storm, Windy's father?" she asked.
"Yes, that is me," Caelus answered.
"Would you and your daughter come with me please," she said, turning back towards the schoolhouse.
Caelus followed, Kaela walking dejectedly beside him.
the trio of ponies arrived at the principal's office.  Caelus was expecting to see the dark brown stallion he had met when he registered Fie at the school.  He wasn't expecting to see the regal form of Princess Celestia.
"Princess," Caelus said, bowing.
Princess Celestia nodded in acknowledgement.
Principal Scrollwork spoke up.  "Now that we are all here, we can begin.  Caelus Storm, your filly Windy Spirit released a magical discharge at one of her classmates today during recess.  Fortunately, the other colt suffered little more than a singeing."
"I didn't mean to do it! It was an accident!" Kaela blurted out, then made herself small under the principal's steady gaze.
"Be that as it may," Principal Scrollwork said, "this is not a disciplinary meeting."  He nodded towards Maple Shin, who levitated a thin folder to the principal.  "Mr. Storm, how well is your filly doing in school?"
Caelus shifted nervously.  "Windy says it's been going well.  I know she's been doing very well in Equestrian and math."
Principal Scrollwork pulled several sheets of paper out of the folder and laid them on his desk.  Caelus looked them over.  These were copies of all of Fie's worksheets.  Every single one had a perfect score.  Even the math test she had taken earlier today.  His eyes widened slightly.
"As you can see, Windy is an unusually bright filly," Principal Scrollwork said.  "As such, we were questioning whether this was the best place for your daughter.  Your Majesty, I called you here today to ask if you might consider accepting young Windy Spirit into your school for gifted unicorns?"
Princess Celestia thought for a moment.  "I will indeed consider it," she said.  She glanced at Storm with a faint twinkle of mirth in her eye.  "Will that be all, Principal Scrollwork?"
Principal Scrollwork bowed his head.  "Yes, Your Majesty.  Thank you for your time."
Princess Celestia turned and left.
"Thank you, Mr. Storm, that will be all," Scrollwork said.
"Thank you, Principal Scrollwork," Caelus said.  He left the office, followed by a relieved looking Kaela.  Still, his head churned with all the possibilities and implications.  After dropping Fie off at Wisty's place, he sat in his apartment with his notebook.  Even after Kaela had been returned home by Summer Breeze, and even after she had been put to bed, Caelus was up well into the night.
> Part 4: Table Talk
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 4: Table Talk


Kaela Fie awoke to the smell of Storm's cooking.  She sat up in bed, sniffing the air.  Her mouth watered as she picked up the scent of waffle and warm syrup.  Licking her lips in anticipation of fresh waffles, she clambered out of bed, running a hoof over her mane once to make sure it wasn't sticking up everywhere.  She trotted out of the bedroom and into the living room.
"Morning, Storm," she said cheerfully as she crossed into the kitchen.
The blue pegasus turned and smiled.  "Good morning, Fie.  You hungry?"
Kaela nodded.  "Mm-hmm," she said, seating herself at the table.  Storm deposited a plate of four thick waffles in front of her, as well as a bottle of warmed syrup and a glass of orange juice.  Fie poured a good helping of syrup on the waffles, then cut off several pieces and stabbed them with a fork.
"Mmm," she mumbled, savoring the taste of the warm, syrup soaked waffle.
"Good?" Storm asked, sitting down across from her with his own plate of waffles.
"Mm-hmm," Kaela said through a mouthful of food.
The two enjoyed a good breakfast, talking about this and that.  As He was cleaning up the dishes, there was a knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" Kaela asked.
"One moment please," Storm called out.  he put away the dish he had been drying, then dried off his hooves.  Kaela looked over the back of the couch as Storm answered the door.
A gray pegasus with a green mane and a courier outfit stood in the doorway.  "Delivery for Caelus Storm," he said.
"That's me," Storm answered.
The mail pony gave Storm a letter, and left without another word.
Storm closed the door, turning back into the apartment.  He examined the letter.
"What is it?" Fie asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A letter from the Princesses," Storm replied.
"What's it say?" Kaela said.
Caelus cleared his throat and read, "Dear Caelus Storm and Kaela Fie..."


	I hope you are doing well.  If you have time, I would like to invite you to join myself and my sister for lunch today at 12:30.  The guards at the gate will let you in when you show them this letter.  We hope to see you soon.
Princess Celestia
Princess Luna


"We get to go have lunch with the Princesses?" Fie asked, brightening.
Caelus nodded.  "I guess we are," he said.  After all, one did not refuse an invitation from the Princesses of Equestria.


*  *  *


Caelus sat next to Kaela across from the Princesses.  The guards had given him no trouble in entering the palace.  the table was set with salads, sandwiches, and soup.  Kaela was already on her second sandwich.
"How are you adjusting to life in the city, Caelus?" Princess Luna asked.
"Fairly well," Caelus said.  "It's a bit different from Ponyville, though."  Especially because I have nothing to during the day, he thought drily.
"And what of you, Kaela?  What do you think of Canterlot?" the Moon Princess asked.
Kaela smiled brightly.  "It's really pretty.  All the purple and gold everywhere." She continued to chatter about all the sights she had seen.  she had especially liked the park a few blocks from Canterlot University.  She and Caelus had spent several afternoons playing there.
There was a lull in the conversation, and Caelus focused on his sandwich.  It was a good sandwich, but he wondered why the Princesses of Equestria would eat such simple food.  He finally concluded that it was their way of trying to make him feel more comfortable.  After a time, Princess Celestia spoke.
"Caelus Storm," she said.
Caelus looked up in surprise.  "Yes, Princess?" he said.
Celestia smiled.  "No need for formalities, Caelus," she said.  Her smile faded slightly.  "However, there is something serious I wish to discuss with you."
Caelus gulped.  "Okay," he managed to say without stuttering.
"It has come to my attention that young Kaela Fie may be more magically gifted that I had originally anticipated," Celestia said.
Caelus felt his cheek get warm.  "Oh, yeah.  That," he coughed.
"Do not worry, Caelus," the Sun Princess continued, "if anything, it was a good thing to find this out sooner rather than later.  It does, however, bring a few interesting things to light."
"It does?" Caelus said.
" for one, I shall have Kaela Fie enrolled in my School for Gifted Unicorns.  She will learn how to control her not insignificant magic."  Celestia held up a hoof when Caelus opened his mouth.  "I will, of course, pay for her tuition.  In addition to her normal classes, I will be personally working with her, so she can understand her abilities as an alicorn."
Caelus closed his mouth as soon as he realized it was hanging open.  "I...but...thank you, your Highness.  That is most generous," he stammered.
"And what do you think of this, Kaela?" Princess Celestia asked.
"Fie looked elated/  "When do I start?" she said, all but bouncing in her seat.
Celestia chuckled lightly.  "I'll make the arrangements tonight, and you can start on Monday.
Kaela all but squealed with glee, but Caelus was still puzzled.
"Princess," he said, "you said there were a few things you wanted to talk about.  I assume Fie's schooling was only one of them?"
Princess Celestia returned her attention to the young pegasus.  "Yes, there was something else," she said.  "An unfortunate side effect of Kaela attending my School for Gifted Unicorns is she will be noticed by various noble houses.  And some of them will want to look into her history and parentage.  In order to maintain her cover story, I think it best if you joined the Royal Guard, at least in training."
Caelus nodded after a moment.  "Okay.  The Weather Team requires all employees to go through basic training and be a part of the Reserve."
Celestia smiled and nodded.  "Good.  After you drop Kaela off at school, you'll report to Guard Captain Last Bastion, who will give you a general assessment and place you accordingly.  Your superior officers will know that you will have...unusual circumstances."
Caelus nodded again.  "All right," he said, then smiled.  "Nothing could be as bad as Basic."
Celestia and Luna both chuckled, and the rest of the mid-day meal passed in friendly conversation.


*  *  *


Kaela led Wisty to her room while their respective guardians chatted in the living room.  Fie closed the door softly and turned to Wisty, smiling.
"Are you going to tell me your secret now?" Wisty asked.
Kaela nodded.  "Yup.  But this has to be super duper secret.  Nopony else can know.  Deal?" She held out her hoof.
Wisty nodded.  "Deal," she said, her hoof meeting Fie's.  They engaged in a series of hoof bumps; their secret hoof-shake.
"Okay, so after what happened with Overcast, and the meeting with Principal Scrollwork, Storm got this mysterious letter.  And you'll never guess who it was from."
"Who?" Wisty said.
Fie giggled.  "Guess silly."
Wisty  thought for a moment.  "Was it Overcast's parents?"
"Nope," Kaela said.
"Principal Scrollwork?"
"No sir-ee."
Wisty thought a bit more.  "Miss Maple?"
Fie giggled, "Nope."
"Then who?"
Kaela glanced at the door, then leaned close to Wisty.  "Princess Celestia," she whispered.
Wisty's eyes went wide.  "No way!"
Fie nodded.  "Yes way."
"What'd it say?"
"It was an invitation to join her for lunch at the Palace," Fie said.  "She said she wanted to talk to Storm and me about something."
What was it?" Wisty said, hanging onto her every word.
Fie paused for dramatic effect.  "She said she wanted to enroll me in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns," she finally said.
Wisty gasped.  "No.  Way."
Kaela nodded.  "Absolutely true."
"So not only did you get to meet Princess Celestia, but she's going to let you go to her school?" Wisty breathed.
"Uh-huh," Fie said.
"That's so cool," Wisty said.  Then her ears drooped.  "But that means we won't go to the same school anymore," she sighed.
"Hey," Fie said, "that doesn't mean we can't be friends.  I'm still living here, and we can always hang out when we're not in school."
Wisty's ears perked up.  "That's right!  We can still play together.  Speaking of which, what do you want to play?"
"Oh, I have an idea," Fie said, "I was reading this story where a Fairy Queen rescued a soldier from a bunch of trolls.  So I was thinking..."


*  *  *


Caelus stares at the notes in his notebook.  there were few notes actually in it, and more of it was observation.  however, what dominated a majority of the past four pages was neither notes nor observations, but thoughts.  He had written down his thoughts in an effort to sort out what happened that day.
Caelus sighed, rolling his shoulders and stretching his wings to relieve some tension.  He wasn't stressed, but rather anxious; a feeling of general nervousness.  Not for the first time, he wondered if he was really the pony who should be taking care of an alicorn.  If he screwed up, she would be affected for decades, maybe even centuries.  Caelus stopped his train of thought before it could enter and endless spiral of "what if" questions.
He took a deep breath.  he looked out of his bedroom door across the hall to Fie's room.  She had left her door open, and Caleus could see the filly sleeping soundly under the covers.  He smiled and silently crossed the hall to stand in the doorway.  As he stood there, a sense of sureness blossomed in his chest.  he may not be the best pony to raise Fie, but he would still do his best.


*  *  *


Caelus waved to KAela as she disappeared into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.  Once she was out of sight, Caelus headed to the Palace.  In the training yard behind the Palace, groups of trainees were already starting warm-ups.  Caelus donned his training armor and joined the ranks of recruits, many of which were a few years younger than he was.  Not that he minded.
His commanding officer was a dull white pegasus mare named Lightning Strike.  Her short cropped, two-toned yellow mane stood out in the early morning light.
"All right, rookies, listen up," the Lieutenant shouted.  All the recruits stood at attention.  "you may think that the Royal Guard is only for show.  Well, you're wrong.  Our job is to protect not only the Princesses, but all the citizens of Equestria.  We have to be strong, fast, and vigilant.  If you survive the first week of training, you might, might, have what it takes to be in the Guard."
Caelus notices a few recruits shift nervously, but kept his own face expressionless.  He could feel what was coming next.
"Now, I want you all doing wing-ups," Lightning Strike said.
"How many?" one of the recruits asked.
Lightning Strike glared at the pegasus with eyes that may as well be ice.  "Until I say stop, rookie," she snapped.  "Is that clear?"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," the entire group shouted.
Caelus propped himself up on his wing tips, crossing his forelegs behind his head.  Within a minute, he was working up a sweat.  Even though his wings were starting to burn, he almost smiled, thankful that the Weather Team had kept him in shape.


*  *  *


"Attention!" Lightning Strike shouted.
Caelus got to his hooves, rolling his wings and shoulders before standing at attention.  Four hours of warm-ups left him sore and coated in sweat.  Working on the Weather Team had kept him in shape, but it had been a few years since he had worked out this intensely.
Lightning Strike surveyed the recruits coldly.  "At ease," she called out.
Caelus relaxed his stance, stretching his sore limbs.  A few of the recruits sank to the ground in exhaustion.
"All right, rookies," Lightning Strike said, "you're dismissed for lunch.  Meet at building E at twelve hundred thirty for tactics."
The recruits broke ranks and headed for the mess hall.  Caelus was among them, albeit a little less enthusiastic than some.  Still, the thought of getting something in his belly put a slight spring in his step.


*  *  *


Kaela stepped outside into the courtyard with all the other fillies and colts at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.  So far, it wasn't all that different from Ms. Maple Shine's class, except there was a heavier focus on magic.  Her first class had been Math, then Equestrian, and then Magic Theory, which was a fancy way of saying "boring explanation of why unicorns can do magic".  Now it was time for lunch and recess.  There were several picnic tables to sit at, but most of the seats were already taken.
Then she saw an few spots open at the farthest table away.  Once of the spots was occupied by a light purple filly with a blonde mane.  The filly was by herself, drawing in a notebook.
Fie approached the filly.  "Uh, can I sit here?" she asked.
The purple filly nodded. "Sure," she mumbled, without looking up.
Fie sat down and opened her lunch.  As she ate, she glanced over at the other filly.  She was still scribbling away, occasionally taking a bite from her own lunch.  After a few awkwardly quiet minutes, Fie finally spoke up.
"So, um, what are you working on?" she asked.
The purple filly looked up in surprise.  "N-nothing really," the filly stuttered, "just an...idea...I had."  her golden eyes didn't quite meet Kaela's.
"What kind of idea?" Kaela asked, interested.
"Oh, um..." the purple filly said, "well, it's a mail bag that's divided into different sections.  To...help my mom deliver the mail."  The filly tensed, almost as if waiting for Kaela to say something.
"Fie blinked.  "That's cool," she said.
The purple filly blinked in surprise.  "Wha-huh? Y-you really think so?"
Fie nodded emphatically.  "Uh-huh.  It's a good idea."
The purple filly blushed slightly.  "Th-thanks.  see, my mommy has trouble reading somethings, so I thought-" she clamped her hooves over her mouth, eyes widening.  "Oh, I didn't mean to say that," she said.
Tilting her head slightly, Fie asked, "Are you okay?"
"Wait..." the purple filly said, "you-you're not gonna make fun of me?"
"Why would I do that?" Kaela said, "That would be mean.  and I think it's cool that you want to help your mom."
"R-really?" the purple filly said.
"Yup," Fie said.  she held out her hoof.  "My name's Windy, by the way.  Windy Spirit."
"I'm Dinky.  Dinky Doo," the filly said, shaking Fie's offered hoof.
"Nice to meet you, Dinky," Kaela said with a smile.


*  *  *


Kaela and Dinky walked out of history class together.
"So, what did you think of the lesson?" Dinky asked Kaela.  "It looked like you were really paying attention."
"I was," Kaela replied.  "I think it was interesting how-"  She was cut off when a pink filly pushed between them, followed by a teal filly.
"Watch where you're going, blank flanks," the pink filly with the red mane said.
Dinky stared at the ground and mumbled an apology.  Kaela, however, was more vocal.
"Why'd you do that?" she protested.  "Who do you think you are?"
"I'm Ruby Polish," the pink filly said, "My dad is one of the largest jewelry salesponies in Equestria."  The pink filly looked down at Kaela.  "And you.  you're dad is in the Guard, right?"
"Yeah..." Fie said hesitantly.
"Hmph," Ruby Polish said, "I wonder how some commoner like you actually got into this school in the first place.  Come on, Emerald Dust, let's leave these two peasants."
Ruby Polish walked off with her nose in the air, with the other filly copying her pose.
Kaela looked after the two snobby fillies slightly confused.
Dinky raised her head and looked at Fie.  "Don't listen to them, Windy.  they've always been like that.  I just avoid making them mad."
Kaela nodded.  "Okay," she said, and followed dinky to their next class.


*  *  *


Caelus sat on the couch, reading a mystery novel he found at the library.  Kaela was sitting at the kitchen table doing her homework quietly.  He was sore after training that day, and it felt good just to unwind and relax.
"Hey, Storm?" Fie asked from the table, "How old were you when you got your cutie mark?"
Caelus raised his eyebrows.  "Any reason you ask?"
Fie shook her head.  "No.  Not really," she said, "Just curious."
Caelus thought for a moment.  "Well, I suppose I was a little older than you are now.  But I was a bit of a late bloomer."
"Oh, okay," she said, and went back to her homework.
"Is something bothering you, Fie?" Caelus asked, putting his book down and looking at the young filly with concern.
Kaela shook her head.  "Nope, I was just wondering."
Deciding not to press Fie, Caelus picked up his book again.  "If there is something, you know you can always tell me."
"I will, Storm," Kaela said.


*  *  *


For the rest of the week, Caelus worked hard training with the Royal Guard, while still making sure to take good care of Fie.  he was hard pressed at times, but he managed to always be there to pick her up from school, make her a healthy dinner, and make it to her friends' homes for play dates.
At the moment, he was working his way through the obstacle course Lightning Strike had set up.  Seven laps on this monstrosity would tire out the most energetic and enthusiastic recruit.  Caelus was on his tenth.  Or would be, if he hadn't tripped and gotten a faceful of mud.
"Get your lazy flank out of the dirt Cadet," Lightning Strike shouted in his ear.  "I don't know what you think you heard, but I don't recall saying 'stop'.  Did I say stop, Cadet?"
"No, ma'am," Caelus grunted.
"Then back on your hooves.  I want two more laps from you," Lightning Strike yelled.
Caelus groaned as he stood up.
"What was that, Cadet?  I didn't hear you whining did I?"
"No, ma'am," Caelus said.
"The get galloping!" Lightning Strike shouted.
Her tone like a whip, Caelus pushed himself into a steady canter.  With every gasping breath, he though to himself, It could be worse, it could be worse, it could be worse...


*  *  *


Kaela sat Dinky at a lunch table in the courtyard.
"-and that;s how I got invited to the school," Dinky concluded.
"Wow, really?" Fie said.  "you must really understand magical theory."
"Sort of," Dinky said, "I'm just good at figuring out how spells fit together.  Princess Twilight said I have a very anna...an-a-lit-ik mind."
"That's neat.  I just got asked here because I have a lot of magic for a filly my age.  Princess Celestia said it was because I'm a-a naturally gifted unicorn."  Kaela caught herself before she could give away her secret.
"That's cool," Dinky said, not noticing Fie's stumble.  "Really strong unicorns are rare."  She lowered her voice to just above a whisper.  "I think most of the fillies and colts her just got in because their parents are rich or important."
Kaela looked over and saw Ruby Polish and Emerald Dust coming to their table.  "I agree.  Incoming bullies, twelve o'clock."
"Excuse me, but you're sitting at our table," Ruby Polish said.
Dinky lowered her ears and mumbled something.
"We don't have to move, we were here first," Kaela protested, "you guys normally sit over there."  She pointed to a completely unoccupied table four tables away.
"Where ever I want to sit is my table," Ruby Polish said haughtily.  "Now, go sit somewhere else, commoners."
"We don't have to do anything you- Eep!" Fie started only to get pushed out of her seat by Emerald Dust.  Kaela sat up, rubbing her head where she bumped it on the ground.
"Windy! Are you okay?" Dinky said, jumping down from her seat, which was quickly taken by Ruby Polish.
Kaela got to her hooves.  "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, glaring at the two snobby fillies.
Ruby stuck her tongue out at Fie and Dinky.  "Go find your own table, blank flanks," she said taunting.  "commoners like you two don't belong here."
Dinky led the way to a different table, while Fie followed, ears drooping.
"Hey, are you okay, Windy?" Dinky asked, "You shouldn't let them get to you.  I've found a lot of noble ponies in Canterlot act like that to everypony else."
Kaela forced a smile.  "I'll try not to.  Thanks, Dinky."


*  *  *


"Fie?  Are you feeling okay?  you've hardly touched your food," Storm said while they sat at the table eating dinner.
"Hmm?" Fie shook her head and looked up at the blue pegasus.
"I said are you feeling okay?  You seem...distracted," Storm said.
Fie shrugged, "I'm fine, I guess."
"You guess?" Storm said, raising an eyebrow.  "Fie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Storm," Fie insisted.
Caelus was silent for a minute.  Fie picked at her food, but didn't eat anything.  "Well, if that's how we're going to do this..."
"Huh?" Fie said, "What does that mean- Hey! Storm! Put me down!"  She struggled as Storm carried her out of the kitchen and dropped her on the couch in the living room.  He sat down next to her.
"What was that for?" she said.
"When I was a colt, my mother would do this when she wanted to talk about something," Storm said.  "Now, what's bothering you, Fie?  you aren't eating, which is unusual in and of itself."
Fie looked down at her hooves.
"Is it your lessons with Princess Celestia?  Are you having trouble with your studies?"
Fie shook her head.  "No, all my classes are going well."
"Well, then what's hanging over your head?"
Fie was quiet for a long time.  Finally she spoke up.  "There's some snobby fillies at school," she said, "They think they're better than half the other foals.  they keep making fun of Dinky and me.  they say we're just 'commoners', and that neither of us belong at the school."
Fie almost jumped when she felt a warm wing draped over her back.  She looked up at Storm, who smiled down at her.
"Come here, Fie," he said softly.
Kaela scooted closer, and Storm wrapped her in a comforting embrace.  She didn't cry, but she sought silent solace surrounded by Storm's warm, feathery wings.
"Shh..." Storm murmured, "some ponies just make others feel bad because it makes them feel better about themselves.  you shouldn't listen to them.  After all, you are an alicorn.  Like the princesses."
"And what about Dinky?" Fie said.
"I've met Dinky and her mother.  Dinky is a brilliant filly.  If she is in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, then she deserves to be."  Storm nuzzled Fie.  "You both are wonderful fillies.  Don't let anypony tell you otherwise."
Fie rubbed her nose and hugged Storm.  "Okay.  Thanks, Storm."
"Of course, Fie," Storm said, "that's why I'm here.  however, I think now it is time to finish dinner.  I made cookies for dessert."
Fie hurried back into the kitchen to finish eating, spurred on by the promise of cookies.  Storm just chuckled as he joined her.


*  *  *


She was standing alone in a vast meadow.  The wind blew through the grass, tugging at her mane.  She spread her wings, letting the cool breeze wash over them, tickling her feathers.  Smiling, she trotted off through the grass.
Kaela stopped at the edge of a small grove of trees, then went in.  The light filtered through the leaves of the trees, creating dappled shadows over everything sheltered beneath the branches.  At the center of the grove was a small, clear pond.  Kaela stopped.  Across the pond was a beautiful blue-green mare.  She had a long, tapering horn and majestic wings that were tipped with green.
"Come, little one," the mare said with a voice that reminded Kaela of a babbling brook and the wind in the trees.
She circled the pond and stood next to the mare.  The mare lowered her head and nuzzled Kaela.  Kaela didn't flinch, like she expected to.  The muzzle was warm and almost familiar.  Kaela curled up next to the mare.
"Where are we?" she asked.
The mare smiled down at her, and said one word, "Home."

Kaela sat upright in bed.  "What was...?"  The image faded from her mind, leaving her feeling like she left something important behind.  She lay back down, but it was a while before she fell back asleep.
> Part 5: Revelation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 5:Revelation


The weather had turned colder as autumn had set in.  The trees in the park burst with color.  Caelus watched as three fillies chased each other through the falling leaves.
"Tag, you're it, Windy," Dinky shouted.
Fie galloped after Dinky and Wisty, laughing with a care in the world.  Her laughter caused Caelus to smile.  He was glad that she was happy.  The wind blew and Caelus shivered, adjusting his scarf.  A few weeks ago, he and Fie had returned to Ponyville.  He had collected a box of things from his house that he would need for the upcoming winter.  He had also talked to his friends, explaining that he was away in Canterlot.  When they asked him about it, he had given them a vague half-answer.  He felt bad about it. But he couldn't outright say that he was raising an alicorn filly and the Princesses wanted to keep an eye on her.He wasn't moving to Canterlot permanently, he was just staying there for a few months.
Once the weather had started to cool down, Caelus had made sure to buy Fie a coat, scarf, and hat.  Today was warm enough for just the coat, but the wind in mid-November could still be chilly.
Caelus checked the position of the sun.  "Okay, girls. Five more minutes before we have to go."
"Aww..."
"But Storm."
"It's not that late."
Caelus smiled at the fillies.  "It's not late, but it is getting close to dinner time.  Now hurry up.  Only four minutes left.  Spend them wisely."
Kaela looked at Dinky, who looked at Wisty, who looked back at Fie.  As one, they nodded.  Fie tapped Caelus' foreleg.
"You're it!" she shouted.  All three fillies ran away from the blue pegasus.
Caelus sighed, then smiled and chased after the three.  The sound of laughter filled the air, and the leaves continued to fall.


*  *  *


Knock knock knock.
Caelus opened the door, revealing a brown teenage stallion in a red jacket.
"Two medium double cheeses for a Caelus Storm," he said.
"Yup, that's me," Caelus said.
"That'll be seven bits."
Caelus gave the teen ten and took the pizzas inside.  He took a deep whiff of the freshly baked food.
"Pizza here?" Fie said from the chair she was reading on.
"Yes it is," Caelus said.
Fie trotted over to the kitchen while Caelus pulled two plates out of the cupboard.  Opening one of the boxes, Fie pulled a steaming hot slice onto her plate.  She blew on it to cool it off.
Caelus immediately took a bite of pizza.
"Careful, it's hot," Kaela said.
Caelus sucked in air to cool off his burning tongue.  "That's the way I like it."
"Suit yourself," Fie said, taking a cautious bite of her own slice of pizza.
Caelus swallowed and immediately took a long sip of orange soda.  "Ouch," he said.  "Hot."
"Told you so," Fie said.
"You did," Caelus said, "but I'm doing it again anyway."  He took another big bite of pizza, wincing slightly as he burned his tongue.
Kaela sighed.  "Silly Storm," she said, enjoying her own dinner.


*  *  *


Caelus faced his opponent, gray-purple eyes narrowed slightly.  The other pony was a brown earth pony stallion.  Though he was barely old enough to be considered a stallion.
"Ready," Lightning Strike said, "begin!"
Caelus reared up on his hind legs.  An iron blade sang as it left its sheath attached to his right foreleg.  He swung at the other pony.
The earth pony ducked, then lunged at Caelus with his own hoof-blade.  Caelus twisted and let the blade glance off his training armor.  He countered with a stab at the stallion.  The stallion parried and slashed at Caelus' neck.
Caelus ducked, dropping onto his foreleg, holding his blade in front of him.  The other stallion did the same, and they both circled each other.  Seconds later they met again with a clash of metal.
The two stallions battered at each other for several minutes, neither seeming to get the upper hoof.  Finally, Caelus slipped past the other stallion and pressed the flat of his blade against the stallion's neck.
"Victory to Caelus," Lightning Strike shouted.
Caelus lowered his blade, retracting it into the gauntlet.  "Good match, Iron," he said.
"Likewise, Storm, the earth pony said.
"Next match, Crimson Bolt and Glimmer Frost," Lightning Strike announced.
The recruits shifted anxiously.  Crimson Bolt was a good swordspony, and he made sure everyone knew it.  He was loud and arrogant.  Glimmer Frost was a quiet mare.  She was small and thin, and looked like the last pony that one would expect to be in the Royal Guard.
"Hey sweetcheeks," Crimson said to Frost, "I hate to leave you feeling bad after this, so what say you and I go get a drink after training.  I'll give you a few pointers on how to handle a sword."
Frost didn't say anything, standing across from Crimson Bolt.
"Ready, begin," Lightning Strike shouted.
Crimson immediately charged at Frost, swinging at her chest.  Frost blocked it, her face remaining neutral.  Crimson started a savage series of attacks.  Steel rang on steel as Frost blocked or dodged every strike.  Crimson lunged forward, and Frost parried and sidestepped.  As the red pegasus turned, Frost struck like lightning.  Suddenly on the defensive, Crimson Bolt took a step back.  Frost pressed her advantage.  Three strikes later, Crimson was flat on his back with a blade pressed against his throat.
"Victory to Frost," Lightning Strike shouted.
Frost retracted her hoof-blade and walked out of the sparring ring to the cheers of the other recruits.  Crimson still lay on his back, blinking in surprise.
"Get out of the dirt, Cadet," Lightning Strike said.
Crimson scrambled to his hooves, and with his chin tilted up, left the ring.
"Next match, Black Aegis and Tall Timber," Lightning Strike said.


*  *  *


Kaela sat with Dinky under a tree in the courtyard.
"Your mom seems nice," Kaela said.
"She is," Dinky said, "she lives in Ponyville, so she visits every other weekend.  What about you?  I've only ever met your dad."
Fie shifted.  she and Celestia had talked about this, and they decided that the best answer was the truth.  "I never knew my mother," she murmured, "Storm raised me himself."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Windy," Dinky said.
"It's okay," Kaela said.  "It doesn't bother me."
"Well it should."
Kaela and Dinky both jumped as a third voice entered their conversation.  They looked up and saw Ruby Polish, followed by Emerald Dust.  Kaela tucked her wings in more tightly under her dress.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, it's, like, really bad you don't know your mom," Ruby Polish said.
"She probably ran off.  No unicorn would stay with a pegasus like your dad," Emerald Dust added.
"You never even met Storm," Kaela defended.
"So?  We've seen him after school," Ruby Polish said, "No wonder your mom left him."
Kaela started backing up, ears folding down.  "Please, leave me alone," she said, her resolve failing in the face of such harsh words.
"I bet she wears that dress because she has a two-toned coat, like those freaky zebras," Emerald Dust said.
"I bet you're right," Ruby Polish said with a smirk, "maybe we should take off her dress."
Kaela was starting to panic.  She felt her magic building up at the base of her horn.
"Hey, leave her alone," Dinky said.  "Her dad is awesome."
"Yeah," Ruby sneered, "and your mom is a derpy mailmare.  It's a miracle she can even read."
Dinky immediately shut up, her eyes filling with tears.
"Now let's see what Windy here is hiding," Emerald Dust said.
"Please stop," Fie whimpered.  She wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Or what?  you'll cry to your daddy?" Ruby jeered, her horn starting to glow.  "Now let's see what you're hiding under that dress."
There was a sound of ripping fabric.  No, Fie thought.  She desperately wanted to be anywhere else.  She felt her magic build and release.
"Windy!" Dinky cried.
Kaela vanished in a flash of light, leaving behind a concerned Dinky, and two stunned bullies, one of them holding the remains of a yellow sundress.


*  *  *


Caelus had just finished tactics class.  He was chatting with Iron Hoof as he followed the rest of the recruits to the sparring ring.  A flash of light made him pause.  A sobbing blue ball of fur clutching his legs startled him.  He looked down at Kaela, who had buried her face against his forelegs.
"What is going on over here?" Lightning Strike shouted.  The recruits stood aside as their commanding officer approached.  Caelus gulped, the murmurs of the crowd not helping.  Lightning Strike looked at the situation, pursing her lips.
"Cadet Storm," she said, "you are dismissed to deal with this."
"Thank you, ma'am," Caelus said.
"The rest of you, double time," she shouted, "or I'll have you running laps till sunset."
The recruits all moved onward at a light jog, while Caelus took Fie over to the side, out of the open.  He set her down and she once again clung to his forelegs.  Caelus sat down and pulled Fie closer.
"Shh, shh, shh, it's all right," he murmured, "it's all right.  I'm here now."
Fie mumbled something through her tears, trying to push closer to Caelus.
Caelus held the distraught filly close, whispering comforting words to her.  It was several minutes before Fie's sobs turned to shuddering breaths as she calmed down enough to speak.
"S-Storm?" she stammered.
Caelus hugged Fie.  "Shh.  I'm here."
"Storm, why are there mean ponies in the world?" she sniffled.
"I don't know Fie, "Caelus said.  "why don't you tell me what happened.  Okay?"
Fie told him about the bullies at school, and how they had been giving her and Dinky a hard time since day one.  As she spoke, Caelus felt his jaw clench.  When she got to the part where the other fillies had taken her dress, Caelus was almost ready to  go and give these bullies a piece of his mind.  But the soft sobs of the filly in his arms pulled his attention back to the present.
"Hey," he said, "don't cry.  I'm here now, and those fillies can't get to you here."
Kaela stopped crying after two more minutes.  She nuzzled Caelus in the chest.  "Your armor is cold," she mumbled.
Caelus chuckled slightly, but a light cough cut him off.  He turned.
"I saw her arrive," Princess Luna said.
"Princess," Caelus gasped.  he shifted so he could salute the Moon Princess.
"At ease, Cadet," she said.  "I'm more concerned with young Kaela.  Shouldn't she be in school?"
Caelus nodded.  "She should, but there was an incident with some...other fillies."  He explained what Fie had told him to the Princess.
"I see," Luna said when Caelus finished.  "That is most unfortunate.  I will tell my sister when I see her this evening.  However, we really should return Kaela to school."
Fie shook her head and clung to Caelus.
Fie, you really should-" Caelus started.
"No," she said, trying to nuzzle closer to him.  "I wanna stay her with you."
"Fie..." Caelus started.
"It is all right, Caelus Storm.  I can watch her while you go back to training," Princess Luna said.
"What! I-I couldn't ask you to do that Princess," Caelus stammered.
"Nonsense," Luna said.  " But first..."  The Princess's horn glowed and Fie's wings faded from sight.
"Huh?" Fie said, craning her head around to look at her back.
"It's just an illusion, young Kaela," Luna said.  "Now, Cadet Caelus, assume guard position and escort your Princess to the sparring fields so she may inspect the recruits."
Caelus saluted formally, but had to suppress a smile.  "Yes, your Majesty," he said, assuming position on Luna's right, one stride ahead of her.
The arrival of the Princess caused quite a stir among the recruits and officers alike.  However, a word from Luna and all returned to their duties, albeit with a little more vigor, and with two captains standing guard by the younger of the two Royal Sisters.
Kaela cheered for Caelus when he sparred, eyes wide with awe.  Caelus for his part fought better because of it.  Of the five bouts he was in, he lost only one, and it was against Glimmer Frost.  In fact, Kaela's enthusiasm was infectious, and the other recruits seemed to move with new purpose.
As the recruits were running laps, Iron Hoof said to Caelus, "Cute kid you got there, Storm."
Caelus nodded in thanks, looking at Fie, who stood next to Princess Luna, waving at him as he galloped past.  He would have waved back, except doing so would have caused him to trip and fall.  He did smile at her, waving a wingtip instead.  Fie giggled, and Caelus smiled at himself, then kept running.


*  *  *


Kaela trotted next to Storm as they headed home after his training.  She was in a considerably better mood than she had been early.  She fluttered her wings, which were still hidden by Luna's illusion spell.  The Moon Princess herself was following them, but in the guise of a unicorn mare; her own illusion spell.
Once they were safely inside their apartment, Luna dispelled both illusions.  Fie turned her head and noticed her wings needed preening.  She craned her neck around and started straightening her feathers.
"I will leave you two now," Luna said, "I will tell my sister what has transpired."
"Thank you, Princess," Storm said/
A knock on the door startled all three of them.  Storm went over to the door and opened it a little bit.
"Dinky?" he said, surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, um, Windy left her saddlebags and her jacket at school," the purple filly said.  "I also got her homework for the classes she missed."
"That was very sweet of you Dinky," Storm said.
"Is she all right?" Dinky asked.
Fie poked her head out of the door.  "Yeah, I'm okay."  Her wings were once again hidden beneath Luna's illusion magic.  "I just got scared and...teleported away."
"Wow, you really did a teleport spell?" Dinky said.  "That's, like, the hardest spell there is."
Fie blushed slightly.  "I didn't mean to do it," she said.  "Thanks for bringing my homework, Dinky."  Kaela gave her friend a hug.
"I-it was nothing," the purple filly said.  She returned Kaela's hug.  "I should get going, I got walked here by a teacher, and they're waiting for me."
"Bye, Dinky," Fie said.
Once Storm closed the door, her wings reappeared.  Princess Luna dropped her invisibility spell.
"With that, Caelus Storm, I take me leave," she said.  "Good evening to you too, Kaela Fie."  With that, the Moon Princess vanished in a flash of light.
Fie started her homework, and Storm started making dinner.  Fie occasionally asked a question, but for the most part, they were both quiet.


*  *  *


That night, Caelus lay awake in bed.  Today had brought to light a part of raising Kaela that he hadn't thought of before: comforting her when she was upset.  And upset she had been.  Fie had always been pretty quiet, but her submissiveness now had an obvious source in the form of bullies.  Princess Celestia had warned him that the Canterlot elite passed their snobbiness onto their children, but he had never thought that foals could be so harsh.  Nopony could say those things to his daughter.
His daughter.  The thought had occurred to him a few times before, but he had never thought much of it.  It wasn't until Fie appeared sobbing against his chest that he actually felt like more than just a caretaker.  This is my daughter, he had thought, and I am never going to let anypony hurt her ever again.
Caelus smiled down at the small, warm body curled up by his side.  Fie had fallen asleep while he was reading to her, and he didn't have the heart to move her.  Gently moving to get more comfortable, Caelus nuzzled the filly.
"Sleep well, my daughter," he murmured.


*  *  *


A dark figure watched as the light clicked out in the pegasus' apartment.  The pegasus wasn't what interested him, though.  It was the young filly that was living with the pegasus.  The dark figure wait another hour before he flapped his wings and flew down to hover by the pegasus' window.  Looking inside, the figure saw the blue pegasus stallion sleeping on the bed.  Beside the stallion was nestled the filly.
The figure narrowed his eyes.  The filly sifted in her sleep, revealing her wings in addition to her horn.  The filly snuggled closer to the pegasus before she settled back into a deeper sleep.  The figure rolled his tongue in his mouth.  Even from here, he could taste the love coming from her.  Godling, the figure thought.  With another flap of his wings, he flew off.  Landing in a shadow, he slunk off into the night.
After many twists and turns, the creature stopped in a pitch-black alley.  He emitted a series of clicks and chirps.  Two glowing blue eyes opened in the dark.  The figure could vaguely see the other's chitin-covered body in the darkness.
What news do you bring brother? the changeling asked.
The figure dropped their disguise of a Night Guard and responded with the thought-speak. I saw correct, the Godling is living with a pegasus, the figure replied.  Send a message to the Queen.  Ask what our course of action is.
I will.  For the glory of the Hive, the changeling said.
For the glory of the Queen, the figure responded.  Watching the changeling fly off into the night, the figure turned back into a Night Guard and resumed the appearance of patrolling the streets of Canterlot.
> Part 6: Taken
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 6: Taken


"All right my little ponies, that's all for today," Mrs. Diamond Sky said when the final bell rang.  As the students started to pack up and leave she said, "And be sure to enjoy yourselves at the Fall Harvest Festival."
Kaela waited for Dinky outside the classroom.  They walked out of school together, smiling and chatting excitedly.
"Can you believe that the Fall Harvest Festival is finally here?" Dinky said.
"I know, it's so exciting," Kaela replied.  "Are you going to the fair this weekend?"
"Of course," Dinky said, "my mommy is coming to town to celebrate.  Are you going?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Fie answered.  "I bet Wisty is going too."
"Cool, then we c-could all hang out," Dinky said.  In her excitement, her slight stutter surfaced.
"Should we meet up tomorrow?" Kaela asked.
"Yeah," Dinky said, "oh look, there's your dad and...Mommy!"  Dinky galloped towards the gray pegasus mare, Fie a step behind her.


*  *  *


Caelus landed outside Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.  He was a few minutes early.  Looking around, he saw a familiar pegasus.  The gray mare with the blonde mane stumbled a bit as she landed.
"Hello Ditzy," Caelus said to the mare.
The mare turned to Storm, one of her golden eyes focusing on him while the other seemed to stare off in a random direction.  "Oh, hello Caelus," Ditzy said, greeting him with a smile.
Ditzy was a mailmare in Ponyville.  though she was a bit clumsy, she was a warm-hearted pony.  Caelus had known her for some time, having once worked as a delivery stallion when he was just out of school.
"How are Amethyst and Time Turner?" Caelus asked the mailmare.
"Turner is coming up tomorrow, after he's finished his work," Ditzy said.  "And I'm going to see if Amethyst Star can be coaxed away from her studies long enough to enjoy a weekend with her family after I pick up Dinky.  How about you? Are you well?  How is Windy?"
"Windy is doing well.  She's very excited about this weekend."
"And you?" Ditzy repeated.  "I heard you nearly finished training for the Royal Guard."
"Yeah.  The Canterlot Weather Team wanted me to go through Royal Guard Basic before they hired me.  It's been...intense to say the least," Caelus answered.
Before Ditzy could say more, she was interrupted by a voice crying out "Mommy!"  The mailmare found herself being hugged by a purple-gray filly.  Ditzy smiled.
"Good to see you, my little muffin," she said, returning her daughter's embrace.
Caelus nuzzled Fie as she hugged him.  "How was your day, Windy?"
"Good.  Thanks for asking," she replied.  "And yours?  Did you win all your sparring matches today?"
"Haha, I wish," Caelus said, "But I did beat Crimson Bolt."
"Yay.  Wait, he's the one who's a meanie-pants right?"
"Yes."
"Then yay for you," Kaela said.
Dinky suddenly cheered.  "We get to see Sparkler AND Daddy's coming?"
"Yes," Ditzy said.  To which Dinky grinned.
"Can we go now?" Dinky said.
"Of course, muffin," Ditzy replied.
"Yay," Dinky shouted.  "Bye Storm.  Bye Windy.  Come on, Mommy, let's go."
"I'm coming," Ditzy chuckled.  "Good day, Caelus.  Windy."
Caelus and Kaela trotted down the streets of Canterlot, stopping at a local donut shop for a quick treat.  After their snack, they went and bought Kaela a new notebook for school, some groceries for the weekend, and to the florist, where Caelus picked up a centerpiece for the table; a simple cornucopia.  From there, they stopped at their apartment to drop off the groceries, then they went out to eat.
"Are you excited for the Fall Harvest Festival?" Caelus asked Fie as they left the restaurant after dinner.
"Uh-huh," Fie said with a smile.  "We learned about it in history class."
"Oh? Do share," Caelus said.
"After the first Hearth's Warming Eve and the founding of Equestria, the three tribes had to work hard to make a new home.  but they still didn't have a lot of food.  However, in the fall, they had the most bountiful harvest ever.  The tribes threw a big celebration.  Ever since then, we have the Fall Harvest Festival to celebrate the last harvest of the year," Kaela explained.
"That's right, Fie," Caelus said, beaming with pride.  He nuzzled the filly, causing her to jump.
"Storm," she said with a slight blush, "you startled me."
Caelus chuckled and held the door open for Kaela, following her once she was inside.


*  *  *


She was dreaming of the mare again.  They were sitting under an ancient weeping willow.  The mare was running a brush through Kaela's mane, singing softly.  Fie didn't understand the language, but she knew is was supposed to be a soothing song.
The mare finished brushing Kaela's mane, and started straightening the feather's on Fie's wings.  Celestia had told her that pegasi usually preened their own wings, due to their sensitivity.  Pegasi only let ponies they completely trusted help in the preening process.  And yet, Kaela didn't mind.  She trusted this mare.
"How is that, my little cloud?" the mare asked when she was done.
Kaela turned and nuzzled the mare.  "Thank you," she said.
The mare lay down, curling around Fie.  Fie herself curled up, resting against the mare.  The grass beneath them was as soft as any bed.
"Wake now, my child," the mare whispered.
Fie's eyes widened.  "Mommy."

Kaela opened her eyes.  She was wrapped snugly in a blanket in her bed.  She tried to dismiss the dream, but it clung to her mind like an early morning dew.  "Mommy," she whispered into the darkness.
After a few minutes of trying to fall back asleep, Kaela climbed out of bed.  She shivered.  The air was much colder than her bed.
Fie levitated the cup from her bedside table and headed to the kitchen to get a drink.  She moved as quietly as she could, but her hooves seemed unnecessarily loud on the kitchen tile.  Filling her cup, Fie took several sips of water, thinking about her dream.  This was the first time she had thought about her mother.  The mental image of the mare was already fading from her mind, but the feeling was still there.
Fie returned to her room, leaving the half full cup on the bedside table.  She pulled her blankets tightly around her, but sleep didn't come to her for over an hour.  When she awoke in the morning, the dream had been forgotten.


*  *  *


Caelus woke earlier than he normally did.  Which was quite early as he was still on his Weather Team sleep schedule.  So he showered, brushed his teeth, combed his mane, and did his usual morning stretches.  Kaela wouldn't be up for another forty-five minutes or so.  Caelus picked up the mystery novel he kept meaning to finish.
Half an hour later, Caelus started breakfast.  Pancakes, a bowl of fruit, and a bowl of whipped cream.  The last he had been lucky to get.  The treat was made in Cloudsdale and was usually expensive.  But during the Fall Harvest Festival, they made more, and the price dropped.  Usually what was produced sold fast, but Caelus had managed to to get one of the last containers.
Fie walked into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.  "Morning, Storm," she said with a yawn.
"Good morning, Fie," Caelus said.  As the filly sat down at the table, Caelus set a plate stacked high with pancakes in front of her.
Kaela poked the bowl of whipped cream.  "What's this?" she asked.
"It's called whipped cream," Caelus answered, "It's a kind of topping that pegasi make.  Ponies like to put it on ice cream and pie and stuff like that.  But I always liked to put a little on my pancakes."
Fie took a small spoonful of whipped cream.  She giggled.  "It's so light and fluffy."  she took a large spoonful of whipped cream and dumped it on her pancakes.
"Leave some for me, Fie," Caelus chuckled.
"Okay," Fie said.  She added strawberries and blackberries to the top of her pancakes before she dug in.
Caelus helped himself to some fruit for his own pancakes.  The two ponies enjoyed a nice breakfast.


*  *  *


The Fall Harvest Festival was set up in the main park in Canterlot.  There were all sorts of booths; some of them games, but most of them were selling food.  The air was filled with a bouquet of aromas with everything from apples to pies.
Kaela inhaled deeply, taking in the variety of smells.  Her mouth watered.  she looked around, trying to take in everything at once.
Storm chuckled, then fixed his scarf.  The air was chilly today.  Kaela spun in a slow circle, laughing.
"Wow this is so cool," she said.  "What should we do first, Storm?"
"What do you want to do first?" Storm replied.
"Windy!"
A purple unicorn and a light brown pegasus galloped over. followed by their respective families.
"Dinky!  Wisty!  Hi!," Fie said, running over to meet her friends.


*  *  *


As the fillies trotted ahead of the adults, the parents talked amongst themselves.  Caelus joined in the conversation here and there, but mostly kept an eye on the foals.
"What about you, Caelus?" Summer Breeze said.
"Huh?"
"Have you started preparing for Hearth's Warming Eve?" Summer Breeze repeated.
"Oh, no.  Not yet," Caelus admitted.  "I try to tackle my holidays one at a time."  He refrained from pointing out that he celebrated Hearth's Warming with his parents and his sister.
Summer Breeze smiled.  "As long as you don't let it sneak up on you."
Caelus returned the smile.  "I'll try not to," he said.
"Come on Windy, Wisty, let's go ride the ferris wheel next," Dinky said, leading the trio over to stand in line.
Caelus tried not to smile and failed.  He was happy that Fie was happy.


*  *  *


A gray unicorn stallion watched the blue pegasus.  He was one of the two Royal Guards tasked by Princess Celestia herself to keep an eye on the blue pegasus and, more importantly, his filly.  The guard, along with his pegasus partner and two of the Night Guard were the select few than knew the filly's true identity.
A white pegasus trotted up to him.  "Sir, everything is secure."
The unicorn smiled.  "Relax, Scout.  This is just surveillance," he said.  Quick Scout was one of the newest members of the Royal Sisters' Elite Guard, and he was still adjusting.
"Yes, sir," Scout said.
The gray stallion turned to watch the pegasus and filly in the group getting a treat.
"You work hard, sir," Scout said.
Something in the pegasus' tone made the unicorn turn around.  There was a flash of green, and the unicorn blacked out.


*  *  *


"Mmm...this funnel cake is really really yummy," Fie said.
"I know, right?" Wisty said, sharing a funnel cake sundae with her mother.
"Dinky nodded in agreement, using her plastic fork to try and out maneuver her sister, Amethyst Star, for the last bite of funnel cake.  She didn't quite succeed, and Amethyst parried Dinky's fork and quickly grabbed the funnel cake.  Dinky pouted and Amethyst smiled.
"Storm, aren't you going to have some?" Kaela asked.
"Maybe I'll have one bite," he said picking up his own fork.  He liked funnel cake well enough, but he was more of an ice cream stallion.
Later, when they were all walking past several game booths, and the fillies were still chatting merrily.
"Wow, Windy, I can't believe you ate that whole funnel cake," Dinky said.
Kaela shrugged.  "I was hungry.  And Storm had a few bites."
"But still, how can you--Windy?" Wisty said.
Kaela had stopped walking and was standing in front of a game booth, staring up at a plushie whale toy.
"Well hey there, little filly, would you like to play?" the mare working the booth asked.
Fie nodded shyly, suddenly timid.
"Well, all you have to do is knock over those three bottle with a ball," the mare said, "the only rules are no wings and no magic.  Think you can do it??
Fie nodded again.  The mare gave her a ball.  "You get three tries," she said.
Kaela held the ball in her hoof, then tossed it.  The throw fell short.
"Aww, try again Windy," Wisty called out.
Fie took the ball from the mare, but this time, her throw was wide to the right.
"One more try," the mare said.
Fie readied the ball again.  She squinted, aiming carefully.
"You can do it, Windy," Dinky encouraged, supported by Wisty and, surprisingly, Amethyst Star.
Kaela took a deep breath and threw the ball as hard as she could.  With a clatter, two of the bottles fell off the platform.  Everypony held their breath, watching the third bottle teeter precariously on the edge of the platform.  Finally the bottle fell off the table.
Fie, Dinky, and, Wisty cheered.  All three high-hoofed, and the mare gave Kaela the whale plushie.  Kaela squeed and ran over to Caelus, levitating the whale next to her.
Caelus agreed with her that it was indeed cute, smiling at Kaela's beaming face. She trotted around with her head held high, the whale perched on her back.


*  *  *


Kaela sat at the table while Storm cooked dinner.  Her whale plushie, which she named Blue, was sitting on the table next to her.  "Storm, is the food ready yet?" she asked, growing impatient.
The oven dinged.  "That's it now," Storm said, pulling the hot pan out of the oven.
Two minutes later, the table was set with several different dishes, including a vegetable casserole that Storm said his mom usually made.
Caelus sat down across from Fie.  He bowed his head and put his hooves together.  "We thank the earth that gives us the food, the sky that gives us the rain, and the magic of friendship for bringing us together," he said in a traditional Fall Festival prayer.  Fie repeated his actions and words.
The food was some of the best she had ever eaten.  Storm had put a lot of work into the meal and it showed.  "Wow, Storm, the food's good," Fie said.
"Why thank you, Fie," Caelus replied.  "Can you pass the cranberry sauce?"
"Sure, here you go."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kaela said with a smile.


*  *  *


"When do we move?" The changeling asked, buzzing it's wings impatiently.
"Soon," said the other, disguised as a Night Guard.
"How soon?"
"Stop whining like a newly hatched pupa," the Night Guard hissed.  "The Queen said soon. so we will move soon."
"Buck it, I hate waiting."
The Night Guard raised an eyebrow at the changeling.  "'Buck it'?  You have been living among the ponies too long."
"Shut up," the changeling snapped.
Both of the, returned to silently watching the pegasus and the alicorn foal eating dinner, the two ponies completely unaware of what was going on just across the street.


*  *  *


The next evening, as the sun was starting to set, Caelus and Kaela were walking home from another day at the fair.  Kaela had Blue, the whale plushie, perched on her back.  Dinky and Wisty had spent the day with their families, so it had been just the two of them today.
"What was your favorite thing today, Fie?" Caelus asked.
"Oh! Oh!  Definitely the spinny ride," Kaela said, "No wait, cotton candy!  No wait...there were too many things I can't decide."
Caelus chuckled as they turned down the street towards home.
"Excuse me, are you Caelus Storm?"
Caelus turned around to see two Night Guards.  He saluted.
"Can I help you, sirs?" he asked.
The Night Guard stepped forward.  "Yes, actually."
Caelus took a step back.  "And that is...?"
"You have something we want," the Night Guard said, baring his fangs.
Caelus tensed.  Before he could do anything though, he was tackled from the side.
"Storm!" Fie shouted.
Caelus kicked his assailant.  The figure hissed, showing fangs much larger than a Night Guard's, and blue glowing eyes.
"Storm, help!" Fie cried.  "Let go of me!"
"Fie!" Caelus shouted.  He slammed his hoof into the changeling's face.  He saw the two Night Guards also turn into changelings and grab Fie.
As they started to fly away, Caelus threw off his attacker and crouched in preparation to take flight.  Before he could take off, the changeling tackled him again.
"STORM!" Fie screamed.
There was a flash of green, a burning sensation on the side of his head, and Caelus started to lose consciousness.  FIE! he thought before he blacked out.


*  *  *


Luna looked down at the blue pegasus.  Celestia was pacing outside the hospital room.  On the bedside was a whale plushie that had been found near him on the street.
The pegasus stirred.
"You are awake, good,"  Luna said.  "How do you feel, Caelus Storm?"
"Fie..." he moaned, opening his gray-purple eyes.
"Just take a moment," Luna said, "a stun spell to the head hurts."
Caelus shook his head.  "No, gotta go...save her."
"First tell us what happened."
Luna looked over her shoulder at Celestia, who had entered the room.  Many saw Celestia as a matriarch, gently guiding her little ponies.  This wasn't that Celestia.  This was the Celestia that came out when her subjects were in danger.  This Celestia wielded righteous anger.
"Fie, she was taken," Caelus said, sitting up.  "Fie was taken by changelings."

> Part 7: Stormfront
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 7: Stormfront


Caelus strapped on an iron cuirass, pulling the straps tight with a sharp tug.  He fitted a hoof blade on his right foreleg.

"What happened?" Princess Celestia asked.
"Fie and I were walking home from the Fall Harvest Festival around sunset, when we were stopped by a pair of Night Guards," Caelus said.  Princess Luna frowned.  "They asked if I was Caelus Storm, to which I said I was.  Then I was tackled from the side by a changeling.  While I was dealing with him, the two Night Guards turned into changelings, grabbed Fie, then took off.  I tried to follow, but I was tackled and pinned by the changeling again.  He zapped me with some spell or other, and I lost consciousness."

Caelus slid a helmet over his head.

"Caelus Storm, what are you doing?" Princess Luna said as Caelus rolled out of bed.
"I'm going after the changelings that took Fie, and I'm going to bring her back," he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Look, I can have the best of the Royal Guard ready in a matter of hours," Princess Celestia said, "but you're-"
"Excuse me, Princess," Caelus interrupted curtly, "but Fie is my daughter, and I'm not going to sit by when I could be doing something useful.  I am leaving right now, and there better be a cell in the dungeon ready, because that's the only way you'll stop me."
Princess Celestia was silent for a long moment.  Finally, she said, "So be it.  As a Guardian, it is your duty to protect Kaela Fie."
"Thank you for understanding, Your Highness," Caelus said.

Several sets of hoofsteps caused Caelus to turn around.  Princess Luna was flanked on each side by one of the Night Guards, one of which was wearing an eyepatch.
"Princess Luna," Caelus said formally, saluting.
"So you really do intend to go after her yourself?" she asked.
"I do," Caelus answered.
"Then please at least take a companion," Princess Luna said.  A third Night Guard appeared from behind the Moon Princess.  The bat-pony saluted and stood at attention.  "This is Hallow Eve, one of most trusted guards," the Princess said.
The bat-pony mare was only a few years older than Caelus.  Her eyes shone a bright golden orange.  "At ease, Eve," Luna said.
Hallow Eve relaxed her stance and brushed a few strands of her dark blue mane out of her face.  "Thank you, Princess," she said.  She looked Caelus over.  Caelus shivered slightly but met her gaze.
"I like this one," Eve said, almost playfully, "he's got spirit."
Caelus blinked in mild confusion, but before he could say anything, Princess Luna spoke up.
"My sister is preparing a host of Royal Guards as an escort, but that will take half a day at least," she said.  "I will try to hurry it up, but until then, you two are on your own.  So be careful."
Caelus nodded.  "We will, Princess Luna," he said.  Hallow Eve nodded.  The pegasus and bat-pony stood outside the armory, preparing to take flight.
"Fly swiftly, and bring young Kaela Fie back safely," Princess Luna said.
"Yes, ma'am," Hallow Eve saluted.
"I intend to," Caelus said, determination coloring his voice.
Both soldiers spread their wings and took to the sky.  the figures of the Princess and her guards quickly disappeared in the distance.  Caelus looked forward, towards the south.  Hold on, Fie.  I'm coming.


*  *  *


Kaela woke up in the dark.  She waved a hoof in front of her face, but couldn't see it.  Shivering, she curled up on the stone floor, pulling her wings tightly against her body.  Then a thought occurred to her.  She channeled some of her magic into her horn, intending to cast a light spell.  But when she tried to release the spell, nothing happened.  All she got was a spike of pain down her horn.
Kaela cried out.  Raising her hoof to her forehead, she felt some sort of device clamped around her horn.  Kaela took several deep, shuddering breaths.  Don't cry, she thought to herself.  I bet Storm is already on his way.  Any minute now he'll break down the door, and he'll save me.
With a thundering clang, the door opened.  Kaela clamped her eyes shut against the bright light.  There was the sound of somepony being thrown into the cell, and the door slammed shut.
When Kaela opened her eyes, everything was pitch dark again.  "H-hello?" she stammered, "i-is somepony there?"
"Fie?  Fie is that you?"
That voice.  It was hoarse, but it could only belong to one pony.
"Storm?" Kaela said in disbelief.  "Where are you?"
"This way, Fie," Storm said.
Kaela walked cautiously towards Storm's voice until she bumped muzzled first into a furred foreleg.  She found herself in Storm's warm embrace.  She hugged him back.  "What are you doing here, Storm?" she asked.
"I got taken too," he responded, holding her close.
Fie nuzzled against Storm's chest.  "At least we're together," she murmured.  Storm wrapped his warm, feathery wings around her.  Even next to this warm body, though, Kaela felt cold.  Whenever she hugged Storm, she felt all warm inside, like she knew she was safe.
"Fie, what's wrong?" Storm said.
"You're not Storm," she whispered.
"What was that?"
Kaela pushed away from the not-Storm.  "You're not Storm," she yelled.  "Where is he?  What have you done with Storm?"
The not-Storm smiled wickedly.  "Looks like we got caught," he said, his voice taking on an insect-like hiss, "and all that love was so delicious."  The not-Storm erupted in green fire, revealing a huge changeling, one as tall as Celestia.
Kaela backed up until she hit the wall of the cell.  "G-get away from me," she whimpered, trying to hide from the changeling.
"How dare you address me in such a way." the changeling growled.  Her long, jagged horn glowed a sickly green, and a bolt of magic arced through the air and struck Kaela.  "I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings."
Kaela cried out in pain.  She vaguely remembered what Princess Celestia told her about spellshock.  Without her natural unicorn magic, the Queen's spell lanced through her own magic reserves, sending spikes of pain through her head.  She curled up, sobbing.
"You will feed the Hive, one way or another," the Queen sneered before turning to leave.  The door clanged shut, once again plunging the cell into total darkness.
Fie listened to the echoes of her sobs.  "Storm..." she murmured.  but nopony was there to give her solace.


*  *  *


"Are you sure we're heading the right way?" Hallow Eve asked as the two ponies sat around a small campfire.
"Yes, ma'am," Caelus said, staring into the flames.
"Please, Caelus, I told you to call me Eve," the bat-pony sighed.
"Sorry," Caelus said with a slight smile, "Royal Guard training seems to have stuck."
Hallow Eve laughed at that, revealing a fanged smile.  It was an infectious laughter, and Caelus found himself smiling.
"You didn't answer my question though," the bat-pony said once her laughter died down.
Caelus frowned.  "I don't know how I know," he admitted.  "It's just a sort of knowing.  Like, a tugging in the back of my mind."
Eve looked unconvinced, but said nothing.  "You really love her, don't you?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.
Caelus nodded.  "Yes."
"Get some sleep," Eve said.  "I'll take first watch."
Caelus nodded again.  He removed his helmet and curled up on the crass, and he was soon asleep.

He was standing in a clearing.  There was a small, still pond in the center, and everything was calm and peaceful.
"Hello."
Caelus whirled, turning towards the voice.  A tall, blue-green mare stepped into the clearing.  her form was indistinct and blurry, but her blue eyes were crystal clear.
"Who are you?" Caelus asked.
"We don't have much time, so I must brief," the mare said, "but I have entrusted my daughter to you."
"You are Fie's mother?"
"Your bond with her is strong, which is why I can contact you," the mare said, "but yes, I am.  And I am here to warn you that she is in danger.  You must hurry."
"I'm going as fast as I can," Caelus said.
"I know you are," the mare said.  "I can sense your determination."  Her form wavered.  "I cannot keep this link up.  May the winds carry you, Caelus Storm."
The world around Caelus faded away into a blank void.

Caelus woke when Hallow Eve shook him.  Wordlessly, he stood up, nodding to Eve.  Eve nodded in return, curling up in the spot he had just vacated and fell asleep.  Caelus put on his helmet and started scanning the surroundings.  The dream still clung to him through his watch, up until the sun began to rise.


*  *  *


Kaela backed up until she was pressed against the wall.  Her breath came in short gasps, and she couldn't see straight.  Sweat and dirt clung to her coat and wings, but she still shivered.
"Please stop," she whimpered, tears dripping down her muzzle.  The changeling Queen cackled.  Two of her drones were drawing love from Kaela, forcefulyl tearing it out of the young filly.  Their horns flashed green and Kaela cried.
"Hmm...that will be enough enough for today," Chrysalis said.  Her drones immediately retreated to her side.  "Sleep well, godling," she hissed as she left.
The door hadn't even fully closed completely when Kaela stumbled and fell, laying on the filthy floor.  Dirt had worked its way between her feathers, but for the first time in her short life, she didn't have the heart to preen them.  For several minutes she lay there in the dark, panting.  Finally, she curled up, trying to stay warm when she no longer felt anything but cold.  She sobbed.  "Where are you, Storm?" she whispered, clinging to the memory of her father's warm embrace.
Hang on, Kaela, a voice whispered in her head.  He is on his way.
"Mommy...I'm scared," Kaela said into the darkness.
Stay strong, my little cloud, the voice said, fading away.  Stay strong.
Kaela whimpered, once again alone.


*  *  *


Caelus flapped a few times before locking his wings and gliding.  Beside him, Hallow Eve was keeping pace.
"You're faster than you look, cadet," she said.  "I don't think you've slowed down since we broke camp."
"Years of working on the Ponyville Weather Team," Caelus said.  Several moments passed in silence.
"You're not very talkative, are you?" Eve said.
"I just want to save Fie," Caelus said.
hours passed with only a hoofful of words spoken between them.  In the distance storm clouds were forming.
"Hey Caelus," Eve shouted over the growing wind, "we should probably land.  This storm is going to be a bad one."
Caelus gave no indication that he had heard.
"Caelus, did you-"
"I heard," Caelus said.  "I'm going through it."
"That's crazy," Eve shouted.  "With winds that fast you'll be lucky to keep your wings."
Caelus smiled slightly.  "Just stay on my tail," he said, tilting his wings to match the changing wind.  The storm loomed above the two fliers.
A sudden gust blew Caelus to the right.  Instead of fighting it, he folded his wings and let the wind carry him.  The storm howled and roared like some primal beast, tugging at Caelus' feathers and yanking his mane.  He squinted, protecting his eyes from the worst of the rain.
Caelus rolled, twisting to avoid a downdraft.  He sensed Eve behind him.  He turned his head.  the bat-pony was struggling, but she hadn't fallen behind.  A slight change in air pressure alerted Caelus to an incoming gust of wind.  he folded one wing and tipped into the gust, dropping and turning through the dark gray clouds.  A hailstone pinged off his armor.  Another smacked into his primary feathers.  Caelus gritted his teeth.  He had to get through this storm.  A downdraft caught him by surprise, and he dropped several feet before he corrected his flight.
After what felt like hours, Caleus saw a glimmer of light through the dark clouds.  "Eve, you still with me?" he shouted.  He barely heard her affirmative reply over the wind.  Caelus pointed at the light, and Eve nodded in understanding.  In one final push, the tow ponies emerged from the storm.  Slowly, they spiraled to the ground.  Once he landed, Caelus shook the water from his mane, tail, and wings.
"Well, that was something," Eve said.
After they had set up camp for the night and started drying off, Eve finally said, "That was probably the dumbest thing I've ever seen anypony do."
"Hmm?"
"flying into a desert storm," Hallow Eve said.  "Why did you do that?  Come to think of it, how did you do that?"
Caelus shrugged.  "I did it because I had to," he said solemnly.  "As for how, it's what my cutie mark means.  I've always been good at handling storms and foul weather.  Flying through treacherous weather comes naturally to me."
"You're still crazy," Hallow Eve said flatly.
Caelus smiled.  "You aren't the first to say that."


*  *  *


The changelings smacked their lips, savoring the taste of the raw love the Queen was pulling from Kaela.  Fie herself wasn't even struggling.  She leaned against the wall, trying and failing to stay on her hooves.  On her knees, her breath came in short gasps, and the world spun around her.  She gasped again at the sharp pain as Queen Chrysalis pulled more love out of her.  Time seemed to crawl, passing in a haze of pain and exhaustion.  She didn't know when she ended up on her side, or when the Queen had left.  It was a long time before Kaela no longer felt dizzy, but her breathing was still shallow, and she was too weak to curl up and keep warm.
She thought she saw a blue-green mare standing over here.  "Mommy..." she breathed, barely moving her mouth.
The mare leaned down and her horn glowed.  Kaela felt a fleeting warmth in her limbs as her mother touched her.  Fie's wings twitched.  Stay strong, my daughter, her mother said, her figure starting to fade.  Stay strong.
Fie whined softly.  She tried once again to curl up and succeeded to some degree.  She didn't even shiver, no longer sure she was cold because she couldn't remember what it felt like to be warm.  "Storm..." she exhaled, but her mind thought another word.  Daddy...


*  *  *


Caelus rubbed his forehead.  His headache had been steadily growing these past few days.  In his heart he knew he was feeling an echo of whatever pain Fie was in.  That thought had been what drove him these past few days.  Now he stood on a short cliff, looking down at the black carapace of a castle.  It was made of a combination of stone and something black and slightly glossy, giving the structure the appearance of being grown as much as built.
"So that's the changeling Hive," Hallow Eve said, "doesn't look all that intimidating."
Caelus nodded.
"Is she in there?" Eve asked.
Caelus nodded again.  Suddenly he staggered as a sharp pain exploded from his left side.
"Caelus?" Eve said, voice colored with concern.
"Fie," he gasped, "she's hurt."  Without another word, he leaped into the air and flew towards the changeling Hive.
> Part 8: Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 8: Rescue


Caelus flew low and fast, eyes only for the opening that was the castle gate.  Two changelings rose up to meet him, armed with wickedly curved spears.  With a shout, Caelus flipped in the air and slammed all four hooves into the first changeling.  They hit the ground and Caelus felt something crack under him.  The changeling coughed up a glob of green fluid and lay on the ground, wheezing.
Caelus ducked under the spear swipe of the other changeling.  He turned, raising his right foreleg, the hoof blade extending from its sheath.  He blocked the next swing, then rose up on his hind legs and slashed at the changeling.  Through luck, he hit its foreleg.  The changeling hissed as it dropped its spear and lunged at Caelus, fangs bared.  Caelus instinctively brought his blade up to defend himself.  the action brought the edge of the blade into the changelings neck.
Green changeling ichor splattered across his face, causing him to step back in surprise.  Oh, sweet Celestia and Luna, I killed something, he thought, panicking.  He took a deep breath.  They took Fie, he told himself, they took her and hurt her.  I will kill all of them if they are between me and my daughter.  His mind believed his words, but his gut still twisted at the thought.
Hallow Eve landed next to him, looking between Caelus and the two dead changelings.  "you did what you had to do," she said.
Caelus nodded, locking away his emotions.  "Let's go," he said turning and trotting into the hive.


*  *  *


Fie clutched her side where the changeling drone had kicked her while leaving a bowl of water in her cell.  The blow had struck right at the base of the wing, sending a searing pain through her whole left side.  when the pain faded enough for her to move, Kaela edged forward until her muzzle bumped into the bowl.  She tried not to think about what the bowl was made out of as she greedily slurped down the water.  The water tasted heavily of minerals, but it was all Fie had put in her body since she had been foalnapped.  At least her tummy had stopped making hungry noises yesterday, but she knew that wasn't necessarily a good thing.  Given her ultra-high metabolism, it would take less time for her to starve.
Kaela may only be six, but she was smart for her age.  She knew that she wouldn't make it more than a a few days without food.  Probably less, with the changelings constantly stealing love from her.  Her body wasn't given a chance to recover from the constant magical assault.  Her ear twitched at the sound of changelings hissing angrily not far from her cell.  There was a shout, the clash of metal and metal, then silence.  After a few moments, Fie heard the sound of two sets of hoofsteps, along with a few indistinct words.
"Help," Fie tried calling out, but her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.  She tried to get to her hooves, only to fall over after taking a single step.
"This one," a voice shouted.  There was a loud banging, followed by two more.  At the third impact, the door swung inward.
Kaela looked up, and found herself staring into familiar purple-gray eyes.  "Storm?" she murmured.
"Fie."


*  *  *


Caelus held the filly close, stroking her mane.  She was a mess, her coat matted, her mane tangled, and her feathers crooked or broken.  Caelus tried to pull the inhibitor ring off of Fie's horn, but it was locked on.
"Eve, can you help me with this?" he said.
The batpony nodded, her short hoof blade sliding from its sheath.  "Hold still, Miss Kaela," she said.  Very carefully, Hallow Eve pried the pure black onyx from the inhibitor ring.  There was a burst of magical energy, causing Fie to cry out, but the inhibitor ring clattered to the ground.
"You okay, Fie?" Caelus said, checking her for further signs of injury.
Kaela nodded, clinging weakly to him.
"Then let's get you out of here," Caelus said.  He put the filly on his back and left the dark cell, followed by Eve.
"Well now, where do you think you're running off to?"
At the exit stood the tall, menacing form of Queen Chrysalis.  Kaela whimpered and tried to hide from the changeling queen, shrinking down on Caelus' back.  Caelus tensed.
"Give me back what's mine and I'll make sure your deaths are painless," Chrysalis said.  "More or less."
"Fie is my daughter," Caelus spat.  "If you want her, it'll be over my dead body."
Chrysalis' horn flashed green and a long, crooked sword appeared floating next to her.  Caelus set Kaela down next to Eve.
"Storm," Fie said, raising a hoof to try and hold him back.
"don't worry, I'll be fine," he said.  He looked at Eve.  "Keep her safe."
"What are you doing?" Eve hissed, "You're going to get yourself killed."
Caelus hardened his expression.  "Fie is my daughter," he said, turning to face Chrysalis.  "Nopony.  Hurts.  Fie."  His hoof blade slid from its sheath as he approached the changeling queen.
Queen Chrysalis laughed cruelly, readying her sword.  "Foolish pony, sentiment won't be enough to defeat me."
Caelus stood still, watching the bug-like equine for signs of her next move.  This wasn't like sparring with the other pegasi and earth ponies.  Chrysalis wouldn't have to move attack with her blade, and holding it in her magic gave her an entire range of motion impossible for him or any pony to replicate.  The changeling queen's sword flew forward, catching Caelus off guard.  He dodged right and the sword only tore off a bit of his mane.  Fear bubbled up within him, but it wasn't his own.  It was Kaela's.  Gritting his teeth, Caelus reared up and swung at Chrysalis.  Steel met whatever substance the queen's sword was made out of.  Chrysalis chuckled.
"Is that the best you can do?" she taunted, swinging at Caelus again.  "How pitiful."
Caelus ducked, wincing as he felt the blade nick his ear.  He stepped back, standing on three legs, holding his hoof blade in a defensive position.  However, Chrysalis wasn't about to give him any breathing room, and Caelus was forced to retreat under the sudden, fierce onslaught.  He tripped over a loose stone and fell on his back.
Queen Chrysalis smiled and stabbed downwards.
"Storm!" Fie cried
Time slowed.  Caelus found his mind going back to something Princess Luna had told him the day after Fie's discovery.

"You'll be able to fly faster for longer, and your reflexes will become sharper," Luna said, a slight twinkle in her eyes.

Caelus felt himself moving before he even thought.  As Chrysalis' sword descended towards his abdomen, he brought his hoof blade up to deflect it.  At the same time, he twisted to avoid the deadly black sword.  He continued to roll, pushing off the ground with all four hooves and launching himself backwards.  He saw the surprised look on Chrysalis' face as he passed mere hoof widths away from her.
Time resumed its normal speed and he landed a good distance behind the changeling queen.  A sharp pain near his hind leg and a warm wetness told him he hadn't escaped unscathed.
Queen Chrysalis turned slowly.  One hole-filled hoof went to her neck, and came away covered in green ichor.  It wasn't more than a scratch, but it was the most serious wound she had suffered in a long time.  Her eyes burned like hateful green fires and with a hiss she lunged at Caelus.
Caelus sidestepped and raised his hoof blade to block.  He staggered under the force of the blow and Chrysalis followed up with a vicious cut to his side.  He twisted so his armor caught the brunt of the blow, but he was still knocked off his hooves and winded.
"I will rip out your heart and bleed you dry of love," Chrysalis growled.  She picked up the blue pegasus with her magic and slammed him into the wall.
The wall shook.  Caelus felt his armor dent, but considered himself lucky that it wasn't his spine.  The world shook again, and Caelus wondered in his dazed state why Chrysalis hadn't gutted him yet.  the whole castle shook, and with a sound of breaking stone the ceiling exploded inwards.  Sunlight streamed through the opening, causing Caelus to squint and Queen Chysalis to hiss.
"Enough!" a voice boomed.  Princess Celestia descended from above.  No longer wearing her regalia, the white alicorn was clothed in gleaming golden armor.  Her mane crackled with barely contained anger.  "I told you after the Royal Wedding, Chrysalis, that any further excursions into Equestria would result in punishment."
Queen Chrysalis laughed.  "Celestia you foal.  you have forgotten I bested you then, and I will defeat you now."
Celestia's horn glowed and wrenched Chrysalis' sword from her magical grasp.
"What!" Chrysalis shouted, "Impossible!"
The Sun Princess' horn glowed brighter.  "Queen Chrysalis, for crimes against Equestria, I hereby strip you of your power."
Chrysalis' horn shattered.  The insect queen shrieked as green magic crackled through the air.
"And your position as Queen of the Changelings," Celestia continued.  The Queen's wings evaporated in a burst of fire.  "May your Hive judge you for your other transgressions."
Caelus limped over to Kaela, who was hiding behind Hallow Eve.  His vision was blurry, and he was pretty sure he had a concussion.  Even so, he was more concerned with his daughter.  "Fie, are you alright?" he asked, breathing heavily.
"Mmhmm," she said, hugging him.  "But you're hurt."
"She's right, you don't look so good," Hallow Eve said, supporting Caelus on one side.
" 'M fine," he said, "just need to...to catch my..."
"Storm!" Fie cried as his vision grayed.
"Princess Celestia," Eve called out as Caelus lost consciousness.


*  *  *


"Awaken, Guardian."
Caelus stirred.  He expected to hurt, but surprisingly, he felt fine.  No trace of his injuries or exhaustion remained.  He opened his eyes, and found himself staring at the sleeping for of Fie.
"Fie," he said, scrambling to his hooves.  He gently shook the sleeping filly.
Kaela's eyes fluttered open.  Caelus breathed a sigh of relief.  "Storm?" she said, yawning.  "Where are we?"
"I don't know," he said, holding Kaela close.
"You are in the spirit plane, Guardian."
Caelus looked over his shoulder.  Behind him stood an alabaster alicorn with a deep red mane.  she was as tall as Celestia, and radiated ageless wisdom and power.  "W-who are you?" Caelus asked, rising to his hooves and putting himself between the strange mare and Fie.
"I go by many names, but most know me as Fate," the white mare replied.
"Why did you bring us here?" Caelus asked.
"I did not," Fate said, "It was my daughter who did."
Another mare stepped into the void.  Her coat was a light river blue, while her mane faded from dark blue to forest green.
"Who are you?" Caelus said, but felt a faint twinge of recognition.
Kaela's eyes widened.  "Mommy," she breathed.
The blue mare nodded.  "Yes," she said.  She looked at Caelus.  "My name is Kaia Alicornus Terrara, and I am Fie's mother."
Caelus blinked in surprise.  "Huh?" was all he could say as his mind grappled with this information.
Kaela had no such inhibitions as she galloped over to Kaia, hugging her.  "Mommy," she said.
Kaia leaned down, nuzzling the small filly's head head.  "Oh, my little cloud, I have missed you so," she said, shifting so she could hold her daughter close.  Kaela nuzzled against her mother's chest.
Caelus watched, unsure of how to feel.  He felt his wings twitch, somewhat envious of the mare, but at the same time, he was happy that Fie finally got to meet her mother.
"Mommy?" Kaela said, looking her mother in the eye, "What happened to you after I was born?  Why did I sleep for so long?"
Kaia's expression turned somber.  she hugged Fie close before gently releasing her.  "Do you know what was happening in Equestria when you were born, Kaela?"
Kaela thought for a moment.  "Luna said I was born almost two thousand years ago, which would mean...the Discordian Era."
Kaia nodded.  "Two thousand eleven years to be exact, but my sister was close.  During that time, Discord's dark forces hunted alicorns, and alicorns hunted Discord's monsters.  It was a fight we weren't winning, and Discord knew it.  he summoned an army and laid siege to the alicorn city in what is now the Badlands.  We fought as hard as we could, but the city fell.  What followed was a massacre.
"I was followed as I fled the city, and knew that I would not be able to escape.  So I found a cave in the forest of Everfree, reinforcing it with as many spells as I could.  you were born the next day.  I knew that if I stayed, neither of us would survive.  So I put you into stasis, my daughter.  I fled the cave, sealing it behind me and led Discord's monsters as far from you as I could.  Sadly, I did not get very far.  I was slain, my body utterly destroyed and my spirit broken.  It took me nigh upon a thousand years to pull my essence back together.  I stayed near the place you were hidden and watched over your slumber."
Kaela was stunned for a moment, then nuzzled close to her mother.  "So I'll never really meet you?" she murmured, tears forming in her eyes.
"Are we not meeting now?" Kaia asked, tilting her daughter's chin up.  "My body may be long gone, Kaela Fie, but my spirit is as strong as ever.  You can always find me in your dreams.  But that's not all."  Kaia's horn glowed, and a green metal necklace appeared around Kaela's neck.  "I will always be with you.  This is your inheritance, my daughter."
Kaia's form wavered slightly as she stood up.  "I have not forgotten you, brave Guardian," she said.  "My time here is short.  The energy it takes to bring you and Kaela here is taxing.  Even so, thank you for caring for my daughter, Caelus Storm.  I know that has not been easy, but I have watched you come to look at her as your own.  you flew to rescue her yourself, something few Guardians would do.  And for that, I am eternally grateful."  Kaia's form wavered again.  "It appears the real world is calling."
"Mommy?" Kaela said.
"Go with your daddy, Kaela," Kaia said, nuzzling her daughter one last time.  "Now, wake up, both of you."
The void shifted and faded into black.


*  *  *


Back in Canterlot, Celestia paced in the waiting room in Canterlot Hospital.  Both Caelus and Kaela had been unconscious for the airship flight back, Caelus from a concussion and Kaela from exhaustion and near starvation.  The first thing they had done upon arriving at the hospital was get Kaela on an IV drip to get much needed nutrients in her.  Celestia had examined young Kaela on the airship.  The poor filly had several bruises and was already painfully thin.
"Princess Celestia."
Celestia turned around.  The lanky, gray-coated doctor stood in front of her, examining a clip board he held in his magic.  "Dr. Remedy," Celestia said, "any news?"
"Caelus Storm is suffering from a concussion and a long laceration above his left hind leg.  He is awake at the moment," the doctor said, "and visiting Kaela Fie."
Celestia nodded.  "And young Kaela?" she asked.
Dr. Remedy pushed some of his brown mane out of his face.  "Kaela Fie is suffering from extensive bruising, malnutrition, and a minute fracture on her pegasus humerus.  It was close, but she should make a full recovery."
Only centuries of practice kept Celestia from sighing in relief.  She quietly released her held breath.  "That is good," she said.  "May I see them?"
"Yes, this way," Dr. Remedy said, turning to go back through the door.
Celestia followed the unicorn doctor down the hall to room 104.  Dr. Remedy said something to the room's occupants, then gestured for the Princess to enter.
Caelus Storm stood next to the bed, softly murmuring to Kaela Fie.  Kaela herself was awake, though still clearly weak.  She smiled when she saw Celestia.
"Hello Celestia," she said.
"Hello Kaela," Celestia replied, "and hello Caelus."
"Princess," Caelus said, bowing his head.  His side was bandaged just in front of his left hind leg.
"How are you both feeling?" Celestia asked.
"Tired, but better," Kaela said, "and hungry too."
"Sore," Caelus said, "I'll live."
"Caelus," Celestia said, "I know this has been an ordeal for both you and Kaela.  I am sincerely sorry that I did not foresee something like this happening.  I am already planning preparations for you to return home, Caelus.  I feel that Kaela may be safer in a...somewhat less populated area."
Caelus bowed.  "Thank you, Your Majesty," he said.
they made small talk for a few more minutes, but Celestia had other duties to attend to.  She bid the two ponies farewell, and left the hospital.  None would have seen it through her nigh impenetrable mask, but Celestia spent the rest of the day smiling.
> Part 9: Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Adventures of Kaela Fie and Caelus Storm



Part 9: Home


Kaela Fie woke from pleasant dreams.  She couldn't remember what she had been dreaming about, but she had been happy.  Opening her eyes revealed the hospital room she had been staying in.  The doctors said she needed to stay a couple of days to make sure she was healthy.  Storm was almost constantly by her side.  Which reminded her...
"Storm?" she said with a yawn.  Her eyes scanned the room.  There was an iron helmet on a chair in the corner, but other than that, there was no sign of the pegasus.  Kaela closed her eyes.  She could sense Storm's presence, which meant he was still in the building.  He wasn't startled or angry, so he wasn't in trouble.
The door was pushed in, and Storm entered.  He had a tray balanced on his back.  Kaela's mouth started to water as the smell of warm syrup filled the room.
"Oh good, you're awake," Storm said.  "Sorry if I worried you, I went to go get breakfast."  He set the tray down in front of her, and gave her a nuzzle.  "I brought waffles, your favorite."
Kaela reached over and wrapped her forelegs around Storm's neck.  "Thank you," she said, then turned her attention to the tray in front of her.  She closed her eyes in pleasure at the first bite, mumbling something incoherent as the warm waffle, syrup, and butter tickled her taste buds.  She would never go without waffles again.  In less than five minutes the plate was cleaned of waffle bits and syrup.
A knock on the door caused Storm to look up.  A Royal Guard stuck his head in the door.  "Miss Kaela Fie, you have visitors."
"Uh...ok," Kaela said.  She was a little unnerved by how all the guards treated her like she was royalty, but she didn't have time to dwell on it as two familiar fillies entered the room.  "Dinky!  Wisty!" she said.
"Windy!" they cheered in unison.  They reared up, putting their forehooves on the bed to be at her level.  They almost immediately bombarded her with questions.
"Are you all right?"
"What happened?"
"Were you really foalnapped?"
"Did your dad really come to rescue you all on his own?"
"Do you have any snacks?"
"Girls, why don't you give her a chance to answer you," Summer Breeze said gently.
The rapid fire questions had startled Kaela, which in turn caused her wings to flutter.  Both the other fillies gasped, and even Summer Breeze and Ditzy Doo raised and eyebrow.
"Y-you're an al-alicorn?" Dinky said, slipping into her stutter.
Kaela looked at Storm.  He nodded.  "Uh...yeah," she said.  Her ears drooped.  "You aren't mad at me, are you?"
Wisty and Dinky both shook their heads.  "Why did you keep it a secret though?" Wisty asked.  "We're your friends.  You can tell us anything."
"Well, Princess Celestia didn't want me to tell anypony.  She said I would be safer that way," Kaela answered.  She sat up a little straighter.  "But that's in the past now.  So...hi.  My name is Kaela Fie.  Nice to meet you."
the next several minutes were spent talking with her friends while they told her everything that had happened while she had been held captive.  Kaela told of how Storm had heroicly come to her rescue, and how Princess Celestia herself had escorted them back to Canterlot.  However, the time came when her friends had to leave.  Kaela promised that they would get together after she got out of the hospital.
Around lunch time there was another visitor.  This one was one of Luna's Night Guards.
"Eve?  What are you doing here?" Storm asked.
"It's my shift to make sure you and Miss Kaela aren't disturbed by the snooping nobles," Hallow Eve answered.  She smiled.  "Also I wanted to make sure that both of you were well.  And to inform you that the Princesses would like to speak with both you and Miss Kaela when you are released from the hospital."
Storm nodded in thanks.  Kaela had yet to look away from the Night Guard.
"Are you a vampony?" she asked, more curious than scared.
The bat pony, Eve, smiled, showing off her fangs.  "Indeed, I am.  I feed on little fillies and colts that get lost in the night."
Kaela's eyes widened, then narrowed.  "That's not true," she stated.  "Is it?"
Hallow Eve laughed.  "You've got a bright filly, Storm," she chuckled.  To Fie, she said, "No, it's not true, Miss Kaela.  My kind is herbivorous, though most of the food in Hollow Shades is fruit.  No, I'm not a vampony, Miss Kaela, just an ordinary chiroptequus.  Or bat pony, as most ponies call us.  I should return to my post.  I will see you later."
Kaela watched the Night Guard depart then turned to Storm.  "She seems nice," she stated with childlike simplicity.


*  *  *


Kaela was released from Canterlot Hospital later that afternoon, and the doctor told Caelus to make sure that she took it easy and got plenty to eat over the next few days.  Hallow Eve lead Caelus an Kaela to the Royal Palace, a nod from the Night Guard gaining them entrance.  The three equines waited outside the throne room for an audience with Princess Celestia.  It wasn't long before some of the nearby ponies noticed Kaela's wings and horn.  What began as a few whispers soon had the whole room abuzz with softly spoken conversations.
Kaela shrank down, making herself small.  Caelus could feel her apprehension, and draped a wing over her back, whispering comforting words.  Eve took a position between Fie and the crowd, her expression neutral but her eyes flashing dangerously, daring anypony to come near.  The ponies quieted down, but there were still whispers here and there.  Caelus nodded his thanks to Eve.
An earth pony mare emerged from the throne room, followed by two unicorn stallions.  "Caelus Storm and Kaela Fie, the Princess will see you now," the mare said.  The whisperings rose in volume, but Caelus and Fie had already entered the throne room, the doors closing behind them.
Caelus bowed.  Kaela followed suit.
"Rise, both of you," Celestia said.
Caelus stood up and approached the base of the throne.  Celestia descended down the steps, followed by Luna,who had appeared from seemingly nowhere.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," Caelus said.
"Caelus Storm and Kaela Fie, thank you for coming on such short notice," Celestia said.  "There is one thing I'd like to clear up before you head back to Ponyville."
"Yes, Princess?"  Caelus said.
"This actually concerns the necklace that young Kaela bears," Celestia said.  "How did you come across it?  It appeared while both of you were unconscious."
"My mommy gave it to me," Fie said.  "She said it was part of my inheritance."
"When we were unconscious, we met two alicorns in a place they called the spirit plane.  One said her name was Fate," Caelus started.
"Mother," Luna breathed.
"And the other?" Celestia asked, her tone full of emotion.
"The other called herself Kaia Alicornus Terrara," Caelus said.
Luna gasped.  Celestia breathed.
"Is something wrong?" Caelus asked.
Celestia shook her head.  Luna answered, "Kaia Alicornus Terrara was the Alicorn of Earth.  And our younger sister."
Caelus blinked.  "Oh," was all he said.
"Wait.  Doesn't that make you and Celestia, like, my aunts?"  Kaela asked.
Celestia chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye.  "It does, I suppose," she said.  "Do you want to be a Princess of Equestria?  you could help us with all the paper work, and go to parties with stuffy nobles."
Kaela shifted.  "Um...no thanks," she said.  "I'll stay with Storm."  She stood closer to Caelus.
"Well then, thank you for coming, Caelus, Kaela," Celestia said.
"Thank you, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna.  For everything," Caelus said, bowing low.
"You're welcome, my little ponies," Celestia said.  "Now go, I'm sure you have other plans for this evening."
"Good evening, Your Majesties," Caelus said.
"Good night," Kaela said cheerfully.


*  *  *


Kaela sat next to Storm as the pegasus drawn carriage flew towards Ponyville.  He had been moving things back to his house over the past few weeks.  He had decided to let Kaela finish the semester at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.  Even after her absence, she passed her final exams, if not with confidence.  She had said good-bye to her friends, promising to write and visit them often.
Some instinct told her they were descending, and Kaela looked over the side.  She hadn't seen much of Ponyville last time they were in town.  Now she had a view of the whole town.  She could see the schoolhouse, the library, and even their destination.  The landing carriage drew the attention of a few ponies, but they went about their daily business.  Storm jumped out of the carriage, thanking the guards as he picked up his saddlebags.
Kaela jumped out too, then levitated her saddlebags and Blue onto her back.  Storm opened up the front door of the house.
"Hey, Fie, you coming?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm, coming," she said.  She trotted over to Storm, nuzzling him.
He nuzzled her back.  "Welcome home, Fie."