> A Daughter and her Dragon
>  by Level Dasher
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Somepony wants to adopt me?” Cotton Candy flittered in the air, her wings buzzing with excitement.

Mother Matron was torn between joy and trepidation, watching the raspberry-maned filly flit about the room. She smiled weakly.

The little filly was dear to her heart, and it broke the old mare each time the little pale-tangelo pegasus was passed over. Cotton had lost her parents during the Great Fire of Canterlot, and entered the orphanage at the tender age of three. Matron had grown fond of her over the last nine years. Cotton was always polite, and as she grew older, she started helping Mother Matron care for the younger children.

Every year, Cotton would watch the other foals find homes with loving parents. Every year, she would grow older. Every year she would lose a little more hope; Matron watched it leak from her face, her eyes, and her gait. Every year she was ignored, because of her scars.

“Yes, there is some… pony, who wants to adopt you. I’ve met him, and he is very, very nice. But it is important for you to remember…” Matron’s smile faltered. She feared she was setting Cotton up for disappointment. “Ultimately, the decision is up to you.”


Ж


When Matron had received the letter bearing the seal of Her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle, she had expected it would be in response to her request for more funding. She hadn’t expected it to be a letter of sponsorship for adoption.

The Princess’s brother was looking to adopt. The request confused Matron; Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor already had a foal of their own—not so much a foal anymore—and insofar as everypony knew, there existed no marital issues between them. But the sponsorship was for a single-parent adoption.

Adoptions would often only be granted to single parents under special circumstances, but Mother Matron had to admit, this was one doozy of a special circumstance.

She had been called to the palace for the initial interview. While definitely unorthodox, she had understood that anypony attached to the Royal Court would require some amount of privacy, so she acquiesced. Not that she would have dared deny a royal request in any event.

The gent wishing to adopt came with glowing recommendations from not just one, but all four princesses. He was the Chief Librarian for the Royal Canterlot Archives, with doctorates in Library Sciences, Equestrian History, and Fine Arts. He had been knighted for services to both Equestria and the Crystal Empire. She could not question his credentials as a fitting role model and likely suitable parent.

What the letter had not mentioned was that he stood twelve feet tall on all fours, and over thirty feet from muzzle to tail, with razor sharp claws, green spines along his back and gleaming purple scales, along with two large, talon-tipped wings. It most certainly did not mention the massive white teeth that greeted her when he smiled.

Matron’s first meeting with the father-to-be was soured by an ear-splitting scream and a bout of fainting.


Ж


“This was a dumb idea, Twilight,” a deep voice resonated throughout the room.

“Hush, Spike,” a softer voice chided. “She’ll be okay. Why don’t you ask one of the staff to fetch us all some tea?”

Matron came to with Princess Twilight Sparkle kneeling over her, waving smelling salts under her nose. She blinked her eyes and tried to pull herself up.

“Oh, Your Majesty!” Mother Matron got to her hooves. She looked warily around the room. Nopony was there aside from the Princess and several guards. “I am so very sorry, it must have been the excitement of coming to the palace. I thought I saw a d—”

Spike reentered the room. “Tasty Twist wants to know if we’d like any pastries with the tea.”

“d-d-d-”

“Oh dear…” Twilight chewed her lip nervously.

“GUARDS! HELP! THERE’S A DRAGON!” Matron backed away from the door.

It was only years of professionalism that stopped the guards from laughing. Professionalism, and the look of hurt across their friend’s face.

“Ma’am, we’d greatly appreciate it if ya didn’t scream at Sir Spike.” A gruff-looking stallion with a scarlet-gray coat stepped forward. “He might look like a dragon, but he’s a damn national hero and pony through and through. He’s been protectin’ Equestria since before Ah was even a foal.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Nova.” Twilight smiled, turning again to the startled mare. “Please, come sit. I hope you will hear us out.”

Matron looked towards the dragon at the opposite side of the room. Aside from the aforementioned scales, spines, and teeth, she could admit he didn’t look too threatening, and had certainly not done anything to make her think him a threat. She studied him closely, and realized he didn’t look that ferocious at all. The way he held himself, if he were a pony, would have shown dejection. In his eyes, no matter how reptilian, she could see his sorrow and pain. Matron cursed at herself under her breath and stood.

“Your Majesty, I must apologize for my outburst. And Sir Spike, I beg you forgive my insult.” Spike winced as she bowed deeply before them. “I have long taught my foals to not judge a pony by their outward appearance. It seems, even at my age, it is a lesson I should take to heart myself. My name is Mother Matron; I run Luna’s Orphanage.”

Twilight beamed, motioning for the mare to rise. “See, Spike? I told you it would be alright. Please, Mother Matron, come this way.” She guided Matron towards a small oak table, where the three of them sat. Or, at least the Princess and the old mare sat. Spike laid on his stomach, propping his long neck up with his foreclaws.

Matron pulled a small photo album out of her saddlebag, placing it on the table in front of the two, as a palace servant left some tea and cakes on the table. Twilight levitated the book in front of them.

“Sir Spike—”

“Please, Miss, just call me Spike. I hate that title.”

“Well, maybe you should have thought about that before you went around saving kingdoms and empires!” Twilight playfully poked his cheek with a hoof, laughing as he pouted.

“Well then, Spike…” Matron smiled, watching the playful banter between the two. “…if you have any questions about any of the foals, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Spike read through the album with Twilight, each page detailing a little about the children in each photo. Twilight had asked a few questions about several of the children, Matron noting that she seemed to linger on the more academically-minded ones.

Matron’s pleasant smile slipped as the two stopped, gasping. Everypony had the same reaction when they got to that particular page. Matron had taken the photo herself, but even with the pale green dress, and the lovely sun hat she wore to complement her mane, they could not hide the scarring across Cotton's muzzle and neck, or the damage to her right eye. Matron forced the pleasant smile back onto her face before the two looked up.

“Cotton has been with you, I am guessing, about nine years?” Spike asked. Matron nodded in response to the dragon’s question.

“Twelve is rather old for—” Twilight stopped speaking as Spike pinched her muzzle shut with his claws. His draconic senses could smell and hear what the alicorn princess could not. Matron’s heart was beating faster, and he could smell her anger.

“Yes, many of our children are adopted younger.” Matron kept her smile. “And yes, it is also true: the older foals get, the harder it is to find homes for them. It is a sad fact of life, it seems.”

They continued through the book, Twilight making a checklist of the different foals, their names, and ages. When they finished the album, Twilight passed it back to Matron, who slipped it back into her saddlebag.

"Thank you for coming here, Mother Matron." Twilight smiled, nodding to the other mare. "Spike and I will discuss which foal he might want to adopt over the next few days. We’ll get back to you soon."

"Thank you." Matron smiled, getting to her hooves. "I look forward to hearing from you."

“I’d like to adopt Cotton, if that’s okay?” Spike interjected, before she could leave.

“Really?” Both Matron and Twilight asked with shock.

Spike turned to his sister. “Twilight, think. She’s twelve years old. She’s been with the orphanage nine years.”

“Oh…” Twilight trailed off, looking away from the dragon, embarrassed.

“A-are you certain, Sir Spike?” Matron was visibly shaking.

“I am,” he answered, nodding. “And I know my wife would approve as well.”

“Your wife?” Matron cast her mind back to the application; it was for a single parent, she was certain. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were married.”

“I was married, to a wonderful mare. She owned a boutique in Lower Canterlot. We always wanted a child, but you can probably guess why that never came to pass.” Spike’s eyes watered at the memory. Twilight nuzzled his cheek, her fur getting matted by his tears.

“She was a wonderful friend,” Twilight said with a smile. “You probably learned about her in school. I’m sure you remember the Element of Generosity.”

Matron gasped. She knew the name well, and not just from her school days. Dame Rarity had donated tens-of-thousands of bits to charities and orphanages across Equestria.

“I loved Rarity more than life itself. W-we lost her, nine years ago.”
> Chapter One - An Afternoon in the Park
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Which dress would you like to wear tomorrow?” Mother Matron asked as she laid several dresses on the bed for Cotton to choose from, while the filly bounced around the room.

“Which one do you think he’ll like the best?” Cotton looked over her three favorite dresses. They’d been donated to the orphanage, and as Cotton had been the only foal old enough to fit into them, she had been given all three. “What about this one?”

“I think you’ll look beautiful in that.” Matron nodded her approval, putting the small, white summer dress to the side. She gently brushed the filly’s mane and went over her wings, preening the feathers with her teeth. Despite being an earth pony, she had unicorn and pegasus children to care for, and had learned more about preening and horn care than most earth ponies ever did.

“There, you look perfect.” Mother Matron smiled as the two walked towards the mirror. Cotton shifted awkwardly as she tried to hide her scars behind her forelocks. Matron sighed, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “You don’t need to hide, sweetie. Don’t ever feel you have to hide.”

“But—but what if he sees…” Cotton motioned her hoof towards the mirror. “…a-and doesn’t want me anymore? Can’t I just wear it like this until he takes me home?”

“Oh, sweetie…” Matron smiled warmly. “You can’t trick a pony into adoption. Don’t worry, he already knows. He’s seen your photo—do you remember the one with the pale green dress?” Cotton nodded. “He told me that he would be proud to have a pretty little daughter like you, if you wanted.”

“M’not pretty…” the filly mumbled.

“Yes you are.” Mother Matron smiled, poking the filly in a particularly ticklish spot, eliciting a giggle. “Especially when you smile and laugh. Now, come sit next to Matron.” She crossed the room, sitting on Cotton’s bed. She patted a hoof next to her, and Cotton diligently sat next to the old mare.

“Now, I need to tell you something before we go to meet Mister Spike tomorrow. You know it’s up to you to decide if you want to live with him. If you don’t feel comfortable, nopony will force you. And you are always welcome here.

“The thing is, well…” Matron struggled. She had tried to think of a way to broach the subject without terrifying the foal. “The thing is, Spike isn’t actually a pony.”

Cotton looked up at Mother Matron. “So he’s like, a griffon or something?”

“No, he’s not a griffon.”

“Eww! He’s not a bug, is he?”

“Cotton Candy!” Matron scolded her. “You do not call Changelings ‘bugs’, I’ve raised you better than that.”

“Sorry, Mother Matron.” Cotton rubbed her front fetlock, padding at the bed nervously.

“But no, sweetie. He’s not a Changeling. You see…” Matron took a deep breath. “Spike, is a dragon.”

Matron turned to the silent filly sitting next to her. All anxious movement had stopped; the filly held her breath.

“I’msorryforbeingabadfillypleasedon’tletthedragoneatme—”

“Ssh, ssh, ssh.” Mother Matron draped a forearm over the trembling filly. “Spike does not want to eat you, and you certainly aren’t a bad filly. He’s just like you, in a way; he was an orphan, too. Do you remember the stories you were taught in kindergarten? About the dragon who lived with Princess Twilight?”

“He’s the Dragon of Ponyville?!”

“Yes, well, apparently he’s the Dragon of the Canterlot Archives these days,” Matron chuckled, “and now he would like to have a family.”

“But why doesn’t he want a dragon family?” As only a foal’s could, Cotton Candy’s fear had been quickly replaced with curiosity.

Mother Matron had asked Spike something similar, but decided to leave out the more colorful explanation of his distaste towards dragon family values. “Well, you see, he grew up in a pony family. So he wants to have a pony family himself.”

“Well, why doesn’t he have a foal with a pony?”

While Cotton Candy was fascinated by the discussion, the incompatibility of mammalian-reptile relations was not a discussion Matron wanted to have. The birds and the bees were one thing, but a thirty-foot dragon with a four-foot mare brought questions to mind the older mare did not want to contemplate, nor explain to a filly of twelve.

Luna forgive me, she thought, as she came up with her own explanation. “Well, Spike did have a pony wife, but she passed away before they could have a foal of their own… th-though you probably shouldn’t ask him about it unless he talks about it first,” she added hastily. “So, do you think you would still like to meet Mister Spike tomorrow?”

Cotton looked across the room, into the mirror. She breathed a heavy sigh, and nodded her head.

“That’s a good girl,” Matron said as she nuzzled the filly. “Now, let’s get you into bed; you ought to be well-rested when you meet Mister Spike.”

Mother Matron helped the filly out of the dress and tucked her in.

“♫Hush now, quiet now. It’s time to lay your sleepy head.♫” Matron sang the same song she’d sung for Cotton every night since arriving at the orphanage. As the filly closed her eyes, Matron blew out the candle lighting the small room.

Closing the door, Mother Matron looked back at the little filly. She’d spent more time here than any other foal Matron had cared for, and she felt a mixture of excitement and sorrow. She was glad Cotton might finally have a real family, but at the same time, the filly she had come to love over the years might soon leave her; the filly had become very much like family to Matron herself.

“Good luck tomorrow, my precious little filly. I hope he is everything you ever dreamed of.”


Ж
 

“Settle down, Spikey,” Sweetie Belle chided him. “You’re making everypony nervous.”

The two sat together in a park, where he and Mother Matron had agreed to meet. Or at least Sweetie Belle sat; the dragon paced in the tight corners of Canterlot Memorial Gardens. Ponies were gathering around to see the commotion, viewing the fidgeting dragon from the safety of the decorative wrought-iron fence.

“Do you think the bow-tie is too much?” he mumbled as he tugged at the red bow-tie around his neck. While he had outgrown the first jewel-encrusted one Rarity had made for him, every year she had gifted him a new one. “Dash always said it makes me look like a dork.”

The old mare chuckled, “Spikey, you know my sister loved seeing you in that tie. Don’t listen to what Dash said.” Her horn lit green as she straightened the tie again. “You look as handsome as the day you got married.”

Spike blushed at the compliment.

“I only wish I’d aged so well.” She winked at him as she patted the grass next to her. “Now I’m just an old nag.”

“Oh come off it, Sweetie Belle.” Spike grinned, knowing when she was fishing for compliments. “You know that’s a load of horse—”

“I hope you don’t plan on speaking that way around my soon-to-be niece! Now, come. Lay down and relax. They’ll be here soon.”

Spike gently lowered himself to the ground, resting his jaw on the soft grass, trying to ignore the parasprite swarm buzzing in his stomach. Celestia’s sun sat high in the sky, warming his scales. The fragrance of the well-tended flower gardens threatened to overwhelm his draconic senses as his mind was awash with pleasant memories.

Rarity had loved flowers, and he’d made sure to have a fresh bouquet sent to her boutique every day.

The vibrant life of this garden reminded him of her. Even though she was gone, while beauty still existed in the world, she would be there with him.

“I said to settle down, not to fall asleep,” Sweetie Belle laughed, pinching the dragon’s cheek with her magic. “Open your eyes, I think they’re here.”

Spike opened his eyes, and indeed, walking towards them was Mother Matron and a small filly walking closely behind her. They passed through the gates, where Sergeant Nova and another guard let them through.

She was a diminutive little filly, with a vibrant raspberry mane that reminded him of a particular party pony in her younger days. Spike smiled broadly when he saw the little summer dress she wore. It was a simple, white cotton dress, with small lemon chiffon flowers embroidered around the hem. They had been popular amongst the fashion-conscious fillies about eleven years earlier, when Rarity had first designed them.

Spike chuckled, feeling a warmth in his chest. You see that, my love? Doesn’t she just look so pretty?

The filly cowered behind the older mare, and at first he was concerned that she was cowering from him. As he watched, he could see her eyes darting back and forth, trying to hide from the crowd peering into the park.

Now that they were closer, he could see the scarring across the right side of her face and neck, presumably going further down her body, though it was hidden by the summer dress. Cotton walked close to Matron’s left side; it dawned on Spike that the filly might think ponies were staring at her, not the thirty-foot dragon sitting in a public park.

“Sweetie Belle,” Spike whispered as the two approached, “could you go speak with Novamac, and see if he can’t get some of these ponies to clear out? I think they’re making our little guest nervous.”

Sweetie Belle nodded, getting back up to her hooves. She nodded to Matron as she walked by, Matron’s jaw dropping at the sight of her. “I’ll just be a moment or two; please don’t wait on my behalf.”

“T-that was M-Miss Belle, wasn’t it?” Matron stopped in front of Spike, still craning her neck to watch the mare walking away. “Oh my gosh, I was such a fan of hers when I was a little filly. I bought all her records. Oh I know this is unprofessional, but do you think I might be able to ask for her autograph?”

“I’m certain she would happily oblige.” Spike suppressed a chuckle. He looked around to the little filly. “Hello, my little pony. My name is Spike, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Say hello, Cotton.” Matron smiled as she nudged the filly towards Spike.

“Hello, Mister Spike,” Cotton muttered, hiding behind her mane.

Spike gently moved a claw and patted the lawn in front of them, and he noted that Matron flinched more than Cotton had. “Please, sit. My sister will be back soon.”

“Oh?” Matron craned her neck, looking around. “I didn’t think the Princess was coming today.”

“Sorry, no, I meant Sweetie Belle. Sister-in-law, really.” Spike chuckled at Matron’s expression. “We’re a bit of an eclectic family, I guess.”

“Well, Novamac said he should be able to get most of the ponies to move on.” Sweetie Belle gracefully laid down next to Spike. “You know, if you left that dusty old library more often, this wouldn’t happen. Now, are you going to introduce me?”

“Oh, sorry. Of course. Sweetie Belle, this is Mother Matron, and this little filly here is Cotton Candy.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Mother Matron.” Sweetie Belle nodded to the mare. “And it is very lovely to meet you, Cotton—may we call you Cotton?” The filly nodded. “Have you had a nice day so far?”

“Yes, Miss Belle.”

“Oh, please call me Sweetie Belle… Miss Belle was my mother.”

Spike rolled his eyes; the warranty on that line expired on her fortieth birthday, as far as he was concerned. He wisely kept those opinions to himself.

“So Cotton, why don’t you tell Mister Spike and Miss Belle a little about yourself?” Matron hoped starting off with some small talk would help the filly open up a little.

Cotton pawed anxiously at the ground in silence. Matron could understand; most of the foals who were adopted were much younger than her, and many of them had to sit in meetings like this more than once. She hoped she could coax the filly out of her shell.

“Why don’t you tell them what your favorite foods to cook are?”

“Umm…”

“What do you like making for the other foals, sweetie?” Matron nudged Cotton gently.

“Oh, ummm, we bake cookies for the other foals.” Cotton smiled. “Oh, and sometimes I make cupcakes.”

“Oh, our good friend Pinkie Pie loves cupcakes, too,” Spike responded. “What is your favorite cupcake flavor?”

“Chocolate!”

“That’s my second favorite flavor cupcake! My favorite is sapphire cupcakes.”

“What’s sapphire flavor?” Cotton looked at the dragon with curiosity. Matron matched her expression.

“Do you know the blue gems, the ones called sapphires?” Spike asked, to which Cotton nodded. “Well, that’s sapphire flavored.” At her continued confusion, he questioned what schools were teaching foals these days. “Well, you see, dragons can eat gems, as well as vegetables and plants.”

“What do they taste like?”

“Hmmm, it’s kind of hard to describe. Some gems—like sapphires—taste sweet, while some are savory. In fact, fire rubies are very, very spicy. Spicier than liquid rainbow.”

“Is there anything you’d like to ask Mister Spike, Cotton?” Matron smiled, Cotton’s foalish curiosity seemed to be drawing her out of her shell.

“Did you really ride Princess Celestia into a fight with giant cockatricks? Some ponies at school say that’s what their parents told them, but Miss Antiquitee said that didn’t happen.”

“Oh, you mean the giant mutant cockatrices that attacked during the Secretariat Comet Crisis?” Spike smiled at the memory. “Yes, I did, actually. I even had a trident. And a really cool eyepatch.”

Sweetie Belle tittered, holding a hoof to her mouth. “I still remember that silly eyepatch; you refused to take that thing off for a month.”

“It was a really, really cool eyepatch,” Spike laughed, winking at Cotton Candy.

Cotton stared wide-eyed at the dragon. She’d seen the Princesses before, and while they were tall, Spike was a dragon—way taller than all of them, even Princess Celestia.

“BUT YOU’RE SO HUGE!”

As Spike lifted his head to the sky and bellowed out a boisterous laugh, the last vestiges of the onlookers took this time to take Sergeant Nova’s advice to move on.

Spike laid his head back down on the grass, wiping a tear from his eye.

Mother Matron wrung her hooves nervously. “I am ever so sorry, Spike. Cotton, that is not a very nice thing to say to somepony.”

Spike continued laughing, holding up a claw to stop her. “It’s alright, I am pretty huge these days.” He turned to address Cotton. “No, you see I was still a young dragon when that happened. I was about the same size as you are. Dragons start pretty small, but they can grow really big. In about one-hundred-and-twenty years, I’ll have to take a nap for a hundred years, and when I wake up, I’ll be even bigger.”

Conversation continued for an hour or so, Matron relaxing silently as Cotton’s nervousness completely dissipated. Cotton assaulted the dragon with questions about all of his adventures. She did ask a bit about his job at the archives, but he couldn’t blame her for finding that boring. He found it boring, but growing up in Ponyville, with a princess for a sister and the Elements as friends, sometimes boring was fine with him.

“Actually, the Princess did get ‘revenge’ on me for riding on her back. Have they taught you at school about the last Changeling invasion, before the capitulation treaty?” Cotton nodded. “Well, by that time I was sixty-nine years old, and only a little smaller than I was now. You see, being a Knight-Protector of Equestria, I was called to join the army in defence of the realm. As we took the Changeling capital from Queen Chrysalis, Ti—sorry, Princess Celestia climbed on my back and rode me into the castle.” Spike chuckled. “Princess Luna wasn’t very happy with that. ‘Royalty should conduct themselves with dignity and poise on the battlefield’,” Spike said, parodying Princess Luna’s voice. 

Sweetie Belle tittered. “I still think she was just mad she didn’t have a dragon to ride into the enemy stronghold. I still remember the front-line photo Featherweight took; it was very impressive.”

“‘t’s what drove me ta recruit,” Sergeant Nova trotted to the group. “The battle-hardened Princess atop one’a Equestria’s greatest heroes, valiantly striding into the belly of the beast. Ma ‘n Pa was furious Ah didn’t go into farmin’.” He turned to Spike. “Sir, just informin’ y’all it’s just gone noon.”

“Oh, it has?” Spike craned his neck around, the cafés around the park were filled with patrons eating lunch. He breathed a deep sigh. The meeting was only scheduled until noon; he had appointments to keep, as did Mother Matron, he could assume. But truth be told, he didn’t want to leave just yet. “Could I interest the two of you in lunch? We could get something here in the park.”

“I’m very sorry, Spike,” Matron answered. She could see through what he was trying to do, and it lifted her spirits. “We must get back to the orphanage; I have other foals in my care, and my assistant will need to leave soon.”

The look of disappointment on Cotton’s face heartened Matron further. “Come, Cotton, let’s get back. Maybe we can bake some cookies for the others tonight?”

“Yes, Mother Matron.” Cotton got to her hooves. “It was very nice meeting you, Mister Spike.”

“I hope we get to meet again, Cotton. You’re lovely company.” Spike grinned, eliciting a shy smile from the little filly.

Spike and Sweetie Belle watched as the two left. Cotton paused at the gate, turning around to wave. Both Sweetie and Spike returned the wave, smiling. Spike kept his smile on, only faltering when they rounded the corner.

A gentle hoof laid on his cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just going to be a long week, waiting.” Spike slumped hard to the ground. “What if she doesn’t want to come and live with me? What if she doesn’t want a dragon for a dad? What if—”

“You were charming, witty, and she loved listening to your stories. You saw her face lighting up as you shared the tales of your adventures.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean she’d want me as a dad.” Spike stood on his hind legs, stretching out his back before landing on all fours again. “Let’s go, Sweetie Belle, we should get you back to Shady, before he sends out a search party for you.”
> Chapter Two - How to Dine with Royalty, and Other Esoteric Subjects One Must Know
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I don’t know, Twilight.” Spike poked his head and neck through the open door frame, looking at the decorations in the bedroom. “You don’t think it might be a little too much?”

“Oh, hush!” Twilight laughed as she fussed with the quilt cover on the four-poster bed. “What would you know? This is the kind of room every filly dreams of.”

The room was decorated in subdued pinks and blues. Along the far wall stood shelves of books, including a generous collection of Twilight’s favorite foalhood stories. Spike laughed. Many of them were rare, first-print editions; he prayed silently to Celestia that Cotton wouldn’t smear chocolate or something on them, lest the filly suffer the wrath of an enraged aunt.

A diamond-latticed window opened up to a small balcony that looked out onto the manicured gardens; thick curtains of pink and blue hung like silent sentinels on each side of the window. Next to the doorway stood an antique Prench armoire, itself next to Twilight’s old writing desk. While not a classical piece, having been the desk the Princess compiled her now-famous Reports on the Magic of Friendship for publishing, it held value far in excess of the rest of the furniture in the room combined.

Twilight, Luna, and Celestia had gone a little overboard, having ordered several hundred coats, dresses, slippers, hats, scarves, and shoes. Spike had to put his claw down; while he appreciated their excitement and generosity, he would not allow them to overflow nineteen rooms for his hopefully daughter-to-be’s clothing. He forced them to select three pieces each and return the rest.

Fearing a collapse in the economy should they return the clothing, Celestia donated the excess clothing to charities around Equestria. This, of course, did not stop the three princesses from employing the ‘Royal Canterlot Pout’ against Spike at dinner every night that week.

Four dresses, one for each season, and two cloaks hung in the armoire, while two sets of slippers sat at the base of the bed. Thankfully, somepony had practical foresight, and decided to select a set of deep-blue cotton pajamas for the colder winter months.

Thick rugs covered the worn marble floor. Luna insisted they were old gifts from Stalliongrad ambassadors collected over the years, but they looked decidedly new for items that had ‘just been lying around in a storeroom for years’. Spike would forgive that slight twisting of the truth, as he was worried about the chill and would prefer Cotton’s room to be as cozy as possible.

“I’m just worried, Twilight. I mean, you girls have done so much for me, and for her.” Spike laid his head on the rugs; they really were soft. “What if she doesn’t want to stay?”

“Spike, you can’t think like that.” Twilight stopped her fussing and crossed the room. She settled herself on the floor, lying on the carpet in front of Spike. “Don’t give up before you’ve even begun. Treat her as you would if she does stay. Show her that you want to be a loving, caring father.”

“I’m just scared.” Spike closed his eyes. “I don’t know if I’ll be a good dad; I don’t even know if I can be a good dad. Dragons aren’t exactly known for great parenting; they’d sell off one of their own eggs if they think the baby will turn out weak.”

Twilight rubbed her cheek against his nose. “Spike, you’ve already proven time and time again that you’re not like other dragons. I believe in you, as do the other Princesses, and all our friends in Ponyville. Rarity believed in you, too. So please, have a little faith in yourself."

“And thou wilt always have us, Sir Spike,” a muffled voice interrupted from outside. “Though We wish thou wouldst remove thy posterior from the hallway.”

Spike extracted his head from the doorway, and shuffled around to let the two chuckling princesses pass. Celestia smiled while looking around the room as Luna embraced Twilight.

“The two of you have done a marvelous job decorating,” Celestia congratulated them. “I’m certain she will love the room.”

“Twilight’s the one who did most of it,” Spike answered, as he stuck his head through the doorway again. “Kind of hard to help from out here.” He waved his claw to indicate the hallway, even though the princesses couldn’t see.

“Oh, Spike! You helped a lot. You carried all the heavy objects for me.”

“Twilight,” Spike deadpanned, “you have magic enough to move celestial bodies. We both know the only reason you had me move the furniture was so I could feel useful.”

“Actually, that was Our suggestion, Spike,” Luna interjected. “We thought thou were getting a little pudgy from all those gems and desk work. Thou needst to exercise more, unless you desire a plot like Our sister’s.”

“What?” Celestia and Spike bellowed, each as loud as the other.

Twilight and Luna fell to the floor, laughing. Celestia once again employed the Royal Canterlot Pout, which halted Twilight’s laughter.

“Oh, I’m sorry Celestia, I wasn’t laughing at you, I was—”

“Oh, Tia.” Luna interrupted Twilight’s mortified response by grabbing Celestia’s muzzle in her magic, and gently squishing her face. “That has not worked on Us in two thousand years. Thou wilt always be Our beautiful, chubby-wubby sister.”

Celestia’s pout disappeared as the two sisters laughed.

“So why are you two troublemakers here?” Spike asked, pointing his long, reptilian tongue at Luna. “Isn’t Day Court still open, Celestia?”

“I resent being called a troublemaker, Spike.” Celestia held her head high, though he could see the corners of her mouth upturned. “I closed Court early; I have matters to attend to.” Celestia opened the armoire, and frowned. “This is woefully understocked. I would even dare to call this a national emergen—”

“No more dresses,” Spike growled.

Celestia chuckled. “Fine, spoilsport! Luna and I actually came to collect you both for dinner. It’s been too long since we all dined together; we were hoping you would join us.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “You could have sent somepony to fetch us.”

“‘Tis because Our sister wished to see the room. She has been as excited as a school-filly that another foal will be coming to live in the castle with us.” Luna smirked, looking at her sister. “Why, if Tia’s old seneschal is to be believed, Our sister was dancing like a madmare when young Sparkle came to live here.”

Celestia had the grace, poise, and dignity of several millennia to mask her embarrassment. Twilight Sparkle, a mere ninety-three years old, just buried her head in her hooves and groaned. Spike laughed at the thought of Celestia dancing; he remembered she was just as bad as Twilight. There was a reason those two spent each Gala greeting the guests, and not out on the dance floor.

“Well, before my sister decides to embarrass anypony further,” Celestia remarked, as she glared daggers at Luna, “shall we make our way to the dining hall?”

“I don’t know; besides getting called fat, this is kind of funny.” Spike smirked. “In fact, Shiny shared some stories with me the two of you might not have heard yet.”

Luna’s eyes lit up, while Twilight’s darkened. “You say anything, and I bring out the album.” Twilight glowered at him.

“You wouldn’t!”

“Try me, dragon boy,” she answered, a self-satisfied smirk spreading across her muzzle. “Just try me.”

“Yes! Try her!” Luna shouted, jumping next to Twilight. “The fun will be doubled!”

Twilight swatted Luna’s face away with a flick of her wing.

Spike coughed. “So… dinner sounds good!”


Ж


Spike’s mouth watered as the chefs brought in the meal.

As with any time he dined with the Princesses, the chefs had prepared him something special for his draconic palate. Tonight, it was a lettuce and bleu-cheese salad with shaved fluorspar and vinaigrette dressing, served in what he always suspected was a crystal punch bowl.

Twilight and Celestia were each poured a glass of sauvignon blanc with their meals, while Spike’s wine arrived in a large carafe. Luna was served a cup of espresso, some toast, and a bowl of cinnamon oat cereal.

They shared polite dinner conversation as the servants tended to them. Spike listened as they discussed recent matters of state, and contributed his own opinions when asked. The staff continued to clear dishes and refresh wine (and coffee) without asking.

During the meal, Celestia and Luna turned to the window, their horns glowing as each lowered and raised their respective celestial bodies, before continuing.

When dessert was served, Celestia dismissed the staff with a polite nod. “Thank you, please give our compliments to the chef.”

“Ugh,” Twilight groaned once the staff had shuffled out. “I thought they’d never leave.”

Celestia and Luna smiled, happily dropping out of their royal façade. “I must agree,” Celestia chuckled. “It is good to let our hair down.”

“We always enjoyed getting waited upon wing and hoof,” Luna scoffed.

“Oh, is that why you outlawed the royal ablution attendants?” Celestia quirked an eyebrow towards her sister.

“Royal ablution attendants?” Twilight asked in confusion, spying the look of horror on Luna’s face.

“Oh, that was long before your time, Twilight,” Celestia laughed. “When Luna and I were first crowned Princesses of Equestria, the old royal families had servants specifically for dealing with their morning, well, ablutions. They would take care of everything.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide.

“Lulu wasn’t aware of this, and when her attendant arrived to help, she reacted… poorly,” Celestia chuckled. “The poor pegasus was traumatized by heights for years after Lulu teleported her into the stratosphere.”

“Then she shouldst not have, to use the youthful parlance, freshened Us.”

Twilight and Spike burst out laughing, while Celestia looked confused over Luna’s turn of phrase. “I believe the term is ‘getting fresh’ with you, not freshened.” Twilight chuckled. “Freshening you was actually her job.”

Luna stomped her hoof on the table. “We can wash Our own plot, thank you!”

It was at this moment that the attendant who was bringing in the tea and coffee dropped her tray, scattering drinks and cookies across the floor.


Ж


After the giggling subsided, bribes were placed to certain staff members by certain princesses of the night, spills were cleaned, and attendants were informed they need not return, conversation resumed amongst the four.

“So, everything is ready for tomorrow, Spike?” Celestia asked, sipping her tea.

“Yeah, I think we’re ready. I can’t thank the three of you enough.” Spike smiled, blinking away the moisture in his eyes. “Without you girls, I don’t know where I’d be. Not many ponies would open their home to a dragon, and even fewer would let him raise a family there.”

Twilight walked around the table, then draped a wing over his neck and nuzzled his cheek. “Hey, we would never throw family out into the cold, just because they put on a little weight… fatty.” She playfully bumped him with her flank, and then teleported back to her seat.

Everypony chuckled, even Spike.

“Twilight, do you think—” Spike paused. “Could you be with me tomorrow when she arrives? I know you probably have court…”

Celestia cut in. “Luna and I have already divided Twilight’s court petitioners amongst our own. She will be free whenever you need her.”

“Thank you, all of you.”

“You don’t need to keep thanking us, Spike.” Twilight beamed. “It’s what families do.”

Celestia stifled a yawn. “I must apologize, it’s getting late.” She stood and gave each pony a hug in turn. “Have a good night. Sister, please don’t do anything in Court that I will have to deal with tomorrow.” Smiling, she left the room.

Twilight and Luna stood as well, to ready themselves for court and mischief, respectively.

Spike bade them good night, and returned to his room.


Ж


The old event-hall-turned-bedroom was lit with a dull green glow from the dragonflame sconces. Over the years, Spike had experimented with his magical fire, with the help of Twilight and Celestia. Ever-Burning Flame had been one of his prouder achievements; the fire would not spread, nor would they ever burn out. They had the glass windows removed, and stone masons had closed up the holes seamlessly with the older stones of the castle. There was a reason dragons tended to live in caves, beyond just having a place to store their hoard.

Plush carpets spread across the floor and large velvet cushions scattered about the room. There was no real designated sleeping space. Celestia had gifted him with a fifteen-foot writing desk for his fiftieth birthday, the day he moved to the castle permanently. Bookshelves spanned the walls, reaching the forty-foot ceilings. Most of the books had been enchanted with enlarging transfiguration spells, so he could read with greater ease.

In a world made for ponies, this was the one space made for him—the place where he fit.

He curled himself on the floor, lounging on a large pillow. He picked up the book Twilight had given him earlier that week, and opened up to where he left off.

So You’re Going to be a Father: A Stallion’s Guide to Parenting.
> Chapter Three - Fit for a Princess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mother Matron grimaced as Cotton bounced about the chariot. “Cotton, dear…” Matron felt her stomach shift unnaturally. “Please sit still.”

“Wow, I’ve never seen everything from up this high!” Cotton leaned her hooves against the side of the chariot, peering over the roofline of Canterlot. She squealed with delight as the chariot banked right, allowing her to see further over the side. “Mother Matron, Mother Matron! Which one do you think is my school?”

“Cotton, please sit down,” Matron whimpered. When Spike said he would organize transport for them, she gratefully accepted. Upper Canterlot was a fair walk from the orphanage, and she appreciated the dragon’s offer of a taxi.

When the pegasus-drawn chariot arrived, she reconsidered walking, but one of the pegasi had already helped Cotton into the chariot and secured their luggage. Before long, they were in the air.

Flying is for the birds, Matron thought, as she forced herself to remain upright and keep her eyes on her charge.

Earth ponies weren’t just named so for their lack of wings or horns. They held an intrinsic connection with the earth, giving them great strength and fortitude. When one was separated from the earth by say, several hundred feet of air, it caused a peculiar reaction in the sturdy ponies: acute fears of falling, terrible contemplative thoughts impending mortality, deep understandings of the forces of gravity, butterflies in stomachs… 

No such reactions existed in the joyous filly next to her, who smiled as the breeze blew through her mane. Her smile changed to a look of shock when she saw where they headed. The carriage descended, circling the palace towards the rear gardens.

Matron wasted no time clambering over the side, legs shaking as she collapsed to the ground, attempting to hug the source of her race’s strength.

“I think we should probably organize a different carriage for Mother Matron’s way home, Spike.”

Matron looked up to find the smiling faces of Spike and Princess Twilight. Spike bit his cheek to hold in a snigger, as the mare tried to get to her hooves and bow to the Princess at the same time. Looking past Matron, Spike could see the guards helping a stunned filly out of the carriage.

A unicorn porter collected Cotton’s luggage, and Twilight directed him to take it to the filly’s new room.

“Y-you live in the castle?” Cotton’s eyes widened. She’d never seen it from close up; the castle looked far more imposing when standing in front of it. The tall marble turrets topped with golden spires towered above the filly; no matter how far she strained her neck, she couldn’t see the tops of the towers. She brought her eyes back down when she heard the sound of the dragon laughing.

As her eyes drifted down towards the laughter, her mouth dropped open when she found Princess Twilight Sparkle standing right in front of her, smiling widely. “Good afternoon, my little pony.”

Cotton slowly blinked her eyes. Once; twice; three times.

Nope, there was still a princess standing in front of her.

“Cotton,” Mother Matron whispered behind a cough. Cotton’s mind wandered to fancy dances and royal functions while Matron tried to get her attention. “Cotton. Remember your manners, and bow.” When Cotton made no move to bow, Matron apologized. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. In her excitement, Cotton seems to have forgotten her place.” Cotton’s pupils continued to dilate.

“It’s okay,” Twilight beamed as she knelt on the ground. She prefered being eye level with the filly. “My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, what’s yours?”

It was merely a formality, as Twilight was well aware of the filly’s name; she had helped Spike with most of the paperwork, spoken at length with Matron about her, and even ordered a thorough background check of Cotton’s family history by Canterlot’s finest.

Though she kept that last part from Spike; he’d just complain that it was ‘creepy’.

“M-my name’s Cotton Candy, Y-Your Highness,” Cotton stammered.

Spike stepped forward. “Good morning, Cotton!” He chuckled when she finally noticed him. Only when standing next to his big sister, the Princess, would the thirty-foot dragon go unnoticed. “Excited to come and see your new room? Princess Twilight helped me get it ready for you.”

A wry grin spread across Twilight’s face as she turned her head to look at him. She silently mouthed ‘help?’ with an eyebrow raised. Spike felt the sudden urge to playfully nudge his big sister a few miles, but the commoners seemed to get a little freaked out when they didn’t rein in their personal strength.

Cotton Candy beamed, nodding vigorously.

Twilight grabbed the little filly in her magic field, and levitated Cotton onto her back. “Hold on, sweetie! Spike, we’ll race you there.”

Spike laughed as the gigging school-filly, with his hopeful-daughter on her back, spread her wings and took flight.

“I’m sorry, Matron,” he chuckled, “the Princesses are all rather excited about Cotton coming to stay with us. It took quite a bit to convince Princess Celestia to not cancel Day Court just to come and greet her, else she’d probably be racing with Twilight and Cotton right now.”

“It’s quite alright, Sir Spike.” Matron smiled. Even as she recovered from the shellshock from the unexpected royal presence and the subsequent foalnapping by said royalty, it warmed her heart to know Cotton would be amongst such loving family. Seeing this welcome had her hoping the next part would merely be a formality. “We still have some things to discuss anyway.”

“This way, then.”

Spike led Matron through the grounds to his chambers. Matron gaped at the sight of the ‘bedroom’.

“It used to be a disused ballroom before I moved in.” Spike lowered himself to the carpets, and set a large cushion for Matron to sit on. “I’m sorry I don’t have any pony-sized furniture; I don’t often entertain guests in here.”

Matron nodded, pulling out a stack of forms from her saddlebag.

“I have a few documents I need you to sign…” Matron stopped as she saw the nearly four-foot-long, phoenix-feather quill Spike was holding. “Some… documents?” She stopped completely. “Do phoenixes grow that large?”

Spike looked at the quill in his claw, and shook his head. “No, I get them enchanted. Speaking of, may I have those documents?”

Matron passed him the stack. He held them aloft delicately between his thumb and foreclaw, then gently breathed fire across the papers. They evaporated into wisps of green smoke.

“Sir Spike!” Matron barked, forgetting with whom she was talking. “You might be related to royalty, but that does not mean you are exempt from—”

“Excuse me a moment,” Spike interrupted, before turning his head. Opening his jaws wide, he belched out large sheets of paper and grabbed them from the air. When he put them down on the ground in front of the mare, she saw they were the same sheets she had just given him, only now they were seven feet in length and a little over five feet wide. They looked far less comical in his claws now.

“Sorry, I just had to get my aide, Papyrus Script, to enchant these so I could sign them. He’s a terrific enchanter; terrible horn-writing though. Now, what were you saying?”

“I… ummm…” Matron stuttered.

Spike let out a boisterous laugh. When it subsided, he smiled at her. “I’m sorry, Matron; I shouldn’t tease. Everypony around here is so used to how I have to work with my… ahhh… physical disadvantages, I forget that those outside the palace don’t really interact with dragons all that often. I’ll try to remember and warn you next time I’m going to do something that might seem odd. But please, do go on.”

Mother Matron took a few seconds to compose her admittedly frazzled state, then continued, “Sir Spike, once you have signed these documents, Cotton will be passed into your care. You must understand that there is a ninety-day trial period, in which either you or Cotton can decide if the adoption will not work out.”

“I would never—” Spike started, but Matron interrupted him.

“I’ve had many parents say that to me, Sir Spike, but sometimes the foals and their new parents just do not work out. This isn’t a failing on either side; some ponies just aren’t suited for each other…” She let herself smile. “But please, do not treat her any differently. Welcome her into your family; too many would-be parents are frightened of falling in love and then losing the child. This usually leads to the child not feeling wanted.

“Cotton is very important to me, Spike.” Matron looked Spike in the eyes, wearing her love for the filly on her shoulder. “I genuinely hope the two of you get along. She deserves a family, and I truly hope this is the one for her.” Her features became more solemn, as she continued her practiced spiel.

“During the next ninety days I—or one of my assistants—will be visiting you and Cotton, to see how you’re getting along. While I don’t suspect she‘ll want for anything, given your station, I will still need to ensure she’s being properly cared for.”

Spike nodded; Twilight had already explained most of this to him. He uncapped the cider-barrel-sized inkwell, and dipped the quill in. Initialing where Matron told him, it took them a little under an hour to complete the paperwork, then he finally signed on the dotted line.

“Excuse me,” Spike said as he balanced on his hind legs. “I’ll need to send these back to Papyrus to have him reverse the enchantments; I doubt you’d want to carry them back this size,” he added with a chuckle. After another quick breath of fire and an equally quick belch several seconds later, Spike passed the sheaves back to the mare.

“Now, shall we go see where that troublesome sister of mine has taken Cotton?”


Ж


Spike knocked on the door to Cotton’s new room, the giggling inside ceasing as he did.

“C-come in,” Cotton’s tiny voice called out, unsure.

Spike pushed the door open, and ushered Matron in first. He positioned himself in the hall so that he could reach his head into Cotton’s bedroom, but when he tried, his nose was met with the raised rump of Mother Matron mid-bow.

Both yelped in surprise, Matron tripping as Spike yanked his head out of the doorway. Aware of the red tinge across his face, he waited until the slew of giggles had subsided. After muttering a quick apology to Rarity under his breath, he called out, “Is it safe to come in now?”

“You may enter, Sir Spike.”

Celestia. Spike rolled his eyes, well aware that her permission to enter by no means meant it was safe. He bent over cautiously, attempting to peer into the room without looking, lest he embarrass himself and Mother Matron again. When he found her standing in the corner of the room, tail firmly between her legs, he cautiously stuck his head inside the room. Neither made eye contact with the other.

Twilight and Celestia both sat, lounging on the bed with Cotton sitting between them. In front of Cotton lay a book, one of Twilight’s favorites, and he knew immediately why Cotton had been giggling before they entered the room. It was a book that Celestia had read to Twilight when she was a filly, and as Spike had grown, Twilight and Celestia had started reading it together for him.

Over the years they’d started with silly voices for each character, adding more to it every time, to the point where now it was a full pantomime of magical puppet spells Twilight had learned from Trixie’s show several decades ago.

Spike worried his bedtime stories would be woefully inadequate compared to the show these two could put on.

“Cotton, did you want to come and say goodbye to Mother Matron?” Spike asked. “She’ll have to leave soon. Then we can organize some dinner.”


Ж


All five walked back to the garden. Matron’s belongings were loaded back into the chariot, though Twilight assured the worried mare they would not be flying her back to the orphanage.

Cotton stood next to the older mare, sniffling. Matron pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ll still come and see you, my sweet little Cotton. I promise.” She dried Cotton’s eyes with a hoof, and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “You be a good girl for Sir Spike and the Princesses. I’m only a letter away if you ever need me, okay?”

Twilight, Celestia, and Spike watched the farewell, not wanting to interrupt the moment. Cotton returned to Spike’s side, watching the chariot as it vanished through the garden gates and into the streets.


Ж


“Huzzah! They have finally left.”

The moment the last servant shuffled out of the awkwardly silent dinner hall at Celestia’s request, Luna teleported from her seat next to Twilight to the empty space next to Cotton.

“‘Tis joyous to finally meet thee, Cotton Candy.” Luna nuzzled her cheek against the startled filly’s own.

“P-Princess?” Cotton attempted to shy away, but the strong wings of the alicorn held the filly tight.

“Please, call Us Luna.”

Cotton looked towards Spike, unsure what to do. Spike nodded.

“When it is just us, you can call us by our names.” Celestia smiled. “When others are around, such as before when the servants were here, you should call us by our titles. If you would like, you may call me Tia, and my sister Lulu.”

“Please, call Us Luna,” Luna repeated. Under her breath, she muttered, “We hate that nickname.” With a flash of light, she was back at her normal seat.

Spike draped his gargantuan wing over the filly, hiding both of them from view. He whispered in her ear, “When others are around, even I’m supposed to call them ‘Princess’, even though I don’t. When it’s just us, think of them like family. They are kind of my family, after all.”

“F-family?”

“Yes.” Spike nodded, removing the large wing.

“Ummm, Prin… ummm, I mean, Luna?”

“Yes, Cotton?”

“Why are you eating cereal for dinner?”

Spike chuckled as Celestia answered. “You see, Cotton, Lulu is what you would call a delinqu–”

“Tia!” Luna stomped her hoof on the table, spilling the contents of her bowl.

Twilight giggled as she put a gentle hoof on Luna’s. “The reason is because Luna has only just gotten up. Celestia runs the Day Court, I run the Dusk Court, and Luna briefly runs the Night Court before going on Dream Patrol. Luna has to stay up very late, so she wakes up just before she has to raise the moon.

“Speaking of Dusk Court…” Twilight sighed. “I’d better get going.” She stood, walked around the table, and gave both Spike and Cotton a nuzzle. “Good night, you two. I’ll see you tomorrow.”


Ж


Celestia and Luna invited Cotton and Spike out into the garden, where the filly watched the two princesses raise and lower their celestial bodies. Celestia excused herself, as she was waking early the next morning. Luna played with Cotton, engaging in a rousing game of hide-and-go-seek with the filly in the garden.

Spike watched with a small twinge of jealousy, as Luna counted to one hundred in the Royal Canterlot Voice. The filly madly dashed about, trying to find a new hiding spot. He wished he could join in on the game, but his size made that implausible, both in that he would likely not be able to find somewhere to hide, nor could he safely stalk through the garden looking for his prey without crushing the local flora.

His thoughts were interrupted when Cotton stood in front of him, panicking. “Mister Spike, where should I hide? Luna is almost to one hundred!”

Smiling, Spike stretched out his wing, and allowed her to climb under. He pulled her to his side and tried to regain a comfortable position. Cotton was completely hidden underneath his wing, and he wondered if this was her way of letting him play, too.

“Ninety-nine! One-hundred!”

Spike could feel the filly beneath his wing shaking, likely attempting to muffle her soft giggles. The game was inherently biased in favor of the Princess, an alicorn’s hearing being only slightly less sensitive than a dragon’s. As soon as she turned around from her counting, she looked directly at Spike and winked.

“O Cotton, where art thou?” Luna made a play at looking around some of the more obvious hiding places, pouncing over bushes declaring she had found the filly, only to add an overacted harumph when the filly was not in each ‘suspected’ hiding spot. Each time she thought Luna could not see her, Cotton would poke her head out to watch the princess’s antics, only to dive back under when the princess looked around.

After several minutes, Luna approached Spike.

“Sir Spike, We have a report most grave.” Spike chuckled as Luna spoke with overly dramatic flair. “Thy daughter is far too adept at stealth, and has eluded even the Princess of the Night.”

Spike held his breath. Nopony had said the ‘D’ word as of yet. Was she his daughter? She called him Spike. Not dad. Was he allowed to think of her as a daughter? Did he dare?

Luna continued her praise of the filly and her masterful performance in the art of stealth, completely unaware of the tumultuous thoughts crashing through the dragon’s mind.

“I’m here!” Cotton climbed out from underneath Spike’s wing, seeming oblivious to what had been said.

“Huzzah!” Luna clapped her hooves together. “Through Our trickery, We have found thee!”

“Nu-uh!” Cotton stomped. “You gave up!”

“Very well, be that way!” Luna turned away, pretending to be upset, before turning back and pouncing at the filly. Both rolled on the grass, laughing.

“I think it’s about time for Luna to go to court…” Spike ignored the pout from the Princess of the Night. “And it’s about time for little fillies to go to sleep, yes?”


Ж


Spike sat in the hall, clumsily helping Cotton get into her pajamas. They both had trouble with the wing holes; Spike realized he would have to get some tips from Twilight. Once Cotton was dressed and she climbed into bed, Spike was able to stretch his neck far enough to pull the covers over her gently with his mouth.

“S-Spike?” she asked as he began to pull his head back through the door. “C-could you read me a bedtime story?”

“Of course.” Spike smiled, resting his head on the carpet. “Would you like to hear my favorite one from when I was a baby?”

When she nodded, he started the story from memory.

“Once upon a time, there was a stallion who had three beautiful daughters. At his departure, he asked each of them what they would like when he returned.

“The eldest daughter, a strong earth pony, asked for strong steel, with which to make new tools. The second daughter was a beautiful unicorn, who asked for diamonds and pearls, with which to make a beautiful dress. His youngest daughter was a pretty little pegasus, who asked for a singing, springing lark, with which to sing and make music with.

“The pony travelled far, from Dodge City to Appaloosa; from Las Pegasus to Van Hoover. On his return to Canterlot, he passed White Tail Woods. There, he heard the most beautiful singing, springing lark. When his servant captured the bird, a lion jumped down from the tree.

“‘What pony prowls my forest after dark? I will capture anypony who tries to steal my lark!’ he roared. The stallion apologized, saying he did not know the lark belonged to the lion and was trying to catch it for his daughter.

“‘Nothing can save you unless you will swear; give me that which upon home first greets you well. If you are true to this promise, I will be fair; I will grant you your freedom, and you shall have the bird for your little belle.’ The stallion did not want to agree, because his youngest daughter loved him the most, and he knew she would come to greet him first.

“‘Why must it be your daughter that meets you? It could also be a cat or a dog.’ The servant did not want to be caught by the lion, and convinced the stallion to agree.

“When he reached home and entered his house, the first one who met him was none other than his youngest and dearest daughter. She came running up, kissed and hugged him, and when she saw that he had brought with him a singing, springing lark, she was beside herself with joy.

“The father, however, could not be glad, but instead began to cry, saying, ‘My dearest child, I paid dearly for that little bird. To get it I had to promise you to a wild lion, and when he has you he will keep you forever.’ Then he told her everything that had happened, and begged her not to go there, come what may.

“But she consoled him, saying, ‘Dearest father, your promise must be kept. I will go there and appease the lion, so that I can return safely to you.’

“Now, the lion was in fact an enchanted Zebran prince. By day he was a lion, and all his ponies became lions with him, but by night they returned to their zebra form. On her arrival, the daughter was kindly received and led into the castle. When night came, the lion was a handsome zebra, and their wedding was celebrated with splendor. They lived happily together, remaining awake by night, and sleeping by day.”

A small yawn interrupted Spike’s story. “Are you falling asleep? Did you want me to stop here?”

“C-can you stay until I fall asleep?” she asked.

“Of course.” He continued the story in a softer voice, her rhythmic breathing slowing as she drifted off into slumber.


Ж


Cotton awoke, her warm duvet wrapped around her. The sound of breathing woke her; across the room Spike still laid on the floor. Cotton climbed out from under her covers, and crossed the room.

“Spike?” she called gently. “Spike, are you awake?”

Rhythmic breathing was her only response. Moving back to her bed, she picked a small blanket up in her teeth and dragged it back to the sleeping dragon. With a flutter of her tiny wings, she was able to lift the blanket, and gently place it over his neck, or what little of it could be covered.

She looked at her bed, unsure, then turned back to the sleeping dragon, and placed a small kiss on his nose.

“Good night, D-Daddy.”
> Chapter Four - Trial and Error (Part One)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Have you got all your books?” Spike carefully checked through the filly’s school bag.

“Yes, Spike.”

“Have you got your lunchbox?” Spike found it in the bag, opened it, and checked the contents. Juicebox? Check. Daisy sandwich? Check. Apple? Check. Chocolate pudding cup? Check.

“Yes, Spike.” Cotton giggled as she watched the dragon fret.

“Come on, Spike, you need to leave now. We don’t want Cotton to be tardy on her first day.” Twilight had woken earlier than usual, wanting to see the filly off on her first day back to school.

The three of them walked out into the gardens. Twilight leaned down to nuzzle the filly, then helped her onto Spike’s back. “You have a good day at school today. Pay lots of attention, and I’ll help you with your homework tonight; doesn’t that sound fun?”

Spike rolled his eyes, unseen by either ponies. “You ready, Cotton?” When the filly nodded, Spike spread his massive wings. “Welcome to Air-Drake, please keep your hooves clear of the wings at all times. It’s a pleasant day for flying, and we thank you for choosing Spike for your school transportation needs.”

Both Cotton and Twilight chuckled, the latter moving away from Spike as he prepared to take flight. With powerful strokes of his wings, they lifted into the air.

Cotton laughed as her stomach rose and fell with each beat of his wings. Being far larger than any pegasus and lacking their magic, Spike had to work his musculature harder to remain aloft.

“Are you okay back there?” Spike called over his shoulder, smiling as he saw the grin on her face. “Make sure you hold on, okay?” Cotton nodded, unable to speak over the roar of the wind.

Within minutes they arrived at their destination. Ponies cleared the streets below as Spike alighted on the cobblestone street in front of the schoolhouse. Spike stretched out his right wing, allowing Cotton to slide down the leathery appendage, laughing as she reached the ground. Ponies watched in shock as the dragon turned to the filly.

“Now make sure you study hard today, okay?” Spike nuzzled the filly as gently as he could. “I’ll be back to pick you up after school.”

Cotton waved as Spike took to the air again, then skipped through the gates of the school, oblivious to the stares of everypony around her.


Ж


Cotton unpacked her books from her saddle bag, placing them in her desk. There was a general hubbub about the room, many of the foals whispering excitedly. Some even dared to speak with Cotton.

“Is it true you rode to school on a dragon?” one filly asked.

“No! That wouldn’t happen; dragons aren’t allowed in Canterlot.”

Cotton shook her head. “Nope, he’s allowed here. He’s my new dad, Spike.”

“Your dad’s a dragon?” another filly asked, incredulously.

“Yep, and he’s a knight.” Normally one to shy away from attention, Cotton was happy to share her news with her classmates.

“But knights, like, slay dragons to save princesses.” Some of the colts had joined in on the conversation, considering knights and dragons a topic ‘cool enough’ to interest them.

“Yeah, when I grow up I’m going to be a knight and save Princess Twilight Sparkle from a mean dragon, or a hydra! Or a five-headed dragon! Then I’ll be a king.”

“You can’t be a king unless you marry a queen!” another filly interrupted. “And Equestria doesn’t have any queens.”

“Aegis could always marry Queen Bugface.” This earned a round of laughter from the foals, as well as some gagging from the knight-to-be.

The teacher, a middle-aged Earth pony mare with a turquoise coat and a pale pink mane, strode into the room. “Would everypony please take their seats?” When everypony had returned to their desks, she addressed the class. “Good morning, my little ponies.”

“Good morning Mrs. Withers,” the class responded in a sing-song chant.

“I hope everypony had a good holiday, and is ready to start another fun term of learning,” Mrs. Withers beamed at the class. “If everypony could get out their mathematics textbooks, we’ll start with some long division.”

A collective groan escaped from the foals as twenty-six hooves pulled their textbooks from out of their desks.


Ж


Cotton stared blankly at her textbook; mathematics was not a fun subject, no matter how exciting Mrs. Withers tried to make it. Concentration was hard enough, but something kept hitting her in the back of the head. Looking to the floor, she could see small bits of eraser beneath her seat. She could hear the two colts snickering each time.

Maybe Twilight can help me understand; she’s super smart.

A particularly large piece of eraser hit her in the head, so she turned to glare at the culprits. Unfortunately, the second she turned her head towards them, another projectile caught her in the eye.

“Oww!” Cotton yelped as she brought her hoof up to rub at her eye.

“Is everything okay, Cotton?” Mrs. Withers asked.

“Yes, sorry, Mrs. Withers,” Cotton answered, as she heard the two colts chortling behind her.

“Well, please don’t interrupt class. Now…”

The small pieces of rubber continued to hit her as the lesson went on; she did her best to ignore them, and the two throwing them. The number of bits thrown at her slowed as recess approached, though not because they were giving up, but that they had likely come close to running out of eraser.

“Okay class, can I have your attention please?” Mrs. Withers trotted from the board back to her desk. “Now, as some of you may not know, during this term we’ll be having Family Appreciation Day. If everypony could take one of these forms home and have them signed…” Mrs. Withers was interrupted by guffawing at the rear of the classroom.

“Brick! Boulder! The two of you have been disruptive all morning. You can both come up here and hoof these out.” She placed the stack of papers on the desk. “Well, come on. Front and center!”

Two heavy-set colts walked to the front of the class. The larger of the two, Boulder, grasped half of the forms in his magic, the other colt tucking the rest under a wing. They walked down the isles, hoofing a note to every foal they passed, though both colts ignored Cotton’s desk.

She bit back her tears, remembering that Mother Matron had told her bullies only want to get a reaction out of you. The two finished passing out the papers and returned the remaining sheet to the teacher’s desk.

“Thank you, boys, you may return to your seats. Now—” As Mrs. Withers spoke, the bell for recess rang. “Alright children, I’ll see you all after recess.”

Cotton held back while the rest of the students filed out of the classroom. “Excuse me, Mrs. Withers. Could I please have a form?”

Mrs. Withers looked up from her desk to see the filly before her and beamed. “Oh, Cotton, of course you can! I saw Mother Matron at the market last week, she told me all about it. I’m so happy for you.” She paused for a moment. “Didn’t Brick or Boulder give you a form?”

“No,” Cotton replied. Because they’re big dumb fat stupid dumbheads, she thought. Out loud she responded, “Oh, they were probably just trying to not hurt my feelings.”

Mrs. Withers passed her a form, a frown on her face. She doubted that the two colts had kept the form from Cotton out of concern for her feelings. Matron had told her who Cotton’s new father was, and more importantly, what he was. She couldn’t wait! Having a dragon come in and meet the students would be an amazing learning experience for the foals, and perhaps while he was here, he could wipe the smug grins off of the faces of those two little—

“Thanks, Mrs. Withers.” Cotton skipped back to her desk, putting the form in her saddlebag.

“You’re most welcome, Cotton. Now go have fun outside with your friends, and I’ll see you after recess.”


Ж


Cotton joined a few of her classmates by the merry-go-round.

“Fo you liff in the caffle?” a chubby little earth filly, Sugar Sprinkles, asked around the donut in her mouth. She put the box of sweets in front of the foals so they could share.

“That’s so coooooool!” Tesla Coil bounced excitedly about. “Oh, have you seen Princess Twilight’s lab yet? I bet she has so many cool things!”

“My dad knows Sir Spike, he said he’s really huge!” Starry Knight added. “He says he’s the coolest dragon ever!”

“How awesome is it he’s your dad?” Aegis Ward picked up a donut and stuffed his face with it. “I bef he fighfs all kinf of monfers.”

Cotton giggled. “He actually works in a library.”

Aegis swallowed. “Fighting book monsters?” He blushed as all the other foals laughed.

“What are the princesses like?” Crimson Star asked.

“What do they eat?”

“They’re all so ni–”

“Well, what do we have here?” Boulder pushed through the group. “Hey Brick, check it out! Somepony left free donuts lying around.” He levitated the remaining treats, passing half to his partner-in-crime.

“Blergh!” Boulder spat the donut out, dropping his share on the ground. “These have to be the worst-tastin’ donuts ever.”

“Yeah,” Brick guffawed, dropping his share without even trying one. “Pretty bad that somepony with a cutie mark for making donuts can’t even do that.”

Boulder turned a mean eye to Sugar Sprinkles. “Don’t know how you got so pudgy, didn’t think nopony could eat this junk.”

The two bullies hoofbumped, as Sugar Sprinkles teared up. Crimson held Sugar’s hoof, while Cotton draped a wing over the filly’s back. “Don’t listen to them,” he whispered. “Your cooking is always really, really good.”

“Leave us alone!” Aegis shouted.

Starry stood next to Aegis. “Yeah, why don’t you just go away?”

“Yeah? Are you two gonna to make us?” Boulder pushed Aegis to the ground as Brick moved up next to his partner. “Look, Brick. These scrawny little dirt-ponies think they can tell us what to do.”

“Don’t call us dirt-ponies!” Aegis yelled, getting back to his hooves. Before he could get up, Brick pushed him down again.

“Hey Boulder, Aegis is in the dirt, where he belongs.”

“Leave us alone you big stupid-heads!” Tesla yelled. “Or Cotton’s dad will eat you up!”

The two bullies guffawed. “He’ll eat us up?”

“Yeah!” she continued. “He’s a big scary dragon, and he’ll eat you both up in one bite!”

“All that magic’s got to your brain, Sparky.” Boulder snarled at her. “Toastie doesn’t have a dad.”

“She does too!” Starry helped Aegis to his hooves. “My dad knows him and he is a big scary dragon, so you better leave us alone.”

Boulder and Brick stopped, looking at each other in confusion. A wicked grin crossed Boulder’s muzzle. “I guess that makes sense. No pony would ever want to adopt that toasted marshmallow!”

“Probably chose you so he doesn’t have to cook you later,” Brick laughed, holding up his hoof to Boulder.

“Nice…” Boulder bumped hooves. “… burn!”

Cotton burst into tears, as Crimson and Sugar hugged her.

The two bullies laughed, until Aegis reared up and struck Boulder across the muzzle. Brick pounced on Aegis, holding him down while Boulder raised his hoof to strike. Before the blow could land, Starry jumped forward and toppled the unicorn.

As the four colts fought, Tesla channeled magic into her horn, forming a small storm cloud above the fight. “Nopony calls me ‘Sparky’!” she yelled, as small forks of lightning arced off the cloud, zapping the bullies on their croups.

“You five stop right now!” Mrs. Withers stormed across the yard. “What on earth are you ponies—Tesla! Dispel that cloud, now!

“What in Celestia’s name has gotten into you children? I want the five of you to march inside right now!” Mrs. Withers turned to the crying foals. Kneeling to face them, she asked, “Are you three alright? Can you tell me what happened?”

Cotton was wailing, and Sugar was still quite teary.

Crimson answered for the fillies. “Brick and Boulder were being mean to Cotton and Sugar, Mrs. Withers. Boulder called Sugar… ummm big, and said she was a bad cook; then Brick said Cotton’s dad was going to eat her. And they also dropped Sugar’s donuts on the ground.”

Mrs. Withers bit her tongue, silently swearing at the two foals.

“A-and Boulder called Aegis and Starry…” Sugar added, between sobs. The final words were spoken through clenched teeth. “… dirt-ponies.”

The teacher took in two calming breaths, then smiled at the foals. “Don’t listen to them, children. Sugar, you are a wonderful little chef; the cookies you gave me on the last day of term got me all through the holidays. And Cotton, don’t let them get to you. Mother Matron told me all about Sir Spike, and he sounds like a wonderful dad. You’re very lucky to have him, okay?

“Now, why don’t the three of you enjoy the rest of your recess? Hmm?”

“C-can Starry and Aegis come back and play?” Sugar asked.

“And T-Tesla, too?” Cotton added, her crying finally subsiding.

“I’m sorry, my little ponies. Even if they were standing up to bullies, they shouldn’t have gotten into that fight. If something like this happens again, you should always come and get me, or another teacher. Okay?”

The three foals turned back to the merry-go-round, and Mrs. Withers walked back into the school building.


Ж


The remainder of the day was uneventful, aside from the scowls from Boulder and Brick, and the fact that three of her friends spent their lunch in detention. She waited alone for Spike to arrive.

“Spike!” Cotton bounded towards the dragon as he landed. He was holding one claw aloft, carrying a small basket.

“Hey, Cotton.” He gently nuzzled the filly. “Did you have a good day at school?”

“Mmmm,” Cotton mumbled, not wanting to burden Spike with her bully problems.

“Ready?” He lifted her onto his shoulder, where she gripped onto his dorsal plates. “Okay, hold on tight.”

They flew through the air, Spike circling the city, searching for somewhere to land. To the south, he spied what he searched for. He descended towards a small park just outside the Lower Canterlot Market district.

Cotton was surprised when they landed in the park; nopony seemed shocked to see the dragon land. If anything, most ponies seemed to be waving to Spike as they went about their day.

“Spike? Hey, Spike! Spike!” A unicorn teen with a muted opal mane trotted over to the pair. 

“Dreamweaver? Is that you?” Spike asked the new arrival.

“Yeah! How are you? It’s been a while!”

“I’ll say it has!” Spike chuckled. “You’ve sprouted!”

“Haha yeah, I know. Hey, Spike, check it out! I got my cutie mark!” He twisted his body to show the dragon his cutie mark, a quill with a starburst exploding from the tip.

“That’s great, Dreamweaver! So what does that mean your special talent is?” Spike chuckled, as he suspected he knew what Dreamweaver’s talent was. Most adults tended to pick up on a young pony’s special talent long before they knew for themselves.

“Writing stories!” Dreamweaver sat on the grass to continue his tale. “I was telling Steel Masque a bedtime story, because Mom and Dad were busy, and—”

Dreamweaver stopped his story short as Spike helped Cotton off of his back. As soon as she was on the ground, she shuffled behind Spike’s forearm, hiding from the unknown colt.

Spike craned his neck to look at the little filly. “Cotton, I’d like to introduce you to Dreamweaver. His family used to live above the shop next to my wife’s old boutique. Come out and say hello.”

Cotton shuffled forward, keeping her right side pressed against the dragon, dipping her head so her mane covered her scars. “Ummm, hello.”

Spike turned to the young colt. “Dreamweaver, this is m— Cotton Candy.”

“Hiya, Cotton!” Dreamweaver thrust his hoof forward, but Cotton shied away. “So, uhh, what are you two doing here today?”

Cotton stared up at Spike, not actually knowing what they were doing there; she thought they were going straight home after school. Spike lifted the basket, getting their attention.

“I thought I’d see if Cotton wanted help with her homework. And what better place than in the park?” Spike pulled back the blanket covering the basket, revealing an assortment of fruits, muffins, and some juice boxes. “With plenty of brain-food to help her think. Cotton, would you mind if Dreamweaver joins us?”

“It’s okay,” Cotton mumbled.

“Dreamweaver, why don’t you go get your homework and come join us? I can help you, too, if you'd like.”

“Yeah! I’ll be right back.” Dreamweaver galloped back to his home to collect his homework.

Spike set the blanket under a willow tree, laying out the food he’d prepared for the picnic. Cotton opened her saddlebag and pulled out her homework. Dreamweaver returned to find Spike curled around the blanket chewing on an emerald, with Cotton picking on a muffin.

Cotton kept her right side near Spike, leaning against him. He would have found it endearing, that she wanted to be this close to him, had he not known she was just trying to hide her scars. Dreamweaver, for his part, paid little attention to them, only stealing a glance every now and then.

“So what are you working on, Cotton?” Dreamweaver broke the silence, obviously bored with his own homework.

“Long division,” she muttered around the quill in her mouth.

“Urgh, that’s so boring.” He let out a loud huff. “I hate math; it’s like…” He turned with a grin to Spike. “…The. Worst. Possible. Thing.”

Spike chuckled, ruffling the colt’s mane.

“W-what are you working on?” Cotton asked, looking up from her work.

“I’m working on a story for my Creative Writing class. It’s about a secret society of knights who keep Equestria safe from the monsters of Tartarus.”

“And I bet one of them is a dragon, am I right?” Spike chuckled. It sounded similar to a story he’d told the colt when he was younger.

Dreamweaver grinned, replying with a non-committal, “Maybe.” 

“C-can I hear it?” Cotton asked nervously.

Spike raised an eyebrow towards the colt. “There’s nothing untoward in the story, is there?”

Dreamweaver smiled, shaking his head. “No, Sir!”

“Well then, noble minstrel, spin us your tale!”

Cotton sidled up next to Spike, leaning on his shoulder. With a bow and a flourish, Dreamweaver began his tale.

“T’was a dark an’ stormy eve…”


Ж


Spike returned to the castle later that evening, Cotton wrapped in a makeshift sling around his neck. Lying against the warmth of Spike’s side, she’d fallen asleep through Dreamweaver’s masterful tale.

Spike alighted in the gardens of the castle, helping Cotton out of the sling. They made their way inside, the filly stumbling on her hooves in front of him.

“You ready for bed, Cotton?” Spike whispered.

“Mmmhmm,” she mumbled, swaying from side to side. He led them to her bedroom, helping her into bed as best he could, despite not being able to fit in the room. He pulled her covers over her, and stacked her saddlebags by the door.

“Goodnight, Cotton,” he whispered as he extracted his head from the room. “May Luna bless you with pleasant dreams.”


Ж


Cotton awoke in the dark, snuggled in her warm comforter. Looking out the window, she could see the royal gardens outside lit by gentle moonlight. The last thing she could recall was being in the park with Spike and Dreamweaver. Searching her room, she spied her saddlebags by the door.

Oh no! I didn’t ask Spike about the form!

She crawled out of the warm bed, and put on her slippers. Rummaging through her bags, she found the form, and crept out into the hall.

Spike’s room was just down the hall from her own. She knocked on the door but got no response. Listening through the thick wooden doors, she could hear the scratching of quill on paper. Satisfied he was still awake, she pushed open the doors.


Ж


Spike grumbled as he responded to Papyrus’s letter. The Manehattan Public Library had lost three of the rare Clover the Clever scrolls on loan from the Royal Canterlot Archives. As chief librarian, Papyrus was correct in sending the news to Spike.

He placed the quill back into the inkwell, ready for the next letter. Rolling the letter up and sealing it with wax, he breathed a flame across the scroll. Trusting it to its destination, he picked up the quill to write the next letter, but was interrupted by a piercing scream.


Ж


Cotton screamed as the cloud of green flame swept towards her. She turned back into the hall, screaming as she ran.

Spike dropped the quill and parchment, rushing for the door. “Cotton, wait!” he called as he clambered through the hallway after her. “Wait up, it’s okay.” He cursed himself for his size. He cursed the castle for being so Celestia-damned small. He cursed himself for using fire magic around his would-be daughter.

The flame followed Cotton as she galloped for the door to the gardens, but the slippers on her hooves continually failed to get any purchase on the marble floors. The encroaching flame was gaining on her; she continued to run, tears streaming from her eyes. Cotton burst through the door, screaming as the flames blew through her. Pins of static flicked across her body as the cloud passed through her into the night.

Two bat-winged noctis ponies stood guard on either side of the door. Cotton galloped past them, spread her wings, and flew into the garden before either could respond.

“Cotton, wait!” the dragon yelled, hurtling through the door. Turning to the noctii, he shouted, “Nightshade, go get Princess Twilight, now! Anathem, you’re with me. We have to find her!”

Cotton Candy landed on the grass where she and Luna had played a week earlier. She looked to the sky, and could see Spike circling, calling her name; he sounded so angry. Cotton moved over to a small stone bench and crawled underneath it. 

She lowered her face to her hooves, and cried softly.
> Chapter Five - Trial and Error (Part two)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Cotton!” the dragon roared as he circled the gardens. A magenta aura engulfed him and pulled him to the ground.

“Spike!” Twilight barked as he landed heavily upon the cobblestone. The two noctii guards were standing at her side. “Are you trying to wake all of Canterlot?”

“Twilight, Cotton!” Spike panicked, desperately trying to escape the Princess’s magical grasp and take to the air again.

“Spike, calm down!” Twilight could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest, pulsing through her aura like the beat of griffon war-drums. “Breathe, Spike! You’re going to hurt yourself. Tell me what happened.”

“Cotton…” he gasped. “Letter… fire… ran… garden.”

“Got it! Stay here, Spike—I’ll find her!” Twilight released him and shot into the air. 

Closing her eyes, Twilight thought of all the clothing she and her fellow princesses had bought the filly. Casting multiple finding spells, she could sense the direction of each item. Four dresses and two cloaks still hung in their armoire. One set of slippers was still in the room, the other set was scattered throughout the garden.

There!

Twilight felt a small tug in the direction of the silk pajamas Luna had gifted to the filly. She followed the trail, which led to a quiet part of the garden where the three princesses and Spike would often spend time together. This was the one place where they could get away from the world, away from the stresses of leadership, and just be a family.

Twilight alighted on the grass softly, her eyes finding the shivering foal beneath a stone bench.

“Cotton?” she whispered, not wanting to frighten the child any further. “Cotton, it’s me, Auntie Twilight. Are you okay?”

The crying subsided, and Cotton stopped breathing, withdrawing further into the shelter of the stone bench.

“It’s okay, Cotton. Please come out.”

Cotton sniffled. “I'm sorry.” She crawled out from underneath the bench.

“It's alright, Cotton.” Twilight ignored the torn, muddied state of Cotton's pajamas; she drew the filly into a tight hug, cradling her in her forearms. She ignored the mud and mucus being rubbed into her coat, and let the filly cry.

“Let’s get you inside, hmm?” Twilight asked, as she levitated Cotton onto her back. “We’ll get you all cleaned and warmed up, okay?”

She trotted through the garden, both filly and mare silent. Twilight didn’t know what to say; she regretted not having read up on pyrophobia, or any books on foal psychology. She had her work cut out for her in the morning.


Ж


“Cotton!” Spike all but roared as Twilight exited the garden. He couldn’t help but wince as they approached. Cotton buried her face in Twilight’s mane, while Twilight whispered soothing words of comfort. Spike could see Cotton clearly as Twilight stopped in front of him; the filly quivered, doing her best to hide from him.

“I’ll take her inside and get her bathed,” Twilight offered, a sad look on her face as she spoke.

“Sure…” Spike hoped the bitterness could not be heard in his voice. “Go ahead, I’ll be inside in a minute.” He watched in silence as Twilight took Cotton back indoors.


Ж


Twilight wrapped a large, woollen towel around Cotton, drying her mane and coat. Cotton remained silent, despite Twilight’s attempts to get the filly to open up. Twilight threw the damp towel into the hamper, and led Cotton out of the bathroom.

“Is everything alright?” Luna walked down the corridors towards them. “Our guards informed Us of a disturbance in the gardens tonight.”

“Cotton had a little scare. Come on, Cotton; let’s get you back into bed.” Luna accompanied Twilight as they walked the foal through the corridors to her bedroom. When they entered, Twilight levitated Cotton onto the bed, and tucked her in.

“Do you want us to stay until you fall asleep?” Twilight offered.

Cotton nodded. Once the filly was comfortable, Luna climbed onto the bed and rested her chin atop Cotton’s head, while Twilight stood at the door.

“If thou want to talk to Us about what happened…” Luna whispered.

Cotton shook her head vigorously. “I’ll be good.”

“Well, whenever thou art ready. We will always be here for thee.” Luna smiled, not wanting to push Cotton. “Wouldst thou like Us to sing thee a lullaby?”

“Y-yes please,” Cotton answered, turning and burying her muzzle in Luna’s mane.

Luna sang softly, letting the filly cry as she needed.


♪Come little Cotton,
I'll take thee away,
Into a land of enchantment,
Come little Cotton,
The time's come to play,
Here in my garden of shadows.♫



Ж


Twilight bid Luna goodnight, then walked towards Spike’s chamber. Pushing open his door, she found the dragon pacing the length of his room.

“Luna and I have seen to Cotton,” Twilight told him, making her presence known. “I just wanted to know if you were okay.”

“Am I okay?” he laughed bitterly. “Am I okay?”

“Spike, please,” Twilight begged, “please talk to me. What happened?”

Spike picked up the oversized sheets of paper he had been working on. Ink had spilled across them and was seeping into the rugs on the floor. “Just doing a little late-night paperwork, burning—” He sneered as the idiom left his lips. “—the midnight oil, as it were.” He crumpled the sheets and tossed them aside, continuing his pacing.

“Spike, please. Calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm down? How can I calm down, Twilight?” Tears formed in his eyes. “How could I have been so stupid? I’m eighty-eight years old, I’ve got numerous doctorates; I should have been smarter than this!”

“Spike, what happened was an accident,” Twilight tried to reassure him. “Just an acciden—”

“No, it wasn’t an accident; it was a mistake,” he interrupted. “This whole thing has been a mistake. A stupid mistake.”

“You don’t mean that, Spike.”

“She lost everypony important to her in a Tartarus-damned fire, Twilight. A fire.” Spike stopped his pacing, turning towards his sister. “I’m a dragon, Twilight. A bloody dragon! How could I have been so…” Spike turned, balling up his claw and slammed his fist into the wall. “…SO STUPID‽”

“We’ve just gotten your daughter to sleep, Spike.” Twilight rapidly cast a sound barrier around the room. “Rein this in, Spike!” Twilight raised her voice. “You should know better than to act out of anger!”

Spike unclenched his fist. “You’re right,” he sighed.

“See, Spike? You’re better than this.”

Spike collapsed, his tears overwhelming him. “Evidently, Twilight, I’m not better than this.”

Twilight crossed the room as fast as she could, wrapping her wings around his snout. “I remember when I used to be able to hold you in my hooves alone; now look at us,” she chuckled as she rubbed her cheek against his. “Don’t give up on her yet, Spike. Don’t give up on yourself, either; you’re a good dragon, and a good pony.”


Ж


“—gon!”

Cotton awoke to a shout. She looked around her room finding herself alone; Luna and Twilight must have left after she’d fallen asleep.

A loud rumble startled her, followed by a shout heard through the hall. “SO STUPID!”

Cotton covered her head with a pillow. “Please don’t hate me, Spike. I’ll be a good filly, I promise,” she cried softly into her bed sheets.


Ж


Spike saw Twilight to his door, smiling weakly. “Thanks, Twilight.”

“Goodnight, Spike.” Twilight gave Spike a peck on his cheek. “Get some sleep, we’ll talk through this in the morning.”

Closing the door, a sheet of paper flitted to the ground. What’s this? he asked himself, picking up the small paper. Something Twilight dropped?

Delicately holding the piece of paper in his claw, he made his way to the center of the room. Being far too late to have Papyrus enchant it for him, he slipped on his reading glasses.

The paper looked to be a form from Cotton’s school. Probably what Cotton came to my room for.

“Family… Appreciation Day?”

He put the paper down, along with his glasses, and rolled onto his side. Any improvement in his mood Twilight had helped him achieve, dissipated upon reading those words.

“Oh, Twilight… what have I done?”


Ж


“Please, Cotton, I am very tired,” the old mare said wearily to the filly. “The other children need me right now. Play in the corner quietly, I’ll come and talk with you soon.”
Cotton sat in the corner, looking at the test she had gotten back from Mrs. Withers. She had been so proud to get a ‘B’ on her test. 

Cotton slipped the test back into her saddlebag.

“It’s okay,” she sniffled, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I’ll be a good filly.”

“I’ll be a good filly.”

“…be a good filly.” Cotton awoke, tangled in her duvet. She had lost her pillows sometime during the night, finding them on the floor. Her sheet was soaked, and the fur on her face was damp.

Cotton opened the door to the main hall and made her way to the bathroom. Looking at the disheveled reflection in the mirror, she cleaned herself up as best she could. Seeing her own reflection, scars crossing her face, she held her tears in.

No! I am a good filly. I won’t cry.

Cotton gave her wings a cursory preen; Mother Matron would be very disappointed in her if she didn’t take care of herself.

I will be a good filly.

Finishing with her personal grooming, she made her way to the kitchens. On the way, she was greeted by Sergeant Novamac. “G’morning there, Cotton,” he greeted her cheerfully. “Gettin’ ready for school? Ah’m supposed ta take ya when yer ready.”

“Yes, sir.” Cotton nodded as she entered the kitchen. She found her lunch pail washed and ready on the counter.

“Did ya need a hoof gettin’ yer lunch ready?”

“No, sir.” Cotton clumsily made a sandwich, wrapping it in wax paper when finished. She placed the sandwich and two apples in her lunch pail, then closed the lid.

“Ya gonna take somethin’ ta drink?”

“Oh, yeah,” Cotton whispered, embarrassed. She made her way to the cooler box, pulling out a juicebox and placing it in her lunch box.

Grabbing the handle of her lunch box in her mouth, she muttered, “‘m ready, fir.”


Ж


“G’morning, Sir!” Novamac saluted Spike as the dragon exited his room.

“Good morning, Sergeant.” Noticing Cotton hiding behind Novamac, he added, “And good morning to you as well, Cotton. All ready for school?”

“Yes, sir,” the filly answered, eyes affixed to the floor.

“Did you want me to take you to school this morning?” Spike asked, hopefully.

“No, it’s okay, Sir. I’m okay.”

“Very well,” Spike answered, a little more curtly than he’d intended. He nodded to Novamac, who remained silent during the exchange. “Sergeant.”

Spike watched as Novamac led the filly down the corridor to the exit.

“Have a nice day at school,” he whispered, as the door closed behind Cotton.


Ж


“What’s the matter, Midnight Snack? Baby having a wittle cwy in the corner?”

Cotton had opted to find a quiet place to sit by herself during lunch. Brick and Boulder had not respected her wish, though that was hardly to be expected.

“Leave me alone.”

“What are you gonna do if we don’t?” Brick laughed. “Gonna get your ‘big scary dad’ to stop us?”

Cotton flinched. She had hoped that Brick and Boulder would just let her be, but both colts noticed her reaction.

“Well, Brick,” Boulder sneered. “What do you know? Sounds like somepony doesn’t want their Toasted Marshmallow anymore.”

Brick guffawed. “What happened? He finally realize you’re a little freak?”

“Go away,” Cotton muttered, trying to suppress the shaking in her hooves.

Boulder pushed Cotton to the ground. “Make me!”

Cotton was always a pushover, and she knew it; it was one of the reasons Brick and Boulder picked on her. She suspected Mother Matron’s advice of ‘just ignore them and they’d go away’ was wrong—she had tried ignoring them for years, and they never let up, never let her be.

Cotton got to her hooves and lunged at them with surprising speed, biting and kicking anything she could.


Ж


“I’m sorry I had to call you away from your work, Sir Spike.” Mrs. Withers sat in her office chair. “And I’m very sorry we couldn’t accommodate you better.”

“It’s okay, Mrs. Withers.” Spike sat in the yard, his neck stretched through the open window of her second-floor office. “When you’re my size, you learn to adapt.”

“I suppose I can’t offer you a cup of tea either, can I?” the teacher asked.

“Not unless you have a bucket, and are willing to hold it for me,” Spike chuckled. “And I don’t know many ponies who would be keen on being that close to a dragon’s maw.”

Both Mrs. Withers and Spike shared a laugh.

“I must say, you are very pleasant company, Sir Spike. It’s a shame that our first meeting should be over something such as this.

“Cotton got into a fight with two of her classmates today. Now, while I’m sure they provoked the situation, the three of them have been rather tight-lipped about what happened.

“What concerns me is that Cotton isn’t usually violent. Has something happened at home? In addition to this fight, she seemed quite upset throughout the day.”

Spike sighed. “Yes; sadly, something did happen at home last night. There was an… incident, and I’ve been trying to reach out to her, but to no avail. I’ll talk to her when we get home.”

“Thank you, Sir Spike. I hope our next meeting is more agreeable.”


Ж


Cotton watched from her spot under a tree as Spike withdrew his head from the window, then dropped back to all fours.

“Cotton, are you ready to go home?” Spike called to her, his expression unreadable.

“Yes, sir,” Cotton muttered, lifting her saddlebag onto her back and crossing the yard to meet him. He was silent as he helped her onto his back.

Aside from the sound of the wind in her ears, the flight home was quiet. The silence continued when they landed near the castle, and Spike led Cotton down the corridor to her room.

“Did you want to talk about today?” Spike offered, as they got to the door to her room.

“No, sir. It’s okay.”

The dragon breathed a frustrated sigh. “Cotton, I don’t know what those two said, but you should never resort to violence.”

“They were picking on me, they always pick on me!” Cotton regretted her outburst the minute it left her lips.

“Even if they did,” the dragon sighed again, “you shouldn’t respond with violence. Ignore them, or go tell your teacher. You’re a good filly, you know I’m right. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay in your room for a bit; I want you to think about what yo—”

A good filly.

A good filly.

The words reverberated in Cotton’s ears. Anger seeped through her, and she stopped fighting her tears.

“I had to stand up for myself because you weren’t there to do it for me!” Cotton pushed through the door to her room and slammed it shut before Spike could respond.

She screamed. She screamed, and kicked, and bit and tore. Feathers from her pillows scattered the floor, furniture toppled, and books were thrown from their shelves.

Cotton continued until she collapsed; her anger, pain, and tears finally ran out.


Ж


Twilight knocked on Cotton’s door, a small tray of food levitating in front of her.

“Cotton, sweetie? It’s me, Twilight.” When there was no response, she opened the door.

Twilight held in a gasp when she saw the state of the room. She tried to not calculate the cost of the damage to the books torn and scattered across the floor. Huddled in a ball in the middle of the maelstrom was Cotton, sleeping fitfully on the floor. Twilight put Cotton’s dinner tray down on her study desk, and levitated the filly onto her bed, covering her with what sheets were left untouched.

“I’m sorry,” came a whisper from the bed.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Twilight asked.

Cotton didn’t respond.

“Okay, well, your dinner is here; I had the chef prepare you some soup.” Twilight opened the door, but turned back. “When you do want to talk about it, I’m here.”


Ж


“I don’t know, Spike,” Twilight sighed, trying to comfort the dragon. “The books I’ve been reading today say you shouldn’t force a foal to talk about something when they’re not ready. Just give it time.”

“But things are getting worse, Twi.” Spike lay on his back, staring at the high ceiling of his chamber. Thoughts of her last words drifted through his mind.

I had to stand up for myself because you weren’t there to do it for me!

“I keep making things worse.” Spike closed his eyes. Perhaps if he couldn’t see the world, the world wouldn’t see him, and spare him the heartache he was going through at that moment.

Seconds later, he opened his eyes again, his futile attempt at controlling existence having failed. “How long will I keep hurting her, Twi?”

“You can’t keep blaming—”

“I can, Twilight. It is my fault. Maybe I could have done something different tonight, but the whole reason we’re in this mess is because of last night. And last night isn’t something that I can change. I will always be a dragon, Twilight. Always. I can’t change what I am.

“Maybe… Maybe it would be better if she went back.” The words left an acrid taste in his mouth. He didn’t want to let her go, but Spike knew he had to do what was right, not give in to his own selfish desires.

“You don’t mean that!” Twilight gasped, tears welling in her eyes.

“I have to think about what is best for her. That’s what being a parent is about, right?” He laughed bitterly. “She would be better off with a chance for a real family, and I think I’ve shown that I’m not capable of giving her that.”

“Please,” Twilight begged. “Please, really think about this before you make any rash decisions.”

“I’ll think on it, but we can’t decide on what would suit us just because we want her around. If she’s unhappy here, I don’t want her suffering because of my selfishness.”


Ж




	Dear Mother Matron,

It is with my deepest regrets that I am writing to you. I fear I was unwise in my adoption of Cotton, not fully taking her past into account.

Two nights ago, Cotton came to my chambers whilst I was working. You may recall the way I correspond with my co-workers. I was sending one such letter when Cotton came to my door; while the ætheric flame could not harm her, Cotton was unaware of this fact.

Princess Twilight was able to find Cotton after she tried to run away. Since then, she has gotten into fights at her school, and she has withdrawn from all of us, and it is all my fault.

Cotton is very dear to me; she deserves a real family, not somepony like me. Please help her find somewhere she will be happy.

I am so very sorry.

Spike



Mother Matron sighed, putting the letter down. She had re-read the letter five times already, each time hoping there had been some form of misunderstanding; Cotton had seemed so happy on her previous visit.

“I am very sorry, too, Sir Spike,” she said, closing the letter in her drawer.


Ж


Twilight did her best to hide her tears while she folded the clothing she and the other princesses had bought for Cotton and levitated them into the little suitcase. How could this have all gone so wrong?

Cotton sat silently at the window overlooking the gardens. Memories played back in her head like a movie reel she couldn’t stop or slow down. Hide-and-seek with Luna and Spike, picnics with Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia, quiet walks through the grounds with Spike, and lying on the grass listening to his stories headlined the mental theater. That one short week had been like a dream, something she could never have imagined. But like all dreams, this one was coming to an end.

I tried to be a good filly. Why am I not good enough?

A rap on the door drew both Cotton’s and Twilight’s attention. “The guards have informed me that Mother Matron has arrived,” Spike’s voice came through the closed door. Cotton hadn’t seen him since Princess Twilight had told her she was going back to the orphanage.

I don’t know how I can behave better.

Twilight levitated the suitcase, and joined Spike out in the hall, Cotton following in silence, her eyes affixed to the floor.

The walk down the hall was… awkward; Cotton never looked up, and Spike only gazed forward.

Cotton looked up at the doors, with the two guards standing on either side of it. This would be the last time she’d see these doors, and the last time she’d see these guards; she hadn’t even learned their names.

Mother Matron stood in front of a taxi, a somber expression on her face. “Hi, Cotton.” She hugged the little filly. “Ready to come home?”

“I guess so,” Cotton mumbled.

Twilight loaded Cotton’s suitcase into the back of the taxi. Spike stood on his hind quarters, looking away from the filly, trying desperately to hide his tears.

“You’re all packed,” Twilight sniffled, standing back next to Spike. “It was lovely meeting you, Cotton. I’m so sorry it didn’t work out.”

Cotton raised her eyes to look at the dragon that had almost been her father. She felt ashamed of herself; he couldn’t even look at her. Nothing will ever go right for me. I can never have anything, it’ll always be taken away from me, she thought, looking at Spike.

No!

Cotton ran to Spike, wrapping her hooves around his broad ankle. “Please, Spike! Please don’t send me back! I’ll be a good filly! I’ll be better. I won’t talk, I won’t be naughty. I’ll do anything! Please don’t send me away!”

Spike’s head spun around so quickly, it might well have caused a sonic rainboom. Tears flowed down his cheeks, and he backed away, bringing himself down to ground level with her.

“I don’t want you to go away, Cotton. I—I thought you hated me. That you didn’t want to live with me anymore. You’ve been so unhappy.”

Cotton clung to his neck like it was a life-preserver. “Please don’t send me away! Please, I’ll be a good filly. I promise! I’ll do anything. Please don’t leave me.”

“You are a good filly, Cotton,” Spike blubbered as he spoke, rubbing his chin against the small pegasus, curling his neck around her in an embrace. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I always wanted you to stay here, I just don’t want to force you. I just want you to be happy. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you the other day, Cotton. Stay with me, and I will always be there for you. Always!”

Mother Matron approached the pair, tears in her own eyes. “Cotton, it looks like you can stay here after all, if you want.”

Cotton turned, tears streaming down, but a wide smile on her face. “I do. I do want to live here, Mother Matron…

“I want to live with my Daddy.”
> Chapter Six - This chapter is a blankflank (Part One)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Are you excited?” Twilight called over the buffeting sound of the air.

“What?” Cotton shouted back, unable to hear the alicorn.

“Are you…” Twilight tried louder, before giving up. “Hmmm, maybe if I reverse the ninth sigil and…” she muttered as her horn glowed. “…there!”

The sound of the wind in their ears died as a shimmering dome surrounded the carriage. “I was asking, ‘Are you excited?’”

Cotton dropped to the floor of the carriage, covering her ears as Twilight’s shout reverberated and rebounded inside the shimmering dome. “Oww!” 

“Oops, sorry.” Twilight looked sheepishly at the filly. She tried again, asking quieter. “Are you excited?”

Cotton got to her hooves again, nervously pawing at the ground. “I don’t know. What if they don’t like me?”

“Oh, Cotton. Of course they’ll like you. They’ll all love you, and you know how proud your dad is to be able to introduce you to all of our friends.” Twilight giggled, pulling the filly into a side-long wing hug. “And don’t you worry, Aunt Sweetie Belle and Auntie Twily will be here with you. And you’ll finally get to meet your cousins, won’t that be exciting‽”

A deep cough in front of them interrupted their conversation.

“Oh, and your dad will be there, too,” Twilight added, looking toward her brother, embarrassed. “Sorry, Spike.”

“Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just the transportation,” he chuckled, a deep rumble vibrating through the base of their carriage.

Luna was particularly miffed when Twilight accepted Spike’s offer to transport them to the ‘family’ reunion, bemoaning the fact she was the only princess who had never gotten to ride a dragon anywhere (in her mind, the Empress of a Vassal State did not count). Sulking, she returned to her room with a “very well, be that way!” before they left, having only given Cotton the mandatory five-minute hug before departing.

Spike began a slow descent; the pegasus guards flanking Spike would likely not approve of his normal dead-drop from the sky. Rainbow had taught him that trick years ago, when he got his wings. Truthfully, with his daughter in the carriage harness strapped between his wings, he wasn’t keen on performing that maneuver either.

Oh, and there was a princess or somepony unimportant with his daughter, too. Whatever.

“We’re here!” Spike exclaimed, aiming them towards the currently empty eastern field. Running from the treeline came six foals, all looking to the sky, waving at the descending dragon. The pegasus guard to Spike’s right broke formation and dropped to the ground, clearing the children away from the dragon’s landing area.

The second Spike touched the ground and tucked his wings back, the foals rushed past the guard to meet the new arrivals. The fillies, of course, dashed towards the Princess as she helped Cotton out of the carriage. The colts were torn between the awesome, huge dragon and the guards with their cool spears and armor.

“Hello, my little ponies,” Twilight beamed at the foals as they jumped around. Cotton hid herself between Spike’s thick forelegs.

“Howdy, Princess!”

“Heya, Princess!”

“Hey Spike, when can you take me for a ride?”

“Oh my gosh! Who’s that? We have to have a Welcome-to-Ponyville Party!”

“Princess, did granny tell you I got my cutie mark?”

“Spike, can you like, blow a big fireball or something?”

“Pipe down, y’all, and give the Princess and Spike some room.” A familiar scarlet-gray stallion stepped out from the treeline, chastising the bouncing foals.

One of the pegasus guards stepped forward, offering a crisp salute. “Sir, I wasn’t informed you were going to be here today, Sir. Your orders?”

Novamac grinned, shooting a glance at the chuckling dragon. “Y’all know Ah’m a Ponyville stallion. Yer the CO for this visit, Sergeant. Ah’m just here visiting family. Ah got other soldiers ta keep in line today.”

He turned towards the fidgeting foals. “G’won, git back. Y’all got work to do, and Granny Bloom’ll tan yer hides if’n ya don’t get back to it.”

The group followed the energetic foals as they made their way to the old Sweet Apple Acres homestead. Cotton kept close to Spike as they walked.

“What’s your name?” A filly with a bright gold, curly mane bounced backwards in front of Cotton, pushing her muzzle into Cotton’s face. “My name’s Pecan Pie. Do you like candy? Or cupcakes?”

Novamac grunted, “Pecan, what’ve Ah told ya ‘bout givin’ ponies their space?”

“That it’s for boring brothers who don’t know how to have fun?” Pecan giggled as she grabbed Cotton by the hooves. “You should come play with us!”

“Cotton, this hyperactive ball’a sugar’s mah little sister, Pecan.” He turned towards the bounding filly. “Now, Pecan, say ‘hi’ like a normal pony would.”

“Hi!” Pecan shrilled, pulling Cotton towards the group of foals so fast she left behind two filly-sized dust clouds behind them.

Twilight giggled as Spike let out a hearty laugh.

Ж


As she approached the old house, Twilight heard the creaking of rocking chairs stop as their occupants stood up to greet her. “Applejack! Pinkie Pie!” She dashed towards her two friends and pulled them into a deep hug.

“Gosh, Twi! Ya done grown even tall’r. Ah reckon soon Ah won’t even reach yer ankles.”

“Oh come on, Applejack. I’m not that tall,” the alicorn said, blushing.

Both Pinkie Pie and Applejack tilted their necks back, looking up at the taller mare.

“What’s the weather like in Cloudsdale?” Pinkie snorted.

“Ah kin barely hear ya from down here,” Applejack added.

“Maybe we should try yodeling to her.” Pinkie Pie warbled, “Yodel-ay-hee-hoo?”

Twilight unceremoniously planted her butt on the ground, crossing her forearms and pouting, causing Pinkie and Applejack to laugh even harder.

“Maybe if ya didn’t hang ‘round princesses and dragons all the time, ya’d realize how big yer gettin’,” Applejack laughed, playfully punching Twilight in the shoulder. “Now how ‘bout those royal hooves come’n give me an’ Pinks a hoof in the kitchen?”


Ж


“Ah’m fine, Pa. Ah got Spike here ta help me carry the wood. You jus’ sit down ‘fore ya do yer back in ag’in.”

Spike’s eyes darted between the two stallions.

“Nnnope.” Big Mac scowled.

Even in his old age, he never lost the musculature he held in his youth. His son Pippin took more after his mother, and less after his father, but the mulberry stallion still cut an imposing figure.

“Th’ doc said you were ta take it easy fer a few weeks,” Pippin argued. “An’ don’t matter how old Ah am, Ma’ll still tan mah hide if’n Ah let ya help. Ah ain’t gon’ argue with her fer the sake of yer pride!”

Whilst they were arguing, Spike had loaded the bulk of the wood into a cart and carefully crept away, hauling the wood as he went.

“Those two at it again?” a smartly-dressed unicorn stallion chuckled, approaching Spike.

“Mornin’, Dapper.” Spike smiled, a toothy grin across his face. “You heard them, I take it?”

“Those two are always at it,” Dapper laughed. “So anyway, I hear congratulations are in order. Where is your lovely daughter?”

“Pecan dragged her out to play, so they’re either out in the fields, or Pecan’s set up an impromptu party somewhere. That wouldn’t be too bad, actually; Cotton does love cake.”

“I have no idea how Pippin has any energy left to argue with Uncle Mac with that little one running around.”

“Ever known an Apple to not be stubborn?” Spike chuckled. “How’s your mother-in-law doing? I haven’t seen her yet; she wasn’t inside when Twilight and I went to the house.”

“She’s been organising something for the newest generation of Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Dapper shuddered. “I fear to guess what that might be.”

“If I remember correctly, you were one of the ‘newest generation of Cutie Mark Crusaders,’ right?” Spike grinned, as they stopped and unloaded the wagon.

“As a foal, they were some of the greatest days of my life…” He smiled, reminiscing in the memories of meeting his future wife. His features darkened as his voice dropped. “… but as a father, I lie awake at night, sweating. I’m constantly haunted by night-terrors of foals covered in tree sap, storming through our store and destroying everything. Everything!”

Spike stared at the unicorn, unsure of what to say, until Dapper broke out into a grin, laughing.

“Okay, maybe they aren’t that bad. At least Apple Bloom and your Sister-in-law filter out the more ridiculous ideas.”

“Ridiculous ideas!” Spike guffawed. “Dapper, I was dealing with the crusaders before you were even a twinkle in your mom’s eye. You haven’t seen ridiculous, trust me!”


Ж


“Front and center, Crusaders!” the aged mare barked as she marched along the formation line of foals.

Cotton stood slack-jawed, watching the foals fidgeting as they sat in a line in front of the old mare. Aunt Sweetie Belle sat off to the side, a smile across her face, chatting with the strangest creature Cotton had ever seen. Sweetie Belle noticed Cotton watching her, and gave the filly a wink.

“Granny Bloom, Granny Bloom!” one of the foals was rocking on her hind quarters, forearm stretched high in the air, trying to get the older mare’s attention.

“Crusader Katya, do you have something to say?” Granny Bloom barked, though Cotton noticed a smile tugging at the side of her mouth.

“Granny, we have a new perspective member for the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Katya’s voice coming out in an excited squeak as she rocked back and forth.

“Well, do we now?” Granny Bloom chuckled, turning towards Cotton. “I didn’t see ya there, young filly. Why don’t ya come over here an’ introduce yerself.”

Cotton shied away, until Sweetie Belle came up beside her, gently nudging her towards the front of the group. Largo and Nocturne, two colts who’d introduced themselves as her cousins earlier, cheered as Cotton and Sweetie Belle stood at the front of the group.

“Well, hello there, young Cotton. Our Sweetie Belle’s told me all about ya. My name’s Apple Bloom, but you kin call me Granny Bloom if ya want.” Apple Bloom smiled, ruffling Cotton’s raspberry mane. “You ready to have some fun?”

Cotton nodded quietly.

“Well, go sit down with yer cousins, and we’ll get started.”

“And cause a little chaos in the process!” the strange creature to the side shouted, a toothy grin plastered across his misshapen face.

“Oh hush, ya old goat!” Granny turned, poking a tongue out at the strange creature. Cotton’s eyes went wide when the creature crossed its mismatched arms and returned the gesture with his own serpentine tongue. She had never seen a goat that looked like that!

“Now, we’ve got a few activities planned toda—”

“I wanna get a hang-gliding cutie mark!” Largo yelled, interrupting Granny Bloom.

“Well… I don’t know about…”

The strange creature’s mouth twitched into a smile.

“We should totally get bungee-jumping cutie marks!” Gala turned to an excited Holly. “Hey Cuz, do we still have that stretchy rope stuff?”

“Nope. But I bet Unca’ Discord could make all kinds of stretchy ropes,” Holly replied.

“Taffy would work well,” the strange creature said, casually examining his lion paw.

Aunt Sweetie Belle chuckled, digging an elbow into the creature’s side.

“We wanna get bobsledding cutie marks!” two more colts, Topaz and Winter Gem, called out.

“B-bobsledding?” Granny Bloom stuttered. “It’s th’ middle o’ summer! Ya can’t go bobsleddin’ in th’ middle o’ summer!”

The other foals, all keen on the new idea, turned wide, puppy dog eyes towards the strange creature.

“Oh, I’m sure I could handle that with but the click of the claw,” he said, smiling as he pressed one eagle talon against another. It was only Granny Bloom’s scowl that stopped him.

“Sorry, children. Not today.” He frowned as he put his arm down. “I wasn’t really going to do it… probably,” he finished with a sly grin.

“But why would makin’ it snow be bad?” Winter Gem, the youngest of the foals, asked.

“Because he won’t freeze my farm again if he knows what’s good for ‘im.”


Ж


Spike let out a chuckle as he heated yet another trough of water with a gentle flame. He had warned his daughter what he was doing, and while she stood behind him so that she couldn’t see, she still excitedly told him about her day as he worked.

“That was so much fun!” Cotton bounced on the spot, her coat attached to her youngest ‘cousin’ Nocturne’s by a liberal amount of tree sap.

“Ours was the fastest,” Nocturne squeaked. “I still can’t believe we didn’t get box-karting cutie marks.”

“Okay you two, get in the trough and wash up. I’ve got five more of these things to heat up before lunch is served.” Spike planted a small kiss on his daughter’s forehead, and whispered, “I’m glad you’re having fun.”


Ж


The table was absolutely packed.

Cotton sat between her Auntie Twilight and the spot where her dad could lay his head. She couldn’t believe the size of the meal spread before them; every possible dish that could be made from apples covered every square inch of the table.

Cotton’s mind was filled-to-bursting with the names of everypony introduced to her. She was excited to finally meet the remaining Elements of Harmony. The filly had read all about them in history class, and she could hardly believe the two old mares sitting at the table were the Pinkie Pie and Applejack.

Novamac sat next to Pecan Pie, trying to ignore the faces his mother and grandmother were making at him. Something about the Royal Guards never smiling. He burst into laughter when his little sister sneezed from the breadstick she had stuffed up her nose. Pinkie Pie joined in the laughter, while Pecan’s mother, Cherry Pie, scolded her daughter over the inappropriate use of bread-based products.

Discord, whose name Cotton had finally learned, sat next to a smaller, strange creature. She looked like a mix of a pony and a whatever-he-was. She had a dragon’s tail, a lizard’s leg and a goat’s leg as her back legs, normal pony forearms and hooves, and two pegasus wings on her back. She had the prettiest yellow coat and a light-pink mane. A gruff-looking earth pony stallion, with a charcoal gray coat, wearing a gray tweed flat-cap sat next to her.

Applejack sat next to her brother, Big Macintosh. Dozing quietly next to him was his wife; she’d been a teacher at the school Aunt Sweetie Belle and Granny Bloom had gone to. Another stallion argued with Big Mac about wood cutting, while Cherry Pie cuddled next to him.

Taking up nearly an entire side of the table themselves sat Granny Bloom’s family. Her two sons and her daughter, their partners, and the eight foals that made up her grandfoals. Cotton could barely remember all of their names, and those were just the few she had met. The older grandchildren had stayed near the house, along with her cousin Allegrezza, while Cotton and the others played out in the fields.

Allegrezza, Largo, and Nocturne sat with Aunt Sweetie and Uncle Shady. They weren’t really her cousins; her actual cousin, Medley Belle and her husband were away on a cruise.  They had left their children with Aunt Sweetie Belle and Uncle Shady. Spike had told her she could call the three foals her cousins, because first-cousins-once-removed was a mouthful for even a dragon to say all the time, and he had a pretty huge mouth.

Applejack stood up, clinking a spoon against a glass.

“Ah’d like ta thank y’all for comin’ to our family reunion. Seems like ev’ry year these things come’n go quicker each time.” She beamed at the table. “While not all of us are blood kin, Ah can honestly say Ah couldn’t ask fer a better family. With that out of the way…” Applejack pause to take a breath. “Soup’s on, everypony!”

“Soup’s on!” the rest of the party echoed in chorus.

The meal descended into chaos as conversations between ponies picked up again while they ate.

“So when’re ya gonna find a nice mare, settle down, an’ come back ta the farm?” Pippin asked, turning his gaze toward his son, Novamac. Cherry Pie stopped fussing over her daughter and also focused her attention on Novamac.

“Ah jus’ got promoted, and Ah still got three years of mah commission t’ go. Ah ain’t gonna leave yet, not while th’ Princesses still need me,” Novamac huffed, trying to avoid his parents’ gaze.

Twilight chortled. “Mmm, and you don’t have to worry about him finding a mare.” Novamac turned towards the Princess, a pleading look in his face. “He’s been getting rather close to Private Nightshade.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Reeeeeeally?” he asked, with a predatory grin. “And to think I actually believed the two of you when you said you were patrolling the gardens for potential intruders. This is a very serious breach of protocol!”

“Ah was!” Novamac put his hoof down. “Ah would never do somethin’ like that when on duty.”

“So then off duty?” Cherry Pie asked, matching Spike’s grin. “Do tell us all about this mare you’ve been hiding from your dear mother.” Her lip quivered as she spoke the last two words.

“Uhhh, uhhh,” Novamac stammered. He slumped his head in defeat. “We’ve only been goin’ out a few weeks, Ma. Ah was gonna introduce ya soon, Ah promise. Ah jus’ wanna make sure she’s the right one.”

Cherry Pie pulled her son into a bone-crushing hug, Twilight and Spike laughing at the flailing guardspony.

“Wait!” Cotton gasped, wide-eyed. “Novamac’s going out with Nightshade?” She swooned. “She’s so pretty! I really like her wings!”

“A pegasus, eh son?” Pippin nudged his son in the ribs. “Takin’ after yer great-aunt AJ?”

“Who’s takin’ after th’ what now?” Applejack asked across the table.

“M’boy’s takin’ after ya, Auntie,” Pippin responded to her question, laughing raucously. “Boy’s gone an’ nabbed himself a pretty little cloudbeater!”

Novamac’s already scarlet-gray coat darkened as his cheeks flushed.

“Nightshade isn’t a pegasus; she’s a bat-pony!” Cotton piped up. Novamac’s blush became even more pronounced.

“They’re called Noctis,” Twilight corrected Cotton, “or Noctii if you’re referring to them in plural. 'Bat-pony' is a colloquial name for them, and to add to that, it’s kind of a rude name for them, too.”

“Oh, okay,” Cotton responded with a smile. “She’s still pretty!”

Spike bit his tongue trying to hold back his laughter, while Novamac sank in his chair under the shocked gaze of his parents.

“Well, good on ya!” Applejack added. “Ah just ‘bout reckon noctises—”

“Noctii,” Twilight corrected.

“Err, yeah, noctii… would be about the only blood-line left we don’t have in the Apple family tree. So when’s th’ weddin’?”

Spike gave up his fight against laughter as Cotton and Pecan Pie started singing ‘Novamac and Nightshade sitting in a tree...’

The sound of a loud gong caught everyone’s attention. Discord stood at the head of the table, a large padded stick in his lion paw, a brass gong suspended by ropes from his talons.

“Daaaaaad,” the half-pony-whatever-she-was moaned. “Do you have to be so loud?”

“What kind of silly question is that?” Discord asked, flicking the gong over his shoulder like a frisbee, then tossing the padded stick into his mouth. “Hmmm, needs more hot sauce.

“I wanted to get everypony’s attention, because my little Eris and her husband have some wonderful news to share.”

Everypony turned to the pair, the gray pony put a gentle hoof on Eris’s own. “Everypony, as you all know, Stonecutter and I have wanted a foal for a few years now. You all know the difficulties we’ve had in trying…” Tears came to her eyes. “…we got back from the doctor a few weeks ago. It’s official; I’m going to be a momma!”

The table broke into cheers, everypony congratulating the couple, as well as the grandfather-to-be.

“Ya know this’ll mean we can finally get revenge, you old goat!” Apple Bloom chortled.

“Mmmhmm,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “Think of all the fun crusades we could take your grandchild on.”

“My grandchild will be born nearly one-quarter pure chaos.” Discord floated over his daughter’s shoulder. Waving a paw over her belly, he produced a target. “Do your worst!”

The two elder mares looked at each other with evil grins.

“Cutie Mark Accountancy Crusaders, yay!” they chorused.

“No!” Discord went white, from antler to tail. “You wouldn’t!”

“What’s wrong with accountancy?” one of Apple Bloom’s daughters-in-law asked. “Without a good accountant, this farm wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as it is.”

Discord wasn’t listening; he’d already transformed into a bouquet of flowers and a tombstone which read, ‘Here lies Discord, Spirit of Chaos. Died of Boredom.’
> Chapter Seven - This chapter is a blankflank (Part Two)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tired, Cotton decided to stay with Spike when the other foals went back out to play. Allegrezza, along with Granny Bloom’s older grandchildren, Bellflower and Fallawater, stayed at the table as well; the three teenagers sat together talking amongst themselves. Cotton rested against her father’s cheek.

Everypony went silent when Big Mac stood and coughed.

“Ah thank y’all fer comin’ here today,” Big Mac spoke, his voice quiet and somber. “Now if we can, we’ll take the time to remember our family that’s no longer with us.”

“Ah remember Granny,” Apple Bloom started. “Ah remember the first time she taught me ta make zap-apple jam.”

“Granny always took care of us,” Applejack added. “She took care of all of us, even after Ma and Pa passed on.”

“She always made the best apple pies.” Pinkie Pie smiled. “And she always looked after me, too.”

“I still remember her extorting gems out of me,” Spike chuckled. “What?” he asked, as everypony turned to look at him with indignation. He grinned wide. “Well, she did, but that didn’t stop her from being the great old mare she was!”

Everypony chuckled.

“To Granny Smith.” Big Mac raised his cider mug.

“To Granny Smith,” the crowd chorused, lifting their own mugs.

“Ah wish Ma and Pa could see us now.” Applejack turned, nodding to Big Mac.

“Eeyup. Ah think they’d be real proud of th’ family we’ve raised.”

As the Apple family remembered those they’d lost, Cotton fidgeted next to Spike.

“You okay, sweetie?” he asked, nudging her with his cheek.

“Why is everypony talking about ponies… umm, no longer around?” Cotton asked, rubbing her forearms with her hooves.

Spike unfolded and extended a wing towards the filly. “Well, we share the memories of those ponies who’ve left us. We remember the good times, and the bad. While they’re still in our hearts, they’ll never truly be gone.”

Cotton sniffled.

“D-did you want to talk about your parents?” Spike asked, nervously.

“N-no!” Cotton burst out. “You’re my daddy. I have you now.”

Spike smiled, rubbing his cheek against his daughter. “Cotton, I will always be your daddy, but I didn’t replace your parents. It’s still okay to talk about them, if you want.”

“Is… is that really okay?”

“Of course it is.”

A round of laughter brought their attention back to the speaker. “…and that’s when that featherbrain crashed right into mah window!” Applejack guffawed. “Scared th’ dickens outta me!” She paused for a minute. “Ah still miss ya, sugarcube.”

“To Rainbow Dash,” Twilight cheered, as she lifted her cider mug.

“To Rainbow Dash,” the others echoed.

Eris broke the silence. “I wish my mother could be here, so we could share our wonderful news with her.” Discord laid his paw gently on her shoulder. “She would have been so happy to have been a grandmother…”

Discord pulled his daughter into a hug as she broke down in tears. “‘Shy is happy for you, for us, no matter where she is now.

“If it weren’t for my beloved wife, I’d never have learned the…” Discord gagged, ever so slightly, “magic of friendship. That still sounds so corny.” The older ponies at the table chuckled. “But she taught me so much more; she showed me the difference between being entertained… and being happy. Without her, I wouldn’t have any of you. My friends, and my family.”

Twilight levitated a small hankie, dabbing the tears away from her eye.

“To Fluttershy,” Stonecutter raised his mug. “Watch down on our foal for us.”

“To Fluttershy,” the group murmured.

“Rarity was my childhood crush,” Spike started. “She was a wonderful, beautiful mare, generous to a fault. It was a dream come true when she returned my affections, and that wonderful dream lasted for nearly fifty years.”

“She was the best big sister a pony could ask for,” Sweetie Belle added, smiling as she looked at Spike. “She brought so much beauty into the world, giving so much of herself to others, great and small.”

“To Rarity,” Shady lifted his mug.

“To Rarity.”

“I-I was very young when my mom and dad d-died.” Everypony turned to see the quivering filly who had spoken up. “I-I don’t have a lot of memories of them, but I remember m-my mommy used to sing for me at bedtime. A-and my dad…” She looked nervously to Spike, who nodded for her to continue, a sad smile on his face. “M-my dad used to play blocks with me when he was done at work.

“I love you, mom and dad.” Tears fell from Cotton’s eyes. Spike gently laid his neck over her back in a hug.

“To Roq Candy, and Almond Joy.” Spike raised his mug.

“To Roq Candy, and Almond Joy,” the others repeated.

As Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle related tales of their friend, Scootaloo, Twilight knelt down next to Cotton, wrapping a wing over the filly’s back, while Spike nuzzled her from the other side.

“I shouldn’t miss them,” Cotton sniffled. “I have a new family now.”

“You will always miss them, Cotton.” Twilight nuzzled the filly, brushing away the tears from the pegasus’s cheek. “That’s why we remember them.”

“I never knew my parents, Cotton,” Spike sighed. “And I wish I could have known them. Known what they were like, what kind of pon—errr, dragons they were. But I have a family, in Twilight, the other Princesses; I have a big brother in Shining Armor. And now, I have you, too. There is room enough in every family for more love, Cotton. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Spike laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Any time you want to talk about them, you can talk with us.”


Ж


In the late evening, Spike, Cotton, Allegrezza, Bellflower, and Fallawater made their way out to the fields where the old Cutie Mark Crusaders’ clubhouse stood. Spike smiled as he walked the old familiar path, remembering the times he would play with the three original Crusaders. Not that he would have called it ‘playing’; he was at the time oh-so-much more mature than them, but he had always enjoyed himself, despite any protests he made to his big sister.

“So, you excited for your first Cutie Mark Crusader sleepout?” Allegrezza asked Cotton as they walked.

“Mmm-hmm,” Cotton answered.

“Oh, y’all’ll have a great time! Ah remember our sleepouts. Y’all’ll come away with so many funny stories, ya’ll remember ‘em fer the rest of yer life.” Bellflower chuckled, winking at Fallawater, who blushed profusely. Allegrezza’s grin grew wide as she saw the look on Fallawater’s face.

“C-campouts aren’t that great,” Fallawater stuttered. “N-not really.”

“I’m sure we’ll share some of those stories tonight, right, Falla?” Allegrezza giggled, seeing the look of horror on her friend’s face. “We’ll let the blankies decide if the stories are great or not.”

Spike marvelled as the clubhouse came into view. Apple Bloom had improved it over the years; it looked more like a tree-mansion these days rather than just a house. Maybe a tree fortress, depending on what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had installed in those menacing-looking turrets.

Topaz stood atop a parapet, looking down at the approaching group. “Halt, who goes there?” he squeaked, in an adorably ‘authoritative’ voice.

“Retired Crusaders Bellflower, Fallawater, and Allegrezza, and Crusader-initiate Cotton Candy,” Bellflower called out. “Reporting for duty, sir!”

The three teens snapped off crisp salutes, trying their hardest not to laugh. Cotton nervously followed their lead, and the three teens burst into giggles. Allegrezza pulled the filly into a hug.

“Who’s the dragon?” the voice of the squeaky guard called out.

“Good Sir Topaz, of the noble order of the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Spike called out, kneeling before the treefort. “I have travelled far and wide, and have heard of your righteous cause. I seek to offer my services in protection of your lands. My four companions can vouch for my trustworthiness.”

The three teens nodded their heads, giggling.

“Okay Spike!” Topaz called out. “Cinny, drop the ladd—I mean, lower the drawbridge!”

The group chuckled as the ladder to the clubhouse lowered, and the four girls ascended the steps to the clubhouse’s main floor.

“I’ll just stay out here and keep an eye on these lands,” Spike called out, chuckling before settling comfortably on the ground.


Ж


Spike lay on his back, looking up at Luna’s star-filled night sky. He never appreciated it in his youth; nighttime was for sleeping, after all. Though in truth, day time was also for napping, so his disinterest in the night wasn’t the same as the ancient ponies’.

But after years of meteor showers, nights spent watching the stars with Twilight and her friends, then later Luna and Celestia joining them, he’d grown fond of the bejeweled expanse above him.

Spike had ordered lights-out three hours earlier, and as expected, the Crusaders only stopped their giggling, laughing, and talking an hour ago.

The only thing that he could hear for miles around was the sound of his own deep breathing as he relaxed, along with the sounds of the few wild creatures that had not fled from his resting area.

Spike smiled, enjoying the peace. Knowing the workings of a foal’s mind, he was keenly aware that such peace wouldn’t last, so he kept his vigil. Assuredly enough, the sounds of whispering could be heard minutes later.

“Is he asleep?” Spike recognized the voice of Largo. If anypony was going to cause trouble, of course it would be his grand-nephew.

“I-I think so,” one of Apple Bloom’s granddaughters, Cinnamon Spice, whispered.

Spike hoped that it was more than just those two looking to sneak out, or he’d have to have some serious talks with their parents. A deathly chill ran down his spine, as he thought of what might happen if one of the boys showed an interest in his Cotton. He loudly ground his teeth.

“I think he’s snoring,” came the voice of Topaz.

Okay, so they were up to mischief, not mischief. He breathed a sigh of relief.

“Holly, Gala,” Largo whispered. “Lower the ladder… quietly!”

Oh Largo, I wasn’t hatched yesterday!

As the ladder dropped with a loud crash the foals let out a hiss. Spike suppressed his smile, mumbled a bit, and rolled over so he faced them, his eyes barely open. If they thought he was asleep, he could play it up a bit.

“‘Somwonthr?” he muttered, before returning to his deep breathing. His jaw ached, holding back the smile forming on his snout. With his keen sight, he could see them all as if it were Celestia’s brightest day.

Standing terrified at the top of the steps were Katya, Nocturne, Cotton, Gala, Holly, Cinnamon Spice, and Topaz. The ringleader, Largo, was already quietly making his way down the ladder, eyes focused on the dragon.

Silently, one by one, the foals descended and huddled in a group at the bottom of the ladder.

“So, are we ready?” Largo whispered.

“Ready for what?” Spike boomed out in the night. The few birds nesting in the trees scattered as the foals let out a cacophony of terrified shrieks. Spike rolled onto his front, propping his chin up with his claws, staring down at the group of foals. “Going somewhere, my little ponies?”

“Uhh, uhh,” Largo stammered. “Just, to, umm, the… the bathroom!”

“All of you? At once?” Spike raised his eyebrow. “Really?”

“Umm… umm.” Largo continued digging himself deeper into his hole.

“So you weren’t, I don’t know, thinking of sneaking out and doing some midnight crusading?” Spike grinned, watching the foals shuffle nervously, caught red-hoofed. “Going out and getting into trouble?”

“Crusaders are supposed to get into trouble!” Topaz called from the back of the group. “That’s what Unca Discord told us!”

Spike chuckled—that did sound like something Discord would say. Three Cutie Mark Crusaders were a walking disaster zone. Eight Cutie Mark Crusaders causing trouble, at night, unsupervised, and under the direct instruction of the Spirit of Chaos? Half of Ponyville would be on fire, the other half covered in pink-and-green plaid tree sap.

“Everypony back to bed. There will be plenty of time to crusade tomorrow morning before everypony has to leave.” He stood, herding them back towards the ladder and up into the tree house.

The foals must have been more exhausted than they’d let on, because within half an hour, the grumpy whispers had been replaced with the soft snores and breathing of foals sleeping.


Ж


Spike awoke in the morning to the warm feeling of Celestia’s sun on his belly, and the sound of giggling from the treehouse. Opening his eyes, he spied several of the foals looking out over the porch of the fort, wearing ridiculously colored cold-weather wear.

“He’s awake, Unca Discord!” Holly called, as the draconequus in question popped his head out from the doorway.

“Oh, well look at that, he is.” Discord inspected his eagle talon intently. “I heard you spoiled these poor foals’ fun last night. Tut tut.” A grin crossed his mismatched features. “Though I heard you promised fun in the morning.”

A click of his talon, and a blanket of freezing white dropped on the lounging dragon. Spike shot up immediately, shivering as he shook off the snow. The children laughed as they jumped down into the snow, starting to play immediately.

“I-I-I’ll g-g-get y-y-you f-f-for this, D-D-Discord!” Spike stammered out. “J-j-just y-you w-w-wait!”

“Oh come on, that sounds like one of my old lines,” Discord chuckled. “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling Elements!”

“Discord!”

“Hide me!” Discord transformed into a snowpony, complete with a carrot for a horn and a cucumber for an antler. Not the most effective of disguises.

“Ah told ya to get the foals fer breakfast,” Apple Bloom said, hobbling through the trees, trying to keep her balance on the snow-covered ground. “And Ah thought Ah told ya what’d happen if ya froze mah acres again. Yah gave me yer word!”

“Oh, that?” the snowpony responded, forgetting snowponies don’t generally talk. “Yes, ummm, well… I guess I lied.”

Spike turned to the foals, grinning wide at the little ones who had stopped playing to watch the mounting disaster.

“Oh no! Discord has turned to his old, evil ways! We better stop him before he takes over all of Crusadia!”

The snowpony snapped its twig fingers, and the draconequus reappeared, watching as thirteen foals quickly prepared snowballs.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Spike shouted. “Fire!”

Discord looked on in horror. “Oh f—”

Fwumph.
> Chapter Eight - A Dragon's guide to dealing with bullies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The air choked her as she breathed in its heat.

I don’t have to be afraid of you anymore.

The small room was hot, burning, confining. She had to get out.

I don’t have to be afraid of you anymore.

Those laughing eyes, taunting her.

You’re just a dumb bully!

The crackle of the flame behind her, the smell of smoke. Tears stung her eyes as she bashed the door.

“Let me out!” Cotton screamed. She continued bucking her back legs against the door. “Let me out let me out let me out!”

Her breathing increased rapidly, and her head spun. The clawing heat in the room tore at her; she couldn’t pull her eyes away from the roaring fire.

I don’t have to be afraid of you anymore.

The dam broke, and Cotton fell to the ground, sobbing.

“I—I don’t have to b-be afraid of you anymore,” she repeated to herself, over and over.


Ж


“I’ve gotta go to the little fillies' room. I’ll see you in class.” Cotton waved to Tesla as she turned towards the fillies' restroom.

Lunchtime had been fun today. She’d excitedly told all of her friends about her trip to Ponyville, her meeting with two of the Elements of Harmony, and her induction into the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The five foals played on the swing set, taking turns pushing each other, as they regaled one another with what they’d done on their holiday.

Fortunately, Boulder also ignored them today. Brick was away with the feather flu, and Boulder tended to leave others alone when his dim-witted backup wasn’t around.

Moments later, Cotton stepped out from the restroom into the hall, making her way back to the classroom. Thoughts of the trip to Ponyville filled her head; she closed her eyes and remembered playing in the snow on a warm summer’s day. The epic war between the forces of Crusadia and Discordia, and the funny song their bard, Allegrezza, had sung upon their victory. She closed her eyes and spread her wings, remembering the feel of the air rushing against her face as she flew on her dad’s back.

“Oof!” a masculine voice let out, as she collided with somepony. “Watch where you’re going, stupid.”

Cotton opened her eyes, embarrassed at having crashed into somepony. “S-sorry.”

“Toasty?” Boulder got to his hooves, brushed himself off, then turned to her with a sneer. “I thought you were crispy, not blind.”

“I-I said I was sorry,” Cotton replied, trying to step around him.

“You think you can just push me around and get away with it?” Boulder stepped forward, pressing against Cotton.

“I-I don’t have to be afraid of you anymore.”

“What?”

“Dad said I don’t have to be afraid of you.” Cotton stood her ground. “If you push me around, I-I’ll tell Mrs. Withers on you.”

“Oh, will you?” Cotton tried not to shrink back at the malice in his voice.

“You’re just a bully. I don’t have to be afraid of you anym—” A painful pressure closed Cotton’s muzzle, stopping her from speaking. The pressure made it hard to breath; she had to fight for each breath through her nostrils. Boulder turned from her, a smirk across his face, his horn glowing with a pale-green aura. The pressure pulling on her muzzle, forcing her to follow him in pain.

She fought back, but each time she pulled against him, the pressure increased, bringing tears to her eyes. Resigned, she followed him until they reached the door to the basement.

No-no-no-no-no-no-no-NO-we’re-not-allowed-down-there!

Panic set in as she watched him open the door and descend the stairs, her eyes darting left and right as she prayed for a teacher to find her. She fought with everything she had, but her hooves couldn’t gain purchase on the slick tile floor of the hallway. She fell painfully down the stairs as Boulder dragged her along.

“You’ll love it down here, Toasty.” Boulder dragged the filly across the hall to a closed door. Panic welled in Cotton’s chest as she read the sign adorning the door.

Furnace Room. Authorized Entry Only.

Cotton bucked with all her might, trying to escape Boulder’s magical grasp in vain. He opened the door, and tossed Cotton inside.

“Let’s see how brave you really are,” Boulder laughed as he closed the door.


Ж


“Let me out!” Cotton screamed again, bashing her hooves against the door. She had heard Boulder leave, his hooves clacking on the stairs as he ascended.

She tried to open the door, but Boulder had locked it from the other side before he left.

Her hooves ached, swollen and sore from bucking at the door, while her heart continued its allegretto in her chest.

Her eyes continued to flick towards the furnace, the heat and sparks pouring out the grate, overwhelming her with the urge to run.

Panic held her tighter than any magic aura could. She struggled to pull herself into the corner of the room furthest away from the fire. Cotton laid on her side on the floor, the coal dust blackening her side; she curled into a fetal position, hugging her legs close to her chest.


Ж


Mrs. Withers looked up from her desk to the clock on the wall. Lunch time had ended twenty minutes ago, yet there was no sign of Cotton Candy.

“Has anypony seen Cotton Candy since lunch?” she asked the class.

The foals, who had their heads down and were working in relative silence, looked up towards their teacher, muttering ‘no’s’ and ‘not since lunch, Miss’, though one filly’s hoof shot up.

“I saw her just before the bell rang, Miss,” Tesla answered, bouncing in her seat. “She was going to the restroom, Miss.”

Mrs. Withers looked to the clock again. Twenty minutes was a long time for the filly to be gone. “Everypony, please be good while I go and check on Cotton Candy. If anypony finishes before I get back, please try the extra questions on page forty-five of the textbook.”

The teacher cantered down the hall towards the restrooms; she didn’t want to leave her class unattended for too long. She knew full well that not a single student would be working on their schoolwork right now. Stopping at the door, she knocked before entering.

The stalls were empty; there was no sign of Cotton anywhere.

Exiting the bathroom, Mrs. Withers looked up and down the hall.

“Mr. Sweep, excuse me!” she called out to the old custodian pony cleaning a spill at the end of the corridor. She trotted up to the older stallion, knowing he’d gone slightly deaf in his old age. “Clean, excuse me?”

Clean Sweep jumped at the sudden sound, turning to its source. “Oh, Mrs. Withers, you startled me there,” he answered. “What can I do for you, ma’am?”

“Sorry to bother you, but you haven’t seen any of the students out of class, have you?” she asked. “I’m looking for a filly who should’ve been back by now. She’s got a pink mane, and a light orange-cream coat. You’d, umm, know if you saw her.”

“Oh!” Clean Sweep scratched his chin as he thought. “You mean the kid with all the scars?” Clean Sweep didn’t notice, or at least didn’t respond to, the wince Mrs. Withers gave when he mentioned the foal’s scars. “Nope, ain’t seen hide nor hair of anypony since the bell rang.”

“Okay, thank you. If you happen to see her, please come and find me. Room 3A, you remember?”

“I sure do, ma’am. If I see her, I’ll bring her to you.”

Mrs. Withers trotted to the Principal’s office to check, before she could return to her class.


Ж


Cotton huddled in the corner. It was getting harder for her to breathe; her chest ached with every breath she took.

No air.

She couldn’t get any air. Every attempt to breathe caused that same deep pain in her chest.

Cotton panicked. She couldn’t breathe. She was going to die. The fire was going to eat her.

Daddy, help me. Please, help me, Daddy.

Black spots and little sparks of light filled her vision. Scrambling to her hooves, she moved to the door as fast as her little legs could carry her.

Can’t breathe, please, somepony help me. Can’t breathe, somepony, please Daddy, please save me Daddy, please.

Cotton tripped, sprawling on the floor as everything went black.


Ж


Principal Inquiry knocked on the door to classroom 3A, Mrs. Withers spotting her through the door.

“Excuse me for a moment, my little ponies.” She excused herself, exiting the classroom and closing the door behind her.

“Mrs. Withers, we’ve found Cotton.” Principal Inquiry wore a stern look; she hadn’t been impressed when Mrs. Withers had come to the office saying one of the students had gone missing.

“Oh, thank you,” Mrs. Withers breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been so worried.”

“Mr. Footlights has already sent up a flare; the paramedics should be on their way.”

“What?” Mrs. Withers cried.

“Could you explain to me why one of your students was found passed out in the furnace room in my school, Mrs. Withers?” Principal Inquiry clucked her tongue in frustration. “A student, might I remind you, now connected with the royal family?”

“What happened?” Mrs. Withers trembled. “Is she okay?”

“She is currently in the nurse’s office, waiting for the paramedics to arrive.” The principal gave the teacher a glare. “I’ve already sent Coach Swiftwing to inform her father. We’re lucky Clean Sweep was scheduled to check the furnace when he did.”


Ж


Spike paced the grounds of the hospital, waiting for Twilight to come back out. He cursed his size; he should be in there with his daughter.

One of the teachers from Cotton’s school had burst into the Canterlot Archives, and had been quickly directed to Spike. Within minutes, the dragon was in flight, hurtling towards the hospital nearest Cotton’s school, after having sent a quick note to Twilight to do the same.

“She’s okay, Spike,” Twilight said, interrupting the dragon’s pacing as she crossed the grounds to speak with him, “but they’re going to keep her overnight for observation. The orderlies are trying to organize a room near a window so you can see her once she’s out of observation.”

“How long will that be; when can I see her?”

“She should be out of observation in a few hours, then she’ll be taken to one of the private rooms.”

Spike shook as he spoke. “What happened? How did it happen?”

“The doctors say she passed out from hyperventilation. She seems fine, but they want to keep her overnight in case she has a concussion.”

“How did she get locked in the furnace room?”

“Oh, that.” Twilight rubbed her forearm with a golden-shod hoof. “When she woke up, she told me one of the other students, Boulder R—”

Twilight flew backwards twenty feet, collapsing against the side of the hospital as an enraged dragon took to the air.


Ж


Mrs. Withers stood in her office, getting chewed out by Principal Inquiry over the day’s events. Neither looked out the window; had they done so, they might have seen the incoming scaled, fire-breathing, razor-toothed epitome of fury hurtling through the skies, aimed directly at the window they both stood by.

Both principal and teacher screamed in horror. The ground shook beneath them as the dragon landed and thrust his head through the open window, along with a spray of broken glass.

“WHERE IS HE?”

Mrs. Withers dove under her desk, leaving her boss to face down the angry parent.

“W-who? Where is who?” Principal Inquiry asked, quivering as she stared up at the dragon.

“Boulder,” the dragon sneered, the heat of his breath stinging the principal’s eyes. “Where does he live?”

In every principle, rule, guideline, statute, precedent, regulation, and law governing education, it was always stressed that a faculty member was never to divulge the personal information of a student; it was a big no-no. The writers of said laws obviously had not included any caveats. Say, for example: when the inquirer was a knighted member of the nobility. Or say, when said nobility was the adoptive family member of not one, but two princesses, who both happened to be two of the three supreme rulers of the country said laws were written in.

The laws most definitely did not contain any caveats, provisos, clauses, methods, or even suggestions of dealing with angry, huge, gigantic, terrible, enormous, teeth-gnashing, sharp scale-having, horn-wearing, fire-breathing, could-eat-a-pony-in-one-bite, totally-pissed-off parents.

“Mrs. Withers!” Principal Inquiry squeaked. “Get the files.”

Regulations be damned, I don’t want to be dragon-chow.

With a shaky hoof, Mrs. Withers flicked through the filing cabinet in the corner of her office. When she found Boulder’s file, she dutifully hoofed it to Principal Inquiry.

“H-he lives at number twenty-nine Acacia Road, Downtown Canterlot.”

The dragon removed his head from the window and took to the skies, leaving two terrified mares in his wake.

Mrs. Withers opened the cupboard under her desk, producing two shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

“Y-y-you keep alcohol here?” Principal Inquiry shrieked.

“Do you want one or not?” Mrs. Withers asked, shock still etched across her face.

Principal Inquiry looked around the room, to its disheveled state after the impromptu parent-teacher meeting, and knew there was only one possible answer to Mrs. Withers’ question.

“Make mine a double.”


Ж


Stone Quarry sat in his favorite chair reading the Canterlot Times, as his wife, Ebony Ingot, prepared the table for the evening meal. Their son was confined to his room, having gotten in trouble at school, yet again.

Stone Quarry sighed to himself. Colts will be colts, I guess, but when is he going to grow into a real stallion?

“Honey, what’s that rattling?” he called out, putting down his paper and trotting into the dining room.

A scream filled his ears as two razor-sharp talons punctured the front door to Stone Quarry’s home. As the doors were torn off of their hinges and thrown to the ground, Stone Quarry realized if the filly-like screaming were to stop, he would need to close his mouth.

“WHERE IS HE?”

The head of a dragon pushed its way through the brand-new archway, through the hallway, and into the adjoining dining room. The dragon repeated himself.

“WHERE IS HE?”

A flash of light burst in front of the couple, and before them stood Princess Twilight Sparkle, interposing herself between the cowering couple and the raging dragon.

“Spike, stop this, this instant!” Twilight bellowed at him in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Calm down! I will not let you hurt these ponies!”

“Them?” the dragon roared. “You’re protecting them? These vipers, and their Tartarus-damned son put my daughter—your niece—in the hospital, and you’re protecting them?” The dragon attempted to push himself further into the home.

Twilight heard the shattering of glass as his claws scraped at the outside of the house. If she didn’t stop him soon, he’d bring the whole house down on their heads.

Spike stopped in shock, the sting across his cheek burning where his sister had used a substantial amount of alicorn power to slap him across the face with a burst of magic.

“You are not an animal, Spike, so stop acting like one.” Twilight’s eyes glowed with raw power as she stared down the dragon. “If you cannot deal with this calmly, like a rational adult, then leave now! Your daughter needs you now, so go back to the hospital and wait for her. I will speak to Boulder’s parents about his attitude.”

Spike nodded slowly, his face still stinging. He turned back to the cowering couple. “Her Majesty was here to stop me from doing anything rash today, but understand this: should your son come anywhere near my daughter again… not even the four divines will be able to stop me,” he sneered, ignoring Twilight’s scowl. “Do we have an understanding?”

After both parents nodded their terrified agreement, Spike extracted his head from the doorway, then took flight.

Twilight let out a deep sigh. “I apologize for my brother’s actions today. The Royal Treasury will reimburse you for any damage to the house, and someplace to stay tonight. Now, I would like to discuss your son’s poor behavior…”


Ж


Boulder galloped between trees and under dark boughs. The darkened woods loomed around him, horrid whispers and voices echoing in the night. Branches grasped at him, scraping painfully down his sides.

A red-scaled claw shot from the black skies above, grasping at him. Boulder darted from side to side, avoiding the razor-sharp digits as they tried to clinch him. He screamed as the sharp appendages finally caught him, pinching sharply in his side, almost breaking the skin.

“Yo, Garble, you gonna cook that or what? I’m starved.”

“Shut up!” the red dragon snarled at his compatriate. “Stupid marshmallow kept rolling away.”

The red dragon lifted the screaming foal in front of his snout, and asked his friend, “How toasty do you want this one?”

Boulder looked on in horror as the gaping maw opened, and the sight of fire slowly roiling its way out of the dragon’s gullet engulfed his vision.


Ж


Twilight stumbled into the dining room just before midnight. Luna sat in an overstuffed chair with a confectionary bag in hoof.

“You know you shouldn’t be eating those too close to bedtime,” Twilight chided the older alicorn as she gave Luna a nuzzle. “Sorry for dumping my court on you tonight.”

“‘Tis alright, Twilight. We did not have much work tonight, so it is no trouble.” Luna smiled at her friend, seeing her exhaustion. “How fare our Spike and little Cotton?”

“Cotton is fine, and Spike is sleeping outside the hospital tonight.” Twilight shook her head. “Not that I blame him.”

“Nay, We heard what transpired with the school-yard bully; Spike sent Tia a very verbose letter while he was waiting for thy return.” Luna let out a slight chuckle.

“His parents were terrified; it took me an hour to calm them down.”

Luna put a gentle hoof on Twilight’s back, gently massaging the tension point between the wings; Twilight groaned in appreciation. Luna levitated the confectionary bag in front of Twilight.

“Marshmallow?”
> Chapter Nine - Riding the Purple Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike smirked as he watched his daughter walking listlessly through the castle gardens. The juxtaposition of her scowl and the cute summer hat she wore looked, in his mind, adorable. She had been acting sullen for the past week, ever since her classmate, Aegis Ward, got his cutie mark.

“I’m going to be a blank-flank forever!” the filly whined, despite Spike’s reassurance that she wouldn’t. Brick, the one remaining bully in her class after Boulder was expelled, had told her she would always be a burnt-flank. Mrs. Withers had given the pegasus colt, in Cotton’s own words, ‘a million detentions’ for his remark.

Cotton felt glad the bully received his just desserts, but Spike knew the school’s administration feared another visit from an angry dragon, and doled out the punishment accordingly. Not to mention the potential loss of government funds and the ire of three Princesses.

Cotton kicked a pebble along the flagstone path as they walked towards their favorite picnic spot. They had made the picnic basket together, since they both shared a passion for cooking. Spike had found that Cotton loved to cook, especially for others such as the other foals in the orphanage. While the things she made were simple—oatmeal cookies, daisy sandwiches, and so on—she always wore a smile as she did so.

Spike twitched, desperately trying to hide his grin. Hopefully what he and the others had planned would cheer the filly up. Rounding the corner to their favorite spot, Cotton stopped dead in her tracks.

“Huzzah! Thou hast made it!”

Cotton turned back to her dad, eyebrows raised as if to ask why her nocturnal auntie, along with her supposed-to-be-busy-with-court-and-other-princess-duties aunties, waited for them in the castle garden. Her nocturnal auntie in particular wore a manic grin, levitating a carry bag and Spike’s saddle.

“Sir Spike, how We have longed to get thee into this harness.”

“Phrasing!” Twilight said, her face growing pale as her ears flattened in an effort to block out the sound and accompanying thought.

“What?” Luna asked, turning to the younger princess with a look of confusion on her face. “We are just saying We have been looking forward to strapping this harness on thy little brother and riding him.”

“Phrasing!” Twilight shouted, covering her ears with her wingtips, while Celestia sniggered.

“What’s going on?” Cotton asked, thoroughly confused. Luna helped Spike into his travelling harness. The look of excitement on her face was somewhat unnerving to the diminutive filly, and the look of horror on Twilight’s face did not inspire confidence either.

“We’ve all organized something very special for you today; your father and auntie are taking you somewhere fun,” Celestia explained, leaning down to give the confused filly a nuzzle.

“No, Luna, my wing goes through there, not my head!” Spike shouted, as Celestia tittered some more. After a sudden yelp and some furious blushing, Spike screamed, “Twilight! Tell your friend that that does not need harnessing.”

“Excuse me for a moment, I have a diplomatic issue to diffuse before it gets out of hoof—before your father flambés a princess or my sister declares night eternal again.” Celestia left Cotton’s side for a moment, and helped the arguing pair correctly attach the dragon’s harness. Cotton sat next to Twilight, who still protected her own ears from anything else the embarrassing pair might say.

After a few minutes of struggling, the harness was attached, and Twilight helped Cotton into her seat, whilst Luna bounced on her haunches, having strapped herself in the second she was allowed. Celestia levitated the picnic basket to her sister, while Luna levitated her tiara and torc down to the Solar Princess.

“W-where are we going?” Cotton asked.

Spike craned his neck around to face his daughter. “Horseshoe Park, Equestria’s best theme park!”

Twilight and Celestia watched on as Spike beat his powerful wings, guards joining his flight as they took to the sky. The remaining alicorn princesses burst out laughing as the morning air was pierced by a particularly non-regal squeal.

“Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”


Ж


Spike landed in a grassy clearing beside a large pool, complete with its own beach area for foals. Two pegasus guards stood sentinel next to the dragon as Princess Luna and Cotton disembarked. The third guard returned from the gate with six tickets as Spike managed to get out of his harness, passing it to one of the guards.

Luna levitated Cotton onto her back, ready to make a run for the nearest attraction, when Spike grabbed her tail. The look of scandal across the faces of the park patrons gathered around was priceless, seeing one of their princesses stallion-handled by a dragon; the royal guards made no move to intercept, instead focusing on not laughing.

“Luna!” Spike growled. “Not so fast. We need to stay together, and Cotton needs to put on sunscreen first.” He reached into the bag Luna had unceremoniously dumped on the ground and pulled out a relatively large bottle of sunscreen. Cotton slid off Luna’s back, grumbling as she trotted towards her father. He squeezed a few drops on her hoof. “Make sure you cover your legs and belly; I’ll get your back and wings.”

Spike carefully propped himself up on his rear legs, leaning forward and balancing with his wings flared out, inadvertently providing shade for a dozen nearby patrons. He gently rubbed the cream over her coat and scars, making sure to be gentle as he rubbed extra sunscreen into the exposed tissue.

“Now, no swimming for at least fifteen minutes; you have to let the sunscreen soak in.”

“Yes, Dad,” Cotton answered, rolling her eyes. “Can we go now?”

“Almost ready.” Spike squirted a large dollop of sunscreen on his claws, then gently rubbed the cream over Cotton’s face, delicately holding her jaw in his claw as she tried to wiggle free. “You don’t want your face to get burnt, else we won’t be able to tell your muzzle from your mane.” Spike chuckled as Cotton Candy shook her head, sticking her tongue out and spitting. He turned to Luna, offering her the bottle. “You want this next? You don’t spend a lot of time in your sister’s sun, after all.”

“We are an alicorn, Sir Spike. We do not need such mundane protections,” Luna huffed, levitating Cotton onto her back. “Now, may we enjoy this day?”

Spike shook his head as a smirk crossed his face. It was clear that Luna could barely contain her excitement. “Sure, let’s go see what’s here.”


Ж


Spike beamed as he watched his daughter squeal on the rollercoaster. The royal guard sitting next to her, sans uniform, appeared less excited.

“How dare they!” Luna groused, not for the first time. “We are the pinnacle of alicorn beauty, not some fat sow.”

“You’re not fat,” Spike responded, diplomatically. “The parks just don’t get many alicorn visitors, and as such aren’t prepared to accommodate a pony of your stature.” He paused for a moment, then added, somewhat less diplomatically, “Though you could stand to lay off the cheesecakes, I guess.”

A solid punch in his shoulder told him Luna did not appreciate his joke.

“And We had to wait in line for sooooooooooooo loooooooooooooooong.”

“Well, that’s not their fault,” Spike answered, only half paying attention to the whining princess. “Just about everypony did offer to let you and Cotton ahead of them.”

“Our sister has… dissuaded Us… from using ‘Royal Cutsies’ in the past.” Luna sighed. “We never did get any donuts from Pony Joe’s going-out-of-business sale.”

“At least you can go on some of the rides with her,” Spike sighed in weary resignation. “All I can do is watch.”

Luna placed a hoof gently on his shoulder, nodding her understanding. “You’re here with her, and that means the world to her. Do not forget that, Spike.”

They both turned back, adorning their faces with smiles as the roller coaster came to a stop.

“Did you see it, Auntie Luna?” Cotton bounded past the exit, a nauseous-looking pegasus guard following her. “It went soooooooooo high, and then it was like whooooooooooooosh!” Cotton flared her wings, lifting herself off the ground then diving forward and landing on her hooves for effect. “It was so cool!”

“Why don’t we have some lunch,” Luna asked, levitating the filly onto Spike’s neck, “then go for a swim? Does that sound fun?”


Ж


After a packed lunch of daisy sandwiches, some ice cream surreptitiously purchased by Luna, and an appropriate amount of time waiting for food to settle before they could go swimming (something the Princess and the filly shared equal disdain for), Luna took Cotton to the changing rooms.

Luna helped Cotton into her swimsuit first, tut-tutting over the garment Cotton pulled from the tote they brought. Luna hurried Cotton out of the changing rooms so she could don her own swimsuit. Cotton bounced out of the changing room, trotting towards the dragon.

“Dad! Dad! Look at what Auntie Tia packed for—”

Spike looked his daughter over; the swimsuit, if it could be called that, was barely held together by string ties around her flanks. He had but one response.

“No.”

“No what?” Cotton asked in confusion.

Spike pulled at his snout with a claw, groaning into his palm in frustration. He would have to have a very serious conversation with Celestia over the age-appropriateness of the clothing she bought Cotton. “I know full well Auntie Twilight packed a sensible one-piece swimsuit for you.”

“Awwww, but Daaaaaaaaad.” The filly stomped her hooves. “That one is so dorky.”

Spike did not hear the rest of Cotton’s argument. Luna had finally exited the changing room, and drew the attention of everypony in the vicinity. She cantered toward them with a smile plastered across her face, completely unaware of the stares everypony gave her.

“Luna…” Spike stumbled in his thoughts, trying to find words that wouldn’t get him banished to the moon for the next thousand years. “Luna… what in Tartarus is that?”

Luna stopped and looked down at her swimsuit. “Why, these are Our swimming clothes.”

Cotton burst out laughing, but stopped quickly when Luna glared at her. The filly scooted closer to her dad, hiding away from her angry aunt. “And what, pray tell, is wrong with Our swimming clothes?” She looked at her smart swimmers; they covered her back and legs nicely, the bonnet would keep her mane from getting wet, and the skirt ballooned just perfectly as to cover her haunches.

Spike smirked. “They’re a little… dated.” He waved a claw around, gesturing to the other patrons of the park, who had ceased their staring and resumed what they were doing, embarrassed to have been caught gawking at one of their Princesses.

“Tia told Us these were in fashion again…” A scowl crossed her features. “Tia! Oh, We will get thee for this, Sister. Hot sauce in thy next cake, yes…”

Spike chuckled. “Luna, I believe Twilight packed you one of her swimsuits, in case you didn’t have one. Why don’t you go put that on? And take my daughter…” He ignored the ‘awwww’ from underneath his wing. “…and help her change into her other swimsuit.”

Luna took Cotton back into the changing room, and the filly emerged a few minutes later, wearing a far more sensible navy blue one-piece. She sat next to her father, waiting for Luna to join them.

“We are not wearing this!” Luna’s voice boomed from inside the changing room.

“I know it’s not what you’re used to, Luna, but trust me, it’s okay.”

“It is most certainly not okay,” Luna hissed, poking her head out. She levitated the alicorn-sized navy-blue one-piece to Spike, who gripped it in his claw.

“What exactly is wrong with it?” Spike inspected the suit, which looked fine.

“Look at the base,” Luna whispered, looking away from the dragon in embarrassment. “Above the tail,” she coughed.

Spike turned it over, and noticed what Luna was protesting. A very small, obviously recently-made change to the swimsuit was the addition of the words ‘Property of Princess Twilight Sparkle’ embroidered in silver thread, just above the dock. The dragon had to bite his cheek.

“Hot sauce for both their cakes. For two weeks!” Luna grumbled.

“Pass me your other swimsuit,” Spike sighed with a smile. “If fifty plus years with Rarity taught me anything, it’s how to get out of a fashion emergency.”

Spike used his sharp claws to delicately snip away the frills and long sleeves of Luna’s ancient swimsuit, and modernize it a little. Or at least garner the embarrassed princess less stares.

Luna gratefully took the swimsuit back, and exited moments later in something that might pass for something originating in this century.

One of the guards stayed with their possessions, while Luna, Spike, and Cotton walked towards the pool. Spike walked out into the deep end; with his height, the water barely passed his shoulders. He laid down in the cool water, and waded towards the faux-shore, where Luna and Cotton were playing.

After watching Cotton climb on Spike several times and dive off a raised wing or his tail, other foals ventured toward the dragon, quickly joining in on the fun of jumping off a dragon twelve times their size. Spike smiled as Cotton was invited to play with some of the other fillies in the pool; it warmed his heart to see her out of her shell.

Luna waded next to Spike, watching the fillies at play. “‘Tis good to see her alight with happiness again,” she chuckled.

“Yeah, I’m glad she’s having fun today,” Spike replied, near oblivious to the colts still competing for the biggest splash as they dove off his tail. “It’s been really hard seeing her so depressed the last week.”


Ж


Spike watched Luna and Cotton as they continued through to the evening. He was disappointed that Celestia and Twilight couldn’t be there with them as well; it was rare that they got to have family outings, let alone anything like this. It had been sixteen years since Luna had taken a break like she had today, and Celestia even longer.

There were times he wished they were a normal family, without the duties of royalty to burden them… but then, they would not be family if not for those royal ties. He might never have known Twilight, and without Twilight, he probably never would have met Luna. He never would have met the girls from Ponyville. He would never have met his wife. Though if he was honest about it, were it not for Twilight, he might not have even been born.

If it weren't for her royal longevity, he might‘ve had to say goodbye to his big sister, just as he’d said goodbye to so many friends in the past. And he knew there would be more to come, but he could take comfort in knowing he had his family.

“Dad! Dad!” Cotton broke him from his reverie. “Can Auntie Luna take me into the haunted castle? She said I had to ask you.”

Spike looked up at Luna, surprised at her restraint. Normally, she would’ve taken Cotton without even asking him. The Princesses certainly did a lot for Cotton without consulting him first.

Mental note: talk to Celestia about Cotton’s swimwear.

Spike looked to his daughter, the expectant look on her face, and sighed. “Okay, so long as Auntie Luna understands she’s on dream patrol tonight.” He gave the nocturnal princess a look. “I don’t want my filly waking up with nightmares tonight, got it?”


Ж


“We are very disappointed with this ‘haunted castle’; there are no trap doors. Nothing like Our old castle in the Everfree.” Luna tromped through the corridors of the castle, scoffing at the supposedly ‘scary’ creatures popping up around each corner. Every room had a different theme: a dark forest, a spooky swamp, an abandoned opera house… She could not understand how anypony could find these dressed-up poniquins and wooden cut-outs frightening.

“We have bested the beasts of Tartarus, fought the Spirit of Chaos…” Luna whispered, as she poked one of the poniquins, supposedly a ghostly pony. “We just do not understand.”

Cotton had no such problem understanding, squealing at every spook, then giggling furiously afterwards.

As they rounded the corner, they entered a room that finally met with Luna’s approval.

“Our old throne room?” Luna walked the worn carpet towards the dual throne. “They have done a splendid job, though I do not recall Tia’s throne being higher than Ours.”

Cotton squealed as the lights went out, dropping the throne room into pitch darkness. Luna felt the filly grab onto her leg, so she levitated Cotton onto her back. “Fear not, little one. There is nothing to be afraid of in he—”

A booming voice rebounded throughout the room as an icy wind blew down her spine. Lightning crashed outside the windows, revealing a silhouette standing at the dais.

“There can only be one Princess in Equestria! And that Princess will be…”

A pitch-black poniquin swooped from the dais towards the pair, fangs bared, her ethereal mane flowing behind her.

“Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”


Ж


“Do you know how many ponies could’ve been hurt?” Spike chastised the embarrassed Princess. “You’re lucky the park owner thought it was his fault.”

He shook his head, looking back at the remains of the eastern side of the haunted castle, still smoking as the molten stone cooled.

“It was so cool!” Cotton gushed, unaware of the gravity of what had transpired. “Nightmare Moon swooped down and was going to get us, and even though she was scared and screaming, Auntie Luna still blasted Nightmare Moon!”

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle; the rumblings of his chest vibrating through to the seats Luna and Cotton were strapped into. “Cotton, when we get home, make sure you share that story with your other aunties.”

“Cotton, We will give thee a boon of as many candies as thou wish…eth,” Luna whispered, covering her mouth with a hoof, “if thou wouldst not share thy tale with Our sister and Twilight.”

“No bribing my daughter!” Spike called back. “Besides, if Celestia is going to end up paying for it, I’m sure she’ll want to know why. She would likely be pleased having an eye-witness report!”

“We wonder if hot sauce affects dragons?” Luna muttered under her breath, with Cotton giggling beside her.


Ж


It was late afternoon when Spike, Cotton, and Luna returned to the castle. Luna excused herself; she had… things she had to attend to before dinner. Spike led Cotton towards their quarters, the filly bouncing with excitement.

“So what do you want to do until dinner time?” Spike asked his daughter. “Do you want to read a book, or play in the gardens?”

Cotton stopped and sat on her haunches, thinking. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She’d had so much fun during the day with her dad and aunt, she couldn’t think of anything that could top it. She was really happy that her dad and her aunties had planned something so nice for…

“D-Dad? Could we maybe cook something?”

Spike stopped, turning to look at his daughter.

“I-I just wanted to do something nice for everypony, to say thanks for today.”

“Sure, let’s go make something.” Spike lifted his daughter onto his neck, and carried her to their kitchen.


Ж


Spike lit the oven, the wooden fire burning with his unique green-hued flame.

“Dad, can you reach that book?” Cotton pointed a hoof towards the shelf of recipe books.

“This one?” he asked, a claw pointing to a book on desserts; it was her favorite recipe book, after all. After she nodded and turned to get ingredients out, Spike grabbed the book and placed it on the table.

Cotton flipped through the book, turning each page awkwardly with her muzzle. She flipped through it several times until she settled on a recipe. She carefully measured out two cups of sugar and put them in a mixing bowl, along with two and a half sticks of butter.

“Can you beat this, Dad?” Cotton asked, already moving on to the next step.

“Like Apple Bloom does Discord!” He waved off Cotton’s confused expression, grabbing the bowl in one claw and the beater in the other. It made him laugh that where once, he was the primary cook for Twilight and himself, only relegating the jobs that he couldn’t do (or she couldn’t mess up), that he was now in the same position with his daughter. She took charge in the kitchen, always working with a smile on her face, often poking her tongue out in concentration.

Once the butter and sugar turned into cream, he placed the mixing bowl back onto the table. Cotton held an egg between her hooves, deftly cracking it into the bowl.

“What next, Boss?”

“Can you hold the sifter?” Cotton responded, so far into ‘the zone’ that she didn’t even register what her father had called her.

With Spike holding the sifter over the bowl, Cotton measured out the plain flour, then the rice flour. She kneaded the flour and the butter-cream together with her hooves. Spike winced, knowing he’d have to help her clean the muck out of her coat later; she already had substantial amounts of flour on her face.

“Dad, can you butter two baking trays?”

Spike did as told, chuckling to himself at how commanding Cotton was. As he rubbed the warm butter on the baking trays, he watched his daughter as she worked. She hummed a jaunty little tune, one he thought he recognized from a puppet show they saw during the day.

Spike placed the trays back on the table next to her, and let her continue. Cotton didn’t really need him there, but he enjoyed seeing his daughter expressing such passion in her work. His eyelids drooped, and after a while he fell into a light doze. He had flown all the way to Baltimare and back in one day, after all.

Cotton dusted the tabletop with flour and pulled the well-kneaded dough out of the bowl. She rolled the dough, cutting out hoof-sized disks. After placing them on the trays and sliding the trays into the oven, Cotton looked around; she had made a bit of a mess.

She crossed over to the sink, deciding to try and at least clean off the dough that had matted the hair on her fetlocks. She was going to ask her dad for help, but when she found him asleep, Cotton decided against waking him. She managed to get most of the dough off, but realized she would have to wait until bathtime to get really clean.

While she waited for the cookies to bake, Cotton prepared the ingredients for the icing. She awkwardly beat the butter and sugar, refusing to wake her dad from his slumber. It took much longer, having to use her mouth to hold the beater, but it gave her something to do while the cookies baked. She poured out portions of icing into five mixing bowls, coloring each one with a different dye.

Cotton tipped each of the colored icings into their own piping bags, arranging them on the bench so she didn’t forget which color was inside each one. She wanted to say thanks to everypony, and it was important that she get everything right.


Ж


Spike awoke to the sound of a clattering tray.

“Owww, hoth hoth hoth,” Cotton hissed, fanning her tongue with a hoof as she dropped the dirty tray into the sink.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” Spike asked, blinking his eyes. “Sorry, Cotton. Daddy didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I’m okay, Daddy,” Cotton reassured him. “I was going to wash it; I didn’t think the tray was still hot. I’m just about done.”

Spike lifted himself to his feet and looked down at a plate of cookies. Twelve cookies, each with their own decorations; four smiling yellow suns on white icing, four smiling white moons on dark blue icing, and four pink smiling stars on lavender icing.

“Oh, Cotton. They look wonderful!” It didn’t matter to Spike how crudely drawn they were; the effort she put into them was obvious. Despite the kindness of the gesture, a dark thought crossed Spike’s mind.

Twelve cookies, three cutie marks. Nothing about her father.

He shook his head, trying to dislodge the thought. I’m her father, he reasoned, she didn’t have to do anything special for me. Besides, I’m not a pony—I don’t have a cutie mark. What would she draw? “Should we take these to your aunties, Cotton?” Spike asked, before his thoughts could get the better of him. “I’m sure they’ll love them.”

Oblivious to the conflict warring inside her father’s head, Cotton dashed back to the oven, calling back, “Not yet, there’s still one more batch in the oven.” She grabbed the tray tongs in her mouth, and pulled the last tray out of the oven, tipping the cookies onto a second plate.

Spike looked down at the second plate of cookies. Twelve butter cookies, each dotted with chunks of green topaz and amethyst gems.

Cotton stared at her hooves. “E-even though we didn’t get to go on any rides together, I had a really good time.” Cotton walked around the table, and placed a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Thank you for today, Dad.”

Cotton yelped as Spike pulled his daughter into a tight hug; neither daughter nor dragon noticed the silver flash.


Ж


“It stiiiiiiiings,” Luna moaned, as she sat at the dining room table.

“Why didn’t you put on any sunscreen?” Celestia asked with a chuckle.

“W-We did not think We needed to,” Luna replied.

“Luna, you spend most days sleeping,” Twilight lectured the nocturnal alicorn. “Your skin would be extra sensitive towards the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Don’t worry, I’ll rub some aloe cream on my princess later, that should help with the stinging—”

“Auntie Princesses! Auntie Princesses!” Cotton Candy burst through the doors to the dining hall, her father following closely behind, carrying two plates and a cheerful smile.

“Cotton, it’s not ‘Auntie Princesses’, the correct pluralization would be—” Luna gleefully jammed her entire hoof into Twilight’s mouth, silencing the impending lecture, while Celestia chuckled at the pair.

“What is it, Cotton?” Luna smirked, watching as Spike set the plates down on the table.

Cotton twisted to the side, showing off the image of a plate of cookies adorning her flank. “I got my cutie mark!”


End of Act One

> Chapter Ten - Party Time (Part One)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton Candy scrambled about, trying to make everything perfect. As Pecan Pie busily added her own special flair to the decorations, Allegrezza hung the stage lighting, while Largo set up his sound system.

Spike stood sentinel over the food spread on the service table, ever since he’d overheard his grand-nephew mention how “bitchin’ it would be” if somepony put a little rum in the punch. 

In less than five hours the small team had transformed the community hall into what would be, in Pecan’s words, the best birthday party ever!

Cotton had originally been disappointed; many of the girls at her new high school were only interested in attending the birthday party when they believed it would be hosted at the castle. When the invites went out, she only received a few affirmative RSVPs. Cotton tried not to let it get her down; she wanted to enjoy her sweet-sixteenth. The small, giggling pony next to her—making faces any time Cotton frowned—certainly helped keep her spirits buoyed.

“Pweecam!” Cotton attempted to speak as the little filly squished her cheeks. “Pwease swop zat!”

“Nopey dopey!” Pecan Pie snorted as she squeezed Cotton’s cheeks. “It’s your birthday, and Auntie Pecan says, ‘No frowns allowed’!”

“I’m woo yeaws owder wan woo!” Cotton muttered, trying to escape the filly’s vice-like grip. “Wet we gow!”

“Only if you smile!” Pecan giggled, before stretching forward and licking Cotton on the nose.

“Ahhh!” Cotton screamed. Pecan finally let go and bounced off, giggling as she fled. Cotton smirked as she yelled, “Oh, I’m so going to get you for that, you little brat!”

Spike watched with amusement as Cotton took to the air and chased Pecan around the room. Both fillies laughed as they pelted each other with rolls of streamers.

Pecan Pie giggled as Cotton Candy pinned her to the ground. “Now I got you!” Cotton leaned over the filly, extending her own slobbery tongue. Revenge is a dish best served… moist? Cotton noted with some confusion, that despite the exorbitant amount of sugar consumed by the little earth pony, she had a distinctly ‘woody’ taste.

Pecan stood next to the pegasus with a confused look on her face. “Cotton, why are you licking the floor?”

“Ahhhh!” Cotton screamed again. “How did you—I was just—” Cotton’s eyes went wide in horror. “Oh gross, I licked the floor!”

Spike lumbered across the floor with a relatively tiny glass of punch. “Here you go, sweetie,” he said as he handed the glass to his daughter. “She’s a Pie; don’t ask, don’t question. Too much of her grandmother in that one!” he laughed.

Pecan had already exited the scene, rearranging the fallout from their streamer war in some fashion that made sense only to the pint-sized party pony.

“Lights and sound all good to go,” Allegrezza said as she sat next to Cotton. “Sorry I can’t stay; I have to get back to the dorm. Largo should have everything covered.” Allegrezza wrapped a foreleg around Cotton. “You have a happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Allie.” Cotton wrapped Allegrezza in a wing-hug. “Good luck with your finals.”

“Hey,” Allegrezza chuckled, lifting her chin in mock haute fashion, “I’m a Belle! I don’t need luck; music is in my veins.”

Cotton laughed as she let go of the hug. “Well, good luck anyway.”

“Thanks. See ya, Cotton. Bye, Uncle Spike!” Allegrezza waved as she left.


Ж


Cotton was glad to see her old elementary school friends again; she had kept in contact with them mostly through letters. To her surprise, Crimson Star escorted Tesla Coil to the party, hoof-in-hoof. 

Sugar Sprinkles hadn’t changed from the bubbly little filly Cotton knew. Cotton noted that the already puffy filly had rounded out a bit more with age. It made her all the more cuddly to hug, something Cotton did at every opportunity.

Aegis Ward and Starry Knight walked in with a kind of swagger, and immediately laid eyes upon Cotton’s new friends. They probably would have made a move, too, had it not been for the stern look from one of the griffon tiercels from Cotton’s high school.

“Tesla! Wow, I can’t believe it.” Cotton turned to Crimson. “And you didn’t think to mention this in any of the letters you’ve sent me? Hmmm?” Crimson blushed, pawing at the floor, while Tesla laughed. “So, how long has this been going on?” Cotton winked at the blushing colt.

“Since the beginning of time!” Starry replied, smirking at his friends.

Tesla frowned at Starry, ignoring the brohoof he and Aegis shared, as well as Crimson punching him in the shoulder. “I guess you could say a while,” Tesla answered, “but we’ve only officially been going out for a few weeks.” She released Crimson’s hoof and pulled Cotton into a hug. “It’s been so long! I’ve really missed you!”

“Too busy with these Upper Canterlot bigwigs for us, eh?” Aegis chuckled. “Happy birthday, Cotton.”

Cotton giggled. Despite the years since the entire gang had gathered, it felt like they’d seen each other only yesterday. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Cotton led the group across the dance floor to her other friends. “Everyone, these are my friends from Central Canterlot Elementary—this is Aegis Ward and Starry Knight,” Cotton said, beginning the introductions. “And this is Tesla Coil, Crimson Star, and Sugar Sprinkles.”

“You wear colors?” the griffon asked, turning to Crimson. “Who do you run with?”

Tesla laughed as Crimson brushed a hoof against the old blue bandana on his upper foreleg. “Oh, umm, I don’t run with anypony. I just wear this as a reminder.” When the griffon cocked a brow at him, Crimson just said, “Long story.”

Cotton punched the griffon in the shoulder. “I told you, just because there are a few rough ponies downtown doesn’t mean everyone runs in a gang.” She turned to her old friends, as the three mares chuckled at the griffon’s expense. 

“Tell that to Boulder and his gang,” Aegis quipped.

“Eh, he doesn’t count,” Crimson argued. “And Brick didn’t turn out too bad.”

“This flock of feathers is Steadclaw,” Cotton laughed, putting a hoof around the flushed griffon’s neck. She then pulled a red-coated pegasus with an orange mane and a white-coated unicorn with a two-toned blue mane into a sidelong hug. “And these are my main girls, Flarechaser and Harmony Wishes.”

Flarechaser started, “Daisy wanted to come, but—”

“Yeah, I know, she told me,” Cotton cut her off. “Family gathering she’s not allowed to miss. Must be an Earth pony thing. Speaking of which, the excited blur is my little cousin Pecan.”

Starry began, “How is she your—”

“Yeah!” a voice bellowed across the hall, cutting off Starry’s question. “The party has arrived!”

Cotton turned just in time to see Holly and Gala burst through the door. She cantered across the floor to meet them. Wearing tinted sunglasses, the two Apples had their manes styled outrageously, spiked with too much hair gel. Cotton laughed at the way the two looked; if only their grandmother could see them right now!

“Heya, cuz!” Holly grappled Cotton in a headlock. “Long time no see!”

“‘Cuz’?” Aegis asked, as he and Starry gravitated towards the new arrivals. Cotton rolled her eyes.

“Honorary cousins? Step-cousins?” Cotton puffed out her cheeks, annoyed at Aegis’s question. “Shut up, it’s complicated! Anyway, these are some of my other cousins, Holly and Gala.”

“Cotton’s an honorary Apple, to the kiz-ore!” Holly said, giving Cotton a soft noogie.

A blur, a rush of wind, and a buzzing sound, somewhat resembling a ‘Hi Holly hi Gala’ rushed past them, and the two of them looked down to find themselves holding a cup of punch each.

“I see someone let Pecan get into the sugar already,” Gala laughed. “Well, down the hatch!” In one fell swoop, she gulped down her punch.

Cotton put a hoof to her face as she giggled, suppressing a snort. “And of course, my cousin Largo is up on the stage, doing the music for us tonight.”

“Speakin’ of, yo, Largo!” Holly called out. “When you gonna stop playing this horseapple music and put on somethin’ real?”


Ж


Aside from a few minor mishaps—Largo swore that old Sapphire Shores album was not his—the party was in full swing. Pecan set up a few of her grandmother’s signature games, with a few pranks thrown in. While Sugar Sprinkles successfully pinned the tail on the pony, Steadclaw slashed through a piñata that refused to break open, and got pelted with a burst of confetti—courtesy of the Pie family party cannon—when Pecan yelled at him for cheating. 

Holly and Gala alternated dancing with Aegis and each other. Harmony Wishes stepped in and out of dancing with Starry, who had also gotten his hooves on Flarechaser. They were in turn out on the dance floor with Crimson and Tesla, who refused to separate. Sugar Sprinkles attempted to dance with Steadclaw, but neither of them seemed completely engaged in it until Cotton joined them.

When Largo stepped off the stage for a drink, Spike poured him a glass of punch and stirred it with his talon. “Specially made for you, mister DJ,” Spike told him. When Largo cocked a brow, the dragon said, “That’s the closest to ‘spiked’ punch you’re going to get, bucko. You certainly aren’t putting any rum in there.”

Largo rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, Uncle Spike. That’s beneath you.”

“So is you looking for alcohol at your age. You know that if I ever catch you, your parents will be the first to know.”

Largo sighed in defeat. “Okay, okay. Can I at least have another glass? I don’t know where your claws have been.” Spike laughed and poured him another cup of punch, then Largo hopped back on stage and grabbed his microphone. “Alright, everypony. Time for a nice slow dance.”

Holly cried out, “Largo, you have got to be—”

“Naaaaaah, I’m just joshin’! Let’s rock this joint!” He pumped up the bass, letting an introductory drum beat lead into the next song. 

Pony Rock!

“Alright, my jam!” Steadclaw yelled.

Cotton stared at the griffon incredulously. “Seriously? You like LMBFO?”

“Yeah, so what? It’s an awesome song!” the griffon shouted over the music, pounding the hoof of a certain hyperactive filly, who’d made her way to the center of the dance floor.

“Yeah!” Pecan cried in time with the song. “This one never gets old!” Hopping off Steadclaw’s lion paws, she twirled in the air a few times before grabbing the disco ball she’d hung up previously. The mirrored ball went from slow and steady into overdrive, creating a swirling light show, and Pecan followed up with a high-pitched “WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

“You only like it ‘cause your grandma helped record it!” Cotton teased, looking around at the chaos before her, from her hyper cousin, to the supposedly stern tiercel, to the rest of her friends. She glanced over at her father, who just shrugged and waved a claw in the direction of the dance floor with a smile. 

Don’t ask, don’t question.

The words held a slightly different meaning, but they still applied. It was her sixteenth birthday, after all. She was allowed to enjoy herself. She kept to the beat on the dance floor with her friends and let herself loose. 

Over the noise, Cotton barely made out Harmony Wishes shouting to Flarechaser, “I can’t believe Daisy had to miss this!” 

“I know! All the fillies at school were stupid not to come! Who needs the castle? This place is hoppin’!” Flarechaser laughed and kept dancing. 

Cotton broke out into a grin. In the next instant, she saw Pecan leap from the disco ball to the stage and grab Largo’s microphone. 

“Every day we’re partyin’!” 

Cotton laughed and strayed over to Holly and Gala, still dancing with Aegis. Soon, all the party-goers found themselves in a circle around Steadclaw, who was in the middle of his starting run of a breakdance competition, while Largo kept the music going.

Spike stood in the corner, sipping on a bucket of punch with a smile on his face. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The party was in full swing, the guests were behaving themselves, and best of all, his daughter seemed to be enjoying herself. No lasting damage had been done to the community hall, at least nothing that a few bits from the royal reserves couldn’t cover. Overall, he was one satisfied chaperone.

Jump up, stomp down, everypony hit the ground!

Spike glanced over at the dance circle to catch the end of Cotton spinning around and pointing a hoof at Sugar Sprinkles, who took her place in the circle and bounded around a bit before pointing to somepony else.

“I’m thrilled that everypony’s having fun.” Spike looked down to his side to find Twilight hidden behind his wing, her horn glowing so they could keep the conversation without screaming. 

“Twilight! Checking in on me, huh? Think I can’t handle a few teenagers?” he chuckled.

“Not at all. I just wanted to see how Cotton was doing. She seemed a little down earlier today, but it looks like things have turned out quite nicely,” Twilight said with a smile.

“It certainly seems so. Why are you hiding back there? I’d bet some of them would love to meet you!”

“I don’t think that would be appropriate, do you? Wouldn’t it take the focus away from Cotton?” Twilight asked him.

“Well, she’d be the best pony to ask,” Spike answered. “You still know that telepathic communication spell, don’t you?”

“I try not to use it. It feels like I’m prying into somepony’s brain,” Twilight said.

“Well, it’s the only way I can think of to ask your niece about your presence at the moment.”

“Speaking of presents,” Twilight started, “I ought to—”

“Shhhh! Not now!”

Twilight deadpanned at him, “None of them can hear us, Spike.”

“I know, but it can wait until later,” he said. “The party is ending soon anyway. Do you want to ask Cotton if she wants to see you or not?”

“Alright. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you. One second,” Twilight responded. She stepped behind Spike and closed her eyes, lighting her horn further. Cotton, it’s Aunt Twilight. I’m standing in the back with your father. I stopped by to see how the party was going, and I’m thrilled to see you enjoying yourself. Your dad suggested I make myself known, but I don’t want to take away from your fun. I’m happy to leave if you wish—I can see that you have your father under control—but I would also be happy to meet your friends if you’d like. It’s your decision; simply stay with your friends if you’d like me to go. If you’d like to introduce me, go to the punch bowl, and I’ll meet you there. Twilight opened her eyes and turned back to Spike. “It’s up to her now.”

“Well,” Spike said with a smile, “Cotton’s ears perked up, she told Largo to cut the music, and she’s leading all her friends toward the serving table. Does that mean anything to you?”

Twilight smiled. “It seems introductions are in order.”


Ж


“Woah!”

“No way!”

“Oh, everyone at school is gonna be soooooooo pissed they didn’t come!”

Cotton and her friends gathered at the punch bowl as Twilight approached them. Each of them dropped into a bow, except for Steadclaw, who simply dipped his head slightly.

“Hey Featherhead, don’t be so disrespectful!” Flarechaser whispered, still bowing.

“It’s quite alright, my little pony. I know full well that griffon habit is to never lower defenses, even in the presence of royalty,” Twilight said. 

“Thank you for respecting our traditions, Your Highness,” Steadclaw replied, holding a claw across his chest and dipping his head once again. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

Flarechaser stared at him. “That’s the most formal language I’ve ever heard from you.”

“Hey,” Steadclaw answered, “just because some of our traditions seem informal doesn’t mean all of them are.”

Twilight chuckled. “Of course, I’ve never been fond of formalities anyway—” She looked over at Holly, Gala, Pecan, and Largo, who also bowed, with a cocked brow. “—and you four should know that, so please, all of you rise.”

“Everypony else was doing it,” Largo mumbled.

“If everypony jumped into Ghastly Go—actually, I shouldn’t say that. Knowing the four of you, you probably would,” Twilight said, shaking her head and eliciting laughs from her nieces and nephew.

“Oh yeah, totally would,” Holly replied. “Perfect for cliff diving.”

When Harmony Wishes and Flarechaser glanced over at Cotton with confused expressions, Cotton simply said, “All my cousins are nuts.”

Steadclaw cocked a brow. “Cousins? How?”

Cotton shook her head. Not again. “Don’t ask, loooooong story.”

“Those sound common in this crowd,” Steadclaw grumbled.

“They are. Sometimes it’s best to just take things at face value unless you’ve got time to kill,” Cotton replied. “Maybe you’ll hear ‘em another day. For now… Hey Largo, hop up on stage and let’s get Aunt Twilight on the dance floor!”

“Oh no-no-no,” Twilight stammered. “Cotton, you know I don’t—”

“Too late!” Cotton laughed as she flew up to Twilight and shoved her onto the dance floor with a wing, just as Largo turned the music back on with a hard dubstep. The rest of the teens surrounded her in a circle, all wearing grins. 

Twilight let out a huff, then lit up her horn and glared at Spike. She is so your daughter, you know that? Spike put on a wide grin and just shrugged in response. Twilight rolled her eyes, then let herself smirk. She stood up on her hind legs and flared out her wings for balance, then swung her front hooves back and forth. The teens backed up to allow her some room, but all stared at Twilight with their mouths agape. When Largo looked over the top of his booth and saw his aunt making a fool of herself, everyone heard the scratch of the music being cut. Twilight looked at her audience for a split second before she said, “Hey, I tried to say I don’t dance. You should have seen the bipeds who tried to teach me!”

Sugar Sprinkles asked, “Minotaurs?”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s a story for another day. Have fun, kids!” She stepped back onto all fours and waved before she teleported out of the room.

Steadclaw let out a chuckle. “Wow. We’ve got some serious blackmail on your aunt, you realize that, right?” 

Cotton laughed. “Pfft, nah. Everypony knows Aunt Twilight’s dancing is about as good as your grandmother’s old scone recipe.”

“Hey!” Steadclaw squawked, “Those scones are—”

“She said her old recipe, Featherhead!” Flarechaser interrupted. 

“Oh… those. Yyyyeah, that sounds about right,” Steadclaw said with a shrug.

“Yeah, if you think I would smear my other aunt’s own recipe, you’re as crazy as she is,” Cotton added.

Steadclaw did a double-take. “What? You saying Aunt Pinkie Pie is your aunt, too?”

Pecan chimed in, “And my granny!”

Cotton snickered. “I got adopted into a biiiiiiiiiiiig family!”

“Wait, how is she your aunt?” Flarechaser asked Steadclaw.

“It’s a term of endearment,” he answered. “She’s not actually my aunt, but she got to know my granny enough that we started calling her one.” 

“Sounds like there’re some long stories in your history, too, dude,” Crimson laughed. 

“Still not as crazy as yours, I bet,” Tesla said, nuzzling under Crimson’s chin. Crimson put a hoof around her back and nuzzled her in return.

“Oh, get a room!” Aegis said, hoof-bumping Starry.

“I think that’s going to be my cue,” Spike said as he made his way over to the circle of teens.

“Daaaaad!” Cotton whined. “You’re not gonna be like that, are you? They’re just—”

“Oh no, not them. That’s my cue,” Spike replied, pointing at the wall. The clock’s minute hand struck twelve, followed by a bell chime.

“Ten already?” Cotton slumped to her haunches. “Geez, that whizzed by!”

“That it did. The Community Hall is closing up, so we need to as well,” Spike said. He leaned down to Cotton’s ear and whispered, “And we have another party to get to.”
> Chapter Eleven - Party Time (Part Two)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And then Aunt Twilight got up on her hind legs and started… I don’t even know what to call it!” Cotton laughed. 

Princess Celestia chuckled. “Ah yes, your Aunt Twilight’s dancing skills do leave something to be desired, and apparently the humans’ dancing doesn’t translate very well to pony bodies.”

“We believe all of Twilight’s dancing abilities have escaped her, if they ever existed at all,” Luna sniggered.

Twilight tossed a pillow in Luna’s direction. “Even if you’re right, if you’re going to make fun of me, at least speak like a normal pony!” 

“Art thou insulting Our dialect, Sparkle?” Luna asked, narrowing her eyes. “This shall not stand! Have at thee!” 

Spike held up a claw and kept Luna in her seat. “That’s enough. No fighting on my daughter’s birthday.”

Luna looked over the top of his claw with a cocked brow. “We only jest, Sir Spike.”

Spike let out a low growl. “You’re determined to get on everypony’s nerves, aren’t you?”

Luna smirked. “Mayhaps.”

Cotton laughed. “Dad, please don’t cause any trouble. We’re in your room—you’ll have to deal with any mess in here.”

“She’s well awa—I mean, I’m well aware of that,” Spike answered. “That’s why your cousin Flurry Heart declined her invitation. She knew Rutherford II would cause a ruckus if everything wasn’t perfect, and he has a bit of an attachment issue, so she couldn’t leave him behind.”

Twilight rested her cheek on a hoof. “I still don’t know what Flurry sees in that yak. He’s not as bad as his father, but he has so many of his own… quirks.”

Spike shrugged, then nudged Luna over onto her rump with a smirk. “Love is fickle, Twilight. Leave it to Cadance—her title, her daughter. Stick with friendship.” He turned back to Cotton with a smile. “Speaking of which, I’m thrilled you had so much fun with your friends tonight, sweetie. It seemed that everything turned out as well as you hoped.”

Cotton sighed with a smile of her own. “Yeah. I haven’t seen my elementary school pals in a while. Glad to see they haven’t really changed much. They’re just as friendly—and immature—as they were then.” She let out a laugh, then another content sigh.

“Something else on your mind, Cotton? Everything alright?” Celestia asked.

“More than alright. I overheard a couple of my high school friends on the dance floor,” she said. “They didn’t care that the party wasn’t here at the castle—they were happy just having fun. Good to know there really are at least a few ponies at school who aren’t just trying to get on my ‘royal’ good graces.”

Spike smiled. “That’s wonderful, Cotton. Based on some of the other things I overheard a few of them say, you might be in for some questions when you go back to school on Monday. Be prepared.”

“I’ll try,” Cotton said.

“We believe this is as good a time as any,” Luna interjected. “Let the present-ations begin!”

Cotton sat up. “Oh come on, everypony! I asked all of you not to get me gifts this year!”

“It’s your Sweet Sixteenth, Cotton. You won’t be getting away without something from us,” Celestia responded. Cotton tried to pout, but failed at keeping a smile off her face.

“Me first,” Twilight said, giving Cotton a wrapped, rectangular object that could most certainly not be identified. Cotton tore open the wrapping paper to find a book inside. It looked like a journal, but the pages were already filled. Cotton, confused, looked at Twilight, who provided an explanation. “This is the journal that my friends and I kept after I ascended to alicornhood. Now that you’re part of the family of the Elements of Harmony, I would suggest you read some of the excerpts in there so you can get a good idea of what your honorary aunts were like back in the day. I could explain some of it to you myself, but I think it would be best if you read their own words instead of hearing them from me. Don’t feel obligated to go through the whole thing, but I would at least read a few of Rarity’s entries. I marked them for you. It should give you an idea of what your… could-have-been mother was like—a very special and generous pony, just like you.” Twilight smiled and patted Cotton on the shoulder. “Happy birthday,” she added.

Cotton smiled, hugging the book to her chest with one hoof and Twilight with the other. “Thank you, Aunt Twilight. I’ll try to get some reading done in between my homework, but no guarantees.”

“Good enough for me,” Twilight said with a chuckle. “Homework comes first.”

“Let me go next,” Celestia said. Levitating a wrapped box forward, she set it at Cotton’s hooves. “Now, this isn’t your actual present, but it is a representation of it, should you wish to accept it.”

“Umm… okay,” Cotton said pensively, unwrapping the gift. Inside sat a polished, wooden box with Celestia’s mark of the sun, an ornate latch keeping it closed. Opening the box, Cotton found a set of golden shoes. “Whoa… Are these—”

“That is the first set of shoes I was given as part of my regalia when Luna and I were crowned. They likely are not your hoof size, so we would have you fitted for your own set,” Celestia explained.

“But Auntie Tia, only you princesses wear regalia like this! I’m not a princess,” Cotton said, her eyes growing wide.

“Perhaps not to the public, but you are to us,” Celestia replied with a warm smile, while Luna, Twilight, and Spike all nodded in agreement. Rising from her seat, Celestia walked toward Cotton. “When your Aunt Twilight was young, and first studying with me, she occasionally had frustrating days. When that happened, I would take off my shoes and allow her to walk around in them. Though she may have been a little clumsy doing so—” Celestia put a hoof to her muzzle and chuckled, while Twilight’s face flushed. “—it always raised her spirits.” 

“Yeah, I remember falling over more than once,” Twilight giggled, rubbing the back of her head, “but it always made me feel better.”

Celestia continued, “I understand you’ve had your ‘down days’, so perhaps it may work for you as well. If you would like to be fitted for your own set, I would be more than happy to arrange it. I know how humble you are, so I suspect you wouldn’t want to wear them in public, but around the castle, you could think of them as formal slippers.”

A smile appeared on Cotton’s face. “That… that sounds perfect, Auntie Tia.” Cotton said, throwing her hooves around Celestia’s neck. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. Happy birthday, Cotton. We’ll arrange to have you fitted; it won’t take long, but making the slippers might.”

“That’s fine,” Cotton said. Suddenly, the blood drained from her face. “Hold on a second, I just have to ask…” 

“Yes, Cotton?” Celestia replied.

“Are you… prepping me to become a princess?”

Celestia’s eyes widened. Taking a moment to find the right words, she eventually asked, “Would you want that kind of responsibility?”

“No offense, but no way,” Cotton answered. “I just bake! I couldn’t run a country!”

“Then you needn’t worry,” Celestia said. She and Cotton both let out sighs of relief.

“We are next!” Luna cried, hopping to her hooves and approaching Spike’s giant double-doors. After she walked out of the room, they all heard Luna say, “Bring it forth!”

Spike’s pupils dilated before he glanced at Celestia, who pursed her lips. He then looked over to Twilight, who waved him toward her. He leaned down to her and she whispered, “Just saying, I did try to warn you. She went a little over the top.”

“Exactly how over the top?” Spike responded.

“You’ll see. Knowing Cotton, I’m not sure if she’ll want to use it, but it’s up to her. I could be wrong.”

“Uh-oh…”

Cotton looked at her father with wide eyes, and he shrugged. She gasped when Luna returned with her present.

“Behold!” Luna cried, “Thy very own chariot!” Spike’s jaw dropped. “We are most pleased with the design. We hope thou art as well.”

Cotton got up and approached the large, golden-wheeled chariot, painted a brilliant persian blue to match her eyes, and emblazoned with her cutie mark on either side. “Oh my gosh…” Cotton said, inspecting it from top to bottom. “Aunt Luna, this… this is incredible! But… what would I use it for?”

“Why, transportation, of course! What else dost thou use a chariot for?” Luna asked.

Spike put his palm to his snout. “Luna, that’s not what she means. She almost never uses the regular chariots when we offer them to her! This one’s a customized deluxe!”

Cotton’s face flushed. “I… don’t really like the attention. It’s okay when I’m travelling with you, but by myself… not so much.”

Luna glared at Twilight. “Well, We heard that a chariot is a common gift for one’s sixteenth.”

Twilight smacked her face with a hoof. “In the other universe, Luna! It’s not the same! I told you that! We were just brainstorming! You weren’t supposed to take everything I said literally!”

Luna let out an exasperated sigh. “Hmm… well, We appear to have succeeded in offering yet another gift that shant be put to use until the future, if ever,” she grumbled.

Cotton approached Luna from behind and gave her a hug. “Don’t get me wrong, Aunt Luna. It’s amazing! I’m sure I’ll use it, just… not right now. It might be a little while before I can handle that kind of attention.”

Luna’s smile returned and she replied, “Very well. We shall have it kept in chariot storage until thou art ready. We hope that day will be soon. Happy birthday, Cotton.”

“Thanks, Aunt Luna.”

“That just leaves me,” Spike said with a smile. 

“I should have known,” Cotton laughed. “You wouldn’t let everypony else get me something and not do something yourself, huh?”

“Well, I am your father, after all,” Spike replied. He picked up a wrapped box from behind him and set it down in front of Cotton. “Actually, this is something that I had always intended to give you. I just had to wait until you were old enough. Be careful unwrapping it, okay?”

“Sure, Dad.” Cotton gently unwrapped the gift, and found an ornate golden box inside, with a symbol of three sparkling diamonds on top. Cotton put a hoof to her muzzle. “Dad, is this… a jewelry box?”

Spike nodded. “Indeed it is, a very special one. Take a closer look at the symbol on the lid. Do you recognize it from any of your schoolbooks?” 

Upon closer inspection, Cotton let out a gasp. “Lady Rarity’s cutie mark! You mean this belonged to—”

“My late wife. The pony who should have been your mother,” Spike finished. “It’s finally time for you to have this.”

Cotton furrowed her brows. “But Dad, I don’t have any real jewelry. Just a few cheap knockoffs from when I went shopping with the girls. There’s nothing I have of real value that I could put in here.”

Spike smiled. “Yes there is. It’s already in there.”

Cotton’s eyes widened, and her lips fell slack. She slowly opened the jewelry box; inside sat a golden necklace with a heart-shaped fire ruby embedded on the front. She gasped again. “I’ve seen this in pictures! Is this the necklace that—” Her breath hitched in her throat.

Spike nodded once again. “I gave Rarity that fire ruby when I was a young, little drake with an infatuation. She didn’t reciprocate my feelings then, but she was very gracious. She loved gems, but not as much as the gesture. She called it one of the kindest acts she had ever experienced. She embedded the ruby in that necklace, and it became her favorite. She eventually did return my love for her, and after we got married, she wore that necklace frequently, particularly to special occasions—likely ones that you’ve seen documented.” Spike let out a sniffle. “She kept that box in a very safe place, so it survived the fire. I’ve kept it hidden away ever since. There was no one else I could see wearing it—” He looked down at Cotton and smiled. “—until now.”

When Spike picked up the necklace and moved toward Cotton, she backed up a step. “Daddy, you mean—”

“Yes,” Spike answered simply. “Something so beautiful shouldn’t be hidden away.” He clasped the necklace around Cotton’s neck, and it fell on her chest like it belonged there. Spike brushed Cotton’s mane out of her eyes and added, “And the same goes for the pony who now wears it.”

Cotton blushed, looking into the mirror set in the jewelry box’s inner lid. Feeling the weight of the necklace, she looked down at the ruby, back into the mirror, then smiled up at her father. “Th-thank you, Daddy. I’m honored. As soon as there’s an occasion for me to—” Cotton suddenly took in a sharp breath. She felt a strange warmth course through her body. “Dad, is there some kind of magic in this necklace? I feel…” She stopped, looking in the mirror again, then let out a soft sigh.

Twilight caught the expression. “Feel what, Cotton?”

“I don’t know. Like… like there’s somepony else standing beside me. Holding me.”

Twilight looked up at Spike and smiled. Spike looked up at the ceiling before he said, “That’s probably Rarity saying hello. You’ll carry her with you whenever you wear that necklace. She did always say it was special.”  

Cotton’s mouth hung open for a minute before she finally took in a breath and responded, “You’re right. It feels like… like love.” She felt a tear well up in her eye. Looking up at her father, she saw the same happening to him.

Spike said, “I told you this when you first came into the family, Sweetheart, but you may have forgotten. The ponies that we love never leave us. They live on…” He leaned forward and smiled, then pointed at the ruby in the necklace. “…in our hearts.” Twilight, Celestia, and Luna all smiled and nodded. “The love you’re feeling isn’t from the necklace; it’s from inside you. All you needed was a little reminder. Your parents love you. We love you. And even though you never met her, Rarity loves you, too.”  

Cotton looked into the mirror once more at her reflection, the fire ruby sparkling upon her chest. A smile appeared on her muzzle as a tear dripped down her face. She lifted herself up and hugged Spike’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.” 

Spike held Cotton against him in a hug, then let her go before responding, “You’re very welcome, Sweetheart. Happy birthday.”

Cotton turned to the three princesses in the room and repeated, “Thank you, all of you. This is all so wonderful.” She gave all three of them a hug in turn, each of them wishing her a happy birthday once again. Turning back to the jewelry box, Cotton looked at her reflection once more before she unclasped the necklace and placed it back inside. “Let’s keep this safe. I don’t want anything happening to it.”

Spike smiled. “That’s my girl. I knew I could trust you with that.”

“Of course,” Cotton responded. With a yawn, she added, “Can I bring this and Aunt Twilight’s journal back to my room? I’ve got a good place for the box, and I’ll try to read a little bit before I go to sleep.”

“Absolutely, Honey,” Spike answered. “I’ll clean up. And yes, Tia, you can have some more cake.” Celestia clapped her hooves together and trotted off to a table on the far side of the room. Spike leaned forward, allowing Cotton to kiss him on the cheek before she walked out of his room with her gifts. After she left, he poked Luna and said, “You’re on duty tonight. Make it a good one.”

“Indeed, We shall,” Luna answered with a nod. “Should We induce sleep, or let her read first?”

“Let her fall asleep on her own. With everything that happened today, I’m sure it won’t take long. Besides, your induction spell isn’t exactly subtle,” Spike replied with a grin.

Luna shrugged. “Very well, We shall wait. Have thou any requests?” 

Spike scratched his chin. “Well, you know how to read her. Just make sure she feels loved. The look on her face when she wore that necklace was just as wonderful to see as it must have felt. Let’s help that continue through the night.”

Luna thought for a minute. “We have an idea, but We must request thy permission first, Spike.”

“What do you need my permission for?”

“Well,” Luna began, “so far as We have seen, Cotton has not learned the art of lucid dreaming, so she consistently believes her dreams to be true while asleep. We have occasionally seen faint figments of her parents in past dreams, and given the oration thou just delivered, We believe a visit from them would be a most welcome event. Art thou agreeable with Our doing so?”

Spike hesitated for only a moment. “If you think it’ll make her happy, go ahead.”

“Very good,” Luna said. “If it would appease thee, We also intended to project Lady Rarity to her.” 

Spike smiled. “Thanks, Luna. Just make sure she’s accurate, okay? I know it’s been a while, but I haven’t heard of you losing your touch with personalities you’re familiar with.”

“Of course, but We were not finished,” Luna said. “We intended to project all of us. A circle of family—past and present, lost and gained—perhaps all at the same time.”

“That… sounds perfect,” Spike said with a grin. 

“Excellent. The performance shall begin when she falls into slumber,” Luna said, before teleporting herself out of the room. 

Twilight approached Spike from under his wing. “So, did our party go as well as you hoped?”

Spike let out a content sigh. “Better. I don’t think I’ve seen her this happy since the day we went to Horseshoe Park a few years ago.” 

“Yes, I remember her excitement when you all returned home that day,” Celestia said, taking a bite of a piece of cake. She swallowed before continuing, “The journal was a wonderful idea, Twilight, and I believe she will look quite stunning in regalia shoes, don’t you?”

“We’ll have to see what style of shoes she prefers,” Twilight answered. “Couple those with Rarity’s necklace, and I think she would look like a princess, though she clearly doesn’t want to be one.” She looked over at Celestia. “You got reeeeeeally lucky there.”

“Believe me, I know,” Celestia responded. 

Spike chuckled. “Hey, my princess doesn’t need to be one. She’s perfect the way she is.”

“And we agree wholeheartedly,” Twilight replied. “Though Rarity’s necklace makes her look like royalty.”

“I second that,” Celestia said.

“Thank you, girls. I thought it was about time,” Spike said. “When she’s old enough to go to the Gala, she’s going to look splendid.”

“There’re still a couple years to go before then,” Twilight said. “One year at a time, Spike.”

“I know,” Spike answered. “I just love seeing that necklace around somepony’s neck again… Hey!” Spike scanned the room.

“Something the matter, Spike?” Celestia asked.

Spike crossed his arms as his mouth dropped into a flat line. “Yes. Your sister managed to slip out of here before I could ask her what was going through her head to make her think getting my daughter a chariot was a good idea.” Celestia and Twilight both chuckled. Turning to Twilight, he said, “And don’t give me any ‘I tried to tell yous.’ I know.”

“Fine, I won’t…” Twilight answered. After a moment, she smirked and said, “We didst attempt to inform thee!” 

Celestia spat out a mouthful of cake and laughed along with Twilight as Spike grumbled under his breath. “Alicorns…”
> Chapter Twelve - Rub It In
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What? No way!”

“Yep, in the flesh. Princess Twilight showed up at Cotton’s party,” Flarechaser said, shutting her locker. “Sucks that you were out of town, Daisy.”

“I knoooooooooow! Stupid family traditions,” Daisy Withers, a yellow-coated earth pony, grumbled. “It was her Sweet Sixteenth, too! I can’t believe I had to miss it!”

“Yeah, it was quite the bash, even in that community hall. Gotta admit, it was funny seeing Cotton’s dad huddled up in the back—he could barely fit in the place. But you know how Featherhead is. Only someone with bigger claws could keep him in check,” Flarechaser chuckled. “I bet he’d complain about it if he got half a chance.”

“Well,” Daisy replied, “there’s still fifteen minutes before the bell—think Cotton’ll be at her locker?”

“Nah, she’s probably already in History class. She and Steadclaw have it first period, and you know how important nerding it up is in her family,” Flarechaser replied.

“True dat—I’ll see if I can catch her. Catch ya later, Flare!” Daisy called as she cantered down the hall.

“See ya at lunch!” Flarechaser called back.


Ж


Just as Flare said, Daisy thought to herself with a smile as she entered the classroom. “Hey, Cotton!”

“Ey! Lackadaisy!” Cotton chuckled as her friend approached. “Whatcha doing in here? Don’t you have math first period?”

“Yeah, but I’ve got some time, and I wanted to nab you first,” Daisy answered. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come to your party, you know I—”

“Duh, I know you wanted to come. You said yes before you even talked to your family,” Cotton laughed. “How was the gathering, anyway?”

“It was fun, but probably not the blast your party was.”

“Oh?” Steadclaw turned around at his desk beside Cotton. “So which of the other two ‘Core Four’ told you?”

“Flare,” Daisy answered. “Haven’t seen Harmony yet. Geez, Steadclaw, you’re so lucky! You’ve gotta tell me about it at lunch!”

“I can arrange that,” Steadclaw said, as other ponies filed into the classroom.

“We’ll tell you about it later, just get your flank to class on time,” Cotton said, before she slapped a hoof to her forehead. “Sheesh, I think Aunt Twilight’s starting to rub off on me.”

Steadclaw laughed. “Probably when you pushed her onto the dance floor!”

Daisy whipped around. “You did what?”

Cotton shooed her out with a hoof. “Go to class! We’ll tell you at lunch!”

“Fine, fine! See you later!”

“Girls,” Steadclaw chuckled from his seat, “always want the latest scoop the second the opportunity strikes.”

Cotton giggled. “Yeah, we’re a chatty bunch. What can you do?”

“Keep my beak shut,” Steadclaw replied. “Knowing your friends, I bet you’ll be drowning in questions by the end of the day.”

Cotton leaned on her desk and laid her cheek on a hoof. “Blegh. Dad did tell me I should be prepared for that. Thanks.”

“No problem. I guess we’ll find out at lunch how much yapping your friends have—”

“Okay everyone, take your seats.” Their teacher reached the front of the room and tapped his hoof on his desk. The rest of the students scrambled to their own desks. “I have some exciting news!”

“You’re letting us out of class?” Steadclaw asked, eliciting laughter from the rest of the students.

“Nice try, Steadclaw, but no. And for that, you can come up to the front and pass these sheets around.”

Steadclaw groaned. “Yes, Mr. Turner.” He let out a huff and mumbled, “Me and my big fat beak.”

“So much for keeping it shut,” Cotton whispered to him as he got out of his chair. Steadclaw stuck his tongue out at her in response.

“Before you pass these around, Steadclaw, I have a surprise for you all.” Mr. Turner turned to Steadclaw for a moment. “Make another remark and you’ll regret it.” Steadclaw smiled, then pinched two of his talons together and slid them across his beak. Satisfied, the teacher turned to the rest of the class and announced, “I’ve decided to cancel the research paper I assigned to you last week.”

The classroom erupted with cries of thanks and appreciation, but Steadclaw narrowed his eyes. Letting out a squawk to quiet the class, he walked toward Mr. Turner and asked, “You’ve got another assignment for us, don’t you, Mr. T?”

Mr. Turner smiled. “You’re rather perceptive, for a class clown.” The class groaned in unison before he continued. “In honor of someone’s birthday…” Cotton covered her head with her hooves, her face flush. “…we’ve been granted access to certain information normally forbidden from public use.” Mr. Turner motioned for Steadclaw to pick up the stack of papers on his desk. As the griffon handed the sheets out, the teacher continued, “Sir Spike from the Canterlot Archives has provided me with a list of topics that have certain details we normally wouldn’t be allowed to teach. There weren’t enough for everyone in the class, so I’ve added a few of my own as well that may have information available from the Archives. Instead of the topics I assigned you all last week, you’re each allowed to pick something from this list as your topic, but only one of you will be allowed each option. You’ll then be provided with as much information as you request for your research. All the requirements I set for your paper last week remain the same. I thought letting everyone choose their own topic would make the assignment seem like less of a torture method,” he said with a slight chuckle.

Murmurs buzzed through the room as the students discussed what topics they wanted to pick from the list. As Steadclaw passed out the last of the sheets, he asked, “So Mr. T, how are we going to figure out who gets first pick on their topic? Roulette or something?”

“In a way,” the teacher replied, picking a top hat up from his chair. “I have all of your names in this hat here. We’ll start with one of you to choose your topic. After they do, they’ll come up and draw a name from the hat. That student will then pick their desired topic and do the same. After a topic is chosen from the list, it cannot be repeated, so consider a few.”

Cotton furrowed her brows and raised a hoof. “But Mr. T, who’s going first?”

The teacher smirked. “Funny you should ask, Cotton.”

Cotton’s eyes widened before her hoof smacked her forehead again. “Seriously?”

“It was your father’s one condition, Cotton. He wanted to make sure you could choose from the whole list.”

“That’s not really fair, though,” Cotton said, looking around the room. None of the other students glared at her, so she just sighed and looked over the list. She looked for a subject that either wouldn’t bore her, or actually interested her, but wouldn’t be something she knew a classmate desperately wanted. Eventually, she saw something that made her ears perk up. She rose from her chair and trotted to the teacher’s desk, the list still under her wing just in case. Addressing the class, she asked, “Is anyone here big into fashion?” Not a single hoof rose into the air. “Seriously? Nobody?” She turned back to Mr. Turner. “Alright then. I’ll take the rise of Lady Rarity’s fashion empire,” she said with a smile, ignoring the collective sighs of relief among the rest of the students.

Mr. Turner grinned. “Great choice, Cotton. You’ve got a resource of ample information on that topic.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Cotton giggled. Placing her hoof into the hat, she pulled out a slip of paper. “Hey Buzz, you’re up.”

A changeling in the middle of the room buzzed his wings. “Yes!” In the process of walking up to the teacher’s desk, Buzz said, “I have a feeling I might regret this, but I’ll go with the Canterlot Changeling invasion. I want to know what the buck was going through my family’s heads. Good thing we’ve got a treaty now,” he said, winking at a blushing filly sitting at the desk next to his. A couple of groans could be heard throughout the room behind a few quick laughs.

“Language, mister Buzz, and you can flirt with your feedmate on your own time,” Mr. Turner said.

Buzz lit up his horn and hovered out a slip from the hat. “Hey,” he said, enveloping himself in green flame and mimicking Steadclaw’s image and voice, “I’ve got beak-breath.”

The whole class, Steadclaw included, laughed as Buzz resumed his usual form.

“Laugh it up, Bugster,” Steadclaw chuckled, looking over the sheet one more time before rising from his seat once again. “I’ll admit, though, that was pretty good. You’ve never looked better.”

“I swear, you two are going to be the end of me,” Mr. Turner said, putting a hoof to his head as he suppressed a snicker.

“Well, I’ve already heard about Griffon history too many times,” Steadclaw said, “so I’ll take the Secretariat Comet Crisis. I’ve heard some interesting things about it.”

“Hoo-wee, have I got a good source of information for you, then,” Cotton laughed. Half the class laughed with her, while a few students just shrugged off the comment, oblivious.

Steadclaw dug his claw into the hat and drew out another name. The process repeated until all the students had chosen a topic, either excitedly, begrudgingly, or indifferently. With only a few minutes left in class, Mr. Turner addressed his students again. “Alright, well, we don’t have time for a full lesson, and everyone now has a topic. You’ve already had some fun, so let’s end class with a little more celebration.”

“Oh no…” Cotton covered her head, blushing again. “Isn’t once enough?”

Steadclaw leaned toward her and said, “Well, the first time didn’t turn out so bad. Maybe this’ll be alright.”

Mr. Turner went to a closet and took out a giant tray of cupcakes of varying flavors. “Because Sir Spike helped us with your assignments, Princess Twilight sent these to me. She sends her regards to all of you, and is sorry that she didn’t see you at Cotton’s party this weekend.”

All heads whipped toward Cotton, whose head slammed to her desk.

Steadclaw grimaced. “Okay, maybe not.”

Mr. Turner left the cupcake tray by the classroom door. “Everyone can grab one cupcake from the tray on your way out.” He looked at the clock. “Hmm… only five more minutes? Oh, why not? Class dismissed!” 

In a matter of seconds, all the students surrounded Cotton’s desk, instead of filing out of the classroom. 

Steadclaw looked over at his friend as she tried to find a way to escape from the chaos. “Well, that escalated quickly…”  


Ж


“I’m really sorry I didn’t come to your party, Cotton. I, uh—”

“Does Princess Twilight really dance that badly? My grandpa told me—”

“I still haven’t seen your dad. How is it having—”

“Were the other princesses there, too?”

“I heard—”

“STOP! PLEASE, EVERYONE STOP!” Cotton shouted over the barrage of questions from various students in the cafeteria. Rumors of the party had spread like wildfire by lunch. “Most of you couldn’t come, for whatever reason, and you missed the action. You’re H.O.L. there. I’m not gonna sit and answer every question while my lunch is getting cold. If you really want to ask me something specific, talk to me after school, alright? I’ll be out front, waiting; I’m getting a ride today.”

“Oh, in one of your chariots I bet,” a snarky voice said from behind the crowd. Eyes turned to the back to find a pair of unicorn fillies strutting toward the table. A violet-coated filly tossed her muzzle in the air as she approached where Cotton, Flarechaser, Harmony Wishes, Daisy Withers, and Steadclaw all sat, surrounded by the mob. 

“I bet you’re lying about the whole thing,” the other, blue-coated filly said. “I bet nobody showed up, and your party was a bust. Even your friends didn’t come.”

“Hey!” Daisy shouted. “I—” 

“Just let Gemstone and Jewel flap their muzzles, Daisy. It’s not worth getting into a fight,” Steadclaw said. “They won’t shut up until they’re finished anyway. And besides, Cotton’s got three witnesses right here,” he continued, pointing at Flarechaser, Harmony, and himself.

“Yeah!” Harmony chimed in. “She had old friends there, her family, and her cousins all the way from Ponyville! Everyone that didn’t come missed out!”

“Oh, it sounds like a ball,” Gemstone retorted. “In that teeny community hall? What in Equestria could you have done in there? If you were going to celebrate, you should’ve had your party at the castle. Maybe then we would have actually come, and burned the midnight oil.”

Steadclaw pushed his seat out from the table. Cotton recognized the look in his eyes; she held up a hoof in front of him, knowing that it could get messy if she didn’t step in. As she shook her head to cover her scars with her mane, an idea struck her. 

“Pfft, like Cotton would want you two at her party,” Flarechaser laughed.

“Actually, I did send them invitations,” Cotton interjected, looking up from her lunch.

“Seriously?” Harmony asked incredulously. She turned to the offending fillies and said, “Wow, then you two are idiots.”

“Ya know…” Cotton let a smirk cross her muzzle. “Speaking of the castle,” she said in between bites of her food, “Gem, how many ponies do you think can fit in a standard chariot?” 

“Four, comfortably,” Gemstone responded warily. “Five or six if the carriers are strong enough and everypony squeezes in. Why?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Well, I’ve got a little free time after school today, and a certain griffon classmate of mine has some research to do.” Cotton looked at her friends sitting with her at the table. “How’d the four of you like to come to my place after school?” Steadclaw, Flarechaser, Harmony, and Daisy all shouted affirmative responses.

The crowd around the table grumbled about not getting invited as the two obnoxious fillies turned their backs. “Hmph! Fine, let them go to the castle,” Jewel said.

“Yeah, it isn’t like I haven’t seen it. My father has taken me there before,” Gemstone scoffed.

“Oh… but you haven’t seen my room,” Cotton answered with a smirk. “Or the birthday gifts I got.” 

The crowd summoned a unanimous “Ooooooo.”

“Like anypony would get you anything special,” Gemstone retorted.

“Maybe you’ll get to see for yourself,” Cotton said, finishing off her meal. The two fillies sneered one last time and left. Cotton asked, “Hey Flare, could you watch my stuff for a minute? I’m gonna go to the office and send a message to my dad.”

“Everything okay?” Harmony responded. “You’re not really letting them get to you, are you?”

Cotton smiled. “Well, maybe a little. But I’ve got an idea that’s gonna wipe those smug smirks off their faces. And I think it’ll make one of my aunts very happy in the process.”


Ж


“…So yeah, turns out two of my old elementary school buddies are going out. Two others tried to hit on the girls here, and this one decided to play bouncer,” Cotton said, nudging Steadclaw, “so they went after my cousins instead.” Turning to another classmate, she added, “And yes, my Aunt Twilight does dance pretty badly, but that’s public knowledge at this point. If there’s anything else—Nope! Nevermind. There’s my ride,” Cotton said, looking up at the sky.

The crowd of students looked up, and unanimously gasped. Led by six royal guards, Cotton’s present from Princess Luna descended from the air, landing right in front of the mob of students. Motioning for Flarechaser, Harmony Wishes, Daisy Withers, and Steadclaw to get inside, Cotton turned around to find Gemstone and Jewel at the front of the crowd, staring at her, their mouths agape.

“But—you asked me how many ponies could fit in a standard chariot!” Gemstone exclaimed.

“I did?” Cotton asked. “Oh yeah, I did, didn’t I? I guess I forgot to mention my Aunt Luna got me a deluxe chariot. Fits six comfortably, with plenty of room for schoolbags. Custom design, and led by the best flyers in the Guard.” Turning to the pegasus stallions in front of the chariot, Cotton said, “Thank you very much for giving my friends and me a ride home, gentlecolts.” She smiled and gave them all a salute.

“You’re very welcome, Miss Cotton,” the guards said in unison, all returning the smile and the salute. 

“Well then, we’re off!” Cotton said, hopping into the chariot herself. Turning to her friends, she said, “Don’t bother trying to talk—you won’t be able to hear a thing. It’s a pretty short ride, anyway.” As the stallions began their ascent, she waved over the side of the chariot and shouted, “See you all tomorrow!” Once they were out of sight from the school, Cotton sat back on her haunches and sighed. Ahh, now I can stop acting like a pompous jerk. That felt awful.


Ж


As the chariot descended from the sky in front of the castle, Cotton looked over the side. To her surprise, Spike, Princess Twilight, and Princess Luna waited for them. When they landed, five mouths went agape.

Cotton hopped out of the chariot and asked, “Aunt Luna, what are you doing awake? It’s the middle of the day!”

Luna suppressed a yawn. “Thy father informed Us that thou decided to make use of thy birthday gift after all. We are delighted to see it out of storage so soon. If We may ask, what made thee change thy mind?”

Hesitating for a moment, Cotton responded, “Well, remember I said I don’t like traveling in chariots on my own?” When Luna nodded, Cotton smiled and continued, “Well, I’m not alone. And I needed the extra room.” She turned around and waved to her friends. “Come on out, everyone!”

The four teens climbed off the chariot. The ponies bowed to the princesses, while Steadclaw dipped his head. “I guess we can be official this time around for Aunt Luna’s sake,” Cotton said. “This is Flarechaser, Harmony Wishes, Daisy Withers, and Steadclaw. Everyone, my aunts, Princess Luna and Princess Twilight,” Cotton said, gesturing to each princess in turn. “And my dad, Sir Spike,” she giggled.

“It’s an honor to meet you,” all four of them said in unison, as if rehearsed. 

“‘Tis a pleasure to meet ye,” Luna said. “Welcome to Canterlot castle. ‘Tis a pity Our sister could not step away from the Day Court to greet ye.”

“Nice to see you again,” Twilight added, “and I see a newcomer. Nice to meet you!”

“I second my sister’s greeting,” Spike said with a light chuckle.

“Okay everyone, you can get up,” Cotton said. As her friends rose from their bows, she saw the guards trotting away. She waved to them and shouted, “Thanks again for the ride, gentlecolts!” All six of them beamed at her before continuing on their way. 

“That’s my girl,” Spike said with a smile. “Always thank your flyers.” The other four made to do the same, but the guards were already out of sight. “No wonder Cotton asked for her deluxe. For her first time inviting guests from UCHS, this is quite a crew! Come on in, it’s a pleasure to have you all here.”

“Thank you, sir,” Daisy responded. They all followed him inside. 

None of them noticed Spike grumble under his breath. “She knows I hate that title…”
> Chapter Thirteen - Smooth Moves
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh… my… gosh…” Harmony Wishes sputtered out.

“You’ve got this whole room to yourself?” Daisy asked, breathless.

“Heh heh… yeah,” Cotton answered, rubbing the back of her mane. “I wasn’t really intending to have company this soon. Lucky for me the maids clean up every day, otherwise this place would be a mess… Oh geez,” she said, putting a hoof to her forehead.

“What’s wrong?” Flarechaser asked.

“Listen to me, talking about other ponies picking up after me. I probably sound so arrogant,” Cotton answered. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you kidding? You live with the Princesses!” Harmony said. “Of course you’d have ponies picking up after you! There’s nothing to be sorry about!”

Cotton let out a relieved sigh. “Okay, maybe I am being a little neurotic. But still, I hate sounding like a stuck-up, ‘royal’ snob.”

“Don’t worry about it!” Flarechaser replied. “It’s awesome just to get an inside look!” 

“If you say so,” Cotton responded. “If you think it looks cool now, you should’ve seen what it was like when I first got here. I had to ask the Princesses to tone it down a bit with everything they wanted to give me…” 


Ж


“So, a trident and an eyepatch…” Steadclaw scribbled on a notepad, standing on the upper terrace of the main floor, while Spike sat below.

“If you put those two details into your paper, I bet you your teacher will give you bonus points,” Spike chuckled.

“We’ll see,” Steadclaw said with a smile. “Thanks a lot for the info, Sir Spike. I never imagined I would get a first-claw account of a history subject for a research paper. This is awesome! I’m gonna get an A for sure!”

“Well, there are plenty of scrolls in the Archives that you’re welcome to use. Don’t limit your paper to just one source,” Spike replied.

“Good point. Speaking of which, how do I cite this information? You’re not a book or a journal, and I’m supposed to cite all my sources,” Steadclaw said.

“This would be considered an interview,” Spike answered. “I’m sure Mr. Turner would help you with the right citation format if you asked. I can’t do that for you—that’s your responsibility.”

“Got it, and yeah, I understand. Thanks again, Sir Spike!”

“You’re quite welcome, Steadclaw. I’m glad you were actually interested in the topic—it certainly was an interesting time, I’ll tell you that!” The two of them laughed. “Actually, young tiercel, perhaps you could give me a little info yourself.”

Steadclaw tilted his head. “Oh? Well, I can try. I don’t know what I can tell you that you don’t already know.”

Spike propped himself up and gripped the banister of the upper floor where Steadclaw stood, right outside Cotton’s closed door, and leaned in close. “What topic did Cotton choose for her paper?” he whispered.

Steadclaw flinched a bit at the dragon’s proximity, but stood his ground. “She picked the rise of Lady Rarity’s fashion empire,” he whispered back. “Why?”

Spike dropped down to the lower floor again and clenched his fists against his chest. “YESSSSSSSSSS,” the dragon whispered. “That’s my girl!”

Steadclaw raised a brow as he leaned over the banister. “Uh, Sir Spike? If you don’t mind my asking, why is that such a big deal?”

Spike finished his impromptu celebration and beckoned to the teen. “Come on down here, my good griffon.” Steadclaw beat his wings and descended to the lower floor as requested. As he took a seat, Spike leaned forward and asked him, “Do you know who Lady Rarity was?”

“I know she was one of the Elements of Harmony and a fashion mogul until the Canterlot Fire, Sir, but not much more than that.”

Spike scratched his chin. “Where are you from, Steadclaw? How long have you been in the Upper Canterlot school district?”

“I’m from Griffonstone, Sir. I only moved to Canterlot with my mother at the start of high school,” Steadclaw answered. 

“Ah, then that explains it,” Spike replied. When Steadclaw cocked a brow at him, he continued, “The detailed studies of the Elements of Harmony are taught in junior high. You know about Pinkie Pie because of your grandmother—I heard you at the party—has she ever talked to you about the other Elements?”

“A little bit,” Steadclaw answered. “I really only know about Miss Applejack and Princess Twilight, though. Aunt Pinkie kind of… deflates a little when she talks about Lady Rarity, Miss Fluttershy, and Captain Dash. Some of the details come out a bit… I dunno, slurred?”

“I can understand that. Pinkie is very sensitive about our friends that have passed on. Well, I won’t go into all the details since you’re not studying her, but you should know… Lady Rarity was my wife,” Spike said with a sniff.

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. “So… Cotton’s going to be researching her—” Spike cut him off with a simple nod. “So that’s what Mr. Turner meant when he said Cotton had a good resource for her topic.” He looked up at Spike. “Ummm… Did you…?”

Spike chuckled. “You’re quite a perceptive griffon. Yes, I requested that your teacher put that topic on the list in the hopes that Cotton would choose it.”

“Wow, that’s… that’s pretty cool, actually. And sneaky,” Steadclaw said.

“I do have my moments,” Spike replied with a smirk. “Do me a favor—don’t tell Cotton.”

“I won’t, Sir. My beak is sealed.”

“Thank you.” Spike looked at the upper floor towards Cotton’s door. “Oh, but look at this. You’ve been spending all your time with me instead of your friends. Go on, have fun. Just knock first; you’re entering the feminine domain—you never know what you might find.”

As Steadclaw alighted on the upper floor once again, he said, “I understand knocking in respect for privacy, Sir, but what would be so strange for me to find?”

Spike laughed. “We’re talking about a filly that was raised by the Royal Family, Steadclaw. I can barely fit my head into that room, and even I’ve seen things in there I never expected.”

Steadclaw’s eyes widened as he raised a talon to the door. “I’ll keep that in mind, Sir.”


Ж


“…And these are some of the books that my Aunt Twilight lets me keep in my room if I want to read anything… I guess you could say ‘obscure’.”

“Wow, talk about shelf space,” Daisy said, looking at the book-filled shelves lining the north wall of Cotton’s room. 

“Y’know Cotton, I just realized, you made a pretty smooth move when we got here in your chariot,” Harmony Wishes said.

“What’re you talking about?” Cotton asked.

“You totally got away with not telling your dad or aunts that you were flashing your chariot to Gem and Jewel. You can’t tell me that wasn’t your plan from the start,” Harmony teased.

“Oh…” Cotton said. “Well, yeah, it kinda was… I don’t think my dad would like me doing that, though. Besides, I did want to give my present a test run, and I wasn’t lying when I said I needed the extra space for everyone.”

“I guess I can buy that,” Flarechaser said, rolling her eyes.

“Besides, you’re like, one of the humblest fillies in school,” Daisy said. “You’re allowed to be vain from time to time.”

There was a knock at the door. “Am I allowed entry into the feminine domain?” came a muffled, male voice.

“That you, Featherhead?” Flarechaser asked.

“Yeah. Cotton’s dad told me to say that,” Steadclaw answered from the other side.

Cotton laughed. “Why am I not surprised? Yeah, come on in.”

“Now you kids behave yourselves,” Spike said as the door opened.

“We will, Dad, chill out,” Cotton replied.

“If I wanted to do that, I’d go see your cousin Flurry Heart,” Spike said with a chuckle.

“Oh, wonderful, dad jokes,” Cotton responded, rolling her eyes as only a teen can. Steadclaw stepped inside, then Cotton shut the door behind him. “Sorry, Steadclaw, my dad can be a little weird.”

“Nah, it’s all good,” Steadclaw replied. “He was really helpful with info for my paper, and he’s pretty cool for a dragon dad.”

“Hey Cotton, whatcha got in your wardrobe?” Harmony asked, interrupting them.

“Clothes, whaddaya think?” Daisy replied, sticking her tongue out.

“Well, duh,” Harmony said, “I meant what kind of clothes. I bet you’ve got some beautiful, royal dresses. Would you mind if we took a peek?”

“Well…” Cotton hesitated, moving toward the wardrobe. “Okay, but don’t take anything out, alright?” Cotton opened the wardrobe’s massive double-doors to reveal rows upon rows of dresses hanging up.

“Woah! Some of these are Lady Rarity’s originals!” Harmony gasped. “Most of them look brand new! Please tell me you’ve worn at least a few of them!”

“Yeah, a few, but only to special occasions,” Cotton replied. “I don’t really have many chances to wear them. I’d—”

“Well, the dance is coming up in like, barely two weeks!” Daisy exclaimed. “That’s a perfect chance!”

“Yeah, maybe… I dunno if—”

“Daisy, you interrupted her!” Harmony chided. “Cotton, what were you saying? After you said you don’t have a chance to wear your dresses?”

Cotton blushed, then answered, “Oh… Well, I was saying I’d wear them to school, but then I’d just stand out even more than I already do,” she sighed, settling herself on her haunches. “Nopony else wears clothes to school.”

Steadclaw, who had kept his distance from the ‘feminine domain,’ finally made his way across the room. “But if you did wear clothes to school, you’d cover up your scars.”

Cotton glanced over at him. “Yeah, that’s the point.” She tugged her mane, which she’d purposely grown out over the years, over the right side of her face.

Steadclaw furrowed his brows. “But… why?”

Cotton almost glared at him, but the look in his eyes revealed nothing but sincerity. “I’d love to cover these stupid scars. I look horrible… I stand out like an ugly, swollen hoof. I’m amazed I even have the few friends I’ve got,” she said, looking at the four of them before lowering her head.

After a moment, Cotton felt Steadclaw’s talon under her chin. He lifted her head until she looked him square in the eyes. “Why in Grover’s name would you want to cover your scars?” Steadclaw asked. “You look amazing.”

“What?” Cotton’s eyes widened. “Are… are you serious?”

The griffon nodded with a slight smile. “Cotton, maybe you don’t know this, but scars are a mark of pride among griffons. The more scars you have, the stronger you are, as long as the scars aren’t self-inflicted. Self-mutilation is abhorred, but earning scars shows your strength,” Steadclaw said. “When I first met you at school, you said you got these scars in the Canterlot Fire when you were little, and you’ve grown up with them. They’re a part of your character—who you are. You might look at these scars and see something ugly, but I look at you and see a strong, pretty, young mare.”

Cotton’s cheeks flushed. At first she didn’t believe him, but the look in his eyes… She could tell he meant it. “You… you really think I look pretty like this?”

Steadclaw moved his talon to her face and gently brushed her mane away, fully revealing her scarred right side. “…I think you look beautiful, Cotton.” 

The two of them looked at each other for a minute in silence. Eventually that silence was broken by three fillies. 

*Squeeeeee!*

Feminine domain indeed. 


Ж


“Rutherford, please, you don’t need to—”

“RUTHERFORD’S FUR MUST BE PERFECT FOR DINNER WITH MOTHER-IN-LAW!!”

“Of course it does.” Flurry Heart shut her eyes for a moment before she sighed, walking out of their room and into the crystal hallway. “Honestly, why do I put up with you?”

“RUTHERFORD NOT KNOW. PERHAPS YAK HUMILITY?” Rutherford offered.

Flurry Heart suppressed a snort. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

Moments later, Princess Cadance came bouncing down the hallway—much in the same way Pinkie Pie would have done in her younger years. Flurry Heart tilted her head at her mother before she asked, “Um, is everything alright?”

Cadance zipped to her daughter and pressed their eyes so close together that there was practically no room for their muzzles. “SOMEONE’S GOT THEIR EYES ON YOUR COUSIN COTTON! I CAN FEEEEEEEEEL IT!”

Flurry Heart took a breath. “That’s great, Mom. She’s sixteen. It was bound to happen at some point.”

“THE LOVE! I CAN FEEL THE LOOOOOOOOOOVE!” Cadance cried, tears of joy flowing down her cheeks.

“Honestly, Mom, how does Dad put up with you?” Flurry Heart asked.

Cadance sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Unconditional love.”

“Surrrre,” Flurry Heart responded with a roll of her eyes, “let’s go with that. And the fact that you still look young enough to be his granddaughter has nothing to do with it.”

“RUTHERFORD… SUBTLY SNEAK AWAY FROM AWKWARD CONVERSATION!!”

“Hey, don’t get me started on how we put up with you.”

“RUTHERFORD ESCAPE TO SEE IF PONY-FATHER STILL HAVE DRINK!!”


Ж


“No way!” Daisy whispered. 

“So that’s why Featherhead’s been hangin’ around us!” Flarechaser whispered back. “He’s totally got the hots for Cotton!”

“And I always thought he was just a weirdo that hated the other griffons in school,” Harmony added. “He has always been the most chill.”

“Hey, I just realized something,” Daisy said, still whispering. “Remember when Gem made that ‘burn the midnight oil’ remark to Cotton? Did you see the way Steadclaw reacted?” The other two fillies shook their heads. “He was totally going all ‘knight in shining armor’! Which is kinda appropriate, actually, considering Cotton’s practically royalty. Filly or not, I bet he would’ve busted Gem’s jaw if Cotton hadn’t stopped him.”

“If that’s the case, then Featherhead’s on fire for our little Cotton,” Flarechaser whispered with a conspiratorial giggle.

“Shh!” Harmony suddenly said, also giggling like an idiot. “Look!” The three of them looked at Cotton and Steadclaw, neither of whom had moved for a couple of minutes—until Steadclaw leaned his head forward. “He’s going for it!” The three fillies looked on, filled with smirks and giggles.

Cotton’s breath hitched in her throat as she watched Steadclaw’s eyes slowly move toward hers. Other than her family, he was the first to ever talk about her scars in a way that didn’t make her feel awful. In fact, he did just the opposite. His talk about pride and strength made a lot of sense to her, and for the first time in her life, she felt good about her scars. She never imagined she’d ever feel that way. Someone that could make her feel like this… was special. She wanted to keep him close, and there happened to be just a tiny gap between them at the moment. She decided quickly, then and there…

…and she closed the gap.


Ж


“Well, it was wonderful to see the four of you,” Spike said to Cotton’s friends outside the castle gate. “It’s a shame Princess Celestia is still in day court—she would have loved to meet you all. If you’d like, we’d be happy to have you drop by anytime.”

“Thank you, Sir,” the four of them said in unison, doing their best to hide smirks.

“Are you sure you don’t want rides home?” Cotton asked. “We’ve got singles.” All four of them shook their heads. 

“Nah, I can fly home from here pretty quick,” Flarechaser said.

“Same here,” Steadclaw added.

“Just a few quick teleports for me,” Harmony said.

“I’d enjoy the walk, actually,” Daisy finally said.

“If you say so,” Cotton responded. “Don’t expect that chariot ride too often, though. See you guys tomorrow!”

“Catch ya later, Cotton!” Flarechaser called behind her as she took off, a knowing look in her eye.

“See you in the morning!” Daisy said as she cantered down the walk, giggling softly.

“Have a good night!” Harmony said, before she charged up her horn and teleported out of sight before giving anything away.

“See you tomorrow, Cotton.” Steadclaw gave her a small wave as he turned and flared his wings. “And thank you for your help with my history paper, Sir Spike!” he called over his shoulder, keeping his voice calm and even.

“You’re quite welcome, Steadclaw! Good luck!” Spike called as the griffon flew off. Looking down at his daughter, he saw her smiling and waving at the griffon flying away. “Speaking of which,” he said, poking Cotton lightly to get her attention, “you’re supposed to have a topic for that class yourself. Did anything from that list I gave Mr. Turner pique your interest?”

Cotton flinched at her father’s touch. “Huh? Oh, right. Well, honestly, no.”

“Really? Of all the cool stuff I can provide that’s normally forbidden from public record, you couldn’t find anything that interested you?” Spike prodded, hiding his own smile. 

“Actually, Mr. Turner added a few topics of his own to that list; I chose one of his,” Cotton said.

“Oh really,” Spike said. “Well, he is your history teacher, but I have to wonder what he could have put on that list that’s more interesting than the forbidden scrolls of the Canterlot Archives. What topic did you pick?”

Cotton smiled up at her father. “The rise of Lady Rarity’s fashion empire.”

Spike gasped on cue. “What? He put that on there? That seems like an easy way out for you—you’ve got an inside source right at home. That doesn’t seem particularly fair.”

Cotton cocked a brow at him. “I said the same thing when he told me that your one condition for providing Archive information was letting me pick first.”

Spike shrugged. “What, I can’t give my daughter advantages like every other parent?” 

Cotton giggled. “Well, I do want to know more about Lady Rarity, and talking with you about her would not only be educational, but it would mean some father-daughter time. I know you’re always trying to get more of that.”

“Well, you’ve got me there, sweetie," Spike said with a smile. "That’ll be at least two of Mr. Turner’s students citing an interview with me in their papers.”

Cotton’s ears perked up at the comment, and a tinge of red appeared on her cheeks. “Hey, Dad, what did you think of Steadclaw? It sounded like you two really hit it off talking about the S.C.C.”

“You could say that.” Spike nodded. “He seemed genuinely interested in the topic, and of course I always like talking about it. Maybe you remember—that’s one of the first stories about me that I told you when we met.”

“Yeah! That day in the park! How could I forget? Um, so anyway… what did you think of him?” Cotton asked, hiding half her face behind her mane as she so often did, but this time for a different reason. 

Spike put a claw to his chin. “Well, he carries himself well… seems to respect authority, that’s always good… appears to be serious about his education…” As Cotton stifled a snort, Spike cocked a brow, then finished, “…overall I’d say he’s a decent fellow. Why?” Spike asked. “Is there something else I should know about him?” He looked at her, unblinking with his massive eye.

Cotton’s blush brightened. “Well… I…”

Spike brought his head down to her eye level. With no signs of any particular emotion, he raised his eyebrows and said, “Yeeeeeeesss?” 

Cotton’s eyes darted about before the blush took over her complexion. After a sigh and a smile, she finally said, “Well, let’s just say that kissing a beak is an interesting experience.”
> Chapter Fourteen - THIS CHAPTER INCLUDE BEST YAK!!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike paced back and forth in his room, the three princesses gathered around him. “I can’t believe it! I… I just can’t believe it!”

“Spike, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked him. “You were fidgeting all through dinner!”

“What is so dire that you needed to call a family meeting?” Celestia added.

“And if this is a family meeting, why art thou excluding Cotton? Surely this is more important than her homework,” Luna added. Twilight fought the urge to scowl at her.

“Well, that’s just it. It’s about Cotton,” Spike said.

All three princesses’ eyes bulged. Celestia’s mane darkened like a storm cloud. “What happened to Cotton?” she asked, her voice like distant thunder.

“Whoa, whoa, Tia, relax. Nothing is wrong,” Spike reassured her.

Her mane regained its colorful shimmer, as Celestia let out a relieved sigh. “Don’t scare me like that, Spike.”

“Well if you’d let me finish, you wouldn’t have been scared. There’s no need to go all Solar Flare on us.” Celestia grimaced at the remark.

“So what’s going on with Cotton?” Twilight asked. “Why can’t she be here to talk about it with us?”

“Well, I don’t want to make a big deal about it in front of her; it’s still a new development,” Spike said.

“What is a new development?” Luna asked with a huff.

Spike took a breath, then said, “I need you to hold your Royal Canterlot Voices for this—I don’t want her to hear us.” The three princesses all raised a brow at each other before Spike leaned down to them, a huge grin on his face. “It sounds like Cotton’s found a special somepony!”

All three princesses clasped their muzzles as muffled Royal Canterlot Voices shouted, “WHAT?!” simultaneously. An instant later, there was a flash between them all. Stepping back, they cleared a space, and Princess Cadance stood before them. 

Cadance looked at the four of them, all wearing huge grins on their faces. “Did he tell you?” She turned to Spike. “She told you herself, didn’t she?”

Spike nodded. “It just happened this afternoon, too. Figures you would drop in, Cadance.”

“I sensed the spark, all the way from the Empire,” Cadance said.

“Wait, this afternoon?” Luna asked.

Twilight glanced at her. “That would mean it’s probably—”

“The griffon!” Luna finished, a deerstalker cap upon her head. 

Celestia, Luna, and Cadance all dropped their jaws. Twilight did a double take on Luna. “Hey, give me back my hat! That was a special gift from Pinkie!”

“Anyway, yeah,” Spike said. “So I guess he’s a special some-griffon.”

Luna crossed her hooves and looked down her nose. “We do not approve.”

Twilight looked over at her. “What? Why not?”

“What did I miss while I was in Day Court?” Celestia asked.

“The griffon was quite disrespectful upon his entrance,” Luna grumbled. “A mere dip of the head is no way to—”

“Luna, you need to pick up a book on culture sometime,” Twilight interjected. “Griffons never lower their defenses, even in front of royalty. The way Steadclaw greeted us today was the highest form of respect among griffonkind.”

Luna snorted, but looked at Twilight. “Truly?”

“Yes,” Spike said. “Even I know about griffon culture, and now that I think about it—”

“It makes perfect sense!” Twilight finished, dancing on the tips of her hooves. Spike nodded in agreement. 

Luna looked unconvinced. “Dost thou really approve of this griffon, Spike?”

“For now.” Spike smirked. “I spoke with him today before this little development even occurred. He was quite respectful, and grateful for my help.”

“Help?” Celestia asked.

Spike chuckled. “Yes, I was giving him some information on the Secretariat Comet Crisis for that school paper I told you about.”

Celestia stomped a hoof. “Please don’t tell me you told him about the trident and eyepatch.”

Spike suppressed a snort and a smirk. “Maaaaaaaaybe.” 

Celestia smacked her forehead with a hoof. “You are never going to give that a rest, are you?”

“Nnnnnope,” Spike replied with a drawl.

“Hey, nice ‘Big Mac,’” Twilight laughed. Spike took a slight bow.

“Okay, there’s still one thing I don’t get,” Cadance said. “You know I have no problem with interspecies relationships, given you and Rarity or my daughter…”

“How are Flurry and Rutherford, anyway?” Twilight asked. “We missed all of you at our party this weekend.”

“Yes, I’m sorry we couldn’t come, but you know the Crystal ponies always flip when I leave. Flurry and ‘Ford are doing well. We’re having dinner together tonight, and Rutherford is being his usual self,” Cadance replied. “Anyway, why is a griffon so perfect for Cotton?”

Spike and Twilight looked at each other. “Maybe all princesses need to brush up on foreign cultures,” Spike said.

“All princesses?” Twilight coughed.

“Obviously not you, you bookworm,” Spike replied with a barb. Twilight nodded her approval.

When Celestia narrowed her eyes at them, Spike began, “Well, numbers of books and princesses aside… you know Cotton has always been self-conscious about her scars.”

“Mhmm,” Cadance answered.

“Well, if I’m correctly interpreting the conversation I had with my daughter after her friends left, then that griffon just took all her self-consciousness and turned it on its head.”

“He’s perfect for her!” Twilight squealed.

Luna scratched her chin. “We redact Our previous remark. We approve!”

“Here here!” Celestia added. “I’m going to have to meet this Steadclaw as soon as possible!”

“Let’s not force it,” Spike said. “I’m sure Cotton will invite him back when they’re ready to make it official. He does need to meet all of us, after all.” He brought a claw to his chin. “And she needs to meet his mother. That’ll be interesting.”

“How so?” Celestia asked. 

“Well, depending on how closely his family sticks to tradition,” Twilight answered, “my guess is that his mother will either completely disapprove, or absolutely adore her.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Spike said, “but we’ll have to see. Given the effect Pinkie has had on the griffons over the years, I have a feeling it will be the latter. And considering Cotton’s connection to Pinkie as well…”

“Oh, his mother will love her to death,” Twilight said with a wave of her hoof.

“Hold on now, I’m all for planning the names of their future children, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves… yet,” Cadance said. “It’ll play out as it goes along. Anyway, I really need to get back to the Empire before Rutherford complains that dinner wasn’t ‘perfect’ because of my tardiness.”

“Agreed. Those chandeliers were expensive to replace,” Twilight said. “Say hello to Flurry and Rutherford for us.”

“Will do,” Cadance replied. “Hopefully we’ll see you all up north sometime soon.” Turning to Spike, she said, “Spike, I’m thrilled to hear all of this. I just have one piece of advice for you.”

“Oh? What’s that?” he asked.

“Well, there’s nothing you can do while they’re at school, but if the two of them are here in the castle…” She paused. “Do not let them be alone. Ever.” With a flash of blue light, she vanished.

“Celestia’s beard!” Spike’s eyes widened. “She’s right!” 

“Hey!”

“…I’ll need to make sure Cotton brings those other three fillies with her,” he said, furrowing his brow.

“Oh Spike, Cadance is just being dramatic,” Twilight said. “They’re just teens. I doubt you need to worry.”

Celestia chuckled. “Twilight, your teen years were hardly the statistical norm.” 

“We remember Our teen years,” Luna said with a smirk. “As the relationship develops—”

“If it does,” Celestia added.

“I’ll need to make sure he stays in line,” Spike growled.

Twilight sighed. “Fine, be the neurotic parent. Just give them some space for now, okay? If you hover over them too much, you’ll scare Steadclaw off!”

“I’m the neurotic one?” Spike asked with incredulity. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Oh come on,” Twilight scoffed. “When have I ever been neurotic?”

Celestia, Luna, and Spike all chuckled. “Well, there was that time when—”


Ж


Cotton sat at the crowded breakfast table. Along with the normal retinue of Celestia, Luna, Spike… and a grumpy Twilight, they were joined by Aunt Cadance, Uncle Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart, along with her hungover husband Prince Rutherford II.

“Ack!” Shining Armor yelped. “Cadance, what’s this green stuff in my soup?”

“It’s kale, dear.”

“Oh… Okay.”

Cotton focused on her pancakes as Cadance, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight talked about the Crystal Empire. She could have sworn, though, that every now and then, all four of them would steal glances her way.

“So, not that it isn’t great to see you, Flurry,” Cotton said, turning to Flurry Heart and Rutherford, “but what are you guys doing here?”

“RUTHERFORD TOLD NOT TO SAY HE KNOW ABOUT NEW GRIFFON FRIEND.”

Flurry Heart put a hoof to her face as Cotton glared at Spike, then the rest of the table. “He told you?”

An uncomfortable silence settled over the table.

“Ack! Cadance, there’s something green in my soup!”

“I said it’s kale, dear.” Cadance smacked her forehead with a hoof.

“Cadance, how do you put up with that senile brother of mine?” Twilight asked.

“Hey!”

“Unconditional love, Twily,” Cadance replied. Cotton noticed Flurry Heart rolling her eyes.

“Speaking of love…” Flurry said with a smirk, turning to Cotton, “How handsome is he?”

A red tint appeared on Cotton’s cheeks. “Well…” she mumbled, glancing down with a little smile. Flurry Heart rested her head on her hooves, raising her eyebrows. “Well, you’ve seen pictures of Aunt Pinkie’s friend Gilda, right?” Flurry nodded. “Well, she’s his grandmother. He looks a lot like her, but his upper plumage and the edge of his beak are a nice, charcoal gray, and his head feathers flow backward instead of forward. And his eyes…” Cotton trailed off, sighing. 

Cadance giggled. “It’s always the eyes.”

Cotton continued, “His eyes are…” She glanced at her forelegs; looking at her exposed skin, her eyes widened as she realized something she hadn’t noticed before. Holding up her scarred right foreleg, she said, “They’re a lot like this, actually. A nice, darkened red.” Looking at the leg she had just held up, she smiled. “And they see these scars differently than everyone else, he sees me differently than everyone else…”

Spike smiled as well. “It sounds like Cotton has found someone who sees her beauty as much as we do.”

Celestia said, “Well, I’ve yet to meet him. That’ll be remedied soon.”

Cotton winced. “Everyone, please! This just started! I don’t even know if it’s going to last!” She let out a sigh. “Then again, he—”

“PONIES NOT TALK SO LOUD! YAK HUNGOVER!” Rutherford ‘whispered’. “OWWW, YAK OWN WORST ENEMY.”

Luna passed him a mug of coffee. “This is the best elixir for a hangover that We are aware of, Rutherford.”

Rutherford took a swig of the brown liquid. “THIS NOT TASTE LIKE YAK COFFEE.” He lazily waved a hoof in the air, before laying his head back on the table. “RUTHERFORD RAMPAGE LATER, THOUGH.”

“Ah, the upsides to a hungover yak,” Flurry Heart chuckled. “Less property damage.”

“NOT FUNNY,” Rutherford grumbled. “HEAD STILL HURT.”

“Keep that in mind next time ya go killin’ your brain cells that way!” Shining Armor piped up from across the table.

“Says the stallion with maybe ten brain cells left,” Twilight laughed.

“Hush, you,” Shining said, pointing a shaky hoof at his sister. “You and your immortality. You’re as bad as my wife!”

“That’s because we’re both princesses, dear,” Cadance said. “It comes with the title.”

“I know that! You think I would forget such an important—Ack! Cadance, there’s something green in my soup!”


Ж


“LOVELY TO SEE EXTENDED PONY FAMILY AGAIN!!” Prince Rutherford shouted. “YOU COME TO CRYSTAL EMPIRE SOON!! RUTHERFORD NOT LIKE INSTANT TRAVEL VERY MUCH.”

“Believe me, dear, it’s not that easy to bring you along,” Flurry Heart commented.

“SIZE NOT RUTHERFORD’S FAULT!! RUNS IN FAMILY!!”

“We know, Rutherford. We’ve met your father,” Twilight said with a laugh. As she gave Flurry Heart a hug, she whispered to her, “How’d he get over his hangover so quickly?”

Flurry Heart chuckled. “I figured out a spell to cure hangovers a while ago. I just haven’t told him,” she whispered back. “He’s easier to manage that way. I just use the spell when we need to be presentable the day after he takes to the bottle. Or when a proper goodbye is in order. He hasn’t figured it out yet.” 

Twilight shook her head. “You really are a strange one, you know that, Flurry?” 

“Runs in family, Aunt Twilight,” Flurry Heart shot back, laughing. 

“Touché, dear niece,” Twilight said with a smirk.

“Cotton, it was great to see you, and I’m thrilled to hear you found yourself someone special,” Flurry Heart said to her cousin. “Keep him close. And believe me, if anything important happens, my mother will know.”

“I know,” Cotton laughed, hugging the alicorn. “It was great to see you, too, Cousin Flurry.” Turning to the rest of the departing party, to whom she had already said her goodbyes, Cotton said, “Bye, everyone! See you soon!” 

The four of them waved as Cadance and Flurry Heart grasped their respective husbands and lit up their horns, disappearing in a flash a moment later. 

Luna glanced at the clock with a yawn. “Hmm, ‘twas a lovely family meal, but We must retire to Our chambers and rest. I bid ye all good day.”

“Have a good day’s sleep, Aunt Luna!”

“We shall, dear Cotton, We shall. Have a good day at school.” 

Cotton’s eyes widened. “School! Ohmigosh what time is it?” 

Spike laughed. “Don’t worry, sweetie, you’ve got time. That’s why we woke you up early. Go get your stuff together, and I’ll give you a ride.”

Cotton let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Dad. Hey, can I do one of my air drops when we get there?”

Spike lifted his eyebrows. “If you want to. You usually don’t like doing that in public.”

Cotton smiled with a little blush. “Well… now I have someone to impress.” As she rushed upstairs and into her room, Celestia and Twilight approached Spike.

“So, when’s the wedding?” Celestia asked.

“Can I be the Mare of Honor?” Twilight added, breathless.

Spike chuckled. “Hush, you two. Like Cadance said, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll be back shortly.” He walked toward the main door of the castle and called upstairs, “I’ll be out front when you’re ready, Sweetheart!”

“Be there in a minute, Dad!” Cotton called back.

Twilight and Celestia looked at each other and smiled.

“I’ll be the wedding planner.”

“I’ll choose the cake.”

“You haven’t even met him yet!”

“I still get to choose the cake.”
> Chapter Fifteen - Drop, Stop, Out Cold
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“ARE YOU READY, SWEETIE?” Spike called behind him, offering up a claw after a minute or so of hovering. The wind at this elevation stole words away and left a cold bite.

Securing her saddlebag, Cotton hopped onto her father’s claw and stared down at all the students in the schoolyard. “READY, DAD!” she shouted back.

Spike gave Cotton a kiss on the cheek, grinned, then shouted, “HAVE A GOOD DAY! SEE YOU NEXT FALL!”

Cotton groaned, then returned the kiss and called back, “THANKS, DAD! AND I WILL!” Looking over the edge of her father’s claw, Cotton smiled, then jumped.


Ж


“What is that up there, Gem?” Jewel asked, shading her eyes. 

“I can’t tell, Jewel. It’s too high up.”

A mob of students stood in the school courtyard. Only a few of them had seen the floating, winged blob high above the clouds. 

“Sweet Celestia! That’s Cotton’s dad!” Flarechaser shouted. “Is she—Harmony, go get Featherhead!”

“Huh? Why?” Harmony Wishes asked.

“Cotton’s told me about this. She’s been practicing these awesome air drops with some of Princess Luna’s guards. She said she doesn’t usually do them in public, though.”

“Then why is she—”

“Harmony, go get Steadclaw!” Flarechaser cut her off.

“Oh! Duh!”

“Uh, yah!” Flarechaser let out an exasperated sigh as Harmony galloped into the school building. “Am I the only one that pays attention to this stuff? Sheesh!”

A minute later, Steadclaw came running out, Harmony and Daisy hot on his tail. “What’s the deal, Flare? What are you looking—What—?” They all caught sight of the hovering mass, when a small speck detached itself, and fell towards them like a lost anvil from a moving carriage.

“Good thing you’re out here, Featherhead. I bet she’s doing this just for you,” Flarechaser said with a grin.

“Wait a minute… is that Cotton?!” Steadclaw cried.

“You better believe it!” Flarechaser laughed.


Ж


Cotton shouted, “WOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!” as she belly flopped toward the ground. At the right time, she tilted herself into a downward angle, deciding to hold out for a few more seconds before she opened her wings and began circling the schoolyard's perimeter. Spiraling downward, she laid her eyes upon Flarechaser, Steadclaw, Harmony Wishes, and Daisy Withers all standing in a group. Shifting her trajectory a bit, she slammed into the ground next to them, earth erupting from all sides. When the dust cleared, she stood and brushed herself off, nonchalant.

“I am SO glad I got out here in time to see that!” Daisy cried. “Cotton, that was—”

“Totally awesome,” Cotton and Steadclaw both said in unison.

Cotton looked at Steadclaw and raised a brow. “Rainbow Dash was one of your Granny Gilda’s friends, wasn’t she?” Cotton asked.

“That she was.” Steadclaw smirked and pointed a talon at her. “You’re officially twenty percent cooler than you already were.”

Cotton smirked and took a little bow. “Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.”

“So what, now you’re trying to look all cool?” The group turned and found Gem and Jewel sauntering towards them. “Are you so desperate to find a date for the dance that you’re resorting to daredevil stunts?” Jewel asked.

Cotton started, “No, I just—”

“You know, if you’re that desperate, I bet I could find you a match,” Gem retorted.

Cotton glanced at Steadclaw, whose complexion darkened as his brows furrowed. She slowly walked over to him and replied, “Thanks for the offer, Gem…” Hooking her hoof around Steadclaw’s cheek, she pulled him toward her and gave him a deep kiss. Momentarily stunned, his eyes widened, then he fell in sync with her. After they parted, Cotton finished, “…but I’ve already found someone who sparks my fire.” 

Gem and Jewel both recoiled at the interaction. “Wha—You… and him?” Gem sputtered.

“Got a problem with that?” Cotton asked. “Did that little display scar you for life? You know, I hear Blueblood the Third is still single. If you need a date, I bet he can be your sugar daddy. I’ll put in a good word for you, if you want.”

“Wha—This is—Gah!” Gem sputtered, before stomping off toward the school building. Jewel followed behind her, while looking back at Cotton.

Flarechaser, Harmony Wishes, Daisy, and Steadclaw all stared at Cotton in disbelief. “Damn, Cotton, that was bucking awesome!” Flarechaser said. 

“What, me finally shutting Gem’s trap, or my sweet drop?” Cotton asked with a smirk.

“I… both! And no offense, but what in Celestia’s name’s gotten into you?” Flarechaser asked.

Cotton smiled, then nuzzled Steadclaw’s plumage. “Guess.”

Steadclaw’s cheeks reddened. “S-seriously? After… only yesterday?”

“You’d be amazed what a single day can do. By the way, I meant every bit of what I said. It wasn’t—well, it wasn’t only for show,” Cotton added.

“Wait, you mean—and the dance?”

“I actually wasn’t planning on going until yesterday; if you’ll come with me—”

“Damn straight I will!” Steadclaw answered with a smile.

“Awesome.” Cotton turned to Harmony Wishes. “Looks like I’ll have a use for one of those dresses in my closet.” Harmony just grinned. Cotton gave Steadclaw a kiss on the cheek and simply said, “See you in class,” then trotted off towards the school building.

As he stared at Cotton’s retreating form, Steadclaw’s beak hung open for a moment. Looking around at Cotton’s friends, he asked, “What just happened?”

“Well, from what I can tell, you just got yourself a date for the dance and a fillyfriend in the span of twenty-four hours,” Flarechaser chuckled. “Nice going, Featherhead. Didn’t know you had it in ya.”

“Did you hear what else happened?” Daisy asked. “Cotton just used Gem and Jewel’s regular insults against them!” 

“And totally burned them in the process!” Harmony laughed, then blushed. “Uh, excuse the expression.” 

“Holy horseapples, you’re right!” Flarechaser replied. “Damn, Featherhead, you really made an impact on her!”

“You really think that was all me?” Steadclaw asked.

“Considering everything you said to her yesterday, I’d say it’s a pretty high likelihood,” Harmony said with a smirk.

“Oh… yeah… you three were all there… Well damn,” Steadclaw said, grinning. “Awesome.”

“Now don’t buck it up,” Flarechaser quipped. 

“You can start by getting to class on time,” Daisy said. “The bell’s gonna ring in a few minutes, and Cotton’s big on punctuality.”

“Ahh, flying feather-molt,” Steadclaw answered as he ran towards the school building. “I’ve still gotta get my bag. See you girls later!”

After a moment of giggling at each other, Daisy turned to Flarechaser and Harmony and commented, “Wait a minute, we still need to get our own dates, don’t we?”

Flarechaser and Harmony looked at each other and face-hoofed in unison.

“Horseapples.”


Ж
 

“I still can’t believe you agreed to this so soon, Cotton. You sure you wanna meet my mom?”

“Hey, I told you, you’ve already met most of my family. I should meet yours, too,” Cotton told Steadclaw. “I sent a message to my dad at lunch and he knows I’ll be home late from school. Actually, I got a message back from him saying he was thrilled.”

“Is that what Mr. Longhorn told you when he came to the lunch table?” 

“Yeah. That and some other things. Nothing to worry about.”

“If you say so. Here we are.” The two of them gently landed in front of a small house in one of the more crowded sections of Upper Canterlot. “It’s just my mom and me here; Dad’s back in Griffonstone taking care of my Granny Gilda. Lemme just warn you, my mom is a little… excitable.”

“Hey, I live with three princesses and a dragon. I’m sure I can handle it,” Cotton chuckled.

“Alright, I warned you. Just gimme a sec.” Steadclaw walked up the steps to his front door and unlocked it, then yelled through the doorway. “Ma! Hey, Ma! I brought some company!” Cotton heard a muffled response. “Don’t worry, she won’t care. Yes, I did say ‘she’. Come down and say hello!” Steadclaw turned back to Cotton and waved her in. “C’mon in, she’ll just be a sec.” Cotton followed Steadclaw into the two-story townhome. 

Steadclaw guided her into the living room. A few sturdy pine chairs, a table with some scattered papers, and a worn couch with a blanket over the back made for a suitable family room. Given her frequent cleaning service, Cotton had nothing recent to compare it to, but based on her past experiences with Mother Matron, she would have considered it rather clean with a bit of organized chaos. 

“Here, take a seat.” Steadclaw offered her the couch. “You want something to drink?” 

“Actually, a glass of water would be great, if it’s not too much trouble,” Cotton answered, taking her saddlebag off and setting it beside the couch. 

“Is tap okay?”

Cotton lifted her head with a flourish. “Nay, We only drink the finest waters of the Frozen North.”

Steadclaw shuffled. “Uhh, sorry, mom doesn’t have—”

“Tap’s fine,” she said with a giggle.

“Coming right up,” Steadclaw chuckled. “Y’know, you’re pretty good at that. You should do that to Gem and Jewel and see what they say.” They both laughed before he walked into the kitchen through a doorway, then Cotton heard a pair of claws clicking on the hardwood stairs. 

Just as the sound of rushing water began, a female griffon rounded the corner into the room. She could have served as Steadclaw’s female doppelganger in features, aside from the lack of gray on her beak and a few extra years. When she caught sight of Cotton, she let out a loud gasp and covered her beak with a claw. Cotton flinched, and when the sound of rushing water stopped, all that could be heard was silence.

Steadclaw walked back into the room carrying Cotton’s glass of water. “Here you go, Co—Oh, Mom! This is—”

“Steadclaw! Kitchen—now!” 

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. He turned to Cotton and winced. Setting the glass on the table, he said, “Heh… here, Cotton. Sorry, just give us a sec.” He walked back into the kitchen, his mother trailing closely behind him.

When they were out of the room, Cotton let out a sigh. Ugh, looks like I didn’t make the best first impression… Maybe Steadclaw was right about this being too soon. I mean, it’s barely been a day… She figured she shouldn’t, but recalling a technique her Aunt Luna had taught her, Cotton decided against her moral judgement and took a deep breath, then focused all her senses to her ears. 

“…in Equestria is a pony like that doing here?”

Cotton frowned and her ears drooped. Figures… 

“Mom, she’s a friend from school!”

“That filly is from your school?”

“Yes! She—”

“How did you get her here?”

“She’s a pegasus! We flew, duh! I—wait, what? What does that—”

“That filly is the most stunning mare in Equestria! How in Grover’s name did you get her here?”

Cotton’s ears perked up and her face reddened. Okay, maybe not…

“MOM! That’s why you called me in here? Tell her that to her face! Hearing that from you would—”

“Oh please, I’m sure she knows she—”

“MOOoom! She’s a pony, not a griffon! You know they have messed-up values of beauty! You didn’t even introduce yourself, you just ran out of the room! She probably thinks you hate her, so tell her to her face! Just don’t be any weirder about it!”

“Good gracious, a girl like that in my home… She would be perfect for you! Is that why she’s here? Please, tell me that’s why she’s—” 

“Mom! Please, don’t be weird…er. Go introduce yourself, and for Grover’s sake, don’t just blurt out that you think she’s pretty. We’ll get to it.”

Cotton heard the clearing of throats before Steadclaw walked back into the living room with his mother. Cotton relaxed, took herself out of her eavesdropping trance, and put on as innocent a smile as she could. 

“I… I’m sorry for my reaction, dear. You just gave me a bit of a start,” Steadclaw’s mother said. “You’re the first friend Steadclaw’s brought home—I wasn’t expecting to see a pony such as yourself. Or a pony at all, for that matter.”

“Mom!” Steadclaw huffed at her. She grimaced. “Let’s start over. Cotton, this is my mom, Stella. Mom, this is Cotton Candy, my—” He stopped, realizing they hadn’t actually declared themselves as anything yet. Looking over at Cotton for a cue, he found her giggling. If the way she looked at him and batted her eyelashes was any indication, he had approval. Smiling, Steadclaw finished, “—my girlfriend.” 

Stella gasped once again. “She is?”

“Mom! I told you not to—”

“Oh Grover, this is wonderful! My my, Steadclaw, how in Equestria did you find yourself a ten?”

Cotton’s and Steadclaw’s faces both burned bright red. Cotton covered her smile with a hoof, while Steadclaw smacked his face with an open claw. “Good Grover, Mom, can I finish?”

“There’s more?” 

Steadclaw’s claw dropped like a dead weight. “I swear, I’m going back to Griffonstone and jumping into the Abysmal Abyss.” He turned to a giggling Cotton and sighed, “I’m just going to apologize in advance for whatever my mom may do or say from here on out.” Looking at his mother, Steadclaw continued, “Mom, Cotton knows Aunt Pinkie.”

“What? Dear me, talk about six degrees of separation! How do you know Pinkie Pie, dear?” Stella asked.

Cotton laughed internally at Stella’s hysterics. “We met at a family reunion a few years ago,” she answered.

“Family?”

Cotton laughed. “Well, to quote my dad, we’re kind of an eclectic family.” 

Steadclaw interjected before his mother could respond. “She knows all the other living Element Bearers, too, Mom. The Apples are her cousins.”

Stella’s mouth hung open. “And if you know all the living Elements, that means—”

“Princess Twilight, too, yes,” Cotton answered.

“What in the… By the moon and the stars, Cotton Candy, who are you? Not only are you gorgeous, but you’ve got the most amazing and extensive network I’ve ever heard of!” She turned to Steadclaw and asked, “How long have you two—”

“Just yesterday, actually,” Steadclaw answered with a blush to match Cotton’s.

“Where were you yesterday, Steadclaw? Winning the lottery?” 

Steadclaw looked at Cotton and winked. “In a way.” Cotton hid her grin behind a hoof. “Actually, I was at Canterlot Castle.”

“Canterlot Ca—” Stella stopped and took a few deep breaths. “The castle? How in Grover’s name did you end up there? You weren’t in trouble with the Guard again, were you?”

“No, Mom,” Steadclaw responded with a huff, before motioning a talon in Cotton’s direction. “Cotton invited me. She lives there.” 

“What? You…” Stella turned toward Cotton as she spoke, but just stopped mid-sentence. 

“Do you know about Sir Spike of the Canterlot Archives?” Cotton asked. Stella managed a nod. “He’s, uh… he’s my dad. Princess Twilight’s my aunt, actually.”

Stella let out a squawk. “WHAT? Royalty? Steadclaw, you brought home royalty? How—”

In a moment, Stella fell to the floor. Steadclaw smacked his face once again, then looked over at a blushing Cotton. “I’m so sorry about this. I did say she was excitable.”

“It’s alright.” Cotton couldn’t help but chuckle. “At least she didn’t bow.”


Ж


Cotton stayed on the couch as Steadclaw hovered over his mother. When Stella came to, she mumbled, “Oh… my… what—” 

Steadclaw planted his face in front of her to block her vision, then spoke clearly and slowly. “Okay, Mom, a few things. One, yes, that did just happen. Two, do not bow. She’s not actually royalty. And three, just relax. Cotton’s like any other pony. Just… way more awesome,” he finished with a smile, looking over toward the couch.

Stella lifted herself from the floor to stand up, Steadclaw giving her a claw. As she stood, she caught sight of Cotton on the couch again, waving at her with a smile and a tinge in her cheeks. Shaking her head to clear her mind, Stella let out a sigh. “Oh dear, Cotton, I’m so sorry about that. I… don’t really have an excuse for my behavior, but if I recall what I said correctly… I hope you know I have nothing but positive thoughts about you.” 

Cotton chuckled. “Yeah, that was pretty clear. Thank you very much. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

“I can’t believe someone so beautiful is giving my clown of a son a chance!”

“MOooOOM!”
> Chapter Sixteen - Taking Advice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, do you just like, not tell your mom anything that you’re doing?” Cotton asked Steadclaw as they slowly, casually, glided back toward Canterlot Castle. “Keeping her out of the loop like that must drive her nuts.”

“Basically, yeah. I mean, you saw how excited she got. If I’d told her it was your party that I had gone to this weekend, she probably would’ve wanted to drop me off just to make sure I wasn’t making stuff up. If I just say I’m going to ‘a friend’s party’, she usually doesn’t question it. Besides, she tends to focus more on my academics. As long as I’m doing well enough for us to stay in Canterlot, she usually doesn’t ask what else is going on.”

“And yet, the class clown is still here,” Cotton chuckled.

“Ha ha. I may not look like it, but I actually do take my schoolwork seriously,” Steadclaw retorted. “You saw how much time I spent with your dad yesterday. He can vouch for me.”

“Well if you’re really taking it so seriously, why don’t you ever share your grades? It looks like you’re always doing badly when you hide them.”

“The clown admitting to getting good grades? Do you know how badly that would ruin my image?” Steadclaw laughed.

“Y’know, that reminds me—what did your mom mean when she asked if you were ‘in trouble with the Guard again’? What’ve you been doing?” Cotton asked suspiciously.

Steadclaw scratched the back of his head. “Heh, I just played a few harmless pranks on ponies around the castle every now and then—nothing that caused any actual harm. They always overreacted and called the Royal Guard on me, though. I think it happened about four times before Sergeant Novamac finally told me if he got another call about me, he’d throw me in the dungeon, even if our grandmothers are good friends. I don’t think he was really serious about it, but I don’t feel like taking that chance.”

“Yeah, I doubt he’d throw you in the dungeon, but believe me, you don’t want to get on his bad side, either. And if you do pull more stunts like that, I won’t bail you out, you knucklehead.”

“Moving on,” Steadclaw said with a plastic smile. “What did you think of my mom? I mean, she obviously likes you.”

“Well, after the fainting spell,” Cotton chuckled, “she was really nice. Seriously. You both flatter me with the way you talk about my looks.”

“Cotton, let me tell you something in all seriousness,” Steadclaw said. “In griffons’ eyes, that’s not flattery, those are just straight compliments. There’s a lot about you to compliment, and not just the scars.”

The two of them landed in front of the castle main doors. Cotton turned to him and smiled. “Well then, from a baker’s perspective, I’ll just say that you’re really good at earning brownie points,” she said with a giggle. “Thanks for bringing me home. My dad doesn’t like me being out late by myself.”

“It isn’t really that late,” Steadclaw responded, leading her towards the main gate. “But even so, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t escort my girl home?”

“I’m sure I could handle getting home by myself, but I’d rather you be here with me,” she replied with a sheepish smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Steadclaw smiled and leaned forward as Cotton reached up toward him. After a brief kiss, Steadclaw turned to leave. “I’ll see you tomo—”

“Hold on a sec, could you?” Cotton asked, putting a hoof up to the massive doors. Steadclaw stopped as she rapped the heavy iron knocker against the door. After a moment, the doors opened to reveal Princess Celestia standing beside Spike. Steadclaw’s eyes widened, and Cotton grimaced. “Sorry, she really wanted to meet you. My dad’s a blabbermouth.”

Steadclaw immediately turned toward Princess Celestia and dipped his head as he crossed a claw over his chest. “Your Highness! I-it’s an honor!” he stammered. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know I would be—”

“You have nothing to apologize for, my good griffon,” Princess Celestia said with a smile. “It was I who asked Cotton to bring you here to meet me without your knowledge. I apologize for having her deceive you so. Please, you may rise.” Steadclaw lifted his head and put his claw down, as Celestia walked toward Cotton. “I have heard wonderful things about you, Steadclaw. I must thank you for making Cotton so happy, especially since you managed to do so in the course of a mere twenty-four hours.” She put a hoof under Cotton’s chin and softly raised it to see Cotton with a bright smile on her face. “I’ve never seen my niece so joyous.”

Steadclaw blushed. “Believe me, Your Highness, the honor is all mine. Cotton is the smartest, coolest, and most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. My mother said the same.”

“Ah yes, how was the meeting? Based on Cotton’s smile, I can only imagine it went well.”

“Uh, well…” Steadclaw started. “I’ll just say yes, it went well. My mom absolutely adores her. I’ll let Cotton tell you the rest. It’ll probably make for some amusing dinner conversation.” 

“Oh really?” Spike asked, sauntering outside and stretching his wings. “Well, depending on the outcome of those conversations, perhaps we ought to have a parent-to-parent meeting sometime soon. Especially considering your mother has four parents to meet, Steadclaw,” Spike chuckled.

“F-four?” Steadclaw stammered.

“One father and three honorary mothers,” Spike said, nudging Celestia. “They seem to act that way, despite being aunts.” Celestia shrugged. 

“Oh, right,” Steadclaw laughed uneasily. “I don’t see why not, as long as my mom knows ahead of time.” 

“That can absolutely be arranged,” Celestia replied.

“Hey, what about the dance?” Cotton asked. “It’s in like, two weeks. Steadclaw would probably come here and get me anyway. What if he brings his mom with him and you can all get to know each other while we’re out?”

“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea, Cotton,” Spike answered. “While you’re—just a minute…” Spike scratched his chin. “Cotton, where’s the school hosting your dance?”

“They’ve been trying to work something out with this fancy-schmancy place across town,” Steadclaw answered. “I overheard a meeting in the staffroom the other day. The ballroom they want to rent is being really stubborn about the price. Grover forbid UCHS actually host a school dance at the school.”

Spike looked down at Celestia, who in turn looked up at him, both of them smirking. “Ti—I mean, Princess, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I just might be, Sir Spike. Shall I contact the school tomorrow and let them know we can offer a venue for their event?” Cotton and Steadclaw shot looks at each other, open-mouthed.

“I’m the actual parent. I’ll contact them,” Spike answered. “We can even provide top-notch catering and security, free of charge. I can’t imagine the school would object.”

“Then it’s settled,” Celestia said with a nod. “We’ll contact the school and set up the details, and we’ll meet your mother in two weeks, Steadclaw. That way she has some advanced notice.”

“That… that sounds great, Your Highness! I’ll tell her when I get home,” Steadclaw replied, his head still spinning from the development.

“Wonderful. It was a pleasure to meet you, young tiercel,” Celestia said. “Thank you for escorting Cotton home. And if it eases your mind at all,” she paused with a smirk, “you now have all four of Cotton’s parents’ approvals. Not a simple feat in such a short period of time.” 

Steadclaw’s brows rose at the remark. Looking over at a blushing Cotton standing beside her father, he smiled as his own cheeks reddened. “Thank you very much, Your Highness, Sir Spike,” he said, dipping his head once again.

“No, thank you, Steadclaw,” Spike said, “for helping my daughter finally realize that her outer beauty matches her inner beauty.” He gently rubbed under Cotton’s chin with a talon before she walked towards Steadclaw herself.

“You’re very welcome, sir, but if you don’t mind my saying…” Steadclaw looked at Cotton as she neared him. “I don’t understand what took so long.”

Cotton’s cheeks reddened further as she leaned up and gave him a kiss. “You really know how to flatter a girl,” she said. Spike and Celestia both smiled. 

“Hey, I told you—”

“I know, compliments, not flattery,” Cotton cut him off. “Go tell your mom about the dance. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Will do,” Steadclaw answered. “It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Great to see you again, Sir Spike.”

“Likewise, Steadclaw,” Spike responded with a smile.

“We’ll see you in two weeks, if not sooner,” Celestia said. 

“Absolutely, Your Highness. Have a good evening.”

“You too, young tiercel. Speaking of which,” Celestia said, turning to head back inside the castle, “I do believe I have a sun to lower.”

Steadclaw let out a chuckle. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cotton.” When she smiled and nodded, Steadclaw flared his wings, took to the air, and headed back home.

Cotton let out a sigh, and Spike grinned. “Well well, a public display of affection. That’s a first for you, sweetie.”

Cotton looked up at her father and giggled. “Well, if you consider that public, then no, not really. Our first had three witnesses.” 

“Hmm, it’s still new for you,” Spike replied. 

“That’s more accurate,” Cotton said with a smile.

Spike let out a sigh of his own. “You know, sweetie, I realize I should probably apologize to you for making such a big deal out of this so soon. You two seemed to hit it off so quickly, I went straight to your aunts because I couldn’t contain my excitement. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

Cotton shrugged. “Well, yeah, you did at first, but you’re right about him,” she said. “He… he makes me happy. And I feel really good about myself despite everything.” She looked at the scars on her legs. A thought passed through her mind, but another overtook it and made her smile again. “And he’s always there to defend me.”

“Defend you?” Spike asked, his expression darkening. “From what? Are you having trouble at school again?”

“Well… sort of,” Cotton admitted. “There are these two obnoxious fillies at my school that like to pick on me.”

“Why haven’t you told me?” Spike asked. 

“Honestly, because all they do is flap their muzzles. They just need a target, and they tend to pick me. It was more of an annoyance at first, but ever since Steadclaw started hanging out with me and the girls, anytime they said stuff that actually did bother me, Steadclaw was always ready to defend me.” She smiled. “When he told me yesterday how my scars made me look pretty, all that stopped bothering me. After my drop this morning—”

“Speaking of which, it seems that Nightshade’s taught you well. That was quite the impressive drop,” Spike interrupted.

“Yeah, it was,” Cotton said with a smirk. 

“But you were a bit reckless—you should’ve flared sooner. It doesn’t matter if Nightshade is married to your cousin—if she’s not teaching you restraint then I’ll put her in traction.”

“Dad, no! She taught me everything; I just… wanted to show off. Anyway, after my drop, those girls tried to take another shot at me, and I finally found the courage to shoot back. Steadclaw helped me with that.” She sighed again. “Considering how long he’s been standing up for me, I can’t believe it took me so long to realize what’s been going on.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now,” Spike said. “You figured it out, and things seem to be going smoothly for you two. Just imagine how good things will be after a real, full day.”

“True,” Cotton chuckled. “I can’t believe how much happened since yesterday afternoon.”

“Well, now that we’re back on a positive hoof, I want to ask you something, Cotton.”

“What’s up, Dad?”

“Well, you didn’t say anything before, so hopefully the answer is no,” Spike said, “but do you have any problem with us hosting your dance here at the castle? I realize your aunt Tia and I made the offer without asking you first. The only one that knows about the possibility right now is Steadclaw, and he can be easily contacted if you’d prefer we—”

“Dad, it’s fine!” Cotton said, ending Spike’s rambling. “That was a really generous offer, and I know the school would appreciate it. Besides, that means I don’t have to worry about transportation,” she giggled.

“Thank goodness,” Spike sighed. “I almost worked myself into a tizzy. Thank you, sweetie.”

“No, thank you, Dad.”

“For what?”

Cotton smiled. “For giving him a chance. Now I actually have a reason to go to the dance, aside from the fact that it’s gonna be hosted here.”

Spike returned the smile. “I’m happy to, Sweetheart. You’ve found someone who appreciates you for who you are inside and out, and if he makes you happy, then I’m happy.” The two of them let out a unanimous sigh. “I just have one request.”

“What’s that?”

“Please tell Steadclaw—and your friends—to stop calling me ‘Sir’,” he deadpanned. “You know how much I hate that.”

“Well, how else are they supposed to address you?” Cotton teased.

“Just ‘Spike’ is fine. I tell that to everypony, you know that. I know full well you introduced me as ‘Sir’ just to bust my chops,” Spike said, crossing his arms.

Cotton snickered. “Alright, you got me there, Dad. But I did think they should address you formally the first time they met you. I figured if you really cared, you would have said something right away, but you didn’t.”  

“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it the first time you brought friends over, and I figured since you introduced me with my title, I’d test their level of respect.” He smirked. “They all passed with flying colors. I think you did an excellent job of choosing your friends.”

Cotton smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”

As the two of them walked back into the castle, Twilight came trotting up to them. “Cotton! Your aunt Tia just told me we’ll be hosting your school dance here! Do you need me to do some planning?” Her pupils dilated, an expression Cotton recognized.

Cotton chuckled. “I swear, you’re all worse than gossiping grade-school fillies! No, Aunt Twilight, I think the school will take care of everything else.” Twilight pouted. “If they do want your help, I’ll tell them they can get in contact with you, though.” She paused for a second, and Twilight’s ears flattened against her head. “Hmm… Actually, now that I think about it… they’d probably be thrilled if you helped. Just… wait until they actually ask before you start planning, okay?” Cotton’s gambit worked; Twilight looked ecstatic.

“Okay, Cotton, I’ll try. Do you think your cousin Largo would like to deejay?”

“Twilight, what did she just say?” Spike deadpanned.

“Oh… right. Sorry,” Twilight said. “It’s kind of a reflex.”

“We’re well aware,” Spike laughed. Turning to Cotton, he said, “We’re having dinner shortly, so go put your stuff in your room and wash up, sweetie.”

“Will do, Dad. Be down in a sec,” Cotton responded, heading to the stairs.

As Spike and Twilight both made their way to the dining room, Spike smiled and said quietly, “That worked out nicely. Now I can chaperone the dance without needing an excuse. I’ll just need to make sure the upper floor is blocked off.”

“Spike!”

“What? We don’t want all those school kids wandering around the upper sanctum! We’ve got to make sure they stay in the ballroom!” Spike retorted.

Twilight smirked. “Yeah. Sure. And Cadance’s ‘advice’ to you has absolutely nothing to do with it.”

Spike walked silently for a moment, then responded with a laugh, “No comment. This interview’s over.”
> Chapter Seventeen - Intervention
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight opened the door to the giant ballroom-turned-bedroom. Finding it occupied, she asked her brother, “Spike, what are you doing in here? And why did you take the day off? You never take a day off, even when you aren’t feeling well. Is everything okay?”

Spike laid on his collection of cushions, staring straight up at the ceiling. He sighed as he wiped a claw across his face. “Well… yes and no.”

“That’s not very helpful, Spike,” Twilight responded. “What’s going on? 

Spike sighed once more before he answered, “Well, I had my interview with Cotton about Rarity last night. Her paper is due next week, and she wanted to get a jump on it before the weekend.”

Twilight tilted her head and furrowed her brows. “Spike, that’s… that’s wonderful! You finally got to talk with Cotton about her! Isn’t that what you’ve been wanting?”

Spike groaned as he covered his face with his claws. “Yes, yes it is. I wanted Cotton to know as much about her should-have-been mother since the day I signed the adoption papers. I wanted to tell her everything. There was just one thing I didn’t expect to happen…” 

Twilight walked toward him. “What happened?”

Spike let out a deep breath before lifting himself to a seated position so he could look at his sister. Catching sight of his red, puffy eyes and the streaks down his cheeks, Twilight put her hoof to her mouth and her eyebrows arched upward. “Talking about her for so long only made me realize how much I truly miss her.” Spike choked back a sob and lifted his claws to his eyes, allowing the tears to flow freely and splash in buckets on the floor below. “I-if only she could be here to raise Cotton with me… she would have been ecstatic.”

Twilight flew up to his shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, Spike… I’m so sorry. I would say I understand how you feel, but it’s only partially true. I miss her dearly, too, but I can’t say I know exactly. I didn’t have the same kind of relationship with her, so I didn’t have the same thing to lose.” She nuzzled herself into his cheek. 

Spike sniffed. “At least you understand that you don’t understand… Thank you, Twilight, but… I just need some time to myself today, alright?”

“Now that I completely understand,” Twilight replied, leaving his shoulder and gliding back to his door. “Of course, take as much time as you need. I’ll let you know when Cotton gets home from school, if you’re not ready by then.”

“Hopefully I won’t need that long, but just in case—thank you.” Twilight nodded and shut the door behind her as she left. 

Spike let himself once again fall to his back and stared up at the ceiling. “Oh, Rarity… if only you could be here to live our dream together. I think I’ve managed nicely for the first four years, but she’s at that age… That age you always said you regretted, but secretly loved. You never got the chance to play the mother’s role with your teenage daughter. It’s just me, a father and his daughter. Hopefully I don’t botch it up… especially now that she’s found her first love. I know how much you would have enjoyed watching her grow, whispering gossip behind closed doors with her about boys. It’s only been a few days and I can tell how happy Steadclaw has made her. Oh, you would have fawned over this.” Spike laughed and sobbed at the same time. 

“Y’know, I should use this ‘time to myself’ wisely,” Spike mulled. Shutting his eyes, he turned himself over and said, “Hopefully, I’ll spend it with you.”


Ж


“Hey, Hot Stuff.”

Cotton turned from her locker to find Steadclaw behind her amongst the shuffle of the other students getting ready to leave for the day, giving her a wink. She chuckled. “You know, you’re the only one that can get away with calling me that and have it not sound like an insult.”

“I should be honored, then,” Steadclaw replied with a smile. Cotton punched him in the shoulder, then the two of them made their way to the exit. As they walked, Steadclaw asked, “Hey, can I ask a favor?”

“What’s up?”

“Would you mind if I, uh, accompanied you home?”

Cotton laughed. “Why not? I can always use an escort, and you’re always welcome at the castle.”

“Well, actually, I was hoping I could talk with your dad for a few minutes. The paper’s due next week, and there's probably a couple of scrolls on the S.C.C. that’d be great for me to get my claws on.”

“Oh! Sure! If you need school help, you know my dad’s always happy to lend a hoo—er, claw.”

“Awesome! Thanks! And I dunno, maybe we can just chill for a bit afterwards before I go back to my place?” Steadclaw asked with a smirk.

Giggling, Cotton answered, “Fine by me.” As they reached an open clearing in the school courtyard, she flared her wings and said, “Come on, let’s take to the air.”

“Right behind ya,” Steadclaw responded, and the two of them took off for the castle.

When the castle came into sight, they casually glided towards their destination, expecting an easy trip. What they did not expect was for something to swoop down from above and take off with Steadclaw.

Almost as quickly as he had felt the jerk on his arm, Steadclaw found himself in one of the darker alleyways between Canterlot’s bright buildings. “Woah! What just—”

“Shhh!” Steadclaw turned to the back of the alley, where a noctis in indigo armor beckoned to him. “Come here, right now! I’m not going to hurt you, and I don’t have much time before Cotton starts worrying.” Steadclaw stared in awe, but did as he was told. “Name’s Nightshade. I’m one of Princess Luna’s guards, and I have a message from her.”

Steadclaw recoiled. “P-Princess Luna? Did I do something wrong? I thought I was okay in her book!”

“As far as I’m aware, you are, but she has some advice for you,” Nightshade said, clearing her throat and doing her best to sound like Luna. “‘Thou art yet to ask Our Cotton out on a date, young tiercel. What is taking thee so long?’”

“A… a date? You mean like a date date?” Steadclaw sputtered.

“Yeah, that’s what it sounds like. If you haven’t asked Cotton out on a date yet, you should get on it.”

“Well, I would… I mean, I want to, but I don’t have the bits to shell out for anything fancy! I know it’s proper for the guy to pay for a date, but—”

“Look kid, it doesn’t have to be fancy,” Nightshade responded. “Based on what I’ve heard, you know Cotton well enough to know she’d appreciate something simple. A casual dinner and a movie would probably be fine.”

Steadclaw put a talon to his chin. “Hmm… good point. Some of the local eateries around here would be in my price range, and they aren’t too drab.”

“There ya go. Sounds like you can figure it out from here. Alright, I’ve gotta go. Princess Luna asked me to get up early to talk to you. Oh, one more thing—this conversation didn’t happen,” Nightshade said with a glare. “Don’t mention Princess Luna or me to anyone, especially not Cotton. She’d get upset at us for meddling.”

“But what am I supposed to tell her happened? I got hit by a gust of wind? She wouldn’t buy that!”

“I dunno, kid, tell her…” Nightshade waved her hoof around. “Tell her another griffon came at you and you got into a little spat or something, and you knocked him out.”

“But… I’m totally fine, and none of my stuff is ruined. Cotton would know I made that up, probably just to make myself look tough.”

Nightshade let out a huff. “Ugh, kids… Look, are you emotionally attached to that schoolbag you’ve got?” she asked, pointing at Steadclaw’s bag.

“N-no, not really. Why?”

“Make a couple of small slashes in it with your talon. It’ll look like someone else did it. We’ll reimburse you for a new one. And here…” Nightshade approached him and ruffled up his plumage a bit, from his chest to his head feathers. “That’ll look like you got into a scruff. That should be believable enough.” 

“I guess,” Steadclaw responded. Looking at his bag, he grimaced a bit, then turned it around and made two slashes in one of the upper corners. He didn’t want to ruin his notes, after all. “How’s that?”

“Looks believable enough to me,” Nightshade answered. “I’m sure I’ll see you around the castle at some point. When I do, let me know how much your new bag costs, and I’ll reimburse you. Just don’t go overboard.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Steadclaw replied. “I prefer functionality over fashion.”

Nightshade smirked. “Well, well, Cotton really did pick out a smart one.”

“Steadclaw!” they heard from above.

“Shoot! That’s Cotton!” Nightshade said, ducking into the shadows. “Our time’s up. I’ll make some noise and you scream at me as you fly out, alright?”

“Got it.” Steadclaw nodded. “And thanks for the message.”

“No problem, kid,” Nightshade replied. “Now come on, it’s showtime.” She turned around and looked at a pile of trash bins nearby. “Go back out there in about three seconds.” When Steadclaw nodded, Nightshade bucked the trash bins, making a loud clatter.

Three… two… one. Steadclaw flew out of the alley back into the sky. “Now leave us alone, ya jerk!” he shouted behind him. Looking around, he spotted Cotton flying over to him in a hurry. “Cotton! There you are! You okay? Did anything happen?”

“Steadclaw! Yeah, I’m fine, nothing—oh my gosh, look at you! What the hay happened?” She carefully brushed down some of his ruffled plumage with her hooves.

“Ugh… another griffon tried to get a jump on me,” he replied. “Didn’t see exactly who it was, but I’m guessing it was one of the other griffons from school. I knew there was a good reason I don’t hang out with them.”

“Are you okay?” Cotton asked worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m good. Luckily he just roughed me up a bit—no actual damage. He’s taking a nap in a pile of trash now.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Let’s get back to the castle before something else happens.”


Ж


“I’m home!” Cotton yelled out through the main hall. 

One of the guards positioned in the room gave her a crisp salute and shouted, “Cookie baker on deck!” 

“At ease, gentlecolts,” Cotton laughed. “Besides, I’ve told you salutes won’t get you extra chocolate chips.”

“Can’t blame a soldier for trying, Miss Cotton,” he replied, a chuckle rippling through the guards. 

“Alright, I guess I’ll let it slide,” Cotton said with a smile, an expression the guards all mirrored. “Who knows, maybe it’ll actually work for once,” she said with a smirk.

“Hey, sweetie!” Spike said, coming around the corner. “How was—oh, Steadclaw! I didn’t know you were coming. Good to see you again!”

“Likewise, Spike,” Steadclaw responded with his own smile. 

Spike grinned. “Ah, I see my daughter has informed you of my preferred first-name basis. Thank you for indulging me. Hey…” Spike leaned forward to get a closer look at him. “You look a little rough around the edges. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” Steadclaw nodded. “Got into a bit of a scrape on the way here. Cotton was totally out of harm’s way, so don’t worry—they just had a bone to pick with me for some reason. Otherwise, no damage done.”

Spike shook his head. “Unfortunately, that’s not entirely the case.” He held up Steadclaw’s bag in a claw. “It looks your schoolbag took some damage.”

“Oh! Uh, shoot, I didn’t even see that!” Steadclaw said.

“Would you like us to get you a new one?” Spike asked him. “It wouldn’t be any trouble at all.”

“Oh, uh, thank you for the offer, Spike, but I can’t accept that. I’d, uh, rather pay with my own bits,” Steadclaw answered, shame making him blush.

“Dad, Steadclaw was looking for a little help,” Cotton interjected.

“Oh, right! Spike, do you have any other scrolls on the S.C.C.?” Steadclaw asked. “I’ve got a good jump on my paper, but I could use some more info.”

Spike smiled. “Yes, I’ve got a few left, other than the one you returned. They shouldn’t be too much for you to handle. I’ll want you transporting them safely, though. I have to insist I give you a proper satchel for now. When you’ve bought your own, you can return it.”

“Sounds fair to me,” Steadclaw replied. 

“Good,” Spike said, turning around. “Just bear with me for a few minutes. I’ll be back with the scrolls and a proper bag.”

“Thank you, Spike!” Steadclaw called to Spike’s retreating form.

“You’re very welcome!”

Cotton let out a sigh. “Well, now that that’s taken care of, you wanna come up to my room? I don’t usually ask for their help, but I bet one of the attendants wouldn’t mind giving you a brush-down.”

Steadclaw couldn’t help but chuckle. “No thanks, I’ll take care of it when I get home. No offense, but I think I’d feel a little spoiled if one of your attendants started preening me.”

Cotton shrugged. “I understand. I kinda feel the same way. Anything else you need while we wait for my dad?”

Steadclaw shuffled one of his back paws a bit. “Actually, Cotton… there’s something I kinda wanted to ask you…”


Ж


“Thanks, Spike!” Steadclaw said, swinging a sturdy black satchel over his shoulder. “I’ll return these to you as soon as I’m done. Nothing’ll happen to ‘em in here.”

“That’s the idea,” Spike chuckled.

“So, uh, I’ll see you tomorrow, Cotton,” Steadclaw said, blushing at her.

“Oh… Didn’t you wanna hang out for a bit?” Cotton asked, her complexion just as flushed.

“I… I really ought to finish up my paper. It’s due Monday, y’know, and I have some… stuff going on this weekend,” he finished, winking at her.

“…Right,” Cotton responded, reddening even more. “I’ll… see you tomorrow, then.”

“See ya,” Steadclaw replied. “Thanks again, Spike!” With that, he pushed his way out of the main doors and walked out.

“I have to say, that’s one dedicated griffon,” Spike said. “You know, you should be working on that paper yourself, hmm? Cotton?” Spike found her staring straight through the closed doors. He waved a claw in front of her face. “Hello? Equus to Cotton,” he laughed.

“Oh… my… gosh,” Cotton breathed out in disbelief.

“Sweetie, is everything okay?”

“Daddy, he… he just asked me out… on a date.” Her head whipped up at him. “Like, like a date date! And… and I said yes!”
> Chapter Eighteen - How Time Flies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh geez, it’s here. I can’t believe it’s here already,” Spike said, pacing around his room.

“What’s here, Spike?” Twilight asked him. “You were fidgeting at dinner again. I’m guessing this has something to do with Cotton and Steadclaw?”

“Yes—something thou dost not want to talk about in front of her, considering she is not present once again,” Luna added.

“I have a sneaking suspicion he’s overreacting about something,” Celestia said with a smirk.

“Hush, you,” Spike retorted, Twilight and Luna both suppressing laughter. “Steadclaw asked Cotton out on a date this afternoon, and she said yes.”

“Ah, ‘twas fast,” Luna said. “Uh, We mean, ‘twas rather fast—‘tis still somewhat early in the relationship, is it not?” 

“Not really,” Celestia replied. “Well, yes, the relationship is still just beginning, but asking a new special somepony out on an official date isn’t unusual. This is really more Cadance’s territory, but I see no harm in it. As I said, I think Spike’s overreacting.”

“And like I said, hush,” Spike replied, glaring at Celestia. “I don’t have any issue with them going on a date.”

“Then why’re you being so neurotic?” Twilight asked.

Spike couldn’t help grinning. “Again, rich, coming from you.” When Twilight pouted, he continued, “It’s just that… with them taking that step forward, I’m debating whether or not to have the ‘Birds and the Bees’ talk with Cotton.”

Luna cocked a brow. “What doth birds and bees have to do with a date?”

Celestia chuckled. “It’s a colloquialism, Lulu. It was coined a little under two centuries ago.”

“It means to talk with your children about safe… intimate contact,” Twilight answered her with a light blush. Twilight looked up at Spike. “I can’t believe you haven’t had that talk with her already. She’s sixteen years old, what were you thinking?”

“Thou feeleth the need to speak with Cotton about sexual intercourse before her first date?” Luna beamed as she looked up at Spike. “How wonderful! This age hath become so prudish about oscillating the unmentionables!”

“What?” Twilight yelped, blushing.

“Thou knowest—putting condensed milk on the waffle!” Luna responded.

Celestia put a hoof to her mouth. “I think I’m going to need to skip breakfast tomorrow.” Raising a brow, she added, “Where in Equestria did you hear an innuendo like that?”

“We heard it from Cadenza. Why?” Luna replied.

Twilight groaned. “I’m going to have a long talk with my sister-in-law.”

“You know, this really isn’t helping, girls,” Spike interjected. “Should I have the talk with her or not?”

“Indeed! As We’ve heard the common folk say, ‘Better safe than sorry.’ Though knowing thee, thou wilt be waiting at the door to prevent any… intimate courses of action,” Luna said, glancing at Twilight.

“For the first date? You bet your flank I will,” Spike said. “But you’re right. I think I’ll have the talk with her tomorrow after she gets home from school. Hopefully she doesn’t bring friends over.”

“Oooooh! May We assist with the intercourse?” Luna asked.

“No, I’m sure I can handle the intercourse myself… I mean! The talk! With Cotton!” Spike blushed, then mumbled, “You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Very well,” Luna huffed, “though We possess numerous tomes on pleasing races and genders of all kinds, should she wish to borrow them.”

“I’ll keep those books firmly in mind,” Spike responded. He blinked, then blushed. “Why do I keep opening my big mouth?” he mumbled to himself.

“So that’s where my books went, you stole them!” Celestia cried.

Luna snorted. “We did not steal thy books like a common thief.” She sniffed, then added quietly, “We simply borrowed them for an extended period of time.”

“IT’S BEEN OVER ONE THOUSAND YEARS!” 

Twilight shook her head. “The late fees will kill you.”


Ж


“Oh my gosh, Daisy. I still can’t believe it—my first real date!” Cotton beamed as the two of them walked down the hall towards the cafeteria. “And it’s only been, like, three days! I didn’t think he’d ask so soon!”

“Honestly, I’m not that surprised,” Daisy responded with a smile. “I’ll bet he’s had a thing for you since the first time he laid eyes on you. He just needed a chance to finally say something.”

“You think so?” Cotton replied. “I mean, the stuff he said about my scars…” She flipped her mane forward to cover her right side. “I guess it would make sense…”

Harmony Wishes and Flarechaser came up alongside Cotton and Daisy from behind. 

“What would make sense?” 

“If you’re talkin’ about trig, I could use a hoof if you actually understand that junk.”

“Pfft, I wish. I’m asking my Aunt Twilight for help on that,” Cotton said.

“Nah, we were chatting about Steadclaw asking her out,” Daisy replied. “I think Cotton’s a little jittery about it—didn’t think he’d go for it so quick.” 

“Are you kidding? Girl, Featherhead’s had his eyes on you from day one,” Flarechaser laughed. 

“That’s what I said,” Daisy added.

“Besides, he just asked you to dinner and a movie,” Harmony said. “Nothing fancy. He’s probably kinda jittery about it himself. Doesn’t wanna screw it up.”

“True,” Cotton responded. “He did seem a bit… uncertain when he asked me. But he didn’t even look at me all through History this morning. You don’t think he’s gonna change his mind, do you?”

“Like Tartarus he’d change his mind,” Flarechaser said. “He’s just nervous. He asked out the prettiest filly in school, and she said yes.” 

Cotton blushed. “You’re only saying that ‘cause you’re doing the Griffon Culture assignment.”

“Well, if you wanna look at it from that perspective, am I wrong?” Flarechaser asked, grinning. 

“All of us heard what he said that afternoon,” Harmony added. “Come on, get that out of your face.” She lit up her horn and moved Cotton’s long mane back to reveal her scarred cheek, just in time for them to enter the cafeteria and see Steadclaw at a table on the far side of the room. Even from the distance, the four of them could all see his face flush as he looked up and laid eyes on Cotton.

“C’mon, let’s get something to eat and go join him; I’m starved,” Daisy said. “Maybe we’ll get a clue into what he’s really thinking.”

“Then again, do you really wanna know?” Flarechaser said.

“What’re you talking about?” Cotton asked.

“Maybe he wants to make a move,” Flarechaser said with a wink.

Cotton cocked a brow. “Huh?”

“Oh come on, girl! You know—a move.” Flarechaser waggled her eyebrows, and Cotton’s entire face went crimson.

“On the first date? I doubt it,” Harmony said.

“I bet you a hundred bits Cotton’s dad’s gonna be waiting for them when she gets home,” Daisy added. “He’ll make sure Steadclaw doesn’t try anything funny. Maybe he’ll let ‘em kiss. On the cheek.” She giggled.

“Well, they’ll have plenty of time for some action during the movie,” Flarechaser said with a grin. “I’ve got the perfect—”

“Girls, can we stop talking about this?” Cotton interrupted them. “We’re not going out until tomorrow.” She turned to Daisy. “Besides, my dad’s already seen us kiss.” 

“And he was cool with it?” Harmony asked.

“Yes.” Cotton groaned. “Girls, I really don’t wanna have all these thoughts going through my head right now. Can we just go sit down?”

Flarechaser smirked. “You gonna sit next to him?” 

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, why?” 

“Maybe he’ll run his talons down your—”

“FLARE!” 


Ж


Out in the school’s courtyard, all the students prepared to leave. Daisy, Harmony Wishes, and Flarechaser all watched Cotton as she flapped her wings and hovered in the air for a moment.

“I’ll see you girls on Monday! Have a good weekend!” Cotton called to them. Then she turned to Steadclaw, still on the ground with a flushed complexion. “And I’ll see you tomorrow,” Cotton said with a smile. Steadclaw nodded with his own smile, holding two talons up to his forehead in a salute. Cotton giggled. “Geez, you’re as bad as the hall guards. And you haven’t even eaten my cookies yet.” When Flarechaser put a hoof to her muzzle to suppress a snort, Cotton’s eyes bulged and she immediately flew off towards the castle at top speed.


Ж


I really need to think before I speak. Cotton shook her head as she opened the front door into the main hall. “I’m home!” she called out. Then she glared at the guards. “If any of you salute, so help me, you won’t get another—dessert from me as long as I live!”

“Woah, calm down, sweetie!” Spike trundled around the corner. “Don’t you think that’s some cruel and unusual punishment for these fine gentlecolts? What’s ruffled your feathers?”

Cotton let out a deep sigh, then a light chuckle. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” All the guards let out sighs of relief. “I just… accidentally said something embarrassing today, and a salute was involved.”

One of the guards spoke up. “Uh oh. Was it in front of your griffon friend?”

“Uh… yeah.” Cotton’s face flushed.

“Did you use a… euphemism?” another guard asked.

Cotton’s face reddened further. “Y-yes.”

“Yeesh,” a third guard said. “And they’re going on a date tomorrow, too.”

“Awkwarrrrrrrrrd,” came the fourth guard’s voice.

“Colts! You’re not helping!” Spike growled.

All the guards stomped their spears on the floor before simultaneously barking, “Sorry, Sir!”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” Spike said, crossing his arms.

The guards all turned to Cotton and said, “Sorry, Miss Cotton!”

Cotton sighed. “At ease, gentlecolts. Apology accepted.” After a moment, a small smile crossed her muzzle. “Actually, now that I think about it, it was kinda funny.”

Spike smiled. “I’m glad to see you can recover from embarrassment so quickly, sweetie. If you wouldn’t mind, could you come to my chamber for a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Sure, Dad. Just a sec.” A sly smirk crossed Cotton’s muzzle. Addressing the guards, Cotton said, “Oh gentlecolts, I’m thinking about doing some baking tonight. How many of you would like to eat my cookies?”

All four guards’ hooves began rising before each of their faces turned red in turn. Spike’s jaw dropped. “Cotton! Get your flank up to my chamber right now!”

“Yes, Dad,” Cotton giggled, galloping up the stairs.

When she was out of sight, Spike narrowed his eyes at the guards. “Lesson learned? Next time any of you overhear Cotton talking with her boyfriend, you might want to keep your muzzles shut,” he said.

“Lesson learned, Sir!” the guards all said.

As he started up the stairs, Spike added an addendum. “Unless they’re talking about… rolling in the hay. Then you are to inform me immediately. Now—” He swiped two talons across his mouth in a zipping motion.

“Yes, Sir!” the guards chorused as Spike ascended the stairs.


Ж


As he walked down the hallway, Spike thought to himself, Hmm… having the guards tell me when Cotton is thinking about taking the next step? Urgh, maybe I am being neurotic. Well, first things first. He walked through the open door to his chamber and closed it behind him. Walking closer to his desk, he found Cotton staring at a small, oak table he had set up, her eyes bulging and her jaw slack. Upon the table sat two puppets, a banana, and a foil packet.

Cotton slowly turned her head up to her father, a look of horror dawning on her face, and asked, “Daaaaaad? W-what are those for?”

Spike began, “Uhhh… well, you see, Cotton, when two ponies—or a pony and a griffon—love each other very much…”
> Chapter Nineteen - They Come With Pictures Now?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Opening her eyes to the dawning light spilling between the curtains on the eastern wall, Cotton bolted upright. Looking nervously at her bed-head in the mirror across her room, she immediately rushed over to the vanity underneath. She ran a hairbrush through her mane and glanced at her wardrobe reflected in the mirror. “At least I don’t have to worry about picking out a dress.” Looking at the rest of her body, she grimaced. “But I definitely need to wash up.” Putting the brush down and opening her door, she cantered to the restroom. Standing in front of the ajar door, Cotton looked down and said, “Ugh, maybe I should ask one of the attendants to give me a hoof today. Having somepony else help freshen me up like Mother Matron used to would be so—”

“Um… Miss Cotton?” A blue unicorn mare in a frilly, white headband holding a wet rag in her aura opened the restroom door.

Cotton’s head whipped up. “Oh! Dawn! Good morning. Sorry, I know I’m not usually up this early on weekends. I can come back when you’re done.”

“Oh no, Miss Cotton, it’s alright,” Dawn responded. “I just finished. The rumor mill says today is a big day for you!”

Cotton’s face flushed. “Yes, it is. Wow, word gets around fast in the castle, doesn’t it?”

“I’m afraid so, Miss,” Dawn said with a slight giggle. “Actually, I… heard you at the door just now.” Cotton’s face reddened further, then Dawn continued, “If you’d like—”

“Oh, no!” Cotton interrupted instinctively, waving a hoof. “I couldn’t ask you to—”

“Really, Miss Cotton, it wouldn’t be any trouble,” Dawn replied. “Please, don’t feel like you’re imposing. Cleaning is my job, after all, whether it’s a floor or a pony.”

“A-are you sure?” Cotton asked. When Dawn nodded, Cotton rubbed the back of her mane and said, “Y’know, I could use some help reaching that spot between my wings…”


Ж


“Aahhhhhhhhh…” Cotton let out a content sigh as she sat in front of her vanity mirror once again, running her hairbrush through her now only slightly damp mane. “That was heavenly.” Her hooves practically sparkled, and her coat was spotless, while her scars were prominently on display for all to see.  

When a knock at her door sounded, Cotton called, “Come in!”

“So…” Spike stuck his head through the door. “…Dawn says you’ve started the grooming process already. That soon, huh? You haven’t even had breakfast yet.”

Cotton shrugged. “I needed a wash. Now I just need to keep myself clean. I might have to go for another one later if I feel dirty,” she said, still brushing her mane.

Spike smirked. “Hopefully you won’t be as dirty as your mind.”

Cotton chuckled. “Hey, those guards totally had it coming after what they said! Besides, you having ‘the talk’ with me right afterwards didn’t really help matters.”     

“I’ll give you that,” Spike said. “They did have it coming. And yes, I know the timing wasn’t great, but better late than never, right?”

“I guess, but it wasn’t necessary,” Cotton replied. “I learned all that stuff in Sex Ed, and Mother Matron had ‘the talk’ with me when I was eleven.”

Spike smacked his face into the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me instead of letting me make a fool of myself?” he asked.

“Well, I’ve heard giving ‘the talk’ is kind of a ‘parent thing,’ so I figured I’d let you do it and decided to just suffer through it,” Cotton answered. “You actually did a great job,” she added with a smile.

A voice came from outside Cotton’s room. “Oh my, Twilight, there seems to be a scaly rump blocking the doorway.”

Celestia. “Oh fine, just let me ask her if she wants company,” Spike called into the hall. He turned to Cotton and asked, “We can talk about necessity later. For now, can your aunts come in? They’ll zap my rear if you say no.”

Cotton giggled. “Sure, let ‘em in.”

Spike pulled his head out of the doorway. “There, happy?”

“Very much so,” Celestia answered, walking through Cotton’s door, Twilight following her. Spike stuck his head back into the room as well. “Oh, don’t you look nice and clean!” Celestia said to Cotton, grasping the hairbrush in her aura and running it through Cotton’s tail. “Did somepony assist you this morning for once? I know you usually don’t like asking for help.”

“Yes, Dawn gave me a hoof,” Cotton replied, humming quietly under her breath.

“Ah, no wonder Squeaky Clean came for me instead,” Celestia said. 

When Cotton looked down and let out a sigh, Celestia ceased her brushing. “It’s not a problem, Cotton. All the attendants are as skilled as any of the others.”

“It’s not that. But I am sorry if Dawn is your usual helper, Auntie,” Cotton replied.

“Then what is it, Cotton?” Twilight asked. “Everything okay?”

“I dunno,” Cotton responded. “I mean… I’m not worried about being clean or wearing a nice dress… I just… I don’t know what to do.” She looked at her aunts briefly, then turned to Spike. “Dad, you’re a guy. What do boys like on dates?”

Spike shook his head in the doorway as best he could without destroying the wall. “Sweetie, don’t think about it that way. It isn’t just about what he likes; your first date should be about both of you discovering how you click, what you have in common—and hopefully that’ll lead to a second, possibly third date, and so on. Besides, Steadclaw loves you for who you are. Just be yourself.”

“That sounds pretty legit,” Cotton said. “Auntie Tia, what do you think?”

Celestia smiled. “Your father is quite correct, Cotton. However, considering the way you teens talk to each other nowadays, I would also suggest that you be polite. Just don’t be different than your usual self. As your father said, Steadclaw loves you for who you are.”

Cotton smiled back at her. Turning to Twilight, she asked, “Aunt Twilight? Any extra words of wisdom?”

“Apparently,” Twilight started, casting a sidelong glare at Celestia, “my teen years weren’t the statistical norm, so maybe I’m not the pony to ask.” Celestia held a smug smile, but said nothing. Cotton glanced between the two of them and smirked at their exchange of expressions. “I agree with what your dad said, though—be yourself. I don’t think Steadclaw would want to see you any other way.”

“Sounds good to me,” Cotton said. “Why don’t we go eat?”

“I think that’s a splendid idea,” Celestia said. “Let’s go see what the chefs have prepared. Luna’s probably waiting for us.”


Ж


“Ah, there ye are,” Luna said, as Cotton, Celestia, Twilight, and Spike approached the dining room table. “We feared We would need to begin Our meal in solitude.”

“Sorry, Aunt Luna,” Cotton responded, “we were just chatting.”

“About wha—why Cotton, thou lookest marvelous! Prepared for thy rendezvous tonight before thy first meal of the day? We believe two hours prior would have been sufficient time.”

Cotton blushed. “I dunno. I guess I’m just a little… nervousited, as Aunt Pinkie would say.”

“And thou hast every right to be,” Luna replied with a smile, as the chefs set plates down in front of each of the new arrivals.

“Luna, do you have any words of advice for Cotton? That’s what we were talking about,” Spike said, digging into a bowl of gems.

“We shall assume that ‘be thyself’ has already been covered,” Luna replied. At the nods, Luna frowned. “Unfortunately, that is all the wisdom We have to share at the moment. Apologies, Cotton.”

“It’s okay, Aunt Luna. I think I’ll be alright,” Cotton responded.

“Come speak with Us later. Perhaps We will have thought of something else by then,” Luna said. “We shall have awoken to raise the moon before thou leavest.”

“Um, if you don’t mind my asking, Aunt Luna, how would you think of ideas while you’re asleep?” Cotton asked.

“Our dreams have provided Us with a bounty of ideas in the past. Thou wouldst be surprised,” Luna replied, taking a bite of her salad.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Cotton said, as Twilight and Celestia exchanged worried glances. 


Ж


After having already primped and preened herself early in the morning, Cotton tried to find an activity to keep herself in the same condition. The farrier, Reverent Brogue, took her measurements for her regalia shoes. Much to her father’s and aunt’s pride, she decided to finish her research essay.

“You cited all your sources, right?”

“Aunt Twilight, you already looked the whole thing over and told me everything looked perfect,” Cotton sighed with exasperation. “Besides, the only sources I needed were you and my dad.”

“Well, you know I always like to triple-check everything,” Twilight said, carefully reading Cotton’s paper. Looking at the last page, Twilight added, “Good, you cited the interviews properly. Great job! Now you can take tomorrow off without worrying about your homework.”

“Thanks, Aunt Twilight. Wow, Dad was right—I did get off easy with this paper.” Cotton smiled, then looked at the clock. “Y’know, he’s gonna be here soon. Thanks for all your help, Aunt Twilight. I’m just gonna go preen my wings one more time,” she said, walking out the library door.

“Whatever you want to do, Cotton,” Twilight called, “but you look perfect to me.”

On the way to the restroom, Cotton saw Luna poke her head out of her room with a yawn.

“Cotton, We wish to speak with thee,” Luna said.

“Aunt Luna, it’s alright, don’t worry about more advice. He’s gonna be here soon anyway; I’m just gonna go preen my wings one more time.”

“Please, Cotton. Give Us just a moment of thy time before thy suitor appears. Besides, thou still lookest marvelous.”

Cotton let out a sigh with a blush. “Okay. Did one of your dreams give you any ideas?”

Luna’s eyes darted about. “Thou couldst say that. Come, enter Our chamber.”

As Cotton walked into Luna’s room, she found an unexpected guest. “Aunt Cadance! What are you—nevermind, I’m pretty sure I know.”

Cadance chuckled. “Cotton, you should know I’m the first to ask when it comes to matters of love. Why am I only hearing about this date now?”

“I’m sorry, Aunt Cadance. I felt like coming to you would be like… cheating,” Cotton replied.

“Not at all,” Cadance said, smirking. “All’s fair in love and war.” She inspected Cotton. “It looks like you’ve done a wonderful job of prepping yourself. Come on, stand up straight.” Cotton shifted her posture. “Flare out those wings.” Cotton did as she was told, and Cadance nodded at the display. Waving her hoof in a circle, Cadance said, “Let’s get a full view.” Cotton tittered and walked in a small circle, her mane flopping over her face as she came to a halt. Cadance smiled. “You look spectacular, Cotton.”

Cotton blushed. “Thanks, Aunt Cadance.”

“There’s just one thing…”

“Huh? What’s that?” Cotton asked.

“This Steadclaw likes seeing your scars, doesn’t he?” Cotton nodded pensively. “Well, your mane keeps covering your cheek. Let’s try this…” Cadance lifted Cotton’s mane in her aura, then a golden, crystal-embedded hairclip appeared in her hoof. 

“Woah, Aunt Cadance! The hairclip isn't a bad idea, but Auntie Tia told me I shouldn’t be different,” Cotton said. 

“Oh please, a different hairstyle isn’t the same as being different,” Cadance said. “I guarantee you that Rarity would have absolutely condoned this.”

“Well, okay, but the jewelry is a bit much,” Cotton replied.

Cadance pouted. “Fine, spoilsport. Let’s see…” Cadance took a look at Cotton’s eye, then replaced the hairclip with a simpler one that matched the color. “That better?”

Cotton smiled. “Much. Thanks.” Cadance slipped Cotton’s mane through the clip, then repeated the process on her other side. After checking for stray strands, Cadance let down her aura and nodded, satisfied. Cotton looked around for only a moment before she spotted a mirror on Luna’s wall. “Wow, I never thought I’d be doing this with my mane,” Cotton said, “but it looks great! He’s gonna love it!”    

“We agree,” Luna said. “Now, We have something for thee as well, dear Cotton.”

“What’s up, Aunt Luna? I don’t have much more time.”

“Well, thou art old enough to be dating…” She lit her horn and levitated a stack of papers to rest in front of Cotton’s hooves. “…so thou art clearly old enough to be… satisfied.” Cotton looked in horror at the magazines her aunt had set in front of her. “If thou—”  

“Aunt Luna! Geez, you’re as bad as my dad! This is only our first date!” Cotton cried.

“We understand that, Cotton,” Luna replied, “but…er, Cadenza?”  

Cadance nodded. “If it hasn’t happened already, being with him may make you feel… different,” she said. “Sometimes when we’re around those we love, we start feeling certain… urges that—”

“Aunt Cadance!” Cotton pinned her ears down with her hooves. “Please, I don’t need to hear this right now! We’re just going to a casual dinner, seeing a stupid movie one of my friends recommended, and then he’s dropping me off at home. We figured the first date should be easy. Thanks, but I think I’ll save Cosmoponitan for another time.”

Cadance shrugged. “Alright, don’t listen to the Princess of Love,” Cadance said with a smirk.

“And We shall keep these in Our possession, but thou mayest always access them,” Luna said, levitating the magazines into a corner.

Cotton let out a sigh. “Thanks, Aunt Luna. And Aunt Cadance, when we’re ready to take that next step, I’ll ask for you. How’s that?”

“Fair enough,” Cadance responded. “I’m just trying to make sure you’re prepared.”

“Prepared for—nevermind,” Cotton replied. Just then, they all heard a loud knock from the main hall. Cotton gasped, “That’s him!” and went flying out of the room.


Ж


Luna turned over in her bed, her ears perking up at the sound of her early alarm. After shutting the alarm off, she thought back to her time in slumber… but no ideas stuck out at her. Grumbling, she looked at the books she had prepared as her backup plan, and decided to get a second opinion.

After casting a soundproofing spell on her room, she lit her horn and sent a short telepathic message. Moments later, Princess Cadance teleported into her room.

“What’s the problem, Aunt Luna? What kind of dilemma have you gotten yourself into this time?” Cadance asked.

Luna snorted. “We wish to give advice to thy cousin Cotton. Her father, Tia, and Twilight already appear to have done so, but We are lacking ideas.”

Cadance cocked a brow. “Advice on what?”

Luna began, “Tonight is her first date with—”

“WHAT?” Cadance cried. She smacked her head a few times. “Shoot, my senses must be out of whack.”

Luna shook her head. “Anyway, dost thou have any ideas or advice? We thought of giving her Our old satisfaction tomes…”

“Your what?” Cadance asked.

“Thou knowest—tomes for assistance in satisfaction. We believe Cotton is old enough.”

“Ooooooooooh,” Cadance responded in understanding. Scratching her chin, she said, “Well, I think you’re on the right track, Aunt Luna, but those dusty old books aren’t really going to help. I’ll be right back.” In a flash, Cadance vanished.

Luna scowled. “We see nothing wrong with our old tomes. Ponies have not changed so much since Our youth.”

Cadance reappeared with a stack of magazines in her aura, which she promptly dropped at Luna’s hooves with a smirk. “These should help if she needs ‘em.”

Luna’s eyes widened and her mouth went agape as she flipped through each magazine in turn. Looking up at her niece, she cried, “They come with pictures now?!” 


Ж


Stopping momentarily in front of a mirror in the upper-level hallway, Cotton checked her coat, scars, wings, and new hairstyle. Smiling to herself, she said, “He’s gonna love this.” When she reached the top of the stairway, she found her father going for the door. “Daddy, wait! I’ll get it!” 

As Cotton galloped down the stairs, Spike chuckled, “Alright, slow down! Can’t have you tripping down the stairway, can we?” Cotton slowed to a trot, then reached the main level. “That’s better. Now then…” Spike backed away from the door and motioned to it with his claw. 

Cotton smiled, then took a deep breath and pulled hard to swing the massive doors open. There stood Steadclaw, his plumage finely preened and his head feathers slicked back, holding a small bouquet of roses. At the sight of each other, both their faces turned the same color as the flowers.

“I know we said casual, but y’know… first date and all…” Steadclaw said, offering Cotton the roses. 

As Cotton reached for the flowers, she flinched when she caught sight of the stems. “Umm…”

“Why don’t I take those for you, sweetie?” Spike grasped the roses between his talons. “I can have them dethorned and put in your room for you before you get home.” 

Cotton looked up at him and smiled. “Thanks, Daddy.” Then she walked out to Steadclaw and kissed him on the cheek. “And thank you. That was really sweet.”

“You’re welcome,” Steadclaw said with a blush. “Sorry, I kinda forgot about the thorns. The mare at the florist’s didn’t seem to have any trouble picking them up with her mouth.” 

“Oh, that was probably Rosebud. Yeah, she’s got jaws of steel.” Cotton licked her lips around her muzzle. “Blegh, you’ll never catch me doing that.”

Steadclaw chuckled. “I don’t blame you. Hey, I like the hairdo.” He lightly brushed a talon against Cotton’s scarred cheek. “It really brings out your features.” 

“Thanks,” Cotton replied, blushing. “It was my aunt’s idea.”

“You ready to go?”

“Mhm,” she answered.

“Just a second, you two,” Spike said, dropping the roses into a vase, “Where exactly are you planning on going?”

Before Cotton had a chance to groan, Steadclaw replied, “The Haybale, Sir, then we’re catching a seven-thirty movie.”

“What movie, and how long is it?”

“Ugh, we’re seeing ‘Oblivious’, Dad. Can we go?” Cotton complained.

“How long is it?” Spike repeated.

“It’s about an hour and a half, Sir,” Steadclaw said.

“Yeah, I’m subjecting him to a filly flick,” Cotton added with a smirk.

“Oh, you poor soul,” Spike said to Steadclaw, shaking his head. “I wish you the best of luck.” His eyes narrowed sharply as his voice rose. “You’re to be back by nine-thirty.”

Steadclaw snapped into a salute. “Yes Sir!”

Cotton groaned, “Daaaaaaaaad!”

“Fine. Ten o’clock. No later. And call me ‘Spike’!”


Ж


“And thank you. That was really sweet.”

“Oh, roses are so clichè,” Cadance said, leaning over Luna’s balcony, “but I have to admit, they usually work.”

“Indeed,” Luna responded. “‘Tis a gesture that many mares dream of. We’ve seen it firsthoof.”

“I can believe it.”

 “You’re to be back by nine-thirty.”

“Ha! And there’s the curfew,” Cadance said. “Not bad for a first date.” 

 “Fine. Ten o’clock. No later. And call me 'Spike'!”

“Hey, kudos for the leniency, Spike.” Cadance watched as Cotton and Steadclaw walked from the front doors and headed toward town. “If it’s really one of those stupid filly flicks, they’ll have plenty of time together in the movie to get things going.”

Luna looked away from the railing and pointed a sly eye at Cadance. “Perhaps we ought to… give them a hoof, if necessary?”

Cadance smirked. “We’re going to follow them, aren’t we?”

Luna returned the smirk. “Most certainly.”
> Chapter Twenty - We Prefer the Term 'Observing'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Table for two? This way.” The host at the Haybale directed Cotton and Steadclaw toward a table on the west side of the restaurant, looking out over Pastern Boulevard. “Here you go.”

“Thank you,” Cotton and Steadclaw both responded before sitting down. They picked up their menus for a moment, then placed them back down and smiled at each other.

Steadclaw sighed. “Well, here we are.”

Cotton giggled. “Yeah… here we are. My first date.”

“Mine too,” Steadclaw replied. 

“Seriously?” Cotton asked. “Almost three years at UCHS and you never asked anyone out?”

“Nah. Nobody really caught my eye.” Steadclaw rested his chin on his talons. “Then junior year, you walk through the doors.”

Cotton tried to hide a blush behind her menu. “So… did you hang out with Harmony, Flare, and Daisy before I came to school?”

“Honestly, no.” Steadclaw grimaced. “Only when you started hanging out with them. I knew I’d have to make a good impression on your friends if I was ever gonna have a shot with you. I’m just happy they’re actually pretty cool.”

Cotton smirked, then hit him on the shoulder with her menu. “You are so bad.” She glanced over her menu for a moment before asking him, “So what did you do for the first two years of high school?”

“Same thing everyone else that first integrated into Canterlot did—tried to stick with my own kind,” Steadclaw answered. 

“But the first Canterlot integration was over a decade ago!” Cotton said.

“I know,” Steadclaw responded, “but after living in Griffonstone my whole life, socializing with other species felt kinda weird for me. Even with everything Aunt Pinkie did for us. She was the only pony I ever really felt comfortable with.”

“So what happened with the other griffons?” Cotton asked.

“They came to Canterlot from Griffonia during the initial integration, so they’d been here longer. I only came here a couple of years ago, just in time for my first year of high school,” Steadclaw replied, “and I’m the only one from Griffonstone. I learned pretty quickly that the other griffons are jerks to ‘newbies,’ and after my first encounter, I never went back to them… so I was basically a loner.”

“That…” Cotton placed her menu gently on the table. “That’s horrible! You spent your first two years at school as an outsider?”

“Basically, yeah,” Steadclaw replied. “That’s why my mom was so shocked when I brought you to meet her.”

“Oh, yeah,” Cotton said. “She did say I was the first friend you’d brought home, didn’t she?”

“Yeah.” Steadclaw looked at his menu for a moment. “Boy, am I glad they added selections for meat-eaters.”

“Still not used to the vegetarian diet, huh?” Cotton laughed.

“Not really, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually,” Steadclaw responded. “Not every place around here is that accommodating.” Glancing up from his menu, he looked across the room to find two ponies sitting at a table in the corner, their menus covering their faces. Above them sat aura-summoned, capitalized letters spelling out ‘ASK ABOUT HER’. His eyes widened for a moment before he shook his head and asked Cotton, “So, what about you? What were you doing for two years before you came to Upper Canterlot? Still hangin’ in Central?”

“Kind of,” Cotton answered. “When I went to junior high, the district did this big changeover so that it basically split in two—West Central and East Central. I dunno how the district divided us up, but all my friends ended up in West Central, and I went to East. I asked my dad if he could get me over in West Central with my friends, but not even a princess can fight with a school board. So I had to make new friends. Given who showed up at my party, you can probably guess how well that turned out.”

Steadclaw frowned. “No luck?”

Cotton shook her head. “Nope. Back in elementary, I had an issue with a bully that got solved… uhhmm… permanently. So I didn’t have any trouble with bullies in junior high, but I think everyone was scared of me because of it, too.”

“What do you mean ‘permanently’? What happened?”

“Well, my dad kinda flipped out, and sorta crushed his house. Everyone else at school was probably afraid the same might happen to them, stupid as that sounds, so they all avoided me.”

“What the heck did he do to you to make your dad freak out like that?” Steadclaw asked.

“I… don’t really wanna talk about it. But yeah, so… everyone treated me like I had hoof-rot. It was like that all the way up through my sophomore year of high school. At that point, I finally had enough, and told my dad to either find a way to get me over to West Central with my friends, or move me to a new school where nobody knew what happened. He managed to get me transferred to UCHS.”

“Wow,” Steadclaw said. “No wonder you were so happy to see your old friends again. You were a loner, too.”

Cotton sighed, “Yeah. We never really got to hang out outside of school either. We wrote to each other, but my party was the first time I actually saw them in years.”

“Were they any different than you remember them?”

Cotton laughed, “Nope. Still as immature as they always were. But having them meet you, Flare, and Harmony was cool. Past meets present, all that sappy stuff. I actually made new friends this time around.” 

“Hey, yeah,” Steadclaw said. “How did you start hangin’ out with the girls? If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought you’d all known each other since elementary.”

Cotton shook her head. “Nah. I was working on a group assignment with Flare, Harmony, and Daisy in Science at the start of the year. I don’t remember exactly what the assignment was, but I accidentally blew the thing up,” she laughed. “I decided to joke that it scarred me, and we all got a good laugh out of it. I think they actually respected me because of it. But anyway, we’ve been friends ever since. I think that’s the only time I intentionally joked about my scars before… you gave me a new perspective.” She smiled and put her hoof up on the table. 

As Steadclaw reached across the table to hold her hoof, he said, “Hey, if you hadn’t come to school and made friends with those three, I’d still be a loner. It took you coming to school for me to muster up the courage to talk to anyone. It’s a good thing the four of you aren’t like some of the others in school who still only want to socialize with their own kind. Now I’ve actually got friends… and much more.” He smiled and grasped Cotton’s hoof. Both of them blushed.

“A-hem.” The two of them looked up to find a waiter. “Uh, sorry for interrupting the moment, but can I take your order?”


Ж


At the corner table of the Haybale, Cadance seethed. “It was such a good moment! And he had to ruin it!” she said through clenched teeth. “I oughtta—”

“Calm thyself, Cadenza; there shall be many opportunities,” Luna whispered. “We already helped one progress forward. We are certain that this will, as the common folk say, 'go off with a hitch'.”

“What? The phrase is 'go off without a hitch.' Why would you want a hitch?”

“Why would one not want a hitch? Do we not wish them to be joined?”

“No, hitch means—”

The host came up to them and whispered, “Your Highnesses, may I—”

“SSSHHHHH!” Cadance and Luna shushed him, pointing to the fake mustaches they both wore.

“Um, excuse me. Gentlecolts, is there anything I can get you?”

“Yes, please,” Luna answered in a deep voice. “We would like one slice of thine apple pie.” When Cadance cocked a brow at her, Luna simply responded, “What? We ate brea—dinner before we left.”

“I’d like a cup of coffee,” Cadance said, “and I’d like that waiter fired.”

“Cadenza!” Luna whispered.

“Oh, fine,” Cadance huffed. “At least tell him not to interrupt any more romantic moments if they arise.” 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“SSSHHHHH!”


Ж


“Pfft, these fillies remind me of Gem and Jewel. Minus the stepbrother and the coltfriend,” Cotton whispered, looking at the screen.

“Yeah, seriously,” Steadclaw replied.

The two of them sat in the theater, their forearms sitting on the armrests provided. The movie had barely started.

“Well, it’s a little off the subject of the Badlands, but uh, tolerance is always a good lesson!”

Cotton slumped a little in her seat. “Yeah, it is. Wish they’d taught it more…” she mumbled under her breath. 

Steadclaw turned to her. “You okay, Cotton?” Cotton simply nodded her head. Suddenly, there was a small flash of light in his peripheral vision, and Steadclaw found a folded slip of paper in his claw. He unraveled the paper to find a note:



PUT YOUR ARM AROUND HER



Steadclaw looked around for a source, but found nothing. He decided to take the paper’s advice and put an arm around the top of Cotton’s seat. Noticing the gesture, Cotton smiled and slid back up, letting herself lean against Steadclaw’s arm. After a few more minutes, Steadclaw found another slip of paper in his claw.



PULL HER IN CLOSER



Given how well the last paper-given advice had worked, Steadclaw followed it. He slowly pulled Cotton in next to his shoulder close enough that he could feel her breath on his chest feathers. She let out a deep sigh, then leaned her head on his shoulder. Steadclaw smiled, letting out a sigh of his own as he glanced down at his companion, then back at the movie screen.

“…And could the suicide attempts please be postponed until the next period?!”

Cotton and Steadclaw both giggled at the silliness in front of them, and Steadclaw could feel the warmth emanating from Cotton’s body—the laughter, the enjoyment. Pinkie Pie had told him about this. In the midst of the wonderful feeling, he felt another paper appear in his claw.



LAY YOUR HEAD ON HERS



Hoping for a three-out-of-three, Steadclaw complied. He felt and heard Cotton hum underneath his cheek. He let out a sigh, closing his eyes as he let Cotton’s warmth flow through him.

”Yuck!”

“Huh?” Cotton whispered. “Sorry, I think I dozed. What happened?”

“I dunno,” Steadclaw replied. “I was distracted.”

Cotton lifted her head and looked at him. “By what?”

Steadclaw leaned his forehead against hers, and simply answered, “You.”

The blush that took over Cotton’s cheeks held the same color as a sunset. No prompting was needed; the two of them reached out and locked lips. Cotton’s hooves moved from her lap to Steadclaw’s shoulders, while Steadclaw’s claw moved from Cotton’s shoulder to the back of her head. They stayed that way for a good minute before releasing each other. 

After they watched each other blush for a moment, Steadclaw whispered, “Maybe this is why guys put up with filly flicks, huh?”

As Steadclaw caressed her cheek, Cotton giggled. “Maybe. I dunno.” Cotton smiled and leaned into his claw, closing her eyes. At that moment, another slip of paper took the opportunity to drop into his free claw. With Cotton’s eyes closed, Steadclaw took a look at another of what had so far been helping him along.



KISS HER AGAIN, BUT USE THY TONGUE



Steadclaw’s eyes widened for a moment, then he looked around the theater. Near the back, he laid eyes on two mustachioed ‘gentlecolts’ watching him and Cotton intently. When he stared back at them, the two shrunk down in their seats. He saw another glow of magic, felt something fall into his claw again, then watched as the two teleported out of the theater.

“What are you looking at?”

Steadclaw’s attention jumped back to Cotton. “Oh, I uh, thought I saw someone I knew in the back,” he whispered.

“Okay.” Holding his talons against her cheek, Cotton looked down at the armrest between them, then lifted it up and laid across his lap, resting her head on Steadclaw’s other armrest. 

As Cotton closed her eyes for a moment, Steadclaw took the opportunity to look at the final slip of paper that was given to him, but instead of paper, he found a foil packet. “Woah! Too soon!” Steadclaw whispered a little too loudly, tossing the packet off to the far side of the theater.

“Hmm?” Cotton responded.

Steadclaw looked down at Cotton, her head leaning on his armrest, waiting. “I, uh, I hope this movie doesn’t end too soon,” he said, slipping his talons under her head and leaning forward.

“Me either,” Cotton said with a smile as she put a hoof on the back of Steadclaw’s head for the second duration. When they parted, Cotton smacked her lips. “Hmm… not what I expected from a griffon tongue, but I like it.”


Ж


“Ugh, and everything was working so well!” Cadance whined. “What did you write?”

“We simply suggested he kiss her again, but to employ his tongue,” Luna replied.

“Huh. I probably would have said that, too… Wait—what exactly did you write?”

Luna cleared her throat. “‘Kiss her again, but use thy tongue’.”

Cadance smacked her face with a hoof, which she slid down the end of her muzzle. “Aunt Luna! You’re the only pony in Equestria who would say something like ‘thy’. No wonder he figured us out! Oooh, and they were so far along, too,” she said, hanging her head.

“Well, We did slip him a rubber before our unexpected departure,” Luna offered. 

Cadance’s head whipped up to look at her aunt. “Are you kidding? That’s… This is their first date!”

Luna frowned. “The first meeting is too early?”

“Yes!” Cadance cried.  “True love waits until the fourth date,” she mumbled.

“What shall we do now?”

Cadance wiped a bit of sweat off her brow. “Now you erase any evidence and hope Steadclaw doesn’t give us away. Otherwise, Spike’ll flambé us,” she said gravely. “I have to get back to the Empire.”

“Very well, We shall. Good night, Cadenza,” Luna responded.

Cadance looked up. “Uh, good night, Aunt Luna,” she chuckled, pointing to the sky before teleporting away. 

Luna cocked a brow, then looked up and gasped at the star-barren, still golden sky. “By the Creator’s holy name, We are late!”   


Ж


“Where in Tartarus is she?” Celestia said to herself. “She knows the movement of our celestial bodies is—”

“Sister!” Luna cried as she teleported onto Celestia’s balcony, where they usually performed their twice-daily ritual. “Our sincerest apologies! We were… distracted.”

Celestia sighed with relief. “It’s alright, Sister. We’re not too far off, now that the warmer months are here. Come, before we are any later.”

Luna nodded. The sisters raised and finished lowering their respective celestial bodies, preventing any panic among the citizens. “Where were you?” Celestia asked Luna.

Luna couldn’t think of any good and truthful explanations; she determined her only two options were either embarrassment, or her sister reading her the riot act. She decided she would suffer through the former. “We… became distracted by Our old tomes.”

Celestia put a hoof to her forehead. “Really, Luna? You were reading centuries-old erotica?”

“They are not erotica!” Luna said, stomping a hoof. “They are instructional tomes on how to satisfy—”

“I don’t need to hear any more,” Celestia sighed, putting up a hoof. “Just… try not to get distracted again, would you?” 

“Of… of course, Sister. We shall keep the tomes hidden away so as not to do so again,” Luna responded.

“Don’t hide my books again, Luna,” Celestia said with a scowl. “Not that I’m using them, but still. Anyway, Spike, Twilight, and I haven’t eaten dinner yet; why don’t you come join us?” 

“Certainly! We shall be there momentarily,” Luna answered. Once Celestia walked out of sight, Luna spoke aloud to herself, “Was that excuse truly believable? Perhaps We should use it more often… Nay, they would—bah, We shouldn’t quarrel with Ourselves. We are hungry!” Luna turned and headed quickly out of the room, then down the stairs to the dining room.


Ж


Promptly at nine-thirty, Spike stood in the main hall, slowly pacing.

One of the guards spoke up. “Uh, Spike? If you don’t mind my saying, you did give them until ten. Don’t you think it’s a bit early?”

“Not at all,” Spike responded. “I originally gave them until now, then I extended the time until ten. They could be here at any moment!”

“I… guess that’s fair,” one of the other guards said. “Soooooooo… what, are you just going to stare him down and make sure he leaves after he drops Miss Cotton off?”

Spike shrugged. “Possibly. He just needs to know that the night is over after Cotton walks through these doors.”

“But Spike, there’s at least another eight hours until sunrise,” one of the guards said. 

Spike, along with the other guards, smacked their faces. At least there’s only one tonight. At least there’s only one…

About twenty minutes later, Spike heard the sound of hooves and talons on the front walk outside. When he heard some muffled speaking he stopped his pacing and settled himself on his haunches squarely in the center of the main hall. When the speaking ended, there was a long moment of silence. Spike’s eyes narrowed. Have they moved on to Prench kissing already? Spike was about to make his way to the entrance, but the sound of a hoof on one of the massive double-doors brought him to full attention as Cotton heaved one of them open.

“Why am I not surprised?” Cotton giggled. “Ten minutes early and we’ve still got a welcoming committee.”

“Well, your dad doesn’t have a shotgun; that’s a good sign, right?” Steadclaw asked, sweat beading on the back of his neck.

Spike’s firm expression faded as he smirked. “I don’t need a shotgun, I have dragon breath, but you don’t need to worry, because you’re not technically late.” Steadclaw nodded, smiling. “Technically,” Spike added. Steadclaw gulped. “Don’t worry, the castle premises are still open to you,” Spike said with a wink. Steadclaw just nodded again.

Cotton snorted, rolling her eyes. “I see you two get along just fine.”

“We better, for his sake,” Spike said, narrowing one eye again and smiling. The smile did little more than show off Spike’s many sharp teeth. 

“I’ll take that as my cue to leave,” Steadclaw said, turning on his paw.

Cotton groaned at her father, then grabbed Steadclaw, said, “C’mere,” and pulled him into a tight lip-lock.

When they parted, Steadclaw stood there, stunned. Spike held a rictus grin, trying not to let his emotions show, and failing. Steadclaw looked at Cotton and smiled. When he got a look at Spike’s expression, he said, “Oooookay. I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” As he turned for the door, he added a quick, “Good night!” He then made his way out the door and soared off into the night. Cotton could hear a short “Woohoo!” as she closed the door.

Staring at her father with daggers in her eyes, Cotton said, “You had to be waiting at the door. Have you been there since nine-thirty? Daddy, you said we could stay out until ten!” Cotton pouted.

“No, I gave you some leeway until ten,” Spike corrected. “Steadclaw made the right decision bringing you back when he did. Like you said, we get along fine, and he’d be wise to keep it that way.”

Cotton sighed. “Well, whatever. We had a good night, so I’m not gonna let you spoil it. Before you ask, dinner was good, the movie was funny. It was a good night. That being said, good night!” With that, Cotton darted up the staircase to her room.

“Hey!” Spike said, pushing his serpentine head and neck over the railing, blocking Cotton’s path. “Forgetting something?” Cotton stuck her tongue out at him briefly before giving him a kiss on the cheek. Spike let her pass. “There’s my girl. I’m glad you had fun tonight. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See ya in the morning, Dad,” Cotton responded as she walked down the upper hallway.


Ж


A knock at the door brought Princess Luna out of her dreamwalking trance. “Who wouldst be knocking at Our door while We are performing Our nightly duties?” She called out, “Who goes there?!”

“It’s me, Aunt Luna,” Cotton called from the other side of the door.

“Oh! Cotton!” With a quick flick of her horn, her door swung open. “How was thy date?”

Cotton blushed. “It was… Well, dinner was good, but let’s just say we didn’t watch much of the movie.”

Luna smirked. “Ah, ye were too enamored by each other’s eyes?”

Cotton’s head turned away, but her eyes stayed transfixed on her aunt. “Ummmm… more like our mouths.”

“Oh, splendid! Perhaps thy father was correct in giving thee the lecture about avians and apiarists!” Luna exclaimed.

Cotton held back a laugh. Close enough. “That’s… actually why I’m here, Aunt Luna. We may not be ready for a while, but… when we are…” Cotton shuffled on her hooves. “Um, can I just… look through those magazines?”
> Chapter Twenty-One - Some Beans Aren't So Easily Spilled
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey, nice bag,” Cotton commented, turning to Steadclaw. “So I guess that means you’re done using my dad’s loaner?” she chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s in my locker,” Steadclaw replied. “I was gonna give it to you to take it home. Or, I can carry it back for you.” He winked at her as he pulled a sheaf of papers out of his new satchel. “I hope this is good enough. Your dad’ll kill me if I do badly on this paper.” Cotton laughed, then Steadclaw held out a claw to her. “Want me to bring yours up?”

“Oh, sure! Thanks.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick stack of papers bound with twine.

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. “Good Grover! Did you write a book? My paper’s gonna look like a pamphlet compared to that!”

“Nah, I just had an edge with my sources,” Cotton said. “There’re a lot of… nitty-gritty details.”

“If you say so, Miss four-point-oh,” Steadclaw responded as he grasped her paper, Cotton sticking her tongue out at him with a smirk.

When he arrived at the front of the room, Steadclaw dropped the stack of papers on Mr. Turner’s desk with a thwump. “Whoops! Sorry, Mr. T. Didn’t mean to be so loud.”

“Good grief, Steadclaw, did you write a novel?” the teacher asked him.

“No, that would be Cotton,” he responded, lifting his bound research paper up to reveal Cotton’s paper underneath. “And that’s almost exactly what I said to her,” he chuckled.

“Ah, that explains it,” Mr. Turner said, adding the papers to the pile already on his desk. “Just from a glance, though, you look like you did quite the job yourself. I guess I’ll see when I actually read it.”

“I hope so. Oh, by the way, I was told by a reliable source that there’s a chance for bonus points because of some particular details,” Steadclaw commented. “Any chance that’s actually a possibility?”

“You’ve got the Secretariat Comet Crisis, right?” Mr. Turner asked. Steadclaw nodded. “Hmm… Well, you just might be in luck, provided your source is properly cited, but no promises.”

“Fair enough,” Steadclaw responded before he headed back to his seat beside Cotton and sat down. Turning to her, he asked, “Hey, so what’s the verdict on telling the girls about Saturday? It’s your call; I know they’re gonna ask. I’ve got Equish with Harmony next period. I plan to keep my beak shut.”

Cotton sighed. “Well, knowing the three of them, they’ll all probably badger us before we even get to lunch, but if we’re gonna tell them anything, we should tell them together.”

Steadclaw nodded. “So, we’ll wait until lunch to decide whether or not we say anything. Until then, this beak is sealed.” He swiped two talons across the front of his beak.

Cotton smiled. “Sounds good to me.”


Ж


“You really think you can bake a full batch of cookies in less than an hour?” Daisy asked a bustling Cotton in their home economics class.

“I can if I can focus,” Cotton replied. “Why do you think this is on my flank?” She turned and showed Daisy her cutie mark, then went back to measuring out her ingredients.

“Fair point,” Daisy said. “I think you’re the only pony that actually likes Home Ec.” 

“Hey, I get to use school time to make use of my special talent. What’s not to like?” Cotton responded.

“If you say so. I tried baking with my mom once and it took us almost two hours. Good luck getting those finished on time,” Daisy said, pointing to the clock ticking away on the far wall. 

“I don’t need luck, I could do this in my sleep. I’m a natural baker,” Cotton responded, pouring her baking soda into a pot on a stove across from their work station.

“Well, I can tell you what I’m not—a seamstress,” Daisy grunted. “How am I supposed to sew anything if I can’t even get thread through a needle?”

“Um, ask for help?” Cotton offered, dumping all of her ingredients, except the flour, into a mixing bowl. 

“We’re supposed to be doing these projects on our own, though.”

“Do you have any idea how many times ponies ask for help with a needle and thread?” Cotton asked her, pouring in flour to the mix without looking. “You ask any unicorn in this room for help, and I bet they’ll gladly give you a hoof. Or a horn, I guess.”

Daisy sighed. “Alright, but if I get in trouble, I’m blaming you.”

“Okay!” Cotton responded, as she kneaded her cookie dough together. “But if you’re that worried, I’ll even create a distraction for you.” As Daisy went sneaking off looking for help, Cotton found their teacher to let her know she was going to use the oven, and asked questions she already knew the answers to in the meantime.

When she got back to her work station to portion out the dough, Cotton found Daisy hastily putting a needle through her fabric. “See? Told ya. That took like, two minutes,” she said. 

“Oh, shut it,” Daisy replied. “Just because the needle’s threaded doesn’t mean I’m any good at this. I wish floriculture was part of Home Ec…”   

About fifteen minutes later, just as Daisy finished sewing one side of what appeared to be a throw pillow, Cotton came back to their work station with a tray of finished cookies.

Daisy looked up as Cotton approached. “Wow, you actually did it?”

“Never doubt a royal baker,” Cotton said with a smirk.

Daisy’s nose flared open and closed a few times. “Those smell really good. What kind are they?”

“Just plain ol’ chocolate chip. Figured I’d go simple,” Cotton replied.

Daisy alternated looking at Cotton and the cookies. “Um, can I—”

“Duh,” Cotton laughed, setting the tray next to Daisy. “But let me warn you—you’re my guinea pig this time around. Even I haven’t tried ‘em yet. I don’t know how school ingredients’ll taste—I’m used to the castle kitchen. Give ‘em another minute to cool, then be my guest.”

After a minute that felt like an hour, Daisy finally reached out and grabbed one of the sweets. She put her sewing down and slowly broke the cookie in two. “Woah… they’re so soft! How do you do that?”

Cotton’s brows arched, then she smirked. “Trade secret. Take a bite and tell me what you think while they’re still fresh,” she said.

Daisy eyed the cookie for a moment, then finally took a bite. The moment her teeth sank through the dough, she melted as quickly as the chocolate. “Mmmmmmmmmmm,” she mumbled through her moment of sweet bliss. She chewed and swallowed, then quickly shoved the other half of the cookie into her mouth. Her torso lying on the table, Daisy said, “This is a royal top secret, nopony can know about this.”

“What?” Cotton asked.

“These are too good for public consumption,” Daisy added. “Only I should know what chocolate ecstasy feels like.”

Cotton laughed. “Well, I guess that means they’re good. Thanks! Even with school ingredients?”

Daisy nodded. “Mmhmm. And you’re welcome.” 

Cotton looked over the ingredients on the shelves once again. “Wow. These are the same ingredients I use at home. No wonder. How do they even have these brands?”

Looking over to the windows, she found their teacher leaning out of one of them and waving at someone, then there was the rumble of a large take-off. Cotton narrowed her eyes. “Dad. Figures.” She turned back to Daisy, still laying on the table. “Heh. Are you still in ‘chocolate ecstasy’?” 

Daisy turned over and faced Cotton. “Ohhhhhhhh yah. Ya know… speaking of ecstasy… how was your date? Did you and Steadclaw have your own ‘moments of ecstasy’ together?” Daisy asked, waggling her eyebrows.

Uh-oh, here we go, Cotton thought to herself. “Yeah, we had a good time,” she answered, reaching for a cookie herself.

After a minute of waiting in silence, Daisy asked, “Uh, anything else?” 

“You’re gonna have to wait ‘til lunch,” Cotton replied, biting into her cookie. “Steadclaw and I already agreed on that. Mmm, you’re right, these came out nicely.”

“Can I at least have another one if you’re not gonna talk?”

“Go for it,” Cotton answered through her chewing, “but don’t go overboard. I planned to share them with the class.”

Daisy’s eyes widened at the response. 

“NO! MINE!”


Ж


Cotton’s tongue stuck out the side of her mouth as she scribbled in her math notebook. “Then… ‘cosine-x’ over ‘sine-x’ times ‘sine-x’ over the quantity ‘sine-x squared’ plus ‘cosine-x squared’ equals ‘cosine-x’… multiply, cross out the ‘sine’s… and ‘cosine-x’ equals ‘cosine-x’! Ha!” she whispered to herself, dropping her pencil on her desk. “Done and done.”

Harmony Wishes shook her head at the desk beside Cotton. “How do you do these so fast? I mean, I have a good idea of what I’m doing, but you prove these proofs like… like…”

“Like a prosecutor?” Cotton asked.

It took Harmony a moment before she rolled her eyes. “That was so terrible, the groaning is gonna give me an intestinal disorder.” 

“I know,” Cotton replied, hanging her head in shame. “My dad makes enough bad jokes that I’ve gotten good at it myself. I swear, it’s a curse. Well, to answer your question, I got help from my aunt. Twenty minutes with her and I understood proofs like the ABC’s.”

Harmony suppressed a snort. “Okay, that was really bad.”

“Huh?” Cotton looked at the right triangle on her paper for reference, each side properly labeled with one of the first three letters of the alphabet. Cotton put a hoof to her face. “Ugh, I didn’t even do that on purpose,” she groaned.

“Wow. You’re literally oblivious to your own literal jokes,” Harmony snickered. “Hey, speaking of ‘Oblivious,’ how’d your date go?” 

Cotton cocked a brow. “What does oblivious have to—oh, right, the movie. It went well,” Cotton replied. 

Harmony leaned toward her. “And then?”

“‘And then’ what?”

“Oh, come on,” Harmony complained. “Details, Cotton! Steadclaw wouldn’t say anything either!” 

“You’ll have to wait until lunch,” Cotton said. “I already told Daisy that.”

“Can’t you just tell me?” Harmony asked with a disarming smile.

“One, that wouldn’t be fair to Daisy,” Cotton replied. “Two, I know Flarechaser is going to ask me the first chance she gets, so if I’m going to say anything, I’d rather say it only once. And three—”

“And three, stop talking and let your classmates focus on their work.” The teacher stepped in between Cotton’s and Harmony’s desks. “Not everyone has the benefits of private tutoring, Miss Candy.” 

“Sorry, Mr. Theorem,” Cotton responded, shrinking into her seat under his gaze.

The teacher looked at Cotton’s paper for a minute and nodded his approval. “You may begin working on your homework, Miss Candy.” He then turned and looked at Harmony’s paper, and let out a small grunt. “Check your work again, Miss Wishes. You’re skipping steps.” He then walked back to the front of the classroom.

As Harmony went back to her work, Cotton looked at Mr. Theorem’s retreating form and mouthed out, ‘Thank you.’  


Ж


Cotton sat down at her desk in the Equish classroom as other students filed in behind her, the teacher shuffling papers at the front of the room. 

Three… two… one... 

“Sooooo?” Flarechaser came up behind her. “How did it go?”

Right on cue. “It was good,” Cotton replied simply. She didn’t even bother playing dumb.

“Save those answers for your parental unit,” Flarechaser deadpanned. “Seriously, details, now please.” 

“We had fun,” Cotton answered with a shrug. “Thanks for the movie recommendation. It was…  funny.”

Flarechaser groaned. “Girl, I recommended that movie ‘cause it’s easy to leave it in the background!” She walked around to the front of Cotton’s desk, rested her face on both forehooves, and whispered with a smirk, “So, did you two make out? Did you Prench?” 

Cotton tried her hardest to prevent a blush from creeping over her face. She decided to try playing dumb after all. “The movie was in Equish, not Prench.” 

Flarechaser grinned. “Heyyyy, I see pink in your cheeks! You did! You totally Prenched! Did you—”

“Everyone to your seats,” the teacher called. Flarechaser giggled with a snort as she sat down next to Cotton. “We’ll be finishing our poetry lesson from Friday on Wheeler Buckskin Yokes, then I’m going to have you all try your hooves at writing your own poetry.”

There was a unanimous groan in the classroom before the teacher began lecturing about the aforementioned poet. Flarechaser scribbled in her notebook. Cotton heard a tearing sound, then after a moment, felt Flarechaser poking her with a folded-up piece of paper, a huge grin still plastered on her face.   

“FLARECHASER!” All the students turned to look in her direction as the teacher approached her. “We’ve barely begun and you’re already at it. You know the rules about note-passing—give it here.”

“Uh, M-Mrs. Quill, please don’t read this one out loud,” Flarechaser stammered.

“As I said, you know the rules,” Mrs. Quill responded, yanking the paper away in her aura. 

“No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no!” Flarechaser repeated over and over.

Based on Flarechaser’s reaction alone, Cotton watched in terror as the teacher unfolded the note and glanced at the message. Mrs. Quill’s eyes widened before she looked first at Cotton, then back at Flarechaser. Her eyes narrowed. “This is hardly poetry!” She tore the paper to scraps and looked at Cotton again before walking back to the front of the classroom. “And it does not require a response.” 

Cotton and Flarechaser quietly sighed, “Oh, thank you.”

When she reached the front of the room, Mrs. Quill whipped around and pointed a hoof at Flarechaser. “In exchange for this exception, you shall be serving detention this afternoon.”

Flarechaser groaned. “Eh, I can deal,” she whispered to Cotton.

“And tomorrow, so you’ll learn to keep your nose out of other ponies’ business.” 

Flarechaser smacked her face with a hoof. “Dammit.”


Ж


“You’re seriously gonna make us wait until he gets here?” Daisy asked Cotton. “Haven’t we been patient enough?”

Cotton swallowed a bite of her lunch. “Steadclaw and I already agreed in History that if we were going to tell you anything, we’d tell you together.”

“I swear, it’s like talking to a brick wall,” Flarechaser sighed in exasperation, throwing her hooves in Cotton’s direction. 

“No, then she wouldn’t be talking to us at all,” Harmony responded. “She’s more like a bank safe. It’s like she’s got extra security around her just in case, yelling at her if necessary.”

“Miss, are these fillies bothering you?”

Cotton looked up to see Steadclaw, attempting to keep some semblance of a serious expression.

“There you are!” Daisy cried, clapping her hooves together. “Finally!”

“Where were you? You usually beat us here. And these three have been pestering me all morning,” Cotton said to him.

“Yeah, she tried to make me talk, too,” Steadclaw responded, pointing at Harmony. “Sorry, I got held up in Math,” he said, sitting next to Cotton at the table. “Clearly, not all the teachers appreciate adding a little humor to the lesson.”

“You know, we’ve told you not to mess around in Math,” Harmony said. She smirked at Flarechaser. “It’s easier to mess around in a movie theater.” 

Steadclaw looked over at Cotton, who rolled her eyes. “Is it, really?” Steadclaw replied.

Flarechaser let out another exasperated sigh and glared at him. “You too? You’re not gonna spill?” She looked over at Cotton. “You told us you’d talk when you two were together. You’re together now—talk.”

Cotton smacked her face with a hoof. “I also said ‘if’ I was going to say anything, blah blah blah. Look, since you’re all gonna be nosy about it, nothing crazy happened, alright? We had a nice dinner, then we watched a movie together, and the movie was… fun.” She winked at Steadclaw. “Happy?”

Daisy rested her cheek on a hoof. “No. You’re still being totally vague.”

“Hey, not our fault if you can’t figure it out on your own,” Steadclaw said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Exactly,” Cotton added, leaning into him. He put his arm around her underneath her wings.

“Come on! I got two detentions with Mrs. Quill for that?” Flarechaser cried.

“Where’re the details?” Harmony asked. She turned to Flarechaser and asked, “Wait, what?”

“Yeah, about that…” Cotton looked at Flarechaser, too. “What the hay did you write? Do I even want to know?” 

Suddenly, the five of them heard gasps and choruses of “Your Highness!” across the room. They turned to find most of the students bowing, with Princess Twilight Sparkle walking through the cafeteria, straight towards Cotton’s table. As she passed through the crowd of teenagers, she acknowledged them all cordially. When Twilight arrived at her destination, all five of the table’s occupants had risen and made their respective bows.

“Oh come on, Cotton. You know better than to bow. I just wanted to come and say hello after working out the details for your Dance on Friday with your principal,” Twilight said, approaching Cotton and giving her a short nuzzle. She idly waved at Cotton’s four companions, who respectfully rose and waved back. “How’s your day going?”

“Um… pretty good, Aunt Twilight. Do you… think you could go home now? You’re kind of embarrassing me…” Cotton said with a blush, looking at the other bowing students.

“Oh! I’m sorry, Cotton. You know how we are—always saying hello when we have the opportunity,” Twilight responded. “I’ll see you when you get home, okay?” She turned and headed back for the door.

“Sure thing, Aunt Twilight,” Cotton replied. As soon as Twilight left the room, Cotton groaned. “Ugh, why do they insist on doing that kind of stuff to me?”

Daisy giggled. “It’s just something parents do. Or I guess aunts, in this case. It’s like, their job to embarrass us.” 

Cotton watched all the students in the room rise from their bows, then shook her head with a sigh. “I guess.”

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” a familiar voice sneered. “You asked Princess Twilight to come here just to try and make yourself look special? Wow, you must be really desperate for attention,” Gemstone scoffed.

“Yeah, look who’s talking.”

“She’s helping with the dance, Gem,” Cotton snorted. “You were the one who said I should’ve had my party at the castle; well, you got your wish. My dad offered to host the dance there.”

“Oh, puh-lease. By some miracle you managed to get a boyfriend, and you’re still trying to play yourself up,” Jewel added. “Pathetic.”

“That does it,” Steadclaw said, pushing himself out from the table. Before Cotton could stop him, he stomped in the fillies’ direction. The two of them flinched at his approach, but not nearly as much as Steadclaw did when he looked behind them.

“Are you two causing trouble for my niece?” Gemstone and Jewel whipped around to find Princess Twilight Sparkle standing behind them. The two fillies found themselves lacking a response, swapping worried glances. When neither filly answered, Twilight said, “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ Alright, then. I’ll give you two options: I can either contact Cotton’s father and tell him what you’ve been up to—he’ll probably want to speak with you himself—” The two fillies gasped. “—or… or you can both go to the principal’s office and each write Cotton an apology letter.” Gemstone and Jewel both bowed to Twilight, then ran out of the cafeteria in the direction of the principal’s office.

After a few moments of silence, Twilight smirked. When she started laughing, all the students looked at each other, confused. A moment later, green flames engulfed Princess Twilight, and all the students found Buzz rolling on the floor in her stead. “Oh, I’ve been wanting to get them for ages!” the changeling laughed. “They actually bowed to me!”

All the students laughed with him and pounded the floor in applause as Cotton and Steadclaw approached him.

“That was really good, Buzz!” Cotton said, helping him off the floor. “If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought you really were my Aunt Twilight!”

“Yeah,” Steadclaw chuckled. 

Buzz’s shoulders slumped. “Wait, you knew I wasn’t her? You flipped when you saw me!” he said, pointing at Steadclaw.

Cotton glanced at Steadclaw for a moment, and the two of them smirked. “Well yeah, I did at first, but I watched Princess Twilight leave, and she didn’t come back in, even by teleporting,” Steadclaw said.

“And she wouldn’t have suggested that my dad would talk to Gem and Jewel himself. Their parents, maybe,” Cotton added. “She probably would have tried to get them to offer their hooves in friendship, too… but you were still convincing enough for them!” she laughed. 

Buzz put a hoof to his chest, smirked, and said, “Oh, it’s nothing.”

“No, thank you for getting them off my back,” Cotton said, giving Buzz a quick hug. “You did a good job preventing a fight,” she added, glancing at Steadclaw.

Steadclaw crossed his arms with another smirk. “So what’s the deal, huh? Trying to steal my thunder and my girl?”

Buzz shook his head. “Nah, I just wanted to scare those two straight; they’ve had it out for me since I came to this school, too.” He snorted, then muttered under his breath, “Stupid nobles think they’re better than everyone else.”

“What?” Cotton asked.

Buzz straightened up and said, “Nothing.” He turned to Steadclaw. “Don’t worry, dude, I wouldn’t try and steal your girl—mine would squash me.”

Steadclaw winked and pointed a talon at him. “Right, you’re already taken, you sly bug.”

Cotton leaned into Steadclaw and said, “It wouldn’t have worked either way.” She leaned up and gave him a big kiss, eliciting whoops from the crowd. After the noise died down, Cotton turned to the rest of the room and asked everyone present, “So, how long before the two of them figure out they got duped?”

“And how long before Bugster here actually does get in trouble with the office?” Steadclaw laughed.

“Dude, you’re not gonna say anything, are you?” Buzz asked. “You know impersonating royalty is the one thing strictly against the treaty! I could get exiled back to the Badlands for that!”

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. “Oh, right… damn, no wonder you guys all look so freaked,” he said, catching glimpses of the other changeling students with their mouths agape. “No, of course not,” Steadclaw replied, “but Tweedledee and Tweedledum probably will if they figure out what happened.” He turned to the other students in the cafeteria. “Lips zipped so the thespian doesn’t get exiled?” The students all nodded and swiped hooves across their mouths. Steadclaw turned back to Buzz. “There ya go, bud. Pound it.” He held up a fist to the changeling, who bumped it with his hoof with a relieved smile.

Steadclaw furrowed his brows and looked around the cafeteria. Cotton caught his expression. “Hey, everything okay?” she whispered.

“I dunno,” Steadclaw whispered back. “I heard a lot of hooves pounding, but no talons clapping. Even those feathered jerks would’ve given some credit for that performance.” Turning to Buzz, he asked, “Hey Bugster, don’t you have Science with that snob Talonius?” 

Lifting his head with a sarcastic flourish, Buzz answered, “You mean Talonius the Second? Yeah, but he's been out since last week. Why?”

Steadclaw didn’t answer; he just looked around the room again. “What about the other griffons? You have class with any of them? Have they been out, too?”

Buzz put a hoof to his chin. “Actually, yeah. Now that I think about it, you’re the only one that’s been here lately. You think something’s going around?”

“If there is, I’m kinda surprised I didn’t catch it, too.” Steadclaw hummed in thought. 

Cotton nuzzled his plumage. “You think something’s wrong?”

“I dunno, maybe I’m just being neurotic,” he responded, “but I just have this weird feeling.”

“About what?” Buzz asked him.

“That’s the thing…” Steadclaw took a breath, then shook his head. “…I don’t know.”
> Chapter Twenty-Two - A Little Elbow Grease
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton paced back and forth in front of her aunts’ conference room. They only used that room when having important diplomatic meetings, war councils, apocalyptic situations, and apparently conferences involving Cotton’s friends.

“Sweetie, I’m sure you’ve better things to do than pace in front of the conference room,” Spike told her. “Why don’t you get your homework do—”

“I finished my homework at school.”

“Well, that’s… good,” Spike said, idly picking at something stuck between his teeth. “Hmm… why don’t you go back to—”

“Dad, they’re talking about my friend in there! They’ve been discussing this for days! And the only reason they’re talking about Buzz at all is because he was trying to help me! I know impersonating royalty is against the Equestrian-Changeling Treaty, but if Buzz gets exiled because he was helping me, I’d never forgive myself!”

Spike shook his head. “Cotton, I’m sure your aunts have taken everything you told them into consideration. This situation is a bit tricky; you’ll need to be patient until they make their decision. For now, pacing in front of their door isn’t going to help. I don’t know how much longer they’ll be in there, so you really should find something else to do with your time.” He tapped his chin with a talon. “Why don’t you go through your wardrobe and find what you’d like to wear for your dance tomorrow night? I can help, if you’d like.”

Cotton forced out a sigh. “Fine.” As she turned away from the door and headed down the hallway towards her room, she grumbled, “Dunno how much help you’ll be, though…” 

Spike cleared his throat, causing Cotton to stop and look at him. “And just what makes you think I can’t be of help in fashion matters?” Spike asked with a cocked brow.

Cotton lifted a hoof and opened her mouth to speak, but caught herself. “Ohhhhh… right. Mom.”

After Spike spoke to Cotton about Rarity’s life, Cotton referred to Spike’s late wife as her mother. It thrilled Spike to hear. “You bet your cutie mark,” Spike said. “Forget your aunts; if you want an honest opinion, I’m the dragon that married a fashion mogul.”

Cotton rubbed the back of her mane. “Heh. Sorry, Dad.”


Ж


After returning the sixth dress to her wardrobe, Cotton continued rummaging, then took out a golden, silk dress and showed it to Spike. “Ehh… It looks nice, but I’m thinking a little too flashy. What about you?”

“If we were holding a Miss Equestria pageant, I would say that’s the one, but we’re not,” Spike answered, his head sticking through the door. “I’m with you, sweetie—too flashy.”

“Thought so,” Cotton responded, hanging the dress back up. “Hey, what about this one?” Cotton pulled herself out of the wardrobe, holding another dress. “I like the symbols, and the accents kinda match my mane.”

Spike gave the light pink and ruby dress a once-over. “Oooooh, I remember that one! That’s the first from what we called the ‘Fleur de Lis line’.”

“Oh, I thought that symbol looked familiar!” Cotton exclaimed. “Wait, Lady Fleur de Lis had a line all to herself?”

“In a way,” Spike chuckled. “Fleur de Lis asked your mother for a custom-designed dress during the peak of the season one year, but she claimed she wasn’t in any rush for it, so your mother took her time so she could get more urgent orders out. When she started on Fleur’s dress, she was so stressed that not only did she accidentally end up using the wrong measurements, but fashioned it for a pegasus instead of a unicorn! That dress was the result. I’m glad we held on to it.”

“So… did Lady Fleur de Lis ever get the right dress?” Cotton asked.

“After six or seven attempts, yes,” Spike said with a smile. “That’s why we call those dresses their own line—they were all meant for Fleur. If you like that one, why don’t you give it—” Spike cut himself off. “Hold that thought, sweetie.” He pulled his head out of the doorway, and Cotton saw him looking at a spot next to the door. After a minute or two, he nodded, then called back into the room, “Cotton, your aunts would like to talk to you.”

Cotton’s eyes widened, then she hung the dress back up and rushed to the door as Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all entered. “So? What’s gonna happen to Buzz? You’re not gonna exile him, are you? I told you—”

“Cotton, please,” Celestia silenced her, holding up a hoof. “There were many factors that we considered, but we believe we’ve reached a fair decision.”

Luna nodded. “Thy friend’s actions put us in a rather serious predicament,” she added.

Twilight stepped forward. “I know you don’t want us to beat around the bush, but we should give you an explanation first. Since I was the one impersonated, I’ll explain.” She glanced over her shoulder at Celestia and Luna, who both nodded, before continuing. “You see, Cotton, though your friend may have been trying to help you in a bullying situation, he took it too far with impersonation of royalty, which is the one strict rule that we agreed upon with Queen Chrysalis when we wrote the Equestrian-Changeling Treaty.”

“I’m sorry for interrupting, but if you don’t mind my asking, how did you even find out?” Cotton asked. “I mean, I know how you knew who it was; you and the principal found Steadclaw and me talking to Buzz in the middle of the cafeteria. That was kind of a dead giveaway.”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, it was. Well, the two fillies, who I assume have been the source of your bullying, informed me,” she said. “I’d gone to speak with your principal one more time before leaving your school on Monday; when they ran into the office and found me there, they realized they’d been fooled, and told me their version of events. That’s when they brought me back to the cafeteria. I took their side of the story with a grain of salt, considering they said they were attacked.” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Twilight, you’re going off topic,” Celestia interrupted.

“Right! Sorry. Anyway, your friend breached the treaty we signed with Queen Chrysalis, and that can’t go without consequences. It would set a terrible precedent; even if he had good intentions, if we allow one changeling to impersonate royalty without consequence, then other changelings may attempt the same with ill intent, and claim we were lenient with the first incident if put on trial. We’re fortunate that this is the first report of impersonation of royalty since the treaty’s implementation. We don’t want to burn any bridges with Queen Chrysalis, and we want to allow changelings in Canterlot, but if we set strict rules, we can’t afford to break them because the offender had good intentions. Therefore, we will be sentencing your friend to—”

“No!” Cotton yelled. “Please don’t exile hi—”

“Cotton, let me finish,” Twilight said firmly. When Cotton calmed herself, Twilight restarted. “We will be sentencing your friend to six to eight weeks in Canterlot Juvenile Hall, effective immediately. Because he’s still a minor, we believe exile would be too excessive a punishment. I’m going to go meet with Ambassador Thorax at the Canterlot Hive now to discuss our terms. Since it was a sole teenage changeling who breached the treaty, and no actual harm was done, he left the decision up to us. He trusted that we would be fair.”

“So… Buzz isn’t going to be exiled?” Cotton asked. When Twilight shook her head, Cotton sighed with relief. “But wait—you said ‘immediately.’ Do you mean like, he needs to go tonight? If he’s being sentenced right away, that means he’ll—”

“He’s going to miss your dance, yes,” Twilight finished for her.  

Cotton stomped a hoof. “Awww! He’s been looking forward to the dance for months! Can’t you just like, push the sentence by a day?” she pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Cotton, but no,” Celestia said. “As Twilight said, the rules are the rules.”

“If anything, forbidding thy friend from presenting himself at a function he wishes to attend will help make it clear that breaching the treaty shall not be tolerated, even by minors,” Luna added.

“So you’re using him as an example? That’s not fair!” Cotton huffed, turning away from her aunts. 

“We have no choice, Cotton,” Twilight said. “The simple fact is that he’s the first changeling to break the treaty’s terms, and there needs to be a consequence, or ponies and changelings alike will think we don’t take the terms seriously.” 

Cotton sighed. “But it’s not his fault he was born a changeling…” She turned and looked up into the floor-length mirror on her wardrobe door. “Just because he looks different…” she mumbled. 

“‘Tis not simply a matter of birth; ‘tis a matter of politics,” Luna said. “The treaty with the changelings must not be broken if we are to allow them a home in Canterlot.”

“Cotton, we really are sorry about this,” Twilight said. “We understand that you care about your changeling friend, and we took everything you told us into consideration, but from a political standpoint, we have no choice but to take some kind of action. This is the most lenient we can be. Look on the bright side: he isn’t being exiled. That’s what the treaty allows us to do, but like I said, we think that would be too harsh. Your friend will be out of juvenile hall in a couple of months.”

“I guess that’s true,” Cotton responded solemnly. “But try explaining that to his fillyfriend.”

Celestia stepped forward and put a hoof on Cotton’s shoulder. “This may be more your aunt Cadance’s territory, but I do not think true love can be broken by bars,” she said. “When your friend is released, not only will his brothers and sisters be happy to have him back at their hive, but he will likely have a feast of love from his fillyfriend.”

With another sigh, Cotton replied, “Alright, I guess I shouldn’t sulk about this; I did everything I could. I’ll go see Buzz at juvi at some point over the summer.” She looked at Celestia, Luna, and Twilight in turn. “Thank you for being as lenient as you could. I may not be happy about it, but I understand why you need to do something.” 

“Thank you, Cotton,” Twilight said. “Now, I need to go speak with Ambassador Thorax before it gets too late.”

“Can you at least get a message to Buzz for me when you go to the Canterlot Hive?” Cotton asked. “Can you just make sure he knows that I’m sorry he has to go to juvi, and I’ll see him sometime soon?”

Twilight smiled. “Short and sweet. I can’t imagine it would be a problem.” Twilight turned for the door. “I should be back in time for dinner. I’ll make sure your friend gets your message, Cotton.”

“Thanks, Aunt Twilight,” Cotton responded.

Before she left, Twilight nudged Celestia. “I think now would be a good time.” Then she walked out the door and nodded to Spike.

Shortly after Twilight’s exit, Spike poked his head back into the room. “How is everything in here? Are you alright, sweetie? I can’t imagine hearing your aunts’ verdict was easy.”

Cotton shook her head. “It wasn’t, but I understand.” Straightening herself, she said, “If we keep talking about it, I’m just gonna stay upset, so why don’t we do something more productive? Where’s that dress I pulled out?” Cotton went back to her wardrobe and found the aforementioned dress. Holding it up, she asked, “Auntie Tia, Aunt Luna, what do you think?”

“I think that would look lovely on you, Cotton,” Celestia replied. “Have you tried it on?”

“I was about to when you came in. Now I can get your opinions, too.” Cotton took the dress off its hanger and gently slipped herself into it, poking her wings through. She turned herself around once and looked into her mirror, smiling. “So?”

“Thou lookest stupendous, Cotton!” Luna responded.

“I agree. And it’s a perfect fit, too,” Spike said with a smile.

“Indeed,” Celestia added. “But if I may, I might have something to add.”

“What?” Cotton asked. “What would I add to the dress? I don’t want to change it.”

Celestia tittered. “No, Cotton, I don’t mean to the dress itself.” She lit her horn, and a polished, wooden box appeared in her aura. Lowering the box to Cotton’s hooves, Celestia asked, “Look familiar?”

The box was similar in appearance to the one she’d presented to Cotton on her birthday, but instead of Celestia’s mark of the sun, Cotton’s cutie mark adorned its top. Cotton lit up. “Wait, is this—”

“I asked Reverent Brogue to make these his top priority so they would be finished in time for tomorrow. I hope they came out the way you asked,” Celestia said. Smiling, she opened the box’s lid with her aura, unveiling a set of golden regalia shoes. “Happy birthday, Cotton.”

Cotton’s jaw hung slack as she took one of the shoes out of the box and turned it around. Her eyes sparkled as she put it on the floor and slipped her hoof in. Her pastern lay perfectly against the golden four-leaf clover that she had chosen for its design. “It’s perfect!”

“Try the whole set,” Celestia said, levitating the other three shoes in front of Cotton’s respective hooves. “Make sure walking feels comfortable.”

Cotton placed her other three hooves into the remaining shoes. As she walked around the room to get a feel for them, she couldn’t help but giggle. Cotton grinned at the success. “They fit perfectly! Thank you, Auntie Tia!”

“You are very welcome, Cotton. It was my pleasure,” Celestia responded with a smile.

“You look fantastic, sweetie,” Spike said proudly, a wide smile on his face.

“Thanks, Daddy.” Cotton looked at herself in the wardrobe mirror again, focusing on her shoes. When she lifted her head up to take in her whole outfit, she mused, “I’ll just have to do something about my mane.”

“Perhaps We may be of assistance,” Luna said. “We received something from thine Aunt Cadenza this morning just before We drifted into slumber.” Her horn glowed for a moment before a box with a pair of golden, crystal-embedded hair clips appeared on Cotton’s vanity. “Cadenza claims these are a belated birthday present, so We shall also wish thee a happy birthday on her behalf,” Luna finished with a smile.

Cotton gasped and covered her muzzle with her hooves. Rushing to her chair, she gingerly took the clips out of their box. 

“Those are from Cadance?” Celestia asked. “They’re beautiful! But how did she know to give Cotton hair clips?”

“We, uh… mentioned Cotton’s latest hairstyle to her when we last spoke.” 

Oblivious to her aunts’ conversation, Cotton looked in the mirror and wrapped her mane around her hoof a few times for impromptu curls. Using her wing for assistance, she carefully inserted the hair clips to keep her mane positioned so her scars were visible. Getting up from her chair, she walked to her wardrobe to take in her full appearance.

“Hello?” 

Cotton yelped as she looked into her mirror to see a figure appear in the glass. “So this is where everyone is! I swear, this castle is impossible to navigate.” With a snap of his claw, Discord disappeared from the glass and reappeared on Cotton’s vanity desk with his legs on the chair, one elbow resting on his knee. “My my my! What in Equestria happened to that shy little filly that I met four years ago? Did she move out?” Discord teased.

Cotton stuck her tongue out at him. “Nah, she grew up and got herself a boyfriend,” Cotton responded, smiling and twirling in her dress for added flair.

“And when was anyone going to tell me about this?” Discord asked, putting a paw to his chest. 

“When you stopped trying to teach your grandson to take over Equestria,” Spike deadpanned.

“Hey Uncle Discord, how is li’l Illusion doing?” Cotton asked.

“Oh, he’s absolutely insufferable to his parents.” He snapped his claw again, and a picture frame with a photo of a young, gray pegasus colt with a short, pink mane, along with a pair of mismatched horns, popped into Discord’s claw. He clutched the frame, grinning wildly, and exclaimed, “He is so my grandson!” Celestia, Luna, and Spike all rolled their eyes, while Cotton tried to suppress a giggle.

“So? Whaddaya think?” Cotton asked, twirling in her dress again. “My school dance is tomorrow.”

The picture frame vanished as Discord put his claw to his chin. “Well, I do admit, you look rather stunning in that dress, but your mane could use a little elbow grease.”

“Oh no, these curls are just makeshift,” Cotton explained. “I’ll do them for real tomorrow night.” 

“Well, why don’t we do a little practice run, hmm?” Discord hummed. He snapped his claw, and a jar appeared in front of him, then he started rubbing his elbows together, and a viscous, cloudy liquid dripped from them. When the jar filled to his satisfaction, he snapped his talons again, and a black shirt and pants appeared on him, along with a pair of glasses. “Now let’s just see what we can do with this, honey,” he said in a thick accent. He snapped the clips out of Cotton’s hair and back to the box on the vanity, then teleported Cotton to her chair. She blinked at her cross-eyed reflection, dazed. Discord shoved his claw into the jar, coating it with a thick layer of elbow grease, then ran it through Cotton’s mane. All the knots and tangles dissipated, and her hair curled on its own. After repeating the process a few times, Cotton’s mane looked the way she always imagined it.

Celestia approached the vanity mirror, raised her eyebrows, and nodded. “I must say, well done, Discord.” 

“Wow! How are you so good at cosmetology?” Cotton asked him.

“Well, first of all, magic,” Discord deadpanned. “But in all seriousness…” He stole a look at Spike. “I took a lesson from Rarity on a boring day. Fluttershy loved it when I styled her mane.” 

“‘Tis sensible reasoning,” Luna said. “Though thou art missing Cadenza’s finishing touch, Cotton.”

“Oh, right!” Cotton exclaimed. As Discord ran his grease-laden claw through Cotton’s tail, she picked up one of the clips again and lifted her mane away from her right eye before inserting the clip. She repeated the process on her left side, allowing one row of her bangs to fall. With both her mane and tail styled, she rose from her chair and twirled once again. “So? What’s the verdict?”

Celestia, Luna, and Spike all smiled at each other before turning back to Cotton. “I think High Style has some competition in your uncle,” Celestia laughed. 

“How wouldst thou like to be Cotton’s stylist on the morrow?” Luna asked Discord.

“I have to admit, Discord, you’ve got some skill,” Spike added. “Then again, if you learned from my wife, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Cotton looked at herself in her wardrobe mirror. Her curled mane glimmered almost as much as her shoes and hair clips, and her tail matched the style perfectly. Smiling, she turned to Discord and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Uncle Discord! This looks great! Do you think you could do this for me again tomorrow night?”

Discord rubbed his chin. “Well, I planned on popping in on Eris and Stonecutter tomorrow to give them a paw…” A calendar appeared in front of him, each date marked with the same note: Takeover Lessons. “But I suppose I could pencil you in.” A pencil as large as his entire body appeared in Discord’s claw, and he gingerly wrote Manestyling down in the square for the following day. He proceeded to swallow the pencil whole, then swatted the calendar away until it flew away like an irritated bird. He turned around to find Celestia, Luna, and Spike all looking at him with deadpan stares. “What? Even the God of Chaos keeps an organized schedule; I have Twilight to thank for that. Say, where is Twilight anyway?”


Ж


Spike looked around the giant ballroom. Large, round tables with chairs surrounded the center of the room. A long table prepared for food and drinks sat in the back, while a massive dance floor and a stage dominated one side of the room. His grand-nephew lounged with his rear hooves up resting on the table on the stage. “Are you all set and ready to go, Largo?”

“Yep-yep,” Largo answered. “Lights and sound are good, got my music all lined up—with some oldies just in case—and my personal punch bowl is ready and waiting.” He lifted an empty bowl in his aura and set it back down on the table. When Spike raised an eyebrow at him, Largo said, “I didn’t bring anything extra, I swear.”

“Good,” Spike responded, “or my talon will be finding its way in there again.”

“I know, I know. So when’s this party starting anyway?” Largo asked.

“In about an hour, but Cotton’s boyfriend is arriving early with his mother so we can all have a parents’ meet n’ greet,” Spike replied. “They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes or so.”

“Oh, riiiiight. Wow, Cotton and the griffon from the birthday party. Gotta admit, I didn’t see that one coming,” Largo commented.

“Well, whether you did or not, that’s the case. Now, let’s get you fed before the dance starts; I’m guessing you won’t want to eat while you’re deejaying, and I don’t want you to go hungry. What would you like from the kitchen?”


Ж


When the iron knocker rang out, Spike, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all stood in front of the main doors. “Soooo… who’s answering?” Spike asked. “I might be a little… imposing.”

“Well, I was the first princess Steadclaw met—should it be the same with his mother?” Twilight responded.

“That sounds fair,” Celestia said. When Twilight didn’t move, she wagged her hoof at the door. “Go ahead!”

Twilight lit her horn and opened the door part-way so she could see Steadclaw through the opening. He sported a black jacket and bowtie, a white shirt, and a vest to match his plumage, along with his slicked-back head feathers. “Good evening, Steadclaw. Don’t you look sharp!”

Steadclaw blushed a bit as he crossed an arm over his chest and dipped his head. “Good evening, Your Highness. And thank you very much.” Stepping aside, he revealed Stella behind him, wearing a floral dress and a pair of faux-diamond earrings. “I’d like to introduce you to my mother, Stella.”

Stella copied her son’s respectful gesture. “I-it’s an honor to meet you, Y-Your Highness. If I may be frank, I honestly can’t believe I’m even here!”

Twilight chuckled softly. “Well, if you don’t mind my being frank in return, do you know who else you’re about to meet?”

Stella took a deep breath. “Yes, I do, and I apologize in advance if we have a repeat of what happened at my home. I can only imagine Cotton told you about it,” she said, her cheeks reddening.

Twilight nodded, holding back a laugh. “Yes, she did. She was really quite flattered.”

Steadclaw nudged his mother. “See? I told you!”

“Well, how could I have known? You rarely tell me anything!”

“You never ask!”

Twilight giggled at the interchange, then cleared her throat. Both Stella’s and Steadclaw’s attention snapped back to her. “Without further delay, since we have only so much time before other guests arrive…” She opened the door fully so they could see into the main hall. “…allow me to introduce Princesses Luna and Celestia, and Cotton’s father, Sir Spike.” 

The three of them dipped their heads. Stella and Steadclaw crossed arms across their chests, then did the same. As Steadclaw and Luna locked eyes for a moment, Spike interjected, “Please, just call me ‘Spike.’” He glared at Twilight. “My sister knows full well that I am not fond of that title.”

“Of course, S-Spike,” Stella responded, looking up at his tremendous form.

After nodding to Luna, Steadclaw nudged his mother and chuckled, “You were about to call him ‘Sir’ anyway, weren’t you?”

Stella glared at him. “Well, how often do you speak with royalty in a casual manner?”

“Well, after getting threatened with a roasting by dragon breath, I learned to drop the title pretty quickly,” Steadclaw replied nervously, glancing at Spike.

When all three princesses turned to Spike and glared at him, he simply shrugged. “I’m an overprotective father; I’m allowed to do that.” He turned to Stella, who seemed to be nodding her agreement, and continued, “And to quote your son, at least I didn’t have a shotgun.”

“But you don’t need one.”

All six of them turned to look toward the top of the stairway where the voice emanated from, and there stood Cotton, adorned in her dress, regalia shoes, and crystal-embedded hair clips, her mane and tail perfectly curled. A flash appeared next to her as three Discords let out a fanfare with trumpets. Cotton giggled and said, “Thank you, Uncle Discord.” The Discords bowed before vanishing into thin air.

Noticing Stella’s extremely confused expression, Spike leaned down and said, “It’s best not to ask.” She nodded in response.

As Cotton descended the staircase, Stella whispered, “Good…Grover, she looks marvelous!” 

“Thank you,” Spike whispered back, a wide grin on his face. “I have your son to thank for helping her realize that herself.” 

Cotton approached Steadclaw with a coy smile; his mouth hung open as his mind processed the vision before him. “So?” Cotton’s voice brought him out of his trance. “What do you think?”

After regaining control of his jaw, Steadclaw responded, “Cotton, you… you are more beautiful than the night sky’s moon, brighter than the sun at noon, and cooler than the breeze on an autumn afternoon.”

Both Cotton’s and Steadclaw’s faces flushed, and Cotton put a hoof to her muzzle. “Wow…” She reached up and gave him a deep kiss before she let out a giggle. “You must’ve aced that poetry lesson.”

While Spike and Stella exchanged smiles of their own, Luna turned to Celestia and whispered, “Should we be insulted?”
















> Chapter Twenty-Three - Honor and Offer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

While Spike, Stella, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all spoke amongst themselves at one of the tables in the ballroom, Cotton asked Largo to put on some soft music. Largo obliged, giving her a chance to grab Steadclaw unexpectedly by the arm and drag him onto the dance floor to have their own slow dance before the guests arrived. 

The princesses and parents engaged in a lively conversation, every now and then pointing at the dancing teens. Steadclaw’s attention veered over towards them more than once. Each time, Cotton put her hoof to his cheek and swiveled his head back in her direction. “Hey, eyes over here, silly. Of course they’re talking about us; that shouldn’t bother you. It’s the whole reason your mom is here in the first place,” she chuckled.

“Look who’s talking,” Steadclaw laughed. “I saw you dance harder at your birthday party. I didn’t take you for a slow dancer—why’re you holding out?”

Cotton reached out and kissed him lightly. “Just shut up and dance with me while we’ve got the floor to ourselves,” she giggled. “We’ll have time to make fools of ourselves later.”

“Well, if that’s how you want it…” Steadclaw replied, before calling up to the stage, “Hey Largo, you have any of The King in that stash of yours?” Cotton cocked a brow at him before looking in Largo’s direction herself.

Largo dug through his collection of vinyls. “I believe I do. You wanna stick to slow?” When Steadclaw nodded, Largo grinned. “Ahh, you’re asking for that one, aren’t you?” 

“Heh, yeah. Any chance you can turn the vocals down a bit?”

“That I can,” Largo responded, lighting his horn and casting a spell on his equipment. “Alrighty then, lovebird, serenade away.” There was a quick scratching sound as he swapped his records, before a light piano tune began.

Recognizing the music herself, Cotton blushed. 

“Hopefully I’m not about to make a fool of myself right now,” Steadclaw said, clearing his throat before catching the music cue. “Wiiiiiiiiise geeeeeeeeents saaaaaaaaay…”


Ж


“Ooooh, that was so sweet!” Twilight cooed, as Steadclaw finished singing, and Cotton, close to tears, kissed him on the beak. When Celestia glanced over at Twilight with a smirk and an arched brow, Twilight responded, “What? Princess Cadance isn’t here—somebody has to pick up the slack.”

“Indeed,” Luna chuckled. Turning to Stella, she added, “Thy son is quite the romantic.” 

Stella sighed with a smile. “You know, he’s been humming that song to himself for months. I had no idea why until now.”

“He’s got quite the singing voice,” Spike said. “He would’ve made a nice addition to the Pony-Tones… if they were still active.” He let out a nostalgic sigh. After a moment, Spike shook himself from his reverie and looked at the clock. “Oop! It’s almost time! We should be prepared for any early arrivals.” The words had hardly left his mouth when the main hall knocker rang out. “Can I call ‘em, or can I call ‘em?” he added with a smirk, moving to rise from the floor next to the table.

“I’ll greet the guests. They’ve already seen me on the school grounds anyway,” Twilight said as she rose from her seat, gesturing for Spike to stay put. When she saw Cotton and Steadclaw racing towards the main hall, she added, “Besides, that’s likely Cotton’s friends.” 

As Twilight followed Cotton and Steadclaw, Luna asked Celestia, “Sister, should we not be serving the refreshments as well?” 

“Not yet. If I recall how these functions work, we should let the students mingle and dance a bit first, then bring out the food after about a half-hour. Princess Twilight has everything planned, so let’s leave the details to her.”

“Agreed,” Luna responded. “Well then, perhaps we ought to…” She waved a hoof around, trying to think of the proper phrase. “…make ourselves scarce?” She looked over at Spike. “After all, with Princess Twilight serving as planner, We believe Sir Spike is chaperone enough to keep the students on their best behavior, let alone Our Royal Guards.”

Celestia tapped her chin. “Hmm, you’re probably right. A house-sized dragon, Royal Guards, and three princesses as chaperones might make the students uneasy. Besides, when the clock strikes, you’ll have foals’ dreams to keep track of.”

“Indeed,” Luna deadpanned. “Whilst mostly boring, even foals have nightmares on occasion.”

“Uh, P-Princesses, if you don’t mind my interruption,” Stella interjected, glancing at Spike, “I would be happy to stay and chaperone with Spike if you’d like.”

Luna smiled. “‘Tis a kind offer of thee. An extra set of eyes is always helpful, as long as Sir Spike takes no issue.”

“Not at all,” Spike responded with a smile of his own. “If Princesses Celestia and Luna plan to limit their presence, it would be nice to have some company, seeing as the guards will be at their posts, and my sister will be running around like a crazy-pony.”


Ж


Steadclaw and Cotton parted lips just as the knocker rang. Glancing at the clock on the far wall, Steadclaw remarked, “Who would be coming early? Other than me, obviously.”

“I can think of three fillies,” Cotton chuckled. She released Steadclaw’s grip on her hooves to fall back on all fours, then waved her head towards the castle entrance. “Come on, let’s go let ‘em in.” 

As Cotton rushed toward the main hall, Twilight rose from where the adults were chatting and followed them. 

When she and Steadclaw reached the main doors, Cotton found somepony she wasn’t expecting reaching for the door. “Novamac! What are you doing here?”

“Ah’m on duty,” he replied simply, smiling as his hoof hovered in the air.

“As doorpony?” Cotton asked. “That’s not very fair. Your shift should be over by now; do you want me to talk to my dad?”

“No need, cousin. Ah volunteered.”

“To be doorpony?” Cotton responded, arching a brow.

“Co-doorpony,” a female voice said from above, before a noctis landed between them.

“Nightshade!” Cotton exclaimed. In an instant, the cogs started turning in Cotton’s head. “Hey, isn’t this a breach of protocol?” she teased. 

“Only if we weren’t already married,” Nightshade replied with a smirk. “Besides, it was your dad’s idea—gives us some extra time together after all of the guests have arrived.” She walked up to Novamac and gave him a brief kiss. “Our off-hours don’t overlap very often.” Turning to Steadclaw, she said, “So this is the griffon I’ve been hearing about, huh? We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet. Come over here, we need to chat.” 

“Go easy on him, Nightshade, he’s already impressed Dad and the Aunts,” Cotton laughed, as Nightshade pulled Steadclaw aside. “Here, I’ll get the door, Nova,” she added.

“N’ muss up yer dress? Ain’t happenin’, Cuz. You jus’ stand there and look pretty,” he said with a wink, pulling the door open.

Once the door opened, Cotton saw Harmony Wishes. She wore a wide grin, and a glossy yellow dress complimenting the streaks in her mane, which sat styled in an elaborate bun behind her head. Harmony took one look at Cotton and let out a gasp. “Oh my gosh! Cotton you look amazing! I totally want to hug you but I’d mess up your mane!”

Cotton giggled. “Don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. C’mere.” She leaned forward and gave Harmony a hug, glancing behind her to find a stallion standing in front of the door of a large black carriage pulled by nine other stallions, one of the hitches unlatched. “You took a luxury carriage?”

“Yeah, the six of us all pooled together evenly so we could arrive in style,” Harmony responded with a smirk. 

“Actually… Harmony was nice enough to chip in some extra for me. I couldn’t—”

“Shhh! Cee, nopony needs to know! I was happy to,” Harmony said, nudging a zebra colt trotting up to stand next to her. He wore a faded suit jacket that matched the gray of his striped mane, which had been combed over to one side. 

“Hey, I see you in the library a lot,” Cotton said. “You’re… Catalyst, right?”

“Strange Catalyst,” he replied. “Not surprising you’d see me in there. I usually am when I’m not in class. It’d be nice if they’d let me use the science lab, though.”

“Did somepony say ‘science lab’?” Twilight asked, trotting toward the door. As Harmony and Strange Catalyst bowed to her, she blushed slightly. “Oh, right. Um, welcome to Canterlot Castle! It’s a pleasure to have you all here.”  

“Thank you for having us, Your Highness,” Harmony responded, as she and her escort made their way inside. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Ah, the rest of the crew is catching up.”

“We only had to catch up because you galloped out of the carriage to reach the door first,” Flarechaser called as she approached the door, a white-coated pegasus colt with a white suit jacket trotting beside her. 

“Says the filly who dressed up for a funeral,” Harmony retorted.

“Hey, black goes good with my coat and my mane,” Flarechaser shot back. “What can I say? Red and orange are a good pair.” 

“Well,” Strange Catalyst corrected her. “Black goes we—”

“Chill, grammar na-zebra,” Flarechaser grunted. “We’re not in school.”

“But…” The zebra retreated a step further into the castle. “I was just—”

“Don’t worry about it, Cee,” Harmony told him. “Flare’s just a hothead.” 

As they approached, Flarechaser whispered to her escort, “Flick, I told you take that off!”

The colt swiped a silver hairband off his head and whispered back, “Oh right, sorry!” as his straight, silver mane dropped down to his shoulders and just over his eyes. 

Flarechaser bowed to Twilight, expecting her escort to do the same, but when she glanced over at him, he was attacking his own mane. “Dammit, Flick…” she muttered under her breath. 

“I told you to just let him wear it, Flare,” Daisy giggled, trotting up behind them alongside a pale yellow earth pony stallion in a navy suit-vest. Bowing, she said, “Good evening, Your Highness. Thank you for having us.” Glancing at the condition of her own date, she shuffled her light blue dress aside and brushed at his mane. “Why couldn’t you do something different with your hair, Sprout? This is a formal event!”

“Geez, no wonder ponies think we’re siblings,” the colt grumbled. “Not much else to do with a ‘hawk, ya know. Uh, good evening, Your Highness,” he chuckled nervously, attempting to bow to Twilight. “Hey, Cotton! Looking good!”

Cotton laughed. “Hey, Cactus Sprout! Thanks, you too!” Turning to Flarechaser, Cotton asked her, “Flare, is that Flicka Ring?”

Flarechaser deadpanned, “Yes…” Just as Flicka Ring bit at his mane, she cried, “Fine, fine, you can wear the tiara! Just stop biting your hair!” She grabbed the hairband out of his jacket pocket and rearranged his mane before shoving it back on his head. The colt grinned before he found himself in front of Twilight, then he fumbled on his hooves for a moment before bowing. 

When Twilight looked over at Cotton with a raised eyebrow, she responded, “First year at the Canterlot Hive.” When Twilight’s mouth formed a large ‘o’, Cotton giggled, “Yeah, he’s still… kind of adjusting.” Looking over at Daisy, who was still trying to fix her date’s hair, Cotton chuckled, “Daisy, chill out before he—” She grasped her muzzle, then burst out laughing. “Before he whips out his cactus and gives you a good prick!”

Twilight’s and Cactus Sprout’s faces both burned bright red as the girls cackled. Even Strange Catalyst struggled to hold in a snicker. 

Flicka Ring looked at the guffawing fillies for a moment before flatly stating, “I don’t get it.”

Flarechaser nearly choked. “Two seconds into the night, and already any chance of formality has been utterly shattered!” she cried.

At that moment, Steadclaw made his way over to the group and found most of them in tears. Novamac still stood holding the door, smirking to himself, with only his professionalism keeping him in check. “Aw Grover, what did I miss?” 

A still red-faced Cactus Sprout answered, “Ahhh… let’s just say Cotton has a way with words. Which were used at my expense.”

Steadclaw put a claw to his mouth and let out a brief chuckle. “‘Nuff said.”

“Benefit of being early arrivals!” Harmony shouted through her laughter. “Non-judgemental dirty talk in front of the awesome princess!”

Flicka Ring looked around at the fillies trying to catch their breath. “…I still don’t get it…” 


Ж


“…and I’m so close to finding the right chemical combination to turn lead into gold that I can almost taste it!” Strange Catalyst cried over the din of the dance music, standing next to the punch bowl on the far end of the room. “If only I could get more time in the science lab!”

“…Uhhhhhh-huh,” Buckwheat responded, finishing his glass of punch and setting it down on the table. “Frankly, I haven’t got an inkling of a clue about what you’ve been talking about for the past five minutes, but you sound like you’re working your flank off, so good luck.” He brushed a hoof over his crew-cut mane, then made his way back to the dance floor. 

In the center of the crowd, four fillies, two colts, and one griffon danced to their hearts’ content. “Dang, Cotton! Your cousin puts together a hot playlist!” Daisy shouted.

“Just as hot as Cotton’s birthday!” Steadclaw screamed back to her. Watching Cotton dance like a maniac, he pointed at her and belted, “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!” 

Cotton laughed. “What can I say? It’s more fun in a group!”

As the song faded out, the students heard Largo’s voice over the microphone. “Alright you crazy party-lovers, let’s ease up for just a minute and let you catch your breath. I’m gonna give some of the romantic colts out there a chance to serenade their fillies. I’ve only got one mic, so you’ll have to share,” he said, hovering his microphone toward the crowd in his aura after casting another vocal reduction spell on his equipment. He then started a song with a softer, scattered pendulum of notes with a background chorus of ‘ah’s. “Who’s up first?” he asked. 

Over a dozen colts flailed their hooves in the air, then Largo tossed the microphone into the crowd, just in time for a unicorn to catch it in his aura and sing the first verse to a nearby, profusely blushing filly. With all the other colts still waving their hooves around, he tossed the microphone to a pegasus just two ponies over from Cotton and her friends, allowing him to sing the second verse to his own red-faced date. When the second verse came to a close, Steadclaw rushed over and grabbed the microphone, then just as quickly zipped to Cotton’s side before he sang the chorus.

“When I see your faaaace…” 


Ж


“I have to admit, I’m surprised he was willing to part with the microphone,” Stella chuckled in the rear corner of the room, sitting on Spike’s shoulder so they could converse without screaming. 

“Agreed,” Spike replied with a quick laugh, which settled into a smile. “You know, Princess Luna is right; Steadclaw really is quite the romantic. He even picked the perfect segment of that song to sing to Cotton, if I do say so myself.”

“Honestly, I think any part of that song would’ve been suitable,” Stella responded with a smile, “but that chorus was rather perfect.” She let out a content sigh. “I must say, Spike, you’re wonderful company… even when you’re keeping your eyes on over a hundred children,” she laughed.

Spike panned his head around the room before he turned to smile at his shoulder’s occupant. “Likewise, Stella. Thank you for taking on the duty with me.” He took in the scene around him once again. All the students appeared to be enjoying and behaving themselves. “Hmmm… that’s strange,” he mulled.

“What’s strange?” Stella asked him.

“Well, I don’t—”

“Sir Spike!” Spike was cut off by the voice of one of the royal guards. 

Turning his head toward the voice, Spike answered, “Yes? Is something amiss?” As he fixed his gaze towards the floor, he spotted two guards crossing spears behind a pair of fillies adorned with elegant dresses, various gemstones, and jewels.

“We caught these two trying to sneak onto the upper floor, sir,” the second guard responded. “Intentionally disobeying instructions to stay within the boundaries for the function. Your orders?”

“Give me a moment, gentlecolts, but hold your positions,” Spike answered, scratching his chin. 

“Should I go elsewhere?” Stella whispered to him.

Spike waved a claw. “No, it’s alright, this shouldn’t take long.” Focusing on the fillies, he asked them, “What are your names?” When the fillies’ mouths opened and closed a few times, but produced no sound, Spike smirked. “What’s the matter?” He leaned in so closely that they could feel his iron-hot breath melt away what little resolve they had left. “Dragon got your tongue?” He lifted himself back up to standing height. “Let’s see, if I have to guess, based on the accessories and what Cotton’s told me…” He cocked a brow. “Would you two happen to be Gemstone and Jewel?”

Both fillies took in sharp breaths. Their bodies trembled from their styled manes to the tips of their hooves, but eventually, they simultaneously nodded their heads slowly and stammered out, “Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-es.”  

“Ah, found our voices, have we? Good, we can discuss your punishment more easily that way.” Spike turned toward Stella with a smirk and asked her, “What do you think? Should we throw them in the dungeon for the night?” Gemstone and Jewel gasped.

“You could do that?” Stella responded. Spike nodded his head, maintaining his smirk. “Well, based on what I’ve heard about these two, I’d say they certainly deserve it!” she snapped, narrowing her eyes at the two of them. When the fillies’ eyes widened further, Stella softened her glare. “Still, the dungeon might be a bit extreme. And given the way they’re looking at us right now…” She smirked back at Spike. “Even with their track record, perhaps they’ve been punished enough.” Gemstone and Jewel both let out relieved sighs. “But they shouldn’t be allowed back into the festivities, if you ask me.”

“Oh, certainly not,” Spike replied. “Let’s see, where could we put you two to keep you out of trouble?”

Spike heard a quick, high-pitched hum from his shoulder. “If I may,” Stella said, “why not have these gentlecolts escort them to meet Princess Celestia? With Princess Luna on dream patrol, and Princess Twilight running the show here while you chaperone, I’d bet Princess Celestia wouldn’t mind meeting these two.” Gemstone and Jewel’s mouths went agape, then slowly lifted into small smiles as they looked at each other.

Spike cocked a brow. “That seems more like a reward than a punishment to me,” he answered. “Most ponies would give anything to have a private audience with one of the princesses.”

Stella shook her head. “Oh, I meant so they can tell the Princess themselves exactly what they did tonight, and have been doing and saying to our children at school,” she clarified. The fillies’ smiles vanished in an instant.

Spike grinned as his eyebrows rose. “Now that is an idea! I’m sure Princess Celestia would love to meet the fillies that have been bullying her niece for the past several months.” 

“Uh, c-can we go to the d-dungeon instead?” Gemstone sputtered.

“Oh no, that would be much too harsh a punishment,” Spike said, holding his grin. “No, I think a simple conversation with Princess Celestia will do. The throne room is really quite comfortable.” Spike turned to the two guards. “Ravelin, you go inform Princess Celestia that I’m sending her some company to meet in the throne room. I believe she’s in her study at the moment. Bastion, you watch these two in the main hall until the Princess is ready for them. I’d also like both of you to stay with them while they speak with the Princess. I want them to admit to her everything that they’ve ever said or done to Cotton and her friends, including the changeling named Buzz that was unable to attend tonight’s function. I’ll ask Princess Celestia to relay to my daughter everything that these two tell her. If they leave out anything, I will personally see to it that Princess Luna visits them in the dreamscape no fewer than three times each within the next two weeks.”

“Yes sir!” Ravelin and Bastion replied in unison. Ravelin trotted off toward Princess Celestia’s study, while Bastion led Gemstone and Jewel—their eyes practically bulging out of their heads as they perspired—into the main hall of the castle.

As the guards trotted off with their charges, Spike looked back to Stella with a wide grin. “If that doesn’t get those two off our children’s backs, maybe I will throw them in the dungeon, but that was a great idea.”

Stella laughed. “Thank you, but if I may ask, why would Princess Luna need to visit them more than once if she’s just going to give them a stern talking-to?”

“A stern talking-to? Oh, you’re adorable,” Spike chuckled, as Stella whacked him in the back of his head with her wing. 

“I thought knights knew better than to hit on a married molly!” Stella chided him.

Spike laughed, “I’m a widower of thirteen years. I need to keep my flirting skills fresh—I’m still only in my nineties, after all.” He let out another chuckle, then a brief sigh. “I just hope Cotton won’t be upset about this.” 

“Why would she be?” Stella asked him. 

“Well…” Spike shrugged his unoccupied shoulder. “She prefers dealing with these things herself; she doesn’t like getting special treatment just because she’s related to royalty.” 

Stella let out a small hum. “I guess I can understand that.” She turned to Spike and smiled. “Cotton really is such a sweet girl. From one parent to another, you’ve done an incredible job.”

Spike returned the smile with a hint of a blush. “Thank you. And your son is quite chivalrous. Of all the griffons I’ve ever met, you two truly are—” He cut himself off and furrowed his brows. “You know, that reminds me. Do you know why Steadclaw is the only griffon student here? It’s what I noticed earlier. I recall Cotton mentioning something about none of the other griffons besides Steadclaw being in school since last week. She said he didn’t know the reason.” 

Stella let out a sigh. “Oh, yes. Well, Griffonia has been holding a tournament for the next coronation. It should be over by next week. All griffons were invited to attend, but only those of ‘royal blood’ were allowed to compete for the crown. We’re the only griffons here from Griffonstone that I know of, and since our family doesn’t have any royal ties, I decided we shouldn’t go. Especially since their final exams are coming up.”

Spike nodded. “Ah, I understand. But why leave Steadclaw in the dark?” 

“Oh, he likely would’ve wanted to go and watch,” Stella replied. “Considering the experience we’ve had with Griffonians, I’m sure he would’ve loved to see them rip each other to shreds, but it would’ve been two weeks of Steadclaw’s education lost, and for what? Some temporary satisfaction in watching those snobs try to maim each other?” She let out a small grunt. “Despite how tempting it may be, I’d rather not. Since Griffonstone is Equestrian territory, I honestly have no interest in what happens in Griffonia, but Steadclaw would’ve been upset if I’d said he couldn’t go to the tournament, so I decided not to tell him about it.” Stella looked out at the dance floor and spotted her son dancing with Cotton. “Now, instead of acting glum because he’s missing that silly brawl, he’s happily dancing with your daughter.” She grinned and turned to Spike. “Wouldn’t you agree that’s the better alternative?”

Spike let a smile play upon his muzzle. “Yes, yes I would.”


Ж


Still perching on Spike’s shoulder as the last of the students filed out of the ballroom and toward the castle exit, Stella asked him, “Well, other than that little hiccup with those two brats, I’d say the evening went quite smoothly. What about you?” 

Spike glanced at the ponies cleaning up the carcass of the party. “All things considered, I’d say I agree with you,” Spike said, with a hint of a yawn. “Although I would—” He stopped, then looked around the ballroom. “Where’s Cotton?”

Stella looked around the room. “I’m not sure. And I don’t see Steadclaw eith—” Her eyes widened.

“Hold on tight,” Spike said, before giving a quick beat of his wings to propel himself to the main hall. With Stella holding onto his shoulder for dear life, Spike came to a screeching halt at the stairway, where he found Cotton and Steadclaw attempting to sneak up the stairs. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

Cotton and Steadclaw visibly tensed before they turned around to find their respective parents. “Uuuhhhhhh… I was just… showing Steadclaw where the bathroom was?” Cotton said.

Spike looked at Bastion and Ravelin, standing on either side of the stairway. “You two seriously believed that?”

Beads of sweat dripped down both guards’ faces. “It sounded like an honest reason to us, sir,” Ravelin replied. 

“You know… when duty calls,” Bastion added. Spike put a claw to his face and shook his head. 

Steadclaw gulped, then called to his mother, “Hey… Ma… you look pretty tired. I, uh, can wait until we get home. Why don’t we head out?” 

Looking at Spike, Stella said, “Well, you can’t blame him for trying to find some way out.”

“Do you prefer your children raw or well-done?” Spike asked her.

Stella cocked a brow at him. “Sorry?” Spike then proceeded to puff out a small flame from the other side of his mouth. Stella’s eyes bulged, then she quickly responded, “Raw, definitely raw.”

“Then you might want to leave for the night.” Spike’s firm expression faded momentarily as he said, “It was a pleasure speaking with you tonight, Stella. I hope we get to do it again sometime soon.” 

“Likewise, Spike,” Stella responded. “You’re wonderful company.”

“Thank you,” he said with a smile. Said smile was quickly replaced with a glare in Steadclaw’s direction. “Now unless you’d like to have a roasted—”

“GOT IT! LEAVING!” Steadclaw shouted. He and Cotton shared a brief kiss, then he hopped from the stairs and glided to the doors. “C’mon, Mom!”

Stella couldn’t help but chuckle as she turned around on Spike’s shoulder to face the doors. “That’s one way to make our children behave. Have a good night!” She glided to the doors as well before escorting Steadclaw out. As the doors closed, Spike could hear their voices from outside. 

“Are you out of your mind?”

“She was leading me upstairs! Totally legit! Besides, I came prepared!”

“Excuse me?!”

“Hey! They always tell us at school to be safe!”

“…You’re incredibly lucky I’m not leaving you here to get cooked. Still, I can’t believe those guards actually believed Cotton’s ‘bathroom’ reasoning.”

“Oh no, they knew what we were trying to do. They just made sure I was stocked before they let us go. I hope they stay on stair duty.” 

When the voices faded away, Spike turned his ear from the door and stared at Cotton, who was slowly backing up the staircase in an attempt to escape an inevitable beratement. “What have you got to say for yourself, young lady?”

“Uhhh… What a great night! I’m bushed!” Cotton replied. “I’m gonna—”

“You know what I meant.”

“Um…”

“You haven’t been together long enough,” Spike said. “If he’s willing to stick around for a lifetime, then you two can start talking about rolling in the hay. You should talk to the castle doctor first, though. Your mother and I did the same; interspecies relationships can be tricky. There are certain risks involved.”

“…Risks?” Cotton asked with a quaver. 

“Oh yes, quite so,” Spike replied. “Both of you should talk to the doctor about getting checked.”

“Checked for what? We’d be safe! Besides, we’re both virg—”

Spike cut her off with a wave of his claw. “Don’t ask me. I had a different interspecies relationship. Just get checked, you’ll be much better off. Trust me, I’m an adult.”

“Umm… o…kayyy,” Cotton replied. 

“Good. There are more things to keep in mind than whether or not a hippogriffon starts running around.” His expression darkened. “And please remember, if that does happen, there’ll be a roasted chicken to go with it. Got it?” 

“…Yes, Daddy.” 

Spike then glared down at Bastion and Ravelin. “And you two are never on stairway duty ever again.”

“Y-yes, sir,” they both responded.
> Chapter Twenty-Four - No Fun Anymore
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning...

“You gave her WHAT?” Spike bellowed, fire and gems leaking out of his mouth.

“T-to be fair, Spike, We shall also toss Cadenza over the chariot and admit that she provided Us with the magazines,” Luna responded, gradually sliding away from him as she finished off her breakfast salad. “We believe Cotton is old eno—”

“That’s not your decision to make!” Spike growled, before raising a claw to cover his face. “And it’s ‘throw her under the carriage.’” 

“Either way, We see no issue with Cotton wishing to move forward, especially since her griffon partner was prepared.”

“Don’t even get me started on that,” Spike replied. “I still don’t know whether she told him to come with a stock, or if he brought them himself expecting something to happen. I’m not sure which would be worse.”

“I… I told him to, Daddy.”

Spike and Luna looked across the dining table to find Cotton entering the room, peering at them from the tops of her eyes as her head faced the floor. Spike let out a sigh. “How long have you been listening, Cotton?”

“Since…” Cotton couldn’t resist letting a small smile slip. “…Since Aunt Luna tossed Aunt Cadance over the chariot.” Spike mimicked the smile momentarily, but it disappeared just as quickly. He sat silent, staring at Cotton with his chin in his claw, his elbow resting on his knee, as she slowly approached him. 

“‘Tis rather early for thee to be awake on a Saturday, Cotton,” Luna said. “Art thou alright?”

Cotton hesitated. “Yeah, I was just up early. And, well…” She glanced at Spike, who was still staring at her with his fiery gaze, before casting her eyes to the floor.

When Spike made no sound for at least another minute, Luna asked him, “Spike, what art thou—”

“Be quiet, I’m thinking.” 

After another silent minute, Cotton sighed, looked up, and met her father’s steely eyes. “Daddy… how much trouble am I in?”

Spike let out a short grunt. “…Not as much as you could be. It’s come to my attention that a couple of your aunts have been giving you… let’s say assistance that I don’t particularly agree with.” He glared at Luna, who edged further down the table from him. “That’s factoring in as to whether or not you should be grounded.” Cotton winced as he turned and fixated her with the same glare.  

With as much courage as she could muster under her father’s gaze, Cotton slowly lifted a hoof and started, “Daddy, if I—”

“Hush, Cotton, you don’t get a say in the matter,” Spike growled. Cotton recoiled, then nodded as she turned her downcast eyes back to the floor. Spike grunted. “I don’t know if you’re covering for him, but if you aren’t, you explicitly told Steadclaw to bring a supply of contraceptives with him to your dance. Like I said last night, as far as I’m concerned, you two aren’t ready for that next step yet; even if you do make a charming couple, you’ve barely been together for a couple of weeks.” He let out a huff. “It seems that your aunts…” He intoned a sharp emphasis that made Luna jump. “…have been encouraging you, though…so I’ll let it slide this time and chalk it up to bad influences.”

Cotton let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Da—”

“However!” Spike continued, his head lifting as Cotton flinched, “You also managed to convince two of the guards to let you pass them when they were explicitly given orders not to do so. I don’t know if that means you’re getting good at manipulating ponies, or if that was simply those particular guards being lenient because it was you instead of one of your classmates. I may chalk it up to the latter.” Expecting another ‘but’ of some kind, Cotton waited for her father to finish. He lowered his volume and let out a sigh. “Despite the lack of time in your relationship, I’m proud of you for planning on being safe, though.” He paused for a moment as he let out a deep breath, then rested his chin back in his claw. “Alright. You’re not grounded.” Cotton released the breath she’d been holding. “But you’re on thin ice for a week,” Spike finished.  

Cotton looked up at her father with an arched brow. “Umm… What does that mean?”

“It means any foolishness that may have earned you a mild scolding will get you in deep trouble instead,” Spike said. “So if I hear anything negative from your teachers, or if your aunts or I catch you doing anything you shouldn’t be doing, you will be grounded. Is that clear?” 

Cotton stood to her full height. “Yes, Daddy.”

Spike nodded. “Good. Your final exams are the week after next, so studying hard for them would be a good way for you to keep yourself out of trouble.”

“That’s true,” Cotton responded. “We’re studying in class Thursday and Friday this coming week, so I guess I should…” After a moment of thought, she asked, “Hey Daddy, is it okay if I invite the girls to come over and study next weekend? If she’s willing, I bet we could all use Aunt Twilight’s help to make sure we’re prepared.”

After a few moments stroking his chin, Spike nodded again. “That should be alright. I know you’d actually be studying with your Aunt Twilight keeping an eye on you.”

With an uncertain breath, Cotton asked, “What… what about Steadclaw?” 

Narrowing his eyes, Spike said, “You’re pushing it, Cotton… but if you’re all studying with your aunt, I’ll allow it.”

“Did somepony mention studying?” Twilight trotted into the room with a smile. 

Spike couldn’t help but laugh. His sister looked like she’d simply returned from a casual stroll instead of overseeing a massive party. “How are you not completely exhausted from last night, Twilight? Actually, before I forget, you did an excellent job with the dance. It looked like it went off without a hitch,” he said. "Mostly."

“Yeah, thanks, Aunt Twilight!” Cotton added. “The dance was a blast!” She avoided looking at her father, just to be safe.

“Decades of experience planning just about any kind of event eases the stress, Spike, as do a few tips from Pinkie. And you’re very welcome, Cotton! I’m glad you had fun!” Twilight chirped. “So what was this about studying?”

Cotton laughed internally. Typical Aunt Twilight. “Well, I was wondering if you could help my friends and me review for our exams next weekend.”

“Of course!” Twilight answered with glee. “When are your exams?”

“It’s one of the four cores each day the week after next,” Cotton answered. “History on Monday, Math Tuesday, Science Wednesday, and Equish Thursday. Only the seniors have exams that Friday, so Thursday is our last day. After each exam is over, we’re done for the day, so we have the rest of the day off—or some time to study for the next exam,” she quickly added. “We’ll be studying with our teachers in school this Thursday and Friday, so if you could do something like a final review next weekend, that’d be really helpful.”

“Wow, one exam per day is pretty generous,” Twilight said. “I had three exams in one day when I was your age.”

“I also held you to a much higher standard, Twilight,” Celestia said as she walked into the room. “Good morning, everypony.” Each member of the family greeted her accordingly. “Cotton, would you mind coming with me for a little while? I’d like to talk with you. And don’t worry, you aren’t in any trouble. I just want to confirm a few things.” 

“Oh. Um, okay,” Cotton said with a shrug. 

As she and Cotton left the room for the stairway, Celestia looked at Spike over her shoulder. Lighting her horn, she asked him telepathically, Has she had breakfast yet? When Spike shook his head, she responded, Well then, make sure something substantial is ready when we get back. We might be gone for a while…  

When Celestia and Cotton were out of sight, Luna rubbed her hooves together. “If this conversation promises to be lengthy, We believe two fillies have free entry into the realm of nightmares.”

“Hold on, only if they—wait a minute!” Spike whipped his head toward Luna. “Did you just spy on our telepathic conversation?” 

Luna narrowed her eyes with a menacing smile. “We are able to tap into Our sister’s telepathic frequency rather easily.”

Spike crossed his arms and shook his head, then he took out a claw and began counting talons as he spoke. “Okay, one, NOT OKAY! Two, I have to keep my promise to those fillies if they held their end. And three, how did you even know about this? You should’ve been in the dreamscape the whole time!” 

Luna shrugged. “It just so happens that the one moment We chose to astral project Ourselves to glance at the festivities, We found thee berating Cotton’s school bullies. Thou hast quite the gall to threaten using Our manipulation of the dreamscape without consulting Us first, Spike.”

Spike huffed. “Well, you clearly don’t have any objection to it. Nor did you four years ago. But since you obviously know what the deal was, wait to see if they actually did leave anything out before you go sabotaging their dreams.”

With a pout, Luna crossed her hooves. “Thou hast lost thy sense of merriment, Spike.”

Twilight, trying—and failing miserably—to discern the conversation’s context, finally snapped. “Would you please just speak like a normal pony and—”

“Oh, very well, Twilight,” Luna huffed. She thought for a moment, then cleared her throat and turned to Spike. “You’re no fun anymore.” 

“Thank you, is that so hard?” 

Luna smirked. “Nay, We simply enjoy rubbing thee in the incorrect manner.”

Twilight’s face burned red, then she grumbled, “You are the master of butchering the Equish language, Luna.”


Ж


“…Wow. They really told you all of that?” Cotton asked Celestia in her office, after about a half-hour of recounting numerous bullying incidents.

“They did indeed. Is there anything you think they left out?”

Cotton put a hoof to her chin. “I honestly can’t think of anything else; I think they covered it all, even stuff I didn’t remember. Geez, those two must keep bullying journals or something if they remembered all of that,” Cotton said. “I can’t really speak for Buzz, but if they told you about all of that, I seriously doubt they left anything out.”

Celestia nodded with a smile. “Very good.” She retrieved a piece of parchment and a quill from her desk, then began writing before she continued, “Hopefully those two will clean up their acts after six to eight weeks in juvenile hall.”

Cotton’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?!”

“Well, after being given specific boundaries for your dance, they intentionally left them and attempted to infiltrate the castle,” Celestia replied. “They deserve no less a punishment than your changeling friend, and he had good intentions.”

Cotton smiled. “Finally, those bi—ad fillies are gonna get what they deserve,” she responded, amending herself.

Celestia smirked at her. “Good catch, Cotton.”

Cotton’s face reddened slightly with a nervous smile as she tilted her head up in a flourish. “Why, whatever do you mean, Aunt Celestia?” she asked with mock elegance.

As she came around her office desk, Celestia gave Cotton a light rap to the shoulder with the edge of her wing. “As long as you keep that kind of language between your friends, I won’t give you any grief, but you know I’m not fond of it.” She opened her office door and allowed Cotton to exit before following behind.

“I know, Auntie Tia. Sorry,” Cotton replied.

“That’s a good girl. And speaking of being a good girl…” Celestia paused. “You do know that there is no shame in preserving your virtue, don’t you?”

Cotton’s face burned crimson as she continued walking forward. “…I have no idea what you’re talking about, Auntie Tia.”

Celestia chuckled. “Come now, Cotton, I have ears everywhere. Don’t think you can hide something like that from me. I didn’t relinquish my chastity until I was nearly three-hundred.”

Cotton stopped, then turned around and faced her aunt. “I’m pretty sure if I aimed for that, I’d be attracting necrophiliacs, Auntie Tia.”  

“Not at all. They’re all locked in Tartarus,” Celestia responded casually as she continued walking past Cotton. “Now come, I’m starving.” 

Cotton smacked her head with a hoof. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears… 

“Hmm… I wonder if the chefs saved any of the cake from last night…” Celestia pondered aloud.

Shaking the previous thought from her head, Cotton turned back around and followed after her aunt. “But it’s—nevermind, I forgot who I’m talking to.”

Celestia chuckled. “Well, I suppose a pan-cake breakfast would suffice.”

With a groan, Cotton asked, “Are dad jokes still considered dad jokes if your aunt makes them?”

After a boisterous laugh, Celestia replied, “I would just call them what they are, Cotton: bad jokes.”


Ж


As Cotton rounded the corner back toward the dining room, she heard the familiar voices of her father and aunt.

“…would be much better than cramming in one night. I don’t have any issue hosting and helping them for four nights if their parents are okay with it.” 

“That’s very generous of you, Twilight. I bet Cotton and her friends would love the idea. But Steadclaw would be staying with me after-hours.”

“…I understand that. Just… try not to be too hard on him if he accepts the invitation.” 

“…I promise nothing.”

“Spike!”

“What?”

Cotton finally made her way into the dining room and asked them, “What are you two talking about?” 

Spike nudged Twilight forward. “I’ll let your aunt blabber for this one.” Twilight stuck her tongue out at him.

After receiving a return raspberry from her brother, Twilight began with a smile, “Well, Cotton, I’d be very happy to help you and your friends study for your exams.”

“Really? Great!” Cotton said, smiling herself.

“I actually thought that a study slumber party would be a fun idea for all of you,” Twilight continued, as Cotton’s smile widened. “Originally I thought I could help you review for your exams in one night, but since you only have one each day, I think you would all be better off reviewing for only one exam per night, especially if you will have been studying beforehoof. I have no problem helping all of you each night in a row, so I suggested to your dad that we could have a marathon of study slumber parties. That way, you can all relax for a little while after each of your exams, then I can help you review in the evening. I have a feeling your friends would be quite well-rested staying in the castle suites each day before your exams, and a good night’s rest will be just as important. We would just need your friends’ parents’ permission for them to stay here for four nights. How does that sound to you?”

Cotton stood silently with her mouth agape.

“Uh, Cotton? Sweetie?” Spike waved a claw in front of her face.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?” Cotton cried. “You’d really let us do that? That’d be amazing!”

“Well, we’d need your friends’—”

“Parents’ permission, right,” Cotton finished for her, nodding her head. “Totally get that. Oh my gosh, Aunt Twilight, thank you! You’re awesome!” Cotton leapt at her for a hug.

Twilight chuckled as she returned the hug. “You’re very welcome, Cotton.” She turned her head and glanced at Spike. “It seems Rainbow Dash passed that trait onto me.”

Spike smirked at her, then looked at Cotton. “There’s one other condition.”

“Uhh…” Cotton hesitated as she broke her hug with Twilight. “And that is…?”

“After you’re all through studying, should his mother grant him permission, Steadclaw will be staying with me. And don’t give me that look,” Spike said as Cotton’s brows furrowed and she opened her mouth to complain. “You’re already on thin ice as it is.”

Cotton pouted as she sat on her haunches and crossed her forelegs. “Oh, you’re no fun anymore,” she grumbled. “Just don’t scare him away.” Then a thought occurred to her. “Y’know, Dad, I saw you talking with Steadclaw’s mom last night. You two looked like you were getting along really well. Like, really well…” 

Spike spotted the hungry gleam in Cotton’s eye. “Cotton, don’t try and change the subject. Besides, you do remember that she’s still married, right?”

Cotton put a hoof to her forehead. “Dammit.”

Spike stifled a laugh. I wonder if she realizes that that would have made her and Steadclaw siblings… He crossed his arms and tilted his head at her. “Why the sudden interest in my social life?”

Cotton shrugged her shoulders. “Well… you obviously have good social skills, no matter what you may think. It’s been over a decade… Have you thought about going back on the market?”

Spike snorted, letting out a gout of smoke. “What for? I have plenty of work to do managing the Archives and taking care of you,” he said, lightly tapping Cotton on the head with a free talon.

Cotton shrugged again. “Well, I just thought it would be interesting for you to try dating again.”

They suddenly heard a gasp from behind him. “Spike, you want to try dating again? Oh, let me help! I can make a list of the best potential matches for you!”

Spike turned to Twilight and said, “Now Twilight, don’t—” 

“—and I can look through the records to find any registered single bachelorettes of whatever species you choose, match up your interests with theirs, see what kind of lifestyle they live…”  

Spike put his claw to his face, then turned and glared at his daughter. “Cotton, you just sealed my fate.” As Cotton put a hoof over her muzzle and giggled, her stomach growled. Spike smirked. 

Right on cue, the chefs came in, rolling a large stack of pancakes on a cart. Celestia walked into the dining room behind them. “Well, well,” she said.

Cotton turned her head. “Looks like you’re getting your ‘cakes’ after all, Auntie Tia,” she giggled. Turning to her father, Cotton pointed a hoof at Celestia and said, “Her pun, not mine.”

Spike snapped his talons. “Shoot. And here I thought I was rubbing off on you.”

Cotton groaned. “You are. That’s the problem. I’m unintentionally making puns in school now.”

“Yesss! The puns have been doubled!” Spike laughed.

“THOU DIDST NOT JUST SAY THAT!” bellowed from upstairs.


Ж







I, ________________________, hereby give my child, ________________________, 
permission to attend “Study Week” with Princess Twilight Sparkle at Canterlot Castle the Sunday through Wednesday nights preceding their final exams, under the condition that they check in at home and eat lunch before proceeding to the castle, whose staff will provide them with dinner. 
Should my child cause any damage to castle property, they understand that they will be held responsible and will face the full consequences of their actions. 

Parent Signature ________________________

Student Signature ________________________






“I think that should cover it,” Twilight said. “I just want to make sure they all check in with their parents before they come. It wouldn’t surprise me if they all wanted to rush over here after school.”

“Agreed,” Spike replied. “I don’t expect any of them would actually cause any damage—that’s really just a formality.”

“Exactly,” Twilight said. “And Cotton should be telling them to respond by tomorrow in her messages to them, so there’s no need to write an RSVP time.”

“Daddy, Aunt Twilight, I’m done!” Cotton called as she trotted into Spike’s room, four sheets of parchment under her wing.

“One letter to each of your friends explaining exactly what the offer is and what they need to do?” Twilight asked.

“Yep!” Cotton replied.

“And a side note to Steadclaw?” Spike added.

Cotton rolled her eyes. “Do I have to?” she whined.

“Well, you can either put this in instead, or you could write your own,” Spike said, giving her another slip of parchment.

Cotton took the slip and read it:






Addendum: If any male griffons should touch, caress, cajole, or otherwise initiate physical contact with any female pegasus whilst under castle supervision, the parent understands that there is still a working dungeon with which unnamed dragons still have access to, which are incidentally completely flameproof.






“DAAaaAAD!” Cotton yelled.

“Your choice,” Spike said with a shrug. Cotton huffed and took her letter to Steadclaw, writing a few more sentences before holding it up to her father. After reading her side note, Spike nodded and said, “That’s better.”

“Now that that’s taken care of…” Twilight said, “give me one moment.” She cast a quick multiplication spell on the permission slip she had written, creating three additional sheets. “Put one of these in each letter, and your dad will send them on their way.” 

“Okay,” Cotton responded, laying out the four letters and pairing them with slips, then rolling them up into scrolls. “This one’s for Flarechaser…” Spike took the rolled-up letter and breathed out a puff of his dragonfire, and the letter went wisping out through the window. “This one’s Harmony…” Another puff of fire. “Daisy…” Another puff. “And Steadclaw!” Cotton finished with a little bounce. Spike cocked a brow at her, then breathed his final dragonfire breath out of the side of his mouth.  

“Don’t get too bouncy, missy,” Spike chided. “Remember, this is a study slumber party, and each of your friends will be going to their own rooms when you’re finished with your Aunt Twilight, so no late-night chit-chat.”

Cotton gave him a deadpan stare. “And Steadclaw will be staying with you, gradually getting roasted every night. Got it.”

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle. “That depends on him. We’ll easily move a set of suite accommodations into my room for him—his level of roasting will be determined by how well he behaves.”

“Can I hopefully assume that the roasting level starts with a zero?” Cotton asked.

Spike smirked. “Let’s put it this way: good behavior, he gets a cracker. Bad behavior, I get roasted chicken.”

Cotton gawked at her snickering father. “Whatever you do, do not say that in front of him!”

Spike continued snickering. “No prom—” 

“Spiiiiiiiike,” Twilight nearly growled as she glared at him along with Cotton.

Sighing, but holding his smile, Spike responded, “Oh, you’re no fun anymore.”


Ж


As Cotton left the dining room for the stairs after lunch, the iron knocker rang out. Waving off one of the guards, she approached the door and heaved it open, only to be immediately shouted at.

“Most def!”
“Totally!”
“Absolutely!”

Flarechaser, Harmony Wishes, and Daisy Withers all stood there holding their permission slips, signed by themselves and one of their parents.

“My mom was thrilled!” Daisy exclaimed.

“My parents told me I’d be crazy if I said no,” Harmony added. “Not like I would have.”

“I think my parents just want me out of the house, but they were totally down!” Flarechaser finally said.

“Awesome!” Cotton smiled as she gathered up their slips in her wing. “I’ll show these to my aunt and dad so they know there’ll be at least four of us. Hey, any of you heard from Steadclaw? I sent him a letter, too.”

“We figured,” Harmony said, “but nothing yet. We all bumped into each other on the way here; we didn’t see him, though.”

“Huh, maybe his mom’s being harder on him than Dad was on me…” Cotton mumbled under her breath. 

“What was that?” Daisy asked her.

“Nothing!” Cotton replied quickly. As she looked up, she saw two blobs in the air gradually growing larger. “Hey! I think that’s him!” she said with a grin. “Is that his mom with him?”

“Might be,” Daisy mused. “Girls, let’s bounce; might be a parent-to-parent meeting about to happen.” 

“Truth,” Flarechaser responded. Flying around the corner, she called, “See you tomorrow, Cotton!”

“Yeah! And thanks a ton for the invite!” Harmony added as she and Daisy walked down the path.

“Of course!” Cotton called back. “We’re gonna ace these tests for sure!”

“With Princess Twilight’s help, I certainly hope so.” Cotton heard Stella’s voice as she descended from above, Steadclaw right behind her. “Lovely to see you again, Cotton,” she said with a smile.

“Likewise,” Cotton said. Peering over Stella’s shoulder at Steadclaw, she blushed and simply said, “Hey.”

“Hey,” he replied, staying in his position. When Cotton tilted her head at him, silently asking for more, he said, “Sorry… I’m on thin ice.”

“That must be like a parent thing now,” Cotton replied, “‘cause I am, too.” Steadclaw rolled his eyes.

Stella cleared her throat. “Cotton, is your father around? I’d like to speak with him about this invitation you sent.” 

“Yeah, he’s here.” She turned around and shouted, “DAAAAAAAAAD! NEED YOU AT THE DOOR!” The guards rolled their eyes. Then Cotton turned back to Stella. “Is something wrong? Can Steadclaw not come?”

“Well,” Stella began, “I read your letter in its entirety. I’d just like to know what the odds are that my son would come home without being crispy.” 

“That all depends on him,” Spike said as he trundled down the hall towards the door. “As long as he’s on his best behavior, his hide will require no herbs, even while he stays with me in my chamber. Does that put your mind at ease, miss married molly?” he finished with a smirk.

Stella chuckled. “Quite so, mister naughty knight.” She turned to Steadclaw and held out her claw to him. “Give it here, my soon-to-be roasted fledgeling.”

“Hey!” Steadclaw cried as he gave Stella the permission slip and a pen. After signing the slip, she gave it to Cotton, then flapped her wings and landed on Spike’s shoulder. 

“Thank you for such a generous offer, Spike,” Stella told him. “We both really appreciate it.” 

“You’re quite welcome, Stella,” Spike replied. “It was actually my sister’s idea. She seems rather excited about it herself,” he said with a chuckle. His smile and volume dropping, he asked her, “So what did you do about last night?”

Stella let out a sigh. “Well, considering he was prepared to be safe, I thought a full-blown grounding was a bit harsh, so he’s on thin ice for a week.”

Spike grinned. “Great minds think alike, I see.”

Stella’s brows arched. “Really now? That’s all? Given I was told that Cotton initiated the attempt, I would’ve thought you’d have a little more oomph behind your consequences. Or was I misinformed?”  

“No, she told me the same thing,” Spike responded. “Like you said, they were prepared to be safe, and given her honesty, I toned down the punishment a bit. It seems they’ll be back on solid ground at the same time.” As Spike and Stella both looked back down toward their children, they found them beak to muzzle. Spike let out a quiet snort. “Not surprising, given I won’t be allowing that while they study.” He leaned in close to Stella and whispered, “Cover your ears and watch this.” As Stella clamped her claws to her ears, Spike let out a loud bellow. 

"Hey!"

A shriek and a scream released simultaneously as Cotton and Steadclaw turned to face Spike, expecting a glare. Instead, they found him and Stella both snickering. “You’re incorrigible!” Stella laughed.

“DAAAaaaAAAD!” Cotton whined, “You just scared the shi—ugar out of us!”

“Nice save,” Steadclaw said.

“Yeah, don’t want the ice to crack.”

“What in Equestria was that?” Twilight asked, coming from behind Spike.

“Spike, you nearly leveled the castle,” Celestia added, coming up next to Twilight.

Princess Luna leaned over the upper level banister with a yawn. “Wouldst someone care to explain why Our sleep was disturbed?”

“Just making sure our children behave themselves,” Spike said.

“Personally, I’d call it good parenting,” Stella added with a chuckle. 

Celestia raised a brow. “I take it that means you’re both aware of the conditions for ‘study week’?”

Steadclaw sighed. “Yes, Your Highness, but… do I really have to?”

“Well, you can either stay with Spike, or enjoy a lovely view from the moon,” Celestia replied. Luna glared daggers at her from the upper floor.

“Uhhhh… I think I’ll stay with Spike,” Steadclaw responded.

“Wise choice,” Celestia said with a smile. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fully accommodated. We’ll have a bed brought to his room from one of the suites, and we’ll even keep a bowl of fruit supplied for you if you get hungry. Tell me, Steadclaw, do you like bananas?”

“NAY!” Luna shouted from upstairs. “IF THOU HAST ANY WIT ABOUT THEE, THOU WILT NOT RESPOND TO HER!”

Celestia wrinkled her muzzle up in her sister’s direction. “Oh, you’re no fun anymore.”

Luna grunted. “Enough! If anypony else pinches Our phrase, We shall throw them under a camel!”

“If you can spot one,” Twilight snickered. Luna snorted before going back to her room. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Steadclaw,” Twilight said. “Spike won’t be in his room most of those nights anyway.”

Spike whipped his head in Twilight’s direction. “Wait, what—”
> Chapter Twenty-Five - The Market is Overrated
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, Sir Spike, what is it that you exactly do at the Canterlot Archives? You know, many of us ponies didn’t even know you were in the city for the longest time; you never stepped hoof—er, claw outside of the castle. You adopted a daughter, correct? Is that what made you finally bring yourself out into the open?”

Spike deadpanned at the pony sitting across from him. “You’re really going to bring up the fact that I stayed in the castle for decades again? And why’re you asking me questions you know the answers to?”

“I’m trying to make small talk, Spike. It’s common on dates, you know.”

Spike sighed. “Yeah, I know. This just isn’t exactly what I had in mind when Twilight said she would set me up on a blind date.”

“Believe me, Spike,” Celestia responded, “I’m as surprised as you are.”

“I’m home!” Cotton called from the main hall.

“In here, sweetie,” Spike called back with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.

Cotton made her way into the dining room. “Yo Dad, you sound like—” She found her father and aunt not at the main banquet table, but a small, round one with a white tablecloth and a votive with a single daffodil in the middle. “Uhh… what’s going on here?”

“Your aunt Twilight set us up on a ‘blind lunch date,’” Celestia replied, holding back a smirk.

Cotton did not possess such restraint. “Wait, you’re actually going through with this, Dad?” she giggled. 

“I’m humoring my sister. And you, for that matter—in the literal sense, apparently,” Spike responded, as Cotton held her hooves to her muzzle.

“O… kay! Ha ha ha!” Cotton laughed. She suddenly drew in a sharp breath with a wide grin in an attempt to keep her mouth shut.

“What?” Spike deadpanned at her.

“Just… just…” Cotton couldn’t hold it any longer. “Make sure you get checked first!” she burst out, galloping out of the room towards the stairway. 

Spike’s eyes widened before he put his claw to his face and shook his head. “I set myself up for that.” Celestia put her hoof to her muzzle and snickered, her face tinting just a bit red. 

“…Unless Auntie Tia is still preserving her virtue!”

The tint deepened to a dark crimson as Celestia’s own eyes widened. Spike tilted his head and cocked a brow at her. “Yes, I set myself up for that as well…” she admitted. 


Ж


“I feel like I should be turning this ‘date’ into an interrogation,” Spike growled.

“But this is the perfect ‘date’ environment! A full moon, the open sky, these bright stars, a patio venue—”

“And an alicorn that seems intent on helping my daughter and her boyfriend get in bed together,” he snarled. “Now I need Nightshade to cover for me if Twilight insists on continuing this on their study days. What’s with all the meddling?”

“We… We blame Cadenza. She is a terrible influence on Us,” Luna replied.

“Yeah, I’ll bet. Why don’t you get an early start on your dreamhopping, and I’ll think about not flambéing you for trying to help Steadclaw get lucky,” Spike said, narrowing his eyes at her.

“Umm… Yes, We shall do that,” Luna responded quickly, teleporting away in a flash.


Ж


“Good, now Twilight’s set me up with the other pony I wanted to fla—talk to.”

“Oh, come on, Spike. Cotton’s a big girl. If she wants to have a little action, you should let her. Take it from the princess who’s in her element,” Cadance responded with a wink.

“Don’t you wink at me! I do not condone what you’ve been—”

“Now Spike, listen to me,” Cadance interrupted him casually. “When a mare has her sights set on something she wants, she’s more than likely going to get it.” She leaned forward on the table and batted her eyelashes. “Especially when she’s in the right mood.”

Spike’s narrowed eyes widened. “Are you… flirting with me?”

Cadance rested her chin on her hooves and lifted her eyebrows. “What if I am?”

“…You do remember that you’re married to my brother, right?” Spike asked her.

“Oh, I know, and Shiney’s still a sweetheart, even if he does only have one or two marbles left rolling around up there. He’s just… not as able as he used to be. I can’t get a rise out of him without a little blue pill. After that, though, I—”

“THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND DISCRETION!” Spike shouted over her, before beating his wings and flying back into the castle from the courtyard where they had been sitting.

Cadance smirked. That should keep me out of his crosshairs for a while.


Ж


What in Equestria was Twilight thinking? Is she getting back at me for something?

“RUTHERFORD HAD INTERESTING COLLEGE EXPERIENCE!!”

“Rutherford, you do understand that you’re married to my niece, don’t you?” Spike asked him.

“YAKS VERY OPEN-MINDED IN NEW PROGRESSIVE AGE!!”

“I’m sure you are,” Spike responded. He put a claw to his face and shook his head. I don’t know which is more awkward: being seduced by my sister-in-law, or hearing my yak nephew tell me he’s… open-minded.

“WHY DRAGON UNCLE LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE??”	


Ж


“Ack! What’s this green stuff in my salad?”

“…That’s lettuce, Shining,” Spike responded.

“…Oh. Then what’s this little blue candy doing in here?”


Ж


Spike sat in the corner of Canterlot Memorial Gardens, a blanket spread out before him. After the gate to the gardens opened, he spotted an older mare walking toward him. 

“Spike! How is everything? Is something the matter with Cotton? Last I heard from either of you, she was perfectly—”

“Everything is fine, Mother Matron,” Spike said with a small smile. “Cotton is doing quite well.”

Mother Matron sighed with relief. “That’s good to hear. When Princess Twilight contacted me and asked that I meet you here, I got worried.” She looked at the blanket laid out before her, with glowing crystals holding down the corners. She cocked a brow and asked, “If I may, what is this setup all about?”

Spike let out his own sigh. “My sister has been encouraging me to date again. She thought it would be best to ask somepony I already knew.”

Matron grimaced for a moment. “Uh, Spike… I may not wear my habit in my day-to-day life, but ponies address me as Mother Matron for a reason.”

Spike’s eyes widened for a moment before he covered his face with a claw.

Sweet Celestia, my sister set me up with a NUN. This is officially the bottom of the barrel, it can’t get worse than this!


Ж


A knock sounded on the door to Spike’s room. “Uh… Spike? We’re, uh… we’re done studying. So, well, here I am.” 

Spike opened his bedroom door with a smile. “Well, Steadclaw, it looks like I can trust you to keep your word. Good. Come on in.”

Steadclaw walked through the giant double doors to find an elegant table setup, complete with a tablecloth, flower bouquet, and candles. “Uhhh… Spike? What’s this?”

Firmly shutting his door behind him, Spike replied, “We’re having a little date tonight, Steadclaw. I want to see how you treat my daughter when you take her out. Given what I’ve heard, you’ve set the bar pretty high. I want to see nothing less than your best. Sit,” he finished, gesturing to the single chair set up in front of the table.

As Spike moved back to the other end of the table, he lay down on his stomach and propped his head up to keep himself somewhere near Steadclaw’s eye level, while the tiercel shakily sat down in the offered chair. “Ummm…” Steadclaw began.

Spike cocked a brow and smirked. “Well? Go on.”

Steadclaw fidgeted in his chair. “Uh, Spike, I’m really uncomfortable with this.”

Letting out a snort, Spike replied, “Steadclaw, I’ve just put up with a week of uncomfortable dates. You can deal with it for one night.” 


Ж
	

Spike lay outside an outdoor cafe in front of a table, taking up the entire patio. His date was 15 minutes late. Finally, a bright red pegasus mare with a long, black mane came up to the table. 

“So, I hear you’re lookin’ for a date, honey,” she said to him.

“Yes, I am,” Spike responded. “Did the Princess talk to you about it?”

The mare leaned toward him and leered at him. “Sure, we can do a bit of princess roleplay, if that’s how you want it. For a stallion your size, though, it’ll be three-hundred bits an hour.”

Spike’s eyes bulged. With a beat of his wings, he soared into the air back toward the castle. 

“NNNOPE!”  


Ж


Once again sitting in the Canterlot Memorial Gardens, Spike looked at the pony sitting across from him. “Who’s watching the kids? You’re supposed to be helping them study!”

Twilight sighed. “They said they were all pretty confident about their science exam tomorrow. They have… flashcards,” she said as she looked down in dejection. “Nightshade is making sure they actually use them while I’m out with you.” Her mood lightened a bit with her next thought. “Speaking of which, your date with her last night must have gone pretty well. She couldn’t stop laughing when I asked her about it.”

After a moment, Spike narrowed his eyes at nobody. “Next time I see that mare, I’m going to find out what bat tastes like.”

Twilight waved a hoof at him. “Now Spike, she is watching the kids for us, so don’t be too rough with her.”

After his eyes widened for a moment, Spike closed them and shook his head. After opening them again, he glanced out toward the gates of the park, finding a fairly large number of ponies looking through the bars at him and Twilight with interest.

Glancing around at all the spying eyes, Spike shifted uncomfortably. Leaning forward, he asked, “Twilight, I understand wanting ponies to see me out and about, but do you think we could… move this somewhere a little more private?”

Twilight blushed. “Spike, I’m flattered, but… I don’t think I’m prepared to practice that part with you.”

Promptly rising from his seat, Spike turned around and smashed his head into a tree.


Ж


“Really?” the elderly mare sitting across from Spike at the outdoor cafe asked him. “Not that it isn’t nice to see you, Spike, but a date with your sister-in-law?”

Spike snorted. “Sweetie Belle, I’ve dated my other sister-in-law, my nephew, and even my own brother and sister. At this point, there’s only one line I haven’t crossed, and given that I almost did, I really don’t want to talk about it.” 


Ж


Once again sitting on the patio of the outdoor cafe, Spike winced as an unknown beige unicorn mare with a teal mane approached him. “Hello, Spike.” 

Once his simmering anxiety subsided after being addressed by his name, another thought came to him. “Uh, do I know you?” He kept his voice low, hoping not to cause any distress from the other patrons, like he had done the last time a random mare had approached him at this location. 

“Oh come now, Spike. Don’t you recognize me?” The mare suddenly engulfed herself in green flames, revealing her true form from her hooves to her horn as she let out a maniacal laugh. The cafe patrons and employees all screamed and scattered, leaving the establishment empty, except Spike and his ‘date.’ After looking around for a moment, Chrysalis chuckled. “Still got it.”


Ж


“Thanks for the drop-off, Steadclaw! Tell your mom I said hi!” Cotton called over her shoulder as she closed the main hall door.

“Will do!”

Cotton let out a long, happy sigh. “Ahh, now THAT’S the way to end the school year. How could I put it… A bit of… sincerity, a bit of serenity, and a bit of stupidity!” she laughed. “Geez, that movie was dumber than ‘Oblivious’! I think…” She shrugged, then walked into the dining room and found her father sitting at the table, slumped over a bowl of gems. “Hey, Dad! Who was the lucky mare tonight?” she giggled.

“Keen Kifaliff,” he said through his chewing.

Cotton cocked a brow at him. “Who?”

Spike swallowed first, then repeated, “Queen Chrysalis.”

“Woah!” Cotton cried. “She came all the way from the Badlands?”

“Eyyup,” Spike replied, before grabbing another clawful of gems and shoving them in his mouth.

When he didn’t continue, Cotton waved her hoof in a circular motion. “Soooo? How’d it go?” 

Spike swallowed his gems first, then answered, “I’m going to wait until you finish college to ‘go back on the market.’ It’s overrated anyway.”
> Chapter Twenty-Six - Summer Days
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“…and then we flew to the outer edge of the city, and I finally did another one of my air drops! Steadclaw had to clear away a few stray colts and fillies from my landing zone, but they all stayed to watch. One of them said I looked like a superhero,” Cotton chuckled, placing her damp, freshly cleaned hoof back on the floor. “I just can’t believe it took five days of summer before I got an opportunity.”

“I hope your father knew where you were going, Miss Cotton. You know he—”

“Um, Dawn, could you please drop the ‘Miss’ thing?” Cotton asked, slowly flaring her left wing so Dawn could give it a good scrub. “I know you say it ‘lessens the sense of professionalism,’ but when you’re cleaning somepony every morning, it’s already kind of personal. You can just call me ‘Cotton.’”

Dawn chuckled as she brushed her charge’s wing. “Alright, but remember, Cotton, you only allowed me to begin your daily preenings within the past month. If anything, I would have thought you were trying to keep our interactions at a strictly professional level until now.”

Cotton rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’ll give you that,” she conceded, “but still, the formality kinda bugs me.”

“Fair enough, but don’t think you can change the subject so easily,” Dawn responded with a faint smile. “Did your father know where you were going?”

Cotton groaned. “I told him we were at the park.” She turned around and fixed Dawn with puppy-dog eyes. “You won’t tell him, will you?”

Dawn smirked. “It isn’t my place to flap my muzzle, Cotton,” she replied, “so as long as you don’t do anything reckless that will make my job harder, these lips are sealed.”

With a relieved smile, Cotton responded, “Thanks. Besides, we really are going to the park today. We’re meeting the girls there to chill. Auntie Tia told me it was gonna be really nice out.” She ruffled her right wing before opening it. “Could you—”

“Gentle with the right. I remember, Miss Cotton,” Dawn answered. “Whoops! Sorry—reflex.”

“I’ll let it slide,” Cotton giggled.


Ж


“‘Kay, Ma! I’m going to pick up Cotton! See ya later!” Steadclaw called over his shoulder as he opened his front door.

“Give her my regards!”

“Thank you, Stella!” Cotton called back, standing in the doorway with a grin on her face.

Steadclaw squawked, stumbling backwards. “Hey! I thought I was picking you up!” he laughed.

“Gotta change the routine up every now and then,” Cotton replied, still grinning. “You get your grades back yet?”

“Yeah. One A, two A-minuses, and a B-plus. I swear, Mr. Theorem’s got it out for me. What about you?” When Cotton looked down at the floor and rubbed one foreleg with a hoof, Steadclaw smirked. “All A’s?”

“…Yeah. Mr. Turner wrote me a note saying he would’ve given me an A-plus-plus if he was allowed,” Cotton replied with a tinge in her cheeks. “Geez, I feel like such a teachers’ pet.”

“Don’t,” Steadclaw replied, waving it off. “There’s a difference between sucking up and overachieving. Actually, I heard from the girls you annoyed Mr. Theorem and Mrs. Quill at one point.”

“Yeah, because of Harmony and Flare being so nosy about our first date,” Cotton laughed. “Apparently Mrs. Quill’s lectures on the impermanence of high-school romances and their detriment to her studies almost put Flare to sleep through detention.”

“Riiiiiiight,” he chuckled. “I don’t think Flare ever forgave us for that.”

“Cotton!” Stella smiled as she approached the doorway holding a wet dish and a towel. “I thought I heard your voice. Lovely to see you.”

“Likewise,” Cotton responded with her own smile, returning the hug Stella offered.

“So did I hear correctly? A’s across the board? Well done! As far as I’ve heard, you’ll likely be valedictorian next year.”

Blushing again, Cotton said, “Well, maybe. This was only my first year at UCHS, so probably not.”

“Oh please,” Stella responded, flapping the towel in Cotton’s direction. “If you still have the highest average at the end of next year and the school doesn’t name you valedictorian, I’m sure at least one of your aunts will have something to say about it. Oh, but you don’t want to hear me flap my beak. Go on, you two. Have fun.”

“We will, Mom,” Steadclaw said, rolling his eyes with another smirk.

“Thanks, Stella,” Cotton giggled, as Steadclaw led her down the stairs.

“And please don’t come back deep-fried after dropping the young lady off, Steadclaw,” Stella added.

“Heh… I won’t, Mom,” Steadclaw said with a nervous laugh.

“Stay out of trouble, stay off the streets!” she finished.

Steadclaw let out an annoyed huff before turning around. “We will, Mom,” he deadpanned, before Stella stuck her tongue out at him and closed the door. Steadclaw put a claw to his face. “She is so weird.”

“Pretty sure that’s a parental requirement,” Cotton chuckled.

“Probably. C’mon, the girls are probably waiting for us,” Steadclaw responded, flapping his wings and rising into the air.

“Hey, hold on,” Cotton said, grabbing one of Steadclaw’s hind paws and pulling him back down to the ground.

“What’s up?” he asked her, landing on all fours.

“I saw the way you reacted to your mom’s ‘deep-fried’ remark. I… can’t imagine they’re comforting, but you know all those cooking comments my dad makes are just jokes, right? I mean, I’ve told him they aren’t nice, but… are you like, legit scared of my dad?” she asked. “Well, more so than you should be anyway?” she added with a small smirk.

Steadclaw rubbed the back of his neck. “Well… yeah, maybe a… a little,” he admitted. “I mean, before I left Griffonstone, my uncle told me, ‘Nothing makes a father happier than seeing his daughter with a smile on her face and her boyfriend with fear in his eyes’…” Cotton couldn’t help but giggle at that. “…but that, uh… Let’s say that puts it lightly.”

Cotton’s laughing stopped short, leading into a sigh. “That bad?”

Shuffling one of his paws, Steadclaw replied, “Well, it’s just… maybe I…” He finally hung his head and nodded as he let out a breath. “Yeah. I mean, let’s face it—your dad can be pretty scary even when he’s being nice. I honestly have no idea how I managed to keep myself from trembling when I was interviewing him for my paper.” He shrugged. “Well, actually, that may have been ‘cause we weren’t actually a thing yet. Now that he knows we’re together, your dad’s really been keeping his eye on me. I think the frequent reminder of his flame-breath possibly joining it just kinda freaks me out.” He turned around and looked at his front door with a huff. “The fact that my mom just goes along with it really doesn’t help either.”

Cotton shook her head as she put a hoof to her face. “Dammit, I knew Dad was overdoing it. I’m sorry. I’ll talk with him when I get home later, okay?” Steadclaw smiled and nodded, but before he could give thanks, Cotton turned her head away, and he heard her mumble under her breath, “Figures, first boyfriend I get Dad’s gonna scare away before I even—”

“Hey,” Steadclaw said, putting a claw to her cheek and turning her head back in his direction. “Your dad may scare the droppings outta me, but nothing’s scaring me away.” He held his smile as he slid his claw under Cotton’s chin. “I’m not going anywhere unless you want me to.”

Cotton smiled back at him before taking his claw in her hoof. “Don’t go anywhere,” she responded, pulling him in for a kiss.

After they parted, Steadclaw simply said, “As you wish.”


Ж


Harmony Wishes lay on the ground covering her eyes. Strange Catalyst stared awkwardly. Steadclaw held Cotton’s hoof, both of them blushing.

“I know I’m the seventh wheel,” Daisy groaned, “but is this really necessary, Flare?”

Flarechaser pulled herself away from the burly, aqua blue Earth pony she had been necking. “Hey! I need to show my Zora-bear some love. It’s, like, my civic duty.”

Zora nuzzled Flare’s withers.

“Yes, but do you really need to do it in public?” Harmony said from behind her covered eyes. “There is such a thing as common decency, you know!”

Flarechaser groaned, pressing into Zora’s chest. “We can’t do this at home.”

“Is it because as an Earth pony he would fall out of your house?” Strange asked.

“You can’t say that!” Harmony dug her knee into his side. “It’s very rude.”

“It is? I thought it was logical reasoning.”

“You still shouldn’t say it!” Harmony hissed.

“It’s not that—just Mom and Dad are being a bummer about us,” Flarechaser replied.

“I guess he’s right, though. Unless Flare has a real tight lip-lock on him, he would fall through the floor,” Steadclaw said, nodding.

“That—” Zora chuckled, eyes flashing green fire, “—would not be a problem.”

“Madre de Solis!” Daisy gasped. “You’re a changeling?”

“Wait… you’re not Flicka Ring, right?” Steadclaw asked. “You gotta tell us if you are. It’s like, the law or something.”

Flarechaser glared at the griffon. “Like I’d put my tongue anywhere near that—”

“It is through my little bro that we met,” Zora interrupted.

“Homewrecker! Adulterer!” Daisy gasped.

“I don’t think those words mean what you think they mean, Daisy,” Cotton snorted.

“My little Zora—” Flare started.

“Who is a full year older than you,” Zora corrected.

“As I was saying,” Flarechaser continued, “Zora came to see me after the dance, to apologize for Flick’s stupid behavior—”

“That was only two weeks ago! You’re already at first base?” Harmony shrieked. “Have you no sense of propriety?”

Flare stuck out her tongue. “Third, actually.”

“What would the princesses say?” asked Daisy, shaking her head with a wry smile.

“Thou hat done thy goodeth job,” Steadclaw laughed under his breath to Cotton.

“That’s not even close to correct…” Cotton whispered back. “Though Aunt Luna probably would say something like that. Followed by a hearty ‘Huzzah!’”

“Hey!” Flarechaser shouted, unaware of Cotton and Steadclaw’s interchange, “Like I said, feeding Zora love is my civic duty.”

“Literally,” Daisy responded before mock heaving.

“Hey, don’t blame me, just because all of you are prudes,” Flarechaser said, waving her hoof at the group. “I mean, you can barely tell Cotton and Steadclaw are dating, and… wait. Harmony, does Strange even know what sex is?”

“Sex: Noun. The sum of the structural and functional differences by which the male and female are distinguished, or the phenomena or behavior dependent on said differences,” Strange replied without inflection.

“Celestia’s panties, you are all so boooooooring.”

“If it makes your friends uncomfortable, Flare,” Zora started, “we can—”

“I’m sick of changing what I want to do just to please somepony else,” Flare grumbled. “They’re my friends. If they don’t like it, they can lump it.”

“Well, I guess I’m happy for you,” Cotton said.

“You guess?”

“Okay, I am happy for you,” Cotton amended, scooting closer and putting a wing around Flarechaser. “It’s just, well, not all of us are as brave as you are.”

Flarechaser groaned, leaning lightly against Zora. “Sorry, Zorie, we’ll have to wait until later.”

Zora planted a light kiss upon her forehead. “I am happy to wait for you.”

“Oh pbbbbbbbt.” Flarechaser blew a raspberry at Zora.

“So, what grades did you get, Cotton?” Harmony asked.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!” Flarechaser screamed. “So! Boring!”


Ж


“Well, that happened,” Steadclaw said with a chuckle, as he and Cotton landed in front of The Haybale, just as the sun touched the horizon. The few scattered patrons inside did not detract from the private atmosphere of the eatery.

“Seriously,” Cotton giggled. “Looks like we started a trend. How long do you think until Daisy hooks up with Sprout?”

“Pfft. I don’t think that’s happening. One look at his mohawk and her parents’d kick him out the door.”

“Oh yeah, good point,” she laughed. “Shame the girls didn’t wanna join us, though.”

“Eh, sounds like they all have stuff to do. And I’m pretty sure Flare and Zora just wanna neck.”

Cotton suppressed a snort before whacking him with her wing. “You’re terrible!”

“Am I wrong?” Steadclaw asked with a smirk.

“Probably not,” Cotton admitted with a shrug. “C’mon, let’s go.”

As they walked in, the host spotted them and smiled. “Good afternoon! Table for two?”

“Yes please,” Cotton answered with a smile of her own.

“Right this way.” The host led them to a familiar table looking out over Pastern Boulevard. “Here you are. Your waiter will be with you momentarily,” he said, laying out a pair of menus as the two of them sat down.

“Thank you,” Steadclaw responded, the host nodding as he walked away. “Huh. Looks different during the day, but I’m pretty sure this is the same table we sat at last time. Think he remembers us?”

“We’re pretty hard to forget,” Cotton chuckled. While Steadclaw looked at his menu, she gazed behind him intently. Deliberately looking down at her own menu, she casually asked, “So, who was watching us last time?”

Steadclaw fumbled his menu. “Uh… what makes you think we were being watched?”

Shrugging, Cotton said, “Just a hunch. Do you know if anyone was?”

Steadclaw glanced back and forth before he asked, “How’d you know?”

Smirking, Cotton answered, “Because you just told me.” Steadclaw proceeded to smack his face with his menu, causing Cotton to laugh. “That, and I’m pretty sure that’s our waiter from last time standing behind you, and it looks like he’s frantically looking around the room to see if anyone is paying extra attention to us.”

“Dammit you’re good,” Steadclaw chuckled, shaking his head.

“Thank you, thank you,” Cotton responded. “Were they wearing a mustache?”

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. “Okay, stop it. That’s just creepy.”

Cotton laughed again. “Ha! Aunt Luna. Figures.”

“Since you’re on a roll, I’ll just tell you someone else was with her. Didn’t recognize ‘em, though,” Steadclaw said.

“Pfft. Probably Aunt Cadance. She was in the neighborhood. Alright, that’s enough, let’s just eat.”

“Thank you. Now I know I am never going to be able to surprise you,” Steadclaw said, eliciting a giggle from Cotton.

The waiter finally approached them. “W-welcome to The Haybale. A-are you ready to order?”

Cotton and Steadclaw looked at each other and both started laughing. “Relax, we’re just here for a late lunch,” Cotton told him. “Nopony’s watching us this time.”

“So you say,” the waiter responded, casting his glance back and forth.

A wry grin crept onto Steadclaw’s beak before he waved at a spot behind Cotton and said, “Oh! Hi, Princess!” Cotton turned around and the waiter’s head whipped over to face where Steadclaw had motioned, only to find nobody there. Steadclaw just snickered as the waiter let out an audible groan.

“Don’t be mean!” Cotton chided him. Turning to the waiter, she said, “Sorry.” As she glared at Steadclaw, she added, “We’ll tip big.”
> Chapter Twenty-Seven - How to Sway Your Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As he touched down outside the castle doors, Steadclaw grasped Cotton’s hoof and led her down. “I believe this is your stop, m’lady.”

Cotton giggled as she landed. “Why thank you, good sir.”

“Anytime,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Anything on your mind, or should I head home?” he asked, turning around.

“Yeah, let’s go talk to my dad.”

Steadclaw froze mid-turn. “Wait… ‘let’s’ as in both of us? I… figured that was gonna be just a ‘you two’ thing. Besides, my mom is prob—”

“No, I want this nipped in the bud now, so you need to talk to him directly. I’m not gonna play mare-in-the-middle and let this drag out any longer than it needs to. I can start off the conversation if you want, though,” Cotton said. “And you can blame me if your mom gets worried.”

With a hesitant shrug, Steadclaw responded, “Alright. I guess that works.”

“Good. Then let’s go.” Cotton led Steadclaw to the door, then opened it into the main hall where they were jovially greeted by a quartet of guards. “Evening, gentlecolts.”

“Good evening, Miss Cotton!” they chorused in harmony.

“Anyone know where Dad is?” Cotton asked.

“I saw him going to the dining room last,” the tenor replied.

“No, he was heading for the Archives,” the bass rumbled.

“I thought he was in the library with Princess Twilight?” the lead interjected.

The baritone just shrugged.

Cotton held up a hoof to silence them, then rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Friendly, but not always helpful.” Turning back to Steadclaw, she said, “Hold on a sec.” As she took a deep breath, Steadclaw saw all the guards sit on their haunches and plug their ears with their hooves. He copied them with his claws.

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"

Steadclaw released his ears as the guards did. “Good Grover, what was that?”

“You’ll see,” Cotton replied with a smirk. About fifteen seconds later, she spotted a wisp of green smoke floating towards them from the upper floor, which popped open into a slip of parchment. Cotton smirked and held the slip up to Steadclaw.



In my room, sweetie.

—Dad



“He put these in almost every room of the castle,” Cotton giggled. “Easy way to know where he is when the guards don’t know. Or can’t agree.”

Steadclaw cocked a brow. “He has slips of parchment saying he’s in his room in every room of the castle?”

Cotton smacked her face with the parchment, then said, “Each room has slips that say he’s in that room, birdbrain.”

His face burning red, Steadclaw responded, “…Right. Okay, I deserved that one.”

Cotton giggled again. “Yes you did, but you’re my birdbrain,” she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.

“And I’m glad you’ve claimed me,” Steadclaw replied, returning the kiss with a smile before Cotton headed for the stairs.

As he made to follow, Steadclaw spotted the baritone in the corner of his eye, nodding at him with a wink and a smirk. He was about to smile back when he noticed the tenor, snickering as he conjured an image in his magic. It turned into what appeared to be a dragon tying a giant bib, complete with a tiny picture of a drumstick, around its own neck. As Steadclaw’s beak dipped, the flat end of a spear flipped into the guard’s face and the image dissipated. The same spear then hovered back over to the baritone, who glared at the tenor, then shook his head in Steadclaw’s direction with an apologetic smile. Steadclaw smiled back at the baritone and mouthed out a thank-you, then flapped his wings to catch up with Cotton midway up the stairs.

“Are the guards giving you grief?” Cotton asked loudly, glaring over the railing as Steadclaw landed next to her. The tenor stood frantically shaking his head, while the other three pointed directly at him with their spears. Cotton rolled her eyes. “Sorry, some of them seem to have taken sides.”

“Huh?”

“Some of them like you, others laugh at dad-jokes,” Cotton elaborated.

“Oh. Guess that makes sense,” Steadclaw responded. “Are Bastion and Ravelin on my side?”

Cotton laughed. “Well, they’re permanently off stair duty, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she answered as they walked down the hall.

“Damn.”

“Yeah, and to answer your question, yes, they are. Obviously.”

“Just checking,” Steadclaw responded with a shrug.

“Well well, speaking of whom,” Cotton said as they approached Spike’s doors, finding the two guilty guards on either side.

“You sure you’re at the right room, Miss Cotton?” Ravelin asked.

“I think you want the one down the hall,” Bastion added with a smirk. “You know, the one with your bed in it.”

“You two are incorrigible,” Cotton chuckled. “No wonder Dad has to keep an eye on you. C’mon, lemme in. Gotta have a talk with him.”

Bastion shrugged. “If you say so, Miss Cotton. Is he staying out here?” he asked, pointing at Steadclaw.

Shaking her head, Cotton replied, “No, he needs to come with. And no cooking remarks, that’s why we’re here.”

“I wondered when that would start getting old,” Ravelin said, opening the door. “Good luck, Miss Cotton. And… I want to say Steadclaw, right?”

“Damn, you even remembered my name. You really are on my side, huh?” Steadclaw responded with a smile, bumping his fist against Ravelin’s hoof as Cotton walked through the door.

Bastion lifted his hoof to Steadclaw’s fist as well. “Kid, ever since you came around, we haven’t seen Miss Cotton happier. Obviously she sees something in you. Celestia knows what, but still…”

Steadclaw flushed at the remark. “Um… thanks?”

Bastion’s expression then grew dark as he lit his horn and pointed his spear at Steadclaw’s face. “But keep in mind, kid… If you break Miss Cotton’s heart—”

Ravelin mirrored his partner. “We will draw and quarter you.”

Steadclaw’s eyes widened as he flinched back. “Colts!” Cotton shouted as her head popped back through the entrance. “Ease up, will ya?”

The two guards settled back into their usual expressions and poses. “Just keeping him on his hoo—er, uh, paws, Miss Cotton,” Ravelin said, a hint of a smirk remaining.

Cotton grumbled. “Do I need to have Dad send a message to the entire staff telling them to stop calling me ‘Miss’?”

With a shrug, Bastion answered, “Possibly…”

“…Miss Cotton,” Ravelin finished with a snicker.

Steadclaw couldn’t help but laugh, and Cotton smacked him with her wing. “Don’t encourage them!” Turning to the two guards, she said, “One of these days I’ll throw you two in the dungeon.” She finished off with a quick pbbbbt before closing the door behind her and Steadclaw. They could hear chuckling as they moved into Spike’s room.

“…Can you really do that?” Steadclaw asked.

“Yes! Well, no… Maybe? But they don’t know that,” Cotton replied with a smirk.

“Then… why are they laughing?”

Cotton chuckled. “‘Cause I wouldn’t do it anyway. Not just for laughing, at least. It’s just harmless teasing on both sides. It’s nice to have a few guards with a sense of humor. They shift so much I can never tell if I’ll have a stone brigade or a jester’s troupe from day to day.”

“Umm… I think I got that,” Steadclaw responded.

“Some days all the guards are funny, some days they all have sticks up their plots. It’s usually a bit of both.” Approaching Spike, she turned to Steadclaw and said, “Okay, serious face now.” She took a deep breath to compose herself before addressing the dragon in the room. “Hey Daddy, can we talk?” she called up to him.

Spike turned around from his desk. “Hey there, sweetie. I was wondering when you’d show. Obviously my messages are working, but I think we need to come up with another way for you to reach me. It sounds like you’re starting to pick up the Royal Canterlot Voice,” he chuckled, setting his quill down. “And of course, what about?” Spying Steadclaw, he grinned. “Ah, I see you brought supper.”

Cotton huffed. “About that, Dad. The eating jokes need to stop.”

Spike crossed his arms with a mock pout. “You’d be taking away all my good material, Cotton.”

“And you’re freaking the heck out of Steadclaw!” Cotton retorted, gesturing her hoof towards the griffon beside her, before looking at him square. “You’re gonna need to say something yourself. What you said earlier was good, but I can’t read your mind.”

Steadclaw let out a sigh. “Alright.” He stepped forward as Spike arched a brow at him with the faintest hint of a smirk, his arms still crossed. “Can… Can I just call you ‘Sir’ this time? I think it’d be more appropriate.”

Spike reclined on the desk behind him, looking down at Steadclaw. “I’ll allow it.”

“Thank you, Sir. It’s just… when we met the first time, you were so welcoming. Still a bit terrifying—” Spike let out a small snort. “—but welcoming all the same. That kind of eased my fear. Then after Cotton met my mom and I met Princess Celestia, it felt like everyone was ready to just… let me into the family. And if I remember right, that was barely after a day. I mean, I get the ‘not needing a shotgun because dragon breath’ joke after our first date, I do. That was just kind of a ‘dad teasing the new boyfriend’ thing, right?”

Spike chuckled at the memory. “Essentially, yes.”

Nodding, Steadclaw said, “I thought so. But now… with all the cooking remarks…” He paused as he stared at the floor.

Spike took advantage of Steadclaw’s pause. “Which began after you attempted to sneak my daughter to her bedroom.”

“Daddy, I told you that was my idea!” Cotton cried.

“Noted, but my point still stands,” Spike responded, straightening himself. “Continue, Steadclaw, I’m listening.”

Steadclaw released a breath and nodded. “Well, it’s just… With the remarks now, that warm welcome just feels… well, gone. I don’t even feel safe here, not anymore.”

Settling himself on his haunches, Spike let out a long sigh. “Steadclaw, it seems my natural presence suggests the contrary, but those remarks I make are merely jokes. A girl’s father’s way of making sure her boyfriend stays in line.” Steadclaw nodded. “If this is the reaction you’re having from them, though… perhaps I’ve taken things a little too far.”

“Perhaps?” Cotton interjected.

Spike shot her a glare before continuing. “Despite the little attempt you two made at your dance, I still feel the same way about you, Steadclaw. From what I’ve seen, you have a good heart, and mean no ill will toward anyone in this castle. I have no intention of harming you.” Steadclaw let his shoulders relax. “That does not, however, exempt you from the rules for dating my daughter.”

“And... and those are, Sir?” Steadclaw asked.

“All the unspoken ones, and just about anything else I say,” Spike answered with a smirk.

Cotton groaned as Steadclaw responded, “Understood, Sir. I won’t let you down.”

“Good, see that you don’t. I don’t currently have a reason to harm you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give me one.”

“Daddy!” Cotton cried. “You made your point!”

Spike grumbled. “Very well, very well. In all seriousness, though, Steadclaw…” He sighed, lowering himself as close to Steadclaw’s eye level as possible. “I apologize if I’ve made you uneasy. I should remember I’m more intimidating than most fathers. All the cooking remarks I’ve made really were purely in jest. Does that ease your mind at all?”

Nodding, Steadclaw replied, “Yes, Sir. Cotton’s told me, but it’s just good to hear that directly from the source.”

“Understandable. Well, now that we’ve cleared that air…” He grinned. “Are you sure I can’t keep making ‘em? They really are the best material I’ve got.”

“Daddy!” Cotton yelled.

Steadclaw couldn’t help but chuckle. “Okay, Sir. I’ll allow it.”

“Good boy,” Spike said, holding his grin as he ruffled Steadclaw’s crest feathers with a talon. “Just bear in mind, this doesn’t mean I’m going to go lax on you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Sir.”

“Now you’re getting it.” Spike let out a satisfied breath. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Um, not that I can think of at the moment, Sir,” Steadclaw replied, brushing his feathers back into place.

“Hey, aren’t we done with that serious talk now?” Spike responded.

“Sorry, Spike.”

“That’s better. I have to get back to work, so run along before I break out the thyme and rosemary,” he chuckled.

“Yes, Spike,” Steadclaw said with a roll of his eyes, as Spike moved back to his desk and picked up his quill.

As Steadclaw turned for the door, Cotton told him, “I’ll be there in a sec, okay? You go chat with the troublemakers.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Steadclaw laughed.

“No worse than what I’m planning,” she answered, pecking him on the cheek. “Go.”

“Alright. See ya in a minute.” He let out a deep sigh of relief as he made his way out.

When Steadclaw closed the door behind him, Cotton flapped her wings and landed on a bare spot on Spike’s desk. “Thank you, Daddy. That was really bothering him.”

“Oh!” Spike flinched at Cotton’s landing before he gave her a smile. “You’re welcome, sweetie. I didn’t realize I was making Steadclaw so uncomfortable. I’m glad you said something.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek, a gesture she returned in kind. “But I wasn’t kidding about not going easy on him.”

“I know, I know,” Cotton said.

“I do need to get back to work, but before I do, is there anything you needed to talk to me about while you’ve got me?”

Cotton fiddled with her hooves as she settled herself on her haunches and cast her view to the floor. “Actually… yyyyyyyes…”

Spike put a talon to his chin. “Hmm. Based on that tone, I’m not sure I’m going to like what I hear. You didn’t do something I wouldn’t approve of, did you?” he asked.

Cotton’s eyes shifted upward and back. “Well, no, not… not yet…”

Arching a brow, Spike repeated, “Not yet? And just what do you intend to—” The gears in his head turned when he saw Cotton’s face flush as she looked toward his door. “…Oh. Oh, I see.” He set down his quill with a sigh, then checked to make sure the two of them were alone before continuing, “You really want to take that next step with him, don’t you?”

Cotton’s cheeks flushed redder as she nodded and glanced at the floor. “I mean… you gave me ‘the talk’ and everything, so it’s not like—”

With a snort, Spike cut her off. “I did, but I did so as a precaution. I didn’t expect you to take it to heart so quickly.”

Her gaze lowering further, Cotton said, “I know you don’t think we’re ready, but…”

Spike shook his head. “Frankly, Cotton, no, I don’t think you are. I would prefer it if you two spent more time together first. I know it probably feels like forever to you, but keep in mind that you haven’t been together that long. Not even two months, if my memory serves.” He looked down and shrugged. “But, by the same token, you are old enough to make this kind of decision for yourself… Just humor me for a moment here, Cotton, and look at it from my perspective.”

Looking up, Cotton simply responded, “Okay.”

“You’re my only daughter. I want the best for you. Whether it’s clear or not, I’m thrilled that you met someone who loves you, but ignore Steadclaw’s personality for the moment. You’ve been with this… boy for less than two months. I’ve only seen him on so many occasions. Two months may seem like a long time to you, and being in love can make time seem to slow down, but two months for me hardly qualifies as an eyeblink. I’ve lived a long time, Cotton, and I’m still quite young by dragon standards. Knowing that, do you think I’d be comfortable if you…” He made a small wave with his claw before he finished, “gave yourself to someone so soon?”

Cotton looked off to the side for a few moments before shrugging one shoulder. “Probably not.”

“And how do you think I’d feel if you went behind my back and did it anyway?”

“…Probably pretty mad… or upset. Or both.”

“Exactly,” Spike said. “That’s why I… semi-grounded you for a week. I was upset about what you did. Given that, and the fact that you should have been studying that week anyway, do you think that was an unfair punishment?”

Cotton shrugged again. “Not really.”

“Would you have done the same thing if you were in my position?”

Fidgeting again, Cotton answered, “Well, probably not… but I think I understand why you did.”

Spike let out a sigh. “At least you’re honest. Not everyone thinks the same way. It’s possible I overreacted, but I stand by my actions.” Cotton nodded when Spike paused. “That said, you took your punishment, studied hard, and did incredibly well on your exams. In that regard, I won’t hesitate to say that I’m very proud of you.” Spike leaned forward and kissed Cotton on the cheek again, making a smile creep onto her muzzle.

“Thanks, Daddy.” After her own pause, Cotton looked up and said, “If you don’t mind me asking, though… why are you so firm on this? I mean yeah, Auntie Tia seems to be in your corner, and I haven’t heard anything from Aunt Twilight, but Aunt Luna and Aunt Cadance have been—”

Spike waved her off. “Do both of us a favor, Cotton, and don’t try to use them in your argument. Love is Cadance’s element, so she’ll do anything to move it forward if she sees potential. That doesn’t mean I always agree. And your Aunt Luna is just a troublemaker.” Cotton couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Then Spike let out a small huff. “You’re already doing a decent job on your own here.”

Cotton’s brows arched. “R… really? So… what’s the verdict?”

Spike sighed again. “Well… I would still prefer it if you waited a little longer, but if you do decide to go forward with Steadclaw… I won’t bring the hammer down on either of you.”

Cotton released a relieved breath, smiling before she flew up to Spike’s chest and gave him a hug. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Wrapping his claw around her, Spike responded, “You’re welcome, Sweetheart. There is one thing I want you to do for me, though.” He scooped Cotton up and placed her back on the floor.

“What’s that?” she asked, standing back on her hooves.

“I’m serious about getting checked,” Spike answered. “I can already tell you aren’t going to wait like I’d like, so make sure you go see Dr. Cross downstairs at some point before you do anything, okay? This isn’t negotiable.”

Nodding, Cotton said, “Okay, Daddy.” Flying up to his muzzle, she planted a kiss on his cheek before once again saying, “Thank you.”

“One more thing, though. It should be obvious.”

Cotton looked him in the eye. “Be safe?” Spike nodded. “We will, Daddy. I promise.”

“That’s a good girl,” he said, lightly brushing her cheek with a talon. “Now go on, I have to get back to work.”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said with a smile, before zipping out the door.

Spike turned back to his desk and picked up his quill. Shaking his head, he said to himself, “Just be careful, sweetie. Heartbreak isn’t pleasant.”


Ж


As she exited Spike’s room, Cotton found Steadclaw chatting with Bastion and Ravelin. “Geez, that must’ve been intense,” he said.

“Not really. Father-daughter stuff,” she responded. “Are you three behaving?”

“No,” Ravelin said, causing the three of them to laugh.

Cotton snorted. “Boys…”

“Can’t live with us, can’t live without us, right?” Bastion snickered.

Rolling her eyes, Cotton said, “Obviously. C’mon, Steadclaw. We’re going downstairs.”


Ж


“Well, I believe that’s that. You two should be good to go.”

With a little squeal, Cotton hugged the old stallion. “Thank you, Doctor Cross!”

With a soft chuckle, the doctor hugged her back. “You’re very welcome, M—Cotton. Just be safe now.”

Cotton giggled. “Thanks for remembering, Doc. And we will.”

Dr. Cross approached Steadclaw and shook his claw. “A pleasure to meet you, Mister Steadclaw.”

“Thanks a lot, Doc,” Steadclaw responded.

With another chuckle, the doctor said, “You’re quite welcome. I haven’t had a chance to study a griffon specimen since medical school.”

“Specimen? I feel like a lab rat,” Steadclaw replied. “And now I’m hungry…” he added under his breath.

“Go on, you two. I’m sure you have places to be this evening.”

“Yep!” Cotton said with a bounce, pecking Steadclaw on the cheek. “Let’s go, Steady!”

Steadclaw arched a brow. “‘Steady’? That’s new. And a first, actually.”

“Figured it was time, and it’s the first thing I could think of.”

“Eh, good enough for me,” Steadclaw responded, kissing her back.

Cotton then flicked him with her tail and headed for the door. “See ya, Doc!”

“So long!” Dr. Cross called as the two of them raced out. Once the door to the exam room closed, he shook his head with a smile. “Ahh, a fine male specimen indeed.”

Following after Cotton, Steadclaw rubbed his rear end for a moment before he said, “Yeesh, that was a lot more poking and prodding than I would’ve liked… but worth it.” Cotton just smiled and kept moving forward. “What are you planning?”

“You’ll see,” Cotton replied simply.

As Cotton dragged Steadclaw behind her, she found Spike trundling down the stairway. With a chuckle, he asked her, “And just what have you two been up to?”

“Oh, nothing in particular,” Cotton answered with a goofy grin.

Spike put his claws on his hips. “Then why do you look so giddy?”

“Well…” Cotton’s eyes shifted upward. “Because we just met with Doctor Cross, and he assured us that 'there would be no medical complications resulting from intercourse,’” she quoted, beaming.

The baritone zipped to the front doors. The rest of the guards wisely hit the deck.

Spike glared down at Steadclaw with narrowed eyes, then pointed firmly to the exit. “OUT.”

Steadclaw’s eyes bulged as he nodded vigorously, then quickly answered, “YES-SIR-SEE-YOU-TOMORROW-COTTON!” before he sped out the front door, quickly opened by the sentry guard.

“DADDYYYYYYYYYYY!” Cotton cried.

“Sorry, not sorry. Paternal reflex.”
> Chapter Twenty-Eight - Head in the Clouds
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Then he just said ‘OUT’ and pointed at the door,” Cotton grumbled, “and Steadclaw bolted.”

“Well, can you blame him? Daddy’s little girl is taking a big step,” Allegrezza giggled, poking Cotton in the ribs. “One that he obviously doesn’t want her to take yet.”

“Oh, shove it, Allie,” Cotton said with a forced laugh, shrugging off the intruding hoof. She settled herself back on the park grass and let out a deep sigh. “I know Daddy wants me to wait, but…” She put her head down before rolling onto her back, then hugged herself with her forelegs and squeezed her eyes shut. “Steadclaw just feels so… right. So perfect.”

Allegrezza arched an eyebrow. “Maybe a little too perfect? Some of my friends have run into colts like that.”

Cotton smiled and shook her head, her eyes still closed. “Nope. Just the right amount of perfect.”

“Well, I’m not one to judge,” Allegrezza responded, fluttering her eyelashes. “I’m just impressed you found someone like that so early. And a griffon at that. Seems like everything just fell right into place for you.”

“I know, right?” Cotton let out a deep sigh. “All signs point to a perfect pair. I’m telling you, Allie, he’s the one. I don’t give a flying feather what my dad thinks.”

“Oh, you’re such a rebel,” Allegrezza giggled, tousling Cotton’s mane. As Cotton batted her hooves away again, she let out a small sigh. “Just be careful, Cotton, okay? I’m not gonna tell you not to go for it, but I’ve seen some pretty solid-looking relationships go south. And it sounds like you two haven’t even been together that long.”

Cotton snorted at her. “Y’know, you’re starting to sound like Dad.”

“Hey, that’s a powerful accusation!” Allegrezza said with a mock pout, making Cotton roll her eyes. Smiling again, she said, “I’m just lookin’ out for you, cuz. If things really are as good as you make them sound, though, you’ll probably be fine. Just keep him away from your dad for another day or two.”

Nodding, Cotton said, “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I’ll go pick him up tomorrow.”

“Smart move.” She glanced around the park to ensure their privacy. Colts and fillies of all ages played tag, picnicked, and napped under the willow trees, but nobody paid them much attention. Allegrezza took in a deep, cleansing breath. “Y’know, I keep forgetting about these awesome spots on this side of the city. I need to come around more often while school’s out. I’ll be up to my withers in assignments when the semester starts up again.”

“You totally should,” Cotton agreed. “And bring Largo and Nocturne. You’re the only cousins that actually live close by.”

“No guarantees, but I’ll do what I can. Largo’s on his turntable most of the time, and Nocturne’s been sleeping all day since summer started.”

Cotton cocked a brow before rolling back up to a sitting position. “Why? He been up all night?”

Allegrezza nodded. “Yep. Writing his own stuff. He’s always preferred being a night owl.”

Deadpanning, Cotton responded, “Oh, right. Duh.”

“Eh, music’s in everypony’s veins in our family, what can I say? And hey, what about Novamac?” Allegrezza asked.

Cotton shrugged. “Pfft, he barely counts. He’s always too wrapped up in ‘guard mode’ to actually act like a cousin,” she replied. “If you don’t count the five seconds before my dance, the last time we actually acted casual around each other was at the Ponyville reunion four years ago. Heck, he and Nightshade barely have time for each other.”

Allegrezza shrugged. “Fair point. Still, don’t forget he is there. You think I’m trying to look out for you? He’ll take a spear to the heart for you. Literally.”

Cotton frowned a little, then nodded. “…You’re right. I really shouldn’t take him for granted. It’s just hard to remember he’s family when I always see him so serious around the castle.”

“I can understand that,” Allegrezza said.

“He’d go all out for any of us, though, wouldn’t he? Probably even Steadclaw,” Cotton giggled, before letting out another sigh. “Then again, Nova probably wouldn’t need to jump in the line of fire for me. Steadclaw’d beat him to it.”

“Damn straight I would.” Cotton and Allegrezza both jumped as they whipped their heads around to find Steadclaw standing about a pony length behind them, smirking.

“Steady!” Cotton cried, hopping up off her haunches to give him a kiss. Then she promptly smacked him with her wing. “Don’t scare us like that!”

Steadclaw chuckled, “I’m gonna have to get used to that.”

“The name or the wing-smacks?” Allegrezza asked with a raised brow.

“Both.” He approached her and held out a claw. “You’re one of the many cousins, right?”

“That I am,” Allegrezza replied, returning the shake. “Nice to finally meet you. Name’s Allegrezza, Largo’s older sister. I know you’ve met him.”

Steadclaw nodded. “Yep. Quite the DJ.”

“And he’s told me you’re quite the singer,” Allegrezza said with a wink.

His face flushing as he stole a glance at Cotton and rubbed the back of his neck, Steadclaw asked, “Oh Grover, my name’s being passed through the family now?”

Allegrezza smirked. “Eyyup. If you’re as good as Largo says, you should join me for a duet sometime.”

Steadclaw looked away. “Well, I dunno abou—”

“YES! You totally should!” Cotton cried with a grin.

“That settles that,” Allegrezza said with a firm nod. “I hope you’re good with more than just love songs.”

Steadclaw’s eyes widened. “He’s said that much?”

Smirking again, Allegrezza answered, “Yep. You better be ready to stick around, ‘cause if you’ve got the music in you, we’re gonna be talking about you allllllllll the time.” She ruffled his crest feathers and let out a good-natured laugh before turning around. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to yourselves.”

“Woah woah woah!” Steadclaw cried, simultaneously brushing his feathers back into place. “Don’t leave on my account! I didn’t mean to break up any… uh… cousin-ly bonding time.”

Allegrezza laughed again. “Don’t worry about it. We were just talking about you anyway,” she said with another wink. “See you soon, Cotton!” she called as she trotted across the park, leaving the couple with relative privacy.

“See ya, Allie!” Cotton called back with a wave. Then she leaned up and gave Steadclaw a quick peck on the cheek. “How’d you find me?”

“A little bird told me,” he replied with a smirk. When Cotton nudged him, he added, “I went to the castle. Knocked on the front door and hoped to Grover your dad wouldn’t answer. Turned out to be Novamac. He told me you were here.”

“Geez, lucky much?” Cotton said.

Steadclaw shrugged, then kissed Cotton on the cheek himself. “Worth the risk.”

Cotton smiled before she nuzzled herself into his chest. As the two of them settled down on the grass, Steadclaw laid an arm over her withers. She put her head down on her forelegs, and Steadclaw rested his own head on top of hers, then gently caressed the ragged, scarred edge of her wing. She closed her eyes, releasing what passersby may have thought was a purr.

No. I’m the lucky one.


Ж


It was like dancing. Dancing in the sky.

It was Cotton’s idea. Steadclaw asked to see another one of her air drops, so they flew to her practice zone, way out past the edge of the city. On the way, she decided to try flying up and over a few clouds like an obstacle course, instead of dodging or going through them on a whim. Steadclaw watched, entranced by the performance. It reminded him of what his grandmother had told him about Rainbow Dash.

He eventually tried it himself, flying underneath the clouds Cotton went over, and vice versa. The two fell into a pattern, as natural as a sunrise. It’s like the DNA strands that Mrs. Beaker taught us about, Steadclaw thought to himself, before shaking his head. Wait, why am I wasting time thinking about school?

It’s just like the DNA stuff that Mrs. Beaker taught us, Cotton thought, before shaking her head. Wait, why am I thinking about school?

When they reached Cotton’s practice area, they were unsurprised to find that nobody else was around. Steadclaw, however, became just a little unnerved when a wide grin split Cotton’s face.

“C’mon, I wanna see you do one,” she said, prodding his shoulder.

“What?!” Steadclaw cried. “You’re pulling my leg. You’ve actually trained to do this! There’s no way I could do it right off the bat!”

Cotton shrugged. “Actually, you probably could. Not as awesome as me, of course, but the concept isn’t that difficult.”

Steadclaw tilted his head, looking at her sideways. “Wow. Now you even sound like Rainbow Dash.”

Crossing her forelegs with a smug smirk, Cotton responded, “I do, don’t I? Guess I’ve been taking her journal entries to heart a little too much.”

“Journal entries?”

“Birthday gift,” Cotton replied. “Long story. Anyway, here—just follow my lead. If you get freaked out, just flare out your wings to slow your descent. You’re gonna do that at some point anyway. Lemme just give you some distance,” she said as she flew off.

“Well… o-okay,” Steadclaw stammered. “Good Grover, this girl is gonna kill me,” he mumbled under his breath.

When she reached about a hundred feet away, Cotton turned around and called to him, “It starts off as a dead drop! On three!”

Steadclaw’s shoulders slumped as he just stared at her and nodded.

“One! Two!” Even from this distance, Steadclaw could make out a grin as Cotton paused for dramatic effect. “… Three!” she shouted, clamping her wings to her sides as she tilted herself forward ninety degrees and splayed out her limbs. “Wooooooooooooooo!”

Reluctantly, but immediately, following Cotton’s lead, Steadclaw brought his own wings inward as he tilted himself forward. The wind rushed past his eyes, which widened like dinner plates as he watched the ground approach him with frightening velocity. He glanced over at Cotton, who was still screaming like a madmare as she fell, enjoying every moment of it.

He took in what breath he could before thinking aloud, “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die…”


Ж


As they casually flew side by side back in the direction of Canterlot, Cotton said, “That was pretty good for your first try. Not much impact on the landing, but it’s good you made it down without getting hurt. Were you scared? I couldn’t see you going down.”

Steadclaw tilted his head a few times. “Well, I, uh… Good Grover, I was terrified.”

Cotton laughed. “Well, you sure didn’t look it when you landed! Guess relief took over by then, huh?”

“Definitely.” He smiled. “But I hafta tell ya, watching yours from above was awesome. It looked like you made a crater with all the dirt that rushed out on impact! Actually, how did you not? I saw the ground crack!”

“The ground is much more dense out here. That’s why Nightshade chose this area for us to practice. Even after tons of impact points, there’s no major damage to the environment. If anything, it actually helps open up the ground for more water absorption when it rains,” Cotton explained. As they flew over another area of cracked ground, she flew down and waved for Steadclaw to follow. When they got closer, she pointed to a line of sprouting grass with a smile. “See?”

“Well, look at that. You’re helping create life,” Steadclaw chuckled as he crossed his arms.

Cotton nodded. “And I will likely continue to do so. C’mon.” She headed back up to the clouds, and Steadclaw flew after her.

As the two of them casually glided through the air, Steadclaw grinned. “Hey,” he called to Cotton, maneuvering over and under a few consecutive clouds as she had done before. “Care for another dance?”

Watching him bob and weave, Cotton giggled. “Sure, I’m game.” She added under her breath, “For a dance…” Looking for the right cue, she waited until Steadclaw went over another cloud before ducking underneath it to complement his movements.

They alternated looking at each other and ahead of them, making sure to time themselves so they didn’t collide. After a few minutes of ducking and weaving, with a few spins thrown in, Steadclaw eventually came up to meet Cotton in the middle, grabbing hold of her hoof as they rose straight up.

“Oh, wanna be literal now, huh?” Cotton giggled again, as she looked ahead and saw Canterlot still a fair distance away. Lifting her hoof up in Steadclaw’s grasp, she twirled once underneath and said, “I can do that.”

Grinning, Steadclaw extended his arm. He then gripped Cotton’s hoof and twirled her into his chest, pinning her wings as he gave a powerful flap to keep them both midair. Cotton gave an instinctive gasp before he released her, then she quickly opened her wings again. After a glance below her to make sure she had plenty of height, she looked back at Steadclaw to find him holding in a snicker.

Looking behind him, Cotton smirked as she tackled him, pinning his own wings to his back and his arms to his sides. After a second of freefall, they both landed softly on a sizeable cumulus, Cotton lying on Steadclaw’s chest with her hooves wrapped around him.

After he let out a breath, Steadclaw chuckled, “Grover, for a second I thought you were forcing me into another air drop. You’re crazy, you know that?”

“You started it,” Cotton replied, playfully sticking her tongue out at him as she let go of his wings and arms. Resting her hooves on his shoulders, she added, “Besides, you knew what you signed up for.”

“Well, I dunno about that. I knew I was signing up for the scary dad, not the crazy girlfriend,” he teased, poking her nose with a talon. Then he lifted his head and kissed her on the muzzle. “But I think I can handle it.”

Cotton kissed Steadclaw back before settling her head under his chin and closing her eyes. “You’re just as crazy as me, y’know.”

“Yeah, I know, and you love me for it,” Steadclaw responded with a smirk, gently putting a claw underneath her wing.

At those words, Cotton’s eyes opened in revelation. Then she smiled softly. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I do.”

“Hmm?” Steadclaw asked, running his talons through her mane.

Cotton lifted herself so she could look him square in the eyes for a moment before she leaned into a deep kiss. After they parted, she nuzzled her cheek against his.

“I love you, Steadclaw.”
> Chapter Twenty-Nine - Consequences
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ah, horseapples.”

Cotton awoke with her head still nestled under Steadclaw’s chin. As she fluttered her eyelids, she looked up into the dusky sky. When she spotted a quickly retreating form above them, her eyes shot open and she bolted upright, accidentally shoving her hoof into Steadclaw’s gut.

“Oof! What was—”

“Someone spotted us!” Cotton cried in a harsh whisper.

“Oh sh—”

“Shhhhhh!” Pushing Steadclaw’s head down into the cloud, she frantically looked around until she saw the shadowed form of a noctis hovering in the air a short distance away. She saw the figure quickly turn its head away when she locked eyes with it, and she ducked her head down to cloud level before slowly peering back out. The noctis simply flapped its wings, playing the perfect sentry. “Oh no, the shifts changed! Dad must’ve sent someone out for me!”

“Oh Grover, w-what time is it?” Steadclaw asked with a quaver.

“I don’t know, I’m not a clock!” Cotton snapped back at him.

“Well, now that you know Aunt Pinkie’s trick you should—”

Cotton kicked him in the ribs. “Not the time for jokes!”

Steadclaw clutched his side. “Ow… sorry.”

“Besides, it’s much harder for me,” she added.

As she continued peering out from the edge of the cloud, Cotton saw the figure turn its head back in her direction. She noticed a tinge appear on his cheeks as he beckoned to her slowly with a hoof.

Letting out a sigh, Cotton said, “Okay, it’s Anathem. At least I’m not totally dead.”

“Who?”

“Anathem’s Nightshade’s partner on duty. Stay here,” she replied, slowly lifting herself off the cloud and flying towards the noctis with her tail tucked between her legs.

“Good, uh… Good evening, Miss Cotton,” Anathem said as she reached him, his face flush.

Cotton’s cheeks burned red. “Umm… Evening, Anathem. Did… Did Dad send you out for me?”

Nodding, Anathem answered, “He did. Princess Luna is going to raise the moon shortly.”

“Shoot. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be out so late,” Cotton responded. “I…” She looked over her shoulder at the cloud where Steadclaw still lay. “I, uh…”

“Was sleeping,” Anathem finished for her with a firm nod. “I found you sleeping. Just sleeping. That’s it.”

“Heh… Yyyyeeeeah.”

Pointing back to the cloud behind her, Anathem said, “Go say goodnight. I’ll give you a minute, but I need to get you back to the castle.” He then turned his back to her.

Nodding quickly, Cotton responded, “Thanks.” Then she zipped back to the cloud, finding Steadclaw laying flat, covered with as much fluff as possible.

“We in the clear?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah, we’re good,” she said. “He just saw us sleeping.” Steadclaw let out a deep sigh of relief, and Cotton nodded. “Yeah. But I need to go home.”

“Gotcha.” Sitting upright on the cloud, Steadclaw let out another breath, then smiled. Cotton did the same. Then they leaned forward for another kiss. When they parted, Steadclaw said, “Hey, thanks for, uh, y’know… being ready.” He ran a claw through the lower part of her mane. “Gotta tell me how you do that.”

Cotton giggled and shook her head. “Nope. Had to Pinkie Promise I wouldn’t tell anyone. Besides, I’m still not up to par.” With a small shrug and a tilt of her head, she added, “And I did make another promise I had to keep.”

Steadclaw smirked. “You’re a good girl,” he said, booping her nose with a talon. She giggled again and batted his arm away with a hoof. After a moment, he leaned forward and gave her another kiss, then rested his forehead on hers as he gazed into her eyes with a smile. “I love you, Cotton.”

Cotton moved off his forehead, closing her eyes as she nestled her head under his chin with a smile of her own. She nuzzled his neck for a moment before saying, “I love you too, Steadclaw.” Pulling herself away from the warmth and rhythm of his chest, she flapped her wings and launched herself in Anathem’s direction. “G’night.”

“Night,” he responded, falling forward onto his chest to rest his chin in his claws as Cotton flew off.

When Cotton reached Anathem, he continued looking in Canterlot’s direction as he asked her, “Ready to go?”

“Yeah, I’m ready,” she replied. The guard nodded and flew straight ahead, avoiding eye contact as Cotton followed him. After a moment, Cotton let out a sigh. “Thank you, Anathem. That was, uh…”

“A very restful nap, I can imagine,” he responded quickly, still looking forward.

Cotton blushed. “Thanks for covering for me.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said. Turning his head back to her slightly, he added, “Seriously. Please don’t.”


Ж


“…Oh, thank goodness. Here they come.” Spike sat in front of the castle main doors, his great eye locked on his daughter. “I was beginning to wonder.”

“Thou worryest too much, Spike,” Luna said, rolling her eyes at him. “We are quite confident Cotton wouldst have made it home on her own, even by Our moonlight.”

“I agree. You’re taking neurotic to a new level,” Celestia added from next to Luna. “If Twilight weren’t in court, she would have said the same.”

“Sure, bring in my neurotic sister to tell me I’m being neurotic. Again,” Spike harrumphed.

“Here she is, Sir,” Anathem said, dropping to the ground with Cotton beside him. “Cotton was sleeping on a cloud and lost track of time.” He immediately walked past Spike towards the castle interior. “Good evening, Your Highnesses,” he said, half-bowing to them as he continued forward. The princesses nodded at him accordingly before he slipped inside without another word.

“S-sorry, Daddy. That cloud was just so comfy,” Cotton said, her tail inadvertently flicking back and forth. “Thanks for sending Anathem out for me.”

“…You’re welcome, sweetie,” Spike responded, an eyebrow raised. “I presume you know you missed dinner.”

“I must have, if Aunt Luna is about to raise the moon like Anathem said,” Cotton responded. “Sorry about that. Can I, uh, still go get something?”

Spike chuckled before leaning down and kissing Cotton on the cheek. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m not going to make you starve because you…” He paused as his nose twitched. “…overslept.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Cotton said quickly. “I’m just gonna go eat now.”

“Oh Cotton, before thou leavest,” Luna said, stepping in front of her, “perhaps thou couldst enlighten Us about something most strange.”

“Umm… sure, Aunt Luna,” Cotton responded hesitantly. “What’s up?”

“Dost thou know why thine Aunt Cadenza would awaken Us to speak so excitedly of thy dancing prowess?”

Cotton cocked a brow. “ I… I’m not quite sure what you—”

“We are not familiar with the ‘horizontal tango,’” Luna said sincerely. “Pray tell, what—”

Her eyes suddenly wide, Cotton sputtered, “S-sorry, I c-can’t really explain it.” Then she galloped into the great hall without another word.

“Cadenza sounded most impressed!” Luna called out. “Perhaps thou couldst teacheth Us one day?!”

“Maybe you should ask Twilight,” Celestia snickered.

Luna deadpanned at her. “Nay. We do not understand why thou and Cadenza insist upon foisting Twilight’s awful dancing skills upon Us,” Luna huffed. Giving a quick shrug of her shoulders and trotting out to the garden, she added, “We shall return once We raise the moon.”

Once Luna had departed, Spike let out a deep sigh as he crossed his arms and shook his head. “I had a feeling.”

“I’m impressed, Spike,” Celestia said. “You handled your emotions well.”

Spike shrugged. “Well, I told her how I felt. I told her she’s old enough to make her own decisions. And I told her I wouldn’t bring the hammer down on her. Despite my concerns, she clearly thinks she’s ready, so I won’t dissuade her. Part of being a parent is knowing when to back off.” He paused. “I guess it’s time.” Celestia could distinctly hear Spike’s teeth grinding together, like the low rumble of thunder over the horizon.

Celestia smiled as she patted his lower back with a hoof. “I’m very impressed.”

“Hey, I said I would back off. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it,” he said with a glare in Celestia’s direction.

“I wouldn’t expect you to be, but you’re being very mature about it,” she responded. “Besides, flambèing citizens is purely a royal privilege. Luna decreed that several millennia ago.”

"Just like royalty to oppress the proletariat," Spike chuckled darkly. "But in all seriousness, being a father isn't easy."

Celestia let out a low giggle. “I’d imagine not.”

With a grunt, Spike said, “Says my sister’s second mother.”

“Okay, perhaps I’ve had some practice,” Celestia said with a smirk, “but it’s really not the same.” She turned around and looked in the direction where Cotton rushed off. “I think I’m going to go have some dessert now.”

“Of course you are,” Spike chuckled again. “Just do me a favor, Tia—don’t broach the subject with her.”

“I won’t,” Celestia said, shaking her head. “If she wants to talk, she will, but I won’t suggest anything.”

“Thank you,” Spike responded. “I intend to talk with her myself later.”


Ж


Satisfied with her quiet meal with Celestia, Cotton trotted back to her room, humming to herself with a smile plastered across her muzzle. When she heard the thud of heavy steps on the stairway, the smile drooped as she quickened her pace. It took only a moment after Cotton shut her door for a knock to arrive, with her father’s voice behind it.

“Cotton? Could you open up please? I’d like to speak with you.”

Beads of sweat dripped down Cotton’s face as her back and forelegs spread across her side of the door. “Uh, whatever for, Dad? I finished dinner, and I was about to, uh, go take a shower! Yeah! I, um…”

Cotton could hear the sigh through her door. “Cotton, you can stop panicking. I already know.”

Her eyes widened before darting back and forth. “Uh… know what?”

With a grunt, Spike said, “Cotton, please don’t play dumb with me. I’m not here to scold you, I just want to talk.”

Cotton took a steadying breath before turning around and opening her door a crack. “How… How did you—”

“That isn’t important. And before you ask, nobody told me, I didn’t go asking, and it wasn’t because of Luna.” When Cotton simply sat there, frozen, he asked, “May I please come in?” After a few moments, she slowly opened her door and nodded, stepping back several paces to leave him space.

When he squeezed his head through Cotton’s door, a frown flickered over Spike’s face. It did not go unnoticed. “Are… Are you mad at me?” Cotton asked, her legs quivering.

Spike sighed again. “Well, I’m not happy…”

Gulping, Cotton asked, “Am I… grounded again?”

With a small grunt, Spike replied, “We already had this conversation, Cotton. I told you how I felt about this. But, I also told you you were old enough to make this decision yourself. I don’t agree with your decision, but it was yours to make. So no, you’re not grounded. And I’m not mad.” Cotton let out a sigh of relief as she settled herself on her haunches and her body stopped quivering. “…for the moment.” She tensed up again as Spike cocked a brow. “…Given your chosen location, I have to ask—did you keep your promise to me?”

She reached up into her mane and fussed around for a moment, then pulled out a torn foil packet and showed it to her father; she felt like a filly showing an F on a report card. Spike’s eyes widened, then he opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Cotton giggled nervously. “Pecan taught me after my birthday party before we came home. She showed me with a candy bar, of all things. I just improvised.”

Spike managed to find his voice. “How…?”

“She’s a Pie, Daddy. Don’t ask, don’t question,” she replied with a smirk.

“That’s not what I—”

“Besides, I Pinkie Promised I wouldn’t tell,” Cotton said, cutting him off.

Spike finally closed his mouth and just chuckled. “Fine, ‘nuff said. At least you kept your promise; that’s what matters. Now I’m not mad.” He pushed his head into the room a bit further and kissed Cotton on the cheek. “I didn’t even need to make you Pinkie Promise. Good girl.”

Cotton’s cheeks flushed as she turned her head away. “Steadclaw called me that, too…”

“Well, so long as he keeps treating you like one.”

“So… are we all good?” Cotton asked.

“For now,” Spike answered. “Perhaps we might need to go have a visit with your Aunt Cadance, though.”

Cotton paled. “…You wouldn’t really throw me to the wolves like that, would you, Daddy?”

Spike smirked, then pulled his head out of Cotton’s doorway. “Goodnight, Cotton.”
> Chapter Thirty - Forever Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, we’re really okay? Your dad isn’t gonna like, eat me?”

Cotton groaned. “For the last time, Steady, yes, we’re fine! I already talked to my dad. And he already told you he wouldn’t hurt you.”

“Well, that was before we—” He stopped when Cotton glared at him. “Alright, alright! I mean, my mom doesn’t know a thing… I’m not really sure what she’d say,” Steadclaw said, looking over his shoulder to make sure his mother wasn’t lurking behind him. He blew out a sigh. “So how was your weekend up at the Crystal—”

“Don’t,” Cotton said, cutting him off as a shiver went down her spine. “Please don’t.”

Steadclaw tilted his head at her as they flew over Central Canterlot. “Umm… okay.” Taking in their surroundings, he then asked, “So, who exactly is this you’re taking me to meet?”

She smiled at the change of subject. “You’ll see. C’mon, it’s right over there.” She pointed to a building with an expansive yard and a low wrought-iron fence surrounding it, before circling down and landing on the street in front of it. The word ‘Welcome!’ wrapped above an ornate crescent moon hung above the gate. Peering at the building through the fence, she said, “Wow, almost didn’t recognize the place.”

When Steadclaw saw the sign above the building’s doors, he understood. “Oh.” He shuffled his paws for a moment before asking sheepishly, “How long since you’ve last been here?”

“Given the improvements, too long,” Cotton answered, taking in the building’s new appearance before she opened the gate with surprising ease. “Gotta be at least three and a half years, though. Probably longer.” Steadclaw looked around the yard warily as he followed her to the front doors. When they got close enough, they heard the chaos of badly restrained voices coming from inside. “Must be lunchtime,” Cotton giggled.

A few moments after she knocked on the door, Cotton heard a faint voice cut through the din. “Coming, coming! One second! Hey, no throwing food!” The sound of rapid clip-clopping reached their ears just before a panting, distracted middle-aged unicorn mare wearing a modest black smock answered the door. “Hello… I’m sorry, but—” The mare’s apology died in her throat when her gaze fell on a smiling Cotton; a wide grin split her features and her eyes sparkled. “MOTHER! MOTHER! COME TO THE DOOR!” she called behind her. “Wait, no, she can’t. NEVERMIND! I’LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE!” The mare turned back to Cotton, galloped in place with glee for a beat, then thrust her forelegs open.

Cotton giggled as she embraced the mare. “It’s great to see you, too, Tender. I’m sorry it’s been so long. How’ve you been?”

The mare let out a deep, happy sigh before responding, “Good, Cotton, good. Just overwhelmed as usual. You know, chasing paperwork, cooking children, filling out meals… No, wait, I mean—” She leaned back from the hug and held Cotton’s shoulders, shaking her head. “Nevermind. It really hasn’t been the same since you left, but just look at you! You look absolutely stunning!” Cotton blushed as she accepted the compliment. “Mother Matron’s shown me all your letters. Obviously the life of royalty has done wonders for you!”

“Well, I can’t deny that,” Cotton responded with a sheepish smile.

The mare looked over at Steadclaw with a smile and asked, “So, is this the griffon you mentioned?”

Cotton nodded and answered, “Yeah. Tender, this is my boyfriend, Steadclaw.” Turning to him, she continued, “Steadclaw, this is Tender Care. She helps run the orphanage with Mother Matron.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Steadclaw said, hesitantly offering his claw.

“A pleasure to meet you as well,” Tender Care responded, giving him her hoof. Turning back to Cotton with a giddy smile, she whispered, “Wonders in more ways than one!”

Cotton blushed again before nodding. When a squealing foal’s voice punctuated the conversation, she asked, “I’m guessing it’s lunchtime?”

Tender Care’s eyebrows shot up. “Yes, and I need to get back in there! This group is running us ragged,” she grumbled. Looking at Cotton again with her ears flattened, she started, “Is there… any chance—”

“Of course,” Cotton answered with another smile. “Steadclaw’ll help, too.”

“Uh, I will?”

“Oh, you two are lifesavers,” Tender Care gasped out. “Come, I’ll bring you to the dining room. Mother Matron is going to be so happy to see you! Both of you!” As she turned around and rushed back down the hall, Steadclaw hesitated at the door.

“Uh, were you expecting to come and help out here?” he asked Cotton.

“Yeah,” she replied, guiding him inside with her wing before shutting the door behind her and walking ahead of him. “I’ve been writing them letters every now and then—I wrote them one recently and talked about you—but I’ve been meaning to actually come back here for a while now. Figured I’d take the opportunity to introduce you, and show you what life was like for me before I became a ‘royal,’” she giggled.

“…Oh,” Steadclaw said, glancing down each of the adjoining hallways as he followed Cotton. “Um, alright.”

Cotton looked back at him to find his eyes uneasily shifting to and fro. “You okay?” she asked.

Letting out a breath, Steadclaw replied, “Yeah, it’s just… I dunno, this just feels kinda… weird. Something about this place. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it, it looks really nice. I just… Well, I don’t really know what I’m feeling.”

“Maybe upset that anyone would need to live here in the first place, no matter how friendly it may be,” Cotton answered readily, a touch of sadness in her voice.

When the sound of clicking claws on the wooden floors vanished, Cotton halted her stride and turned around to find Steadclaw standing in place, looking away from her. “…Yeah.”

Cotton sighed, then she put her forelegs softly over his shoulders. “It’s okay. You’re used to having family around, even if you don’t really talk much. The thought of someone not having one at all is probably just… unthinkable, right?”

Gently pulling out of Cotton’s embrace, he answered, “That… pretty much hits the nail on the head.”

Cotton nodded. “Well, it’s an unfortunate reality. I know you’ve only known me as the royal adopted daughter with a big family, but this was my home for a long time. I actually used to help out quite a bit myself since I was the oldest one here for a while. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back.” She turned around and added, “Now you’ll get to see me in action.”

“Yeah, sure,” Steadclaw responded, his voice distant.

Stopping again, Cotton asked, “Hey, do you wanna leave? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you’d be so uncomfortable here. I’m gonna stay, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Steadclaw replied, shaking his head as he got up to follow her again. “Sorry for freaking out like that.”

“Don’t worry about it, I understand,” Cotton said, kissing him on the cheek. “Thanks for stickin’ around. C’mon, lemme introduce you to Mother Matron.”

As Cotton reached the dining room, she cracked the door open just a bit to find a crowd of foals gathered around a large table, some actually eating, others doing everything except eating, but nearly all contributing to the bedlam. Mother Matron circled the table, attempting to keep some semblance of order while Tender Care fed an infant in a high chair, flicking her gaze toward the door.

“Mother Matron, I think somepony wants to see you in the hall,” Tender Care said with a grin.

“Tender, please, we don’t have any appointments with prospective parents today, and I have no time for solicitors,” Mother Matron said in exasperation. Her attention snapped to one of the colts at the table, and she shouted, “Hey, that goes in your mouth, not your nose!”

Tender Care shrugged. “Well, alright, I guess they’ll just have to come in themselves,” she said, raising her voice as she winked at Cotton through the crack in the door.

Mother Matron groaned. “Tender, would you please—” She cut herself short when Cotton walked into the room with a wide grin as Steadclaw stayed in the hall. She let out an uncharacteristic ear-piercing squeal that silenced the entire group of foals as she dashed across the room and gave Cotton a bone-crushing hug. “COTTON! Oh, sweetie, it’s so good to see you!” Holding Cotton at foreleg’s length, she gave her a once-over and continued, “By Luna’s moon, you look absolutely incredible! How are you?”

Cotton giggled, “Thanks, Mother Matron. I’m good. I’m sorry it’s been so long, I’ve been meaning to—”

“Mama Matron? Who’s that?” one of the younger colts piped up from the table.

“Hey, I think that’s her on the wall!” a filly answered, pointing to an old picture of Cotton in a pale green dress and sun hat, sitting amongst a corkboard filled to bursting with photos.

“Huh?” Cotton asked. “What’s—”

“Indeed it is, Ruby,” Matron interrupted with a smile. Turning back to Cotton, she asked, “May I introduce you now?”

Cotton replied, “Can I introduce someone to you first?” Lowering her voice, she added, “Just go easy on him, he’s a little nervous.”

Matron tilted her head. “‘Him’?” Then she let out a gasp as she clapped her hooves together. “Him?” When Cotton nodded, Matron toned herself down. “Ahem, please do.”

Cotton giggled as she turned towards the door. “Come on in, Steadclaw.” When he hesitantly stuck his head through the door, a few of the younger children let out small gasps, and he flinched. Cotton took a quick glance at the group, then said, “Don’t worry, they won’t bite.”

“I know, but I don’t want them to think I will…” he replied.

“Nonsense, they’re just surprised,” Matron told him. “We don’t see many griffons around here. Please, come in.” Steadclaw nodded as he slowly made his way in and approached her. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Steadclaw,” she said, offering her hoof to him. “Cotton sounded so happy when she wrote to me about you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Steadclaw responded, shaking her hoof before tilting his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t really know anything about you.”

Matron chuckled. “Nothing to be sorry about, dear. Cotton clearly has plenty on her mind, especially given the family she was adopted into. There’s really not much time to talk about us.”

“Who is it?” one of the older colts asked.

“Who’s what, Aster?” Matron said.

“Who’s her new family?”

Matron put her hoof to her muzzle and chuckled again as she addressed Cotton. “Well, sweetie, now can I make the introduction?” When Cotton nodded, she continued, “Kids, this is Cotton Candy. She used to live here, too, but she was adopted four years ago by—” She stopped, then turned to Cotton with a smirk. “Why don’t you tell them? Just be ready to get swarmed.”

Cotton giggled, then turned to the group of children. “Who knows about Sir Spike of the Canterlot Archives?” The majority of the group swapped confused glances at each other, many of them shrugging. “The Dragon of Ponyville?” At that, all of them smiled and raised their hooves, and Cotton giggled again. “Well, he lives and works in Canterlot Castle with the Princesses now.”

“So?” Aster asked, plainly uninterested in the history lesson.

“So…” Cotton smirked as she paused, then answered, “He’s my dad.”

The sound of a large collection of gasps and the squeaking of chairs prompted Mother Matron to laugh and hold a hoof up in front of Steadclaw as she backed them both away from Cotton, giving the colts and fillies plenty of room to surround her.

“So you live in the castle, too?”
“Are you a princess?”
“Do I hafta call you ‘Your Highness’?”
“Where’s your tiara?”
“Do you have your own room?”
“How big is your bed?”
“Which princess is your mommy?”
“What’s a dragon daddy like?”
“Do you still hafta go to school?”
“Can you make school illegal?”

Looking back at Steadclaw, Cotton laughed as the kids barraged her with questions. Holding a claw to his beak to suppress his own laughter, Steadclaw then turned to Mother Matron and said, “Wow, you totally called that one.”

Matron smirked. “Well, Cotton was adopted into quite a unique family. She’s bound to have this happen, particularly with kids; they’re a very curious lot.” As Cotton ruffled a few of the kids’ manes and answered their questions as best she could, Matron let out a sigh, smiling as she turned to Steadclaw. “You’ve got quite a catch in her, young griffon.”

Steadclaw let out his own sigh. “I know. She’s amazing; just look at her,” he said, gesturing with his claw at Cotton, who had somehow settled the children into sitting down and listening to her intently as she spoke about her life in the castle. Steadclaw shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know what I did to deserve her.”

Matron smiled as she laid a hoof on his shoulder. “You make her happy, Steadclaw. The last letter I read from her had nothing but joy written in it. Cotton’s always told me about at least one thing that made her unhappy in her previous letters, but this past letter… nothing. If something has been upsetting her, she didn’t care to mention it. That’s because of you. You outshine anything that might be bothering her.”

“You really think so?” Steadclaw asked her.

Nodding, Matron answered, “I know so.” Then she gave Steadclaw a gentle hug. At first he flinched, then he returned it. “Thank you, Steadclaw. Cotton is very special to me. For all the years I’ve been running this orphanage, Cotton stayed here the longest. She became like a daughter to me. When Sir Spike decided to adopt her, I was overjoyed that she finally found a loving home, but at the same time… it broke my heart.” She looked over at the board covered in photos, many of them with little stickers of houses in the corners. Above it sat big, bold letters spelling out the words ‘Forever Family.’

“You’ve let go of a lot of foals over the years,” Steadclaw replied, looking at all of the house stickers.

“Indeed. But when Cotton left, I realized that all the children that have walked these halls have been my family, so I put that up on the wall. I looked back through our records of all of the adopted children that had ever been here, and put their pictures up. It was quite a collection, and it’s only grown since then. Whenever a child comes to live here, I put their picture on the board. When they are adopted, I put on a sticker. This current group has always seen that board here, so they have always known that if they reside in this home, they will always have at least one family to which they belong. Until they find another.” She sighed, then looked back at Cotton, still speaking to the enraptured children. “Cotton was here for so long. She had begun to lose hope…” After she allowed a single tear to roll down her cheek, Matron smiled. “But look at her now. A loving family, confidence in herself…” She turned to Steadclaw. “A special someone…” Steadclaw rubbed the back of his neck as his face flushed. Looking at Cotton once more, Matron said, “I’m so proud of her.”

Steadclaw just sat, nodding. Then he turned his attention back to the board, with Cotton’s picture set near the middle, surrounded by dozens of others. Family… he thought to himself.

And he smiled.


Ж


“Well, that looks like the last one,” Cotton said, looking over at the table as she placed the last dish in the drying rack, then wiped her hooves. “You two really have a lot—” Cotton put a hoof to her forehead. “Dammit, Dad, why did you give me puns?”

“What do we ‘have a lot’ of?” Mother Matron asked her from the cupboard. “And language, please.”

Cotton groaned. “A lot on your plates. And sorry.”

Matron chuckled, “That was good! The children would’ve laughed!”

“I blame my dad. I’m officially the unintentional punner. If that’s even a word,” Cotton huffed.

“Hey, if you can’t help it, embrace it,” Steadclaw called from the table with a smirk as he wiped it clean with a cloth.

“Hush, you,” Cotton responded, sticking her tongue out at him. “And wipe that smirk off your… face. Ugghhhhh,” she finished, as Steadclaw and Matron both laughed.

“Thank you so much, both of you,” Matron said. “Cleaning up for us while Tender watches the kids gave me time to finish up some important paperwork. I even got to make the beds! The children will be shocked,” she chuckled.

“You’re welcome, Mother Matron,” Cotton and Steadclaw said in unison, before looking at each other and smirking.

Looking out the window into the back yard, Matron let out a sigh. “This is the most well-behaved I’ve ever seen them all. It must be something about you. There’s usually at least one argument, but not today.” She shrugged, then released another happy sigh. “It really is the little things.”

Cotton smiled herself as she approached Matron. “So what happened to this place? It looks almost brand new!”

Smiling, Matron answered, “That would be your father, sweetie.” She looked around the room. “We’ve had a constant stream of funding since you left. Granted, the children still share rooms, but over the years we’ve gotten new beds, new furniture, new toys and games, we repaved and re-planted the grass in the front and back play yards… and you must have seen the front gate.”

“Yeah, I was surprised when I didn’t need to jiggle the door to get it open. And the new paint job looks great!” Cotton’s gaze shifted to the board hanging on the wall. Walking up to it, she asked, “So… when did this go up?”

“Just after you left,” Steadclaw answered from behind her.

When Cotton cocked a brow at him, Matron nodded and gave her a similar explanation to the one she gave Steadclaw, accompanied by a few tears on both mares’ parts.

As Cotton released herself from a hug with Mother Matron, she said, “Guess there’s another reason some of them call you ‘Mama,’ huh?”

“You can’t have some of the reasons to be ‘Mama.’ You’ve got to have all of them,” she replied with a smile that reached her eyes.

Cotton sat back and looked at the board once again, searching its contents and pointing to a few pictures with stickers here and there, her smile growing slightly with each point. After a while, she said, “Yeah, that’s everyone. They all left?”

“All your ‘brothers and sisters,’ yes. They all found loving homes,” Matron answered with a nod, smiling herself. “Like I said, this is a whole new group, each of them with their own stories and their own quirks.” Looking out the window with a deadpan stare, she added, “And each of them with their own special method of driving us up the wall.” Cotton and Steadclaw couldn’t help but chuckle. When a few fillies’ heads popped into the window frame to peer at them, Matron smiled again. “Come, let me bring you out back while they’re still behaving. It looks like you may have more questions to answer, if that’s alright with you.”

“Sure,” Cotton giggled, allowing Mother Matron to lead her and Steadclaw outside.

As the three of them walked out into the play yard, they were approached by Ruby and another filly, with Aster trailing just behind them.

“Mother Matron, can we ask Miss Cotton something?” the other filly asked.

Cotton rolled her eyes. I can’t escape the ‘Miss’ thing anywhere, can I?

“I’m not the one whose permission you need, Amber,” Mother Matron replied, turning to Cotton.

Lowering her head to meet the filly’s eye, Cotton said, “You can ask me anything as long as you just call me ‘Cotton.’”

Nodding, the fillies glanced at each other, then looked up at Aster. He rolled his eyes at them, then looked at Cotton and casually waved his hoof up and down at her. “They wanna know how you got those scars.” Both fillies flinched at the uninterested tone of his voice before staring at Cotton once more.

“Ah.” Cotton gave Aster a knowing look, then turned to the fillies and asked, “Have you learned about the Great Canterlot Fire that happened thirteen years ago?” She noticed their shoulders relaxing a little as they nodded. Nodding in return, she said, “That’s how. And it’s why I came here.”

“Told ya,” Aster said to the fillies, who shrugged at him with unsure smiles. Looking back at Cotton, he asked her, “Why’d you try to cover ‘em up in your picture?”

Cotton looked at him for a moment, then felt Steadclaw nudge her. Looking at the griffon beside her, she saw him raise his eyebrows with a smug smirk. Shrugging, she turned back to Aster and shook her head. “I dunno. Maybe I shouldn’t have.”

Shaking his head in return, Aster said, “No, you shouldn’t’ve. You look good like that.” Then he casually turned around and strolled back into the yard.

Steadclaw watched the colt walk away, then he let out a grunt as he put a claw around Cotton’s withers. “I think that kid’s trying to steal you from me.”

Ruby and Amber swapped excited glances before Amber asked, “Do you like, like-like each other?”

“Are you in love?” Ruby quickly added.

Cotton and Steadclaw smiled at each other before Cotton turned and gave him a kiss on the beak. Then she asked, “Does that answer your questions?”

The fillies giggled before Amber asked, “Are you gonna get married?”

Steadclaw glanced at Cotton and rubbed the back of his head as he answered, “Uh, we haven’t thought that far ahead.”

The fillies jumped up and down, ignoring his answer before they chimed in unison, “Are you gonna have kids?”

Both Cotton’s and Steadclaw’s eyes widened as they stared at each other.

“Okay girls, I think that’s enough,” Mother Matron chided. After shooing the giggling fillies back into the play yard, she said, “Sorry about that, those two are an interesting pair.” When she got no response, she turned back to look at Cotton and Steadclaw.

They still stared at each other.


Ж


Mother Matron let out a long, happy sigh. “It was so good to see you again, Cotton. Thank you so much for stopping by. Please, don’t be a stranger.”

Letting go of the hug, Cotton responded, “Great to see you, too. And I won’t.” After glancing around the front yard at all the children, she whispered, “Maybe you can all take a day trip to the castle one day. No guarantees, but I’ll talk to my dad and see if I can make it happen.”

Matron smiled. “Oh, that would be wonderful! Thank you! The children would be thrilled.”

“And it might give us a bit of a break,” Tender Care chuckled from beside her, taking her turn to hug Cotton. “Speaking of which, thank you for helping earlier. And thank you for the treats; they were absolutely delicious! You’ve really grown into your cutie mark!”

Cotton giggled. “You’re welcome. And thanks.”

Mother Matron called out to all the children in the yard, “Everypony, what do you say to Cotton for making that wonderful batch of cookies for us?”

“Thank you, Cotton!” they all chimed in unison, before going back to their own activities.

“You’re welcome, everyone,” Cotton called back with a smile.

“It was great to meet you both,” Steadclaw said to both Mother Matron and Tender Care, shaking their hooves in turn. “Kinda cool to see Cotton’s roots,” he added with a smile.

“Well, they blossomed rather well, didn’t they?” Matron replied with a grin. Cotton groaned. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Steadclaw. Take care of yourself.”

“And take care of Cotton, or you’ll have to answer to us,” Tender Care said with a smirk, giving him a light nudge to the shoulder.

“I will,” Steadclaw replied. The three of them chuckled. Cotton groaned once again.


Ж


“So, you glad you stayed?” Cotton asked Steadclaw as they flew back towards the castle.

“Yeah. It was actually kinda cool. Felt pretty good to help out like that,” he replied. Smirking, he added, “And I finally got to eat your cookies.”

Cotton faltered in midair before her cheeks reddened. “You’re lucky I’m flying, you jerk,” she retorted, blowing a raspberry at him. “So are you gonna tell your mom about our little roll in the clouds? My dad already knows.”

Rubbing the back of his neck as he blushed, Steadclaw answered, “Uhhhhhh…  did I mention your baking is really good?” When Cotton cocked a brow at him, he let out a breath. “Not yet. Maybe later.”

As the two of them neared the castle, they saw Spike standing out in front of the main doors, speaking with a smaller figure beside him. When they drew closer, Steadclaw flinched. “Orrrr… Maybe she already knows,” he muttered.

Cotton let out a small sigh. “Relax, I’m sure it won’t be that bad. My dad didn’t make a huge fuss out of it; your mom probably won’t, either.”

Steadclaw sighed as well. “I reeeeeeeally hope you’re right.”

When Spike and Stella caught sight of them, they shifted their posture. Spike stood straight, his claws resting on his knees as he hid any sign of emotion. Stella, however, curled her head down into her chest plumage and closed her eyes.

As the teens landed, Steadclaw said, “Uhhh… hi, Mom. What are you doing here?”

Stella said nothing. She just let out a deep sigh.

Steadclaw turned his head and looked at Cotton with worry, then dared to look up at Spike. The dragon was just as silent.

As he crept toward his mother, Steadclaw tried again. “Mom… is everything okay?”

Stella straightened her head, then let out another deep sigh before she opened her eyes and gave her son a level stare.

“Steadclaw… We need to talk.”
> Chapter Thirty-One - Rips and Tears
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Cotton? Sweetie? May I come in?”

Spike knocked on Cotton’s door as he spoke. All he heard in response was sobbing. He let out a deep sigh before he turned the knob and let the door swing in. He found Cotton with her face buried in her tear-stained pillows. After a quiet breath, he slowly pushed his head into the room.

“Sweetie, I’m sorry for barging in like this, but I just want to be sure; you do understand that none of this is your fault, don’t you? Neither yours nor Steadclaw’s. Neither of you did anything wrong. You aren’t being punished for anything.”

Turning her head to free her muzzle, Cotton shut her eyes tighter as she screamed, “Then why does it feel like I am?! Why is he being ripped away from me?!” Then she buried her face back in her pillows as another sob was ripped out of her.

Spike sighed again. “Sweetie, we all talked about this earlier. Steadclaw’s father was in an accident, so he and Stella need to return to Griffonstone and take care of his grandmother Gilda. An old Crusader is standing in for the moment, but she’s getting on in years herself. They need to go and—”

“But he said he wouldn’t!” Cotton cried as she uncovered her muzzle again, looking at her father through bloodshot eyes. When Spike tilted his head for her to elaborate, she continued, “He said he wouldn’t go anywhere unless I wanted him to! I don’t want him to!”

“Cotton, this is out of Steadclaw’s control. No matter what he told you, he and Stella are both going back home; they have to.”

Cotton dove back into her pillows. “Why can’t Stella go and let Steadclaw stay?” she cried through her muffled sobs.

Spike closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “It would be very irresponsible of all parties to let a sixteen-year-old live on his own like that, Cotton. He may be capable of it, but he is still a minor.”

“He could stay in the castle!” Cotton said, lifting her head up and looking at her father with pleading eyes.

Holding back a grunt, Spike responded, “Cotton, that would be highly inappropriate. There are other places around Canterlot that he could stay, but look at it this way: if you were living up in the Crystal Empire and I became ill, would you not come back and take care of me?”

Cotton sniffled. “You’d have Aunt Twilight, Aunt Luna, and Auntie Tia to look after you.”

Spike raised a brow. “So you wouldn’t come home to take care of your sick father?”

“Of course I would!” Cotton screamed, sitting up on her bed. “If you’re trying to help me feel better, it isn’t working!”

Hanging his head as best he could in the tight space, Spike asked, “Then what would you like me to do, Cotton?”

“Fix it!” Cotton shouted, pounding her hooves once on her mattress. “I don’t care how! Just fix it!” she cried.

Spike sighed. “I can’t, Cotton. There are many things I can do, but that isn’t one of them.”

“Why not? You’re royalty! You can do anything! You just want me to be miserable! I hate you! Get out!” she screamed, throwing one of her pillows at Spike’s snout before diving back into the rest.

“Cotton, I’m not—” Spike started.

“I said get out!” she screeched.

Spike rolled his eyes as he pulled his head out of Cotton’s doorway and shut the door behind him, listening to Cotton’s choked sobs.


Ж


Curled up in the back of his room, Spike rested his head on one of his massive cushions. Twilight sat on another in front of him.

“…What do I do, Twilight? She said she hates me. And the worst part is, I don’t blame her.”

Twilight shook her head. “She doesn’t hate you, Spike. She just… dislikes you intensely right now.”

“I dunno, Twi,” he responded. “She’s been mad at me before, but she’s never said she hates me.”

Twilight smirked, then replied, “Spike, kids say things they don’t really mean sometimes. Especially when they’re angry.” She put a hoof to her chin as she thought for a moment, then looked back to him. “You should have been old enough… do you remember way back when Shining had his military graduation party?”

Spike raised a brow to match the direction his eyes moved. “Vaguely. I’m pretty sure I was still in my single-digits.”

“You were,” Twilight said. “Well, I wanted to go out and celebrate with Shining and his friends. I wanted to go so badly, but no matter how many times, and how many different ways I asked, Mom kept saying no. She said I wasn’t old enough.”

His face contorted in disbelief, Spike asked, “Weren’t you fourteen or fifteen? You wanted to go out and celebrate with a bunch of drinking, probably horny stallions?”

Her smirk split into a grin, and Twilight nodded again. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty, Spike. Obviously Mom was right in forbidding me to go, and you understand because you’re a father.”

“Where are you going with this, Twilight?”

“I’m getting there, Spike,” she replied. “When Mom told me ‘for the last time’ that I couldn’t go to the celebration, I was furious. I stormed up to my room and slammed the door. When she came upstairs and opened it to try and talk to me, do you know what I did?”

Spike cocked a brow. “Lemme guess…”

“I screamed at the top of my lungs that I hated her.”

Spike pursed his lips for a moment.

“…and then I threw a book at her.”

His eyes widening, Spike said, “Who are you and what have you done with Twilight Sparkle?”

Nodding once again, she responded, “Mhm. I was that angry. Luckily, Mom closed the door in time to avoid getting hit. And of course, I cleaned the book and put it back on the shelf right afterwards…” Twilight blushed and rubbed the back of her mane. “…but my point stands. Obviously I didn’t actually hate Mom, but I let my emotions choose my words for me. I can tell you from experience, the same is happening with Cotton.”

Spike let out a sigh. “Well, at least she only threw a pillow at me.”

Gesturing a hoof in Spike’s direction, Twilight said, “See? She even threw something. Trust me, Spike, Cotton just needs time to process what’s going on. She has every right to be upset right now, though, don’t you think? She did just find out her boyfriend is getting torn away from her, after all.”

“I guess you’re right. I probably would be feeling the same way,” he said. “Hopefully she sticks to throwing pillows, if anything.”

“Hey, just be glad your daughter isn’t an alicorn,” Twilight told him. “I remember Shining telling me that when he threatened her first special somepony, Flurry threw the entire west wing of the Crystal Castle at him.”

“…Isn’t that where he kept his comic book collection?”

“Yes. She was lucky he opted for the earthquake-level comic book sleeves.”


Ж


“Well… what about your suit vest? You looked really good in this,” Cotton said, holding up the garment for Steadclaw to decide on. Taking a glance back inside his closet, she added, “And that’s the last thing in here.”

Steadclaw looked up from the pile he was rummaging through, let out a sigh, then shook his head. “As much as I like it, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t have anywhere to put it where it wouldn’t get wrinkled. Let’s put it in the giveaway pile; I’m sure someone else could get some use out of it.”

Cotton looked over at the modest pile of items at the foot of Steadclaw’s bed, consisting of a record player, some ancient records, towels, books, used and new school supplies, and a few knick-knacks. She shook her head as she gently laid the vest down along with them. “You’re bringing like, nothing with you.” She looked towards his closed bedroom door where his satchel lay, next to a hat, scarf, and a drawstring bag with a small collection of bits. Pointing at them, she huffed, “You’re telling me those are the only things in this room that you actually care about?”

Steadclaw turned his head around and looked at the pathetic pile for a moment. Then he let out a deep sigh before he stood up and walked over to Cotton, caressing her cheek. “That I can bring… yeah.”

Cotton’s eyes softened, then she reached up and held his claw against her. Feeling the tears welling up, she sniffed, then whimpered, “I don’t want you to go.”

Steadclaw closed his eyes for just a moment, then looked down at the floor.

Cotton buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry.”

Steadclaw leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “For what?”

Taking a breath, Cotton replied, “I just realized—for the past two days I’ve only been thinking about myself. What I want. You just lost your dad.” She wrapped her forelegs around him and gave him a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

“…Thanks,” Steadclaw responded, returning the embrace. After a moment, Cotton felt his grip on her tighten before a drop fell onto her wing. “But now I’m gonna lose you, too.”

They heard the doorknob being released, then the slow clicking of claws going down the stairs.

After a minute or so, Cotton and Steadclaw loosened their grips on each other. Cotton lifted her head as she said, “There’s still one thing you can do.” She turned and walked up to Steadclaw’s giveaway pile. After looking through it for a moment, she picked up a three-section notebook and ruffled through the pages before nodding and giving it to him.

“This just has my Equish notes in the front,” Steadclaw said.

Cotton nodded again. “You’ve got two sections’ worth of blank paper. Write to me.”


Ж


“…Well, that appears to be all the important things,” Stella said, stuffing some papers into a folder and placing said folder into a satchel sitting on the couch. “Everything else is either unnecessary or impossible to bring. Whoever bought this place will be getting much more than just furnishings. I still can’t believe it sold so quickly.”

“Why is it so surprising?” Spike asked, his head sticking through the townhome door into the family room.

Stella placed the satchel by the door, then brought a chair from the kitchen to sit down. “Well, I bought this place because it’s relatively cheap for Upper Canterlot; this area is known for pickpockets. I was worried that it would take at least a week before I even heard from the agent. Imagine my surprise when she contacted me yesterday and said someone offered higher than market value for it!”

“That certainly is a stroke of luck,” Spike said, nodding within the confines of the door.

“Absolutely,” Stella responded, “though our opportunity to leave sooner does mean less time for the kids to spend together before we go.”

“Hmmm… that’s true,” Spike replied with a rumble in his chest. “If I may, how is Steadclaw taking the whole situation? And how are you?”

“Well, Steadclaw’s taking it like any tiercel would,” she answered. “He’s putting on a brave face and claiming that he’s fine. He hasn’t seen his father since we moved here; Godrick was willing to stay behind to take care of his mother while I brought Steadclaw here to get a more well-rounded education. I personally haven’t seen any letters between them for the past two years, nor have they even seen each other in that time. My son does have a habit of being secretive, though.” She sighed. After a moment, she added, “Perhaps he gets that from me…”

Spike furrowed his brows. “Why do you say that?”

“Well…” Stella hung her head before looking back up at Spike. “I must admit, I’ve been putting on a bit of a facade myself. I didn’t only bring Steadclaw here to better his education.” After another pause, she lowered her voice and continued, “Godrick and I were separating.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Did Steadclaw know?”

She half shook her head, but then shrugged. “Well, we didn’t outright tell him, but Steadclaw is a clever boy. It wouldn’t surprise me if he somehow figured it out. Steadclaw and Godrick didn’t have the same kind of relationship that you and Cotton have. Granted, they never disliked each other, but I never saw the same kind of familial love between them that I see between most other parents and their children. Perhaps that’s why Steadclaw didn’t make a fuss when I told him his father was staying behind when we left Griffonstone.”

“Didn’t your husband need to stay with Gilda?” Spike asked.

Stella tilted her head from side to side. “Well, yes. Stubborn as she was to take care of herself, my mother-in-law did admit she needed a little help from time to time. Not enough that she would need a full-time caretaker, though. I was lucky enough to have a good relationship with her. When Godrick and I told her about the situation between us, she allowed us to tell Steadclaw that she was the only reason his father was staying behind. That hen is a saint.”

“Yes, from what I hear she’s changed quite a lot since the first time I met her,” Spike said. “Steadclaw speaks quite highly of her.”

“And he has every reason to,” Stella responded. “Now it’s time we go back and help her when she needs us. Miss Gabriella can only aid her for so long. As pained as Steadclaw is to leave Cotton, he won’t let me go and take care of Gilda myself.” She glanced toward the stairway for a moment, then continued, “I told him I wouldn’t say anything, but I offered to look for someplace in Canterlot where he could stay without me and still be properly looked after so he could stay here with Cotton. He refused—said he needed to help take care of his grandmother first and foremost.”

Spike’s eyes widened again for a moment before he let out a breath. “I have to say, even though he’s had his moments, your son continues to impress me.”

“Thank you,” Stella said, nodding. “One of the best things I did with Godrick was raise a wonderful son. I’d like to believe I continued to do so on my own.”

Smiling, Spike said, “You did. My daughter found quite a catch.” As Stella smiled back, Spike’s faded. “We’re both very sad to see you go.”

Stella nodded again as she looked down. “As are we.” She let out a deep sigh, then turned around and headed for the stairway. “They’ve been up there for a while. Let me go see if they’d like anything to eat.”

After Stella ascended the stairs, Spike tilted his head in either direction to get a glimpse of what he could. The carpets had been cleaned, the table cleared, and everything that the mother and son griffon had to leave behind had been put somewhere appropriate for either decorative or functional purposes.

Would’ve been a shame if they’d really had to just leave all of this to somepony random.

A moment later, Spike heard the slow click of claws coming down the stairs. When Stella re-entered the family room by herself, he asked her, “Are they not hungry?”

Stella let out a sigh. “I didn’t want to interrupt them. I’m sure they’ll come down when they’re ready.”

Spike cocked a brow. “What were they doing?”

“They were having a rather emotional moment,” Stella replied. “And it might be their last, so…” She sighed again.

“Ah,” Spike responded simply, letting out a relieved breath. After a moment, he tilted his head and said, “Stella, I understand wanting to leave sooner rather than later, but for my daughter’s sake, I need to ask—must you really leave right away? You did say you hadn’t expected to be able to leave so soon. Couldn’t you stay another day or two?” After a brief pause, he added, “Please?”

Frowning as she turned away, Stella replied, “Believe me, Spike, I wish we could. But my mother-in-law’s letter did have an air of urgency about it. Since Steadclaw insists on coming with me, we really should leave tonight, now that I know we can. The train ride to Griffonstone is a long one.” Looking back to the dragon, she finished, “I’m sorry.”

Spike shook his head as well as he could without tearing the windowsill. “No need to apologize. I understand. Can’t blame me for trying, though.”

Stella returned the gesture with a small smile. “Of course not. Honestly, it is quite tempting, but I fear lingering longer may just make the departure worse for the two of them.”

“That is a possibility,” Spike responded solemnly. After a moment, he said, “Stella, if ever you and Steadclaw find yourselves able or wanting to come back to Canterlot, please don’t hesitate to send me a letter. I’ll be sure you have a place to stay, long or short-term.”

Holding her smile, Stella said, “Oh Spike, please. I couldn’t ask you to go through that trouble. And before you offer, I refuse to impose on the castle. That’s just too much.”

“Trust me, it wouldn’t be any trouble. Like I said, don’t hesitate.”

Stella’s crest ruffled, giving her a fuzzy look. “Spike, you really are too kind. Thank y—” She stopped herself mid-sentence as her eyes widened. She looked back and forth between the rooms before she turned back to the dragon. “Spike, you didn’t.”

A faint blush arose in Spike’s cheeks. “Was I that obvious?”

Stella shook her head as she chastised him, “Spike, you’ve helped us more than enough already. What in Grover’s name possessed you to do that?!”

Spike tilted his head as his shoulders shrugged outside the door. “I wanted to make sure you and Steadclaw would have what you needed. Real estate is a gamble anywhere in Canterlot these days.” His voice took a softer tone. “And if you ever do come back, I wanted to be sure you’d be comfortable. This way you’ll always have a place you can call home in Canterlot if you need it.” His eyes moved back and forth in the direction of some of Stella’s belongings scattered around the room. “And you won’t need to worry about any of your things being thrown away.”

Putting a claw to her head, Stella breathed out, “Spike, I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say that you and Steadclaw will be well, and give my regards to Gilda when you get back to Griffonstone.”

With a shake of her head, Stella responded, “We will, Spike, on all accounts.” She stood up from her chair and made her way to the dragon, then gave him a soft peck on his cheek. “Thank you so much, Spike. I don’t think I can ever repay you.”

“There’s no need to. Just don’t forget about us.”

Stella let out a small chuckle. “I don’t think I ever could, Sir Spike.”

Spike smiled back at her. “Well, if we’re adding a little levity to the moment here, knowing what I do now, are you saying that if Cotton had followed through with trying to set the two of us up, I would have had a chance?” he asked, giving her a wink.

The griffoness guffawed, then smacked the back of the dragon’s head with her wing.


Ж


“So… your mom is giving my dad some of her stuff to sell?”

“That’s what she told me,” Steadclaw said, shrugging at Cotton as they walked out the castle’s main doors. “Doesn’t really surprise me. Otherwise they’d probably just get thrown out. Not like we’re coming b—” He stopped himself, then let out a deep sigh.

Cotton sniffed as she looked ahead to where Spike and Stella were talking, the griffoness sitting on the dragon’s shoulder. “Well… probably never gonna see that again,” she said, trying to force a smile on her face. When Stella planted a quick kiss on Spike’s cheek, Steadclaw’s and Cotton’s eyes widened. “Huh. Maybe I should’ve asked Aunt Twilight to…” She stopped, then shook her head. “Nevermind.”

After Stella flapped down to the ground, her satchel swung over her shoulder, she called, “Come, Steadclaw. We need to be at the station shortly. We can’t miss the train.”

Steadclaw nodded at her silently, then turned to Cotton. “Cotton, I… I don’t… Dammit, I suck at this.”

Cotton managed a giggle, then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Here.” Sitting back on her haunches, she lifted a hoof and took one of her hairclips out, allowing the left side of her mane to fall in front of her face. Then she slid the clip into place at the back of his crest with a small smile. “So you don’t forget me.”

As Steadclaw brought a claw back to his crest to feel Cotton’s clip keeping his feathers down, he allowed a single tear to form in his eye. He smiled back at her and reached for her covered cheek to caress it. Her lips had already moved for his beak before he got there.

When they parted, Steadclaw began, “Cotton, someday I will come back. I promise I’ll come back and we can—”

She placed a hoof over his beak and silenced him, shaking her head as tears ran down her cheeks. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Steadclaw’s shoulders sagged, then he reached for her offending hoof, taking it gently off his beak before he asked, “Then can you promise me something?” When Cotton nodded silently, he said, “Whatever happens, don’t ever change.” He leaned forward and kissed Cotton’s scarred cheek. “Always be proud of who you are. No matter what.”

With a hint of a smile, Cotton simply said, “Okay.” Then she leaned forward and nuzzled Steadclaw’s plumage under his neck before she whispered, “I love you, Steadclaw.”

Wrapping his wing around her, Steadclaw kissed the top of her head before resting his own on top of it and responding, “I love you, Cotton.”

When the two of them separated, Steadclaw could feel the matting in his plumage. He caressed Cotton’s cheek one more time before he finally turned and walked toward his mother. When he reached her, he looked into the eyes of Spike.

“Thank you for everything, Spike,” he said simply.

“You’re very welcome, Steadclaw. All the best to you,” Spike replied.

Steadclaw nodded his thanks, then he and Stella lifted into the air and flew towards the train station. He tried not to look back, but he failed. He wished he hadn’t.

Cotton galloped for the castle doors, her tears trailing behind her as she wept.
















End of Act Two

> Chapter Thirty-Two - Correspondence (Part One)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


*Author’s Note*


Chapters 32–34 are an Entr'acte, which (if you didn't know) translates to 'Between the Acts.' You’ll notice that the Entr’acte is written in a very different format: a sequence of letters. Letters are dated the day they are sent, and snail mail usually takes about four days to be received.










7/14/77

Dear Cotton,

Well, we’re home. The train ride was SO long. And boring. Four days on a train should be illegal. I told mom we should’ve gone to Manehattan and flown across the Celestial Sea instead—there’s a flight stop at the Griffish Isles, and with how little we brought with us it would’ve taken two days, tops. We could’ve been here on Sunday. But noooo, we had to take the long way around. I actually started reading my Equish notes at one point I was so bored.

Geez, it’s weird being back here. It just reminds me how much better it was in Canterlot. And everything I left behind there. I mean, it’s nicer than what Granny Gilda’s told me it used to be like, but still.

I miss you already, Cotton. Your clip’s still in my crest. I ran into my old friends Gavin and Garrett when we got back, and they laughed at me when they saw it. When I told them why I had it they shut up. I’ll see if I can find something like a clip here as a replacement for you.

I’ll write again soon. I know Mom and I left without much notice, so next time you see them could you tell the girls I said bye? Kind of late now, but better late than never, right?

No matter what you told me when I left, I promise I’ll come back someday. I love you, Cotton. I always will.

Love,
Steadclaw

PS: It was easy enough to get a letter to you—there’s only one Canterlot Castle—but now you’ve got my address on the back of this envelope. I still can’t believe I forgot to give it to you before we left. When I realized it after the train left I started banging my head against the window, and I brought this to the post office the second we got back. 




7/19/77

Dear Steady,

Thanks for writing so fast. I did get pretty worried when I woke up and realized you didn’t give me an address to write to. Daddy told me he was sure you’d write quickly when you figured that out, and I’m glad he was right. He also said that I’d have to wait at least a week before anything came back because of how long the trains would take in each direction. I was NOT happy that he was right about that, too.

Just a heads-up, my dad told me he MIGHT be able to send my letters to you with his dragonfire, but Griffonstone is pretty far. I’m going to ask Aunt Twilight to make a copy of this letter so I can send two of them, just to see if his fire can reach you in Griffonstone. If it can’t, then I’ll just stick to using the regular snail mail like I figured I’d be doing, and you’ll get this letter either way. 

Anyway, I saw the girls yesterday. When they didn’t see you with me they asked where you were. When I told them you left they all got kind of pissed at first, but when I told them WHY they went totally silent. They’re all really sorry, both about your dad and because you had to go. They ARE kind of upset they didn’t get to say goodbye, though. I think they want to write letters to you, too, so I hope you don’t mind, but I gave them your address so they don’t need to wait to send their letters through my dad (if his fire even works).

Hope you’re adjusting okay. I miss you, too. It isn’t the same without you here.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

PS: Aunt Luna told me I should send you some salacious photos of me. Since I’m sending one of these letters through my dad, I don’t want to risk sending them that way. There are some coming through snail mail, though. Aunt Cadance took the pictures. I’m sending a normal one, too.




7/20/76

Dear Cotton,

Your letter from your dad got to me just fine. It got to me yesterday, the same day you dated it. I’ll admit it kind of freaked me out when a letter appeared in front of me in a burst of green fire, but at least now I’ll know to expect something like that here. It’s the only kind of mail that would come on a Sunday.

Things are okay here. It’s still weird waking up in my old room. I spent some time with Gavin and Garrett yesterday just catching up. Sounds like not a lot has really been happening the past few years. I’m honestly not really surprised. School was pretty boring here. Well, more than usual.

I’ll keep an eye out for the girls’ letters. It’ll be nice to keep in touch with them, too. Actually, I just realized, have you heard from Buzz? He’s still in juvi, isn’t he? Hope he’s doing alright.

Anyway, I think that’s all for now. I love you, Cotton, now and forever.

Love,
Steadclaw

PS: I’d love to have some pictures of you. But, uh, does ‘salacious’ mean what I think it does? Is that why you won’t send them through your dad?




7/20/77

Dear Steadclaw,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. And I’m sorry you had to leave. Cotton’s taking it pretty hard, but she understands. 

Please do keep in touch with her. You two were such a good pair, and you did so much for her. She’s totally different than before, and in the best way.

I don’t really know much about Griffonstone, so I hope everything works out for you over there. Be well, okay?

Oh, and Strange Catalyst sends you his best, too.

All the Best,
Harmony




7/20/77

Dear Steadclaw,

I’m really sorry about your dad. You have my sincerest condolences. I hope you’ll be okay.

I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye before you left, but Cotton said your mom wanted to leave quickly, so I get it. Cotton’s really upset, but she knows you didn’t want to go.

Keep in touch with her, please. I know the distance will be hard, but even if you’re not here, Cotton needs you. 

Take care of yourself.

Sincerely, 
Daisy




7/21/77

Hey Featherhead,

Sorry to hear about your dad. Sucks that you had to leave. Cotton’s pretty torn up, but she gets it. 

Cotton really loves you, so keep writing to her. She’s going to need to have some kind of contact with you.

I remember a few things from my griffon culture assignment, so I hope you’ve got enough bits to tide you over. And don’t go getting any good-looking scars. Can’t have any chicks over there making a pass at you. Cotton told us about what happened in the clouds, so you belong to her now, got it?

Me and Zora both send our best.

Take it Easy,
Flare




7/24/77

Cotton,

I just got the mailed version of your letter. 

…So that IS what salacious means… Wow, am I glad I opened that letter in my room. My wings shot STRAIGHT up.

They’re all really good, but that Prench filly pose REALLY works.

Thanks for sending me the ‘normal’ one, too. I can keep that one up on my wall and not worry if my mom walks in.

Love you,
Steadclaw

PS: I’d send you a picture, too, but I don’t have any like that. We don’t have a camera here.




7/25/77

Steady,

Yes. Yes it does.

If you’re wondering why I even used the word, Aunt Luna told me to. She actually was looking over my shoulder as I wrote that PS. I shouldn’t have brought the letter into her room when Aunt Cadance was taking the pictures… 

And yeah, Buzz is still in juvi. He should hopefully be out in a week or two. I went to visit him two days ago—I promised I would. When he asked why you weren’t with me I told him about your dad and that you had to leave, and he wanted me to tell you he’s sorry and is going to miss messing around in class with you. 

Actually, Gem and Jewel were there, too. On the other side of the building. Did I tell you that Auntie Celestia sentenced them to juvi for trying to sneak up to my room at the dance? After I saw Buzz I went over there to say hello. When they sneered at me I just shrugged and said, “Hey, who’s on which side of the bars?”

…That was probably kind of petty of me, but honestly, those bitches deserve it. I know that’s not really my thing, but I guess I’m allowed to be a little, well, out of character from time to time. Daisy told me something like that once.

Hope you’re doing alright. Write back soon. 

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

PS: Aunt Twilight got a glance at that PS when she copied my letter, too. I’m pretty sure she had a long talk with Aunt Luna and Aunt Cadance after that. I saw her come out of Aunt Luna’s room blushing.




7/26/77

Cotton,

Yeah, I just got the pictures Thursday. You are AWESOME. 

And damn sexy, girl. 

Things actually aren’t all that bad. I’ve been hanging out with Gavin and Garrett when I’m not taking care of Granny. We’ve gotten back into our old groove. Tell Flarechaser that we all dared each other to go after the Idol of Boreas, but none of us did. She’ll probably get a kick out of that.

Oh, speaking of which, I got letters from all of the girls. Could you tell them I said thanks and give them my best?

Wait, Gem and Jewel went to juvi?? Ha! Nice to hear they got their just desserts for once.

By the way, this time gap with me getting your letters right away and you not getting mine for a few days is kind of weird. Maybe we should both stick to snail mail unless something urgent pops up that you need to tell me right away. You okay with that? Not that I don’t want to hear from you as soon as possible, but I sent you two letters between yours because of the time it takes for mine to get to you. I sent the second one two days ago, so you probably haven’t gotten it yet Well you’ve probably gotten it NOW.

I hope you’re alright. Even with the letters, I still miss you.

Love you, Cotton.
Steadclaw

PS: Not sure what to think about your aunts… 




7/31/77

Steady,

If it’s easier for you for me to send letters by snail mail, I can do that. I did get that second letter afterward, so I see what you mean about the timing. This’ll be the last one I send through my dad.

And thanks. I wasn’t sure what you’d think about those photos. Glad you liked them. 

It’s good to hear you have friends to hang out with. Oh, and the girls send you their best, too. I told Flarechaser what you said about that Idol of Boreas thing. She started laughing and said, “Damn right they didn’t.” Whatever that means—I didn’t ask her to go into detail. I know she did that griffon culture assignment a while ago, so I’ll let you two have your inside joke. 

Oh, and actually, Uncle Discord snapped a photo of us at the dance, so I DO have a picture of you. A really nice one, too. Don’t ask how he got it—it’s Uncle Discord, so I don’t ask questions.

Tell your mom and granny that my dad and I say hi. 

Talk to you soon. I still miss you.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




8/4/77

Hey Cotton,

Sorry about the delay. It’s just… I finally went and saw my dad’s grave last week. I just… kind of felt weird for a day or two.

I just realized, I never talked to you about him, did I? The only one you saw was my mom. He wasn’t a bad guy, just kind of… distant. Guess that’s why I never talked about him. He and my mom didn’t really spend that much time together before we left for Canterlot either, so maybe something was going on between them, but I don’t know. I didn’t even really miss him as much as I thought I would while I was in Canterlot, to be honest. But now that he’s gone it’s kind of hit me like a steam engine.

Taking care of Granny has helped, though. She’s been telling me a bunch of stories, some of the stuff she did with him. Sounds like the two of them had a pretty good time together, all things considered. I mean, I would hope they did. It’d kind of suck if a mother didn’t like her son who felt like he was obligated to stay with his mother…  

Anyway, I’ve told Granny a lot about you. Ever since I got your photos, actually. When they came in the mail she was wondering what they were and who they were from, so I showed her the one regular photo you sent, and she was really impressed. She said the fact that I managed to find someone like you makes me the most not-lame griffon ever. She said if she’d known we were together she would’ve made me stay in Canterlot. She’s actually tried to get me to leave a few times since then, but I don’t know where I’d live. Mom sold the house, and guarantee your dad wouldn’t let me stay in the castle. Think I could stay with Mother Matron and Tender Care? Like a live-in assistant or something? Nevermind, I’m sorry. I need to stay with Mom and Granny either way. They need me here.

Granny remembers your dad, but not like he is now. She remembers him being a ‘shrimp.’ Grover, if she saw him now… I bet she’d still call him a shrimp anyway. She said I was lucky I never got roasted. She’s not wrong.

She’s calling for me right now, and my claw’s getting kind of tired, so I’ll write again soon, okay? 

Love you,
Steadclaw




8/10/77

Hey Steady,

Don’t worry about the delay. I understand. I had to wait a day, too. Mail didn’t go out yesterday.

I’m sorry visiting your dad was so hard. But I think it was good for you, too. A few years ago my dad told me that even after I’d been adopted into my new family, it was okay to grieve about my parents. I mean, it was different for me because I already had nine years to do it, and I was only three when it happened, but it’s good to talk to someone when it does. Don’t keep your feelings bottled up. It’ll be easier to move on forward that way. Sounds like your granny may be the right one to talk to, if not your mom. Or me, if you want.

How is your mom, anyway? Dad’s been curious.

Actually, it’s funny you mentioned Mother Matron and Tender Care. I managed to convince my dad and aunts to let them and the kids come up to the castle for a visit. Well, it didn’t actually take too much convincing, but Tender and Mother Matron were grateful all the same. They’re also sorry you had to leave, and about your dad.

Amber and Ruby asked about you, too, and when I told them you left they got really upset. I have to admit, it was actually kind of adorable. Oh, and Aster didn’t try to make a move on me. Thought you’d like to hear that.

You should’ve seen all the kids running around the castle. It was chaos Uncle Discord would be proud of. We had to send out at least four guards to try and round them all up, Bastion and Ravelin included, because Mother Matron and Tender Care were catching up with my dad in his room and finally got that break they needed. I finally got them settled in the kitchen with a batch of cookies.

Hey…would you like a batch? They wouldn’t be fresh, but I could send them in a box if you’d like. 

It’d be amazing if you came back and got to have them with me, but I know family comes first for you, so don’t apologize for wanting to stay.

I think I’ll stop there for now. Let me know if you’d like another chance to eat my cookies. 

And get your head out of the gutter, because I know it’s there. I just couldn’t resist.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




8/15/77

Cotton,

Me? My head in the gutter? I have NO idea what you’re talking about… 

You got a good laugh out of me with that. Thanks, I really needed it.

But yes, totally. If you’re offering, I’d love a batch of cookies. I bet Mom and Granny would be thrilled to try them.

Speaking of her, Mom’s doing alright. She’s been making and selling Granny’s scones so we can keep up with our bits. What she got from the house will only go so far. She misses Canterlot, too, but both of us know we need to stay here for now. She’s talked to me about your dad a few times. I don’t know, but if that kiss from my mom before we left was anything to go by, maybe they DID like each other. That’d be super weird, huh?

Anyway, good to hear the kids got up to the castle, and I’m glad I don’t have any competition with that kid Aster. I hope Mother Matron and Tender Care weren’t mad at me. I did say I’d take care of you, after all.

Hey, how ARE Bastion and Ravelin? They still getting into trouble? Tell them I miss them. Hopefully that’ll prevent me from getting drawn and quartered if when I come back.

Talk soon. Say hi to your dad for me. The Princesses, too. Especially Princess Luna.

Love you,
Steadclaw




8/20/77

Hey Steady,

I hope you got the dragonfire letter from my dad this morning. I tried to time it so you’d get it a little bit earlier on the same day you got the cookies. This letter should be with the box.

I made about 20, so they should last you a few days if you don’t scarf them down. Make sure you share! And Aunt Twilight managed to put some kind of preservation spell on the box, so the cookies should actually be fresh...ish. The spell will wear off when you open it, though. Enjoy!

Nah, Tender and Mother Matron weren’t mad. They totally understood. If anyone understands needing to take care of family, it’s them.

Yeah, Bastion and Ravelin are still being smart aleks. I’m actually kind of surprised Dad hasn’t threatened to have THEM drawn and quartered, but they’re at least good at what they do.

But our parents? Yeah, I know I thought about setting them up, but now that I think about it, that WOULD be super weird… Wouldn’t that technically make us siblings? Yuck.

Anyway, talk to you soon. The aunts say hi back. And Aunt Luna laughed when I told her you specified her. Did you two do something? Did she do something to you? Or was that about the pictures?

Actually, nevermind. Aunt Luna’s an oddball, so I’ll leave that well enough alone. Unless she did something to you.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡





8/24/77

HEY STEADY!

INCOMING!

♡ Cotton ♡




8/26/77

Cotton,

You’re hilarious. I got the dragonfire letter two days ago, but the cookies and snail mail letter got here YESTERDAY. There must have been a delay for some reason. I was totally confused when I got the letter from your dad, so right as I went to write to you yesterday asking what that message was about, the mail showed up with the box and I was like, ‘Ooooooooooh!’ 

Princess Twilight’s spell worked perfectly! I broke one of those cookies in half and it just MELTED. Just as good as when you made them for the kids at the orphanage. Daisy called them ‘chocolate ecstasy’ once, right? That’s pretty accurate. When I gave one to mom, SHE melted, and Granny said they were almost as good as her scones. Now THAT’S a compliment!

So hey, I don’t know about you, but school starts next week. I’m honestly not really sure what to think about it. It’ll be weird being with all griffons again, and as far as I can tell, there actually aren’t that many here that are around my age, so we’ll probably be a pretty small class. And considering that I was in Canterlot for the last few years, I might have some catching up to do if they have a different curriculum, which they probably do.

At least Gavin and Garrett should be in class with me, so hopefully it won’t be too terrible. Doubt I’m going to be able to have the kind of fun I had with Buzz, though.

Let me know how things go when school starts. Oh, and if he asks about me, tell Mr. Turner that he was my favorite teacher. 

And when it comes to Princess Luna… We kind of have our own inside joke. No harm was done on either side. Let’s leave it at that.

Talk soon.

Love you,
Steadclaw




9/1/77

Steady,

Dammit! I thought I’d get the timing right sending that note last Monday. Oh well, at least you got them. Glad to hear Aunt Twilight’s spell worked, and it’s awesome your mom and granny like them. One of these days I might try and sell those cookies for a good cause, so knowing that they’re enjoyable from a bunch of different tastes is good to know. Thank your mom and granny for being testers for me.

We actually don’t start school until NEXT week (well, from when you should be getting this). We're starting late this year for some reason. Hope it isn’t too terrible for you, though. By the way, speaking of Buzz, he got out of juvi like, three weeks ago. They let him out at the seven week mark. The aunts said he definitely didn’t deserve all eight, but they had to push past six because of setting a precedent and junk. It’s all political stuff. He said the school sent him the rest of his work from the end of last year and he finished it while he was there. He almost did as good as me on his finals. Looks like clowning and good grades seem to go hoof-in-hoof. Or claw. Or… whatever.

Now wait, it’s one thing for you and Flare to have an inside joke, but you and my AUNT? Come on, I can’t have that. Looking forward to that story.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




9/7/77

Cotton, 

School started the day you dated your last letter. Grover, it suuuuuuuuuucks. Nothing like what I expected. Literally EVERYONE is all in one classroom—ten years to eighteen years old, because the younger ones don’t even start school until then—and there’s only ONE teacher. All he does is talk about all this supposedly amazing stuff he’s done that led to him becoming a teacher. He doesn’t even actually teach. He just stands up there and plays himself up to be a big shot. Guess that’s one of the things that DID change when I left. Nobody cares about school now. Like, at all. The little kids run around, most of the oldest ones sleep, and those of us in between just sit around and talk to each other. Some of them actually listen to the teacher, enough that he doesn’t get on our cases about literally EVERYONE ELSE paying no attention to him at all. I’ve basically just been chatting with Gavin and Garrett, but we’ve run out of things to talk about already.

Alright, sorry, just had to get that out. Anyway, good to hear Buzz is out and finished up everything. Keep an eye on him for me, huh? I’ll have to make up for lost clowning when I come back, since it’d go unnoticed here. You should be starting tomorrow—Canterlot usually started on a Tuesday if I remember right.

Sorry. Just like we didn’t spill anything to the girls about our first date, I’m not spilling anything about my joke with Princess Luna. You’ll have to pry it out of her if you want to hear it, and I doubt she’ll tell you either.

Still love you,
Steadclaw




9/12/77

Hey Steady,

Yeah, classes started for us Tuesday. I don’t have any classes with Daisy or Harmony this semester, but I do have history with Flare. Mr. Turner actually did ask about you. I told him why you left and what you told me. He told me to say he was glad you enjoyed your time with him, and he’s sorry about your dad, too. I’ve got math with Buzz, but he hasn’t tried anything funny with Mr. Theorem. Yet.

Sorry to hear about your school. That must be driving you nuts. Have you tried doing something with any of the younger griffons? You were pretty good with the kids at the orphanage, so maybe you can teach them some stuff you learned here?

Anyway… 

Aunt Luna isn’t as tight-lipped as you thought. She told me what she did—sending Nightshade to tell you to ask me out AND following us on our date with my aunt Cadance. Now it makes sense why you were so nervous when you asked me out that first time. Nothing like having a princess telling you to make a move already to get your tail in gear, huh? I’m actually happy she did that. I don’t know how long it would’ve taken for you to do it on your own, but it doesn’t matter now. She also told me what she did while we were in the movie theater. Thanks for throwing it away. Just shows how nice a guy you are that you wouldn’t go for it so soon. Even if I tried to after only a few weeks… 

You know, you keep talking about doing… stuff WHEN you come back. I’m not really expecting you to… but I AM keeping my feathers crossed.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




9/17/77

Cotton,

Hey, you may not have let me finish saying it, but I made you a promise. I’ll come back someday. If not to see you again, then at least to have a conversation with Princess Luna about keeping secr jok certain things between ourselves.

Huh. Teaching the kids about Equestrian stuff. You know, I guess that might be a possibility. Maybe I’ll try it tomorrow. Heck, Gavin and Garrett don’t have anything more to talk about. If that doesn’t work, I may as well just skip school and go work in the mines for some extra bits. Grover knows we can always use them around here, and the mines have been seeing a little more action lately, so I bet they could use another set of claws.

Say hi to the girls for me.

Love you,
Steadclaw




9/22/77

Steady,

Glad to hear you’re going to give teaching a shot! Aunt Twilight was thrilled when I told her. I didn’t mention you were thinking about skipping school, though.

Oh, speaking of school, listen to this. I finally ran into Gem and Jewel for the first time since the beginning of the semester. You should’ve heard them trying to take a swing at me. Not literally. They blamed me for getting them sent to juvi even though it was totally their fault. Started calling me names, using snarky wisecracks, all the old crap they used to pull. Guess they thought I’d cave since you weren’t there. Nope. I asked if I’d lit a fire under their flanks and if their skin wasn’t thick enough to handle juvi. Got some applause for that like Buzz did last year. Honestly, I think my ‘burn’ burns are better than theirs, so hopefully they’ll finally get off my case.

Wait, there’s a mine in Griffonstone? What’s in it? Gold? Just curious.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




9/28/77

Hey Cotton,

So I did try the teaching thing. No luck. I tried to keep it on the down low so the teacher wouldn’t do anything, but the kids wouldn’t settle down enough to listen to me. A bunch of the other griffons closer to my age just laughed at me for even trying. They said I had a better chance of getting the teacher to actually teach us something.

That isn’t happening anytime soon.

When I told them what I was trying to teach, some of the older tiercels called me a pony-lover, and they did NOT mean it in a good way. But screw them. I love you.

Good to hear you aren’t letting those bitches get the better of you. I hoped they’d give up eventually. Obviously you didn’t need me at all. 

Yeah, we have an iron mine here. They discovered it about five years ago, I think, and we started using the iron to make some steel for new buildings. I said it a while ago, even though Griffonstone doesn’t look that great now, it’s still much better than it used to be, according to Granny. Hate to say it, but I think I AM going to just ditch school and go to the mines instead. That’s what my dad was doing before he died, so I guess I could pick up his pick-axe, or whatever the phrase is. Maybe I’ll wait a little longer, though… 

Mom also hasn’t been selling that many scones lately, so maybe I should go mining anyway to keep us covered. She can watch Granny while I’m working. Probably wouldn’t hurt for me to get some exercise other than flying, anyway. Especially after you sent us those cookies. Are you trying to make me fat?

I’m kidding, I’m kidding. They were awesome and you know it.

Love you (even more than the cookies),
Steadclaw

PS: Granny’s still trying to get me to leave and go back to you. Believe me, I’d love to, but I keep telling her I can’t, not now. I think she might be getting annoyed at me.




10/3/77

Hey Steady,

Sorry the teaching thing didn’t work out. It was worth a try, though, right?

Oh, you know, I meant to tell you: I saw my cousin Allegrezza a few weeks ago. Remember Allie? When I told her you left she was disappointed she didn’t get a chance to sing with you. I am too, actually. You two would’ve made a great duet, especially with Largo on the turntable.

I know school is boring from what it sounds like, but do you really think you should go to those mines? Is it safe? Could you just try school for a little while longer? Maybe it’ll get better?

Be careful, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt because of something stupid. It’s probably not stupid to you, but… oh, I don’t know. Just be careful, please.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

PS: Tell your Granny that I’m proud of you for knowing your priorities, so she shouldn’t be upset. 




10/8/77

Cotton,

So I decided to stay in school for a while longer after I sent that last letter to you.

Then I changed my mind a few days ago. 

A couple of Griffonian soldiers came into our class to talk about ‘opportunities’ in the military. They heard that our school system was basically a joke, and asked if any of us wanted to spend our time doing something ‘truly productive.’ Practically everyone my age and older decided to go with them. I asked about the Griffonian school system instead, but they said they didn’t really know anything about it because they paid more attention to their training. Either way, I don’t really have any interest in becoming a soldier.

Sorry to say, I’m not going to school anymore. I would’ve been the oldest one there, and the only one my age. I have no idea what the younger kids there are doing, but hopefully they’ve found a way to keep themselves occupied. Maybe they’re just staying home during the day.

I went over to the mines yesterday and asked about working there. Mom still hasn’t been selling much, if anything, so I think it’s the best option for us now. The mine overseers said they could offer me some time down there, but I haven’t started yet. I will next week, just a couple days. The pay isn’t ideal, but it’ll hopefully hold us over for a while. There’s only so much to do here anyway.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Love you,
Steadclaw




10/13/77

Steady,

I guess you didn’t really have a choice anymore, huh? Please, be careful in those mines. I’m guessing that by the time you get this you should have been in there at least once. How did it go?

The military came in, huh? I guess that kind of makes sense if they knew your school wasn’t doing anything worth your time. Glad to hear you didn’t go that way, though. After we got together you didn’t seem like you’d ever want to actually hurt anyone, no matter what anyone else did at school sometimes. At least, that’s what it looked like to me. You did a good job putting up a front, but I know you’re really a softy. I love that about you.

Nothing special is happening over here. Just school stuff. Oh, except Harmony is thinking about breaking up with Strange Catalyst. And Zora-Terra waits for Flare after school every day since he graduated last year. I’ve seen Flicka Ring go over to him a few times thinking he’s there for him. I feel bad every time he pouts. It’s like, ‘Big bro took my girl.’ Am I a bad pony for thinking that’s actually kind of funny, too?

Please let me know how you’re doing.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




10/20/77

Cotton,

Sorry for taking so long. They really don’t mess around down there.

I started in the mines last Monday. The work itself isn’t that difficult to understand. One of the overseers showed me the most efficient way to get things done, then he left me to it and I basically got it right away. The work isn’t complicated, but damn, is it HARD. And they make sure it gets done.

I saw cart after cart of iron go through the place. There are a TON of griffons down there. I guess I know why they only pay so much, there are a lot of griffons to pay. I saw Gavin’s dad down there, and he told me the first day is the hardest. Makes sense to me. I don’t know why they’d need so much iron, but hey, it gets us at least SOME bits. Better than nothing.

I ended up going back Wednesday and Friday, too. At least they gave me a day of rest in between. Wednesday still felt really hard—I was still sore from Monday. I saw Garrett’s dad that day. He told me the second day is the hardest, then you get some momentum. That made sense, too. I still can’t figure out which day actually WAS harder.

I’m sorry for not writing until today. I got your letter Saturday and missed Sunday for mail, then I was right back to the mines yesterday. They’ve got me on a schedule now. It’s still pretty rough down there, but it was a little easier. Garrett’s dad was right, I just needed a little momentum. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t exhausted by the end of the day, though.

Oh, I almost forgot. Your hair clip almost came out of my crest in the mines on Wednesday, so I took it off and hung it up next to your picture when I got home so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing it. That reminded me: I never got you a replacement hair clip, and it’s been months now. I’m really sorry about that. There’s been nothing here that looks like it could work as one. I hope you got another one.

I’m actually still kind of sore, so I’m going to stop writing. I need to go take a nap.

Love you,
Steadclaw

PS: No, you’re not a bad pony. That sounds kind of funny to me, too. Guess Flick still has some learning to do.




10/26/77

Hey Steady,

Wow, sounds like you really had a rough week. I hope you at least got some rest over the weekend. If you’ve got the same schedule then you’re probably down there again today. My today, I mean. But you probably don’t want to talk about work. 

Don’t worry about the clip, it’s okay. I wasn’t really going to say anything about it. That was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I asked my aunt for another pair, so I’ve still got the same manestyle as the one in the photo I sent you.

Well, you know, the one that you told me is on your wall.

If this catches the same mail pattern, you’re probably getting this on Friday, so I guess you’re probably working BOTH ‘today’s. Anyway, I bet you’re exhausted, so go take a nap.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




10/31/77

Hey Cotton,

Yeah, I got your letter yesterday. Nice call on the timing.

Hey, tonight’s Nightmare Night, isn’t it? I remember the first year Mom and I were in Canterlot there were kids coming up to our place asking for candy and we had no idea what they were talking about. One of our neighbors explained it to us the day after, so the next year we were ready. We were the only griffons on our block, so we just got like, kind of aggressive and snapped our beaks at them. It gave them enough of a scare that they just laughed, took their candy and kept going. I remember the year after I got really into it. I wore an eyepatch like my Great-Great-Grandpa Gruff, and put some stickers up on our door that made it look like we had slashed through it. When I opened the door I started swinging my claw at the kids. Don’t worry, I always peeked through the door so I never hit any of them. Mom just kind of left me alone to have my fun that year.

I kind of wish we did something like that here, but griffons don’t care about candy, let alone actually have a place to buy it. 

I hope you had fun. I’m just tired from work as usual. Talk to you soon.

Love you,
Steadclaw




11/5/77

Hey Steady,

Actually, yeah, Nightmare Night was a blast. Daisy was hosting a costume party at her place, but I got to do something much cooler.

Aunt Luna has this tradition where she goes down to Ponyville and scares all the kids silly by ‘possessing’ a statue of Nightmare Moon and making it look like she’s going to eat them all if they don’t give her candy. That’s one way to get free sweets. She gave me a suit of noctis armor to dress up in and brought me with her. She even gave me special lenses and little fake fangs! I got one of the guards to take a picture! Check it out!

While she was doing her performance I went and visited my cousins that were around and not collecting candy. 

When I went back into town I saw Aunt Luna just casually hanging out with the older townsponies. Obviously they know her well. She introduced me around town, so I now have a bunch of REALLY old friends. There’s this one old stallion with a really thick accent that Aunt Luna really likes, though. He was wearing an eyepatch and a red bandana like a pirate, and was using what looked like a wooden sword for a cane. For an old stallion, he really took the holiday seriously.

Tell you what, I’ll send you some of your own sweets. I jumped ahead in some of my homework, so I don’t think I’m going to have a ton to do this weekend. Really good timing there. I actually have a little more work I can jump on now, so I’m going to go do that.

Hope you have some room for cookies next week. I’ll make them and send them on Saturday, so I’m GUESSING they’ll get there Thursday or Friday, but with what happened last time I’m not going to assume anything. And I won’t try and send another one of those ‘incoming’ messages.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

PS: I asked my dad to send this letter by dragonfire so you’d know ahead of time that something is coming for you instead of it just appearing at your doorstep. Sorry if it freaked you out. 









11/7/77

Cotton,

Just the thought of you baking today is making my mouth water. Believe me, knowing that you’re sending another batch of cookies helped me power through work yesterday. I was still exhausted, but at least I get a break today and tomorrow. 

I’m glad you sent that letter through your dad. And no, it didn’t freak me out, but it did catch me by surprise.

Mom and Granny are looking forward to them, too. Do I REALLY have to share?

I’m kidding, I’m kidding.

Your Nightmare Night sounds awesome. Wish I could’ve been there.

I can’t really think of anything else right now. There’s really nothing going on here other than me going to work and chatting with Mom and Granny.

Mom and Granny send their best, and say thank you in advance for the cookies, by the way. Obviously I do, too.

Love you,
Steadclaw

PS: You look AWESOME in that armor!




11/12/77

Hey Steady,

I’m sending this through my dad again because the cookies SHOULD be there either today or tomorrow. Should be.

Anyway, when I was done baking yours I made a giant batch of cookies for the guards. Geez, you should’ve seen it. My dad had to like, direct traffic while each guard left their posts one by one to get into the kitchen, and the next wasn’t allowed to go in until the last one got back to their post. Bastion and Ravelin somehow managed to sneak in, and when Dad caught them chewing as they were going back to the stairs he whacked them with his wing. When I went up and scolded them afterward they were just like, “Worth it.” No wonder you three got along.

Hope work goes alright for you tomorrow.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




11/14/77 11/13/77


GOOD GROVER, COTTON, HOW MANY OF THESE DID YOU SEND??

I’m not complaining, of course, but when I got back from work today and my mom showed me TWO GIANT BOXES OF COOKIES—I almost fell over! I had like, five earlier. I’m actually eating one right now, too. And have another next to me. Don’t judge me.

Thanks for clarifying in that little note not to open the second box until the first was empty because of your aunt’s preservation spell. Please tell her thank you, by the way—it works PERFECTLY. I kid you not, I totally would have taken one box for myself and let Mom and Granny split the other one.

What? I told you I didn’t want to share.

Oh Grover, Cotton, you are AWESOME. Thank you SO much. Mom, Granny and I are getting fat and happy. Mom’s going to kill me if she finds out I snuck more, but like Bastion and Ravelin said, WORTH IT.

I wish I could send you something back, but there is NOTHING here that can compare to this. Not even in the mines. It’d be cool to find a diamond or something, but the overseers would snag it right away. They NEVER look away. Not like there’s diamonds in there anyway.

It’s not much, but I’m sending you one of my covert feathers.

Oh geez, I can’t write anymore, my claw is cramping.

Love you,
Steadclaw

(11/14) PS: I wrote this letter yesterday, right after I got home from work and my mom opened the first cookie box. I was going to send it right away, but just before I put it in an envelope I realized I missed closing time at the post office. That’s why I changed the date at the top. It still reads like a ‘today’ letter, though. My bad.




11/19/76

Steady,

Ha ha! I thought you might need a pick-me-up! Nothing better than cookie overload, huh? Seriously though, don’t go too nuts on them (I didn’t put any in. HA!). I tried to make enough to last you a WHILE, maybe up to Hearth’s Warming. I know that’s like, a month from now, but still. Oh, and I told my aunt Twilight you said thank you for using the preservation spell, and she got this big smile on her face before she told me to say you’re welcome.

Don’t worry about sending me something. You’ve obviously got a lot on your plate. It’s just nice to still be able to talk to you. Besides, the feather was really sweet. You have my clip, I have your feather. 

So Harmony finally broke up with Strange Catalyst. She said he was getting a little, well, strange. More so than usual. So now Flare’s the only one with a special somepony. Somebuggy? Whatever. Zora doesn’t seem to have any issue when Flare wants to chill with just Harmony, Daisy, and me. Sometimes she brings him along and they just end up making out with each other. They tend to just go off on their own when that happens. 

There’s really not much else going on. Just usual school stuff. Enjoy the sweets, but don’t let yourself go, okay?

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

PS: Just so you know… my Aunt Twilight told me that in pegasus culture, offering a feather is how you propose… I’m guessing you didn’t know that.




11/24/77

Cotton,

Uh… yeah, didn’t know about the feather. My heart’s doing this weird rabbit thing. Let’s change the subject.

So Harmony dumped the zeebs, huh? I was wondering when that would happen. They never seemed like a good match to me. Maybe she should try Flick. Ha!

You know, I just thought of something. Does Zora ever take Flare to the Canterlot hive? Flare said her parents don’t like it when they neck at her place, so do they only get to do it in public? Just wondering.

Anyway, not really much happening here, either. Just work. It’s starting to get a little brisk up here—glad I brought my hat and scarf with me. The mine is still hot, though, so it’s kind of a relief going in both directions. Either way, it’s always nice to come home to a cookie or two. YES, I’m maxing myself at two at a time so I don’t get fat. I’m serious this time. Mom and Granny keep an eye on me, too, so that helps. 

That’s all for now. Say hi to the girls for me.

Love you,
Steadclaw




12/1/77

Hey Steady,

I think Harmony is just kind of done with colts for now. She’s mostly paying attention to schoolwork. And yeah, Zora brings Flare to the hive. I don’t know what goes on there, but I don’t really want to ask.

Yeah, it’s getting cold here, too. I’ve been limiting my flying so my wings don’t freeze. Stay warm over there, okay? I hope the cookies are helping with that.

Sorry this letter is so short. I had a ton of work to do last night. Hearth’s Warming is coming up soon and we’re prepping for exams, but I wanted to send this off to you in the morning right away before I went to school. You may have been working today if it’s Friday, so I hope you’re going to get some good rest this weekend.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




12/8/77

Hey Cotton,

You were one day off this time. I got your letter on Saturday.

Sorry for the delay with this letter. Work was pretty nuts yesterday as usual, but it’s been kind of weird since Wednesday last week. I don’t know why, but some of the other griffons have started being real jerks. It was kind of subtle at first, but now they’re going out of their way to have nothing to do with me. I mean, we weren’t exactly sociable before, but they at least were nice enough to respond when I said hello. Now it’s just silence. Only Garrett and Gavin’s dads give me any kind of acknowledgement, and even then it’s just grunts. I’ve been trying to think if I did anything to offend anyone.

Anyway, the cookies are definitely helping. It got freakin’ cold pretty quick, but at least it’s livable.

Hope you do well on your exams.

Love you,
Steadclaw




12/14/77

Hey Steady,

…That’s weird. I can’t imagine what you might’ve done. Maybe the cold is getting to everyone? I’m happy to hear the cookies are at least cheering you up. Maybe you want to share a cookie or two with your co-workers? It sounds like I DID send you enough to get to Hearth’s Warming, so I bet you’d have enough… 

Speaking of which, pre-holiday exams started today. I asked Aunt Twilight if I could do another study marathon with the girls like we did with finals last year and she said yes, so last night was our first night. I think I did pretty well in Equish today.

I hope work gets better. Make sure you get some extra rest now that it’s getting colder, okay? You don’t want to get sick.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




12/19/77

Cotton,

Hope you did well on the rest of your tests. At least, I’m guessing you’re done by now.

Work is crazy. Mom hasn’t been selling for a while now, so I started working Thursdays, too. I actually offered a cookie to Gavin and Garrett’s dads like you suggested, and they both liked them. Maybe they’ll start talking to me with actual words again.

I know it’s next week, so Happy Hearth’s Warming. It would’ve been nice to celebrate it here, but since it’s a pony holiday the griffons don’t do anything for it, so I’ll probably just be working as usual since it’s a Friday. I would’ve tried to send you a gift, but there’s nothing here worth sending; the stores seem to be out of stock all the time. I really haven’t had any time to make you something by claw, either. Sorry.

Have a good holiday. Say hi to your dad and aunts. And the girls. Mom and Granny send their best.

Love you,
Steadclaw




12/24/77

Hey Steady,

Since Aunt Twilight helped again, I’m feeling pretty confident about my tests, but I haven’t gotten the results back yet.

Yeah, Hearth’s Warming is tomorrow. They’re holding the annual play in the ballroom as always, so the whole castle is decorated floor to ceiling. I even helped with the setup. Don’t feel bad about not sending me anything—I wasn’t expecting you to after all the work you’ve been doing. You still deserve a happy Hearth’s Warming, though, so Daddy and I are sending you and your mom stuff with this letter. 

I’m sorry you have to work tomorrow. And if you’re working even more, PLEASE make sure you rest.

Be well. All the best to your Mom and Granny, too.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡

P.S.: Dad said he’s sorry he couldn’t send something more personal, but he thought his gift would be practical.




12/30/77

Cotton, 

Thank you SO much for the new cookie supply. They’re awesome as usual. Your timing was actually perfect—I just got down to my last two ‘hits’ today. I’ve been giving one to each of the griffons in my section of the mine every work day, and they’ve all stopped being so distant. I swear your cookies are magic. It means less for Mom, Granny and me, but it’s worth not feeling ridiculously lonely at work.

And that’s a really nice picture of you in the Hearth’s Warming dress. That’s another one for my wall.

Mom really wants to thank your dad for the bits. Definitely practical. It would be enough that I could take a few days to rest, like you keep telling me to, but the overseers are strict about sticking to my schedule. They’d kick me out of the mine if I don’t, and even with your dad’s gift I still need to have some bits coming in after we use it up. Yesterday was my one weekday off, though, so I just stayed home and got that rest. 

Actually, I just remembered. We also have Friday off for New Year’s. Not like I’m going to drink the night before, but at least I get the three-day weekend. As Princess Luna would say, huzzah!

I’m sure you won’t get this until the weekend at the earliest, so Happy New Year!

Love you,
Steadclaw




1/5/78

Hey Steady,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a good weekend. And I’m glad you and your mom liked the gifts. It’s good to hear sharing the cookies has been making work easier for you. Just let me know when you get low and I’ll send you another batch.

School started up again yesterday. Kind of sucks being back in class, but whatever. Holidays don’t last forever. Oh, by the way, I got all A’s on my exams! My whole family was really proud of me, but especially Aunt Twilight. For obvious reasons.

All the teachers swamped us with homework today for some reason, so I have to go. Say hi to your Mom and Granny!

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




1/11/78

Hey Cotton,

Not really a lot to say this time. Work’s just been kind of crummy, even with the cookies. Well, that and one other thing.

Granny’s… having some issues. I mean, she’s alright, she’s hanging on. She’s stubborn that way. I’ve been wanting to stay home from work to help take care of her, but she’s being her usual self. She’s saying to go about my business and work without worrying about her. Either that… 

Or go back to Canterlot to be with you, and leave her to let her do ‘her thing.’ I just… I can’t do it. I’m sorry, I need to stay here with her. I can’t leave her hanging, and my mom needs me here, too.

I hope things are better over there.

Love you,
Steadclaw




1/16/78


Oh Steadclaw, 

I’m so sorry to hear your Granny isn’t feeling well. Please tell her I hope she feels better soon. Give your mom my best, too, and I hope work gets better for you. I hope you got some rest today. 

Is there anything my dad or I can do? For you or your Granny? Or your mom? It could take a little time, but we could always send you something if you need it—cookies, bits, whatever. 

Please let us know.

Love you,
♡ Cotton ♡




1/17/78

Dear Cotton,

I hate to write this to you, but at this point, I really have to.

Sending these letters to each other has been kind of tough for me lately, especially after I started work a few months ago. This will probably be my last one to you. I know what I was writing in them made it seem like everything was fine between us, but I just can’t handle this long-distance relationship anymore. Look, the time we had together was great, but this is just too hard. Love can be hard sometimes, I guess. 

Look, I know this is really sudden. Out of all the things you may have expected to hear from me, this probably wasn’t one of them. Vowing to come back wasn’t a good idea. Even you said it was a promise I couldn’t keep.

You should move on, Cotton. Okay? Ultimately, that would be best for you.


Steadclaw




1/23/78

Steady,

Umm… WHAT? You don’t really mean that, right? If this is a joke, it isn’t funny.

Confused,
Cotton
> Chapter Thirty-Three - Correspondence (Part Two)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1/30/78

Steady,

I showed Daddy your letter. He insisted he’d send my response to you by dragonfire, and to give it a week to hear from you. Well… I haven’t. Daddy’s sending this one, too. 

What’s going on? Are you okay? Were you really serious? Please tell me you weren’t.

Still love you,
Cotton




2/1/78

Steady,

I talked to the girls today and told them what’s going on. They’re all pretty pissed at you, especially Flare. She thinks you stopped writing because you met someone else in Griffonstone.

That’s not true, is it?

Cotton




2/2/78

Yo Featherhead!

What the buck is your deal, huh? I told you to keep in touch with Cotton after you left. 

I could understand the distance being tough, but to STOP WRITING TO HER COMPLETELY? NOT cool, jerk! You need a better reason than “it’s tough.”

You better not have found some other chick over there in Griffonstone. I told you YOU BELONG TO COTTON!

Now get to writing, bucker!


Flarechaser




2/5/78

Steady,

Flarechaser told me she wrote you a letter the other day. She didn’t tell me what she wrote, though. If you won’t answer me, maybe you’ll answer her?

I don’t know what I did, but if I made you angry, please tell me. I miss hearing from you.

Cotton





2/8/78

Dear Tesla,

Can I come down and talk to you and Crimson? I didn’t want to just show up at your doorstep.

I need an unbiased opinion about something, so I can’t talk to anyone up here. I think you two might be the best ones to ask… 

Cotton




2/10/78

Cotton,

Of course you can come! It’d be great to see you!

You do NOT want to know what our homework load is like down here in Central, so drop by my place on Saturday when we’ve got some off time. I’ll make sure Crimson is here. And hey, we can gather the whole gang afterward and make a day of it!

Tell your dad and Princess Twilight that your friends from CCE say hi. Looking forward to seeing you!

All the Best,
Tesla

PS: Is everything okay? Why are there tear stains on your letter?




2/19/78

Steady,

I gave it an extra week to send you another letter to see if I might have been sending you too many. 

I talked to my friends from Central Canterlot Elementary this past weekend. They think you might have Depression. Is that why you aren’t writing? My friend Crimson (you know, the one you thought was in a gang) said he went through something similar a couple years ago.

If that’s the case, that’s an even BETTER reason to write! Please, tell me what’s going on. I’ll give you some time to make a decision.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Cotton




3/8/78

Steadclaw,

I guess you really don’t want to talk to me anymore… 

I don’t understand. What happened? Why did you suddenly change your mind? You were so dead set on coming back, and then you just ended it between us. I mean, you said you PROMISED you’d come back. Now you’re breaking that promise. 

I thought you cared. Were you just telling me what you thought I wanted to hear? Why would you do that? What did you get out of it? Did you just want an in with the Royal Family? Was it all a LIE??

Maybe now you’ll know how this feels. I HATE TO WRITE THIS TO YOU, BUT AT THIS POINT, I REALLY HAVE TO.

I just can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep waiting to hear from you and always getting disappointed. Obviously you never cared about me. Daddy’s been wondering why I’ve even bothered asking him to send you these letters. Well, I won’t anymore.


I’m done. 


Cotton
> Chapter Thirty-Four - Correspondence (Part Three)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


4/23/78

Steadclaw,

Harmony told me I should try to get a hold of you again, so… hi. I don’t really know what to say to you.

I’m not expecting to hear back from you, but screw it, may as well try.

Cotton





6/4/78

Steadclaw,

I bet you don’t remember what yesterday was. 

We’re hosting in the castle ballroom tomorrow. Most of the girls in our my class gave me affirmative RSVPs. So did the cousins and my buddies from Central. It’s going to be awesome.

I realize I never found out when your birthday is was. Has to have been before mine since we never talked about it before you left or during our other letters.

Cotton





6/27/78

Steadclaw,

Finals finished on Friday. Aunt Twilight helped me and the girls study again. I’m officially a graduate.

I decided not to go to college. Aunt Twilight’s pretty upset about that. I’m starting an apprenticeship with one of the local bakers next month instead. Took some serious effort to get that gig.

Gem hosted a graduation party yesterday and invited everyone in the class. Yeah, even me. Party got broken up, though—Novamac led the charge. He caught me having ONE drink and told my dad. Dad grounded me for a month. Figures.





7/4/78

Steadclaw,

My apprenticeship starts tomorrow. Not sure how it’s gonna go down, but I have to get up pretty damn early. Then I have to go straight home afterward since I’m grounded. Yay.

Let’s see how I do on my first day.





7/23/78

Steadclaw,

First couple of weeks have been pretty good. Mr. Cookie Cutter is pretty firm, and he makes me stay in the back to keep baking, but otherwise it isn’t that bad.

Grounding is almost over. Geez, this month felt like a year.






8/6/78

Steadclaw,

I don’t know if I can do this anymore. I know I said I was done, but I thought that sending you more letters to fill you in on what’s going on would make it feel like you were still writing. I thought it would make me feel better. 

It doesn’t.

Daddy asked me again why I was bothering to send you letters. I usually just shrugged and he’d send them anyway. I guess he won’t be asking again, because I’m not writing again.


Goodbye.





8/17/78

Steadclaw,

I heard a customer ordering a cookie platter today, saying something about ‘celebrating a pony’s life instead of moping around like everypony else usually does.’ I wasn’t sure what they meant at first, but a little while later I figured it out and it got me thinking. 

I wasn’t sure if you were really serious in that last letter you wrote, but when I didn’t hear from you for a long time, I figured you were. Despite that, I thought that after a few months you might change your mind and decide to finally respond to my letters, but you still haven’t. After I heard that customer, though, I realized there might be another reason I’m not getting any letters from you.

Are… are you dead?
> Chapter Thirty-Five - In the Presence of the Lord
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“See you tomorrow, Mr. Cutter!” Cotton called as she exited the bakery through the back door, undoing her ponytail and putting her usual hair clips back in. “I’ll bring more flour tomorrow.”

“Good girl.”

Cotton let out a sigh as she closed the door behind her. She walked down the back alleyway to the sidewalk, then continued down the path towards the park. But when she reached the corner… 

“You’ve got some flour in your mane.”

“What the—?” Cotton cried as she jumped backward into the brick building behind her, smacking her wing against the wall.

“Oh horseapples!” a familiar voice said, before a faint glow appeared in front of her. With a downward swipe like a window squeegee, Harmony Wishes appeared, reaching for her with a hoof. “Are you hurt? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you that badly.”

Cotton flapped her wing slowly as she shook her head. “No, I’m good. Do I seriously have flour in my mane?”

“Yeah, just a bit down here.” Harmony swatted at the lowest edges of Cotton’s mane, brushing away a mote of flour like an old cobweb. “There ya go.”

Cotton rolled her eyes, brushing her mane back. “Ugh, the ponytail’s been good at preventing that for the past couple months, but I guess it isn’t working anymore. Or I just need to get it cut a bit shorter. Or, maybe I should wear it in a bun inste—” She smacked her face with a hoof.

Harmony tilted her head at her. “What was that for?”

“Nothing,” Cotton replied, shaking her head. Dammit, Dad. The puns just don’t stop. “So when the hay did you learn a spell like that?”

“A few days ago,” Harmony replied, putting her hoof back down. “Only a week into classes and my ‘Spellcasting three-twenty-four’ professor is already teaching us invisibility. I just want to work on my reappearance; that swipe looks so stupid. I want something more like a staticky fade-in.” She sighed. “Well, can’t get everything right away. Stuff takes time. I did test into the advanced class, after all.” She let out a little giggle.

“And you’re so modest about it, too.”

“Hey, why shouldn’t I be proud to be in class with ponies two years older than me? I was already teleporting two years ago!” Harmony retorted, the two of them crossing the street toward the park entrance.

“Yeah, and you were bragging about it then, too. It helps when you have a tutor.”

Harmony scrunched up her muzzle. “Hush. So I wanted to get ahead of the game. It’s definitely helping here at Canterlot U.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop busting your chops,” Cotton chuckled, as the two of them began walking the path through the park. “So what else is going on up there?”

“Well, aside from one other magic class, it’s the same old crap,” Harmony answered, looking around at the dappled trees and foals playing with their parents in the grassy expanse of the park. “Math, Science, History, Equish. Just more advanced stuff that we’re probably never gonna use in real life.”

“That’s why I’m doing an apprenticeship instead.”

Harmony snorted. “Why bother, though? You’re better than any of the bakers in Canterlot. I’ve already told you that like, a million times since you started.”

“Well, you never know where or who you might learn something from.” Cotton frowned. “I haven’t really learned much from Mr. Cookie Cutter… and he’s kind of a jerk… but I do get a lot of practice with my own recipes.” The two of them approached a fork in the path. “Hey, you wanna come to my place?” 

“Sure!”

“Cool.” As she waved her wing in the direction of the left fork, Harmony following her, Cotton picked up where she left off. “No other bakers would take me, anyway.”

Harmony’s eyes widened. “What? Why not?”

“I think they all got freaked out when they learned I was a ‘Royal,’” Cotton responded. “Auntie forbid I accidentally got hurt in their shop, they probably didn’t want to get blamed.”

Furrowing her brows, Harmony said, “Well that’s a load of horseapples.”

“I know, that’s why I didn’t tell Mr. Cutter, and he hasn’t bothered looking into it. He basically just thinks I’m a girl that wanted a job.”

“An unpaid job…” 

Cotton snorted. “Eh, whatever, it probably wouldn’t have been much different if I was working somewhere else.”

“Buck ‘em all, you should just open your own bakery, girl!”

Cotton held up a wing. “Woah, woah, slow down, Harmony. Maybe in the future, but not right now.” She let out a brief sigh. “Hey, you heard from Daisy or Flare? Daisy sent me a letter a few days ago saying she was thinking about coming back from Dodge City, but I haven’t gotten anything from Flare.”

“Yeah, same. It’s probably pretty hard to get letters out from the Badlands, though.”

“I’m still surprised Zora-Terra didn’t go with her. I don’t get why she didn’t want an escort to the other hive,” Cotton said. “Especially since he’s the reason she decided to go out there in the first place.”

“Flare’s stubborn that way. Besides, it sounded like Zora had to stay here for his own work in the Canterlot hive,” Harmony replied. “He is a year older than us; he’d probably already settled into some kind of work that he can’t get out of.”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, that’d make sense.” Then she put her head down. “I still miss having all four us together.”

“Yeah, join the club,” Harmony said. “I only see a few of our old classmates around college, but there may be more. If I have classes with any of them, I wouldn’t know—all the classes are huge.”

“Well, that’s why we’ve got our little meetups during the week,” Cotton responded, lifting her head. “At least we’re still hangin’ around Canterlot. It feels like everyone else left.”

“Yeah, even Buzz went to the Crystal Empire with Chrysanthemum,” Harmony said. “Crazy that she’s trying to be the new Crystaller.” 

“I heard she’s doing really well, actually. My cousin speaks to Professor Sunburst a lot, so she updates me on Chryssie’s progress every now and then. Apparently Buzz is a huge help in her studying.”

“Well duh, he can change into anything she needs.”

“Exactly,” Cotton said. “She actually had really good timing; the Empire needs a new Crystaller. Professor Sunburst and Doctor Glimmer are, well, gettin’ up there. So is my uncle, actually.”

“Prince Armor? Geez, I didn’t think he was still alive… Uh, sorry.”

“S’okay. He’s definitely lived longer than the average unicorn. Probably from constant exposure to two alicorns,” Cotton said, shrugging.

Harmony nodded. “Maybe he’s just lucky.” Her eyebrows rose. “Hey, if that’s true, I bet you’ll live to be like, over a hundred. You live with three alicorns.” 

“Y’know, I never thought of that…” 

Harmony let the lull in the conversation drag on too long, the question she wanted answered impossible to ignore any longer. “Oh, hey, uh…”

Turning her head and cocking a brow at Harmony, Cotton asked, “Yeeeees?”

“So, umm…” Harmony lowered her head and dropped her voice a bit. “Have you heard?”

“Uh, heard about what? And why are you being so quiet?”

“No, I mean… have you heard from… him?”

Cotton hung her head and looked at the ground, still walking forward. “…No. I don’t know what happened. I just don’t wanna believe he really wanted to cut me out like that, but… it’s been more than six months.” She sniffled. “I wanted to hate him. I wanted to hate him so badly. But then… Then I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. But that would mean…” She tilted her head up to look at Harmony, a tear sneaking down her cheek. “Do you think he might be…?”

Harmony sighed. “I don’t know. Can’t your dad or one of your aunts go—”

“No,” Cotton cut her off, shaking her head. “They have to stay here. They have too many responsibilities to go all the way to Griffonstone just to talk to one griffon. And my dad’s too big, anyway.”

“What about Princess Luna?”

Cotton lifted her head. “What about her?”

“Can’t she like, look at everypony’s dreams?”

“Oh,” Cotton sighed. “No. I asked her to. She said Griffonstone’s Dreamscape is out of her reach. Apparently she’s confined to Equestria’s borders, or something like that.”

Harmony gave a little cough. “So, did you have anything on the agenda today?”

“Not today. Was planning to just chill, maybe go watch Auntie Celestia in court,” Cotton answered.

“What? Why would you willingly go watch the court?”

Cotton giggled. “Well, aside from the fact that I like to know what’s going on around the city, sometimes there are incredibly dumb requests. It’s like watching a comedy show.”

Cocking a brow, Harmony asked, “Seriously? Tell me you’re kidding.”

“Nope.” Cotton shook her head with a smile as the two of them walked out the park’s north exit, only three blocks away from Canterlot Castle’s main gate. “It really is pretty funny. And it’s usually the nobles coming for stupid stuff. Every now and then if Auntie Celestia sees one of them come up in the back of the line, she’ll call out that she ‘still won’t grant’ whatever it is they were looking for, and they just storm out of the throne room.”

Harmony laughed. “At least she has the courtesy to not make them wait in line.”

“Well, she only does that for nobles that don’t give her flak. It’s rare that a noble comes back looking for something different the second or third time around, but she at least tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. And shows them that they aren’t better than any other ponies and need to wait in line like everyone else. Sometimes Auntie Celestia asks me for my input if I’m there.” 

“Really? That’s some serious power right there!”

Cotton giggled. “No, not really. Auntie Celestia only asks me to call ones that she’d give a yes to, so a lot of ponies want her to ask for my opinion when I’m there because they think I always say yes to whatever anyone wants. It’s funny to see ponies’ faces when they think I’m giving the final verdict to someone; most of them have actually bowed to me,” she laughed. As they approached the castle gate, Cotton nodded to the stationed guards. “Afternoon, gentlecolts!”

“Good afternoon, Cotton,” they chimed back in unison, also nodding to her. 

Harmony noticed the guards swapping glances and smirks, but shrugged it off.

A few moments after they walked through the gate, Cotton and Harmony both heard extra sets of hooves clip-clopping behind them. They tilted their heads at each other, then turned around before hearing, "HAAAAA!" as they were tackled to the ground by two fillies laughing their flanks off.

"Daisy?" Harmony cried.

“Flare, get off me!” Cotton huffed. “Wait—Flare? What are you doing here?”

The two fillies got up off their victims and helped them back to their hooves. “Thought we’d come surprise you,” Flarechaser said.

“Yeah, we’ve been planning it for like, two weeks,” Daisy added. “We didn’t expect both of you to be here, though.” She turned to Harmony. “We were gonna ask Cotton to help us jump you at Canterlot U. This worked perfectly, though.” Daisy and Flarechaser gave each other a hoofbump. “My last letters to you two were just to throw you off. You got them, right?”

Harmony nodded. “Yeah, we did, but we haven’t gotten anything from you since you left, Flare. What’s the deal?”

“Wait, you didn’t get my letters?” Flarechaser asked.

“Nope,” Cotton said, shaking her head. “We thought it might’ve been because of issues between here and the Badlands.”

Flarechaser groaned. “Maybe. Buck, that’s annoying.” She pointed to Daisy next to her. “Daisy got ‘em just fine. Maybe because Dodge City is only a little north of the Badlands. Or maybe one of the changelings flew out my letters themselves…”

“Either one would make sense,” Cotton said. “Hold on a sec.” Turning to face the gate, she put on a mock-angry expression, pounded her hoof on the ground, and used her own faux Royal Canterlot Voice. "Guards! How did you miss these two trespassing on castle property?"

Both of the guards poked their heads around the sides of the gate. One of them smirked and said, “Who do you think helped them hide?”

“WHAT?” Cotton cried, pounding her hoof again. “Insubordination! I’ll have you both thrown in the dungeon!”

The guards chuckled, and the other shook his head, simply saying, “No you won’t.”

Cotton held her ‘anger’ as long as she could, but then burst out laughing. “Dammit, this is what I get for being nice. You two suck,” she said, trying to restrain her smile as she blew raspberries at them both.

“Yes we do, Cotton,” one of them said, holding his smirk. The other blew a very brief raspberry back at her before they both whipped their heads back around the gate.

“Dammit!” Cotton snorted, still laughing.

Flarechaser chuckled as she nudged Cotton’s shoulder. “I’m honestly surprised your guards are as cool as they are.”

“Well, that’s Mortar and Howitzer for ya,” Cotton responded, shaking her head as she regained her breath. “They’re two of our best guards; that’s why they’re stationed here. They take their posts really seriously, but they have great senses of humor.”

“Oh, definitely,” Daisy said. “They made us answer like, ten questions about you to prove we were your friends before they let us through. Then they told us to hide here.” 

Flarechaser nodded. “Yeah, that wasn’t even our original plan; we were just gonna ask your dad if we could chill in the main hall until you got back. Hiding was their idea. They even told us when you’d be back, so we were only waiting here for like, five minutes.” She turned around and called, “You colts rock!”

Mortar and Howitzer both turned around the gate entrance and winked. “Yes we do.” Then they turned back to their posts.

“Don’t encourage them!” Cotton laughed. She shook her head and let out a sigh, then pulled Daisy and Flarechaser into a hug. “It’s awesome to see you two. Harmony and I were literally just talking about how much we missed all being together.”

Harmony hugged them both as soon as Cotton let go. “Yeah, just Cotton and me hangin’ has been cool, but it wasn’t the same without you. You staying here now? Or is this just a one-time visit before you go back?”

Daisy shook her head. “Nope, we’re staying here. Dodge City was getting boring. All Earth ponies, one farm to work at… It was too… uniform for me after a while. I need some diversity.”

“Yeah, and the Badlands hive finally just got to me,” Flarechaser said. “Queen Chrysalis was actually pretty cool, though. She set me up with like, my own personal… well, he wasn’t really a professor, but he stayed by my side during the day and taught me a bunch of stuff about changeling culture. It was pretty sick, but I finally just got tired of being the only pony there. Some of the changelings would change into ponies and wave when they saw me coming to try and make things more homey for me, but others liked to mess with me. I finally had enough.”

“Legit,” Cotton said with a shrug. “Y’know, I meant to ask before you left—why didn’t Zora go with you?”

“Zora’s a… I think they call ‘em ‘Egg Nurses’ or something,” Flare replied. “Some kinda nurse. They take care of the eggs and the hatchlings—pretty sure that’s what they call ‘em—and the hive needs as many of those as they can get. They’re basically glorified foalsitters.”

Daisy’s brows rose. “Huh. I didn’t take Zora for a foalsitter.”

Flarechaser nodded. “Yeah. Turns out Zora’s actually one of the best they’ve got. And hey, if you’re good with kids, you’re good with kids. I didn’t wanna take away one of the hive’s best foalsitters, so I told Zora to stay here.” 

“Well that was nice of you,” Harmony said.

“Hey, I try.” After a shiver ran up her spine, Flarechaser asked, “Hey Cotton, can we go inside? I’ve been out in the Badlands so long I’m actually kinda chilly. It is damn hot down there.”

“Oh, sure! Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Cotton asked, as she led them all toward the castle’s main doors.

“Eh, I got caught up in the convo, too.”

Cotton shrugged. “Fair enough.”

As they approached the door, Daisy said, “Hey Cotton, was your dad out somewhere?”

“Maybe. His schedule changes from day to day. Why?” 

All of them were suddenly enveloped in a huge shadow. “That’s why.” 

As the rest of the girls looked up, Harmony said, “Uhhh, pretty sure that’s not Cotton’s dad.”

“Yeah, he’s definitely not sky-blue,” Flarechaser added. “But it does look like a dragon.”

The four fillies used wings or hooves to shield their faces as high winds from the dragon’s flapping wings beat them like waves at the beach. After a moment, it landed with a whump in the grass. 

“Alriiiight, still got it. He really needs to get me my own landing pad, though.” The dragon took a quick look around, then found Cotton slowly approaching, her friends holding back; all of them sported windswept manes. “Whoops! Sorry, little ponies. You okay?”

After looking behind her to find her friends all nodding, Cotton looked up at the dragon and nodded as well. “Yes…” She took a closer look at the dragon’s face. “…uh, ma’am. You just surprised us, that’s all. Are you here to meet with my dad?”

The dragon shook her head. “No, I’m here to see Sir Spike. Geez, I still can’t believe he got knighted.”

“Yeah, Sir Spike is my dad,” Cotton responded.

The dragon cocked a brow. “What? That can’t be ri—wait…” She brought her head down and inspected Cotton more closely. Cotton flinched from the proximity of an eyeball larger than herself. “Hey! Right, the scars. You must be Cotton Candy. I’ve heard some pretty great things about you,” she said with a smirk, pointing a gem-tipped staff that she held in two talons in Cotton’s direction.

Cotton blushed, then her eyes widened. “Wait, is that the Bloodstone Scepter? You must be Dragon Lord Ember!” She hastily dropped into a bow, and her friends followed suit. “My dad’s told me about the Dragon Lands and the culture; he says great things about you, too. Apologies for the lack of formality.”

Ember chuckled. “Nah, get up, get up,” she said, flicking her wrist twice to make the scepter face upward. “I stopped appreciating that title decades ago. It was always ‘Dragon Lord’ this, ‘Dragon Lord’ that, sheesh it was annoying. I actually prefer the informality; just call me ‘Ember.’”

As all four ponies rose from their bows, Cotton nodded. “We can do that. My dad’s like that, too. He—”

“Well, I’m glad to see you two getting along so quickly,” they all heard from above. Looking up, they saw Spike’s head sticking out a window looking down at them. “I’ll be right there, Ember!” He then pulled himself back through the window.

Ember smacked her face with a claw and dragged it down her snout. “Ugh, I hate it when he does that. I swear, it feels like he’s spying on me.” She looked down at Cotton once again. “Does he do that often? Or just with me?”

Rubbing the back of her head, Cotton answered, “Uh, well, I haven’t seen him do it to me, and I haven’t met you before, so… I guess I don’t know. By the way, why haven’t I met you before? Have you only been here when I’m at school?”

“Probably,” Ember replied. “I usually get here in the late morning and leave in the early afternoon, your time; the Dragon Lands are about six hours ahead of you. I tend to not stick around very long, either. I had some stupid arguments to settle back home, though. And believe me, you don’t want to know. Some of my subjects are as dense as the gems we eat.”

“I’ll take your word for it, ma’am.”

Ember pointed the Bloodstone Scepter at Cotton again. “Hey, I said call me ‘Ember.’ I don’t like that ‘ma’am’ junk, either. I’m still a young centurian!”

“And I don’t like it when you point the strongest source of Dragon magic at my daughter,” they heard Spike say. 

Ember and all four fillies jumped as Spike walked around a corner of the castle, laughing as he came up to meet them. “Would you stop that?!” Ember growled. “Every time I come here for a meeting you do something like this. One of these days I’m going to ask Twilight to put a tracking spell on you.”

“No promises,” Spike chuckled. Gesturing his claw in Cotton’s direction, he said, “I see you’ve met my daughter and her friends.”

Nodding, Ember responded, “Yep. She sounds like a pretty cool kid.” She elbowed him in the ribs with a wink. “Looks like you make for a pretty good father after all.”

Spike deadpanned at her. “Ember, we’ve already talked about this. Multiple times, in fact.”

“Talked about what?” Cotton asked.

Ember smirked as she turned to look at Cotton. “I’ve been trying to get your dad to—”

“Not in front of my daughter, please,” Spike said with a growl.

“Hey, she said you’ve told her about dragon culture. You skipped over that part?”

After a few moments, something in Cotton’s head clicked, and she looked up at her father. “Wait… Daddy, has Ember been—”

“Yeah, I’ve been trying to get your dad to fertilize some of my eggs for a decade or two.”

Spike smacked his face with a claw. “Dammit, Ember,” he muttered under his breath.

Cotton’s eyes suddenly lit up as she gasped and started bouncing on her hooves. “You mean I could have a little dragon brother or sister?!”

“Yo, that’d be siiiiick,” Flarechaser said to Daisy and Harmony; both of them smiled and nodded.

“You even said you’d go back on the market when I graduated high school! This is perfect!” 

Crossing his arms, Spike glared at Ember. “See what you’ve started?”

Ember smirked again. “Yes I do. And you…” She poked Spike’s snout with the Bloodstone Scepter. “…are going to finish it.”  

Wrinkling his snout, Spike groaned. “You annoy me so much sometimes…” 

“Hey, I’ve gotta get you back somehow for sneaking up on me every time I come here.”

Spike sighed. “Alright, that’s fair.” He leaned down to Cotton, who was still dancing on her hooves. “Cotton, first of all, I told you I’d go back on the market when you went to college.”

Cotton immediately stopped her prancing, then dropped onto her haunches, crossing her forelegs with a pout. “Why’s your memory so good…”

“And second, raising hatchlings isn’t quite that simple,” Spike continued. “The process is very different from raising foals.”

Cotton stood up and tilted her head. “Huh? How?”

“Well, for one,” Ember started, “after conception, the father leaves the eggs with the mother.”

“And goes off to look for food for her, right? That’s pretty common,” Cotton said.

Spike shook his head. “No, the father leaves the eggs and the mother completely, and she takes care of the hatchlings herself. The father takes no part in raising the children.”

Ember waved her claw at him. “I don’t need you. I’m perfectly capable of raising a clutch on my own.”

“That’s besides the point,” Spike said. “I’ve already told you that I refuse to not be a part of my children’s upbringing. Before or after the hatching. And you know neither of us can leave our kingdoms long-term.”

Crossing her arms, Ember said, “You’re such a buzzkill, you know that? You haven’t thought that maybe I want kids? I know I wasn’t exactly the ‘settling’ type in the past, but dragons do change, y’know.”

“There are plenty of other dragons you could ask. Fume, Clump, Charcoal…”

Ember cocked a brow and pointed at the Bloodstone Scepter, then wiggled a talon between the two of them. “Uh, remember the scepter? Besides, like I would’ve wanted any of them giving me hatchlings.”

Spike grumbled, then he breathed out a small gout of smoke through his nostrils. “Don’t we have a diplomatic meeting with my sister? We should go do that.”

“Ahh, you’re no fun,” Ember replied. She turned to Cotton and leaned her head down. “Good to meet you, Cotton Candy. Maybe I can get to know you a little more when your grump of a father isn’t making me work.”

Nodding, Cotton said, “Nice to meet you too, Ember.” Lifting her head up to reach the dragon’s ear, she whispered, “Good luck with my dad!”

Ember laughed. “Glad to see someone’s on my side!”

“Hey, no conspiring against me, that’s against the rules,” Spike said, as he grabbed Ember’s arm and started pulling her towards the massive, main doors into the castle.

Cotton waved at the two dragons as they left. Then she turned back to her friends with a grin as they approached her. “How awesome would it be to have dragon siblings?”

Daisy, Harmony, and Flarechaser all nodded. “That’d be pretty sweet,” Harmony answered.

Cotton’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh! Flare, you said you needed to go inside. You okay?”

“Actually yeah, I’m fine. Ember was just radiating heat. I’m totally cool. Uh, warm.”

“Yeah, I felt it, too,” Daisy added.

“Me three,” Cotton responded. “Still, let’s go inside before it wears off.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Harmony said.

As the four of them trotted to the doors, Cotton turned around and asked, “Hey, you girls wanna hit up the court?”

Flarechaser cocked a brow. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“She already told me about it,” Harmony said. “It actually sounds pretty cool.” She turned to Cotton. “But can we leave if we get bored?”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, okay. If you stay, though, I’ll whip up some cookies; I’ll even put in some extra chocolate,” she responded with a wink.

All three girls grinned at each other. 

“I love the sound of a gavel,” Daisy said.
> Chapter Thirty-Six - Order in the Court
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Why’re we going this way? I thought the throne room was through a different entrance.”

“I told you, Flare, there’s a side door to the throne room over here,” Cotton replied, leading the three of them down a hallway. “There’s special box seating at the side of the room where Auntie Celestia’s assistant normally sits and takes the minutes. She usually lets me sit with her. It’s got enough room, but she’s not used to having more than one extra pony in the box, so you’ll need to be really quiet so you don’t distract her.”

Harmony nodded. “Sounds fair to me.”

As Cotton brought them to a nondescript door, she addressed the orange-coated female guard keeping the post with a softer voice. “Hi, Solar Song! Another boring shift, huh?”

The guard nodded. “As always, Cotton. You know nopony dares go in the box with Raven—except you.” She smirked. “You bribe the old mare with cookies, don’t you?”

Cotton gasped and put a dramatic hoof to her chest. “What? No!” Then after a pause, she said, “Maybe.” After a cocked brow was directed her way, she shrugged and put her hoof down. “Okay, yes.”

“I thought so,” Solar Song chuckled. “I think she has an extra pair of dentures just for those.”

Cotton giggled. “Hey Solar, can we go in and watch the court?”

The guard cocked a brow again. “You can,” she said, pointing her hoof at Flarechaser, Harmony, and Daisy, “but you can’t bring them with you. You know you’re the only one, other than Raven, with the privilege to go in the box. Even the Princesses only sit on their thrones.”

“Please, Solar? Just this once?” Cotton pouted. “I just want them to see what it’s like.”

Solar shook her head. “Sorry, Cotton. Protocol.”

With a little whimper, Cotton put on her best puppy-dog eyes. “Pleeeeeeeease?”

Solar Song narrowed her eyes. “Cotton, you know you don’t do that to another mare! Unwritten rule twenty-three!” When Cotton didn’t relent, she huffed. “Ugggh. Fine, but they better keep their muzzles shut or Raven’s going to have me drawn and quartered.”

Daisy, Harmony, and Flarechaser all swiped their hooves across their muzzles as they smiled.

“Thanks, Solar,” Cotton said, giving the mare a hug.

“If I get in trouble for this, though, I’m throwing you under the carriage, got it?”

Cotton nodded and gave Solar Song a salute. “And I’ll let you do it without complaint.”

“Alright. Just be really quiet, okay?” She turned to Harmony, Flarechaser, and Daisy. “You three better not cause any trouble, or talk, or make funny faces.” She thought for a moment. “Or do anything, really.”

As if they’d rehearsed it, all three girls put their hooves up in salutes and nodded in unison. 

Cotton put her ear to the door; she could hear civil conversation between her aunt Celestia and a random citizen of Canterlot. She silently pushed the door open just so, and when she locked eyes with an ancient, white-coated unicorn mare, she smiled and gave a little wave, then mouthed out, Hi, Raven!

A quill hovered in Raven’s aura, scratching a beat across a sheet of parchment. It never missed a note as she smiled and returned Cotton’s wave.

Cotton looked back through the door, then pushed it open further as the faces of Harmony, Daisy, and Flarechaser all slid in, one on top of the other, so they were barely visible. Cotton looked around them at Raven and raised her brows, silently asking for permission.

Her eyes narrowing, Raven shook her head. The quill never faltered. 

Cotton pouted, then mouthed the same psychological assault she’d mounted on Solar Song. Pleeeeeeeease?

Raven silently grumbled. After a moment, she raised a brow at Cotton, then put a hoof up to her muzzle and bit at the air.

Recognizing the gesture, Cotton smiled and nodded, then extended two of her pinion feathers through the door so Raven could see them.

With a smirk, Raven tilted her head in the direction of the room, then motioned a hoof to the other side of the box, where a few unused seats were situated. While the quill continued its writing as if it had its own set of ears, she raised a hoof to her muzzle and silently shushed the four girls.

Cotton mouthed a thank-you, then waved Daisy, Flarechaser, and Harmony through the door, all of them moving on the tips of their hooves. After she quietly and ever-so-slowly closed the door, Cotton turned and saw Celestia smirking and giving her the side-eye, all the while still continuing her conversation with the stallion in front of her.

Rubbing the back of her head as she blushed, Cotton moved to sit beside her friends. But Celestia had other ideas.

“I see my niece has come to observe the proceedings. Perhaps we should ask for her input,” she said.

Cotton internally rolled her eyes, then stepped up to the rail separating the box from the rest of the room. “If you wish for my opinion, Aunt Celestia, I would be happy to offer it,” she recited, as she’d done multiple times. “What is this fine stallion’s request?”

Celestia smirked again, then motioned for Cotton to come toward her. “Why don’t you come up here and sit with me, Cotton?” She patted the throne with Twilight’s cutie mark emblazoned at the top. “I’m sure your aunt wouldn’t mind if you borrowed her… chair.” Cotton flinched, then she saw her aunt’s horn glow very faintly and heard the familiar voice in her head. Why don’t we give your friends a bit of a show, hmm?

Her eyes widening, Cotton replied, “Uh, if that would be your preference, Aunt Celestia.” She turned to her friends, all of whom were wearing open-mouthed grins and waving Cotton in the direction of the throne. She let out a quiet snort, then saw another glow out of the corner of her eye. On the side of the seating box, a portion of the rail had opened as if on a hinge, giving Cotton an easy path to Twilight’s throne. She cocked a brow as she looked at it.

No, it hasn’t always been there, Cotton heard Celestia say in her head. And it won’t be after you step through it.

Cotton could hear Celestia giggling, but couldn’t see it on her face. It was the kind, diplomatic smile that Celestia always wore in court. Cotton let out a sigh as she gracefully stepped through the gap in the rail to head toward Twilight’s throne, then the rail closed and reattached itself. I’m never playing poker with you, Auntie, Cotton thought. 

As Cotton sat beside her on Twilight’s throne, Celestia addressed the dark green stallion before them. “Mr. Line, this is my niece, Cotton Candy. I assure you that her input has always been fair in this court, so I would like to ask her opinion.” 

As Celestia looked down to her, Cotton got in the first word. “I apologize if it is an inconvenience, Aunt Celestia…” She turned her attention to the stallion. “…but would you mind stating your request from the beginning again, sir? I wouldn’t want to offer an opinion without knowing all the facts.”

The stallion shook his head. “Not at all, Miss Co— uh, Your High— uh…” 

Cotton could see the stallion’s sweat dripping down his forehead. She let out a very royal chuckle. “‘Miss Cotton’ is just fine, sir.”

Celestia tapped Cotton gently on her leg. As the two gave each other sideways glances, Celestia said, You’re such a hypocrite. Cotton managed to take a page from her aunt’s book and kept her giggling internal.

“Thank you, Miss Cotton,” Mr. Line said, letting out a sigh. “I must admit, I’m disappointed I could not catch you with my namesake as I did the Princess.”

Cotton tilted her head. “I’m sorry?”

Celestia chuckled. “This is Punch Line, Cotton. When I asked him to ‘start from the beginning’ he began talking about windigos.”

“Yes, but you specified my request,” Punch Line clarified. 

Cotton smiled. “Well, you can’t win ‘em all, Mr. Line.”

“Clearly not,” he responded with a smile of his own. Then he cleared his throat. “My apologies; back to the matter at hoof. I’m here today to request additional police. You see, our community on the east side of Central Canterlot has been… well, as my wife puts it, ‘plagued with ruffians’ as of late.”

Cotton couldn’t help but laugh. “My mother would have appreciated your wife’s choice of words, Mr. Line.” When Punch Line tilted his head at her, she said, “My late adoptive mother, Lady Rarity. Please, continue.”

Shaking the disbelief out of his eyes, he said, “Yes, well… Whoever these ponies are, they’ve been spraying graffiti on our homes, throwing toilet tissue over our trees, and all other manner of damage and vandalism during the night. We don’t even know why. We believe it may be a gang of teenagers, perhaps with a grudge of some kind, but none of us are certain.” Cotton’s eyes widened slightly. “Our local police officers have had no luck. Thus, I am here on behalf of my community to request the aid of the Royal Guard. Though frankly, given the size of our little neighborhood, a single guard would be plenty.” After a few moments, he finished, “Those are all the facts I can provide, Miss Cotton. Everything else is circumstantial.”

“…I see. Thank you, Mr. Line,” Cotton said. “If you would, please confirm for me: you said this is only happening during the night?”

“That is indeed the case, Miss Cotton,” Punch Line replied.

Cotton sighed. “That’s what I feared. This decision may be out of my Aunt Celestia’s jurisdiction; your request would require a noctis guard, and they are under my Aunt Luna’s command. The decision would be up to her. If you could give us a moment to deliberate…”

His brows having risen a bit, Punch Line nodded. “Of course, Miss Cotton.”

“Thank you.” 

Cotton looked up at Princess Celestia, who sported a wide grin. She lit her horn once again. Cotton, I’m incredibly impressed. That was exactly my train of thought. Perhaps I should turn the court over to you.

Thank you, Auntie, but not now. I think I may know who’s causing these problems.

Celestia’s eyes widened a hair. Really?

Cotton nodded. Yeah. Mr. Line is from Central Canterlot. East side. That’s not that far from my old elementary school.

Celestia's brows furrowed. You think this might be—

One of my old bullies, yes, Cotton answered. I remember at my birthday party last year—my friend Aegis mentioned that he was in a gang. This situation fits the bill almost perfectly. If it is him, Aunt Luna would have no issue sending one of her guards to keep watch. He’s the one that… well, do you remember the furnace room incident?

Celestia narrowed her eyes. I do… I’m very lucky you were here for this case, Cotton. But that doesn’t change the fact that the noctii are indeed under Luna’s jurisdiction. We can’t give Mr. Line an affirmative without Luna’s say-so. Our hooves are tied.

Maybe at the moment, Cotton responded, but we can at least say that while it isn’t our call to make right now, he can rest easy knowing that an affirmative is likely. If Aunt Luna wouldn’t have given it herself, she would’ve done it for me, anyway, Cotton finished with a smirk.

Celestia chuckled under her breath. Yes, even after five years, you’ve still got us all wrapped around your hoof, don’t you? Cotton blushed as she shrugged her shoulders. Alright. Well, you examined this case; you should give the final verdict. You’ve certainly earned that right.

With a smile, Cotton responded, Thanks, Auntie. This time I can actually do some good other than just saying ‘yes.’ By the way… Cotton looked around Celestia’s wing and pointed at her legrest. Can I have the gavel? 

Celestia smiled and nodded, then hovered the gavel to Cotton’s side. Their conversation over, Celestia dropped her aura and ended their telepathic link.

Cotton cleared her throat as she faced forward. “Mr. Line, after some deliberation, my aunt and I have come to some conclusions. First and foremost, we agree that this case is under my Aunt Luna’s jurisdiction, so unfortunately, we cannot give you an affirmative for your request at this time.”

Punch Line sighed. “I understand.”

“However,” Cotton continued, “given the location of your residence, and the fact that I happen to be familiar with that general vicinity of Central Canterlot, I have a suspicion as to who your culprit might be.”

“…Really?” Punch Line asked.

“Yes,” Cotton replied with a nod. “If my suspicions are correct, then you are indeed dealing with a gang. I cannot make long-term decisions on my aunt Luna’s behalf, but I can speak to her about sending a guard to patrol your neighborhood for a short trial period. If she approves, you should have a visit from one of her guards within the next few days. She may also be willing to extend that patrol time if necessary. That’s our decision.” She picked up the gavel in her hoof and slammed it on her legrest, causing a loud thwack to reverberate throughout the throne room. As she realized she'd forgotten about the sounding block, she glanced over at her friends and found them smiling, with Daisy covering her muzzle to stifle her laughter.

The stallion smiled. “Wow. Princess Celestia was right; you are incredibly fair, Miss Cotton. Frankly I’m surprised you don’t have your own tiara.”

Celestia and Cotton both chuckled, and Cotton imitated her aunt’s diplomatic smile. “Thank you, Mr. Line, but this is not a full-time affair for me.”

“Well then, I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors,” Punch Line said, bowing to them both. “Thank you very much, Miss Cotton. Your Highness. Have a good evening.”

“You as well, Mr. Line,” Celestia responded. “Please leave your residency information with the court clerk so my sister can contact you.”

Punch Line nodded. “Absolutely, Your Highness. Thank you again.” He then made his way back to the throne room’s doors.

The bailiff, levitating up a scroll, stepped up from beside the long line of ponies. “Next petitioner: Mrs. Slip Stitch.”

An elderly, wheat-coated unicorn mare stepped forward, with a thin, younger unicorn colt with a bright red coat by her side. She nodded to the bailiff, and simply said, “Thank you, sir.” The guard nodded back, then waved at the colt to stand beside him. The colt looked up at the mare, clearly worried. She smiled at him, waved in the direction of the guard, and told the colt, “Don’t worry, YoYo, you can trust him. Gramma needs to talk with the Princess. And her niece.” The colt looked up at Cotton, then nodded and trudged to the guard’s side. The guard smiled at the colt, then lightly patted him on the shoulder. The colt seemed to relax at the light contact, sitting on his haunches and smiling at Cotton in the process.

Before the mare made it in front of the thrones, Celestia turned to Cotton and lit her horn again. Would you be up for another case? After your last one, I wouldn’t mind giving you more to take on by yourself, she chuckled, then glanced at the bailiff. It also seems your presence up here is putting that colt’s mind at ease.

Cotton turned and looked down at the colt, also smiling. Okay, one more. But I do wanna go hang out with my friends after this. Do you mind?

Not at all, Cotton, Celestia replied. You did come here willingly, after all. I can’t make you stay. Though I do appreciate your help.

Of course, Auntie, Cotton responded, as Slip Stitch approached the thrones.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness. Miss Cotton. Yes, I heard you before,” she said with a smile. 

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Stitch,” Celestia responded. “What matter do you wish to discuss with the court today?” 

The mare sighed. “Well, I’m rather embarrassed to come to you about this, Your Highness, but… I’m here to ask for a loan.”

Both Celestia’s and Cotton’s eyes widened. “Oh?” Celestia said.

Cotton discreetly poked Celestia in the leg, and she lightly lit her horn. Aunt Celestia, isn’t she just supposed to go to a bank for that?

Yes, Celestia replied. You might want to leave this case to me, Cotton. I have a feeling it may be a little more complicated than we’re assuming.

All you, Auntie. I’ll just sit and watch this one go down.

Good idea. Celestia turned to the mare once again. “Mrs. Stitch, you didn’t need to wait on this line to look for a loan. It would have been much simpler for you if you had gone to a bank.”

“I’ve done that already, Your Highness. More than once. None of the banks in my district have accepted my applications.”

Celestia cocked a brow. “Really? That’s certainly strange. Is there any reason your applications have been denied? Do you have a criminal record?”

Mrs. Stitch shook her head. “None, Your Highness. I’m clean as a whistle. I’ve paid my taxes on time, there have been no cases of fraud… I frankly don’t understand what the issue is.”

“Hmm. Are you creditworthy?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the mare responded. “I’m rather frugal as it is, but between my son’s salary and my late husband’s pension, we always have enough to meet our minimum payments every month. My son’s loan applications are being denied as well; we just don’t have enough for the project I need to fund right now. And it’s rather urgent.”

Celestia tilted her head. “Mrs. Stitch, is there any chance…” She glanced at the colt. “…that is your grandson, correct?”

Mrs. Stitch nodded and smiled at the colt before looking back at Celestia. “Yes, that’s my eight-year-old grandson, YoYo. His father is at work, so I needed to bring him with me.” 

Celestia smiled at the colt as well. “Good afternoon, YoYo.” He shrank back slightly and blushed before giving her a little wave. 

Then Celestia turned back to the mare. “The court apologizes for asking this, but is there any chance that your son, or even YoYo, may have a criminal record?”

Mrs. Stitch’s eyes widened a moment, but she shook her head. “No apology necessary, Your Highness. And not that I’m aware of.” 

“Hmm. Why do you need a loan so urgently?” Celestia asked.

Mrs. Stitch sighed again. “I need to renovate my kitchen, Your Highness.”

Celestia and Cotton looked at each other, confused, before Celestia turned back to the mare. “Mrs. Stitch, the court apologizes if this sounds callous, but… how is a kitchen renovation urgent?”

“That was how the bankers reacted, too,” Mrs. Stitch replied, “and they wouldn’t listen to me any further. The reason it’s urgent is because it has become a health hazard for my family. The plumbing is rusting, which caused a pipe to burst in the wall last month, so the electricity stopped working… and some of the walls are growing mold.” She pointed to her grandson, sitting beside the guard. “I know for a fact that YoYo should not be breathing that in. Nor should my son or I.”

“Do you have insurance?” Celestia asked.

“The insurance company wants to send out an inspector… another one,” Mrs. Stitch replied with suppressed fury.

Celestia nodded. “That is indeed a very different situation. How large of a loan are you wishing to take out?”

“I’ve done some price-checking, Your Highness,” Mrs. Stitch answered. “Based on even the least expensive contractors and companies I’ve found that will work as quickly as possible while still providing a high-quality result, the least I would need for the renovation itself is fifteen-thousand bits. If they were willing to take payment in increments this wouldn’t be an issue, but all parties involved are demanding full payment before the start of the project, and we don’t have enough to do that and still maintain our day-to-day expenses right now.”

“Hmm.” Celestia furrowed her brows slightly. “That’s certainly reasonable. I don’t understand why the banks wouldn’t accept an application for that.”

“Neither do I, Your Highness,” Mrs. Stitch responded, her voice cracking, “and the biggest problem is that none of our neighbors have room to house us temporarily, now or while the work would be done. We’ve had to stay elsewhere. There is… somewhat affordable temporary housing near our neighborhood, but we would barely have enough bits to be able to eat if we continue to stay there for too long, even with a loan. Unfortunately, it’s our only option. Increasing the loan to eighteen-thousand bits would make it much easier to cover everything, but if I won’t be approved for fifteen-thousand bits, there’s no chance I’d be approved for eighteen-thousand,” Mrs. Stitch finished in a rush, as if the words had burst forth like water from a broken dam.

Celestia pursed her lips. “That is indeed a predicament. Well, I make a point not to go against the protocols of the banks that I myself have established, but what I can do is speak to the representatives you have approached and ask them why you have been denied for these applications. Hopefully that will change their minds. Going through the process will take some time, though, so you will need to continue staying in the temporary housing where you are currently residing until it is completed.”

Mrs. Stitch sighed. “I understand, Your Highness. Thank you very much for your help.” She bowed, but after a moment, Cotton heard her mumble under her breath, “Another day, another week of groceries gone…” With that, she waved for YoYo to return to her. He looked up briefly at the guard, then galloped back to his grandmother’s side, then both of them began walking to the exit.

Cotton frowned, then poked Celestia in the leg again. As Celestia looked down at her, she lit her horn. Yes, Cotton? Did you want to say something about this?

Yeah, can you stop her? Cotton answered.

Celestia nodded. “Mrs. Stitch!” she called.

The old mare and colt both jumped, then turned back around. Mrs. Stitch asked, “Y-yes, Your Highness?”

“It seems my niece would like to deliberate with me about your case before you leave. Could you please remain here a little longer?”

“Uh, of course, Your Highness. We can stay as long as you need.”

“Thank you.” As Mrs. Stitch returned to her place in front of the thrones, YoYo beside her, Celestia turned to Cotton. What is it, Cotton? We really can’t hold the line for too long.

Isn’t there something else we can do? Cotton asked.

Celestia sighed. Not really, Cotton. I’ve given the banks the authority over distributing loans. Unless there’s something fishy going on at the banks—and believe me, I will see if that’s the case—having a conversation with them is the best I can do. It isn’t like we can give her a loan straight from the royal coffers.

Why not? Cotton asked. Assuming what she said is true, she’d clearly be reliable to pay the loan back. Besides, didn’t you hear what she just said? One day of living in this so-called ‘affordable’ housing costs her a week’s worth of groceries! She and her family will starve if we don’t do something fast! And look at YoYo! She glanced at the colt briefly. He already looks skinnier than he should be. Even for an eight-year-old.

Celestia sighed. I’m aware, Cotton, but that would set a terrible precedent. Ponies would stop going to the banks and come to us for loans instead. If we denied them, there would be outrage, and if we kept giving them, the economy would… well, the last term I heard from this generation is that it would ‘tank.’

Screw precedents! Cotton cried internally, her eyebrows furrowing. We need to do something! 

Celestia let out a breath. Cotton, are you really suggesting we give her a direct loan from the Royal Family? I can’t say yes to her in court.

Cotton took her own calming breath. Then tell her to come back tonight and have a private meeting. You can tell her then. That way she gets what she needs, and the rest of Canterlot doesn’t assume that the Royal Family is their new personal piggy bank.

And what if she gushes about the generosity of the Royals? The meeting’s secrecy would be pointless.

Then I’ll take full responsibility and do anything I can to make it right, no matter what it takes, Cotton responded. Even if I have to work for every pony in Canterlot for a year, if not longer. You can’t let the fear of being taken advantage of keep you from being generous. What would my mom’ve said?

Celestia sighed with a smile. …Beaten by a teenager. Alright, let’s just hope this doesn’t come back to bite us in our flanks.

Thanks, Auntie, Cotton said with a smile.

Turning back to the elderly mare, Celestia said, “Mrs. Stitch, my niece has suggested another approach regarding your request. If you would, we would like to meet with you in private tonight.”

Mrs. Stitch nodded rapidly. “Yes, Your Highness, absolutely! Please, just tell me where and when!”

Celestia nodded in return. “Simply return here at… let’s say seven o’clock. We can discuss from there.”

“Absolutely, Your Highness,” the mare said, bowing. She then turned to Cotton and bowed to her as well. “Thank you, Miss Cotton.” 

Cotton simply smiled. “You’re welcome.” As Mrs. Stitch left, Cotton tapped Celestia’s leg once again, and Celestia lit her horn. Sorry about that, Auntie. Something about her situation just kind of… struck a nerve. 

I can’t fault you for that, Cotton. Believe me, there are plenty of requests I’ve had to decline despite my feelings in order to maintain harmony in our society. I’ve had to repress my passion in cases like that. Celestia smiled. But you hold no such restraint.

Rubbing the back of her head, Cotton replied, Uhh… thanks?

Celestia chuckled. Yes, it was meant to be a compliment. She looked over at Raven’s box, where Flarechaser, Daisy, and Harmony sat staring at Cotton, their muzzles agape. I believe you wanted to go spend time with your friends?

“Oh!” Cotton flinched as she broke from their telepathic link, finding herself speaking aloud. She turned around and looked at her friends for a moment, then looked at her aunt with a blush. “Thanks, Auntie,” she whispered. 

Celestia leaned down and nuzzled her. “Absolutely, Cotton,” she whispered back. “Thank you for your help today. I would actually love it if you came in more often.”

“We’ll see,” Cotton giggled. “I’ll see you later!” She gracefully lifted herself from Twilight’s throne and walked back toward Raven’s box.

Celestia lit her horn again, opening the railing once more to let Cotton through before shutting it behind her.

As Cotton opened the door to the box to go back into the castle proper, she pushed her friends out, waved at her aunt, then gave Raven a hug and whispered something in her ear. Raven smiled and gave Cotton a brief nuzzle before the filly walked out and quietly shut the door behind her.

Celestia chuckled, then lit her horn again. More cookies, eh, Raven?

Raven smirked. Perhaps, Your Highness.

Perhaps?

Perhaps two trays, Your Highness.

Celestia smiled. Are you going to share?

With a shrug, Raven replied, …Perhaps. 

“Next petitioner: Prince Blueblood the Third.”

Raven sighed. Here we go again, Your Highness.

This is the sixth time ‘Blueballs’ has sent his grandson here in the last two months. Do you think he’ll ever get the hint?

Not likely, Your Highness.
> Chapter Thirty-Seven - Keep It In Mind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Cotton stepped out of the throne room box and back into the hallway of the inner castle, she quietly closed the door, then stopped short when she found her friends all staring at her.

“Holy horseapples, girl, what the buck just happened to you?” Flarechaser asked. “You were a completely different pony in there!”

“And you said you didn’t have any power in the court,” Harmony laughed.

“I think Mr. Line and Mrs. Stitch would say otherwise,” Daisy added.

Cotton put a hoof up. “Woah, woah, stop!” She let out a quick breath. “I’ve been in the court enough times that I’ve picked up on the way Aunt Celestia speaks.” She pointed at the door. “She’s never done that to me before, though.”

“Done what, Cotton?” Solar Song asked, still guarding the door.

Harmony turned to her and answered, “Princess Celestia had Cotton go up on the throne! Well, Princess Twilight’s throne. A throne. Still! A throne!”

“And she presided over two cases, and made the final calls on both!” Daisy continued. “She even got to swing the gavel! I was totally joking about that, by the way.”

“Woah, I didn’t actually make that last call with Mrs. Stitch,” Cotton said.

“Horseapples, Cotton, you obviously got Princess Celestia to do more than she was gonna. Don’t know what, but we could tell,” Flarechaser said.

Harmony shivered. “Yeah, that telepathy spell creeps me out. I don’t think I wanna learn that one.”

Daisy cocked a brow at her. “Why not? That could be really useful.”

“I dunno, it just seems creepy to jump into somepony else’s brainpan like that.”

“Eh, fair enough,” Daisy responded. “But Cotton seems just fine with it.”

“Now I am, but believe me, it was weird for me the first time, too,” Cotton said. “All my aunts can do it, so they wanted me to know how they used it as a precaution if they ever needed to talk to me privately in public. Uh, wait, I mean—”

“We know what you mean,” Harmony giggled.

Cotton smiled. “Okay, good. Anyway, Auntie Celestia tried it with me when I was thirteen. I had a migraine for like, five hours.”

“Yeesh,” Flarechaser said. 

“Yeah, she felt terrible about it. We didn’t try again for a month. Even then, she had Aunt Twilight do it instead. I got it down pain-free with all three of them after like, six months. I actually had to train with them.”

Harmony’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “Yeah, definitely don’t wanna learn it now.”

“Your friend isn’t wrong about it being useful, though,” they heard Solar Song say.

Turning around, Cotton asked her, “Wait, you know how to do that spell?”

The guard smirked. Better than your aunts, actually.

Cotton flinched. “What? But I didn’t even see your horn glowing!”

“Wait, what?” Daisy asked.

“She just used it on me!” Cotton said. “Woah, you are really good at that. Why haven’t I ever seen you use it?”

Solar Song shook her head. “I’ve actually used it around you plenty of times, but like you said, you haven’t seen it. My horn did glow; it’s just so faint that it’s practically invisible. My skill with telepathy is why I’m at this post. Most ponies need to be able to see who they’re speaking with when they use the spell. I don’t. I use it to speak with Raven through the door if necessary. And she can use it to speak with the Princess. She’s known how since she was young.”

Flarechaser let out a breath. “Woah, that’s gotta be hard, though. It really doesn’t hurt?”

“Yeah, I would think talking through a wall would be much harder,” Harmony added.

Solar Song shrugged. “Well, everypony is different. I happened to master it quickly. It also does tend to be somewhat easier and less painful between two unicorns—or alicorns—since both ponies can put effort into keeping the link connected. Otherwise one pony has to do all the work.” 

“Yeah, there’s more to it than just, ‘hey, I wanna talk to you,’” Cotton said.

“Well… if it really is that useful…” Harmony began, shrinking back a bit, “…then… could… could you try it on me? Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to know it… and you obviously know what you’re doing.”

Solar Song raised her brows. “Are you sure? I can, but you shouldn’t feel forced—you don’t need to learn it if you don’t want to.”

Nodding, Harmony responded, “Yeah, I’m sure. Go for it.”

With a shrug, Solar Song said, “Alright. You might want to close your eyes the first time. I’ll tell you when it’s coming.”

Harmony sat up and closed her eyes. “Okay.”

“Ready… here I come.” Cotton saw the guard’s eyebrows rise a fraction of an inch for a second.

Harmony’s eyes scrunched for a moment. Then she opened her eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, I could.”

“You want to try answering?”

“O… okay.” She nodded, then closed her eyes again.

“Alright, here I come,” Solar Song said, her brows rising once again.

Harmony’s eyes scrunched again, then even tighter. After they relaxed, she opened them with a small smile. “Hey, that’s pretty cool.”

Solar Song chuckled. “Glad you got what I was going for with the ‘testing’ bit. How do you feel? Any pain in your head?” 

Shaking her head slowly, Harmony replied, “…No, not… not really.”

The guard smiled back at her. “Looks like you’ve got a natural affinity for that spell, kid. Now you just need to learn to initiate it. After some practice, you might be pretty good with it. Maybe as good as me,” she said with a wink.

“Could you teach me?”

Solar’s eyes widened. “Woah, kid. I may be willing, but I’ve got a post to keep.”

Harmony sighed. “Oh, right. Sorry.” 

“Hey, no harm in asking.”

“Maybe I’ll ask my three-twenty-four professor if he knows it,” Harmony said. “He may help me practice it if he does.”

“Talk about extra credit,” Cotton said with a smile.

They all heard another voice. “Solar Song, are you teaching advanced spells to a minor?”

Cotton turned around and found her Aunt Twilight coming around the corner with a small smile and raised eyebrows.

“I told her she didn’t have to, but she asked, Your Highness,” Solar Song responded.

Harmony nodded and raised a hoof. “I can vouch, Princess.”

Twilight frowned. “How many times have I told you not to call me ‘Your Highness,’ Solar? Even Cotton’s friends know to stick to ‘Princess’ at most.”

Solar Song shrugged. “Sorry, Twilight. Force of habit with Princesses Celestia and Luna.” She tilted her head at Cotton and smirked. “Why don’t you give Cotton a tiara so I can do it to her, too.”

Cotton whipped around and pointed a hoof at her with her brows furrowed. “Don’t even think about it.” Solar, Twilight, and her friends all laughed. Then Cotton giggled and turned back to Twilight. “So what are you doing down here, Aunt Twilight? I thought you had a meeting with Dad and Ember.”

Twilight nodded. “We’re done; we finished sooner than we expected, so your father is seeing Ember out. I came to see if your Aunt Celestia wanted me to take over for her and start Dusk Court early.”

“And that’s where I come in,” Solar Song said. “Is that it, Twilight? Anything else you want to say to Raven or the Princess?”

“No, that’s all,” Twilight replied. “I’m just offering Princess Celestia a reprieve.”

“Sounds good.” With that, Solar Song closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them again and sighed. “Just a second, she’s finishing up a case with Bee-bee-three.”

Twilight snorted. “Ugggh. Is Blueblood ever going to give it up?”

Solar Song shrugged. “No idea. Clearly his arrogance has rubbed off on his grandson, though. Oh, hold on.” She closed her eyes again for a few seconds, then chuckled as she opened them again.

“So?” Twilight asked.

“She said, ‘Pleeease.’ She even dragged out the ‘e.’ Raven said the Princess is going to call a fifteen-minute intermission so she can talk to you, then send you in.”

Nodding, Twilight turned to Cotton’s friends. “So, what did you think of Princess Celestia’s court? I used to watch her myself when I was her student. It’s pretty cool, huh?”

“Bu— I mean, heck yeah,” Flarechaser said, censoring herself.

“Did the Princess bring you up on the throne with her, too?” Harmony asked.

Twilight giggled. “Actually, yes. She even let me swing the gavel o— Wait, did you say ‘too’?”

Cotton blushed. “She let me sit on your throne.”

“And she’s drunk on authority from it.” All six mares turned and found Celestia walking up to them from the opposite side of the hallway, sporting a wide grin. “I hope you don’t mind, Twilight.”

As Harmony, Daisy, and Flarechaser bowed, Twilight shook her head. “Uh, no, not at all. But what kind of authority do you mean?”

Celestia looked at Cotton, still holding her smile as she raised her brows. “Cotton?”

“Umm… I, uh…” Cotton shrank into herself, rubbing the back of her head.

Celestia chuckled. “You have no reason to be worried, Cotton. You were quite an impactful presence up there, particularly for that little colt. However, you do have some homework; you have a meeting in about two hours and a conversation to have with your aunt.”

Sitting up on her haunches, Cotton said, “Oh, yeah. When should I go talk with Aunt Luna?”

“I’d wait until after our meeting with Mrs. Stitch. That shouldn’t take long; just enough time that Luna will be finishing breakfast, and not have gone into the dream realm yet.”

Twilight shook her head. “Okay, what am I missing here? What was Cotton doing on my throne? And no, Cotton, I really don’t mind. I’m just curious.”

Celestia smiled and patted Cotton on the shoulder. “Your niece just presided over two court cases, and did a wonderful job with both. Perhaps I should send her in with you and let her sit on my throne, Twilight,” she chuckled.

“Woah, woah!” Cotton cried. She pointed at Flarechaser, Harmony, and Daisy. “Friends here?”

“We could leave,” Flarechaser said with a smirk.

“Not helping, Flare,” Cotton deadpanned. “Seriously, though, I think I’ve had enough court for one day. Especially since we have that meeting in a little while, Auntie.”

Leaning down and giving Cotton a nuzzle, Celestia said, “Of course, Cotton. I’m only teasing. You know we wouldn’t force you to do anything like that.” She lifted herself back up and smiled. “Though you do seem to be good at it.”

“I’ll say,” Daisy commented.

“Besides, it looked like you had knowledge the Princess didn’t!” Harmony added, before she blushed and nervously shifted one leg. “Uh, sorry, Your Highness.”

“No apology necessary; you’re absolutely right. Punch Line’s case was a perfect example.” Celestia looked at the clock sitting above the door to the court box, then turned to her fellow princess. “It might be a good idea to survey your upcoming audience before intermission ends, Twilight. Though you did manage to wiggle your way around dealing with Blueblood, there are a few other nobles in the line.”

Twilight snickered. “Hey, be happy I arrived early. Now you can fit in a snack before this meeting you’re supposed to have with Cotton.”

Celestia smiled. “True, very true.”

Harmony’s eyes suddenly widened as she looked at the clock herself. “Wait, it’s almost five? Shoot, I have a study circle tonight! I actually do have to go!” She turned and galloped for the door, then called back, “See ya, everypony!” before pushing it open and rushing out.

“Yeah, before I left the Badlands hive I sent a letter to Zora saying I’d be back today,” Flarechaser said. “So yeah, I oughta head out, too.”

“Same,” Daisy added. “My parents were expecting me like, an hour ago. They say Earth ponies are better at predicting exact times, but I still dunno if I believe them.”

Cotton let out a nervous chuckle. “Whoops. Sorry girls, I didn’t mean to hold you up.”

“No worries. See ya around, Cotton!” Flarechaser smiled as she and Daisy turned and made their way to the main hall doors and left.

With a nostalgic sigh, Twilight said, “I remember study circles.”

Celestia raised a brow. “You always studied by yourself, Twilight.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t remember them,” she replied.

“Oh, hey,” Cotton suddenly said, “the girls left before I could bake.” She shrugged. “Oh well, I have two trays to make for Raven anyway.”

With a little smile, Celestia lightly nudged Cotton in the side. “If you’re making cookies for Raven anyway, is there any chance you could make me a tray?” she asked, licking her lips.

Cotton smirked. “If you have something other than cake before our meeting, then maybe.”

Celestia pouted, plopping onto her haunches. “That’s not fair.”

Cotton giggled and nuzzled into Celestia’s side. “I’m just teasing, Auntie. Of course I will. After I have dinner and talk to Aunt Luna, though.”

With a giggle of her own, Celestia responded, “Okay, I set myself up for that.” She unfurled a wing and pulled Cotton up against her, squeezing her tight. “Thank you, Cotton. And I’m glad to see you have your priorities straight.”

“Every now and then I get ‘em right,” Cotton said. “Oh! Before I forget, I need to bring another bag of flour to work tomorrow. I’m running out.”

“Talk to Tasty Twist,” Celestia said. “You know he’s the only one that knows where all the dessert ingredients are.”

Cotton giggled and nudged her aunt in the side. “Gee, I can’t imagine why.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes and looked down at Cotton. Then she stuck her tongue out and started tickling Cotton’s neck with her wing, before proceeding to her belly.

“Ah! Auntie! Stop it! Stop it!” Cotton cried as she rolled on the floor, giggling uncontrollably. 

As Celestia laughed and released Cotton from her torture, Twilight and Solar Song laughed along with her. “Keep that in mind next time you want to insult your aunt and her royal snackery, Cotton.”

Cotton rose to her hooves, letting out her final giggles. “Alriiiight, alright. You do tend to spoil your appetite when you snack before dinner, though.” She repositioned a hoof, ready to retreat should her aunt attack again. Then her stomach rumbled. She looked up at Celestia and said, “Uh… maybe we should go have dinner now?”

On cue, Celestia’s stomach growled as well. She chuckled and said, “I believe that question was just answered for the both of us.”


Ж


“Great to see you as always, Ember,” Spike said, clapping her on the shoulder. He extended his other arm before he started, “You surrrrre—”

“Hey, the hugs are still a no. That will not change.”

Spike put his claw to his hip. “C’mon. What about that time back—”

“That was an exception,” Ember growled. Then she smirked and poked his chest. “Tell you what—you give me kids, I’ll give you a hug.”

Spike’s eyes narrowed. “Emberrrrrr.”

Ember laughed. “Hey, worth a shot; can’t blame me for being persistent. Cotton seems to be pretty keen on the idea, too, y’know.” She bonked his snout with the Bloodstone Scepter and added, “Just keep it in mind, alright?” She then lifted her other claw and pointed a talon at him. “I do want to get to know Cotton a little more, though. She sounds like a cool kid.” 

“That I can arrange. And believe me, she is,” Spike said with a smile. “But you’d have to come here; I’m sure you’d understand that Cotton would be a little uneasy around lava.”

“Oh, but the Dragon Lands would be a perfect vacation spot!” She grunted, crossing her arms. “You think I’m stupid?”

Spike chuckled. “Have a safe flight home, Dragon Lord Ember.”

Ember smiled and punched him in the shoulder. “See ya around, Sir Spike.” Then she lifted off and flew back in the direction of the Dragon Lands.

As he watched Ember fly off, Spike sat down on his haunches. He crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh.

Maybe one of these days, Ember. Maybe. He turned and walked back toward the castle doors.

Maybe I’ll get that hug from you.
> Chapter Thirty-Eight - Cookies and Cons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Absolutely, dear Cotton. We would be happy to send somepony to patrol. Especially if thy suspicions are correct and thine old bully is the culprit,” Luna said. “In fact, We believe We have the perfect pony in mind.” 

“Cool! Anyone I know?” Cotton asked.

Luna shook her head. “Nay. ‘Tis most disappointing, but We have been unable to assign this new recruit to his own post, and thus his wondrous talents have not been utilized. His speed and stealth make him nigh impossible to see or hear; t’would scare these rogues out of their wits,” Luna laughed, a hint of sadistic pleasure creeping into her tone. “Thou wouldst have a noctis to guard thy petitioner’s residence, and t’would give Us a post for a fine young stallion. ‘Tis mutually beneficial.”

Cotton gave Luna a hug. “Thank you so much, Aunt Luna. Now my second case was a success, too.”

Luna wrapped Cotton in her wing and returned the hug with a smile. “Thou art quite welcome, Cotton, and We thank thee as well. We would like to repeat, We are most proud of thine actions in the court that Our sister relayed to Us. Thy diligence to thy petitioners is also worthy of high praise.”

“Thanks,” Cotton responded. “It’s the first time I’ve actually made calls like this; I wanted to make sure I followed through quickly.”

“‘Tis a wise course of action.”

Cotton nodded. “It’s actually been pretty easy. Auntie Celestia was right about that meeting with Mrs. Stitch; it was short. We just gave her the offer for her loan and had her sign a contract for a three-year payment plan. Took all of fifteen minutes. Sounds like it was much easier than negotiating with a bank,” she said.

“Indeed,” Luna responded. 

As she broke her hug with Luna, Cotton said, “I’m baking a few trays of cookies tonight, Aunt Luna. Do you want some?”

Luna licked her lips. “What kind art thou making?”

“Just some regular chocolate chip. Two trays for Raven and one for Auntie Celestia. Aunt Twilight said she’d steal a few,” she chuckled.

Raising her brows, Luna asked, “May We make a request?”

“Depends on what you ask for,” Cotton giggled.

“Couldst thou…” Luna thrust out her lower lip. “Couldst thou makest a tray of thy chocolate-chocolate chip? They, uh… they keep Us more attentive in the Dreamscape.”

Cotton crossed her forehooves and cocked a brow. “Yeah. Right.” As Luna pouted, she giggled again and jumped at her aunt, nuzzling her neck. “But yes, I can do that.”

Luna’s muzzle split into a grin as she lifted her head and clapped her hooves around Cotton. “Huzzah! We promise thy dreams will be most pleasant tonight,” she said, nuzzling Cotton back. She then lit her horn and opened the doors to her balcony, before levitating a small table outside. A little bell soon followed after. “We must begin Our duties shortly, so when thou art finished with thy magic desserts, couldst thou leave Ours on that table and ring the bell? ‘Tis enchanted so We shall always hear it.”

Nodding with a smile, Cotton replied, “I can do that. Just don’t let them get cold, okay?”

Luna chuckled. “We shant allow such a crime. Now, couldst thou tarry here a moment?”

“Sure!”

Lighting her horn, Luna lifted a piece of parchment and a quill from her desk across the room and wrote a few quick lines. After she set the quill back on her desk, the parchment rolled up, then disappeared. 

“What was that?” Cotton asked her.

Luna smiled. “Thou shalt bear witness anon.”

As a light breeze flitted across one of Luna’s curtains, Cotton looked out the balcony doors at the evening sky and took in a nice, deep breath, then let it out. “It’s really nice out tonight, huh?”

Following Cotton’s gaze, Luna’s smile morphed into a smirk. “Yes, ‘tis, isn’t it?” Then she turned her head to the side and glanced behind her. “Good evening, Tacca.”

“Good evening, Your Highness.”

Cotton jumped as she whipped around, finding herself face to face with a lean, pitch-black noctis, adorned in armor and holding a salute. He appeared to be a few inches and years more than her. Cotton shook her head. “Woah. You weren’t kidding, Aunt Luna.”

Luna chuckled. “Indeed, We weren’t. At ease, Tacca.”

As he put his hoof down and settled on his haunches, the noctis said, “Thank you, Your Highness. You wanted to speak with me?”

With a nod, Luna replied, “Yes, Tacca. We would like to formally introduce thee to Our niece, Cotton Candy. Cotton, this is Tacca, Our newest recruit.”

“Nice to finally meet you up close, Miss Cotton,” Tacca said.

Cotton giggled. “Likewise. I’ll let this one slide, but don’t call me ‘Miss’ next time, okay? Please?”

Nodding, Tacca replied, “Sure thing.”

Luna cleared her throat. “Tacca, Cotton hath made a request that requires a noctis guard. Due to thine abilities, We believe thou wouldst be the perfect pony for the job.”

The noctis’s eyes lit up. “Really? That’s awe—uh, I mean, that’s good to hear, Your Highness.”

Laughing, Luna said, “‘Tis alright to be excited, young Tacca. We shant hold that outburst against thee.”

Rubbing the back of his head, Tacca blushed. “Heh, thank you, Your Highness.” He then turned and addressed Cotton. “What can I do for you, Cotton?”

Cotton smiled and let out a breath. “Finally, someone who gets it the first time. Oh, uh, here.” She walked up to Tacca and gave him a slip of parchment. “If you go to this address on the east side of Central Canterlot, a stallion named Punch Line should be waiting for you. Well, he probably isn’t expecting you at this moment, but he shouldn’t like, freak out or anything. Anyway, his neighborhood is having trouble with ponies that they think are a gang—y’know, tags, TPs, stuff like that…” Tacca nodded. “…so they were hoping we could get someone to patrol for them.”

Tacca smirked. “Sweee—I mean…” He flipped his hoof back into a salute. “I’ll do my best, Cotton.” 

Cotton laughed, then looked up at Luna and pointed her hoof at the young stallion. “He’s perfect.”

“We thought so, too,” Luna chuckled.

Blushing again, Tacca said, “Uh, thank you, Cotton. Your Highness.” He suddenly vanished, then Cotton heard his voice from behind her. “What should I do when I catch them?”

Cotton flipped around again and found him in front of the balcony doors, still holding his salute. “Woah.”

Luna laughed. “Most impressive, Tacca. We admire thy skill.” 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Thou art most welcome.” She looked at Cotton. “Well, Cotton? Dost thou have restrictions for Tacca? Anything he shant do during his patrol?”

“Oh, uh…” She scratched her head for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. No damage to any of the residents’ properties…”

“Of course.” 

“…um… and no physical contact with any of the culprits. I don’t want you to get in trouble.” She shrugged her shoulder. “Well, no harmful physical contact.”

Tacca nodded. “So the old ‘tap on the shoulder and disappear’ tactic is okay?”

Cotton smirked. “Go for it.”  

With another nod, Tacca said, “Sounds good. Anything else?” 

Cotton shifted her eyes upward for a moment, then she raised her eyebrows slightly. “Yeah. If one of them happens to be a brown unicorn named Boulder…” Her smirk turned crooked. “…you can give him something a little…extra. But still no harm.”

Tacca returned Cotton’s expression. “Can do.” 

She shifted and gave him a salute of her own. “Good luck.”

Nodding again, Tacca replied, “Thank you, Cotton.” His eyes shifted towards Luna before he added, “Have a good evening, Your Highness.” Then he vanished once again, and another breeze flitted across Luna’s curtain.

Cotton looked up at Luna, pointing her saluting hoof out the doors. “I like him.”

Luna laughed. “We thought thou wouldst.” 


Ж


Lying on his giant pillow pile, Twilight sitting next to the claw supporting his head, Spike sighed. “I just don’t think I can do it right now, Twi. I mean, Ember’s been on my case about this for years now. It’s obviously important to her, but I… well, I’ve already told both of you the reasons why I won’t do it. Many times.”

Twilight shook her head. “Spike, you know I’m always happy to let you talk to me about this. But I don’t know how valuable my input really would be at this point. This is an important decision, but it’s only yours to make.”

Spike narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve said that multiple times, too. You seriously have nothing to add? You used to give me all kinds of input and advice when I was younger.”

Shrugging her shoulders, Twilight responded, “Well, you were a kid that needed guidance then. You aren’t anymore. Technically yes, by dragon standards you’re still young—geez, now I am, too, for an alicorn—but by pony standards you’re an adult that should make your own decisions. An old one at that. You made the decision to adopt Cotton, and look how amazingly well that turned out.” She smiled and lay her head on his folded claw. “You’re a wonderful father, Spike, don’t ever doubt that.”

Spike sighed again. “Thank you, Twi, but Cotton is a completely different kettle of fish. I can see her every day. Hatchlings… not so much. I can’t go stay in the Dragon Lands and Ember can’t leave them. But I will admit… after raising Cotton the past few years… I can honestly say, I’d be happy to be a father again. I just can’t stand the thought of not being around to raise my own children.” He took a claw and began massaging his forehead. “It still bothers me that Ember didn’t even wait until Rarity had passed away. Rarity would have pitched a fit if I ever told her.”

Twilight lifted her head and patted his claw with a hoof. “Well, Spike, remember, both of those things are part of our culture, particularly the one-pony commitment of marriage. Not all creatures do that. You were raised the pony way. From what Ember’s told me, that’s altered how you would normally think as a dragon. What she’s suggesting is how dragons usually—”

“But I’m not a ‘usual’ dragon, Twilight,” Spike cut her off. “You’ve said it yourself, I’m different from the others. Other male dragons may be fine abandoning their children with a mate, but I won’t do that. I’m not part pony, it’s just the way I think. However I was raised, I’m me now, and I happen to like me. And geez, given how long dragon adolescence usually lasts… I’d fall asleep before they reached their initial maturity. We both know the only reason Ember and I grew so much more quickly is because of the power of the Bloodstone Scepter.”

“Well, that’s one of the other things you need to think about. Not only are you a good candidate to be Ember’s mate, but you may be the only candidate. And if you’re worried about not seeing your children grow up,” Twilight said, “even if you went to the Dragon Lands right now and… gave Ember what she wants, your children would technically still be in their teens when you wake up.”

Spike groaned. “Yes, but from what Ember’s told me, it’s the first two centuries that really matter. I’d be asleep for the second one.”

“Spike, look,” Twilight sighed. “I told you my input wouldn’t be valuable because there’s more to raising a dragon family than I know. I’ve tried to help by talking you through what I do know, but I’m sure there are other aspects about this part of Dragon culture that Ember has yet to tell me. You need to talk to her. You’ve pushed her away before she’s had a chance to tell you more about it.”

“After almost twenty years, what more could I need to know? But… I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask,” Spike said. Then a little smile appeared on his face. “Cotton does seem to like the idea of having dragon siblings…” 


Ж


The next morning, Cotton pushed open the main doors with a yawn. Then she called behind her, “See you later, everyone!”

“Have a good day, Cotton!” the guards said in unison. Cotton giggled as she walked out.

After another yawn escaped her, Cotton smiled as she let out a hum. Aunt Luna really went all out last night. I didn’t wanna wake up from that one. She let a sigh. I just wish I could’ve stayed with him a little longer… even if it was just a dream. She looked up at the early morning sky and took in a few deep breaths, trying to wake herself up fully. As she got ready to take off, a timely realization did that instead. “Oh horseapples, the flour!” 


Ж


Dragging herself through the shop’s back door, Cotton called, “Sorry I’m late, Mr. Cutter! I almost forgot the flour.” She let the bag of flour slide off her back with a thump, then took her saddlebag off as well, but heard no response. She put her spare key away in her bag and called again. “Mr. Cutter?” Again, no response. Cotton shrugged. “I’ll go set up the front. Save him an extra step.”

After she walked through the kitchen door, Cotton began taking the lids off the pastry plates. Geez, why doesn’t he make new—

“Girl! What are you doing out here?”

Cotton jumped as a chocolate-colored stallion came through the front entrance. “I was just—”

“You were just getting back into the kitchen and baking! I’ve told you not to come out here!” Cookie Cutter snapped.

“Alright, alright, I’m going,” she responded, walking back through the kitchen door. Sheesh, it’s like he thinks I’m gonna scare off customers or something. 

As she gathered common ingredients for all of the various pastries, Cotton heard Cookie Cutter grunt before he stuck his head through the kitchen door. “Did you bring more flour, girl?”

“Yes, Mr. Cutter,” she answered, nodding in the direction of the unopened bag. 

“Good, now get to it.” He then disappeared back into the front, and Cotton could hear the lids being lifted off the rest of the pastry plates.

“Mr. Cutter, what would you like me to start with? The cookies as usual?”

The baker called back, “Yes, girl. Ran out of those again yesterday.”

Cotton nodded, a smile creeping onto her face. “Yes, sir.”


Ж


When the clock struck twelve, Cookie Cutter walked into the kitchen. “Girl, I’m going out for a few minutes—have to meet somepony a few doors down,” he said, opening the back door. “If anypony comes in, tell ‘em I’ll be back soon.”

“Mr. Cutter, I can run the register if you need me to,” Cotton replied. “I—”

The baker’s head whipped around. “Hay no! You’ll scare the customers away! Just call out from back here. Won’t take long.” He then trotted out the door and closed it behind him as he walked out.

Cotton froze mid-knead as she stared at the door. “That is why he always sticks me back here! What a jerk!”

Moments later, the little bell at the front door chimed as a customer walked in. “Hello? Is anypony here?” an elderly female voice called.

“Mr. Cutter will be back soon, Ma’am,” Cotton called back with a frown on her face. “He’s running a quick errand.”

“Oh? Could you possibly help me, young lady? I’m in a bit of a rush.”

Cotton instinctively shook her head. “I’m really sorry, ma’am. I, uh… I need to stay back here. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Oh, bother,” the mare replied. “I’ll need to go across the street, then.”

“That might be best today, ma’am, but please do come back again. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

The mare let out a short sigh. “Indeed. Perhaps next time you won’t be so overwhelmed.”

“I hope so, ma’am.” 

As Cotton heard the clip-clop of retreating hooves, the mare called, “Have a good day!” Then Cotton heard the bell again as she left.

“I feel like I’ve heard that voice before…” Cotton muttered to herself, rolling out more pie crust. 

Ten minutes later, after Cookie Cutter still hadn’t returned, Cotton heard the bell once again. This time, a male voice she’d heard almost daily ever since she’d started working at the bakery called out. “Hey, Mr. Cutter! You around?”

“Sorry sir, Mr. Cutter is running an errand at the moment,” Cotton called. “He should be back soon.” She rolled her eyes. Or so he claimed.

“Oh! I didn’t even know somepony else worked here. Hey Miss, d’ya think you could help me out? Kinda hard for me to write at my spot without somethin’ in my stomach.”

Cotton sighed. “Sorry, sir. I—” She cut herself off. Then her brows furrowed as she smacked the dough she’d been kneading. Know what? Screw it. “I sure can, sir. Just give me one moment!”

“Thanks!”

Leaving the dough on her work counter, Cotton washed her hooves at the sink, dried them off, then walked through the kitchen door and up to the register with her most professional smile. She found herself standing across from a teal unicorn with a muted opal mane.

“Hi there, you must be a regular; I’ve heard your voice a lot. My name’s Cotton Candy—how may I help you?” The stallion’s eyes widened as his eyebrows rose. Cotton grimaced; it looked like he was staring at her scars. Oh horseapples, Mr. Cutter was right… The young stallion didn’t back away, though.

“…Cotton Candy?” he asked, tilting his head at her. “As in, Sir Spike’s daughter Cotton Candy?”

Cotton flinched. “Uh, yeah.” She leaned forward and looked at him a little closer. “Wait… You look kinda familiar.”

The stallion’s muzzle broke into a smile. “I’m Dreamweaver! Remember, your dad introduced us in the park like…” He tapped his hoof on the counter a few times. “Geez, must’ve been four or five years ago. You look great!” 

A smile returning to her muzzle, Cotton responded, “Hey, yeah! I remember you!” She blushed and rubbed the back of her head. “And thanks. You too.” After a moment, a memory struck her. “If I remember right I think I fell asleep while you were telling a story… Sorry.”

Dreamweaver laughed. “It’s okay, pretty sure my little brother fell asleep during that one, too. Made for a good bedtime story, apparently.”

“Apparently,” Cotton giggled. 

“Yeah, I’ve been working on stories that are hopefully less sleep-inducing lately,” he chuckled, then he pointed to a table in the corner. “Mr. Cutter lets me sit over there and write during lunch time. He says it lures in other customers when there’s somepony already in here.”

Cotton shrugged. “He’s probably right about that.”

“Yeah, I just need to buy something before I sit.”

“Oh! Right!” Cotton shook her head. “What would you like?”

“Oh, yeah. Could I have four of those chocolate chip cookies over there?” he said, pointing at a plate over on the right side of the counter.

Cotton grinned. “Sure.”

“So how long have you been working here?”

“Two months or so,” Cotton said, reaching for a paper bag. “Decided not to go to college, so I'm doing an apprenticeship here instead. Oh, wait.” Cotton turned around and asked Dreamweaver, “You said you’re staying here, right? Would you like a bag or a plate?”

“Yeah, plate’s fi—” Dreamweaver cut himself off, then tilted his head at her. “Wait, you said you’ve been working here for two months?”

“Just about, yeah. Why?” she asked, grabbing a paper plate.

“Pretty sure that’s around when Mr. Cutter started selling those cookies.”

Cotton giggled as she started picking out cookies with some tissue paper and putting them on Dreamweaver’s plate. “Of course, that’s ‘cause I make ‘em.”

Frowning, Dreamweaver said, “Uh, you might want to look at the label, then.”

“Huh? Why?” Cotton picked up the stand that held the label in front of the cookies and turned it around. Her jaw dropped when she read it: ‘Cutter’s Special Cookies.’

“Yeah,” Dreamweaver said. “Looks like he’s been passing ‘em off as his own.”

Cotton’s brows furrowed. “Why that… Probably another reason he makes me stay in the back,” she huffed. “So I wouldn’t see him taking credit for my recipe.”

“Geez, I always thought he was such a good guy. Guess not.” He let out a snort. “At least, not when a better baker comes around. Gotta tell you, those cookies are amazing.”

“Thanks. Haven’t had any complaints so far,” Cotton responded with a little smile.

Reaching into his saddlebag, Dreamweaver said, “Tell you what, could you put those in a bag instead? I still want ‘em, but I can’t stay if you aren’t supposed to be out here, so I’m gonna pay you.”

Her smile widening, Cotton said, “Sure, I’m glad you like ‘em so much. And thanks.”

“Of course.” He placed the proper amount of bits on the counter by the register. Then he added an extra. “And here. I know it isn’t much, but since you haven’t been getting the credit you deserve—”

“No, no, that’s not necessary,” Cotton said, putting the fourth cookie in a bag. “You already told me what’s going on. That’s enough of a ‘tip.’”

Dreamweaver shook his head. “Please, take it. I want you to have it.”

Cotton blushed as she put the bag of cookies in front of him. “Thanks. That’s really nice of you.”

“Sure thing.” Dreamweaver smiled, then looked at the door over his shoulder. “I better bolt. I’ll see you another time?”

“Maybe.” Cotton shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“Good enough for me,” Dreamweaver said, before pointing at the label above the plate of cookies. “You really oughta call Cutter out on that. Unless you want me to do it.”

“No, I’ll do it,” Cotton said firmly. “He’s been a jerk ever since I started. If he thinks he can keep pushing me around, he’s got another thing coming.” 

Dreamweaver nodded. “Sounds good. Give the money-grubber what for.” He then quickly retreated without another word.

Cotton nodded to herself. I will. Maybe I can have Dreamweaver ask him for the recipe! He’ll have to admit not knowing it, then I can… Her eyes suddenly widened. Oh horseapples I need to get back in the kitchen! She quickly put the bits in another pastry bag and galloped through the kitchen door. After dropping the bits in her saddlebag, she rushed back to the worktable and began kneading the raw dough once again. Moments later, Cookie Cutter walked through the back door.

“Did anypony come in, girl?” he asked, a huge frown on his muzzle.

“Uh, yes, Mr. Cutter—two customers. Sounded like an older mare and a stallion. Well, maybe a young stallion. I told them both you were running an errand.”

Cookie Cutter huffed. “Hmph, must’ve been the boy. Eh, he’ll be back tomorrow. You didn’t go out and talk to them, did you?”

“No, Mr. Cutter, I stayed back here. If you don’t mind me asking,” Cotton said, “is everything alright? You were gone longer than I thought you’d be.”

The stallion grunted at her. “None of your business. Get back to work.” With that, he went out the kitchen door to cover the register.

Cotton glared at the door. Yeah, my recipes don’t belong to your business, either.
> Chapter Thirty-Nine - What I Really Want
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton sighed as she picked up her saddlebag. “See you tomorrow, Mr. Cutter.”

“Usual time, girl. Next time ya get here and I’m not around, just start on the cookies like always.”

“Yes, sir.” She pushed open the back door, then let it close with a bang, before trundling up the alley.

With Harmony Wishes in class, and Flarechaser and Daisy Withers’ current locations unknown—even though she had a good idea where Flare was—Cotton trudged across the street to the park entrance and began the trek, wishing she were home already.

Ugh, what a jerk. I can’t believe Mr. Cutter’s been taking credit for my cookies. And keeping me in the back so I wouldn’t know. I’m gonna have to call him out on that like Dreamweaver said. She let out a breath. Maybe Harmony’s right, I shouldn’t even be bothering. But I can’t just quit—I can’t sit on my flank unemployed and out of college… Maybe I should take her advice and just open my own… no, I’m not ready for that… Cotton took a deep breath, and a tear welled in her eye. Why can’t you be here to help me through this?

Cotton talked to herself all the way through the park, then walked in sullen silence as she exited and arrived at the main gate.

“Hey, colts,” Cotton said, half-heartedly nodding to Mortar and Howitzer.

“Uh, afternoon, Cotton,” Howitzer responded.

“You okay?” Mortar asked.

Cotton let out a sigh. “Meh. Just had a crummy day.”

As Cotton wandered through the gate without another word, the two guards smirked at each other. Howitzer looked around the gate at Cotton, then levitated the blunt, sanded end of his spear under her wing and wiggled it into her side.

“Haha!” Cotton giggled as she was tickled under her wing. “Hey! Stop it! Stop it!” Her smile of laughter quickly faded as she stomped a hoof and shouted, "STOP IT!”

Howitzer flinched and quickly withdrew his spear. “Sorry, Cotton. I was just—”

“No, I’m sorry,” Cotton responded with a sigh, shaking her head as she turned around. “I know you were just trying to make me feel better. Thanks, but… I’m just not in the mood today.”

Howitzer let out a breath. “I understand. Sorry you’re feeling so down.”

“Anything we can do to help?” Mortar asked.

Cotton let out a little snort as she turned to go inside. “Not unless you wanna take a train to Griffonstone.”

“We could do that.”

“Woah!” Cotton flipped around again and looked at the two of them, then let a tiny smile creep onto her muzzle. “Thanks, but I didn’t really mean that.” Well, not really, but maybe… “We need you here, anyway.”

Howitzer shrugged. “Alright. But remember, Cotton, if you want us to do something for you—”

“Don’t hesitate to ask us,” Mortar finished.

Cotton’s smile widened a bit before she said, “Thanks, you two.”

The two guards smiled back and nodded in unison. “Anytime.” 


Ж


Cotton stood in front of her closet, slowly flipping through the innumerable dresses she’d ‘inherited’ from her late adoptive mother’s various fashion lines. Every now and then she’d take one out and hold it in front of herself, looking into the inlaid mirror in the door. Occasionally she actually put one on. She was in the middle of one such occasion—donning a baby blue dress with bows—when there was a knock at her door.

“Sweetie? May I come in?”

She finished slipping her wings through the designated holes in the dress, then took a look at herself in the mirror. Without moving a muscle, she said, “Sure, Dad. You can come in.”

Her door opened and Spike snaked his head through the opening. “Sweetie, are you—” His eyes widened slightly when he saw Cotton’s reflection in her closet mirror, then he put on a big smile. “Well! You look lovely. What’s the occasion?”

“Eh.” Cotton shrugged. “I was bored. Figured I’d look through Mom’s stuff.”

Spike’s smile faded at Cotton’s indifference. “Cotton, are you alright? You’ve been very quiet today. You were practically silent at dinner.”

Cotton let out a sigh. “I just had a crummy day.”

“Oh?” He tilted his head as far as he could without causing structural damage. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Cotton simply frowned as she looked at the floor, then closed her eyes and shook her head. “…Not really.” 

Letting out a short breath, smoke trailing from his nostrils, Spike said, “Alright. I’ve learned enough not to pry. But is there anything else you’d like to talk to me about while you’ve got me? Clothing input, perhaps?”

She looked back up at the mirror for a few moments, silent. Then she replied, “No. Not that I can think of right now.”

“Okay.” Spike pushed his way further into the room, then kissed Cotton on the cheek. “But remember, sweetie, I’m always here if you need me.”

Cotton allowed herself to smile a little, then she kissed her father back. “Thanks, Dad.” She looked up at the clock on her wall, which read about a quarter to ten o’clock. She let out a sigh. “I think I’m just gonna hit the hay. I’ll see ya in the morning.”

“Of course, sweetheart. Have a good night’s rest,” Spike responded. Then he pulled his head out of Cotton’s room and shut the door behind him.

After pulling herself out of the dress and returning it to its proper place in the closet, Cotton collapsed into her mattress. She didn’t bother crawling under the covers; she just lay on top of the comforter. As she shifted her head, her attention turned to her bedside table. One of the objects on top was an old, empty inkwell, which held a short, curling, brown feather, sticking straight up. 

Cotton looked at the feather for a little while, giving her eye enough time to release a single tear. She sniffled, then turned over and closed her eyes.


Ж


“Your form is excellent, dearie!” crowed Rarity. “Such grace! Such poise!”

Something in the back of Cotton’s mind told her that she shouldn’t be talking to the mare in front of her, on account of said mare being, well, dead. As well as most of the other party guests, for that matter. But that something wasn’t very loud, so it was easy to ignore. It may not have been the Grand Galloping Gala, but based on what her aunts had told her, this party had a much better guest list.

Continuing her airborne dance, Cotton fluttered up into the air, twisted her wings just so, and fell back to earth in a spiral. She flared her wings at exactly the right time, spun out of the spiral, and landed neatly on all four hooves, in spite of the baby blue dress she wore.

“She’s pretty good,” said Rainbow Dash, “but her wings are a bit tense. You’re almost there, Cotton, but loosening that spiral’s gonna bring your ninety-five percent awesomeness to one hundred. Practice higher up in the sky,” she stage-whispered, “and you’ll have more time to recover if you screw up.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Cotton said. Getting a little bit of tightness out of her wings had been one of her goals for that performance, so if that was Rainbow’s only suggestion, it was a good sign. “Thanks for watching, but…” She grunted and rolled one of her wings. “I need to relax for a minute. That last drop nearly ripped my wings off. Where was the balcony again?”

“What?” squawked Rarity. “But… But darling, you—”

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie was right between them. “Run, Cotton, I’ll stall!” She shoved Cotton towards a set of double doors. “Rarity, party burnout is like, one of the most horribly devastating diseases ever! See, when you…”

The room was crowded, yet as Cotton walked for the doors in a straight line, ponies just happened to move out of her way. The room was huge, huge enough to hold hundreds of ponies past and present from her family, yet the distance to the doors shrank exponentially for every step Cotton took. She’d had enough experience to know what those signs meant, but she decided to let the dream play out. It was too good to wreck just yet.

The doors opened to an empty balcony overlooking a nondescript courtyard. The night air curled lightly at her mane. She hung her front legs over the railing and inhaled deeply, catching the combined aroma of dozens of flowers. “This night has been almost perfect,” Cotton said, gazing up at the night sky. There was just one thing… one thing missing… 

“Yeah, I thought you’d like a dream like this,” the sky replied.

Cotton squeaked, jumped five feet in the air, flailed, and dropped to the floor in a tumble. She managed to pull herself up to peep over the railing; an alicorn outlined by stars, not quite stallion or mare, was lounging on the Milky Way and grinning at her. “Moondog!” Cotton cried. “How many times have I told you not to do that?” But she was laughing.

“Never listened to you before, second cousin-in-law once removed,” Moondog said. “Why start now?” The outlined section of sky peeled itself off from the rest and stepped onto the balcony, becoming a three-dimensional hole to the sky in the shape of a smallish alicorn. “Besides, you needed a distraction. Letting you spend time with your extended family seemed the right way to go, at least for tonight. Actually, that's a pretty sure bet with you."

Cotton looked back at the doors. "Yeah..." she said, smiling.

"Even if you did think I was just a dream playmate Mom had whistled up for you the first night she showed you said extended family."

"Oh, hay." Cotton facehooved. "Not again. You're never gonna let me live that down, are you? And your segues suck."

"Aw, come on! At the end, Mom was all, 'This is Moondog, a creation of Ours who patrols the dreamscape and makes good dreams where We cannot'—"

"I was twelve! Twelve!"

"—and you were all, 'So you'll do what I want so I have a good dream?'—"

"You said yes! And I was TWELVE!"

"—and once it’d finally sunk in, you freaked out and were all, 'One of my cousins is a sapient hallucination? And I actually made her do that?', and it was hilarious!" Moondog laughed, clutching her sides. After a moment, she added, “And yes, I know ‘sapient hallucination’ wasn’t your exact phrasing.”

Cotton giggled, an equal mix of amusement and embarrassment. "I apologized..." she mumbled. "And... twelve..."

"You did and you were.” Moondog flew around Cotton in a circle and gave her the smallest of nudges on her cheek with a starry hoof. “And I forgave you,” she said, hovering back in front of Cotton. Then she shook her head and crossed her hooves as she chuckled. “I still can’t believe Mom thought you’d just forget about me until she’d taught you to lucid dream. The fact that you already knew how actually really impressed me.” 

Cotton shrugged. “Well, I never told anyone. There were a lot of things ponies underestimated about me when I was younger.”

“Yeah, even my mom. She can be a little clueless sometimes, huh?”

“Hey, you said it, not me.”

Moondog nodded. “I know, I know. Don’t tell her.” She tilted her head at Cotton. “So what’s the deal, ‘cuz? You feeling down? I sent you a dream about the fam, after all." Moondog looked into the main room and frowned. "That's actually Pinkie, though, not just a dream projection of her. I have no idea how she got here…"

“What’d you expect?” Cotton said with another shrug. “It’s Pinkie and there’s a party.”

“True.” Moondog whipped around Cotton in a circle again, grinning wide enough to swallow a watermelon. "Just don't tell Mom I'm doing this, okay? You know she doesn't like me skipping out on sending good dreams to other ponies so I can spend time with you. But I figured, juuuuust this once… So! While I’m here, do you need-slash-want anything else? C’mon, tell me what you want, what you really really want!”

“Thanks, but I’m good.” Truth be told, there was one thing, but Cotton didn’t want to bother Moondog at the moment.

The world shook as the starry alicorn dropped onto her rump and crossed her forelegs. With an exaggerated scowl, she said, “You’re doing it wrong. You’re supposed to say—” Her voice shifted to a perfect imitation of Cotton’s. “‘I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want!’”

“Oh, sweet aunties, you’re referencing them?” Cotton rolled her eyes and shielded her face with a wing. “They went out of style before I was even born. You’re such an old fogey.”

Moondog stood up and flared her wings in mock indignation. “I am not an old fogey!” she protested, faux-bristling.

“Of course you’re an old fogey,” Cotton snorted. “You’re over five times older than me!”

“Five times older and wiser,” responded Moondog, “don’t forget that.” She lightly tapped Cotton on the nose.

Cotton swatted Moondog’s hoof away. “You never use your wisdom—”

“Irrelevant!” Moondog interjected.

“—so I’m not sure that part counts.”

“Oh! You wound me!” Moondog swooned and stumbled over the railing to fall out of sight. Two seconds later, she dropped from the sky and re-alighted on the balcony. “Not very much, mind. Anywho, what I am is an old coot. Biiiiiiig difference.”

“Coots are much more fun?” Cotton suggested with a giggle.

“Bingo!” Moondog flexed her entire body. “For real, though. Want something while I’m here? I’ve gotta keep moving or else Mom’ll come after me. She’s still got that tracking spell on me…”

Since she’d asked… “Well…” Cotton took a deep breath. “There’s… someone who’s… not here, and—”

Moondog cringed. “Eeeexcept anything regarding him. Sorry. I’d do anything for family, but I won’t do that.”

“But… But you could bring him in here!” protested Cotton, flaring her wings. “Or, y’know, a dream copy of him! Please? Aunt Luna did!”

“Yeah, I totally could.” Moondog reached out of Cotton’s line of sight and pulled up a confused dream projection of Steadclaw, who looked back and forth as he cocked a brow. “But then you’d want to spend more time in your dreams to spend time with him even though it’s not really him and then you’d be like super messed-up in the real world.” She shrugged and tossed not-Steadclaw over the railing. Vases broke and cats screeched in protest. “That’s… kinda one of the things I mean when I say Mom can be clueless. She really shouldn’t have done that last night, but she was all hyped up on your cookies.”

“…Oh.” Cotton looked down and sighed. Of course. It couldn’t be that easy. Nothing wa—

“Want a hug?”

Before Cotton could say she wanted one very much, Moondog was hugging her tightly. She squeezed back and blinked through the tears that were forming. For a few seconds, she was able to lay all her worries by the wayside. Let them come tomorrow.

“Trust me,” Moondog whispered in her ear. “I know it’s hard, but you’ll get through this. You wouldn’t be you if you couldn’t.”

“Mmm.” Cotton buried her face in Moondog’s mane. Despite its negative-space appearance, it felt silky smooth and cool. “How come you can switch between happy-go-lucky and heartfelt on a bit?” she asked.

“It’s part of what I was made to do,” responded Moondog. “I’m happy-go-lucky when you need that, and heartfelt when you need that. If you needed grim and serious, I could be grim and serious. Even if that seems a biiiiit unlikely.”

“Heh. Yeah.” Cotton squeezed Moondog one last time before they broke off. “Thanks for stopping by. I had a bad day, I really needed this,” Cotton said.

“Just doing my job,” Moondog responded with a salute. “Adios, prima.” 

As Moondog collapsed into wisps of purple smoke, Cotton thrust out a hoof. “Wait! Before you go…” 

Moondog’s head re-formed as the rest of her body lay in smoke. “Think of something after all?”

“Could… could you check on him?”

With a sigh, Moondog shook her head. “Sorry, ‘cuz. Griffonstone’s out of Mom’s reach, so it’s out of mine, too.”

Cotton pouted. “Shoot. Well, I figured it was worth asking.”

Moondog re-formed a shoulder so she could shrug it. “Fair enough. See you soon.” With that, the purple wisps vanished into thin air.

And Cotton was alone.

Deep breaths, Cotton. Deep breaths.

The night sky blurred as Cotton stared at it. Steadclaw moving wasn’t the end of the world. It just felt like it. The lack of contact, though… it left her torn. What if…
 
No. No matter the case, she could get through this. Her family and other friends were there to help, weren’t they? They weren’t Steadclaw, but they’d been there for her. They always had, and they always would. And if literally every princess in Equestria couldn’t help, well, things were a lot worse than a missing boyfriend.

She could handle this. She could totally handle this.

Deep breaths, Cotton. Deep breaths.

Cotton re-entered the ballroom and navigated her way back to Rarity and Pinkie. “—so when you have all the apples cored,” Pinkie was saying, “you can run the string through the middle, and have motivation on a stick!” She nodded sagely.

“I…” Befuddled, Rarity shook her head. “I… see, Pinkie. …I’m sorry, how does this relate to party burnout again?”

“I have no idea!” Pinkie said cheerfully, and bounced away without another word.

Staring after her, Rarity said to Cotton, “That mare will be the last unsolved question of magic and science, won’t she?”

“Probably,” Cotton giggled.

“Hmm.” Rarity turned to Cotton and froze, mouth open. She shuffled her hooves and bit her lip. “Cotton, dearie…” She forced a smile. “I know I’ve said that I’m… okay with you modifying my designs…”

“Yyyyeaaaah…” Cotton said slowly. Had she been tweaking her clothes without really thinking about it? Or was this just part of the dream?

“But, really, did you have to modify it like that?”

“Like what?” Cotton looked down at her dress to see—Oh. Well. She pulled it out to be sure she was seeing it correctly as full lucidity hit her like a ton of bricks. “…Why is my dress covered in monogrammed duckies?”

She heard a quiet, disembodied giggle, carried through the hall on the wind.
> Chapter Forty - Sooner or Later
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After she awoke to her early alarm, Cotton made her way down the hall to the bathroom for her morning grooming. She stopped short when Luna stuck her head out of her bedroom door and past her guards with a yawn, the rest of her body staying inside the room.

“Woah! Uh, good morning, Aunt Luna.”

“Good morning, Cotton,” Luna responded with a smile. “We apologize for thrusting Ourselves into thy path, but We must ask thee; didst thou—” Her smile turned deadpan. “—have a visitor last night?”

Cotton flinched. “Uhh… Like…?”  

Luna’s expression did not change. “Like thy cousin.”

“Umm, oh, which o—”

“Second,” Luna interrupted, narrowing her eyes. “In law. Once removed.” Her narrowed eyes rolled. “We still do not understand why she uses that.” 

Resigned, Cotton sighed and nodded. “Yeah, she hung out with me a bit last night. Sorry, I didn’t want her to get in trouble. I really needed her, though; yesterday kinda sucked.”

Luna’s smile returned. “Alright, then We shant berate her. We wanted to be sure she spoketh true to Us.” She brought the rest of herself through the door, then leaned down and gave Cotton a nuzzle. “We hope thou hast a better day today.”

Cotton nuzzled her back. “Thanks, Aunt Luna. I’ll see ya later. Oh, and by the way, we just think the ‘second cousin’ thing is funny,” she said with a smile.

Luna chuckled. “‘Tis fair and simple reasoning.” After Cotton continued going down the hallway, she called, “Oh! Cotton, lest We forget…” 

Turning around, Cotton asked, “Yeah?”

“Tacca reported to Us. He wishes to speak with thee.”

“Oh. Uh, okay.”


Ж


“See ya later, everyone!” Cotton called as she reached for the door. 

“Have a good day, Cotton!” all the guards responded as usual. 

Cotton smiled, then opened the door. In an instant, a pitch-black noctis holding a salute suddenly appeared right in front of her, blocking her path. “Hey, Cotton.”

“WAH!” Cotton staggered back, falling on her rump. As she looked up, she shook her head. “Tacca, please don’t do that again.”

He blushed. “Heh, sorry.”

“It’s okay. What’s up? Aunt Luna said you wanted to talk to me, but shouldn’t you be off duty by now? Relax… or at ease, or whatever,” she giggled.

Tacca smiled as he put his hoof down. “Thanks. My shift just ended. I wanted to catch you before you left, though.”

Cotton rose back to her hooves. “Uh, okay. What’s up?” She could swear she heard another voice, almost inaudible… 

“I talked to Punch Line the other night. Cool guy, by the way. He wasn’t kidding about the neighborhood; graffiti, leftover TPs, broken windowpanes, ruined gardens… the place was a wreck. Definitely arrest-worthy offenses.”

“Geez, I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Tacca nodded. “Yeah, so I just wanted to ask you something.”

Cotton tilted her head. “Like what?”

He smirked, then reached past the doorway, out of Cotton’s view. A second later, he unceremoniously dropped a quivering, stocky, brown unicorn—hog-tied and wearing an inhibitor ring on his horn—on his rump right in front of her. “This him?”

Cotton’s eyes widened for a split second. Then a crooked smirk grew on her muzzle. “Hello, Boulder.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“W-w-w-w-what the buck is going on here? Where’s my crew? Wha—” Boulder’s eyes went wide as dinner plates as he looked up at the face of his old victim. “S-s-s-sweet Celestia… Cotton?” he cried.

Cotton nodded. “Might not have been the best idea to pick on someone who’s part of the Royal Family, hmmm?”

His gulp was noticeably large as it went down his throat. “Uuuuhhhhh…” 

“What, my dad crushing your house wasn’t enough to make you think being a jerk was a bad idea?”

“Ummmmmmmmm…” 

“Yeah, still can’t answer simple questions,” Cotton said. “Are you still seventeen?”

Boulder slowly nodded his head up and down.

“Hmph. Still qualify for juvi, then. One more year and you would’ve gone to the big stable,” Cotton said, disappointment in her tone. “Such a shame you haven’t changed. You should’ve known it’d come back to bite you in the flank sooner or later.” She looked back up at the smirking noctis and smiled. “Great job, Tacca.”

He held up a salute, his smirk shifting into a smile of his own. “Thanks, Cotton.”

Then she frowned and pointed at the ropes holding Boulder’s legs together. “I have to ask, though. Is he hurt?”

“Nope,” Tacca said, shaking his head as his smile morphed back into another smirk. “I tied him up before he even knew what was happening.”

“Yeah, I’m just a little colt,” Boulder said, two steps behind the conversation’s flow. “You can let me go now, I promise I won’t do it again.” Boulder tried to wriggle out of the ropes with limited success.

“Too bad, dude,” Tacca took his hoof and pushed down on his head to keep him in place. “You’re heading downtown with the rest of your buddies.”

Cotton’s eyes widened this time. “Wait, you already got the rest of them down there?”

Tacca laughed under his breath. “I actually got them to gallop to the jailhouse themselves.” He tilted his head down at Boulder. “Him too, I just wanted to get confirmation from you personally,” he said with a wink. “Local cops may have had an issue catching them, but not me. It’s easy when your targets can’t see what’s chasing them.”

With another chuckle, Cotton shifted her posture upright and nodded. “Well then… Yes, this is him.”

“Very good, ma’am,” he responded with a smirk.

Cotton giggled. “Alright, I have to get to work.” As Tacca moved aside so she could walk out the door, she added, “Awesome job, Tacca. Seriously.”

“Thanks, Cotton. I’ll go bring this guy down to the station and then hit the hay for the day. Have a good one!” he finished with a wave and a smile.

Bending her knees to take off, Cotton responded, “You t—wait! I just realized…” Cotton frowned, cutting herself off and turning back to him. She gestured her head at Boulder and said, “You caught him. That means you don’t have a post now…”  

Tacca shrugged as his smile faded. “Eh, happens. I’m sure Princess Luna will find something else for me sooner or later.”

Cotton shook her head. “No, I’ll talk to her about finding you something. You’re too skilled to be sitting around on your flank. I’ll get her to create a post if I have to.” 

A smile slowly grew back on Tacca’s muzzle. “Thanks, Cotton. I really appreciate that.”

She smiled back at him, then gave him a quick salute and said, “No problem. See ya!” before she rose up into the air and flew off towards the city.

Tacca looked back down at Boulder, who was almost finished untying his ropes. “Sorry, bud, not today.”

“Horseapples!”

With a snort, Tacca said, “Alright, time to bring you to the station. Ground or air?”

Boulder looked up at him. “What?”

“I said…” Tacca’s hind hoof struck the concrete beneath them with a thunk.  “…ground…” He then hooked his forearms under Boulder’s shoulders and lifted him high up into the sky with a smirk on his face. “…or air?”

Screaming at the top of his lungs, Boulder cried, “GROUND! GROUND!”

Tacca shrugged. “Oh well.” Then he flew off in the direction of the jailhouse.   

“AAAAAHHHHHHH! COTTOOOOOOOOOOONN!”

Cotton heard her name being screamed from behind her, then watched as Tacca flew by, holding a flailing Boulder in his hooves. She smiled and waved at the two of them. “Bye, Boulder! Have a nice flight!” She and Tacca winked at each other as he flew past her. 

After she landed next to the alley behind the bakery, she took her key out of her saddlebag, happily humming to herself as she walked to the door.


Ж


“Good morning, Mr. Cutter!” Cotton called as she entered the kitchen, placing her saddlebag against the wall with a smile.

Cookie Cutter poked his head through the door. “Well you sound chipper.”

Cotton shrugged. “I had a good night’s rest, I guess.”

“Good, then you’ll make those cookies twice as fast.”

Cocking a brow, Cotton responded, “Baking doesn’t work that way, Mr. Cutter, and you know that.”

“Whatever,” Cookie Cutter scoffed. “Just get to it, girl.” He then went back to the register out front.

At that moment, Cotton remembered her encounter with Dreamweaver the previous day, and her new goal. Okay, I have to find a way for someone to ask Mr. Cutter for my recipe so I can call him out. Maybe I can catch Dreamweaver’s eye when he comes in later… But there’s no window on the door. Maybe if I open it just a crack and— no, Mr. Cutter would spot me. Maybe Dreamweaver’ll just do it on his own… no, I can’t assume that. Cotton groaned. Dammit. Maybe I can get Dad to give me Dreamweaver’s address. I can talk to him later tonight and ask him to do it tomorrow, then I can make my move. Yeah, that’s probably the best way to do it. And if Dad asks why I want to see Dreamweaver I’ll just tell him we met when I was coming home and he dropped something that I need to return to him. Yeah. Yeah, that’ll work. 

Cotton heard the ding of the register, then some shuffling. After a few minutes, Cookie Cutter stepped into the kitchen. “Girl, why am I missing eight bits?” he growled.

“Uh, what are you talking about, Mr. Cutter?”

“The inventory shows I’m missing four cookies’ worth of bits. That’s eight. Where are they?”

Cotton kept her breathing even. “How should I know? I was back here all day yesterday. If you’d let me run the register then I—”

“Absolutely not, girl. You stay back here; that’s final,” the baker said with a hard stare. “I’ll figure out what happened if it’s the last thing I do.” With that, he walked back out of the kitchen, grumbling.

Whew, that was close, Cotton thought to herself. I didn’t think he actually counted each of the cookies. Dreamweaver was right—he’s totally a money-grubber. She sighed. Well, guess I’ll have to go one more day before I can make my move.

“I don’t hear any work going on in there, girl!”

Cotton’s eyes widened. “I am, Mr. Cutter!” She grabbed the chocolate chips, then collected her other ingredients.


Ж


“See you tomorrow, Mr. Cutter,” Cotton said through the crack in the kitchen door.

“Tomorrow,” Cookie Cutter grunted back.

Cotton rolled her eyes as she put on her saddlebag. I can’t wait to call him out. Then, he’ll actually let me run the register, and give me the credit I deserve! She exited the kitchen and locked the door, then walked down the alley and out to the sidewalk.

Just as she was about to lift off, she noticed a crumpled piece of parchment rolling across her front hooves. She watched the parchment roll down to the corner. She was about to simply dismiss it when she heard a whistle from the other direction. She turned her head to see where the parchment had come from, and found a smiling stallion waving at her from a short distance away.

Dreamweaver approached her, still smiling. “Awesome, I was hoping I wouldn’t scare you.” 

Cotton smiled back. “Hey! How’d you know I’d—”

“Apprenticeships usually run similarly to school hours. I figured you’d be leaving around now,” he replied. “I saw the cookie label hadn’t changed when I came in at lunch, so I thought I’d try to catch you. You didn’t call Cutter out yet, did you?”

Shaking her head, Cotton answered, “Not yet. You’re actually the exact pony I wanted to see—I was hoping you could help me out with that.”

“Sure thing. What do you want me to do?” Dreamweaver asked.

“Well, I think the best way to get him to admit to stealing my recipe is for somebody to ask him for it. He won’t know it, so he’ll have to admit that, and then I can call him out at the end of the day and say I heard him.”

Dreamweaver frowned. “That’s a solid idea, but what if he just says the recipe’s a secret?”

Cotton slumped her shoulders. “Shoot, I didn’t think of that.”

“I could just call him out on it right there.”

Furrowing her brows, Cotton shook her head. “No, if he tries to pull that, I’ll just come out of the kitchen and do it. I’m fine asking for help, but I need to stand up for myself.”

Dreamweaver smiled. “Sounds fair to me. Let’s hope things go your way tomorrow.” He held up a hoof to her.

“Yep,” Cotton responded simply, bumping his hoof. “Thanks a lot for the help.”

“You’re welcome,” he said with a nod. He turned around and walked down the sidewalk, and Cotton flew off toward the castle.


Ж


After a quick conversation with Mortar and Howitzer, Cotton walked through the castle’s main doors. “Hey, everyone!”

“Good afternoon, Cotton,” the guards responded, a little less cheery than usual.

Cotton tilted her head, then saw another familiar guard approaching her. “Bastion! What are you doing down here? You’re supposed to be at my dad’s doors with Ravelin.”

Bastion nodded. “I still am, but your dad wanted me to bring you to him when you got back.”

As the two of them approached the stairs, Cotton said, “You sound a little more… stern than usual, Bastion. Everything okay?”

The guard let out a breath. “Talk to your dad.”

Cotton’s eyebrows made her worry apparent as they ascended the staircase and walked towards Spike’s room. “Is… is he mad at me? Did I do some—”

“No, you didn’t,” Bastion answered, shaking his head. “I can tell you that much.”

As they arrived at Spike’s doors, Cotton addressed the other stationed guard. “Hey, Ravelin. What’s going on?”

Ravelin shook his head. “Talk to your dad, Cotton.”

Cotton sighed. “Well, I obviously have no choice.” She opened her father’s doors and walked into the massive room, closing the doors behind her with a dull boom. She found Spike’s back to her, along with what sounded like crying and deep breaths. “Daddy? What’s going on?”

Spike’s earfins lifted, then he turned his head around. He let out a deep sigh before he said, “Hey there, sweetie. I’m glad you’re home. Could you come here for a minute?”

“Sure,” she replied, nodding as she approached her father. As she neared him, the crying became progressively louder. When she got close enough, she saw her aunt Twilight laying next to Spike’s claw; she had been the source of the tears. At least, a source. “Aunt Twilight? What’s wrong?”

Twilight looked up, her eyes bloodshot. She sniffled once, then said, “H-hello, Cotton. H-how was w-work?”

Cotton tilted her head. “Uh… alright.” She walked closer, then repeated, “What’s wrong, Aunt Twilight?”

Twilight took a few breaths. “I… I…” She sniffled again and shook her head.

As Cotton turned to look at her father, she noticed a guest laying by Spike’s other claw, her face buried between his talons and also crying. “Aunt Cadance? What…” She stopped herself, shifting her gaze between the two princesses.

Cadance sniffled, then slowly lifted her head to look at Cotton. Her eyes were also red and bloodshot, but her tears flowed more freely than her sister-in-law’s. After another sniffle, she shook her head and buried her muzzle in Spike’s talons again.

Cotton looked up at her father, and she noticed that despite his neutral expression, he also had streaks down his cheeks. She looked around the room, first at Twilight, then Cadance, then her father, who looked back down at her, silent. After another moment, it clicked. Her eyes widened as her muzzle fell slightly open. Spike caught her expression, and he simply nodded, then a tear squeezed its way out of his massive eye. Cotton slowly raised a hoof to her muzzle, her eyes once again shifting between the room’s occupants before they settled on Cadance.

“Oh no…”
> Chapter Forty-One - It Comes with the Territory
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton trudged through the bakery’s back door, setting her saddlebag against the wall before letting her key drop to the floor. She opened the door to the front room just a crack and found Cookie Cutter at the register, counting the till.

“Mr. Cutter? Can I talk to you for a second?” Cotton asked.

The baker turned around, satisfied that she was still unseen. He grunted, then walked through the door after Cotton had stepped aside. “What is it, girl?”

Cotton sighed. “I need to take some time off. My uncle just passed away. I’m leaving this morning, but I’ll only be gone until Monday, so I’m only gonna miss another two days.”

Cookie Cutter snorted. “Time off? You want time off? This is a full-time job, girl. You can’t just go and take days off like that. I’m already giving you weekends.”

Her eyes widened. “But… but Mr. Cutter, the funeral is Saturday! He was really important to us. I need to be with my family!”

“If you want to keep this job, where you need to be is here, girl.”

“You don’t pay me!” Cotton cried. “Why would I need to stay here? All I came here for was experience!”

“And you’re getting that here.”

Cotton furrowed her brows. “No I’m not! You haven’t taught me anything! All I’ve done is bake my own recipes while you run the register. I get nothing out of it! I’m practically your slave!”

Cookie Cutter’s eyes narrowed. “You’re getting practice.” 

“I could do that at home! I have everything I need! I’ve gotten nothing from you for the last two months except demands, demands, demands!” Cotton took a deep breath to calm herself. “Look, I don’t care what you say; I’m going whether you like it or not.”

As she turned to exit the kitchen, the baker retorted, “Girl, if you walk out that door, you’re not coming back.”

Cotton turned around and snorted at him. “You’re bluffing, Mr. Cutter. I know you don’t want me to leave. You need me.”

“And what makes you say that, girl?”

“Because I know what you’ve been doing.” She stormed past Cookie Cutter and marched into the front room.

“Hey! Get back here, girl!”

“No,” Cotton responded, with steel in her voice. “Know why I know you need me?” She walked toward the plate of cookies on the counter.

Cookie Cutter tried to step in front of her, but she pushed him away as he cried, “Hey! Don’t you da—” 

Cotton picked up the stand that held the label for the plate, then shoved it into Cookie Cutter’s face. “Because otherwise you won’t have anyone to bake your special cookies.”

The baker growled. “I can do just fine without you, girl.”

“Horseapples,” Cotton spat. “I know these have been your best seller. Why else would they be the first thing I make every single day?” She pulled the label from the stand and ripped it in half, then threw the stand to the floor behind her. “You’re nothing without me.” She picked up the plate and flipped it upside down, letting the previous day’s leftover cookie fall to the floor and crumble. Internally cheering to herself when she saw the baker’s muzzle drop, she gently put the plate back in its place, then simply said, “You’re on your own.” She pushed the kitchen door open and walked into the back, then moved for her saddlebag. Cookie Cutter hurried after her.

With a barely audible quaver, the baker said, “I’ll give you one chance, girl. You stay here, I’ll put your name on the cookie label. But if you walk out that door, you’re fired, and I’ll make sure you never work for another confectioner in this entire city.”

Cotton snorted. “Do what you want, Mr. Cutter, but nothing you do will prevent me from making a name for myself.” The baker saw her pick something up off the floor in front of her saddlebag with her wing, then toss the bag over her back. She walked up to the door, then stopped and turned toward him. Shaking her head, she said, “And no, Mr. Cutter, I’m not fired.” Cotton swung her wing in his direction, and her key flew into his chest; the baker winced as it bounced off him and landed on the floor. Then she flipped her center pinion up at him. “I quit.” Folding her wing, she opened the door, walked out, and slammed the door shut, causing the kitchen shelves to rattle, and an open box of chocolate chips to fall off and scatter around his hooves.


Ж


“Daddy, we’re gonna be inside the barrier; we won’t have to deal with the cold. Well, I won’t. Do I really need to bring winter wear?” Cotton asked from her bedroom door.

Spike nodded. “Cotton, the barrier is powered by the Crystal Heart, which is powered by the Crystal Ponies’ spirits, including Cadance and Flurry Heart. They are all going to be in mourning, so their spirits won’t be particularly high. That means the Crystal Heart will have little power. If it doesn’t have any power in reserve, there’s a possibility that the barrier may drop.” Cotton’s ears drooped. “Please, Cotton, at the very least, bring a scarf.”

Nodding, Cotton responded, “Yeah. Okay.”

“I assume you got permission from your boss to take leave for the weekend?”

“Don’t worry about it, I can go,” Cotton said, closing her door.

With that, Spike walked back to his own bedroom, where he found Celestia and Luna conversing. 

“Sister, thou needst not ask. We will stay behind,” Luna said. “Their needs take precedence over Ours.” 

Celestia hesitated. “Luna, are you certain? Not to sound like mother, but you’re already still up way past your normal bedtime.” Luna let out a little snort. “Will you have enough energy to run everything? Are you prepared for that meeting with the Griffonian ambassador? What about—”

Luna chuckled, “Thou dost indeed sound like mother.” As Celestia blushed, she continued, “Thou needst not worry. Thou shalt only be gone a few days; the citizens of Canterlot will understand if the courts are temporarily closed. Besides, this shouldst be a time of mourning for all of Equestria. However, shouldst anything urgent arise, We shall ask Miss Inkwell to aid Us.”

As a small smile grew on Celestia’s muzzle, she nodded, then let out a relieved sigh and gave Luna a hug. “Thank you, Lulu. You always did know how to put my mind at ease.”

Luna smirked as the two broke apart. “Indeed, though We are also quite adept at piloting thee across the ceiling.”

As Celestia’s eyebrow nearly left her forehead, Spike belly-laughed, and Twilight entered the room from behind him. As she approached she said, “The Equish butcher means ‘driving you up the wall,’ Celestia.”

Celestia’s brow slammed back to her eye, and her hoof slammed her face. “Yes. Yes you are, Luna.” Luna and Spike both laughed again, then Celestia joined them. “But you certainly know how to lift the spirit. That’ll make for a more positive appearance when we all arrive. Thank you.”

“Certainly, Sister. Please, give Cadenza and Flurry Heart Our condolences and best wishes.”

“We will,” Spike said.

Luna turned and looked up at him. “And dost thou have thy fire rubies for the flight, Spike?”

Spike nodded. “They’re waiting for me in the main hall. After all these years, I still can’t believe we haven’t figured out a way to help me teleport. I did it with Twilight all the time when I was young.”

“Yes, but you’re just a bit bigger now.”

With a shrug, Spike said, “Well, I guess I’ll deal with the rubies, then. Tell Cadance and Flurry that I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?”

“Absolutely, Spike,” Celestia replied. “Ah, Cotton, are you ready?”

As Cotton walked through Spike’s doors, wearing a scarf and a hat, she nodded. “Mhm.” Then she looked up at her father. “Are you gonna be okay in the cold, Daddy?”

Spike let out a little a chuckle. “Yes, Cotton. You know this isn’t my first flight to the Empire. And it’s still autumn, so the temperatures should be… well, decent, considering.”

“Alright. Just be careful.”

“I will, sweetie,” Spike responded, and he kissed Cotton on her cheek. “Thank you for your concern.”

“Of course, Daddy.” She returned the gesture in kind, then began walking to where Celestia and Twilight were waiting. Then she swerved and went to Luna instead. “Hold on. Aunt Luna, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Luna’s eyebrows rose, then she saw Cotton’s expression shift. “Of course, Cotton. What troubles thee?”

“Well, you already know, but Tacca fulfilled my request to find that gang.”

With a smile, Luna said, “Indeed, he informed Us. ‘Tis a problem?”

“Well, yeah. He doesn’t have a post anymore.” 

Luna’s smile dropped. “Thou art correct. Verily, ‘tis indeed a predicament.”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah. Do you think you could find something else for him?”

Luna sighed. “We shall do Our best, Cotton, but few—if any—posts are available for Our noctii.” After a pause, she added, “But We shall speak with him.”

With a smile, Cotton nuzzled her. “Thanks, Aunt Luna. I promised him a post.” 

Luna returned the nuzzle. “Thy diligence is commendable, Cotton.” She smirked. “And thy liberty with Our authority knows no bounds.”

Cotton leaned back and shrugged. “I try.” She then walked to Celestia and Twilight, centering herself between her two aunts. As Cotton felt Twilight put a hoof on her withers, she said to Spike, “We’ll see you there, Dad.” 

Spike nodded, then the three of them vanished in a flash of light. 

As he and Luna walked out of the castle’s main doors into the chill autumn air, Spike turned around to address the guards in the hall. “Gentlecolts, Princesses Celestia and Twilight and I will be gone until Monday. Princess Luna will be in command until our return. Should any of your brethren not be aware of this, please fill them in.” 

“Yes Sir!” the guards responded in unison.

“And she may be a bit groggy during the day, so should she request assistance of any kind, fulfill her wishes immediately.”

“Yes Sir!”

He smirked. “And be wary if she sleepwalks.”

“Yes Sir!”

Luna looked up at him with a deadpan expression. “T’was an unnecessary addendum, Spike.”

Spike gently poked her in the side. “Hey, you bug my sister all the time. Can’t blame me for getting you back on her behalf.”

Luna rolled her eyes and let out a short sigh. “Observe as We blame thee regardless!”

“But I do have to tell you,” Spike continued, “‘Pilot across the ceiling’ is the best thing I’ve heard since ‘toss over the chariot.’”

The two of them both laughed, and the guards chuckled under their breaths. Luna shrugged and replied, “We try. Besides, ‘tis amusing to rub thy sister in the incorrect manner.”

Spike smiled and shook his head as he walked out the doors, Luna following him out. “You’re incorrigible.”

“We are well aware,” she responded with a smirk.

With a chuckle and a sigh, Spike said, “Thank you, Luna. That’ll make the trip a little easier.”

“Thou art quite welcome, Spike. As Pinkie Pie doth say, ‘Smile, smile, smile.’” She paused for a beat, then added before Spike could take off, “Thy brother was most loved.”

Spike nodded, then lifted off for the trip north.


Ж


As Cotton, Celestia, and Twilight appeared in front of the Crystal Heart, they found Cadance and Flurry Heart waiting for them. Twilight and Celestia walked to Cadance and gave her a hug; Cotton did the same to Flurry Heart.

“Cousin Flurry, I’m so sorry,” Cotton told her. “Are you okay? I mean, as okay as you can be.”

Flurry took a deep breath and sighed, then she slowly nodded. “We’re… adjusting. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Cotton leaned her head on Flurry’s shoulder. “I can imagine.”

With the barest hint of a smile, Flurry unfurled one of her massive wings and enveloped Cotton, holding her tight. “Yes, if anypony can, it’s you, Cotton.” She folded her wing back and broke from the hug. “Thank you for coming.”

Nodding, Cotton said, “Of course. My dad’s on his way, but Aunt Luna had to stay behind.” 

Flurry nodded in return. “Yeah, somepony has to keep the castle running. Hopefully you don’t go home and find it on fire,” she giggled.

Cotton held a hoof to her muzzle. “I… actually could see that happening.” When she looked over toward her aunts, she found Celestia holding Twilight and Cadance in her wings, both of them with their muzzles buried in her chest, weeping. “I’ll… say hi to your mom later.”

“Smart,” Flurry said simply. “She’s barely stopped since it happened. Honestly, I bet you could go take a tour of the city and come back and she’d still be sitting in Auntie Celestia’s wings.”

Cotton’s eyebrows tilted up. “That bad?”

Flurry nodded silently with her eyes closed. “She hasn’t even slept. Despite Dad’s age, I think Mom just believed he would never leave her. Ever.” She sighed. “But he wasn’t an alicorn. It was bound to happen sooner or later.” Flurry took in a deep breath and sighed, then looked over at Cadance. “I’m trying to put on a brave face for her…” She sniffled. “…but it’s only a matter of time before I break, too.”

“You’re allowed to, y’know. You don’t have to be brave all the time.” 

Turning back to Cotton, Flurry found a scarred wing on her shoulder. She glanced at the wing briefly, then softly smiled. “You can’t break until somepony is there to lean on, and Mom can’t do that right now.” Flurry leaned on Cotton’s shoulder, as if it was the only thing keeping her standing. “Thanks, ‘cuz.”

Cotton returned the smile. “You’re welcome.” She moved closer into Flurry’s forearms again, this time wrapping her own wings around the alicorn’s form.


Ж


“So Princess Flurry Heart actually told you to go out and come back?”

“Yeah,” Cotton answered, leaning on the table in front of her. “She wasn’t kidding about my aunts; they looked like they weren’t gonna stop crying anytime soon, and my dad isn’t here yet. Then again, they did just lose their husband and brother of like, sixty and ninety years. Or somewhere around there. My cousin seems to be handling it a little better right now, so she was coherent enough to tell me I had time to come see you guys before I settle in. She told me you were staying here with Professor Sunburst and Dr. Glimmer. How’s the studying going, Chryssie?”

“Good,” Chrysanthemum replied. “Buzz has been a huge help. I don’t know what I’d do without him,” she said, putting a foreleg around the changeling sitting next to her.

Buzz blushed. “Hey, I’m just doing what I can. I wasn’t really needed at the hive, so Ambassador Thorax gave me permission to come up here. He said I’d really like it, and he was right!” 

“Yeah, you just like it ‘cause there’s a spa right around the corner,” Chryssie said, nudging him in the side. Then she turned to Cotton and added, “I didn’t think he was one to like being pampered.”

“That’s not the only reason!” Buzz retorted. “I mean, I do like the shine on my chitin… But really, it’s more because it’s not boring around here; it’s a change of pace from the hive, and the ponies are really nice, especially Professor Sunburst and Dr. Glimmer. Gotta admit, though, it’s really funny seeing a statue of your dad when he was a little hatchling every day.”

Cotton giggled. “Yeah, I had to hold in my laughter the first time I saw it.” She looked around the room. “Hey, speaking of Professor Sunburst and Dr. Glimmer, where are they?”

“Oh, they’re up at the castle helping to prepare for the service on Saturday,” Chrysanthemum replied. “They trust us to stay out of trouble while they’re gone. We actually try to clean up a little if they’re out. They’re giving both of us free room and board, after all. And eventually a job for me.”

“I’m sure they appreciate that. I bet you turn into a good broom, Buzz,” Cotton laughed.

“Actually, yeah, he does,” Chrysanthemum countered. 

Buzz groaned and shook his head. “Fillies… Can’t live with ya, can’t live without ya. Juvi definitely taught me that.” 

Chrysanthemum chuckled. “Yeah, totally can’t live without me. I could still feed you without bringing in contraband. All the other colts hated you for that.”

Blushing, Cotton said, “Oh yeah, sorry for walking in on you two that day. Only time I’ve ever seen a changeling like, feed is when Flarechaser and Zora-Terra go at it, and he’s always been in disguise. Doesn’t look anything like what I saw you two doing.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot Flarechaser’s with a changeling, too,” Chrysanthemum commented. Turning to Buzz, she smirked and added, “You guys are invading all over again.”

Buzz held a hoof to his muzzle and said, “Shhhhh! Nobody’s supposed to know!”

Chrysanthemum whacked him in the back of his head. “We’re in the same city as the alicorn that your queen abducted, you really think it’s a good idea to joke about that?”

“Ow! C’mon, everyone knows I’m joking!”

“You broke the Treaty, smartflank,” Chrysanthemum deadpanned.

“Standing up for Cotton!” Buzz retorted, gesturing in Cotton’s direction.

“Thanks for that,” Cotton said with a genuine smile, “but it still wasn’t the smartest idea. Did Queen Chrysalis have anything to say about it?”

“Ambassador Thorax said she was proud of me for standing up for you, but it was stupid to do it,” he sighed.

Chrysanthemum giggled. “Yeah, that sounds about right. You didn’t have to do it, y’know. If I remember right, Steadclaw was already about to fight for her.”

Buzz suddenly perked up. “Hey! Speaking of, Cotton, how is Beak Breath? You two’re still writing to each other, right?”

Cotton’s eyes widened, then they drooped as she looked downward. Her ears flattened, and her head fell into her crossed forearms like a dead weight. 

Taken aback at the sudden mood shift, Buzz asked, “Uh, should I take that as a no?”  

Turning her head sideways, still looking down, Cotton nodded silently.

Buzz tilted his head at her. “Huh? But you two were like, the perfect couple.”

Cotton nodded again.

“But wait, what hap—”

Chrysanthemum elbowed him hard in his side.

“Ow! What was that for? I just—”

She shoved a hoof in his mouth, shaking her head with her brows furrowed. Then her eyes softened as she leaned toward Cotton and placed a hoof on one of her forearms. “I’m sorry, Cotton. Sometimes boys just kinda suck.”

“Hey!”

“Case in point.”

“Hey!”

Cotton let herself chuckle once, then a tear dropped to the table.

Buzz flinched slightly as his fillyfriend’s eyes bore into his. “You need a lesson in tact.” 


Ж


“Hey, Cotton. How was your visit with your friends?” Flurry Heart asked as Cotton walked into the castle’s main hall.

Cotton shrugged. “Okay. They’re doing well.”

Flurry cocked a brow at her. “Based on that tone, it doesn’t sound like it was an ‘okay’ visit.”

With a sigh, Cotton said, “It’s kind of a long story.”

Tilting her head, Flurry asked, “I know what that means, but would you mind telling me anyway? It might… keep my mind off what’s going on here.”

Cotton cocked a brow back at her. “You’re gonna play that card, huh?” Flurry blushed and nodded. “Alright, I’ll humor you.”

Sitting on her haunches, Flurry simply responded, “Thanks. I do want to know what’s going on, though.”

Cotton nodded and followed Flurry’s example, then began, “You remember my boyfriend, Steadclaw?” Flurry nodded back at her. “Well… he’s not really my boyfriend anymore.”

Flurry’s eyes widened. “Oh, my mother is going to murder him.”

Despite her single chuckle, Cotton just said, “I dunno, but she may not have to.”


Ж


As Flurry guided her to one of the guest rooms, Cotton asked her, “Wait, Auntie Celestia went back home?”

Flurry Heart nodded. “Yeah, not too long after you went to see your friends. A letter from Aunt Luna showed up, and she left after she read it. She said she’d be back, though.”

“So where are your mom and Aunt Twilight?”

“They’re up in the baths to try and calm their nerves a bit,” Flurry answered.

“Oh, in the hot tub?” Cotton asked.

“Yeah. It tends to help,” Flurry said.

Cotton looked back over her shoulder. “Do you know where my dad is? I know the weather coming up north is crazy, but I figured he’d be here by now.”

Flurry shrugged. “No, he hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe the winds are even rougher than they look out there.”

“You think maybe something happened last-minute and he hasn’t left yet?” Cotton asked.

“Also possible,” Flurry replied.

“Huh. You want me to go back and check?” Cotton asked. “I’d need you to bring me there.”

Flurry hummed to herself. “That isn’t a bad idea. I’d need to come right back, though. If Rutherford comes looking for me and I’m not here, this place’ll be subjected to a level of chaos Uncle Discord would be proud of.”

“That’s alright. If my dad’s still there I’ll have him send you a letter. If he isn’t then he’s probably on his way up. I’ll come back with Auntie Celestia either way.”

Nodding, Flurry responded, “Sounds like a plan. Come here.”

As Cotton walked up next to Flurry, the alicorn wrapped a wing around her, then they were both gone in a flash of light.


Ж


As soon as the mares appeared in Spike’s room, Flurry Heart released Cotton from her wing and folded it back against her side. “I’ll see you all when you get back, okay? Aunties forbid something’s going on, we’ve still got another day before the service.”

Cotton nodded. “Yep. See you soon.”

As soon as Flurry Heart disappeared, Cotton saw her father in the back of his room, donning various components of metal armor. He turned around at the same moment she cried, “Daddy?!”

Spike jumped in the middle of slipping on his breastplate, then his eyes widened as they fell upon his daughter. “Cotton?! What in Equestria are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“Cousin Flurry,” Cotton answered. “Why haven’t you left yet? And why are you putting on armor?!"

“I did leave. Your Aunt Celestia sent me a letter and asked me to come back,” he replied, securing the breastplate to his front.

“But what’s with the armor?”

As if he only had a single breath left, he quickly answered, “Your aunts were in a meeting with the Griffonian ambassador; the griffons want control of Griffonstone.” 

“And?”

“Celestia and Luna tried to negotiate, but the Ambassador refused.”

“And?”

With everything else secure, Spike slammed his helmet on his head.

“The griffons have declared war.”
> Chapter Forty-Two - Moral Support
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What?! War?!”

Spike nodded. “Yes, sweetie, and they’re already on their way. King Talonius apparently anticipated that your aunts would not simply give up Griffonstone. It’s possible they may be less than a half-hour away, so we need to be prepared. I’ve already sent a letter to Ember for assistance, and Celestia and Luna are rallying both the Solar and Lunar Royal Guard.”

“Hold up, did you say ‘Talonius’?” Cotton asked.

Spike nodded. “Yes, he won the Griffonian Coronation Tournament last year. Why?”

“There was a Talonius II from Griffonia in my junior class in high school. He left not long before the dance that y— Wait, the what?”

Spike huffed. “The griffons hold a tournament for the throne every five years. That’s why your classmate was gone; he was watching his father compete for the crown.” 

Cotton shrugged. “Okay then. Wait, what about Uncle Discord? He’d probably win a war in like, two minutes!”

Shaking his head, Spike responded, “Discord has been barred from all matters of Equestrian warfare.”

“What?” Cotton cried. “Why the heck—”

“Equestria is the strongest kingdom on Equus, Cotton,” Spike interrupted. “Not because of Discord, but because of how we train our troops. If we brought in Discord for every military dispute, we would look like cowards hiding behind one of the most powerful beings in existence who just happens to be an ally. We can’t have other nations thinking that if Discord was out of the picture, we would be easily defeated. They would target Discord, and he’s… vulnerable to certain arguments. We don’t want to tempt him. Since we’re seen as an intimidating force, and we also have the dragons as our allies thanks to Ember, nobody dares start a dispute with us, which is why we enjoy peace. At least, that’s the logic your aunts explained to me, and I trust them. Clearly it isn’t always true, though.”

He then walked up to his desk, picked up a quill and parchment, and started writing.

“What are you doing, Daddy?” Cotton asked him.

“I’m sending a message to your cousin. Celestia and I will likely have to miss Shining’s memorial service.”

“You wouldn’t have to if you asked Uncle Discord—” 

Spike interrupted her, “And I want her to keep Twilight and Cadance out of the loop.”

“Why? Wouldn’t they want—”

Spike continued on, “And I’m telling her to come back and get you.”

“What?!” Cotton cried. “No! I’m not going anywhere!”

Blowing a gout of smoke out his nostrils, Spike turned and glared at her. “Cotton, you have no reason to stay. You have no training, you can’t be on the battlefield. I wouldn’t let you either way. Besides, Twilight, Cadance, and Flurry Heart need you more; you’ll be good moral support for them. I’m sorry, Cotton, but there’s nothing you can do here. You’ll be safer back at the Crystal Empire.” He then blew the parchment away with his flame.

“No way! There’s gotta be something I can do!” 

Spike growled at her. “Cotton! I will not let you do anything that will get you injured! Or your aunts forbid, killed! There is nothing you can do here; you are going back to the Crystal Empire to support your aunts and cousin!”

A light bulb turned on in Cotton’s head. “Like Tartarus there’s nothing I can do!” She turned on her hoof and galloped for the exit.

“Cotton! Where do you think you’re going?!” Spike roared.

“To the kitchen!” she answered.

“What in Equestria for?!” Spike cried.

Heaving open one of Spike’s doors, Cotton rushed out and called back, “Moral support!”


Ж


Luna stood in her observation tower, equipped in her own set of armor, with a lance beside her. 

“They are on the horizon! They indeed approacheth from the west!”

With her proclamation in the Royal Canterlot Voice, she fastened the lance beneath her right wing, then jumped off the tower to glide back to ground level where Celestia and Spike both stood.

“What do you council? You always did have the better tactical mind, Luna. Do they have a superior force?” Celestia asked her.

“It appears they approacheth airbound. ‘Tis not surprising; maneuvering through the city wouldst be most difficult.”

Celestia nodded. “True. Are we going to stick to the strategy you recommended?”

Luna nodded, then shifted her posture and gestured her hooves in various directions. “Indeed. T’wouldst be wise for us not to mesh our forces so we may command our own Guard more easily; thou with thy Solar Guard, Us with Our Lunar, as we prepared. We shall fly over the city and command civilians to retreat to the nearest shelter to prevent casualties amongst the innocent, but shouldst the griffons attempt to attack our ponies amongst the buildings, Our Lunar Guard wouldst be better equipped to move through any shadow and prevent such attacks. They all also have the capability of flight, and thus can scan the city more easily. 

“Thy unicorns would be better suited for the open field. Their ranges are wider, and they’ll not risk harming innocents shouldst their attacks backfire. And We apologize for saying this again, but thy pegasi are not as graceful as Our noctii, so t’would be wiser for them to have a larger range in which to fly.”

“And I’ll be in the rear with Celestia so I don’t risk any damage to the city if I use my fire.”

“Indeed,” Luna responded. “‘Tis also wise for thee to guard Celestia. But if the two of ye hath other suggestions, We shall heed them,” Luna finished, switching her gaze between Spike and her sister.

Celestia shook her head. “I trust your judgement, Luna.” 

“As do I,” Spike added. 

“But speaking of fire,” Celestia began, “that would likely guarantee death on the other side. Is there any chance we can battle with the intent to only disarm and not kill?”

Luna sighed. “Thy heart doth betray thee, sister. This is war.”

With a frown, Celestia responded, “So that’s a no?”

Luna solemnly shook her head. “Such a lack of resolve wouldst result in defeat.”

Letting out a deep breath, Celestia replied, “Very well.” 

“I’ll probably need to minimize how much I use my fire anyway, Tia,” Spike said. “Our own forces will be intertwined with theirs; I don’t want to risk harming our own.”

“True. I’ll admit, that actually puts my mind at ease a little.” 

“Then ‘tis agreed,” Luna said. “We shall defend the front gates, the two of ye the rear.”

Spike and Celestia both nodded. “And the medics are at the ready,” Celestia added.

Before they split, Spike asked, “Wait; what about Cotton?”

Celestia cocked a brow. “What about Cotton? Isn’t she at the Crystal Empire with Twilight, Cadance, and Flurry Heart?”

Spike shook his head. “She’s back here in the castle. I don’t have time to explain, but I already sent another letter to Flurry Heart to let her know. Cotton’s in the kitchen baking cookies; she wants to try and increase morale, but I doubt she’ll be able to distribute them before the battle starts. Is there any way we could manage that?”

Luna sighed. “Nay. T’wouldst be—” A light bulb went on above her head. “‘Tis not possible for Cotton to distribute her cookies before battle, but they wouldst serve as good incentive for our forces to fight harder,” she chuckled.

With a smile, Celestia responded, “Very true. There’s no greater reward in this castle than Cotton’s sweets.”

“Verily,” Luna said.

“Can we send a messenger to tell her that?” Spike asked. “That way she won’t stress herself trying to get thousands of cookies ready in one shot.”

Celestia nodded. “I can arrange that.” 

“Nay, We shall. Our spy is faster.”

Turning to Luna, Celestia nodded again and said, “I won’t argue with you.” Looking between the two of them, she said, “Good luck, Luna. Spike, let’s be off.”

As Spike turned, Luna’s eyes suddenly widened. “Spike, one moment,” she said. “Before we begin, We wish for a single favor of thee.”

“What?”

Luna smirked. “‘Tis Our turn.”
> Chapter Forty-Three - The War of the Chocolate Chip
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon! I never thought ten minutes could feel like an hour.”

Scowling over her shoulder at the timer in the kitchen, Cotton watched as it ticked down, still showing approximately two minutes remaining. Multiple trays of raw dough sat on one side of the massive counter, waiting for their turn to take the heat.

“Cotton, I could still—”

“No, Twist,” Cotton said, as she continued rolling out the next batch of dough, “no magic to speed up the process. Remember what happened the last time we tried that?”

Tasty Twist rubbed the back of his head. “…Please don’t remind me.”

“Hey, your fault for suggesting it.” 

After another two minutes of kneading, the timer finally went off. Twist quickly opened each of the five ovens’ doors with his aura and took out the trays, placing them on the opposite side of the counter reserved for finished meals. He activated a fire ruby positioned above them to keep them heated, then lifted the waiting trays and slid them into a corresponding oven, each still heated at the appropriate temperature. He closed the doors and set the knob for the timer once again. After doing so, he approached Cotton so he could look over her shoulder and watch her work.

“Cotton, are you sure I can’t do anything else?”

Breaking off pieces of the dough to set on another tray, she shook her head. “There’s kind of a touch to it, Twist, and I hate to say it, but you don’t have it. Not for these, at least. If we were making anything else, I’d gladly say yes.”

Letting out a quick breath, Twist turned to give her her space and said, “Alright. Just let me know if—wah!”

Cotton glanced up at him. “What?”

“Somepony’s here for you, Cotton.”

Turning around, Cotton found Tacca at the entrance, holding his usual salute.

“Tacca! What are you doing here?” Cotton asked.

“Princess Luna sent me,” he said. “She wanted me to tell you there isn’t time to give your cookies out before the battle. The griffons are already here.”

Cotton slammed her hind hoof on the floor. "Dammit!”

“But they want you to keep going.”

Looking back at him, she simply said, “Huh?”

Tacca nodded, then he smirked. “The Princesses said they’ll be good incentive for everyone to make it back alive.” As Cotton smiled, he continued, “You just don’t need to stress about making a million a minute.”

Cotton let out a breath. “Thanks, Tacca. That will make this a little easier.”

“Just doing what I can to help,” he responded. Then he continued, “Speaking of help, I need to get out there myself. I’ve got an important position at the front gates. Well, it’s brief, but it’s important.”

Nodding at him, Cotton said, “Good luck, and be safe.” Then she smirked. “And here.” Quickly walking up to a tray of finished cookies, she grabbed one and tossed it upward. In a split second, she saw Tacca grin before the cookie vanished into thin air. When she looked back at him, she found him chewing.

Tacca swallowed, a look of sheer bliss covering his features. Then he smiled and simply said, “Thanks” before he disappeared without a trace.

Tasty Twist looked at the now unoccupied space where the noctis had stood, then turned to Cotton, his eyes wide.

“Yeah, he’s quick,” Cotton said. “Really quick.”

Shaking his head, Twist looked back at the entrance and responded, “I can see that.”


Ж


“Luna, you’re the one that told us you’d be protecting the castle’s front gates. Is this really necessary?” Celestia asked her.

Luna thrust out her lower lip. “We beg thee, Tia, thou hast had thy moment to shine. We only request a mere ten seconds. We shall join Our guard after that. Shouldst the griffons attempt a frontal attack, Our spy is holding command for the moment.” 

Despite his inability to see Luna’s plea, Spike rolled his eyes. “Fine, just hold on.”

As the enemy approached striking distance, Luna held up her lance in her aura and cried, “For thy fallen captain! ATTAAAAAAAACK!” from atop Spike’s back.


Ж


“ATTAAAAAAAACK!”

Cotton could hear her aunt’s cry from inside the kitchen, despite the multiple layers of stone between the room and the outside. Looking up to Tasty Twist, she said, “Sounds like it’s started. Tartarus be damned, they better not get hurt.”

“All we can do is hope, Cotton,” Twist responded. “Ah, here we go.” A moment later, the timer went off again. “Next batch is ready.”

“Good,” Cotton replied. “So are these.” She put the last ball of dough on the tray in front of her, then added it to a set of four trays. 

With a smile and a shake of his head, Twist said, “I have no idea how you do that so quickly, Cotton. You really need to teach me.”

Cotton smirked. “Sorry, Twist, this can’t be taught.”

“Bah,” Twist responded, taking the next batch of finished cookies out of the ovens and placing them with the others. “I’ll get it out of you one day,” he chuckled, putting in the next set of trays.

“You wish,” Cotton responded, sticking her tongue out at him with a smirk. After the brief moment of levity, Cotton once again focused on her cookie preparations. “Damn, I wish I could see what’s going on out there. I still think we should’ve asked Uncle Discord to help.”

“Sorry, m’dear, but they won’t let me.”

Twist flinched at the sound and saw Discord perched on top of Cotton’s mane, leaning over the front to look her in the eye. 

Cotton made no such reaction; she just smirked, blowing upward out the side of her mouth and causing Discord to fly up into the air. He opened an umbrella as he floated back down to her shoulder. “What are you doing here, Unc?”

“Well, I was sitting up on the hill ready to watch the battle with a simply marvelous view,” he replied, tossing a piece of popcorn from a conjured bag and catching it in his mouth, “but I heard you’d like to do the same.”

“I’m a little busy here, Unc,” Cotton responded in slight annoyance.

“My, how fresh,” Discord said, waving his paw at her. “That doesn’t mean you can’t have a little something in the background.” After growing back to his normal size to float in the air above Cotton’s head, he snapped his eagle talons, and the cabinets in front of her disappeared, a television suddenly replacing them on the wall with a black-and-white moving picture of the castle’s rear gates. As a remote appeared in Discord’s claw, he added, “I don’t understand why these things don’t come standard with color. Must be an add-on.” With a snap of his paw, colors from the full spectrum of the rainbow filled up the screen. “Ah, much better.”

Cotton looked up at him and smiled. “Thanks, Unc.” She kept rolling dough onto another set of trays, then turned around as she realized something. “Hey Twist, can you do me a favor?”

Twist shook himself out of the daze Discord’s antics put him in. He replied, “Of course, Cotton. What would you like me to do?”

Pointing to the collection of finished cookies, she said, “Could you put all of those together? I’m gonna need the trays—this is our last one. Don’t we have a huge platter somewhere?”

Walking next to the counter beside the finished sweets, the stallion surveyed the stock and replied, “Well, not big enough to hold all of the cookies you’re planning to bake at once, but we have several large ones that cou—”

Suddenly, one of Cotton’s cookies lifted into the air and stretched to impossible dimensions. Enlarging to the size of a table for two, it grew a set of support legs and curved into the shape of a shallow bowl, then landed gently right beside Tasty Twist, light dancing across its new, glossy sheen. “How’s that?” Discord asked, still hovering above Cotton’s head.

Rubbing his eyes, Twist nodded and replied, “That’ll do.” Then he started transferring the cookies into the table-bowl.

Cotton smiled. “Thanks, Unc.”

Lowering himself to the floor, Discord bowed and responded, “You’re quite welcome, m’dear.” He twisted his neck in a knot so he could look back at the platter, then unraveled himself as he lay his head on Cotton’s shoulder. “So, mon petit chef…” He licked his lips, then snapped his talons, and another one of the cookies appeared in his claw. “May I?”

Cotton nodded and smiled again. “Bon appétit.” Turning to her assistant, she added, “You too, Twist, if you want. You’ve been a huge help, whether you thought it or not.”

Tasty Twist’s eyebrows rose as the corners of his muzzle lifted. “Don’t mind if I do, Cotton. Thank you.” 

“Of course.”

Twist picked up a cookie and brought it to his muzzle, then closed his eyes and took a bite, savoring the flavor as much as possible as his face melted into a state of bliss. When he opened his eyes, he found Discord mere inches away from him, holding the same expression as he also chewed. Twist would have flinched like before, but he was too lost in chocolate ecstasy to react. Cotton just giggled at the two of them.

After a moment of silence, Cotton gestured to the television and asked, “Hey Unc, any chance you could get me a better view of my dad? I can only see the tip of his wing over on the right.”

Swallowing his delectable dessert, Discord floated back over to Cotton and replied, “I think so. Let me check the guide.” Hitting a button on his remote, a list of channels appeared on the screen, and he began scrolling through them. “No… no… yes, but no… ah, here we go. PBS.” With a snort, he added, “They still don’t know the difference between a dragon and a dinosaur.”

Hitting another button, the television showed a split second of static, then a clear view of Spike and Celestia fighting nearly back to… tail filled the screen. “And those little bipeds just look so weird,” Discord continued. “I swear they’re all tone-deaf.”
> Chapter Forty-Four - The War Will Be Televised
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Utilizing all of his heightened senses, Spike swung his claws in multiple directions as he hovered mid-air, slashing any griffons that dared to approach him. The force of his flapping wings alone sent other attackers tumbling like ninepins.

“I didn’t think there would be so many on this side!” Celestia shouted at Spike from behind him. Wielding a long, golden staff in her aura, she spun herself in a horizontal circle and knocked out four griffons at once. “Luna must have it easy over there!”

“I wouldn’t assume that!” Spike cried back, still slashing as he slammed one griffon with his wing, which caused it to rocket a half-mile into the distance. “Like she said, it’s more difficult to maneuver through the city! It may be harder to catch them than she anticipated!”

Bucking another griffon down to the ground with her hind legs, Celestia spun her staff in front of her like a fan, blocking sword thrusts from three more before tilting the staff and smacking their faces repeatedly. “Good point!” As a fourth griffon dove at her holding a shield and a sword above his head, she caught the shield in her aura and lowered it before slamming the end of her staff right between his eyes. “How are you doing back there?! Are you certain you don’t regret not having a weapon of your own?!”

Spike smirked. “I think these claws are more than enough!” he shouted, slamming another griffon down to the ground with his open palm.


Ж


Cotton let out a breath as she continued kneading her dough. “Wow. I didn’t know Auntie Tia was such a good fighter.”

Nodding, Discord said, “Yes, quite. I experienced it first-hand over a millennium ago.”

Cotton lifted a brow. “What’s a hand?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Discord chuckled. Letting go of the remote, it hovered in mid-air, exactly the way bricks don’t. He floated around the room, peering through the glass of each oven and licking his lips repeatedly.

“Don’t even think about it, Unc.”

Discord pouted. “You’re like your father with those heightened senses.”

“No, just the one,” Cotton giggled. “Aunt Pinkie has her Pinkie Sense. I have  Cookie Sense.”

“Given you know her trick with her mane, I could actually believe that,” Discord deadpanned at her.

Cotton laughed. “Nah, not that hard to figure out. You put down the remote and went silent.”

Chuckling, Discord simply responded, “Clever.”

“I try.” Looking back up at the screen, Cotton let out a relieved sigh. “Okay, looks like my dad and Auntie Tia are doing fine. Any chance you could show me Aunt Luna?”

Discord smiled as he crossed his arms. “I don’t think you need to worry about her…” He hit a few buttons on the remote, and there was another moment of static on the screen. “…but I believe she’s on NBC.” 


Ж


“Have at thee!” Luna cried, jabbing an opponent in the chest with the tip of her lance before pulling it out and smacking another griffon in the head with its side; both plummeted to the ground. “None shall pass!” Guarding the front gate from above, she called down below her, “We thank ye for thine assistance, gentlecolts! Celestia was quite wise assigning ye to these posts!”

Stabbing multiple griffons with their spears to disarm them, Mortar and Howitzer shouted back in unison, “Thank you, Your Highness!” They then proceeded to take the dropped weapons in their auras and use them against their original owners.

Nearby the front gates, numerous noctii stood fighting off yet more raiders, wielding a variety of daggers and knives. As Luna predicted, they maneuvered around their opponents with swan-like grace, their worst injuries minor grazes from the griffons’ swords or bruises from thrusted shields.

Luna grinned as she witnessed her soldiers’ individual battles out of the corners of her eyes. “We indeed have the upper hoof here. We can only hope the same can be said for Spike and Tia.”


Ж


“Wow, you weren’t kidding, Unc. Aunt Luna’s ruthless.”

Discord shook his head. “Luna has far less of the restraint Celestia tries to adhere to. Yes, she’s kind, caring, and doesn’t use violence unless absolutely necessary—now—but if there is any risk of danger to those she cares about, she doesn’t hold back.”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. Good to see that Mortar and Howitzer are holding their own, too, but geez, look at all the noctii out there. I can barely see—wait! Tacca! He said he was guarding the front gate, but I don’t see him! Unc, can you show me him?”

“You want me to show you who?” Discord replied.

“Tacca. He was in here before. Did you see him out there before you came in?”

Discord put a claw to his chin. “Not that I remember. Just give me a moment.” In an instant, he shrank himself down to the size of an ant and strutted into Cotton’s ear.

Cotton quickly clapped a hoof on said ear. “Ah! Unc, what are you doing?”

“Ooooooooooone second…” Discord called back, his voice echoing in Cotton’s head. “Ah, there he is.” Moments later, Discord exited Cotton’s opposite ear and grew back to his normal size. 

After shaking her head rapidly, Cotton pressed down on her ear with a hoof. “What the heck were you doing?”

Reclining back into the air, Discord replied, “Do you have any idea how many soldiers are in Luna’s Guard? I couldn’t possibly tell who you were talking about just by physical description alone. I had to see which one your brain was focused on.” Holding his eagle claw open in the direction of the hovering remote, the device flew back to him, and he hit a few buttons again. “And he happens to be on EBC.”

After another split second of static, the picture revealed Tacca standing in a city street, gently but firmly pushing a crying unicorn colt toward a nearby building where a pegasus mare was beckoning him to her. When the mare pulled the colt inside and locked the door, Tacca nodded, then his ears and head perked up, and in an instant of sickening vertigo, Cotton saw him on a completely different block standing behind three griffons, all holding swords and shields and skulking down the street. The griffons didn’t seem to notice his silent appearance before their swords suddenly fell to the ground, all of them dropping their shields so they could reach up to their shoulders, screaming in pain. Cotton then noticed a dagger in Tacca’s hoof. His ears and head perked up once again, and the screen showed static, as if the channel changed again. She saw him suddenly appear on another block beside a quivering earth pony mare surrounded by four griffons holding drawn swords. The griffons all flinched at his appearance, then a split second later they were all clutching their sides, shouting profanities as they dropped their swords. The stunned mare had no time to say anything before she found herself being pushed towards a nearby building.

“Damn,” Cotton said, having only watched Tacca for all of ten seconds. “I don’t think my eyes can handle much more of that.”

“Pssh,” Discord scoffed, “that bat is so oh-pee.”

Cotton let out a breath. “I dunno what you’re talking about, Unc, but I think he’ll be fine.”

“Could we see the whole thing?”

Discord and Cotton both turned and found Tasty Twist approaching them, having finished moving the cookies off the trays.

“Hm. Forgot you were there,” Discord chuckled. “What did you say?”

“Is it possible to see the whole battle at once?” Tasty Twist repeated. “Perhaps a birds-eye view?”

Cotton raised her eyebrows. “Hey, that’s a good idea. Can you do that, Unc?”

Scratching his chin, Discord answered, “Yes, I believe I can…” He opened the channel guide again, then scrolled all the way to the bottom of the listings. “Here we go, it’s one of the channels that’s actually a game: ‘Planet Equus Interactive.’” After hitting a button on the remote, the screen changed to a visual of the whole planet floating in the depths of space, slowly growing larger in order to display the ability to zoom in on specific locations. 

Too slowly.

“Oh, enough.” Discord threw the remote up into the air, extending his jaw and swallowing it as it came back down. After putting his claw and paw together, he then spread them apart in midair, causing the planet on the screen to enlarge rapidly. After he swung his claw to the right, the planet spun at lightning speed, making at least twenty full rotations before it came to a screeching halt above an overhead view of Canterlot. He continued zooming in until the screen showed Canterlot Castle and its immediate surroundings with perfect accuracy. He crossed his arms and smiled. “See, this is why I splurged on the 4K.”

Cotton nodded. “Wow, that is a good view.”

“Absolutely,” Tasty Twisted added.

“Hey, I think that’s my dad over there.” Cotton pointed at a purple-and-green splotch on the upper right of the screen. “It has to be, considering the difference in size to everyone else.”

“Then given what we saw before, that must be Princess Celestia,” Twist said, pointing at a white dot beside the splotch making occasional gold flashes.

Turning to Discord, Cotton asked, “Could you zoom in again, Unc? On that spot over there?”

Pointing his arms in the direction Cotton motioned to, he pulled them apart again and caused the picture to focus in. Sure enough, they looked upon the tops of Spike’s and Celestia’s heads. With Spike’s claws lashing out in all directions and slamming his opponents away from him, and Celestia spinning her staff every which way to fend off her own foes, Cotton let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, good. They’re still doing fine.”

“Wait… That can’t be right…”

Cotton turned to Discord and asked, “What? What’s up?”

“Uh, nothing. Nothing,” he replied.

“Unc, come on.”

Shaking his head and waving his arms, Discord said, “No, no, it’s nothing interesting.” 

“Uuuuunc.”

“Trust me, Cotton, you don’t want to know.”

Cotton let out a short grunt. “Well you have to tell me now.”

Discord sighed. “Alright, but I warned you.”

As Cotton cocked a brow, Discord pointed the palm of his paw at the screen and slid it to the right, causing the view of what was on the left side of the screen—where multiple individual battles were being fought between unicorns and grounded griffons—to become centered. After holding his arms up to the screen, he pulled them apart again. Zooming in on one clash in particular, they found a griffon wearing armor that covered his front and back, along with a helmet that covered his face, fighting with a unicorn. But in the process of swinging his sword, another trait stood out.

Charcoal gray plumage.

Cotton’s breath hitched in her throat as she stopped kneading, and her muzzle dropped. “No… It can’t be…” Discord crossed his arms and looked at her, nodding, but otherwise remained silent. “Why would he…?” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Discord burped out the remote to the television back into his claw. He gingerly laid it down on the counter to the side of Cotton’s work area, then vanished in a flash of light. Tasty Twist likewise backed away from her to give her space. 

Cotton didn’t even notice.

“…Why?” She leaned in toward the screen, her hoof rising up to try and touch the griffon upon it. “Why would you do it, Steady? You told me you—”

She didn’t get to finish the sentence. Her train of thought was broken when the battle ended in a flash. After lifting his spear in his aura, the unicorn had managed to rip down the griffon’s breast plate with a hoof.

And then struck the griffon straight through the heart.

“NOOOOO!!”

Cotton jumped at the television with her hoof still up. It collided with the screen and cracked it, causing the visuals to turn into constant static.

She dropped down onto the counter, weeping into her forelegs as her chest lay on top of a ball of half-kneaded dough.
> Chapter Forty-Five - Premeditated Defensive Maneuvers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“My my, you’re still at it? I’d’ve thought you would have this all wrapped up by now, being a big, powerful dragon and all.”

“Discord!” Spike shouted at the miniature draconequus that had just appeared on his shoulder, his eyes and claws still on the griffons attacking him, “What are you doing out here?! You know you’ve been barred from—” 

“I’m not fighting,” Discord snapped, casually glancing at his talons as his legs and paw stuck to Spike’s neck and shoulder by suction cups. “Do you see me fighting? I don’t see me fighting.”

“Then what are you doing out here?!”

“I just thought I’d give you a little moral support. And I figured you’d like to know that Cotton is very happy to see you and Tia over there doing so well.”

“What?! How does she… you,” Spike deadpanned, smacking another griffon with his wing.

Discord smirked. “Gracious, you’re learning. Oh my, we can’t have that.”

As Spike slashed at two separate griffons with his claws, Discord pointed his own claw at a third griffon rushing into Spike’s unguarded side with his sword drawn. With a snap of his talons, Discord turned the sword into a bouquet of dandelions, and the griffon instead just thumped right into Spike’s scales, dazed. Spike quickly turned and slammed the griffon to the ground with a clenched fist.

“Discord…I’m warning you,” Spike growled.

“Yes, sir,” Discord responded, holding his tail up to his forehead in a salute before snapping his claw at another griffon down below.

Getting a quick glance at where Discord had pointed, Spike saw a drenched griffon running around with a bucket on its head. “I still consider dumping a bucket of water on their heads an unprovoked attack.”

“Oh please, you know he was going to come after you anyway. Consider it a premeditated defensive maneuver.”

With a huff, Spike responded, “Yes, yes, no nation ever attacks another nation. We all just defend ourselves. Vigorously.” 

“I appreciate the distinction,” Discord said, whacking another approaching griffon with a pillow full of quacking ducks.

“Discord!” 

“What? It was a down pillow!”

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle. “Only you would use a loophole like that. I’ll have to ask Luna and Celestia if they approve.”

“Oh please, like they would approve anything. They were no fun when I fought them over a millennium ago, either. I had to beat them the dull way.”

“What are you talking about?” Spike snorted, kicking a griffon into the stratosphere. “You lost to them, y’old drac.”

“I held my ground, thank you very much,” Discord retorted, forcefully breathing out a huge cloud of laughing gas at some approaching griffons, causing them to stop in midair and laugh uncontrollably before they started falling to the ground. “Even if said ground was five miles in the air and rotating on its w-axis.” Rolling his eyes, he conjured a little pond underneath them for the griffons to fall into so he could avoid a beratement.

Hearing the splash, Spike said, “Gave ‘em a little cushion, eh? I’d say you’ve gone soft in your old age, but you did spend a thousand years of them in stone.”

“You’re one to talk,” Discord scoffed. “You spent your first twenty years wearing frilly aprons and serving tea and cakes for your princess friends.” After watching Spike slam another griffon with his wing, he conjured an exact replica of the wing and ricocheted the griffon off to Trottingham. 

“Like you never put on an apron and used a feather duster to the benefit of those princesses. Besides, those aprons were very slimming!” In the middle of their banter, Spike managed to get a look below them on the field. “Discord, as much fun as this is, if you really want to be useful, then go help them.” He pointed down at two armored unicorns with red crosses on their crests galloping toward the castle, each of them with two groaning soldiers hovering next to them.

Discord scowled. “Now why would I want to help cowards retreating from battle? If anything—”

“Those are the medics, Discord.”

Discord’s muzzle hung open in the middle of his sentence for a moment, then he pushed his jaw back upward to meet the rest of his face. After crossing his arms and grumbling for a moment, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Okay, I guess I could do that.”

“Good. Get on it.” Spike took another quick look at the battlefield below, still slashing at griffons as they approached. “There are plenty of soldiers who need help.”

After scratching his chin a moment, Discord said, “Well then, time for a bit of a mass evacuation.”

After the suction cups on his legs and paw vanished, Discord floated in midair for a moment before he snapped both his claw and paw, releasing a blinding light. After all the remaining griffons and battling ponies rubbed the light out of their eyes and continued fighting, Spike looked down and saw that all the injured pony soldiers had teleported off the field.


Ж


“Discord, not again!” Tasty Twist huffed as Discord popped into the kitchen for the second time, reaching for Cotton’s platter of cookies.

“I did not take them, it’s not true! It’s horseapples, I did not take them! I did not. Oh hi, Cotton,” Discord said before he grabbed an armload of cookies and vanished in a flash.

Cotton lifted herself from her forearms just in time to see the flash. “W-was that Uncle Discord?” she asked with a sniffle.

“Yes, it’s the second time he’s made off with some of your cookies,” Tasty Twist grumbled, pointing at the table-bowl the draconequus had created, which held a substantially smaller number of cookies than it did previously. “He just did it about three minutes ago.”

After a low growl, Cotton mumbled, “Dammit, Unc.” After wiping her nose with her hoof, she groaned. “Crap.” She walked back over to the sink and washed her hooves before she got ready to make more dough. Turning from the sink, she finished drying her hooves when Discord appeared again. “Unc, what’re you—” 

She cut herself off as he reached for the cookies again.

“Unc! Don’t—”

“Cotton!” Discord gasped, holding his paw to his chest. As a frilly dress and a long, curly blond wig appeared on him, he put the back of his claw to his forehead. “What a dreadful thing to say!”

Cotton cocked a brow. “What—”

“I am not taking these cookies and imbuing them with healing spells for the medics to give to the injured soldiers in the repurposed ballroom! How dare you accuse me of such a terrible deed!” He then grabbed another armload of cookies and vanished.

Cotton stood with her bloodshot eyes glazed over, staring at the cookie bowl. “…Oh.” After a moment, she shook her head and let out a single chuckle. “That’s actually a really good idea. C’mon, Twist, let’s keep going.” 

Tasty Twist nodded. “I feel bad for yelling at him now.”

Just then, they heard a terrifying roar from outside.


Ж


Putting up a shield in her aura to protect herself from the advancing griffons, Celestia turned around to see Spike plummeting to the ground, a harpoon sticking out of his left side between two thick armored plates.

“Spike!”

That single moment made her accidentally drop her shield, giving her griffon opponents an opportunity to strike. Wincing as she took a sword slice to her foreleg, she managed to put up another barrier spell and get a look back at Spike, but she found his descent had stopped just before he hit the ground; he had been caught by a giant stretcher made of taffy and bat wings. Celestia then found herself teleported down next to said stretcher, Discord hovering right above the ground in front of her.

“Discord! What are you doing out here?! We—”

“Take him,” Discord said sternly, pointing at Spike, who lay atop the stretcher. “Now. He’s not responding. You tend to him, I’ll take care of the rest. This is going to be the shortest war in Equestrian history.”

Celestia huffed. “Discord, we’ve told you—”

“I don’t care what you’ve told me,” Discord retorted, his brows furrowed. Celestia had no time to react before he continued, “Those birdbrains do not. 
Hurt. 

MY! 



FRIENDS!”



Celestia blanched as Discord planted his feet to the ground, literally fuming as he began rapidly growing in size and fearsome countenance, knocking aside griffons as he went, some of them bursting into flames as he pointed his talons at them before they fell to the ground in large plastic casings held closed by labels reading ‘Freshly Roasted, 10 bits.’ He then proceeded across the field, attacking any other griffon in sight. Before grasping Spike’s stretcher in her aura and rushing him to the castle, she flew up above the castle’s highest point as fast as she could and shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice. 

“All forces, Protocol Pandemonium! I repeat, Protocol Pandemonium!”
> Chapter Forty-Six - Not Going Anywhere
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“AHHH!”

Spike roared as he spotted a quarray eel retreating back into the mountainside after rushing out at him and biting at his side. He stopped short before turning and yelling, “Where did you come from?!”

“—pandemonium!”

Looking down, Spike saw a pony holding a sign that said, ‘Now entering Alchera.’

“I’ve never heard of that town. I must be farther than I thought. But I still need to pick up the pace if I’m going to get to the Dragon Lands in time to help Ember. I haven’t even made it to the water yet,” Spike said aloud to himself. He continued on as the wind whipped by his face. 

When he passed another mountain, a second quarray eel shot out and bit him. “AHHH! Another one?!”


Ж


“Will he be okay, Dr. Cross?” Celestia asked the older stallion, sitting on her haunches as she applied pressure to the bandage that had been wrapped around her foreleg. Spike lay on the floor, the bat wings of the stretcher having sprouted heads and eaten the taffy that held him before flying back out through his doors and out of the castle.

The doctor peered into the dragon’s wound, trying to gauge how far the harpoon had penetrated Spike’s body. “Frankly, Your Highness, I can’t guarantee anything.” He stepped away from the wound and up to his tool tray, which he enveloped in his aura before it disappeared. “But though Sir Spike is unresponsive, he is still breathing, however ragged it may be. And his vitals are stable, so that’s a good sign.” 

Celestia let out a breath as she nodded. “All good signs are welcome, Doctor.”

“I’ll see how many I can provide, Your Highness.” A moment later, the tray of tools returned to the floor, ten times their normal size. “Ah, it’s a good thing Spike taught Papyrus to enchant more than just parchment.”

“Thinking ahead is a trait Spike received from Twilight,” Luna added from beside her sister, a bandage wrapped around her hind leg.

“Among other things,” Celestia said. “Doctor, how did you get here so quickly? You were here before I was.” 

“We sent Tacca for him,” Luna replied. When Celestia tilted her head at her, she clarified, “Our spy.” 

Dr. Cross nodded. “Yes, the boy nearly knocked down my door. Then he collapsed as soon as he gave me your summons.”

“But Luna, how did you know to send him? You got here after I did with Spike.”

“The moment We heard thy cry and witnessed Discord’s growth, We knew something was amiss,” Luna answered. “When Spike was not within Our view, We suspected that he was the cause.”

Celestia chuckled. “You always have been quick on your hooves.” Gesturing her head at Luna’s leg, she asked, “How are you? Was that a serious injury?”

Luna shook her head. “‘Tis but a scratch. The wrap is merely to prevent discomfort.”

Smiling, Celestia nuzzled her sister and simply said, “Good to hear.” Turning back to the doctor, she asked, “Where is Luna’s spy? Tacca? Has he been tended to?”

Dr. Cross nodded. “He has. I instructed one of my nurses to treat him until he is fully hydrated and has regained his stamina.”

“We thank thee, good Doctor. We request that he be transported to one of the castle suites for a much-needed rest when he hath recovered.” She smiled. “He doth deserve better than the barracks for all he hath accomplished this day.”

The doctor nodded again. “I’ll see to it, Your Highness.” He called over a nurse and spoke with her for a moment, then she nodded and walked out the doors. He turned to Celestia and asked, “If I may, Your Highness, how exactly did everything end? Did that earthquake cause the griffons to flee?”

With a sigh, Celestia answered, “That was no earthquake, Doctor.” She stared over her shoulder at Spike’s doors. 

“Then what was it?” He asked.

“T’was chaos unlike anything We have ever seen,” Luna replied. 

“None of them had a chance to flee,” Celestia finished.


Ж


“Cotton, stay here with your aunt Tia. I need to see if Tirek’s going somewhere in particular or if he’s just going on a random rampage,” Spike said, gesturing the two ponies behind a boulder.

“Who is this guy?” Cotton asked. “Is he seriously just going around taking ponies’ magic?”

“Among other things,” Celestia replied. “He has a lengthy history; you’d be better off asking your aunt Twilight about him; she’s the one who fought him last. She would know if he has other motives this time.”

Spike nodded. “But now isn’t the time. After we’ve defeated him we can talk about him all we want. First we— AHHH!” Spike reached for his side. “Of course there would be bees hanging around.”

“Daddy, are you gonna go after him? You can't go anywhere, I need you!”

Shaking his head, Spike replied, “No, sweetie, I’m just going up for a better vantage point; with the way Tirek is moving he probably won’t see me. Don’t you worry, I’m not going anywhere.” With that, he shot up into the air.


Ж


“Daddy? Are you in here? I thought I heard—” When Cotton opened the doors to her father’s room and saw her aunts and Dr. Cross, as well as several nurses beside him, it only took a split second for her to realize something was wrong. “DADDY!”

As Cotton rushed towards her father, Celestia caught her in her aura and lifted her a few inches above the floor before she got too close. “Cotton, please.” She took a breath. “Your father will be alright.”

“Does that look alright?!” Cotton cried, flailing in her aunt’s magical grasp. “What is that?! It looks like a harpoon!”

“That’s exactly what it is, my dear,” Dr. Cross responded. “And we need to get it out, and soon. But your father is still breathing and his vital signs are stable, so like the Princess said, he should be alright. He’s just going to need a lot of rest for a while.”

Cotton took a few calming breaths and stopped squirming in Celestia’s aura. “Can… can I at least go sit next to him?”

Seeing she had calmed down, Celestia lowered Cotton back to the floor, then turned to Dr. Cross. “Doctor?”

The doctor took a quick glance at Spike, then turned back to the two of them and nodded. “You may, but be very careful around where we’re working. And remember, your father is in a deep sleep, so he may not respond to you at the moment.”

“Of course,” Cotton said. With this, Celestia nodded as well and released her hold on the filly. 

Luna reached out and hugged her before she had a chance to move. “Fret not, dear Cotton. Thy father shall recover.” Cotton leaned into Luna’s embrace. “If it doth ease thy mind, We shall maintain Our vision fixated upon him while he doth sleep.”

Cotton giggled briefly, then broke from her aunt and quickly cantered around all the nurses and carefully approached her father’s head. “Daddy, please, get better quick.” She crept up to him and kissed his cheek before sitting on her haunches next to him. Curling her eyebrows up, she continued, “You can’t go anywhere; you said you’d always be there for me if I needed you. And I…” She sniffled, leaning her cheek against his. “I need you,” she whimpered. 

She flinched as she felt a soft rumble from his cheek, and saw very faint wisps of smoke coming from his nostrils.

“M’nt gon nwr.”
> Chapter Forty-Seven - Fixated Vision
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, Cotton, as you can see—” An orange-coated nurse walked Cotton through the repurposed ballroom, courtesy of Discord. “—everypony here is healing up quite nicely. All thanks to you.” Each pony on a bed was breathing normally, smiles across their faces, despite their various bandages and splinted limbs.

Cotton managed to lift the corners of her muzzle as she looked around at all the eased soldiers. “It wasn’t all me; Uncle Discord applied the healing spells.”

“Yes, but he needed your cookies to deliver them. If he had tried healing each pony here one at a time, we would have been taking more soldiers than we could count every minute. Your cookies allowed him to apply the enchantments once and then go back for more, which allowed us to keep the process going faster by distributing them ourselves. Most of the soldiers that were here have already returned to their barracks for rest.”

Letting out a sigh, Cotton responded, “I’m just glad I could help.”

“Oh, did you ever, ‘cuz.”  

Cotton’s ears perked up as she heard a familiar voice, then she spotted a scarlet-gray stallion laying down two beds ahead of her. “Novamac!” She galloped to his bedside, and found him lying on his right side, a large bandage wrapped around his lower back. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“Not much. Just a graze on m’left side,” he replied, tilting his head upward with a wince. “Miss Nightingale there’s just bein’ a mite cautious.”

“‘Graze’ my hoof,” Nightingale barked. “That was a two-inch deep gash! You needed stitches!”

Cotton scrunched up her muzzle. “Yeesh. Yeah, Nightshade would probably be on Nightingale’s side here. Hey, how is—”

“I’m fine.” A noctis suddenly dropped from the ceiling and landed behind the head of Novamac’s bed. “And I am. Thank you, Nurse Nightingale.” She smiled and nodded to the nurse, who returned the gesture. “My husband can be a little thick.”

“Nightshade!” Cotton grinned and ran around the bed to give the mare a hug, then she leaned back and looked at her closely. “Wow, not even a scratch.”

Nightshade smiled again as she shook her head. “Nope. Got lucky. Real lucky.” She pouted. “Only downside is I didn’t get to have one of your cookies.”

“What? Why not?” Cotton asked, turning to Nightingale.

The nurse blushed. “Sorry, Cotton, we saved them for the soldiers that were badly injured, like the Sergeant here…” 

Novamac grinned. “S’only reason I ain’t screamin’ about now.”

“…and the rest went to the soldiers with lesser injuries. Like Nightshade said, though, there isn’t a scratch on her.”

“Oh. Okay, yeah, I guess that’s fair,” Cotton said. Turning to Nightshade with a smile, she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll make more.”

With a light chuckle, Nightshade responded, “Thanks, I’d love one. Or two.” She shrugged. “Or five.”

“Here here!” said Novamac, causing Cotton to giggle. “To Cotton an’ her magic cookies!” he called out with another wince.

“To Cotton!” the rest of the soldiers chorused, the shout reverberating around the room.

Cotton’s cheeks reddened, then she looked at the noctis again. “Hey, Nightshade, how’s Anathem?” She looked around the room for a moment before she continued, “I don’t see him in here; did he go back to the barracks, too?”

Nightshade stared across the room, then let out a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Her ears drooped only slightly before she shook her head.

Novamac frowned as he started lifting his left hoof toward her. “M’sorry, Hon. I know you two w—”

“Put your hoof down, you’ll rip out the stitches,” Nightshade snapped, forcing his foreleg back down. Then she sighed. “Sorry, Nova.”

With a sad smile, he responded, “S’alright, Hon. You’re allowed.”

Cotton gasped as her hoof lifted to her muzzle. “Oh no…Nightshade, I’m so sorry.” 

Nightshade held her features like a brittle, marble mask; she nodded slowly. “One of the others said they saw it. Lucky strike. He was an easy target after they sliced half of his wing in mid-air.”

Cotton’s other hoof shot up as she cringed at the thought. “Oh my g—”

“So Cotton!” Nightshade loudly cleared her throat. “How is your father doing? I heard he took a pretty big hit.”

Knowing to leave well enough alone, Cotton nodded slowly and let out a breath. “He’s…alright, from what I saw. Dr. Cross forced me out before he started doing anything with the harpoon, though. Auntie Tia, too, but Aunt Luna’s in there keeping an eye on him while he’s sleeping.” 


Ж


“Rarity! Rarity!” Spike called, his wings carrying him as fast as they could. He could see the massive flames inching closer and closer to his wife’s boutique, and he couldn’t tell if he would make it in time. 

Just then, the tree he was flying over burst into flames and shot an ember into his side. “AHHH! Dammit! I can’t get slowed down now!”

As he looked forward once again and continued his flight, he saw the flames cross the threshold from the neighbors’ home to Rarity’s shop. “No no no no no RARITYYYY!” He could see Rarity standing in front of a large hole in the wall of the neighbors’ home on the upper floor. Just as the flames were about to engulf her, he somehow pushed forth a burst of energy, reaching out his claws before he cupped them around his wife, and the fires passed over his scales like a wave breaking over the shore. He quickly retracted his claws from the building and turned from the flames, looking for someplace to put her down. When he found no place that wasn’t aflame or risked becoming so, he beat his wings in the direction the fire had come from, hoping to beat it back. The flames rapidly retreated. He continued down the line of buildings, flapping the fire back from whence it came before it dissipated into thin air, leaving the city much calmer in the evening air. 

Satisfied that everything appeared to have eased, he dropped to the ground near a group of trees before laying his claws down and uncupping them, revealing a sweating, panting Rarity.

“Oh… Spikey… Wikey… you…”

“Rarity… Save your breath,” Spike told her, letting out a deep breath of his own as he carefully laid her down so she could lie on the grass. He then lay down on the ground beside her at eye level. 

Rarity did as he told her, using her breathing to calm her racing mind. After a short eternity, she shakily stood up and walked toward Spike’s muzzle, then let herself fall against his cheek as she closed her eyes and smiled. “Thank you, my darling. I didn’t know if you’d make it.”

Spike basked in the warmth of her touch, also closing his eyes. “Honestly, neither did I.”

“We didst not doubt thy capabilities, Sir Spike.”

Spike looked up to see the Princess of the Night descending upon him and his wife. “Luna! What brings you out here?”

“…We witnessed thee beating back the flames. We are most impressed, and wished to grant thee congratulations for saving thy wife and all of Canterlot.” 

Spike chuckled. “Well, thank you, Luna, but…” He winced as he looked down at his side. “Ah…”

“What’s the matter, darling?” Rarity asked him.

Letting out a brief growl, he answered, “I got burned on the way to get you. I don’t understand, I’m supposed to be fireproof.”

“…We are certain the pain shall pass,” Luna said. 

“Hopefully,” Spike responded. “Luna, would you mind… uh…” He shifted his eyes between looking at her and Rarity.

Luna nodded. “Ah yes, thou dost wish to spend this time with thy wife without prying eyes. The both of thee are clearly tired. We shall… let ye rest.”

Rarity smiled. “Thank you, Princess Luna.”

“Thou art most welcome, Lady Rarity,” Luna responded, before flying back towards the castle.

Spike and Rarity both lay back against each other, closing their eyes as they just reveled in the other’s presence. They did not notice what had just risen in the sky. 

Princess Luna’s namesake, bearing the silhouette of the Mare in the Moon.


Ж


Cotton lay on her bedspread, her mind awash with thoughts, both positive and negative.

She was elated her aunts came back only slightly used. But what about her father? Was he really going to be okay? It felt incredible to help the Royal Guard in a way only she could, even if she couldn’t save everyone. But what about him, the one she never expected to see on the battlefield?

She turned over and looked at her bedside table. An empty inkwell sat there with a brown feather sticking out.

How could he do this? Why would he do it? He even said he didn’t want to be a soldier in his letters. And now… 

She stared at the feather for a few minutes, then frowned as a tear fell to her sheets. 

Getting off the bed, Cotton walked to her closet and opened the doors. She reached down to the floor and withdrew a box, holding numerous opened envelopes. She put the box on her bed, then took the empty inkwell and feather and tossed them into the box. Picking it up again, she went back to her closet, moved her dresses aside, then returned the box to the floor and pushed it all the way to the back wall. After putting her dresses back in their proper places, she closed the doors and hopped back on her bed.

Then she turned over and closed her eyes.
> Chapter Forty-Eight - It Takes Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton slowly walked the perimeter of the castle’s rear gates, Luna keeping pace beside her. She looked out over what had been the battlefield, unmoving griffons everywhere. Off in the distance she saw a group of at least twenty ponies digging a mass grave.

“Aunt Luna… was all this really necessary?”

Luna lowered her head and sighed. “Unfortunately, t’was, dear Cotton. The griffons forced our hooves. Equestria does not instigate battle unless absolutely necessary, but we will not hesitate to defend ourselves in full force. ‘Tis full force or nothing; We believe no enemy shouldst be underestimated.”

Cotton looked out at the field again, silent. After a few moments, she nodded. “I guess I understand.”

As the two of them continued, they heard the sound of scraping armor. Up ahead, one of the griffons rose from in between three other bodies. After a groan, he reached up to his helmet, then removed it and let it drop to the ground. Cotton gasped, then galloped up to him as he collapsed again.

“Steadclaw! Oh sweet aunties, I can’t believe it! You’re… you’re…” She dropped down next to him, turning him over so his face wasn’t buried in the dirt. She looked down at his armored chest, unable to tell if he still drew breath. She tore off his breastplate as fast as she could and looked again; she could see his unmoving chest. She could also see something else.

A hole in his bleeding heart.

Her hooves and ears both dropped, as did a tear from her eye. “You’re not…” After a moment, realization dawned on her, and she looked up at Luna, who simply tilted her head at her. “Aunt Luna, why would you—”

“She didn’t.”

Cotton whipped around, and she found Moondog floating behind her, her forelegs crossed as she wore a sympathetic frown. “You mean…”

Shaking her head, Moondog replied, “No, that isn’t Mom. That’s just your own projection of her.”

Cotton let out a sigh, looking back at the body before her. Then she turned around again and scowled, pointing at Moondog before she started, “Then why would—”

“I didn’t do it, either,” Moondog responded, floating herself down to the ground and actually walking up beside Cotton. “I just got here. This is all you, ‘cuz. You really think I would do this to you? Neither Mom or I even knew; Mom still doesn't. Besides, don’t you remember what I told you last time at your not-so-little family reunion?”

Cotton’s scowl disappeared, replaced by a guilty frown. She nodded and replied, “Yeah. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t’ve—”

Moondog reached over and gave Cotton a tight hug. “Don’t worry about it.” She let go of Cotton and held her at hoof’s length. “Do you…” She glanced at the body over Cotton’s shoulder, then back at her. “…need to talk?”

“Oh. I…” Cotton started. “Well… It’s just…” She sank to her haunches and looked downward. Another tear dripped down her cheek before she continued, “I just didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what happened. We were just so… right. And then he left. And everything changed.”

Moondog nodded silently, settling down on her own haunches and putting her starry hoof around Cotton’s shoulders.

“And then… and then there he was. On the battlefield. Fighting. He told me he didn’t want to fight. So why would he?” She looked up and searched Moondog’s eyes for answers, but found only unknown constellations. The starry alicorn just tilted her head, prompting Cotton to continue. “I don’t know what to think of him anymore. I’ve been hanging on to him since he left. Since he broke contact. And now he’s…” She looked down again and sniffled. Then she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I need to stop. There’s no point lingering on it anymore. I guess this…” She looked over her shoulder back at the griffon’s body, then turned back and let out a deep sigh. “I guess this is the closure I needed.”

Pulling Cotton into another hug, Moondog said, “I don’t know how this’ll sound, but it’s good to hear you say that.” When Cotton glanced up at her, she continued, “Like you said, you’ve held onto the idea of him for so long. It held you back from so much. It'll take some time, but now you can move on. Move on to other things. Better things. Do you know how many ponies I’ve watched that have dreams about ex-filly or coltfriends? Ex-wives or husbands?”

Cotton silently shook her head.

“Thousands. It’s rare that I see somebody marry a high school sweetheart and live a long, happy marriage. I may only be in my eighties, but I’ve seen enough to know. 

"Look, you won't forget about him. You never will. But he doesn't have to be the only one you remember. There’s someone out there for you, Cotton. Trust me.”

Leaning her head on Moondog’s shoulder, Cotton nuzzled into her starry, silky smooth mane. “Mhm. Thanks.”

Moondog broke the hug, then took a hoof and lifted Cotton’s head until they were looking eye to eye. “Anytime, ‘cuz. Now here, I came to tell you something that’ll probably cheer you up.”

Wiping her tears away, Cotton sniffled once and asked, “What?”

Smiling, Moondog answered, “Mom sent me. Your dad’s awake.”

Cotton gasped. “Really? Oh, thank you!” She reached over and clutched Moondog again. “I need to go see him!” She scrunched her eyes as tight as she could. After a minute of alternating squeezing her eyes shut and forcefully bobbing her head up and down, she looked up at Moondog, who had jumped up and reclined in the air with a smirk, and asked her with pleading eyes, “Uh… can you wake me up? I’ve never had to force myself out of a dream before…”

Moondog chuckled. “We’ll work on that.” With a mischievous grin, Moondog dropped back to the ground, then spun and bucked Cotton into a pit. With a cry, Cotton fell into blackness. 


Ж


Cotton gasped and shot up into a seated position as she awoke. She quickly glanced around her room, from her vanity, to her closet, to the darkened windows. She jumped off the bed and rushed to her door, flinging it open before she galloped down the hallway. “DADDY!”

Some of the hired help pressed themselves against the walls when they heard her, smiling as they watched her fly down the hall. She rushed up to Spike’s doors and swung them open, finding a massive bandage across his side, along with Dr. Cross and Luna standing beside him, and Ember looming over him. “Daddy?”

She heard her father groan, then saw his head lift. “Hm? Cott—”

“Hey, stay down,” Ember said, pushing on his forehead and forcing his head back down to the massive pillow on which he lay. “You’ll ruin the hard work your doctor did.”

Spike growled. “Yes, Mom.”

Luna chuckled, then turned to Cotton and smiled. “We see thou hast received Our message from Our daughter.”

Cotton nodded her head rapidly. “Uh-huh.” She ran up to Luna and gave her a hug. “Thanks for sending her.”

“Thou art quite welcome.”

Then she moved to Dr. Cross, giving him a hug as well. “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you thank you thank you.”

The doctor chuckled. “Of course, my dear.”

Cotton craned her head up to look at Ember. “Hey, Ember! When did you get here?”

Ember smirked. “Hey, kid. Not long ago. There were some nasty storms out over the ocean; it took me much longer to get here than it normally would. Looks like you all took care of those birdbrains before I could make it here. Glad you did, it would’ve gotten ugly.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Waving her claw, Ember said, “Don’t ask, it’s a long story.” She pointed the Bloodstone Scepter at Cotton and repeated, “I mean it. Don’t ask.”

Cotton flinched. “Woah, okay, I won’t.”

Ember smirked. “Smart girl.”

As Cotton looked back at Luna and cocked a brow, the princess answered her unasked question. “Last We heard, Our sister was in the recovery ward, speaking with our Mares and Stallions in Uniform. We have learned that Discord is there as well, receiving a ‘stern talking-to.’”

Cotton nodded, then rushed through Ember’s legs and flew toward Spike’s muzzle. He tilted his head sideways toward her and smiled as she glided up to him and clutched his snout. “Oh Daddy, thank goodness you’re okay. How do you feel?”

Spike snorted as one of her stray feathers almost got sucked into his nostril. Then he let out a deep sigh. “I’m happy to see you, too, sweetie. It hurts, but I’ll be alright. I just need to rest for a while so I can heal. That’ll take some time.” Then he lifted his eyebrows. “I heard you and Discord made a great pair of medics.”

Letting go of his snout and hovering down to the floor, Cotton giggled. “Mhm.”

“Well then, maybe we shouldn’t completely bar him from matters of warfare.” He smirked. “As long as he’s partnered with you.” 

Cotton shrugged. “I guess.” After a brief moment of silence, Cotton’s eyebrows tilted up as she smiled and kissed the top of his snout. Closing her eyes, she leaned her cheek against him. “Thank you for coming back, Daddy. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

Spike let out a deep breath through his nostrils, smiling and closing his own eyes as he felt his daughter’s warmth against his snout. “Don’t you worry, sweetie. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

Still smiling, Cotton sniffled once. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Letting out a little snort, Spike then said, “Cotton, while we’re talking about one needing the other, I need you to help me with something.”

Cotton leaned back from him and asked, “You need me to help take care of you? Of course I will!”

“Well, that too, but—” He smirked. “—what I really need is some of those topaz and amethyst butter cookies you make. When do you think I could get a batch?” he asked, looking injured. This wasn’t a difficult feat.

Cotton giggled again and reached for his snout, giving him another hug. “Right now!” She turned and flew back through Ember’s legs, then past Luna and Dr. Cross and straight out of Spike’s room. She let out a sigh as she frowned, but then she shook her head and donned a smile.

Luna and Dr. Cross both laughed as they approached Spike. “Thou art incorrigible, Sir Spike.”

Spike chuckled as well. “What? I’m an injured soldier, too, y’know!”

Ember smirked from behind them as she crossed her arms. “You better plan on sharing those. They sound amazing.”

“Then you can talk to her. I want my own batch,” Spike responded, smirking back at her before sticking his tongue out.
> Chapter Forty-Nine - Thank You For Your Service
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Okay, so hold on, let me get this straight.” Twilight stood in front of Spike’s feet, slowly pacing back and forth before her old mentor and her sister. “You—” Twilight pointed at Celestia. “—came back here to help with the meeting with the Griffonian ambassador, because you—” Her hoof shifted to Luna. “—didn’t know how to respond to a… ‘request’ of territory ownership.”

The two sisters looked at each other and nodded, then Luna said, “We were unaware the Griffons held tension against us, thus We were not expecting such a demand. We wished for Celestia’s input because We wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict.”

“Lot of good that did…” Twilight mumbled to herself. Then she continued, “So you tried to negotiate, failed mis— failed, the Griffonians declared war—” She planted her hooves firmly to the floor. “—AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?!” she shouted. 

Luna leaned toward Celestia and whispered, “We thought Discord was the only one whose ears could smoke…”

“No, mine can, too,” Spike said from the back of the room.

“BUT MY NIECE KNEW?!” Twilight continued, ignoring the other speakers.

Celestia put up a hoof. “You and Cadance were in no mental state to battle, Twilight, and Flurry Heart was willing to bear the burden of knowledge.”

Twilight panted a few more times. Then she sat on her haunches and put her hoof to her chest, slowly pushing it outward and across her body as she let out a deep breath. “Deep breaths, Twilight,” she said to herself. “Deeeeeeep breaths.”

“And Flurry Heart didst inform Cotton that there was still a full day before thy brother’s service,” Luna said, pointing toward the back of the room. “Today.”

“She did, Aunt Twilight,” Cotton called from beside Spike, steadying a bucket of water for her father to drink from. “We didn’t expect a day of war, though.”

“That’s another thing,” Twilight started. “You pulled all of this off in one day?” 

Celestia and Luna looked at each other again before Celestia replied, “We had two alicorns, a giant army, and a massive dragon on our side. Which would have been two had Ember not been delayed. And the Spirit of Chaos as a last resort.”

“And he ended up finishing the battle anyway,” Twilight deadpanned. “But point taken.” She let out another breath. “Still… Spike received a near-fatal injury—”

“Nay, Twilight,” Luna interrupted her. “T’was not fatal. Only nearly.”

“That’s what near-fatal means, Moonbutt,” Spike said.

Celestia giggled at the use of the nickname. Luna blushed and sniffed.

Twilight let out a deep sigh. “And now he’s going to miss our older brother’s memorial.”

A knock emanated from under the floor, then a little trap door opened and Discord popped out. “I may be able to help with that,” he said, his chin laying in his claw and paw on the floor. When Twilight made no reaction, Discord pouted. “Aww, come on, not even a flinch?”

“I’ve known you long enough that I just assume you’ll show up anywhere at any time, Discord. That’s why I don’t sing in the shower anymore,” Twilight responded. 

Celestia and Luna both snickered.

“Oh, poo,” Discord huffed, stepping out of the door and throwing it closed, once again flush with the floor. “Are you saying I’m the reason nopony’s broken out into song for the past few decades?”

“…Let’s just say yes,” Twilight said.

“Discord, what’s this about me not missing Shining’s service?” Spike asked.

“You talkin’ about what you did for me in the kitchen, Unc?” Cotton called, putting down the bucket.

Discord smiled and snapped his talons, causing Cotton to appear beside him and a cardboard cutout of her to take her place next to Spike. Cotton blinked and shook her head to get the stars out of her eyes. “Precisely,” he said, shoving a little sketchbook and pencil into her hooves. “Girl’s quick on the draw.” He snapped his talons again and Cotton’s eyes widened as her hoof moved in a blur, scribbling on the paper. When it finished, she turned the paper around to reveal a high-definition image of a television. “I could even set him up with a hundred-hoof screen.”

“A hundred hooves might be a bit much, Unc,” Cotton said, looking up at him as she put the sketchbook down, “but the TV’s a great idea.”

Holding her hooves to her head, Twilight cried, “Okay, what? What did you two do?”

Cotton giggled up at Discord. “I wanted to see how the battle was going, so Uncle Discord gave me a way to watch. I got to see Dad, Auntie Tia, Aunt Luna…” she said, gesturing to each of them in turn with her head. She let out a sigh as she glanced downward. Discord did the same at her, but kept his mouth shut. Then Cotton shook her head and looked at Luna before adding, “I saw Tacca, too, but I couldn’t watch him for more than a few seconds. Is he okay?”

Luna chuckled and nodded. “Nary a scratch on him. He merely suffers from exhaustion.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Cotton simply said, “Good.”

“I still say he’s oh-pee,” Discord quipped.

“Okay, so,” Twilight started, “aside from Spike’s injury…” She sighed. “…and some casualties… it sounds like everything is alright here now. The Guard is resting, the citizens of Canterlot have been told that everything is alright, rebuilding from damage to the city has already begun…” She stared at Discord. “And you seriously got that up and running?”

Discord looked away, tapping his talons and paw together. “Wellllllll… seeing as I’m the one that caused most of the damagggggge… I thought I should pitch in at least a little…” 

“With creatures made of the rebuilding material taking out chunks of themselves and putting them together…” Twilight deadpanned. 

With a shrug, Discord said, “Isn’t that what you ponies mean by ‘strip mine’? Oh! I didn’t realize it meant—” 

“Anyway,” Celestia said. “Despite the fact that the citizens do seem a little…umm…”

“Freaked out?” Cotton offered.

“That’s one way of putting it.” Celestia nodded. “We’ve assured our little ponies that they mean no harm. Quite the opposite, in fact.”

Twilight sighed. “…Okay. Then… I guess…”

Luna walked up to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Twilight, ‘tis alright. Thou mayst return to the Empire. Thou shouldst be with Cadenza and Flurry Heart for thy brother’s service.” She looked over at Cotton. “And dost thou still wish to attend, dear Cotton?” 

“Of course!” Cotton replied. Then she turned toward Spike and began, “I mean, if Dad doesn’t—”

“Go, Cotton,” Spike said, interrupting her. “If not your aunts as well, I’m sure Flurry would really appreciate you being there.”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah. She looked like it before she brought me back.”

“Then it sounds like it’s settled,” Celestia said. “Twilight, Cotton, and I will return to the Crystal Empire for Shining Armor’s service tomorrow, and Luna will keep an eye on Spike—”

“You mean I’ll keep an eye on her,” Spike snickered.

Luna scowled. “Thou art in no position to—”

“He’s messing with you, Luna,” Twilight said. Then she sighed and looked at Discord. “Dare I ask, but Discord, would you wa—”

Discord quickly shut Twilight’s muzzle with a zipper. “Nnnnnnnnothankyou,” he huffed, holding his arm up to her as if to push her away. As Twilight furrowed her brows at him, he sighed. “Nothing against your brother, Twilight. I’m just not good at funerals." He let out a little sniff. "You do remember Fluttershy’s, don’t you?”

As her eyes softened, Twilight undid the zipper. “Yes, I do.” She glanced back at Spike first before asking him, “If he’s okay with it, would you like to stay with Spike? Or are you just going to do whatever you want as usual?”

“¿Por qué no las dos?” Discord replied. “We could try and improvise an old Guys’ Night. Though I’m not sure how exciting it would be with the big lug lying on his back. We could always recruit Luna’s little taco…”

Luna frowned at him. “Tacca. And nay, he still must rest.”

Discord pouted. Then he perked up and started, “Hey, what if—”

“Nay,” Luna said firmly.

Holding up his arms, Discord countered, “Wait, wait, hear me out. What if you—” He circled around Luna’s head and tapped on her skull a few times. “—were our host? Even my magic can’t heal a wound like that without potential consequences,” he said, pointing to Spike’s side, “but we could do anything in your little dream realm. Sir Flames-A-Lot—”

“Garbunkle,” Spike said.

“—wouldn’t have to miss out, and your little taco would still get his rest. Technically.”

“Tacca,” Luna growled at him, swatting Discord away. Then her eyes softened and she cocked a brow. “But pending his agreement, we shall consider it. On one condition.”

“And that is?”

“Thou must allow Us to participate. We have heard tales of this ‘Guys’ Night’ of which thou speakest.”

Leaning on Cotton’s head, Discord snapped his talons and a suit of purple scale mail appeared on Luna, along with a crossbow and a mace. “Done. You’d make a great cleric.”

Luna looked down at herself and took in her new armor and weapons. Then she smirked. “Hmm… We believe We wouldst enjoy this…” 

“Hey, why does my foot suddenly feel cold?” Spike growled, idly scratching at a missing patch of scales on his right foot with his tail.


Ж


Early the next morning, Spike still lay on his back, flanked by three princesses and his daughter.

“Okay, let’s try this again,” Celestia said, Twilight and Cotton beside her on each side.

“Indeed,” Luna responded from next to Cotton, looking to her sister. “But in this attempt, We wouldst like to join ye momentarily to give Cadenza and Flurry Heart Our condolences personally. If Sir Spike does not require Our presence.”

“As far as I know, there aren’t any other countries planning to declare war,” Spike said, “so if you’re only gone for a minute, I think I’ll be fine.”

Luna nodded at him. “We thank thee, Sir Spike. Now, let us depart.”

All four mares vanished in a flash of light.

Suddenly, Discord appeared on Spike’s earfin. “Good, they’re finally gone. Now we can—”

“You pull anything funny and I will eat you, Discord.”

Crossing his arms, Discord replied, “I taste like cheez whiz. The cheap kind.” 

“You deliberately disobeyed me on the battlefield,” Spike growled.

“Oh, please. You told me yourself you were having fun.”

“I was being facetious. Either way, you should not have been part of that battle.”

“Hey, at least I make a good medic. I even saved your sorry butt.”

Spike huffed. “Like Tartarus you saved my butt. I got hit by a harpoon.”

“And how do you think you got back here? You would have been best friends with the ground if I hadn’t caught you.”

Spike stayed silent for a moment, contemplating the chaos spirit’s words. “You still shouldn’t have been out there, Discord,” he grumbled.

“Agree to disagree.” Pushing off Spike’s earfin and floating into the air, the draconequus lay on his belly and pointed down at him. “How about this? I’ll give Garbunkle three extra constitution points, and we never speak of it again.”

Spike narrowed his eyes at him. 

“…Deal.” 


Ж


As Cotton and the princesses once again appeared in front of the Crystal Heart, they were greeted by a different welcoming committee, in the form of an elderly, lilac unicorn.

“Your Highnesses. Cotton Candy,” the mare said, smiling with a shaky bow. “Welcome back.”

“A pleasure as always, Dr. Glimmer,” Celestia responded, also smiling as she nodded her head. 

“Indeed,” Luna said simply, also nodding.

Twilight stepped up, her face tense. “How are you and the Professor doing, Starlight?”

Starlight Glimmer chuckled. “Preparations are finished, Twilight. There’s no need to have a panic attack over last-minute final touches.” 

With a sigh of relief, Twilight said, “Okay, good, thank y— Hey!” 

Starlight smirked and put up a hoof. “Just honoring your brother’s wishes.”

“Uh, and what would that be?” Twilight asked, cocking a brow.

Just then, they saw Cadance and Flurry Heart coming down to meet them. “To have an occasional laugh at your expense,” Cadance giggled.

Twilight scowled. “Right. You’re really going to take that to heart?”

“You’re standing next to one made of crystal that’s powered by good spirits, Aunt Twilight,” Flurry Heart responded. “Of course we will.”

The group shared a good chuckle as Twilight crossed her forelegs. 

When the laughter eased, Luna approached the two crystal princesses. “Cadenza, Flurry Heart,” she said, pulling them into a wing embrace, “We cannot stay, but We wish to pass Our sincerest condolences to ye. Prince Armor was truly a fine stallion.”

As the three of them broke the hug, Cadance and Flurry responded in unison, “Thank you, Aunt Luna.” Mother and daughter then looked at each other and smiled briefly.

Luna stepped back to leave, and Flurry called to her, “Give Uncle Spike our best wishes!” 

Nodding, Luna said, “We shall.” Then she turned to the three Canterlot residents and added, “Sister, Twilight, Cotton, We shall see ye when ye return. May Shining Armor’s memorial…” She paused, then turned back to Cadance. “…go off without a hitch.” She smiled, then winked at Cadance before she disappeared. Cadance cocked a brow for a moment, then her eyes widened slightly and she glanced at Cotton, covering her muzzle with her hoof as she chuckled.

Celestia, Twilight, Cotton, Flurry Heart, and Starlight Glimmer all looked at her. “What’s so funny?” Cotton asked her.

As her eyes closed, Cadance shook her head and waved her hoof. “Nothing, nothing,” she giggled.

“RUTHERFORD HEAR PONY FAMILY!” 


Ж


After an afternoon of catching each other up on certain events of the battle, final final preparations for the ceremony, and simple rest, the time for the memorial had arrived.

In the grand hall of the Crystal Castle, Cotton found herself accompanied by her aunts, her cousin, and Sunburst, who slowly walked beside her in the rear of the group. 

“It’s wonderful to see you, Cotton,” Sunburst told her. “It’s been too long.”

“I know,” she replied. “I’m sorry I missed you on Thursday, Professor. I didn’t think I would be going back to Canterlot to be part of… well, a war.” She glanced at the floor with a frown.

Sunburst nodded. “Yes, that was indeed unexpected, but I’m sure Spike is glad you were there.”

Cotton shrugged a shoulder. “Well, now he is.”

After a chuckle, Sunburst looked back over his shoulder. “…where are they?”

Tilting her head at him, Cotton asked, “Where are who?”

Looking forward again, Sunburst answered, “Your classmates. They should be here by now.”

Cotton smiled. “They’re gonna be watching with us on the platform?”

Shaking his head, Sunburst replied. “They’re conducting the service today.”

Cotton’s eyes widened as she stumbled forward. "What?"

Nodding, Sunburst said, “Starlight and I just don’t have the stamina to lead these kinds of events anymore. This is also a wonderful opportunity for Chrysanthemum to get used to public speaking. She’ll be doing quite a lot of it if she’s to be our new Crystaller.”

Cotton lifted her eyebrows for just a moment. “Wow.”

“Wow indeed,” Sunburst chuckled. Just then, they saw a flash in their peripheral vision; they turned and discovered that Starlight Glimmer had appeared, accompanied by Chrysanthemum and Buzz. Starlight walked up beside Sunburst, Chrysanthemum and Buzz on Cotton’s side, then they continued the route to their destination as if they had been there the whole time. “There you are. What took so long? I was afraid Princess Twilight would panic.”

Starlight chuckled as well, then tilted her head in the filly’s direction. “We’re mares. You know how long we take to prepare.”

Cotton looked over her classmate, taking in her full appearance. An elegant cyan dress draped over her red-orange coat, and a similarly colored streak had been dyed through her yellow mane, which curled down to her shoulders.

“Wow, Chryssie! You look amazing!” Cotton said with a grin.

“Doesn’t she?” Buzz added from the filly’s other side.

Chrysanthemum’s cheeks reddened. “Thanks. I wasn’t expecting to be doing this today, but Professor Sunburst and Dr. Glimmer insisted it was a good idea.” She looked forward and gestured toward Cadance, Twilight, and Flurry Heart. “And the Princesses agreed. I am so nervous about this.”

“Don’t be,” Buzz said from beside her. “You did really well practicing at the Professor’s.”

Cotton looked over Chryssie’s shoulder at Buzz. “And you’re part of the ceremony, too, huh? Why aren’t you dressed up?”

Buzz chuckled. “There’s no point for me to be. Trust me, you’ll see.” He took a deep breath as he looked forward. “Let’s just say it’s gonna be really weird for me.”

After tilting her head at him, Cotton just shrugged. “Not gonna ask. Just gonna watch.”

As they walked, they could hear the sounds of mass conversation gradually getting louder. It grew to a dull roar as they approached the doors leading out to the platform; taking a glance out the windows, Cotton could see the whole population of the Crystal Empire, young and old, all gathered in the main street that led to the platform, as well as the entire Crystal Guard lined along the road facing the castle. “Wow,” she said once again. 

Chrysanthemum continued looking forward. “Not gonna look, not gonna look…”

Buzz chuckled beside her. “You’re gonna be in front of them in a minute anyway.”

She let out a deep breath. “I know, I know.”

As they approached the doors to the platform, Celestia looked over her shoulder at them, holding a folded Equestrian flag under her wing. “Is everypony ready?”

The whole group, sans Cotton and Starlight, all nodded. Cotton’s eyes widened as she looked around. “Woah, is everyone part of the ceremony?” she asked.

Starlight nodded. “Almost; I’m sitting this out. I apologize, but we didn’t know what kind of role you could play. Would you have liked to participate?”

Cotton’s eyebrows rose. “In front of that crowd? No thanks.”

Starlight smiled. “Then it worked out perfectly.”

“Hey, where’s Rutherford?” Cotton asked. “He’s family, too.”

Flurry turned around and said, “He’s not good with sad occasions. He’s watching from our room with a sound dampening spell.”

Cotton nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Okay then, everypony,” Celestia said, “out we go.” With that, the whole party walked out the doors, with Cotton and Starlight waiting to exit last.

As the crowd saw the group appear on the back of the platform, a chorus of shushing echoed throughout them, all the way to the rear, where the statue of a young Spike holding the Crystal Heart stood.

Sunburst smiled, then walked up to the front of the platform. He cast a spell on himself that increased his volume tenfold, then began the ceremony. “Fillies and gentlecolts, We have all gathered here today in remembrance of a remarkable leader. A wonderful stallion. A pony who shall remain in our hearts until the end of time.”

Standing just in front of Cotton, Chrysanthemum turned around and whispered, “Wish us luck.” Buzz turned to her and smiled, and then they both began walking up the platform.

“And now,” Sunburst continued, “please direct your attention to my apprentice, Chrysanthemum, who has a few words to say.” As he backed away, Chrysanthemum stepped forward, Buzz trailing behind her before he stopped to keep attention on her.

After taking a deep breath, the filly turned back to Sunburst for a moment, who cast the same spell on her to increase her volume. She then looked out over the crowd and began.

“Shining Armor was an exceptional pony. One of honor. Of integrity. And of love.” She allowed herself a small smile. “And why wouldn’t he be? He married the princess who represents it.”

Scattered chuckles could be heard amongst the crowd. Cadance turned to Cotton and smiled as well. “I told her to say that. A little humor to lift the spirit.” Cotton nodded.

The positive response from the crowd increased the filly’s confidence, and she held her smile as she continued, “We have known Shining Armor to be a stallion that wore many hats.”

At this, Buzz stepped forward.

“For many—be it in Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, or anywhere else in this fine nation of Equestria—he shall be remembered as the Captain of the Royal Guard.”

Engulfing himself in green flames, Buzz assumed the form of Shining Armor, perhaps at the age when Flurry Heart was born, wearing his full suit of armor, with the Sparkle family crest in the center. He made a point of holding his helmet in his hooves first, then securing it on his head. After snapping a hard salute as he stomped the ground, the whole of the Crystal Guard along the road responded with salutes of their own, the sound of their unified stomp resonating across the entire Empire. 

Chrysanthemum continued, “For us here in the Crystal Empire, he shall be remembered as our prince. A leader who never failed to consider the well-being of his subjects with every decision he made.”

Buzz engulfed himself again, changing his clothing into Shining’s red service uniform, complete with his blue sash.

“And though he rarely wore his crown…” Making a golden crown appear in his hooves, Buzz then placed it on his head. “…he wore it well.”

Twilight, Cadance, and Flurry Heart then moved up the platform.

“But Shining Armor was much more than his royal titles,” Chrysanthemum continued. “He was a wonderful brother…” Twilight took her cue to step up to Buzz’s side, and he put his foreleg around her shoulders. “…an exceptional husband…” As Cadance stepped up to Buzz’s other side, his blue sash transformed into the white cumberbund Shining Armor had worn on his wedding day. Then he put his other leg around her. “…and an incredible father.” Flurry Heart walked up next to her mother and leaned into her side. “Shining Armor’s greatest title…” Buzz then stripped himself of Shining Armor’s uniform, and a simple red cap appeared in midair, spinning a few times before it gently landed on his head with the bill forward, Buzz smiling as it did so. “…was ‘Family Stallion.’ And it is with this title that Shining Armor will forever remain in our hearts, crystal or otherwise.” Chrysanthemum then closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly, signalling the end of her eulogy. 

As one, all the citizens of the Crystal Empire—sans the Crystal Guard—sat on their haunches and clapped their hooves for the filly. She looked back up at them all and blushed, then turned around to see Celestia, Cotton, and Starlight clapping their hooves as well. She took a deep, relieved breath out of her nostrils, then as Buzz and the three princesses retreated down the platform, Buzz dropping his disguise, she let out a small cough, which reverberated throughout the crowd, the volume spell still in effect. She grimaced, then turned back to Sunburst and pointed at her throat, waving her hoof down. Sunburst nodded and altered the spell, lessening the volume increase. Stepping back up to the edge of the platform, she pointed downward to where a small group of ponies stood.

“If those of you in the front could please step back, the procession is about to begin.” 

The small group looked behind them, and one pointed out a line that curved around the area beneath the platform. After they all had retreated behind the line, Chrysanthemum turned around and nodded to Celestia. The princess lit her horn, and a whooshing sound emanated from the area beneath the platform as a section lowered underneath the ground. After a few moments, it lifted back up and became flush with the ground once again, now holding a stand with a wreath of white lilies on the left, a stand with a thin crystal shadow box on the right, and an opaque crystal casket in the center. Celestia then levitated the folded flag she held to the filly, who grasped it in her own aura and carefully unfolded it before laying it gently over the casket. She then focused and lifted the shadow box, containing all of Shining Armor’s medals, ribbons, and awards, holding it up for all to see.

Sunburst took his cue and once again increased Chrysanthemum’s volume. “Shining Armor, thank you for your service,” she said.

Every single pony in the Empire repeated back to her, "Thank you for your service.” 

Celestia then stepped forward to the front of the platform. She looked toward the first soldier standing around the line of the road. When he nodded to her, she lifted Shining Armor’s casket in her aura, levitating it toward him. He then grasped the casket in his own aura, and moved it to the soldier next to him. And so it went, each soldier keeping the casket moving around down the road for all the citizens to see, many of whom bowed to it as it passed.

Chrysanthemum turned back to Sunburst one more time, pointing at her throat before swiping her hoof across it. Sunburst nodded, then removed the spell. She whispered to herself to make sure it had worked, then sighed with relief when she confirmed it had. “Wow.”

Looking down to her, Celestia smiled. “You did an excellent job.”

As she looked back up into Celestia’s warm eyes, Chrysanthemum blushed. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

The procession ended, and Shining Armor’s casket returned to its starting point. “Now we need to end the ceremony.”

“Oh, right,” Chrysanthemum responded, stepping back to give Celestia the spotlight. 

Grasping the casket in her magic once more, Celestia gently lowered it back to its original place. Then she cast her own amplification spell, as this was not an appropriate occasion for the Royal Canterlot Voice.

“We have one more way to honor Shining Armor today, but first we must also honor Sir Spike, the Brave and Glorious,” she said, pointing to the dragon’s adolescent statue. “He is currently recovering from injury, and is unable to attend today’s ceremony, but he wishes to honor his elder brother in his own way. If those of you near his statue could please step aside.”

The entire crowd turned to face Spike’s statue; those standing beside it looked at the ground, discovering another set of lines across the crystal road, joining each other and surrounding the statue. After they retreated, Celestia lit her horn and the ground once again gave way, the statue slowly descending into the earth. After a few moments, the ground ascended, now displaying a crystal statue of Shining Armor in his full regalia, holding a salute. The Crystal Guard instinctively snapped their own salutes.

“Sir Spike has much appreciated the reverence you have shown him these past decades, but he wishes for his brother to receive it now.” She held up her hoof in a salute. “May you rest in peace, Shining Armor. You are relieved of duty.”

Across the crowd, and upon the platform, there was a scattering of salutes. As they were noticed, more hooves rose, until eventually not a single pony still stood on four legs. For a few moments, a cacophony of words of respect filled the air, then all fell quiet.

After a few beats of silence, Celestia lowered her hoof and said, “Thank you, everypony. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.” Then she cut her spell and walked down the platform, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

As Celestia and Chrysanthemum descended the platform, the others walked up to meet them.

“Thank you,” Twilight said, her voice cracking, looking between Buzz and Chrysanthemum. Settling on the filly, she added, “You speak very well, for somepony who’s nervous about speaking in public.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the filly responded, her confidence still present.

Cadance smirked at Buzz. “And how did it feel having three princesses in your forelegs?”

Rubbing the back of his head, Buzz replied, “Uuuh, do I have to answer that?”

As the rest of the group chuckled, Cotton turned to Flurry Heart and whispered, “Aunt Twilight and Aunt Cadance are much more chill than before I left.”

“A long rest in the baths and a full day to recoup does wonders, ‘cuz.”

Just then, they saw green wisps approaching them.

“Hey, that’s a letter from Spike,” Twilight said. “I forgot he was watching the ceremony.” As the wisps approached them, they veered toward Chrysanthemum, and then a scroll popped in front of her, which she grabbed in her hooves. “It must be for you,” Twilight added with a pained smile.

Unravelling the scroll, Chrysanthemum stopped when the address line appeared. She looked at Buzz and said, “Hey, it’s for both of us.”

“Cool,” Buzz responded as he sat next her.

She unravelled the scroll the rest of the way, then the two read the letter together. After a moment, both of them cocked a brow. “Uhh… what?” She turned the scroll around and showed it to the party.



Dear Chrysanthemum and Buzz,


They a grub You two a noun. Ski your toy, and i pick a good joke.


all the beSt,

diScord



Twilight deadpanned as she saw the signature. “Of course.” She lit her horn, and the letters on the scroll rearranged themselves. After glancing at it again, she smiled. “That’s better. Look now.”

Turning the letter back around, Chrysanthemum and Buzz read it once again.



Dear Chrysanthemum and Buzz,


You two did a great job. Thank you, and good luck to you both.


Sincerely,

Sir Spike



Buzz chuckled. “Okay, that makes more sense.” Chrysanthemum just smiled at him and nodded.

Turning to Twilight, Cadance asked, “What was it?”

“Just Spike telling them they did a good job.”

“And you did,” Sunburst said to the two of them. “I’m very proud of you.”

“Thank you, Professor,” they both responded in unison, before they looked at each other and giggled, giving each other a hug. 

Starlight smirked. “Perhaps we ought to send you two to your room.”

Their eyes widened, then they glanced at the party and blushed, but did not break their embrace.

“Not before they join us for dinner,” Cadance said. “All of you. Let’s go eat before the Canterlot crew needs to go home.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. Lead the way,” Celestia responded. “Funerals make me hungry.” 

“Really? They make you hungry?” Cotton asked.

“Yes, everypony responds to grief in different ways. Don’t be surprised by anything you see at dinner,” Celestia replied.

As Cadance led everyone to the dining room, Flurry added, “You could just stay the night. It’s not like we don’t have enough room.”

Cotton smiled. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

“Well, then it’s settled,” Twilight said.

Celestia hummed to herself. “Why do I have a feeling that’s a bad idea?”

“You’re just being paranoid, Auntie,” Cadance replied. “Just sit back and relax for once.”

“Well, alright,” Celestia sighed. “I just hope there won’t be any trouble back home.”


Ж


Back in Canterlot…

“You find yourselves in a dark cavern, the only source of light the glowing mushrooms along the walls. In the distance you hear the growling of— no, Luna, Clerics can’t use lances.”

“But the lance is Our weapon of choice! ‘Tis why We chose it as Our name!”

“You can’t use pointed melee weapons. Here, you can use a crossbow like the one I have if you want.”

“Nay! We refuse!”

“Fine. Lunar Lance finds herself pinned against the cavern wall by mushroom monsters for illegal weapon usage…”

“Hey! Sir Sp—” 

“Garbunkle. And I’m with Discord on this one.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I got you!”

“Roll for initiative… The mushroom monsters are impervious to daggers. Flying Fox takes two damage from a counterattack.”

“Oh, come on!”

“Aww, don’t be all mopey-dopey! I can fix you right up with a song!”
> Chapter Fifty - Back to Work?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a flash, three mares stood in Spike’s room.

“Mmmm,” Cotton hummed, stretching out her back. “That was nice. We should go up there more often. It’s always fun talking with Rutherford,” she giggled.

Celestia nodded. “It would be nice to, yes, but we all have our responsibilities here. Twilight has the library, you have work… I almost forgot to raise the sun this morning.”

“Oh, uh… work. Right,” Cotton said, her eyes shifting back and forth. “Tomorrow…”

“And what were you three up to this morning?” Spike asked. “Last-minute plans to stay the night at the Empire, I see. How is everypony up there?”

“They’re doing well, considering,” Celestia answered. “And yes, we thought it would be nice to stay up there. How was your night after the ceremony?”

Spike chuckled. “Uneventful. Before bed, at least.”

Twilight scowled at him. “By the way, did you have Discord write that letter to Cotton's friends?”

“Well, I can’t exactly write like this, so I had him take dictation for me before I sent it. Why?”

“Did you actually read it before you sent it?”

Spike gently lay a claw on his face, then groaned. “No. I should have known better. What did he actually write?”

“An anagram,” Twilight replied, “but it was nothing insulting, just gibberish.” She shrugged her shoulders. “So I guess we can let that slide. Besides, they did get a laugh out of it after I rearranged it properly.”

“Good,” Spike said, smiling. He turned his head and looked at Cotton. “Your friends really did a great job with that eulogy. Given how they presented it, it would have been nice to participate myself, but I don’t think that would have gone very well,” he chuckled.

“I’m sure we could have made it work somehow; maybe if Buzz had projected you from when you were younger and still shorter than me,” Twilight giggled.

“No, I think that image of me is just a bit outdated now,” Spike said. “That’s another reason why I asked to have my statue replaced.” He looked at Celestia. “That was very well done, by the way. The sculptors did a fabulous job, given how little time they had.”

“Indeed they did,” Celestia responded with a nod. “I was quite impressed.”

Twilight tilted her head at him and smiled. “Well, despite the ulterior motive, that was quite kind of you, Spike. I’m sure Shining would appreciate it.”

“I think big bro deserves the honor much more than I do,” Spike said. “He’s done a lot more for Equestria than I have.”

Raising her eyebrows at him, Twilight responded, “I don’t know, I think Shining would have said otherwise. You did become a knight protector, after all.”

“Only because of him. We could argue all day about who did more than whom, but either way, I’m much happier seeing him up on that pedestal than me. And I don’t think he’ll argue with me now.”

“Well, I’m proud of both of you,” Twilight said, kissing Spike on the snout. After a moment, she added, “My knight, and Shining Armor.”

“Hey, that was actually pretty good, Aunt Twilight,” Cotton giggled.

Twilight shrugged. “No matter how infrequent they may be, sometimes I actually come up with a decent one.”

“Don’t let it get to your head, sis.”


Ж


That afternoon, while Celestia was in her study and Twilight sat rearranging the library for the sixth time that month, Cotton was back in her father’s room tending to him.

“So, sweetie, I know the past few days have been a bit overwhelming, but are you ready to go back to work tomorrow?” Spike asked Cotton as she stood beside him.

Almost dropping the bucket of drinking water, Cotton’s eyes widened as sweat dripped down her forehead. Swaying one of her hind hooves back and forth, she answered, “Ummm… no. No, I’m not.”

Spike smirked as he turned his head to her and cocked a brow. “Well you don’t really have much of a choice, do you?”

“Uhhh… you’re right, I don’t. I’m not going.”

His brows furrowing, Spike growled, “And exactly why not?”

Her leg still swaying, Cotton looked down and replied, “‘Cause… uh… before we left for the Empire, I kinda… um… quit.”

Spike’s eyebrows rose at this. “You quit?”

Cotton nodded, silent as she still stared at a very interesting spot on the floor. After a few moments she looked up and said, “My boss was a jerk, Daddy. He wouldn’t let me talk to anybody; I just stayed in the back and baked.”

Spike huffed. “Cotton, everypony needs to deal with crummy bosses at some time or another.”

“But he wasn’t even paying me!”

“That’s how apprenticeships work, Cotton. You need to get some experience before you can expect a good paying job out in the market. Heck, you need experience before you can get any job.”

“But Daddy, you don’t under—”

“Cotton, I know you’ve never wanted to be given special treatment despite technically being a royal, so I'm going to act like you're any other teenager,” Spike interrupted her. “I’m giving you two options; either you get another job—be it paid or unpaid—or you go to college somewhere. I won’t restrict you to Canterlot University if you don’t want to go there. You could go join your friend up at Cloudsdale College if you want, or anywhere else, provided you get accepted, of course. I hear the University of Vanhoover is quite nice, too. And the Crystal College your aunt Cadance founded has been highly praised. There are plenty others.”

Cotton sighed. “Can I… Can I take some time to think about it?”

Spike scowled at her. Then after a moment of thought, he sighed. “…Fine. I’ll give you one month. If you haven’t determined whether you want to apply for jobs or school by then, I’m going to make the decision for you. Got it?”

“…Alright,” Cotton finally answered. I’ll tell him about Mr. Cutter and the cookies another time…

“In the meantime, I expect you to pull some weight around the castle. Help Tasty Twist in the kitchen, ask any of the other help if you can be of assistance, give your aunt Twilight a hoof in the library… anything. Just don’t lie in bed all day.”

Cotton nodded. “Okay. That’s fair.” She tilted her head at him and put on a small smile. “Do you still want me to help take care of you while you recover?”

Spike’s eyes softened as he smiled back at her. “I would appreciate that very much, yes. Thank you.” As Cotton moved up to him and leaned against his snout, he continued, “Cotton, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to punish you. Ever since you came here to live with us you’ve been nothing but kind, humble, and very diligent. You’ve had your moments, of course—everypony does—but you’re one of the sweetest fillies I’ve ever met.”

Blood rushing to her cheeks, Cotton responded, “You’re just saying that ‘cause you’re my dad.”

Spike chuckled. “Of course I am, but I mean every word. You’ve avoided becoming snobby and entitled like the Bluebloods, and I’m very proud of you for that. I don’t want that to change, so I can’t allow you to slack off. Understand?”

Cotton smiled again as she nodded. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Good. Tell you what, why don’t you go ask one of your aunts if you can help them with something? If they can’t think of anything, I’m sure they could point you in another direction.”

Shrugging her shoulder, she said, “I guess I could ask Auntie Tia if she wants me to help her in court…”

With a smirk, Spike responded, “Ah, yes, Celestia told me you’ve done an exceptional job in the court. That’s not a bad start.”

Cotton shrugged again. “Alright.”

“Good girl. Now, go on.” He smirked as he tilted his snout just so and caused her to stagger slightly, putting her in the perfect position for him to kiss her on the cheek. “Get to it.”

Cotton giggled, then lightly whacked him with her wing before she kissed him back. She turned, and was about to fly out of the room, but two words her father said stuck out at her, and she instead stopped herself and let out a sigh, sitting on her haunches.

His brows furrowing slightly, Spike asked her, "Everything okay, sweetie?"

Cotton sat silently with her head down. Then she shook her head, and Spike heard her sniffle.


Ж


In the evening, Cotton stood knocking on the door to one of the castle suites. “Tacca? Are you in there?”

A voice called back, “Hm? Who is it?”

“It’s Cotton. Can I come in?”

“Oh!” She heard some shuffling before he said, “Sure!” After slowly opening the door, Cotton found the pitch black noctis without his armor lying upright on top of the bed, which looked like it had been hastily made. “How’d you know I was in here?”

“I asked Aunt Luna after she got up. She told me where you were. I need to go talk to Aunt Celestia, but I wanted to see how you were doing first; how are you feeling?”

Tacca shrugged. “I’m good. Still kinda tired, though. I can’t believe it’s lasted for like, three days. It’s been three days, right? Princess Luna put a spell on all the blinds to keep ‘em shut, so I’m just kinda guessing on time here.”

Cotton nodded as she gently closed the door, then approached the bed and sat on her haunches in front of him. “Yeah, three days. But considering how much you did, I’d actually be surprised if you had recovered any sooner.”

“Wait, you could see me fighting?” His eyes widened slightly, then he tilted his head at her. “How?”

Waving her hoof, she answered, “It’s complicated, don’t ask. And, well, I saw you in the streets every few seconds; I couldn’t actually see you fighting, but I could figure out what you were doing.” She rolled her eyes in a few circles, as if trying to stretch them after a workout. “I could only watch for like, ten seconds, though. My eyes started to hurt after that,” she giggled.

Tacca sighed with relief. “I was worried there for a second. If you could actually see me, then I’m losing my touch,” he said, stifling a yawn.

Cotton tilted her head back at him. “I’m sorry, did I wake you up? It’s evening, so I thought you’d be awake…”

“No, yeah, I was up,” Tacca replied. “My body clock usually doesn’t let me sleep at night. I was just lying down. And I’m actually kinda bored right now. I could use someone to talk to; Princess Luna isn’t letting me go out anywhere yet. It’s like my mom keeping me home from school and in my room ‘cause of a sore throat,” he chuckled.

“Well, if you were fighting the way I saw you fighting for the whole battle, then I’m not surprised she’s keeping you grounded. Both definitions of grounded,” she giggled.

Tacca shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.” He then put on a huge grin. “By the way, I’ve seriously gotta thank you.”

“Thank me? For what?” Cotton asked.

Tacca chuckled. “C’mon, don’t tell me you don’t know. You saw me before the battle, after all.”

“What, the cookie?”

Laughing, Tacca said, “Well, that too, but no.”

Cotton tilted her head at him. “Then what do you mean? I mean yeah, you gave me a message from Aunt Luna before the battle started, but—” Then something clicked and she lifted her head. “Wait! You gave me a message! Does that mean you’re her new messenger? You got a new post?”

With a smirk, Tacca just shook his head.

“Then what’s the huge deal?”

Tacca crept to the edge of the bed and leaned over toward her, still keeping a comfortable distance. “Cotton, I’m her new spy.”

Cotton’s eyes widened. “Her what?" 

He lifted his head back up with pride and said, “Her spy. I’m the reason we knew the griffons were coming so fast. Princess Luna sent me to follow the Griffonian ambassador’s messenger to their captain so we’d know whether or not they were going to attack right away. It’s like, the coolest position in the Lunar Guard. And it’s high-ranking!” He leaned forward again. “I’m still a new recruit!”

Cotton grinned herself, then reached out and gave him a hug, pulling him part way off the bed’s mattress. “Tacca, that’s awesome! I’m so happy for you! I—” Her eyes suddenly widened again, then she quickly let him go and sat back on her haunches, and his forelegs fell lightly to the floor. Looking down and away from him, she frowned for a moment, then shook her head and looked back at him. “Uh, sorry.”

“No, it’s cool,” he responded, smiling as he pushed himself back up onto the bed. "You got me the position in the first place. That’s why I need to thank you.”

“Ah,” Cotton responded, nodding her head. “‘Cause I talked to Aunt Luna about it. Gotcha.” She smiled back at him. “Well, you’re welcome.”

Tacca nodded back at her before rolling onto his back and dropping his head upside down over the edge of the bed. Cotton giggled at him as he said, “Yeah. Just the boredom is killing me right now. Well, except for last night. At least, I think it was night…”

“Oh, did you do that ‘Guys’ Night’ thing my Uncle Discord mentioned?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “It was a blast. I’d always heard of Ogres and Oubliettes, but I never thought I’d play it. Especially not the way we did. Your dad is an awesome wizard, by the way.”

Cotton tilted her head at him again. “Wait, that’s Guy’s Night?”

“Yeah. Took a while for them to explain everything to me, but after I got it, it was awesome,” Tacca replied. “Discord was the DM—totally crazy. Princess Luna was a cleric, and I got to be a rogue.” Rolling back onto his stomach, he cocked a brow and added, “And I don’t know how, but Pinkie Pie was there as a bard…”

“Don’t question anything about Pinkie Pie. It’s safer that way,” Cotton said with a smirk.

“Oh, that wasn’t even the weirdest thing. At one point Discord summoned an Ursa Major; we were about to attack it, but then it started complaining to the Princess about wanting to be a druid. She told it to go back to work.” 

Putting a hoof to her muzzle, Cotton asked, “Those are the purple ones, right?”

“Yeah. Why?”

Cotton just burst out laughing.


Ж


Celestia and Cotton both let out sighs of satisfaction as they finished their desserts, sitting together at one end of the dining table. “Cotton, are you certain you want to join me at the start of court tomorrow?”

Cotton nodded. “I can’t let myself slip into a habit of sleeping late every day just because I can, especially after I got used to getting up early. Besides, I need to get up and help Dad, anyway.”

“That’s what I mean,” Celestia said. “You won’t have very much time to assist your father if you join me in court first thing in the morning.”

“…Oh. Good point.” 

“Would you prefer to join me after the midday recess?” Celestia asked. “We could have lunch and then go in together.”

Nodding again, Cotton replied, “That’s probably a good idea. I’ll just need to find something else to do until lunchtime. I don’t think Dad’ll need me for three hours.”

“You could always assist the chefs in making lunch.”

Cotton frowned. “But I don’t really know how to cook food food. Just bake.”

With a smile, Celestia responded, “I’m sure they’d be happy to teach you. If nothing else, I’ve found cooking is a wonderful way to unwind.” She sighed. “It’s a shame how long it’s been since I last made my way back to the kitchen.”

“What do you mean? You’ve been back to the kitchen plenty of times,” Cotton said with a smirk.

“No, I mean—” Celestia turned and scowled at her, then lifted one of her wings.

Cotton quickly hopped off her seat, holding up a hoof. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she giggled. “But you totally set yourself up for that!”

Celestia chuckled as she retracted her wing. “Alright, I did, I’ll admit it.”

Cotton continued giggling as she approached the table slowly.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t still get you for it!” Celestia laughed, lifting Cotton in her aura as she stood up from the table.

“Ah! No fair, no fair!” Cotton cried, flailing in midair as Celestia turned her in all directions and used her wings at her most ticklish spots, both of them giggling all the while.

When she was satisfied with her revenge, Celestia lightly laid Cotton on the floor, the filly still rolling as she giggled out of control. Pointing at Cotton with a hoof, Celestia smirked and said, “I shall warn you again— never insult your royal aunt and her royal snackery! You should heed those warnings.”

Closing her muzzle to suppress her laughter, Cotton took a moment to steady her breathing. Then she looked Celestia in the eye, smirked, and silently stuck her tongue out at her. 

Celestia lifted a wing and a brow.

“Alright-alright-alright!” Cotton laughed, scrambling to her hooves as her giggles continued. “I’ll stop, I’ll stop!” She stood up, panting as tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped the tears from under her eyes as she let out a snort. Finally settling herself down, she put on a sincere smile and walked back up to Celestia, giving her a hug. “Sorry, Auntie Tia. I’m just, y’know…" She paused, letting out a sigh. "…finding a way to cope. The last few days have been, well…”

“Quite overwhelming, I’m sure,” Celestia finished for her, nuzzling her. Breaking their hug and lifting Cotton’s chin with a hoof, she smiled and shook her head. “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Cotton. If this is the way you’ve chosen to cope, I’m very proud of you. It’s much better—and whether you would think it or not, more mature—than other methods I’ve seen.” She smirked and lightly tickled Cotton’s neck, eliciting another quick giggle from both of them.

“Thanks,” Cotton said, giving her another hug. After a yawn, she added, “I’m gonna go say g’night to Dad and go to bed. See ya in the morning, Auntie Tia.”

Nuzzling Cotton again briefly, Celestia responded, “I’ll see you in the morning, Cotton. Sleep well.”

“You too.” With that, Cotton stepped back and trotted toward the stairs, letting out another sigh.

Celestia sighed herself as she sat down on her haunches. Her face fell as she watched Cotton leave. "I'm so sorry, Cotton," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. After a moment, she turned around and headed towards the kitchen. 

“Perhaps another slice of red velvet…”
> Chapter Fifty-One - Just Breakfast
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well, aside from toast, eggs would probably be the simplest breakfast you could make,” Tasty Twist said to Cotton as they stood over the kitchen stove, “but knowing you, I think we could jump right to pancakes. They’re Princess Celestia’s favorite.”

Cotton nodded. “Then yeah, let’s start with that.”

“Alright, then.” Looking across the room and opening a few cupboards with his magic, he levitated a couple of boxes onto the counter. “You’ll find that cooking pancakes is not so different from the first steps to baking the cakes you make, but with even fewer ingredients and less time. It’s called a ‘pancake’ for a reason—it’s a cake you can make in a pan,” he chuckled. “Though I prefer the griddle,” he added, picking a griddle out from a low cupboard and placing it on the stove.

“Sounds good.” Looking at the ingredients before her, Cotton said, “Given what’s here, I’m guessing we need eggs, too.”

“Indeed we do,” the stallion said with a nod, “and butter, if you want. It’s not a requirement.”

“Eh, I’ll pass this time,” Cotton said.

“Alright, that’s up to you. You’ll want to use a little butter on the griddle so the mix doesn’t stick, though.” With that, he levitated over both ingredients from the refrigerator.

“Okay, so lemme guess,” Cotton started. “Mix the flour and baking powder first; milk and eggs in another bowl; pour the liquid into the dry, mix ‘em up to moisten the flour…” She looked down at the griddle. “…and then just pour the mix on top however big you want ‘em. It should spread out in a circle on its own as you pour.” 

Tasty Twist smiled as he nodded. “You’ve got it. I figured you would. I personally mix the eggs and milk together first, then put the butter in afterward instead of putting them all together at once, but since you aren’t using it in the mix this time, there’s no need to concern yourself with that. Are you ready? I don’t think you need my help.”

“No, I’m good. Thanks,” Cotton replied, picking up the box of flour.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it. My last suggestion is that you should preheat the griddle first, and don’t put the butter on until you’re ready to pour.”

“Sounds good to me,” Cotton responded, reaching for an egg. 

"Oh, Cotton, before you start…" Tasty Twist put his hoof on her shoulder. Keeping his voice at a whisper, he said, "I know it may still be a little… fresh, but if you ever want to talk abou—"

"No," she interrupted him, shaking her head as she looked down. She sighed before continuing with a low voice, "Thanks, Twist, but no. At least, not now."

He nodded, putting his hoof down. "I understand. But if you ever want to, I'm here." She turned to him and opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, he added, "And I won't tell anypony unless you're okay with it."

Cotton gave him a sad smile, then a hug. "Thanks, Twist." 

"Of course, Cotton," the chef responded, returning the embrace.	

After breaking the hug, Cotton turned her focus back to the ingredients before her. She thought for a moment, then once again reached for an egg and said, “Y’know, I kinda wanna try something…” 


Ж


Cotton stood across the table from Twilight and Celestia, both of whom had just taken a bite of the pancakes she had served them. Tasty Twist stood behind her, waiting for the princesses’ responses. 

“So? How’d I do?” Cotton asked. “I didn’t put anything on top except syrup this time ‘cause I wanna see how they are on their own. And tell me honestly; if there’s something I can do to make ‘em better, I wanna know.”

Twilight started putting her fork down, but picked it up again and went for another bite. “They’re flawless.”

“Fey’re muff be’er fhan mine, fhaff for sur,” Celestia added, already stuffing another bite in. “Di’ you do fumffing diffrin'?”

Cotton rolled her eyes. “C’mon, what’d I just say?”

“Oh no, she’s serious,” Tasty Twist said, laughing. “You know Princess Celestia never speaks with her mouth full. Even in private.”

“Why did you make them smaller?” Twilight asked after swallowing. “I’m not criticizing, I’m genuinely curious.”

Cotton shrugged. “Long story short, portion control. Figured hoof-size instead of head-size was better.” She looked at Celestia and added, “And yeah, I did; I used orange juice instead of milk. And I put in a little bit of vanilla extract, too.”

After swallowing, Celestia said, “Genius. Do you have more?”

Cotton’s eyes widened. “Uh, yeah. There’s about—”

“LUNA! GET DOWN HERE!”

Tasty Twist smiled and went back into the kitchen. After a minute, Luna appeared before them in a flash, groaning and rubbing her eyes. “…Why didst thou summon Us, Sister? We were just drifting into slumber…” she said, slumping into the seat next to Celestia.

As Tasty Twist returned with another plate of pancakes and placed it on the table, Celestia lit her horn, first shoving another piece of pancake from her plate into her mouth, then pulling the plate Twist had just put down across the table to rest in front of Luna. She lifted the syrup container and poured just a bit over the pancakes, then cut a piece and hovered it in front of Luna’s muzzle. “Tayff.”

Luna groaned again. “Sister, We appreciate thy—”

“TAYFF!” Celestia commanded, shaking the fork in Luna’s face. She swallowed, then added, “They’re Cotton’s, not mine.”

Luna snorted, her eyes still bleary. “Verily? Very well,” she said, grasping the fork in her own aura. As Luna bit at the pancake and chewed, Celestia shoved another piece in her mouth. 

“Geez, Auntie Tia, slow down,” Cotton said.

She saw Luna’s eyes slowly widen, then go half-lidded as she swallowed. “Thou art… a most wondrous chef… Cotton,” the princess drawled, before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her face slammed onto the table.

Cotton cringed as she recoiled from the table. “Did I just kill her?”

Celestia shook her head. “Mm-mm.” She pointed her fork in Luna’s direction. “Faff biff.”

“…What?”

Twilight, who had been eating at a sane pace, swallowed and said, “That’s bliss.” 

Tasty Twist turned to Cotton and chuckled. “Well, I’d say your first try was a rousing success. Maybe next time we should try Prench toast.”

“Yeff peeff.”

Twilight deadpanned at Celestia and raised a brow as she took the uneaten pancakes from Luna’s plate and piled them onto her own.

Catching Twilight’s glare, Celestia simply said, “Wha?” 

“Why don’t you leave some for the chef?” Twilight asked, pointing a hoof at Cotton.

Celestia stopped mid-cut, then swallowed as she looked over at Cotton and blushed. She slowly put on a shameful smile. 

Then after a few beats, she finished her cut and shoved the pancake in her mouth anyway.

“Tia!”

Celestia just shrugged her shoulders.


Ж


“So you started with breakfast, hmm?”

Cotton nodded as she held up another bucket of water for her father to drink. “Yeah. Tasty Twist said pancakes were a good start since they aren’t too different from making cakes.”

After swallowing the water, Spike said, “Well, based on what your Aunt Twilight told me…” He snickered. “…I’d say you’ve got that mastered. Are you going to try putting anything additional into the mix?” 

“What, you mean like chocolate chips?”

“That’s a good start. If you get confident with them I would love to see you try dusting in some crushed gems,” he chuckled.

Cotton smirked. “A special batch just for you, huh? I might be able to make that happen.”

“Hm. Maybe I should keep you home to cook instead of sending you out to work. A few lessons with the chefs and—”

“Daddy!” she giggled, whacking him with her wing. “I need to have a life outside home.”

“Oh, fine,” he mock-pouted. “Then have you thought about your choice yet?”

Cotton groaned. “Daddy, it’s only been one day.”

“Only twenty-nine left, then.”

“I guess.” Looking up at the clock above Spike’s doors, she said, “Oh! It’s eleven! I need to freshen up and have lunch with Auntie Tia before court, so I have to find Dawn.”

Spike smiled. “Alright. Have fun. And good luck, if you need it.” He kissed her on the cheek, and she did the same.

“Thanks, Daddy. See you later!”

Then she flew out Spike’s doors and down the hall in search of Dawn.


	Ж


Celestia and Cotton stood at the rear doors to the throne room. Cotton took a deep breath.

“Are you ready, Cotton? I know this is only your second time sitting on the throne, and this time you’re officially walking up there with me.”

“Yeah, I’m ready,” Cotton replied. “Aunt Twilight gave me the all-clear to use her throne again, so I’m actually in the right mindset.”

Celestia smiled. “Good. Just to warn you, most of the cases today have been requests relating to the aftermath of the war. I may need to do most of the talking, but I know you were able to see some of the action in the city proper thanks to Discord, so if at any point you have knowledge of something that I may not be aware of, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Will do.”

“Alright, then,” Celestia said. “Let’s go.”

When they walked through the doors, they heard a brief fanfare from the bailiff before he spoke. “The Canterlot day court has now resumed. Presenting Her Highness Princess Celestia, accompanied by Miss Cotton Candy.”

The first thing Cotton did as she walked in front of the thrones to sit down was discreetly wave to Raven in the box seat, who smiled at her and waved back. As Cotton approached Twilight’s throne, she could hear murmurs behind her. At first she tensed, but when she sat down and looked forward at the gathered petitioners, she found that most of them were smiling, and she did the same in kind. In fact, the first face she saw in line was a familiar one wearing a wide grin.

“First petitioner,” the bailiff called, “Mr. Punch Line.”

The stallion stepped forward and bowed, then looked back up and began, “Miss Cotton! How wonderful to see you! Of course, you as well, Your Highness.” He let out a nervous chuckle.

As Cotton giggled, Celestia smiled with a light chuckle of her own. “Do not worry, Mr. Line, no insult taken. What brings you to the court today? Is your neighborhood still, if I recall the correct phrasing, ‘plagued with ruffians’?”

Punch Line smirked and shook his head. “Not at all, Your Highness. In fact, I was first going to ask you to give Miss Cotton a message, but I see I can do it myself!” He turned to Cotton and said, “I would like to thank you earnestly for sending Tacca to us. He took care of our troubles in a single night, and we have slept peacefully ever since. At least until all the fighting.”

Cotton smiled and nodded to him. “You’re very welcome, Mr. Line. I’m happy to hear that Tacca was successful in his mission.”

“Indeed he was. Now, for the primary reason for my attendance… Since I have recently become involved as a volunteer, I’m actually here by request of the principal of the local elementary school.” 

Cotton raised her eyebrows. “Central Canterlot Elementary School?”

Punch Line nodded. “The very same. They’re in need of funding for new staff. The administrators that would submit the paperwork for such a request left without notice, and nopony else is completely certain what needs to be done to obtain the funding. They need new administrators that know the ins and outs of the bureaucracy, but in order to hire such a pony, they need the proper funds. It’s a terrible loop.”

Celestia nodded. “Indeed it is. Well, I am happy to say that this is an issue that is rather easily solved; Canterlot’s public schools are already government-funded. However, we do need the paperwork for our records, so please tell the principal that he may—”

“She,” Cotton whispered from beside her.

“…that she may send an employee with the paperwork to us—any employee at all, be it a teacher or a janitor, or perhaps even yourself—and we will assist them in filling out the forms. There will always be somepony with the proper knowledge here between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. However, the school will need to submit them officially, so there will likely be a brief waiting period for the funding after that has been completed.”

Punch Line smiled as he let out a sigh of relief. “That’s absolutely fine, Your Highness. Thank you. This has been troubling the school for at least a week now. I honestly don’t understand why my assistance wasn’t requested sooner.”

“Well, what’s passed has passed,” Celestia said. “You are here now. Is that everything you need, Mr. Line? Are there any other issues you need to discuss with the court?”

Shaking his head, the stallion replied, “That’s it, Your Highness. Thank you very much for your aid.” He turned to Cotton once again and smiled. “And as I said previously, it’s wonderful to see you again, Miss Cotton. I hope all is well with you.”

“Likewise, Mr. Line,” Cotton responded with a smile of her own. “Please give Principal Inquiry and the rest of the staff at CCE my regards.”

She nodded when Punch Line raised his eyebrows at her. “I absolutely will, Miss Cotton. Both of you have a good day.”

“You as well,” Celestia finished. 

As the bailiff lifted the scroll again, Cotton’s eyes widened when she saw the next pony in line. “Next petitioner, Miss Daisy Withers.”

Daisy? Cotton mouthed out to her friend.

The filly stepped forward and bowed. “Good afternoon, Your Highness. Uh, Miss Cotton.”

Cotton suddenly saw Daisy wince for a moment, then stare up at Celestia for a few seconds. When Cotton looked up at her aunt, she saw her horn’s aura fade out as she lightly nodded.

“Good afternoon, Miss Withers. How may the court assist you today?”

“Well, Your Highness, my family is requesting help with rebuilding our home. It was damaged during the battle with the griffons.”

As Cotton let out a sigh, Celestia tilted her head. “We sent out builders… well, means of rebuilding, the day afterward. Was your home neglected?”

Shaking her head, Daisy answered, “No, Your Highness, but whichever, uh, builder, fixed up our house didn’t check it thoroughly. One of the replaced support beams on the side of our house collapsed yesterday afternoon. Nopony was injured, thankfully, but we can’t leave our home with a gaping hole in the side.”

Shaking her head in return, Celestia responded, “No, you absolutely cannot. I will see to it that your home is properly repaired. Nopony in Canterlot should be spending a single bit fixing damage from the war. Please leave your residential information with the court clerk, and we will send someone to your home as soon as possible.”

Daisy smiled and bowed once again. “Thank you very much, Your Highness. I won’t take up any more of your time. Have a great day. You too, Co— Miss Cotton.” Before she turned, she mouthed to Cotton, I’ll see you around! 

“A good day to you as well, Miss Withers,” Celestia said with a smile of her own.

After Cotton nodded a goodbye to her friend, she poked Celestia lightly, and she lit her horn to create a telepathic link. As she looked up at her aunt, Cotton asked, Why did she come to the court? She knows you through me.

She told me her parents wanted her to make an official court appearance, and not use you as an in, Celestia replied. I greatly appreciate the fact that they did that.

Wait, how did she tell you that? Cotton asked.

I asked her myself telepathically before we began our conversation.

So you DID do something! I thought I saw your horn glowing.

Yes, you did, Celestia replied. Now come, we have another petitioner. Though he does seem a bit nervous.

As Cotton looked forward, her eyes widened once again as they lay upon a chocolate-colored unicorn stallion she knew all too well. His face held the same expression.

“Next petitioner, Mr. Cookie Cutter.”

The stallion moved forward slowly, his eyes shifting back and forth between Cotton and Celestia. Cotton had to resist the urge to put on an overly crooked grin, instead opting for the more neutral, diplomatic smile Celestia always wore.

When he reached the thrones, but made no sound—his gaze now fixated on Cotton—Celestia said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Cutter. How may the court help you today?”

“I… uh… I…” he stammered.

“Mr. Cutter,” Cotton said, “we cannot be of any assistance to you if you don’t tell us what kind of assistance you need.” While she showed little outward emotion, she laughed hysterically in her head as she watched the baker squirm.

Celestia cocked a brow. “Mr. Cutter, are you alright?” When she followed his line of sight and found him staring at Cotton, she said, “Perhaps you did not hear the bailiff earlier, Mr. Cutter. This is my niece, Cotton Candy. She is assisting me today, and her input has always been helpful and fair.”

There were numerous nods and affirmative murmurs from the line of petitioners.

Cotton tilted her head at him. “Mr. Cutter, if I may, why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?” She proceeded to wipe at her unscarred cheek, then she looked at her hoof. “Everything seems to be in order.”

The baker stared at her a moment longer, then his gaze shifted to Celestia. He then fumbled on his hooves, turned around, and quickly dashed out of the throne room, all the petitioners in line watching him leave.

Celestia watched him fly out the door, then she turned to Cotton and asked telepathically, Cotton, do you know what that was all about? Why he was staring at you like that?

Still resisting the expressions her face wanted to make, Cotton responded, I’ll tell you later, Auntie. Don’t worry about it.

“Next petitioner, Prince Blueblood the Third.”

Not again… Celestia groaned.


Ж


“And then the last petitioner was somebody else that needed help with the war’s aftermath. It was actually a pretty boring day overall, to be honest,” Cotton told Spike.

“Indeed it was. My apologies, Cotton.”

Cotton shook her head, waving the comment off. “It’s okay, Auntie Tia. How would you have known?”

“Indeed, she wouldst not have,” Luna said, shaking her head.

“Would you like to try again tomorrow?” Celestia asked Cotton.

“Sure!” she answered with a bounce in her tone.

Spike sighed. “I still stand by my ‘work or school’ requirement for you, but I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you yesterday, sweetie. I didn’t realize your boss had been taking credit for your recipe. Tia, is that even legal?”

Celestia looked up, thinking. “To be honest, I’m not quite certain. He did deceive his customers for financial gain, since he benefited from Cotton’s work without giving her any credit, so we could consider it fraud, and that most certainly is not legal. Twilight would know… We could have him arrested if that’s the case.”

“Hey, where is Aunt Twilight?”

“She is in Dusk Court,” Luna answered. “‘Tis almost completed.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Cotton nodded. “Duh.”

Looking at Cotton, Celestia asked, “So, pending confirmation of our law, would you like us to arrest Cookie Cutter? Unless you have another idea. Either way, something needs to be done.”

Cotton shook her head with a smirk. “Don’t worry about it, Auntie Tia. That display in the court was plenty of punishment. Did you see all the other ponies in line watch him rush out? On top of knowing who I am now, he’s gonna be stewing over that for weeks,” she laughed. “Besides, I don’t want to slander his name, just, y’know… make him feel really stupid about the whole thing. It’s not like I’m gonna announce, ‘Hey! I used to work for this jerk!’ He does still need to make a living.”

“Art thou certain?” Luna asked. “At the very least, We couldst visit his dreams for thee,” she said, wearing a crooked smile as she rubbed her hooves together.

“No, seriously, Aunt Luna. It’s okay.” As Luna pouted, Cotton said, “I could do something that’s just plain petty, though.”

Celestia quirked a brow. “Oh? What do you have in mind?”

Cotton chuckled. “I could go visit him at his shop. I can just see him squirming, especially if somebody else is there. And he’d probably think you’re with me. Oh! I know just when I could do it… but I might have to miss court, Auntie Tia.”

“Why is that?” Celestia asked, tilting her head.

Cotton looked over at Spike. “Dreamweaver goes there every day around lunchtime. Well, he did, I dunno if he still does. I met him in the shop one day when Mr. Cutter was gone, and he figured out Mr. Cutter was taking credit for my recipe. He was gonna help me call him out on it the day we left for Uncle Shining’s service. Well, the first time, but then we weren’t here. I wonder if he still tried…” 

Spike raised his eyebrows. “Really? You saw Dreamweaver? How long has it been since you two have seen each other?”

“A long time,” Cotton replied. “Like, five years, I think.”

“How is he?”

Cotton nodded. “He’s good, he’s writing stories. Anyway— if I go there around noon, he’ll probably be there, so there’ll be someone to watch when I go in. Well, if he’s still a customer.” She turned to Celestia. “But yeah, that’d be right after the court recess. And if I start with you in the morning, I won’t be able to help Dad.”

Spike chuckled. “Cotton, plenty of others have been helping me as well. You don’t need—”

“No, that’s nonsense, Spike,” Celestia interrupted him. “If Cotton wants to help you, you should let her.” After tapping her chin and glancing upward, she turned to Cotton and said, “You don’t necessarily need to join me in court tomorrow. You could skip one day and join me on Wednesday. We do have the rest of the week…” She smirked. “I’ll tell you what— I’ll let you miss court tomorrow on one condition.”

“And that is?” Cotton asked.

Celestia licked her lips. “If you make Prench toast tomorrow like Tasty Twist suggested.”

Everyone in the room laughed. As it died down, Cotton responded, “Only if you don’t finish it all before I get to have a full serving myself like you did this morning.”

Pointing her hoof at Cotton, Celestia said, “Deal.”
> Chapter Fifty-Two - ...And Desserts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton and her three aunts sat at the dining table, each with three slices of Prench toast on their plates. Cotton had already eaten half of one slice in the kitchen to taste before serving.

“So? How’s round two?” she asked after swallowing another bite. “I’ve never made Prench toast before, so any criticism is welcome; I won’t take offense to anything. Not to toot my own horn, but I think it came out really nicely.” 

All three of her aunts wore smiles and raised eyebrows. “‘Tis quite wonderful, Cotton,” Luna answered first. “If We may say so, they are not quite as delectable as thy pancakes, but still most pleasing to the tongue.” After taking another bite and chewing some more, she swallowed before adding, “Personally, We wouldst enjoy a bit more cinnamon.”

“I don’t know, I think it’s just right,” Twilight responded from beside her. “Sometimes too much cinnamon gives a little kickback. This is just right for me.”

“You’re allowed to have different opinions,” Cotton said with a smile. Then she turned to Celestia. “How about you, Auntie Tia? You aren’t scarfing it down like you did yesterday. I don’t know if I should be offended or not,” she giggled.

Swallowing first, the princess replied, “I agree with Luna on both accounts. They’re very good, no doubt about it, but not quite on par with your pancakes. And I think some more cinnamon would do nicely. I like the extra kick that cinnamon gives.”

Cotton nodded. “Good to know. I’m with Aunt Twilight, I like the cinnamon level as it is, but I can always put more on other pieces in the future. Since I’m not as familiar with Prench toast, I didn’t improvise with anything like I did with the pancakes yesterday; I just followed the regular recipe Tasty Twist showed me. That may be why the pancakes were better.”

“That’s a fair point,” Twilight responded. “Your baking always turns out better when you use your own touch.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Cotton said. Finishing off her plate, she got up from the table and continued, “I’m gonna go help Dad. That okay?” 

“Indeed,” Luna responded. 

“Of course,” Twilight added.

“Absolutely,” Celestia finished. “By the way, do you still intend to take your little day trip this afternoon?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cotton smirked as she walked around to the other side of the table. “Yep. Is it okay if I go see my friends while I’m out?”

Nodding, Celestia replied, “I would actually prefer it if you do. Could you please go to your friend Daisy’s house? I asked for a construction crew to be sent there early this morning to start on repairs. I would like to know if that process has at least begun.”

“I can definitely do that,” Cotton said. “While I’m at it, is there anyone else you want me to check on? There were a bunch of ponies that needed something similar.”

“That’s not necessary,” Celestia responded. “They aren’t your responsibility. I would simply like you to check on your friend since you intend to see her anyway.”

Nodding herself, Cotton said, “Gotcha. Thanks. Is there a time you want me home by?”

“That’s a question for your father,” Celestia replied, “but it would be nice to see you for dinner, so I would like to say six o’clock.”

Cotton shrugged. “That’s fair. I’ll go ask him.” She gave all three of them quick pecks on the cheek, then went for the stairs. “I’ll see you all later! Have a good sleep, Aunt Luna!”

“We thank thee, dear Cotton. And We thank thee for dinner! Or, breakfast, We suppose.” 

“Thank you, Cotton!” Twilight and Celestia both called, as if an afterthought.

“You’re welcome!” Cotton giggled as she ascended the stairs.


Ж


Gulping down another bucket of water, Spike wiped his lips and said, “Ahh, thank you, sweetie. So, how was breakfast?”

“It was good!” Cotton replied. “Tasty Twist suggested eggs tomorrow.” She futilely tried looking over Spike’s body to his other side where a massive bowl of gems had been set for him. “Do you have enough gems?”

Turning his head in the opposite direction, Spike pulled the bowl up towards his face and took a glance inside as best he could with his head still flat on the floor. “Actually, I am getting a bit low. I had enough for breakfast, but this would be a pretty skimpy lunch. Maybe an afternoon snack.”

“I can get some for you before I go out today,” Cotton responded, “don’t worry.”

Spike flipped his head back towards her and raised a brow. “Go out? Where are y— Oh yes, you wanted to go see your old boss, didn’t you?” he chuckled. “I really shouldn’t be condoning this, but given you don’t want him arrested for fraud like Twilight confirmed we could do, I think I can allow you to be a bit petty instead.”

Cotton giggled. “Thanks, Daddy. Auntie Tia actually asked me to go see my friend Daisy, too, to check on her house—she was in court yesterday—so I don’t really know how long I’ll be gone. Is there a time you want me home by? Auntie Tia said she’d like me to be back by six so we could all have dinner, but that it’s really up to you. I’d kinda like to see Flarechaser and Harmony, too, if that’s okay. But I dunno, they may not actually be available.”

Letting out a quick hum, Spike answered, “Well, since your aunt is letting you pass on court today, and she wants you to check on one of them anyway, I don’t see any reason to prevent you from spending the day with your friends. I agree with Celestia, just be home by six. And don’t pull any funny business while you’re out, okay?”

“I won’t, Daddy, I promise,” she replied, pecking him on the cheek.

“Good girl,” Spike said, kissing her back. Getting a look at his clock, he added, “Hey, looks like it’s eleven-thirty. You’re getting close to lunchtime.”

Her head spinning towards his clock, Cotton responded, “You’re right! I should eat before I leave. See ya, Daddy!” She gave him a quick nuzzle, then flew out of his room. 

Chuckling to himself, Spike said aloud, “Prison or petty revenge? I’m not sure which is worse.”


Ж


As she flew over the park, Cotton thought to herself, Huh, weird coming this way knowing I’m gonna be on the other side of the counter. She reflexively landed in front of the alley that would have led her to the back of the shop, but instead she continued up the sidewalk, then turned the corner and headed towards the front entrance. When the main room of the shop came into sight through the windows, Cotton stopped in front and looked through the glass. Despite the front sign reading ‘open,’ she found no sign of Dreamweaver or the baker. Damn, she thought. Guess he stopped coming after we figured out what Cutter was doing. And he’s probably in the back waiting for the bell. I’ll have to do this without anyone wat—

“Miss Cotton!”

Turning around at the call, Cotton found herself face to face with the elderly Slip Stitch. “Mrs. Stitch! How are you? How’s the construction go—” She cut herself off as she realized something. “Was your house damaged during the war?”

The mare smiled as she shook her head. “Thankfully, no. My whole block was spared. And construction is going quite well, thank you. But what about you? You live in the castle; you weren’t anywhere near the battle, were you?”

“No, I was in the kitchen,” Cotton replied with a smile. “I was baking for the troops.”

Tilting her head at Cotton, Mrs. Stitch asked, “You bake? Then if I may ask, what are you doing coming here?”

Cotton blanched for a moment, then she responded, “Oh, I uh, I’ve been coming here for a while. I… I’ve uh, gotten some inspiration… from some of the sweets from here...?”

“Ah, understandable.” Opening the door with her aura, she tilted her head toward the inner room of the shop and said, “After you, dear.”

“Oh, no, please,” Cotton responded, gesturing inside with her hoof, “you first. I’ve got it.” She held up her hoof toward the door, and Mrs. Stitch walked through before dropping her aura so Cotton could catch it.

“You’re very sweet, Miss Cotton. Although I don’t know what else I would have expected,” the mare said with a smile.

Cotton smiled in return. “Thank you, Mrs. Stitch. But please, just call me ‘Cotton.’ I only have ponies call me ‘Miss’ in court because I figure it’s appropriate for someone sitting on a throne to have some kind of… well, I guess you could call it a title,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t really like having one otherwise.”

With a happy sigh, Mrs. Stitch said, “You’re such a humble filly. If you were my granddaughter I’d be pinching your cheeks.” The two of them laughed before she knocked on the counter and called, “Mr. Cutter! Are you here?”

“Just a minute!” came a voice from the back. 

Surveying the display, Cotton quirked an eyebrow when she saw a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the right side, the same label above them: ‘Cutter’s Special Cookies.’ Tapping on Mrs. Stitch’s shoulder, she asked, “Ma’am, what do you think of Mr. Cutter’s special cookies?”

“Oh, they’re absolutely delicious,” the mare replied. “It’s been quite a while since I’ve had one, though. Possibly about a month.”

As Mr. Cutter came through the kitchen door, he said, “How can I help…” Catching sight of Cotton, he froze in his tracks, then finished, “…youuu…?” 

Cotton just stood there, an eyebrow cocked and a smirk across her face.

“I’d like two of your chocolate chip cookies, please,” Mrs. Stitch ordered. Standing stock still, the baker’s eyes glazed over for a moment. “Mr. Cutter?”

Shaking his head from his daze, he responded, “Uh, yes ma’am. That’ll be four bits.” He put the cookies in a bag, then waited for Mrs. Stitch to place her bits on the counter before giving it to her.

“Thank you.” Turning to Cotton before heading for the door, she smiled and said, “I hope to see you around again, Cotton. Have a wonderful day.”

Smiling back, Cotton responded, “You too, Mrs. Stitch. Oh, before you go…” She glanced back at Mr. Cutter with no particular emotion. “How are the cookies? It’s been a while since I’ve had one myself.”

Picking one of the cookies out of her bag with her horn, the mare replied, “Oh, I’m sure they’re still fantastic.” She took a bite and chewed for a moment, then her eyebrows furrowed slightly. She swallowed, then turned back to the baker. “Mr. Cutter, have you changed your recipe? These cookies don’t… Well, they taste… different, than the last time I had one.”

Cotton could see the beads of sweat dripping down Cookie Cutter’s face as he switched his gaze between the mare and the filly, whose eyebrows had shot up as she looked at him with a smug smirk. “I’m… tweaking the recipe a bit, yes.”

Shaking her head, the mare said, “You shouldn’t. The recipe you were using was delicious. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.” As Cotton held in her laughter, Mrs. Stitch continued, “How long have you been selling them this way? Since before I came in last week?”

It was the baker’s turn to furrow his brows. “You came in last week?”

“Oh, that’s right, you weren’t here. An overwhelmed young mare in the back told me you were running an errand,” Mrs. Stitch responded. “You really should have had her covering the register in your stead; I can only assume she had to turn away your other customers as well.”

Cotton gasped as she pointed her hoof at the mare. “That was you! I thought that voice sounded familiar!” 

Tilting her head, Mrs. Stitch asked Cotton, “What do you— Wait. Was that you back there? You work here?”

Cotton pursed her lips as she realized what she’d said. “…Oops.”

“‘Oops’ what, dear?”

As the baker stood in shock, Cotton turned to him and said, “Heh, sorry, Mr. Cutter.” She shrugged a clearly unapologetic shrug. “I was gonna keep it hush-hush. Guess I blew it.”  

“Girl, please don’t,” he begged her.

“Well, it’s out in the open now.” Guess I can just pile it all on him now with a witness. A good one, too. She turned back to the elderly mare and said, “I did work here. Then I found out he was taking credit for my cookie recipe, so I quit on Thursday. Day after I found out my Uncle Shining passed away. He wasn’t gonna let me go to the service.”

The baker’s and the mare’s eyes widened as they both cried, “Prince Shining Armor?”

Cotton sat on her haunches and nodded. “Mhm.”

“Girl, why you didn’t you tell me your uncle was Shining Armor?”

Mrs. Stitch turned on the baker with fire in her eyes. “She shouldn’t have needed to! Why in Equestria would you not let this lovely filly go to a family funeral?” She then looked at the bag in her hoof. “And she made those delicious cookies that you were calling your own? Shame on you! No wonder these taste pale by comparison.” She walked up to the trash bin by the door and threw both cookies to the bottom. Looking at Cotton, she said, “You should sell those cookies yourself, young lady; you’d make a fortune.” Turning back to Mr. Cutter one more time, she growled, “You’ll never see me walk through these doors again!” She opened the door, but before stepping through, she looked at Cotton once more and smiled. “Have a pleasant day, Cotton. As I said, I hope to see you around again.” She walked through the door, then turned right and walked down the street with a scowl.

Cookie Cutter sank onto his haunches and looked at Cotton over the counter. “Why are you here, girl? Haven’t you punished me enough? What, did you come to tell me I’m going to jail or something?”

Cotton smirked. “Actually, I could; technically you committed fraud by taking credit for my recipe.” The baker’s eyes bulged until Cotton continued, “But no, I’m not gonna do that.” The baker let out a sigh of relief at that. “I wasn’t expecting Mrs. Stitch to be here. I actually just came here to talk; maybe make you stew a little.”

“Well you’re doing a good job…” Mr. Cutter groaned. He sighed, then asked her, “Why didn’t you tell me who you were, girl?”

“Why don’t you ever call me by my name?” Cotton snapped at him.

“Nothing on you,” he grumbled. “For anyone that isn’t family, it’s either ‘boy,’ ‘girl,’ ‘sir,’ or ‘ma’am’ from me. Or ‘Your Highness.’”

Cotton glared at him. “Don’t you see how impersonal that is? Like, I might as well be an object instead of a pony. But to answer your question with another question… would you have treated me any differently?”

After a moment of silence, the baker replied, “If I’m being straight with you, yes, probably.”

“And that’s why. I don’t like being treated like I’m royalty. Yeah, maybe I use my connections once in a while, but nine times out of ten it isn’t for my own benefit. Lemme ask you, if you had known who I was from the beginning, would you have even taken me on in the first place?”

Cookie Cutter stayed silent, struggling for an answer. 

Eventually, Cotton just said, “Didn’t think so. I went to at least five other bakers before I came to you. I told them who I was, and they turned me down. I didn’t tell you who I was, and you didn’t. Why those other bakers didn’t want a ‘Royal’ working with them, I dunno. Maybe they thought they’d get blamed if I got hurt.

“But that isn’t what matters. What matters is, long story short, you’re just a straight-up jerk.”

The baker snorted. After a beat, he responded, “Oh, sure, a royal, with a silver spoon in her mouth, is gonna tell me about being a jerk. You’ve no idea how the other half lives, girl.”

Leaning against the counter, Cotton’s tone softened as she continued, “I wasn’t always a royal. I know exactly what it’s like. You’re still a jerk. 

“Look, I didn’t come here to slander you or anything. Mrs. Stitch, I dunno, but not me. Like I said, I wasn’t expecting her to be here. She just was.”

“But why did you tell her everything?” Cutter asked with a huff.

“Would you have rathered I told my aunts?”

The baker stared at her. “You didn’t?”

“Not until after you came to the court yesterday. I kinda had to after you dashed out of the throne room; Aunt Celestia asked me about it. I even gave you a chance to act natural when I said the ‘something on my face’ bit, but given what you did afterwards, what choice did I really have?” As Mr. Cutter grunted, she tilted her head at him. “What were you there for, anyway?”

“Same as the girl in front of me,” he answered. “My house got damaged during the war; whatever those cretins did when they were fixing it, it didn’t hold. Part of my roof caved in.”

Cotton put a hoof to her face. “Mr. Cutter, that’s not something you leave alone. My aunt already said nobody should be paying for any repairs relating to the war.” She sighed. “Look, come back to the afternoon court tomorrow. I’ll be there. And I’ll make sure my aunt doesn’t arrest you. She wants to—all three do—but I told them not to.”

The baker just looked at her with wide eyes for a few seconds. “…Well… thank you.” 

“You’re welcome. Anyway.” She paused for a beat. “Now you know what my deal is… I’m not gonna slander you or put up flyers saying you’re a crook or anything, I just don’t want you taking credit for my stuff. I’m not coming back here after this, and clearly neither is Mrs. Stitch now that she knows what you did.”

“Speaking of which,” the baker started, “did you talk to the boy?”

Cocking a brow, Cotton asked, “You mean Dreamweaver?”

Cookie Cutter shrugged. “I guess. Did you? He didn’t come in yesterday, and he asked me about your recipe the same day you left.”

“So he did do it,” Cotton said with a smile. “Yeah, he’s an old friend of mine. He’s actually the one that figured out what you were doing. I asked him to help me, and obviously he tried, but I wasn’t here.”

Mr. Cutter sighed again. “Well, that’s another customer gone.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have any pity for you, Mr. Cutter. This is totally your fault.” Cotton let out a quick breath. “Look, I’m not gonna rub it in any more. I came to tell you my deal and make you stew. Obviously I succeeded in both.” She rose to her hooves and walked toward the door. “Anyone else would probably wonder why I’m saying this, but… have a nice day, Mr. Cutter. Hopefully I’ll see you in the court tomorrow.” She walked out, turned left, and walked down the road, out of the baker’s sight.

“…Have a good one… Cotton Candy.” 


Ж


“Wait, seriously?” Daisy cried. “How did I not know about any of this?”

“Well I only just found out myself last week,” Cotton replied. “And I haven’t exactly had a chance to see you lately. Other than yesterday, but that doesn’t count.”

Daisy groaned. “I know, sorry. I’ve just been in the flower shop with my parents most days. Rosebud hasn’t been feeling well for a while. I’m only here today to keep an eye on the construction crew.” She smiled. “By the way, tell Princess Celestia we want to give her a serious thank-you. She was on top of this like ice cream on apple pie.” When Cotton cocked a brow at her, she giggled and responded, “Something I picked up in Dodge City. There were Appleloosans there a few times.”

“Gotcha,” Cotton chuckled. Letting out a sigh, she said, “I actually feel kinda bad. I know Mr. Cutter was a total jerk, but you should’ve seen the way he looked when I left. It looked like I had kicked a puppy.”

“Wasn’t that your goal?”

Cringing, Cotton replied, “Well, yes… but I didn’t want to feel guilty about it. I didn’t want him to give up on life. I think I overdid it telling Mrs. Stitch everything he did.”

“The old mare?”

“Yeah. It was like watching a grandmother giving a grandson a good spanking.” When Daisy raised an eyebrow, Cotton added, “With words, obviously.”

“Got it,” Daisy responded. Tilting her head, she asked Cotton, “So what are you gonna do now that you quit? Are you gonna like, be a part-time princess or something?”

Cotton laughed, shaking her head. “No. I was just in the court because I like, don’t really know what I wanna do. My dad wants me to either get another job or go to school. I’m doing… well, stuff, around the castle while I think about it.”

“So you’re helping Princess Celestia in court?”

“That, and I’ve also made breakfast a few times. You should try my pancakes,” she said with a smirk. “They’re princess-approved.”

“I’ll hold you to that. Personally, I’d say go to school. Harmony’s at CU, and didn’t you say your buddy Crimson was up at Cloudsdale?”

Cotton shrugged. “Yeah, but CU seems to be mostly magic-focused. I doubt I’d have any classes with Harmony. And I bet you a hundred bits that even if I didn’t tell anybody, it’d get out that I’m ‘royalty’ at Cloudsdale, and I’d probably either be swarmed or avoided at all costs.”

Frowning, Daisy responded, “Okay, I see your point. Well, it sounds like you already made that decision; why don’t you go looking for work?”

“Honestly, I dunno what I’d do. I’ve already gone to all the bakers in the city, and none of them will take me.”

“Well… Flare's been helping Zora-Terra with the hatchlings at the Changeling hive. Why don’t you go help out at your old orphanage? They’d probably love to have you there.”

Cotton’s eyes widened. “That’s not a bad idea, actually. I could totally do that.” Then she let out a sigh. “But I dunno if I wanna go back to basically living in the orphanage, even if I’m, well, not. I mean, volunteering an hour or two every so often would be fine, but every day? I don’t think I could do that. It’d just be…" She paused. "…It’s hard to explain. That place holds a lot of pain.”

Shrugging a shoulder, Daisy said, “Yeah, I guess that’s understandable. It’s a good backup plan, though.”

“Yeah, totally." She let out a sigh. "By the way, remind me: next time all four of us get together, I need to tell you girls something.”

Daisy cocked a brow at her. "…Okay. You know the suspense is gonna kill me, right?"

With a low chuckle, Cotton replied, "Yeah, I know. You'll have to deal."

“Pfft. Thanks." Just then, Daisy's eyebrows furrowed. "Hey, I just realized something—you said you’re basically working at the castle while you’re making up your mind, right?” she asked.

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, basically. Wh— Wait, you mean—”

“Yeah! Why don’t you ask your dad if he’ll pay you for it?”

Wrinkling her snout, Cotton answered, “My dad actually did suggest me staying in the castle to work. He didn’t say anything about paying me, but I’d still like to actually leave the castle once in a while.”

“I seriously doubt he won’t let you leave, Cotton. It’s not like he’s a slave driver.”

“I know, but I’d still basically be spending most of my day at home. I mean, so far I’ve only sat in court and made breakfast a few times.”

“And there isn’t anything else you could do?”

Cotton shrugged a shoulder. “Well, I’m sure there’s something, but…” She blushed and rubbed one of her forelegs. “…I am royalty. There are some things I’d just, like… not want to do.”  

Daisy smirked and nudged her in the shoulder. “Hey, look at you! Showing a little vanity.”

“Shut up,” Cotton said, nudging her back. She sighed. “I mean, honestly, I’d love to be able to just bake in the long run. I…” She furrowed her brows for a moment as she thought back to something Mrs. Stitch—and her friend—had said, then her eyes widened as a light bulb went on over her head. “Harmony.”

“What about her?” Daisy asked, cocking a brow. “She’s in class.”

“She was right.” Cotton quickly turned around and flew off.

“RIGHT ABOUT WHAT?” Daisy called after her.

“I’LL TELL YOU LATER!”


Ж


Cotton pushed open the doors to her father’s room. “Hey, Dad? Can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Oh! Hey, sweetie!” Spike glanced at his clock. “It’s only a little after three; what are you doing back so early? I assumed you would be gone for at least another hour or two.” He smirked. “How did your meeting with your boss go?”

As she approached her father’s head, she answered, “I guess you could say better than I expected. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Well, you sound quite serious. Is everything okay?” he asked, his head turning to her.

“No, yeah, everything’s fine,” Cotton replied. “I just want to talk to you about what I wanna do. Y’know, the whole ‘work or school’ thing.”

Spike’s eyebrows rose. “Oh? Did you make up your mind? Faster than most fillies your age.”

“Yeah, but it may not be what you’re expecting.”

Eyeing her suspiciously, Spike asked, “Am I not going to like what you’re about to say?”

“No, no!” Cotton responded, waving a hoof. “You actually suggested the first part.”

“There are parts?”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah. So, here, first part: I’m gonna need some money, and I wanna earn it honestly, not just ask you for it. So, since you suggested me working here in the castle, could you like, pay me for it?” she asked, cringing slightly as she awaited his response.

“…Hmm. I was joking about that. And you did say you wouldn’t want to.”

“I know,” Cotton said, “but at least I’d be doing something I know. Or at least something I know would be helpful here if you ask me to do something other than cook and sit with Auntie Tia in court.”

Raising his brows as he nodded, Spike responded, “I might be able to do that. I could talk to your aunts and see if they agree that it’s feasible.”

Cotton smiled as she hugged her father’s snout. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t said yes. So, what’s part two?”

“Oh! Right, the important part.” Cotton stepped back and looked him in the eye again. “Well, it’s the reason I need the money. I’ll need my own space.”

Spike smirked. “Space for what?”

Cotton let out a deep breath. 

“I wanna open my own bakery.”



END ACT THREE

> Chapter Fifty-Three - The Next Chapter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton and Celestia exited the throne room’s rear doors, another session of Day Court completed.

“Wonderful job today as usual, Cotton,” Celestia told her niece with a smile. “Thank you for your help with the cadet from the Wonderbolts. How did you know about her family’s real estate woes?”

“Her daughter is one of the fillies Flarechaser looks after at the academy,” Cotton answered. “She actually talked to Flare about it, and Flare told me.”

Celestia raised a brow. “Even if it was given to your friend freely, that is not information she should’ve shared with you.” She hummed to herself. “It seems it did help in the long-run, but next time you see her, please tell your friend not to divulge her clients’ private matters again.” 

Nodding, Cotton responded, “I will, Auntie. Sorry about that; I didn’t know.”

“It’s alright; it was beneficial in this one case. But still—”

“She shouldn’t do it,” Cotton finished for her. “Got it, I’ll tell her. I’m gonna go get Aunt Twilight for Dusk Court. Gotta clock out, too.”

Celestia chuckled. “I’ve told you many times, Cotton, you don’t need to ‘clock out.’ We know when you’ve worked.”

“I know,” Cotton said with a shrug, “but it sounds more official that way. See ya later, Auntie,” she finished, giving Celestia a nuzzle. 

“I’ll see you later, Cotton,” Celestia responded, nuzzling her in return. “I have a meeting with Ambassador Gulliver shortly, so you may run into him.”

“Sounds good.”

After making her way to Twilight’s study on the second floor, Cotton knocked on the door.

“Come in!”

“Hey, Aunt Twilight,” Cotton said as she stepped into the room. “Dusk Court’s coming up.”

Twilight smiled as she looked up from her desk. “Oh, hello, Cotton. Thank you. How was Day Court today?”

Cotton shrugged. “Good. Not much different than usual. Did manage to help out one of the Wonderbolt cadets, though.”

“That’s great! I’m sure they were very grateful you were there.” After pulling open a drawer and doing a quick shuffle through a few pieces of parchment, Twilight withdrew one marked-up piece and set it on her desk. “Usual hours today, I assume.”

“Yep,” Cotton replied with a nod. “Three hours for breakfast and lunch prep, and five for Day Court. ”

“Alright. Those crepes this morning were delicious, by the way.”

Cotton smiled. “Thanks. I am kinda partial to the berry combo.”

“So am I. Okay, I marked the extra hour you spent helping with dinner yesterday, and Luna also asked me to give you another hour’s worth for that batch of cookies you made specially for her.”

Cotton huffed. “Don’t put that on there. I told Aunt Luna I made her those as a thank-you for that awesome dream the other night.” 

Twilight chuckled. “She said you’d say that. She was insistent.”

Dragging a hoof down her muzzle, Cotton grumbled, “Dammit, Aunt Luna.”

“This really is quite impressive,” Twilight said with a smile, her eyebrows rising.

Looking up at her aunt, Cotton asked, “What is?”

Turning the parchment around on her desk, Twilight replied, “Look how much you’ve earned over the past six months.”

Cotton walked up to Twilight’s desk and looked at the parchment. Numerous lines of simple equations ran down it, total values including the previous line’s final number beside each one. Cotton’s jaw almost dropped when she saw the number Twilight had just written on the sheet. “Seriously?”

Twilight nodded. “And that’s after your various withdrawals.”

“…Damn.” Just then, wisps of green smoke came in from under Twilight’s door, then a scroll apparated in front of Cotton.

“What does your dad have to say?”

Looking at the seal on the scroll, Cotton answered, “It’s not Dad, it’s from the front door. Gotta tell ya, Dad putting that flame at the castle entrance has been seriously convenient.”

Twilight chuckled again. “Your father is always coming up with new ways to make communication easier around here.”

After unrolling and reading the scroll, Cotton smiled and said, “One of my friends is here. I gotta go.” 

Twilight stood up and responded, “So do I; I need to get to court.”

Cotton gave Twilight a nuzzle as she came around her desk. “See ya later, Aunt Twilight.”

“See you later, Cotton,” Twilight said, nuzzling her back before she ran out the door.

After making her way to the top of the main staircase, Cotton found the front door open with one of the guards standing beside it, gesturing to the filly standing there. “Miss Flarechaser for you, Cotton.”

“Cotton! I found it!” the filly cried, dancing on her hooves. “I found the perfect place!”

Starting down the stairs, Cotton asked, “Place for what?”

“For your bakery, duh!”

Cotton grinned. “Seriously? Finally! You gotta show me!” She galloped down the rest of the stairs and met her friend at the door. First she turned around and addressed the guards. “Thanks, gentlecolts. Later!”

“See you later, Cotton!” they chorused in unison, before stamping their spears on the floor.

Flarechaser laughed. “I love it when they do that. C’mon!”

 When the guard closed the door behind them, and Flarechaser readied to take off, Cotton held her back. “Wait, Flare, hold up real quick.”

The filly stopped and asked, “‘Sup?”

“Aunt Celestia told me to tell you not to talk about your clients’ private stuff again. Like the one with the real estate issue.”

Flarechaser’s ears flattened. “Oh… Sorry. I told you ‘cause she said she was gonna go talk to Princess Celestia in the court, and I knew you were gonna be there. Thought it’d be nice for her to have a little advantage.”

Cotton deadpanned at her. “That’s exactly why you shouldn’t have told me.”

“…Oops.” She held up a hoof and crossed the other across her chest. “Won’t do it again, I swear.” 

As Flarechaser readied to take off again, the smile lifted back onto Cotton’s muzzle. “Good. Now— oh, hold up.” 

Twisting her body back around like a pretzel, Flarechaser groaned, “Again?”

Raising a hoof, Cotton said, “Just for a sec.”

An amber griffon with a satchel over his shoulder detached itself from the air traffic; he landed with a smile. “Good evening, Miss Cotton.”

“Good evening, Ambassador Gulliver. Aunt Celestia said you had a meeting?”

“Indeed we do. And it seems you have one of your own.”

Cotton smiled back at him. “I guess you could say that. Have a good one, sir.”

“You as well, Miss Cotton.” He then turned and knocked on the door. The guard opened up and welcomed him in.

Rolling her eyes, Flarechaser said, “I don’t get why you’re so friendly with him. Especially—” 

“Different king, different ambassador,” Cotton interrupted. “Now come on, show me this place.”

“Yeah! C’mon!” Flarechaser shook her head, then lifted off into the air and made a left, Cotton following behind her.

“So where is it?”

“It’s on Oak Street, right by East Canterlot Park. It’s a great spot, too.”

Cotton grimaced as she caught up to Flarechaser’s side. “Oak Street? That’s like, as far south as you can go and still be in the upper east side. That’s a bit further than I’d like. Remember, I’d have to get there early every day to prep. I’d need to get up super early to get to Oak.”

“I know, I know. But just wait ‘til you see the place.”

With a shrug, Cotton said, “Alright, doesn’t hurt to look. Hey, wait—how did you end up on the east side? The Wonderbolt Academy is on the completely opposite side of Canterlot. And south!”

“There was a, uh… bit of an accident at HQ—no, I didn’t cause it—so there’s some construction going on. The nursery is out of commission, so I didn’t have to work today. That cadet who came and talked to you and Princess Celestia? She told me about some of the places she’d looked at. This is one of them.” 

“Wow, this mare must confide in you a lot.”

Flarechaser shrugged. “She’s a friend of the changeling that got me the job up there. She’s actually got a son around our age, too. Went to school in Central. So she talks to me ‘cause she’s used to talking to ponies our age. And she doesn’t wanna tell him about their problems.”

Cocking a brow, Cotton smirked and asked, “This someone that Zora-Terra should be worried about?”

“Pfft, nah, Zora’s got my full attention. I’m nothing if not loyal. Captain Dash would be proud.”

“Hey, speaking of loyalty, if your client’s been looking for places, why are you taking me to one that she might want?”

Flarechaser shook her head. “It isn’t residential. There’s one above it, but it’s taken. I even asked her if it was cool for us to take a look, and she said go for it. Since I’ve got the day off I figured I’d just come and check it out, and damn, am I glad I did! This spot’s perfect!”

Cotton tilted her head as they continued flying. “You came all the way out here for me?”

Flipping around and flying upside down in the same direction, Flarechaser smirked and pointed at Cotton as she responded, “Hey, gotta help a filly out when she needs it!” Then she tumbled in the air and righted herself before they continued forward. “Okay, still gotta practice that.”

Cotton chuckled. “Not bad, though. Wanna learn how to dead drop?”

The filly’s eyes widened as she put on a grin. “Totally. But another day.”

“Sounds good.”

After a half-hour flight, the fillies touched down in front of the western entrance to the city’s east park. Across the street on the building’s corner, they saw an empty storefront with cardboard covering the floor and walls, and a sign in the window that read, ‘FOR RENT OR LEASE.’

“See?” Flarechaser said. “It’s literally right across the street from the park exit. The first thing anypony walking out of the park will see will be you. And check it…” She galloped across the street, beckoning Cotton to follow her. Looking through the window through a gap in the cardboard, she pointed to the back of the room and through a door, showing her what appeared to be a stove hidden in the dim light. “…It looks like this was a cafe or something, so it’s already got a kitchen. And look down the block.” She turned around and pointed her hooves in both directions from the corner. A jeweler, a bookstore, a stylist, an antique store, a pharmacy, and a carriage dealer had all set up shop. “This entire street is practically all retail. No restaurants, no cafes, no ice cream shops, nothing. So no competition! And look, you’ve got a bookstore right across the street that way; Princess Twilight will be here all the time. Or you could bring her something back as a present, or something. I’m telling you, this place is perfect!”

Cotton put a hoof to her muzzle, first looking at the building, then the park entrance, then down both sides of the street. “Oh, sweet aunties… it is perfect.”

 Turning back around, Flarechaser pointed at the sign in the window. “It’s two-thousand bits a month for rent. That’s pretty legit for a city storefront. How much’ve you made at home the past few months?”

Her eyes widening, Cotton rubbed one of her forelegs. “Uh…”

“Oh c’mon, you can’t tell me the royals have been stiffing you.”

“Umm… no, not exactly.”

“Then how much you got? You can’t tell me you can’t afford at least the first month or two.”

Cotton bowed her head, then mumbled, “Just about nineteen thousand bits.”

“WHAT? Holy horseapples, girl, you’ve got this in the bag!”

“I mean, yeah, I guess, but—”

“Don’t give me ‘I guess,’” Flarechaser huffed. “You’ve totally got this.” 

Looking up at the windows above the shop, Cotton said, “But what about the folks who live upstairs? I’d have to get here really early. I don’t wanna wake them up.”

“Oh, stop being so damn generous and think about yourself for once. You’d be paying for the place, they can deal with it. Besides, who wouldn’t wanna wake up to the smell of fresh-baked sweets in the morning?”

Cotton put a hoof to her muzzle and smiled. “I guess that’s true.”

Flarechaser pointed at the bottom of the sign. “Look, there’s a name and an address here. At least go talk to the guy that owns the joint.”

Cotton nodded. “Alright, I will. I wanna talk to my dad first, though.”

“Legit. Zora’s waiting for me at the hive, so I’ll see ya later, Cotton!” she said as she flew off.

“See ya! And thanks!” Cotton called after her.

“No prob!”


	Ж


“So… yeah,” Cotton said, finishing her pitch to her father. “Long story short, I finally found a place I can open up shop.”

Spike smiled as he crossed his arms. “Well, Cotton, I’m impressed. You’ve stuck to your every word since we made our agreement last year. I’m very proud of you.” He leaned down and kissed Cotton on top of her head. “I’ll miss having you around the castle during the day—as will everypony else, I’m sure—but this is what you’ve been working and striving for, so it looks like it’s time for you to begin the next chapter of your life.”

“You make it sound so deep,” Cotton giggled. “I’m just opening up a shop.” 

“You’re becoming a self-sufficient adult,” Spike said. “Talk to the landlord and see what comes of it. Would you like me to come with you?”

Cotton waved a hoof at him. “Uhhh, I dunno if that’ll make the best first impression. He might think I’m trying to intimidate him.”

Spike smirked, fire leaking out of his nose. “I don’t see how that’s relevant,” he chuckled. 

Cotton ignored him. “And honestly, I don’t wanna tell him I’m technically royalty. I don’t wanna have a repeat of what happened with my apprenticeship.”

Nodding, Spike said, “Another valid point. Besides, you have always said you don’t like using your connections.” He smiled and finished, “I say go for it.”

Flying up to his snout, Cotton gave her father a hug. “Thanks, Daddy.” She turned and looked at his clock. “The sign said he’s available until seven, and he’s closer to here than the shop is; I’ve got like, a half-hour, so I’m gonna see if I can catch him.”

“Alright,” Spike said, crossing his arms. “But don’t just sign something without talking to me first, okay? I know you’re excited, but many landlords include fine print in their contracts that put tenants over a barrel. Despite your time with Celestia in court, I don’t know if you’re fluent in legalese yet.”

“I won’t, Daddy, I promise,” Cotton chuckled.

“Good. Now, you said you have half an hour to get to him?” When Cotton nodded, he smiled again before gesturing towards his doors. “Then get out of here! You know how to reach me if you need me.”

Cotton nodded, then turned and called back, “Thanks, Daddy! See ya later!” as she flew out of his room. 

Still smiling, Spike said to himself, “Tia’s going to miss those pancakes.”
> Chapter Fifty-Four - Legalese is a Breeze
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Let’s see, Rose Lane, Rose Lane… I remember that name. Howitzer said it was this way…” Flying over the middle of Uptown, Cotton looked for the address she’d seen on the empty store’s window sign, remembering the basic directions the guard had given her. “But why am I going to a residential area?” She took a sheet of parchment out of her saddlebag, looking at the crude lines and street names.

After ten minutes, Cotton touched down on the street she’d been flying over. She walked down the main road until she found the sign she was looking for. “Here it is—Rose Lane. Huh. Figured the guy would be in an office building or something. This looks like a nice neigh— oh, this is the block that needed the new road. Looks good.” Putting the parchment back in her bag, she turned onto the street and went through the house numbers. “Let’s see, two-seventy-five… This is two-fifty-three, so I’m on the right side of the street… Two-sixty-one… Two-sixty-nine… Here we go, two-seventy-five.”

After trotting up the walkway of a two-story house with a yard, she knocked on the door three times. She heard what sounded like the clip-clop of little hooves, then the door slowly opened a crack, and she was greeted by a little yellow-coated unicorn colt peeking through. “Hewwo?” After getting a look at Cotton, the colt’s eyes suddenly bulged as his hooves scrambled and he galloped back into the house after slamming the door. “MOMMA! ISSA ZOMBIE!”

“Comet! What have I told you about opening the door to strangers?!” a mare’s voice called from inside. “And I am certain it is not a zombie!” Cotton couldn’t help but snicker to herself when she heard a deep sigh. Then she heard hooves approaching once again. The door cracked open, and another eye appeared in the gap, this one level with her own. The eye widened slightly; there was a moment of hesitation, but then an orange-coated unicorn mare opened the door, putting on an apologetic smile. “I am so sorry. He’s only three.”

Cotton giggled. “It’s okay. I’ve heard a lot of names over the years. That is the first time I’ve heard ‘zombie,’ though.”

“Still.” The mare looked over her shoulder and called, “Comet Tail! You come back here and apologize right now!”

Cotton heard a little whimper. “But-but-but—”

“Yes, get yours over here and say you’re sorry!” The mare huffed, then turned to Cotton. “I’m sorry, Miss. Can I help you with something?”

Nodding, Cotton replied, “Yes, I’m looking for Mr. Pro Rate. Am I at the right address? I was expecting an office.”

The mare chuckled. “Yes, you’re in the right place. My husband works from home. What’s this in regards to?”

“I wanted to ask about renting the corner store space on Oak Street,” Cotton answered. The mare’s eyebrows rose as she continued, “I hope it isn’t too late—the sign said he was available until seven.”

Shaking her head, the mare replied, “No, you’re fine. We have dinner late most nights either way, so you didn’t interrupt anything. I’m sorry, what’s your name?”

“Cotton Candy.”

“Sun Flower,” the mare said, holding up a hoof. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Taking the mare’s hoof, Cotton responded, “Likewise.”

The two of them then heard the quiet steps of tiny hooves, and they turned to find the little colt creeping up behind his mother, his head low as he stared at Cotton. “And this…” Sun Flower continued, “…C’mere, you… this is our son, Comet Tail. Say you’re sorry for calling this young mare a zombie, Comet.” When the colt kept himself pressed against his mother’s side and remained silent, she leaned down and told him, “Honey, her name is Cotton Candy. Now how could a pony with such a sweet name do anything to hurt you? Come on, say you’re sorry.”

The little colt shrank back for another moment, then finally hung his head and said, “Sowwy…”

“That’s better.” Sun Flower then turned and called over her other shoulder, “Hon! There’s somepony here who wants to talk to you about Oak!”

“I’m in my office! I’ll be there in just a moment!”

Looking back at Cotton, Sun Flower smirked. “That means he’ll be down in about ten minutes,” she chuckled. Her tone shifted as she continued, “If I may, you seem a little young to be renting your own space. What is it you’re looking to do there?” 

“I’d like to open my own bakery. It’s—”

“A bakewy?” Comet suddenly cried, his eyes lighting up as a grin spread across his face. “Wit cookies?”

Sun Flower and Cotton both laughed. “Well that was a quick change of heart. I think you just became his new best friend.” Tilting her head just so, she asked, “How old are you?” 

Cotton shrugged. “I’ll be eighteen in a few months.”

Sun Flower’s face suddenly fell. “Oh… That might be a problem.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, talk to my husband. We’ll see,” the mare replied. When they heard light thumping from upstairs, she added, “Ah, speaking of whom.”

A light green unicorn stallion descended the staircase behind them. When he turned and saw Cotton in the doorway, he paused for a moment, then approached her. “Hello there. You’re the one who wanted to speak to me about the store location on Oak Street?”

Cotton nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“…How old are you?”

Cotton saw Sun Flower grimace. Then she answered, “I’ll be eighteen in a few months.”

The stallion sighed before he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Miss, I can’t accept tenants younger than eighteen.”

“But Daddy!” Comet whined, moving around his mother and jumping up his father’s leg, “She wansta make a bakewy!”

Cotton heard Pro Rate snort under his breath as he tousled Comet’s light blue mane with a smirk. “Hold on a second there, buddy, hold on.” He looked back to Cotton with a raised brow, still smirking. “You’ve barely known him for five minutes and you’re already siccing my own son on me?”

Cotton lifted a hoof and replied, “I do have a way with kids, but I didn’t tell him to do that.”

Sun Flower chuckled and added, “I can attest to that.” 

“Pwease, Daddy?” Comet pouted.

Pro Rate chuckled as well and guided Comet back to the floor. “Alright, alright, I’ll at least talk to her.”

“Yay! Cookies!” the colt said, bouncing up and down.

Pro Rate tilted his head at his son as he looked at Cotton. “You’d need to pay an additional cookie fee.”

Cotton giggled and shook her head. “That wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Alright, come in,” the stallion said, waving Cotton inside as he walked into what appeared to be a dining room, passing a framed, colt’s hoof painting in watercolor. 

As she stepped through the foyer, Sun Flower smiled and closed the front door behind her, then whispered, “Good luck. I bet you’ll win him over; you already got Comet.” 

“Thanks,” Cotton responded. “I’ll try.” 

She followed Pro Rate into his dining room and found him standing in front of a chair at a table, a quill and parchment hovering in his aura. “What’s your name, Miss?” 

“Cotton Candy.” She held out a hoof. “Nice to meet you.”

He smiled and shook her hoof. “Nice to meet you as well. You clearly make a good first impression.” He pointed at a chair across from him, then sat down. “Take a seat. Normally I’d turn somepony your age away without a second thought, but somehow you convinced my son to tell me to give you a chance,” he said with a smirk, “so let’s chat.” 

“Thank you, sir,” Cotton responded with a nervous giggle, setting her saddlebag down before she took the offered chair. She sat and immediately stood as the chair made a comically high-pitched squeak. Yelping, she looked down to find a soft, plastic cookie on the seat. Flustered, Cotton stammered, “B-but I d-didn’t mean to tell h-him to s-squeak that!”

“I understand, I believe you,” he chuckled again, using his aura to toss the ‘cookie’ on the floor. He let out a quick breath as he put the parchment on the table. “Alright, down to business.” He dipped his quill in an inkwell on the table and started, “You said you’re seventeen, right?”

“Almost eighteen, but yes,” Cotton replied. Simple question.

“Alright…” He wrote a note on the parchment. “Are you currently employed?”

Cotton hesitated only a moment. Did getting paid at home count? “Yes, I am.”

“Okay. My son has already informed me that you intend to open a bakery; I assume that this would be your primary source of income going forward,” Pro Rate said. “But how much are you currently paid?”

“Right now? Twenty bits an hour. Eight hours a day.” And the occasional gifts for no reason from her aunts.

He laughed again, “No, I mean how much in a year.”

Cotton stopped. Great, math! “Uh, I’m not sure.”

More scribbling. A pause. Then more definitive scribbling. “About forty-two thousand bits a year, minus taxes. That’s impressive for a filly your age. What do you do?”

“I… cook. For… some ponies. And… other things… in their home.” Telling him she was a part-time judge at the castle that towered over the city probably wouldn’t be the best idea. 

“Other things like?”

“…I’ve stood in for some of their other help when they aren’t available.” Technically, she did fill in for Tasty Twist that week he wasn’t feeling well. So what if she was doing it anyway? 

“So you’re a housekeeper. Does the family you work for know you intend to leave?” Mr. Rate asked.

“Oh yeah, they know,” Cotton answered. “They’ve known for a while. They’ve even encouraged me to put aside part of what they pay me just for this.” Every part.

Pro Rate smiled. “You must have a very kind employer. Are you a live-in? If so, will you have somewhere else to live after you terminate your current employment? Assuming that is your intention.” 

Not unless her father had planned to kick her out. That was doubtful. “Oh yes, I’ll have somewhere to live. I wouldn’t need to live in the store, if that’s what you’re worried about. At least, not literally.” 

The stallion smirked. “It sounds like you have a good work ethic if you think you’ll spend that much time there. Okay, an easy one: have you ever been involved in the court system?”

Cotton went pale. “W-what?”

He looked at her, one brow raised. “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”

“N-no!” Cotton blurted.

“Good. Now, this will be a tough one for you since you’re so young: do you have enough saved up that you can cover two months of rent up front? The minimum amount of time for a rental contract is six months, and I need a security deposit.”

“Yes, I can do that. I was actually looking to lease; I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Pro Rate raised his eyebrows at her. “Really? Are you that confident in your abilities? A lease is a one-year minimum contract.”

“Yes, I am. And I can do two months no problem,” Cotton responded with a nod.

More scribbling. “Okay, now for the big question: Who’s going to cosign for you?”

“Cosign?” Cotton asked.

“Yes, you’re too young to sign a contract. You need someone else to sign the contract as a cosigner. If something goes wrong… say you have an unfortunate baking accident and get baked into a pie—”

“What?!”

“—who’s going to pay the rent that month? And pick up the Cotton-pie?” he asked with a grin. Cotton turned pale again. “A legal adult. Somepony who can pass a background check. Somepony responsible. Perhaps a parent? You seem to have a very kind employer; would they be willing to sign for you?”

Cotton cried, “I wouldn’t bake myself into a pie!”

“Well, I’m not a baker, but I imagine all that fire and ovens creates a dangerous working environment. I’m only kidding, but not really.” He looked at her somberly. “What if something happens to you while working?”

“My dad would take care of me!”

A lightbulb seemed to go off over Pro Rate’s head. “Oh? A good relationship with your father? Would he be able to cosign?”

Cotton settled herself in her chair. “…Oh. Yes, my dad would cosign.” 

“Alright, I guess I’ll find out about him when I run a background check on the two of you. The only other thing I need is the processing fee and then we can sign the contract.” After another line of scribbling, Pro Rate put his quill down. Leaning back, he slowly tapped his forehooves together. “Hm. Well, you meet all the requirements. You’re very pleasant, that’s for certain.”

Cotton blushed. “Thank you, sir.”

More tapping. “You’ve already won my son over…” He looked into the front hall, where he saw Comet Tail and Sun Flower watching them intently, both of them with smiles on their faces. “…and if that look is anything to go by, it seems my wife is in your corner as well…”

Cotton smiled at the mare and colt in the hall, but otherwise just sat quietly and waited for an answer, not daring to interrupt his currently positive train of thought.

Pro Rate let out a sigh. Then he nodded. “Alright. I’ll give you a shot.”

Yes!

“I can draw up the paperwork for you. I’ll just need your father to come with us during the tour so you both can sign the contract when we’re finished.”

Cotton flinched. “Uh, can I bring it back to my father and have him sign it at home?”

Pro Rate shook his head. “I need you both to sign while I’m present. You do appear trustworthy, but I need to be certain I’m not a victim of forgery.”

 Cotton felt lightheaded. “Okay. I understand.” Looking at the clock on the wall behind him, she asked, “I know it’ll push past seven, but… do you think you could give me like, fifteen minutes and I can have him come sign it for you now?”

The stallion cocked a brow. “Miss Candy, it takes longer than fifteen minutes to draw up a contract. I meant for you to come back another time. Besides, there are other things to be done before we set up anything.”

“Oh… like what?”

“Wouldn’t you like to actually take the tour first?”

“Oh. Right,” Cotton responded with a nervous chuckle. “That’d be good.”

The stallion nodded. “Okay, we can set up a time for that. Now, I have a couple more questions.” He picked up his quill again. 

“What else do you want to know?”

Pro Rate smiled. “I try to be accommodating for my tenants if possible, so just a few little details.”

Returning the smile, Cotton responded, “That’s very kind of you, sir.”

“I prefer to keep more positive relationships with my renters so we can avoid getting into arguments. Now, first off, generally rent is due on the first of every month. Is there a different date you would prefer? We could have you pay on, say, the nineteenth, if you think it would be more convenient.”

Cotton furrowed her brows as she looked upward. “Uhh… I don’t think so. I don’t see any reason why I can’t pay on the first.”

The stallion nodded as he scribbled on the paper. “Thank you, that makes things easier for me. Now, speaking of rent dates, there’s a twenty-bit fee for each day you’re late on your payment, so if you end up paying me on the fourth, that’s a sixty-bit fee.” 

Cotton nodded in return. “Totally understand that.”

“Good. And the other, are there any special accommodations you might need? Depending on what it is, I might need to charge you higher rent.”

Tilting her head, Cotton asked, “Accommodations… like what?”

“Well, as the lessor, I’m responsible for keeping my properties habitable, so the rent includes heat, air conditioning, electricity, water, and gas. I have special gems that generate the first three for each property, and they last me a few years at a time; I cover water and gas like any other household. However, I have an elderly couple living in the apartment above the property you’re looking at. Since they needed extra support to climb up the stairs, I paid to have a hoofrail installed, because as I said, making the place habitable is my responsibility. That was a one-time installation, though, and doesn’t require any other maintenance, so there was no need to raise their rent.”

Cotton nodded. “Alright. What kind of accommodation would raise the rent?”

“What would raise the rent is something like: I assume each household requires one refrigerator, which is already provided. Now I can’t imagine this would be the case for anypony, but say you needed ten refrigerators. That would require more electricity than an ordinary residence, so I would need to increase your rent to cover the extra electricity generation,” Pro Rate explained.

“Oooh, okay, I understand,” Cotton responded.

The stallion continued, “Now, this particular store lease has always been some kind of eatery ever since I’ve been its owner. Based on what I’ve seen, there’s always been more gas usage due to the frequent usage of stoves or ovens. There are also currently two refrigerators already there, so there’s some extra use of electricity as well. 

“However, that extra usage is already covered in the lease price. The residential units have a fifteen-hundred bit rent, this one is two-thousand. I just went over all of that with you so you understand the cost breakdown. I do this with all of my tenants.”

Cotton nodded again, as if she understood everything. “That’s smart. I’m guessing that’s because you’ve had other tenants asking why their prices are different?”

“Exactly. So then, given all of that, do you know if there are any other accommodations you might need?”

Cotton put a hoof to her chin. “Hmm… Well… Maybe, but… I don’t know if it’s the same kind of thing.”

Pro Rate lifted his eyebrows. “Oh? What are you thinking?”

“Well, I’d need to have a display case next to the counter,” Cotton explained. “I don’t know if you’ve baked before, but some baked goods, like certain pies, don’t last if they aren’t kept cool, so I’d need that case to be refrigerated.”

The stallion nodded. “So you would essentially need a third refrigerator?”

Cotton could feel the sweat trickle down her back as she wiggled a hoof back and forth. “I mean, not really. Maybe like, half of one? It’d only be on during the day. I’d want to make everything fresh every day, so anything that doesn’t get sold wouldn’t need to stay in the case overnight, and I can turn it off.” She hadn’t seriously considered all of the details, and now that she was here, it all came to her in a rush. 

Pro Rate lifted a brow. “If I may ask, what would you do with the leftovers? It sounds like a lot would go to waste if you don’t sell everything every day.”

“Well, I could always bring them home for my fa— my employer’s family,” Cotton replied, “but I’m thinking I’d donate them. There are a bunch of homeless shelters and… orphanages in the city that could use food donations. Or would just be happy to have them.” She giggled as she lightly tilted her head towards the hallway where Sun Flower and Comet Tail stood. “If I have leftover cookies, I could give them to you.”

Smiling, the stallion said, “That’s very kind of you. And I might just take you up on that.” He tapped the feathered end of his quill on his muzzle a few times, then shook his head. “No, I don’t think I’d need to raise your rent for that. Part-time usage shouldn’t require too much extra electricity.”

“Thank you, sir,” Cotton responded.

“You’re quite welcome.” Tapping the tip of the quill on his parchment, he asked, “Is there anything else you can think of? Any kind of accommodation for yourself or your potential customers?”

After a moment of thought, Cotton shook her head. “Not that I can think of, as long as the kitchen works like it should. Everything else would just be furniture, plates, cooking ingredients… I’m assuming that’s all on me since I didn’t see anything in there when I looked through the window.”

Nodding, Pro Rate replied, “Yes, they would be. The previous renters took their inventory with them. That’s always the case; different eateries have had different levels of formality.”

Glancing up at the clock on the wall behind Pro Rate, Cotton put a hoof to her muzzle. “Oh geez, I’m sorry. It’s after seven. Do you want me to go? I don’t want to waste any more of your time.”

Pro Rate smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry, you haven’t wasted any time. There are actually two more things I need to tell you. First of all, since we are in the middle of the month, if you decide to sign a contract with me quickly, I’ll give you the last two weeks of the month for free. You’ll need to start paying rent at the beginning of next month, though, even if you aren’t open for business.”

Cotton nodded. “Okay, that makes sense.”

“And two—and this is something I tell all my renters that have used that space—there is a company in Central Canterlot that specializes in restaurant supplies, such as tables, tablecloths, chairs, flatware, and practically anything else you could need. Casual and fancy. I would highly suggest going there to at least browse their supplies and see if you like what they’re offering. I can give you the address.”

With wide eyes and raised brows, Cotton responded, “Oh, wow. Thank you so much; that’ll definitely help.”

“You’re welcome. Now…” Pro Rate set down his quill and tapped his hooves again. “Do you have any questions for me? You can ask me questions about the store itself when I show you around, but is there anything you can think of that I may not have covered?”

Cotton thought for a moment. “Hmm… Actually, yeah. You said that it was your job to make things habitable, so does that mean you’re supposed to fix anything if it breaks? I’m not living in the store, so do the same rules apply?”

Pro Rate nodded and replied, “That’s a very good question, and I’ll clarify in the lease agreement. Repairs made to anything that comes with the lease—meaning the refrigerators and stove—or issues with the gas, electricity generation, or water supply are my responsibility, as long as they aren’t caused by something you did directly. So say the air conditioning just stops working of its own accord, that’s something I need to take care of. But if you, say… I don’t know, you toss a ball of dough down the sink, and it gets clogged and causes a flood, any required repairs are your responsibility. The problem is, if anything happens that is my responsibility, I can’t always guarantee I can get something crucial repaired at the drop of a hat, and since you would be running a business, that could be problematic. That said, if you do need something repaired immediately, and you pay somepony to make repairs yourself, keep a record of the price and show it to me, and I’ll deduct the costs from your rent. But with anything else you bring in—like the tables, chairs, or this case you want installed—if any of it gets broken, that’s up to you. Understand?”

“Totally,” Cotton replied, nodding her head. 

“Good. Now, there will be other parts of the contract that will need to be agreed upon—nothing major that we haven’t already covered, but there are other nitty-gritty details—but I will have you and your father look through the whole thing line-by-line before you sign anything, including the fine print,” Pro Rate said. “I’m not one to try and finagle a potential tenant into signing a contract they don’t fully understand.”

Smiling, Cotton responded, “From what I understand, you’re probably one of the few, sir.”

“Honestly, Miss Candy, it wouldn’t surprise me. After I draw up the paperwork, if there is anything you or your father don’t understand, I’ll explain as best I can. And if you find anything that you don’t agree with, or something we may have forgotten, I can accommodate it within reason. Is there anything else you need or would like to know?” Pro Rate finished.

Cotton tapped her hoof on her muzzle, then looked upward. “I… No, I can’t think of anything. My father might, but not me.” Looking back at the stallion before her, she said, “But I’ll ask you the same question.”

“No, I believe that’s it for me as well,” Pro Rate said. “Obviously nothing is final just yet, but if we follow through with this, it would be a pleasure to have you aboard, Miss Candy.” He smiled, then stood up from the table and held out his hoof.

With a wide grin, Cotton stood up as well, taking his hoof as she responded, “It’ll be all mine, sir. And please, just call me ‘Cotton.’”

“Will do. So, when would you like to get a tour of the shop?” the stallion asked as he walked toward the main hallway, Cotton putting on her saddlebag.

“Oh, right. Uh, well, the sooner the better, so is tomorrow at six alright? I work until five,” Cotton replied, following him into the hall.

After a moment, Pro Rate nodded. “That’s fine. It’ll take me a little time to get there from here. I can have the contract ready by then; I’ll bring it with me, and you bring your father. If the two of you like what you see, you can sign right away.”

Cotton’s eyes widened for a moment. “Oh, uh… He may n—” She thought back to the shop location. Wait, the park’s right there… He might fit… She nodded. “I mean, yeah. Sometimes he’s pretty busy, but he should be able to make it.”

“Good,” the stallion responded. “So then, I’ll see you at the shop tomorrow at six. We can determine other details while we’re there. In case your father is unavailable, I’ll give you the contract to bring home to him so you can both look through it. If and when you both are ready to sign, you can contact me to ask any questions you may have, if necessary. However, you’ll both need to sign in my presence. How does that sound to you?”

Cotton smiled. “It sounds perfect.” 

Glancing over the stallion’s shoulder, Cotton saw Sun Flower standing behind him, a sedate Comet Tail lying on her back. The mare smiled and winked before her husband stepped to the side and opened their door, allowing Cotton to exit. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Cotton.” 

“See you tomorrow, sir. Thank you.” She looked at the mare in the hallway and added, “And thank you, Missus Sun Flower.”

Sun Flower nodded with a smile. “A pleasure. I hope to see you around.”

“Me too.” Cotton looked at Comet Tail, whose head lay upon his mother’s, and put on a big grin. “And especially thank you, Comet Tail. You’ll get the first batch of cookies that comes out of the oven.”

The colt immediately shot out of his pacified state. “Cookies!” he cried, nearly falling off his mother’s back.

Cotton almost snorted as she watched the colt’s excitement. “Oops. Maybe I ought to leave before he gets any other ideas.”

“Too late,” Sun Flower said with a smirk, turning around to follow Comet Tail, who had jumped off his mother’s back and bolted into the kitchen.

“Sorry!” Cotton called, holding in a snicker. “See you tomorrow, sir.” Then she turned around and trotted down the walk before she lifted off and flew toward the neighborhood’s main stretch.

The colt suddenly came galloping back out of the kitchen, jumping up onto his father’s leg with a big grin before he jumped back down and stepped over the door’s threshold to watch Cotton fly away.

As Pro Rate chuckled and tousled his son’s mane, his wife walked back into the hallway. “I think you did the right thing making an exception for her. I just have a feeling.”

“Well, can’t argue with a mare’s intuition.” 

After a moment, all three of them could hear, “YES-YES-YES-YES-YES!” Then they looked out the door and up at the filly to find her loop-de-looping in the air.

With another chuckle, the stallion looked down at his son and asked, “What do you think, buddy?” 

Comet Tail looked up at his father and bounced on his hooves.

“COOKIES!”
> Chapter Fifty-Five - I Have Several Questions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So just to be clear— you did not sign anything?”

“No, Daddy! He didn’t even have anything for me to sign yet!”

“And you didn’t promise to sign anything?”

Cotton dragged her hoof down her muzzle. “No, Daddy. I didn’t do anything you told me not to.”

Spike breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, good. Well, it sounds like this went rather well, and he sounds like a good landlord. So you’re going to meet with him at the store’s location tomorrow evening after work?”

Cotton nodded. “Yeah, he’s gonna give me an official tour of the shop space. I was actually hoping you could come with me.”

Cocking a brow, Spike responded, “Oh? Well, I can certainly take a break from my schedule, but I thought you didn’t want him to know you were part of the Royal Family.”

“I don’t,” Cotton sighed, “but he’s gonna have to. You need to sign the contract, too, and he needs to be there when you do it.”

“Ahhh, yes, you need a guarantor. You’re not eighteen yet.” 

“Yeah. And he said he’s gonna do a background check on us anyway.”

Spike nodded. “Yes, competent landlords do. Well, I’m sure you wouldn’t have been able to hide the fact from him forever. He may as well know from the start.”

“I guess.” Cotton shrugged. “I just don’t want him to freak out about it.”

“I don’t think you should worry. I can’t imagine your family background would change his mind.”

Frowning, Cotton said, “It changed all the bakers’.”

Spike lifted a talon and opened his mouth slightly, but then retreated both. “Alright, but there’s nothing we can do about it. You already said you made a good first impression on him and his family. You’re a very sweet filly, and the way you acted while you spoke with him the first time should be proof enough that you would make a great tenant.”

A small smile crept onto Cotton’s muzzle. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“You’re very welcome, Sweetheart. Let’s go have dinner, hm?” 

“Mhm.” 

As Spike made his way to his door, Cotton walking beside him, he added, “You can tell your aunts this new development and see if they have any other advice.”

Cotton’s eyebrows rose. “And tell Auntie Tia I won’t be cooking breakfast anymore? Maybe after we sign the contract.” 

Bastion and Ravelin shrugged at each other when the combined laughter only subsided after the father and daughter made it to the top of the stairs.


Ж


“Well, no news is good news, I suppose,” Celestia said as she and Cotton exited the throne room’s rear doors the next day. “I’m sorry today was so boring, Cotton.”

Cotton shrugged. “S’okay. Not like it’s the first time.” The two shared a nuzzle before she continued, “I’m gonna go grab Aunt Twilight. Then I’ve gotta get Dad. We have a meeting.”

Celestia raised her brows. “Oh? With whom?”

Her eyes widening, Cotton caught her slip-up too late. “Uh… with someone across town?”

“Someone like…?”

“…Like a landlord,” Cotton murmured.

 Flinching slightly, Celestia responded, “A landlord? What fo—”

“I-found-a-place-to-open-my-store-so-I’m-gonna-have-to-leave-early-and-not-cook-breakfast-anymore-kay-bye!” Cotton shouted before zipping off down the hall, leaving a puff of dust in her likeness to hover beside the princess.

Celestia cocked a brow. “Well, that was certainly— wait, did she just say, ‘Not cook breakfast anymore’?”


Ж


After opening her office door, Twilight managed to barely avoid getting a hoof to her face as Cotton lifted hers to knock. “Woah! Thank you, Cotton, I’m on my way to court now,” she chuckled.

“Sorry, Aunt Twilight. You’re usually engrossed in work,” Cotton giggled nervously, retracting her hoof.

As she walked through the door and closed it behind her, Twilight nodded. “Yes, that’s usually the case, but I accidentally looked at the clock for once. I already marked your sheet, so the rest of the day is yours,” she said, giving Cotton a nuzzle before they both made their way back down the corridor to the main hall.

Cotton cocked a brow. “You didn’t add anything extra, did you? I don’t care what Aunt Luna says, I—”

Twilight shook her head. “No, not today. Luna did start to say something last night, but I closed her muzzle with a spell.” She flashed a smile, putting a hoof to her muzzle. “You should’ve seen her.”

“Thanks,” Cotton said, holding back a snort.

“You’re welcome,” Twilight responded. She winked as she added, “Oh, and have a good meeting today.”

Cotton’s eyes widened as she started, “How did you—”

“Your father,” Twilight answered. “Don’t worry, I haven’t said anything to anypony else. I hope it all goes well!”

“Thanks,” Cotton said with a smile of her own. “Me too. Now I just have to go get him.”

“He told me he’d—” They suddenly heard thumping on the floor beneath them. “—be in the main hall to meet you. He figured you’d want to leave right after Court finished.”

Cotton smirked. “Well, that works.”

As the two of them came to the top of the stairway to the main hall, they found Spike in the middle of turning around toward them. He smiled, crossing his arms as they descended. “Looks like I had perfect timing.”

“Indeed you did,” Twilight responded. When the two mares reached the bottom of the staircase, Twilight turned to go to the throne room as Cotton approached her father. “Good luck, you two!”

Waving at her, Cotton called back, “Thanks, Aunt Twilight!” Turning toward her father, she asked, “You ready to go?”

Spike raised a brow. “Yes, but do you really want to leave this early? You aren’t supposed to be meeting him for another forty-five minutes.”

“Well, it’s a half-hour flight,” Cotton replied, “and I wanna get there early.”

With a smirk, Spike gently unfurled his wings as much as he could within the hall without hitting anybody. “Half-hour for you, sweetie.”

Cotton’s face turned deadpan. “…Oh. Right.” 

“Well, it’s been a while since you’ve taken a ride. How about for old time’s sake?”

Rolling her eyes with a smirk of her own, Cotton answered, “Alright, sure. It has been a while. Come on, we can hang out in the park until he gets there.” As Spike pulled open the door, Cotton waved back at the guards. “Wish me luck, gentlecolts!”

“Good luck, Cotton!” they all replied with light stomps of their spears.

Flare’s right, I never get tired of that, Cotton giggled to herself.


	Ж


After a much-shorter-than-a-half-hour flight to Canterlot’s east park, Spike hovered high above as Cotton brushed down some of her coat with her hooves.

“Yeah, been way too long!” Cotton called to him.

Spike chuckled. “We should have these father-daughter flights a little more often, then.”

Hopping into Spike’s claw as he held it up for her, Cotton replied, “Maybe. We can’t make a habit of it, though, especially if I’m going to be coming here on my own. I need to be able to manage my time in the mornings.”

“Fair enough. Okay, hold on; it’s been a while since I’ve needed to be this accurate when I land.”

Cotton smirked. “I have a better idea.” Before Spike even had a chance to cock a brow, she leapt from his claw and fell into a nosedive.

“Cotton!” Spike called, quickly looking downward. “You need to warn me when you do that!” He stared after her as he kept himself at height before even attempting to follow her. He grumbled before he added, “Be careful when you land! You’re in public city space! And don’t make any craters!”

Ignoring her father’s calls, with a huge grin crossing her muzzle, Cotton thought to herself, Been too long since I’ve done this, too. She splayed her legs outward to slow her descent. But it’s not the kind of thing you forget. She found a relatively unoccupied place to land, close to the western entrance; a few small groups of ponies were around, but she still had plenty of space. Nice, I won’t need to walk across the whole park.

When she was low enough to see ponies staring up at her, she could see various comments coming from their muzzles, but the distance and wind through her ears prevented her from hearing any of it. She flared out her wings and continued down in a spiral, aiming for her desired landing spot. When she reached just above building height, she flapped her wings, then did a single flip and landed. After taking a satisfying breath of air, she said, “Sweet, still got it.”

“Are you a Wonderbolt?”

Cotton turned to find a young pegasus colt wearing a pair of goggles on his head galloping up to her and looking at her with wide eyes.

Giggling as she shook her head, she answered, “No, just a thrill-seeker that likes to bake.” She turned and showed him her cutie mark, and he just nodded, his eyes still wide. She saw other ponies approaching her before she heard—

“Bakewy! Cookies!”

It was Cotton’s turn for her eyes to widen as she turned around and found Comet Tail galloping up to her, Pro Rate and Sun Flower just behind him. When they stopped in front of her, she asked, “Uhhh… I thought you wouldn’t be here until later…”

Pro Rate started, “Considering the loops we saw you make yesterday when you left, we probably shouldn’t be surprised, but…”

“That was certainly something,” Sun Flower finished for him. “Where did you come from?”

Looking up to the sky, she found the blob that was her father ever-so-slowly getting bigger. With a nervous smile, she pointed up at it before turning back to them. “There.”

Following the direction of her hoof, the three of them all squinted before Pro Rate asked, “What is that?”

“My cosigner.”

As the blob grew even larger, and the sight of purple scales and giant flapping wings came into view, Sun Flower gasped. “It can’t be. I’ve read Comet stories about— Is that Sir Spike the Dragon?”

“Suh Spike da Dwagon! Woar!”

Cotton rubbed the back of her head. “Heh, you might want to back up.” Noticing that almost the entire crowd of ponies that had approached her were now looking up as well, she waved her hooves forward and called out, “All of you should back up! Like, a lot!”

They didn’t have much choice when the wind gusts began. Noticing that Cotton had cleared a space for him, Spike lined himself up before dropping onto the ground with a THUD, geoforming the park to his feet.

“I thought you said no craters.”

Spike looked at the earth below him, then stuck his tongue out at her. “That’s not a crater, that’s a divot.” She stuck her tongue back at him before they both started laughing. Then they heard a chorus of gasps. Spike turned around and added, “Right. Public park.”

“Suh Spike da Dwagon!”

“…Your father?” Sun Flower’s muzzle hung open.

Cotton chuckled nervously as she rubbed one of her forelegs. “…Yeah. Kinnnnda why I wanted to bring the lease home. I didn’t want you to feel intimidated.” 

“…Does that mean you’re a—”

“No, I’m not a princess or anything,” Cotton quickly interrupted him. “I’ve been asked that more times than I’d like to admit.” 

“Do you live in the castle?” Sun Flower asked.

Cotton held back a groan. “Yes.”

“With the Princesses?”

She pointed at Spike. “And my dad, yes.”

“And you… cook…” Pro Rate started.

“For them, yes. Because I like to. And it’s how I’m making bits right now. It isn’t some kind of Cinderella story.” Cotton swiped a hoof down her muzzle. “I thought you didn’t have any other questions yesterday?”

“That was yesterday. Now I have several,” Pro Rate responded.

Spike poked her gently with a talon. “Can you really blame him?”

Cotton sighed. “Guess not.” She looked back up at her potential landlord and said, “Alright, go ahead, ask away.” Groaning, she thought to herself, This’ll probably take until six anyway… 


	Ж


At seven o’clock, Cotton walked out of the corner store’s front door, followed by Pro Rate.

“So, Cotton, what do you think?” he asked her.

Smiling, she answered, “It looks perfect. It has all the space I need for a case and counter and tables in the front, the kitchen has enough room to move around… I’ll need to install some wood over one of those long metal counters for work space…” She grimaced. “I think I need another oven, though. That’ll probably increase the rent for gas…” 

Pro Rate looked back through the park entrance, where Sun Flower and multiple other parents watched with apprehension as their children were slipping and sliding over a laughing Spike’s back and tail. He smiled and asked Cotton, “Do you make chocolate-chip cookies?”

Cotton smirked. “Those are my specialty.”

“Then I’ll make the cookie fee a real thing, and that will cover the extra gas. How does that sound?”

Giggling, Cotton replied, “I certainly wouldn’t complain. How many?”

Pro Rate looked up to match a brow. “Let’s saaaay… two dozen.”

“Baker’s dozens?”

“I certainly wouldn’t complain.”

The two of them laughed as they walked back into the park. When Spike saw them coming, he craned his neck toward the foals and said, “Alright, little ones, playtime’s over.” This was followed by a chorus of ‘awwwww’s. Then many sighs of relief as parents gathered their children.

“So, is everything to everypony’s satisfaction?” Sun Flower asked, catching Comet Tail as Spike lifted him off his back.

Pro Rate nodded. “I just need to make a minor change to the contract.”

“Like?” Spike asked, cocking a brow.

“Something easy that I agreed to,” Cotton replied, glaring at him.

Pro Rate smiled. “Little else needs to be changed— just some rewording to ensure consistency—so I won’t need to do a full rewrite. It actually shouldn’t take long to do. Maybe an hour at most. We could meet tomorrow if you’d like; if you agree with all the contract’s terms, we could finalize it then and there.”

“Really? I mean—” Cotton paused. “That would be great. Is six o’clock alright again? I do actually work until five.”

Pro Rate chuckled under his breath. “Yes, that’s fine. If you don’t mind my asking, do you really cook all day?”

After pursing her lips, Cotton replied, “Uhhh…” 

“It isn’t like it’s a secret, sweetie,” Spike told her. “They clearly just haven’t had any reason to go.”

Sun Flower tilted her head. “Go where?”

Letting out a quick breath, Cotton responded, “I sit in on Day Court with Princess Celestia. I remembered one of your neighbors came to the court looking for road repairs a few months ago, actually; he said he lived on your street. It sounded urgent, so I asked Aunt Celestia to expedite the request. The road was really nice when I went to your house, so it looks like it all worked out.”

After a gasp, Sun Flower cried, “Wait! He did mention you! You’re Princess Celestia’s niece?!”

“She calls me that, yeah.”

The mare let out a happy sigh. “Thank you very much for that. The children have been much safer on the road lately.”

“You’re welcome.”

With a smirk, Sun Flower looked at her husband and said, “I told you I had a feeling.”

Pro Rate smiled. “You know I’ve never doubted your intuition.” 

“About what?” Cotton asked.

“I told him he was smart to make an exception for you,” the mare replied. “And that was before we knew your… family history.”

Nodding, Cotton said, “That’s why I don’t tell anybody; I don’t like getting special treatment. And it’s how I know if someone is just being nice because I’m, well, technically royalty.”

“Why would you hesitate to say that?” Pro Rate asked her.

Cotton shrugged. “It’s like having a spotlight on you. It has advantages, but it can be lonely. And ponies treat you differently, like you’re not a pony but something else. I hate that.” 

“Anyway,” Spike cut in, “six o’clock tomorrow— would you like to come to the castle to discuss the new contract?”

The stallion’s eyebrows rose. “The castle?”

“Yes, we can speak in my chamber. I won’t exactly fit anywhere else appropriate. Unless you’d prefer the Canterlot Archives, and the place is rather dusty.”

“Uh…” Pro Rate looked at his wife, then back at Spike. “I can do that. I’ll just need to leave my home a bit sooner, but that’s no trouble.”

Spike waved a claw. “That’s nonsense, we’ll send a chariot for you.” As the stallion’s eyes widened, he looked at Sun Flower and added, “You two can come as well, if you’d like.”

When Cotton sighed and nodded in confirmation, Sun Flower replied, “It would be an honor, Sir Spike.”

Spike let out a small huff. “Please, don’t call me ‘Sir.’ Just ‘Spike’ is fine.”

Pro Rate turned and looked at his wife. “Like father, like daughter, I suppose,” he chuckled. Sun Flower nodded at him with a smile.

“Suh Spike da Dwagon!” Comet Tail cried with a huge smile, waving his hooves in his mother’s grasp.

Cotton laughed as she looked up at her father. “I don’t think you’ll prevent him from saying it, though.”

Spike shrugged with a smirk. “Fair enough. If you could do me a favor, please bring a second copy of the contract with you.”

“Uh, of course.”
> Chapter Fifty-Six - The Dotted Line
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Spike, this is exciting! It’s exactly what she’s worked for, and now it sounds like she’s going to achieve it! You should be happy!”

Laying on his pillows in his chamber with his head propped in his claws, Spike let out a sigh as he nodded. “I am, Twi. And I’m very proud of her.”

“Well you certainly don’t seem like it. You look like you’re down in the dumps instead of up on cloud nine,” Twilight responded, cocking a brow. “Besides, you’re the one that wanted her to get a job.”

“I know. She’s done everything I asked. Everything I wanted her to as a normal teenager. She’s technically had a job—not exactly a ‘normal’ one, but still—she’s making her own bits, she’s managing her time well, she’s been working on her own personal project on the side… It’s just… Well, I got used to having her around. Not only did she do everything I hoped, but I still got to see her over the course of the day. Knowing her, if and when she starts her own work, she probably won’t want to come back before five o’clock. We may not even see her for supper.”

Twilight crossed her forelegs. “Spike, it isn’t like she’s moving out. You’ll still see her in the evening at the very least. Just imagine that she’s going back to school. And staying afterwards for extracurriculars.” 

“I guess. But she’s stayed home for what’s essentially a full school semester. It’s hard to break out of a routine after that long.”

“…You consider that long?” Twilight asked.

Scrunching his muzzle up at her, Spike just said, “Hush.” 


Ж


Celestia walked out the rear entrance of the throne room, holding the door for Cotton. After a beat, she closed the door and turned to her niece with concern.

“Cotton, are you alright? You looked like you were… vibrating, for the last hour or so. Were you cold?”

Cotton’s eyes shifted back and forth before she silently shook her head. “No, I’m good. I’m just… uh… I’m… I-need-to-go-talk-to-Dad-kay-bye!” Then she zipped off in the direction of the main hall.

“Again?”


Ж


Several knocks in rapid succession preceded Twilight’s call of, “Come in!”

“Dusk Court, Aunt Twilight!” Cotton cried, her hooves a blur.

Twilight chuckled. “Cotton, they’re not arriving for another hour, and there isn’t anything you can do to speed up time. I know you’re excited, but you need to be patient.”

“But it’s so harrrrrrd!”

Her chuckle rising to a laugh, Twilight responded, “You sound like you’re twelve again! Is that really how you want to act when they get here? He might change his mind about letting a tween rent his store space.”

Cotton’s eyes widened, then she took a few deep breaths to settle herself. “You’re right. I need to chill. Can’t screw up my good impression.”

“That’s better,” Twilight said as she came around her desk. “Just relax. Don’t be nervous; you need to make sure you’re focused when you read over your contract with your landlord. Your father isn’t going to do that for you. With you, yes, but not for you.”

As they both exited the room, Cotton replied, “I know. It’s just… this is almost a done deal. Mr. Rate is such a cool landlord. Nothing like Dad says normal ones are like. I can’t imagine he’s gonna put anything weird in the contract, so like, I’m probably gonna own my own store in like, two hours!”

“Not ‘own,’ Cotton, you’re—”

“Renting, I know. I mean the business, not the space.”

Twilight nodded. “Okay, good.”

Groaning, Cotton asked, “So what can I do? I’m gonna go nuts if I have to just wait for an hour.”

Scratching her chin, Twilight answered, “Well, if you really want to show that you’ll make a good tenant…” 


Ж


“Sir? Ma’am? Are you ready?”

Standing in front of Spike’s doors, Pro Rate and Sun Flower nodded, while Comet Tail held tight to his mother’s back as he worriedly glanced around at all the armed soldiers.

“Then behold, as he is known in the Crystal Empire, the Brave and Glor—”

“Bastion, don’t do that,” Spike said, his arms crossed as the door opened. “I’m not a tourist attraction.”

The guard chuckled. “Heh, sorry, Spike. Been a while since we’ve had new faces here for you.”

“Still. Now stay at your positions, and no funny stuff when our guests leave.”

“Yes, sir,” Bastion said with a smirk, still chuckling as he moved back to his station.

After the family walked through the doors, Ravelin lightly whacked his partner with the flat of his spear’s head. “I told you not to do that.”

“Aw, come on, I told you he’d be cool about it. Not like he’s gonna throw me in the dungeon.”

“I will throw you in the dungeon, Bastion,” Spike’s voice rumbled from beyond the threshold.

“Sorry, Spike!” the guard called as he quickly shut the door behind them.

Pro Rate held in a snort as he and his wife approached a small oak table set up for them, his saddlebags upon his back. “I admit, that isn’t the kind of exchange I would have expected between royalty and their guard.”

“We have a history,” Spike replied simply.

Comet Tail climbed onto his mother’s head, and a grin spread across his muzzle as he looked up at the towering figure before them. 

“Suh Spike da Dwagon!”

All three adults in the room chuckled as he leaned forward, then fell into his mother’s quickly outstretched hooves. “Indeed it is, Comet,” Sun Flower said, tickling him in the belly. “You saw Si— you saw Spike yesterday.”

“Now those are reflexes,” Spike said, raising his eyebrows and nodding his head. “And thank you; you made two saves in one.”

The mare nodded in return as she set the colt on the floor in front of her. “Yes, I developed them fairly quickly. He’s quite the climber.”

“I can see that. Ah, here she comes.”

Pro Rate and Sun Flower both turned and found Cotton entering the room, a smile on her face, and a silver platter with a dome balancing on her wing. “Sorry I’m late, everyone. I was a bit held up.”

Spike chuckled as she approached. “I think the silver platter is a bit much, sweetie.”

“We’re in Canterlot Castle. The kitchen doesn’t have anything else.”

“Fair enough.”

As Cotton placed the plate down on the table, Pro Rate raised a brow and commented, “We weren’t expecting refreshments. That’s very kind of you.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call them refreshments, per se,” she replied, a grin threatening to split her muzzle. “If this all works out, maybe we can call them the first part of my payment.” When Sun Flower looked at her husband and raised a brow, the stallion just looked back at her with a hoof covering the smile on his muzzle, then glanced down at his son. He motioned for the two of them to sit, doing so himself, then Cotton lifted the dome, revealing thirteen chocolate-chip cookies upon the platter. She couldn’t hold back the grin as she said, “A baker’s dozen, as promised.”

“COOKIES!” the colt cried, trying to climb up the table leg.

They all laughed as Cotton looked at Sun Flower and asked, “May I?” When the mare nodded, she picked up a cookie and gave it to the colt. “Here you go, Comet. You get to try one before the first batch out of the oven.”

The colt scrambled to grab the cookie from Cotton’s hoof, then sat on his haunches and quickly took a huge bite out of it, holding it in both hooves. After chewing for a moment, his eyes widened, then he fell onto his back with a small thump as they closed, a huge grin plastered on his face while he continued chewing slowly, clutching the cookie to his chest.

Cotton and Sun Flower both started giggling as the colt lay there unmoving, aside from his mouth. “They’re that good, huh?”

“One of my friends calls it ‘chocolate ecstasy,’ so I’d like to think so.”

Pro Rate’s eyebrows rose. “Well, if that’s a common response, I don’t think I could deny it.” He reached for a cookie and took his own bite, as did Sun Flower. Minus the falling and chest-clutching, they had the same reaction as their son. Swallowing before his wife, his eyes still closed, the stallion said, “I’ll lower your rent if we make it three dozen.”

Laughing, Cotton replied, “You don’t have to do that. I’ll make an extra dozen anyway.”

Spike shrugged. “Well, if he’s offering—”

“Stop it, Daddy.”


Ж


“…‘The parties, intending to be legally bound, have executed this agreement on the date first set forth above.’ Well, I don’t see anything other than what you and Cotton spoke of and what she ran by me. I must admit, Mr. Rate, you have to be one of the most honest landlords I’ve ever heard of, let alone met.”

“Thank you, Spike, I do try,” Pro Rate told him. “I may not have an official legal oath to swear to, but I always make sure my tenants know exactly what they’re signing up for. I’m no scam artist.”

Spike nodded. “And I’m certain all of them appreciate that.”

“I sure do,” Cotton said, looking up from the contract in front of her. “Thanks for going over all the little details again. That was really helpful.”

“You’re welcome. Besides, what kind of example would I be setting for my son if I was a liar and a cheat?”

Spike smiled. “From one father to another, that’s a wonderful mindset.”

“Thank you.” Pro Rate glanced at his wife, who was still staring at the giant sheets of parchment in Spike’s claw. “Are you alright, honey?”

Shaking herself out of a daze, Sun Flower replied, “My apologies. I’m just still in awe of your methods, Spike.”

“Oh, yes,” Spike chuckled, blowing a tiny flame out the side of his mouth. “Most ponies are the first time they see it. But think about it— could I really sign something that size?” he asked, pointing at the copy of the contract on the table Cotton had been given to read.

The mare shook her head as she chuckled in return. “I suppose not.”

“Well, as long as I can get a copy that’s pony-sized, I have no complaints,” Pro Rate said.

“You will, don’t worry. Anyway, Cotton?”

Cotton looked up at him and simply replied, “Yeah?”

His copy of the contract in one claw, and the other tucked under his wing, Spike said, “Everything is in order and I have no objections. If you want to sign this, I will as well.”

Holding in her true emotion, Cotton took a deep breath, then nodded and responded, “Great! Could I have a quill?”

“Hold on, sweetie. Let me sign first while I still have it this size. We can hold onto that copy.” Spike pointed at the contract on the table before he reached up to his desk behind him and picked up his giant phoenix feather quill. 

After cocking a brow, Pro Rate shrugged before he took the regular-sized contract and flipped through the pages. “So, there are a few pages that require signatures. First was page twelve…”

“Yes, I remember.”

The stallion nodded. “Great. Then all you have to do is, as the expression goes, sign on the dotted line. Well, lines.”

Spike chuckled. “Yes, I’ve used that phrase a few times myself when I’ve lent out scrolls from the Archives.” After signing four pages, he held up the whole of his copy of the contract. “One moment.” He took a deep breath, then blew his fire over the numerous pages and let them wisp away out his door. He smirked as he watched Sun Flower’s and Comet Tail’s eyes widen again. After a minute, he covered his muzzle with a claw; there was a low rumble before he took the re-sized copy of the contract from his muzzle and placed it on the table. “There you go, sweetie. Your turn.” After thumping his chest with a fist, he added, “Whoo, it’s a lot easier getting those back at normal size.”

With a slight tremble in her hoof, Cotton flipped through the contract and signed the proper pages herself, then pushed the sheaf of parchment back across the table to Pro Rate. After patting the top of the papers, the stallion smiled and held out his hoof. “Well, as I said the other day, it’s a pleasure to have you aboard, Cotton.”

Shaking his hoof, Cotton replied, “It’s… all mine, Mister Rate.”

“Well, now that this has been finalized, you can begin renovation immediately.” Lighting his horn as he put his copy of the contract in his saddlebag, Pro Rate lifted a single silver key up and out, allowing it to hover over the table. Cotton put up her hoof, and he placed the key into her frog. “If you have any questions or need any help, just let me know.”

Cotton stared at the key for a moment, then looked up and responded, “I will. Thank you.” Then she looked back at her hoof.

Spike smirked as he looked at Pro Rate and asked, “Would you mind if Ravelin escorts the three of you to the castle’s exit?”

Shaking his head, the stallion answered, “Not at all.” First looking at Sun Flower, then glancing down at his son—who drooled as he stared at the plate that still held multiple cookies—he pointed at the platter and raised his brows as he added, “May we take those home?”

Silently staring at her hoof, Cotton just nodded her head. 

“It sounds like they were part of a payment to you, so of course,” Spike answered for her. “Just bring the platter down and ask for one of the cooks to put them in a bag for you. Actually—” He put a claw to his muzzle and called, “Ravelin! Bring our guests and their refreshments downstairs for me, please!”

The guard opened the door and gave a salute as he peered through. “Yes, Spike!” Looking to the landlord and his family, Ravelin beckoned to them and said, “Come with me, please. I’ll grab those.” As the three followed his instructions, he lifted the platter and dome from across the room, then guided them all out and closed the door behind them.

After watching the door close, Spike smiled and looked down at Cotton, who still sat silent, staring at the silver key in her hoof. He put his claws on his hips as he chuckled internally.

Three… two… one… 

A massive grin split Cotton’s muzzle as she thrust her hoof upward and cried, “YES!”
> Chapter Fifty-Seven - One Last Morning Meal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“…”

“Cotton? Helloooo? Equus to Cotton.” 

Bastion waved a hoof up and down in front of Cotton’s face as she stared into the shop from just inside the front entrance. She blinked before she glanced over at the guard. “Huh?”

“I said, we’re done. The last batch of your ingredients is up on the shelves in the kitchen, just like you labeled them.” He chuckled. “You’re organized down to the last letter.”

Ravelin came up to her other side and put a hoof on her shoulder. “So? Whatcha think? Did we get all the finishing touches right? Everypony else seemed to have taken care of all the bigger stuff.”

 	Looking around the room, Cotton took in the sight before her. The refrigerated case stood next to the register in the main section of the room, a line of several shelves holding packing boxes behind it, along with her pricing board. A royal purple swinging door with a golden-plated bottom and a small, round window led back into the kitchen. Corner shelves sat next to it for display. The window beside it, framed with purple drapes to match the kitchen door, had a deeper shelf beneath to hold a layered tray display as well. Behind her, a clock sat above the entrance with a bell hanging just inside the doorframe. The alternating colored tiles and glass tables sat as the inner room’s final touch, but what finally made Cotton grin was when she backed up through the exit and into the street to look at the sign above the front door, designed by her father and aunt as a finishing gift. Upon a cream-colored backing, in a fine octavia script, read her final decision:

Cotton Candy’s Confections

Bastion and Ravelin both followed her outside and stopped on the sidewalk. “Come on, Cotton, don’t leave us hangin’,” Bastion said with a smirk. A few passing ponies glanced in their direction and smiled before continuing on their way. “And you shouldn’t just stop in the middle of the street.”

Looking back at the two of them, a tear in her eye, Cotton replied, “It’s… It’s perfect.” She lunged at both of them and gave them a hug. “Thank you. All of you. I never thought this could be ready so quickly. I thought it’d take at least a month or more.” 

“Well, it helps when you have the entire Royal Guard at your beck and call,” Ravelin chuckled, his hoof around her neck.

Cotton sniffled, nodding as she let them go. “Seriously. I can’t believe Dad actually gave all of you the O.K. to do this for me. I totally would’ve hired some regular professionals, but… you guys are like, so much better.”

“And you know that everypony that didn’t get asked to help is extremely jealous of the ones that did, right?” Bastion asked her with another smirk. “The stallions that were hoof-picked to build your shelves were beside themselves.”

“Really?”

Bastion nodded. “Oh yeah. They actually held a competition to see who would be best for the job. The four stallions that put them together won the contest out of twenty or so entrants. There are a bunch of new side tables from the rest of them in the barracks now.”

Cotton’s mouth fell open. “What?”

Ravelin chuckled. “No, he’s just playing around. And we know we’re better than professional moving ponies, ‘cause we’re free labor!”

Bastion asked, “So? When do you think you’re going to have your grand opening?”

With a shrug, Cotton replied, “Since everything is almost ready, I’m thinking this weekend. Tons of families are in the park on Saturdays, so if anyone comes out of that exit they’ll see me, just like my friend Flarechaser said.” She picked up her saddlebag, then walked up to the door and locked it before stashing the key in her mane. “I’ll probably do a test run tomorrow to make sure I can get here in time to cook and have everything ready for when I open. I’m still not sure if I should try seven or eight o’clock, but I’m gonna aim for seven. I have a feeling there are some ponies that have an early morning sweet tooth.”

Bastion cocked a brow again, then responded, “That’s a good idea. But for now…” He turned and faced the path that would lead them back to the castle. “…we should get you back home. It’s almost lunchtime, and I don’t think Princess Celestia will be happy if you’re late to court. You know she’s already upset you won’t be cooking breakfast anymore.”

Cotton giggled again. “Hey, she had the past two weeks to get her final requests in. And she knew today would come eventually.”

“Yes, but she doesn’t have to like it,” Ravelin said.

“True. Alright, c’mon, let’s go.” 

As Cotton unfurled her wings and lifted off, Bastion called, “Cotton!”

“What?”

Ravelin pointed at his horn. “Uh, we can’t go that way.”

Putting a hoof to her face, Cotton responded, “Right. Duh. Sorry.”

“And we can’t really go back the same way we got here,” Bastion added with a slight frown.

Cotton smiled as she dropped back to the ground. “Actually…” She reached into her saddlebag and withdrew a piece of parchment and a quill. “Hold on a sec.” After writing a few lines, she rolled up the parchment, then put the quill back and took out what appeared to be a clear-glass sphere with a green flame inside. 

“What is that?” Bastion asked.

“Hearth’s Warming present from my dad,” Cotton answered. “So I can contact him if I ever need him. From anywhere.” After tapping the top three times, the upper half of the sphere rippled away as if she’d dipped her hoof in a pond, and Cotton hovered the parchment over the fire. After the flame rushed to the top of the parchment and flew away in green wisps, the sphere rippled closed again, and Cotton put it back in her bag. “He should get a carriage sent out for you in a bit. But you’re right, I have to get back home.” She hugged them both, then said, “Thanks again, colts. Sorry for the quick exit, but I’ll see ya later!”

After Cotton lifted off, the two guards looked at each other.

“She gets the coolest gifts.”

“Seriously.”

“But hey, we’re getting another free ride.”

“True.”


Ж


Celestia sighed at the stallion before them. “I apologize, Mister Thorn, but the court cannot grant your request.” She turned to Cotton. “Cotton, is there anything I am unaware of? Do you have anything to add or contest?”

Shaking her head, she replied, “I am not fully versed in Canterlot’s zoning codes, so I must refrain from giving an opinion on this matter. I apologize, Mister Thorn.”

“I understand. Thank you, Your Highness. Miss Cotton.” The stallion then turned to Cotton with a small smile. “Despite the matter here, I wish you good luck, Miss Cotton.”

Lightly furrowing her brows as she tilted her head, Cotton responded, “Uh, thank you, Mr. Thorn, but with what?”

“I was walking down Oak Street the other day. It looks marvelous from what I could see. Again, I wish you the best of luck.”

Cotton smiled as she lifted a hoof to her muzzle. “Thank you very much, sir. I intend to open on Saturday, if you wish to stop by.”

“I certainly will try.” With that, he gave a small bow, then turned and walked for the throne room’s exit.

Celestia cocked a brow and sent Cotton a side-eye. You’ve already got the citizens rubbing it in my face, don’t you?

You knew I’d be opening eventually! You’ve had the past two weeks to ask for special requests!

Celestia discreetly tickled her in the ribs. I know, I know, I’m only playing.

In court? Cotton responded, lightly pushing her hoof away.

Okay, true, maybe that isn’t the best idea. Celestia turned back to a mare in front of them. “Good afternoon, ma’am. How may the court help you today?”


Ж


“You do realize how lucky you are, right?” Spike chuckled. “I told Cotton to only use that sphere in case of emergencies.”

“Well, we do now,” Ravelin responded. “We just thought it was a way for her to get in touch with you for… well, anything. We didn’t even know about it until she showed it to us.”

Shaking his head, Spike replied, “You wouldn’t have. I told her not to go flashing it around. Anyway…” He waved a claw towards his doors. “…you two head back to your posts. I need to get back to work.”

Bastion nodded. “Yes, Spike. Cotton isn’t in trouble, is she?”

“No, she isn’t. Not for helping you two. You did help her quite a bit today, so I think it’s only appropriate that she’d give you a thank-you ride back.” Spike smiled at them. “I’d like to thank you as well, by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my daughter so excited.”

As the two guards turned for the exit, Ravelin said, “You’re very welcome, Spike. It was a pleasure.”

“It doesn’t hurt that she said she’d make us cookies, either,” Bastion added with a smirk.

Ravelin whacked him with the flat side of his spear. “You seriously need to learn when to shut up.”

Spike snickered. “I’ll tell Cotton to give you one of Bastion’s, Ravelin.” 

Bastion scowled at his partner when he pumped a hoof as they walked out.


Ж


“So, how was court?” Twilight asked Cotton at the dining room table.

“Good! A few of the petitioners have been seeing the shop go up, so they all wished me good luck and said they’d try to come by. Looks like I’ve got customers before I even open.”

Luna frowned. “We wouldst not lift thy hopes, Cotton. ‘Tis possible they speak to access thy well-read tomes shouldst they return to court.”

Scowling at Luna, Twilight asked, “How many of those can you fit in one sentence?”

“What wouldst thou say if We used a halved colon?”

Cotton snickered before she replied, “Well, they won’t exactly get in my good books if they don’t actually show up at the shop.”

“‘Tis fact,” Luna replied with a shrug.

“So you have two more days, Tia. Get in your requests now,” Spike said from his side of the table.

Cotton grimaced. “Actually, only one. I’m gonna do a test run tomorrow and see how early I can actually get there so I’ll know if I can open at seven or if I need to push it to eight. I wanna make sure I get enough sleep every night, so I need to know when I need to leave or can wake u—”

“Pancakes,” Celestia cut her off after swallowing a bite of salad. “No question.”

After a snort, Cotton laughed, “Tell me how you really feel.”

“Wonderful. We are—” 

“On the same page,” Twilight said, interrupting Luna.

Luna cocked a brow. “‘Tis what We intended to say.”

“Surrrrre it was.” Then Twilight smiled. “And yes, it sounds like we are.”

After swallowing her last bite, Cotton said, “Sounds good. And I was gonna say, I also wanna let the couple above the shop know I’ll be opening Saturday so they have a heads-up.”

Nodding, Luna commented, “‘Tis wise. A little courtesy doth make a lengthy journey.”

Cotton giggled as Twilight let out a groan. “Alright, I’m gonna head up and make sure all my stuff is ready so I can wake up early tomorrow without an— oh…” She put a hoof to her muzzle as she let out a sigh. 

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Spike asked her.

“…I should ask Dawn if she’s willing to wake up that early. Guess I need to find her first.” With that, she walked out of the dining room and towards the stairs. 

Celestia scrunched up her muzzle. “Oh no. She might need to wash herself in the morning. It’s the end of Equus. What are we going to do.”

“Oh, wouldst thou cease thy bitterness?” Luna grunted. “We are disappointed as well, but We didst know t’would end eventually.”

“Is that so hard?” Twilight mumbled under her breath.

“And stop being such a hypocrite,” Spike added. “I know you freak out when you need to wash yourself. I’ve literally heard you from across the castle. And I mean literally.”

Twilight nodded in approval.

Celestia let out a huff. “Except other ponies have been washing me for over a millennium. She’s had Dawn helping her for less than two years.”

“‘Tis still no excuse, Sister. Be grateful Tasty Twist is not in our presence to hear thine imprecations about breakfast.”

Crossing her forelegs, Celestia let out a sigh. “Oh, fine. You know, I did just realize— she won’t be in court with me anymore, either. The citizens might be upset as well.”

“Or,” Twilight started, “they’ll be happy to hear that she’s opening a business for herself and she’ll get plenty of customers. And you should tell everypony that comes in, too. Royal endorsement would be very helpful.”

“Well,” Spike cut in, “that may be so, but you know that Cotton wants to make a name for herself on her own. I wouldn’t make a concerted effort of telling ponies about it unless they specifically ask where she is. Unless everypony that’s come to court has entangled her in rumors, not everypony knows that Cotton’s been in court for the past six months.” Spike cleared his throat before he continued, “She’s in a great location; she honestly may not even need the endorsement. You don’t need to lie in court, Tia, but let’s let her do her own thing before we start actively telling ponies where to spend their bits.” 

Luna nodded. “We agree, ‘tis likely Cotton wouldst prefer as much.”

With a shrug, Celestia responded, “I guess that’s true. The citizens have appreciated her being in court with me, though. As have I. Repeat petitioners will likely be her first customers.”

“You won’t need to worry about it until next week, anyway,” Twilight said. “Cotton just wanted to do a morning test run tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll be back in time for lunch. And she didn’t say anything about not being here on Friday either, so the next two days should go normally, court-wise.”

“Also true,” Celestia replied with a nod. Then she sighed. “Well, hopefully her grand opening goes smoothly on Saturday.”

Luna nudged Celestia’s shoulder. “‘Tis better, Tia. Thou shouldst be elated for Cotton, not—as they say—lost within the trash.”

“I know, I know,” Celestia grumbled. “…But I’m still going to miss the pancakes.” 

Spike mouthed Luna’s broken idiom before Twilight responded, “Down in the dumps. Just eat your pancakes and be happy.”


Ж


“So… you’re really okay getting up this early to help me, Dawn?”

The mare giggled as she scrubbed underneath Cotton’s wing. “I already told you, Cotton, I’m up early anyway. That’s why I go to bed so early. It’s actually better for me this way; the shower will already be soapy, and I can just scrub it down with an extra layer once.”

“Well… if you’re sure.” Cotton smiled. “Thanks a lot.”

“You’re very welcome, hon,” Dawn replied. “Now, let’s not chit chat too much if you want to be out of here sooner rather than later. We still want you fully scrubbed, after all. Nothing between the feathers or the frogs.”

Cotton chuckled. “Thanks. You’ve got this down to a science, huh?”

“Well, I’ve washed foals, I’ve washed teens, and I’ve washed princesses, so I would hope I’d have some experience by now.”

Letting out a happy sigh as the mare scrubbed the spot between her wings, Cotton responded, “Ahhh, I’ll say…”


Ж


The bell jingled, the door gently shut, then Cotton muffled the bell with a wing. She locked the door behind her, put her key in her mane, and looked at the clock above the door.

“Four o’clock. Okay. Let’s do this.”

She ran into the kitchen and put down her saddlebag, then turned to look at her labeled shelves. She opened the refrigerator and found all the chilled ingredients she needed. She opened the oven doors to double-check their cleanliness, then closed them again and set the thermometers. She filled the molds. She cut the fruits. She covered the trays. She emptied the ovens. She topped the crusts. 

At ten minutes to seven, five pies lay in her case. Twelve muffins were on display in the window. Two platters of cookies sat on the counter. 

Cotton stood behind the register, taking a deep breath as she looked around the room. Looking at the clock, a smile came upon her muzzle. “Seven o’clock it is.” She looked at the case, then back at the clock. “And look at that—I can make it back in time for breakfast.” With that, she picked up one of the to-go boxes behind her and slid both platters of cookies inside. “I can come back for the rest later. I bet the kitchen crew’ll love ‘em.”

After thoroughly wiping down every surface in the kitchen and double-checking that the ovens were off, Cotton shoved the box into her saddlebag sideways—the only way she could—and then strapped it on. She turned off all the lights, then walked out the door, but stopped before she locked it. “Oh, right. Wait… they may not be awake yet.” After backing up and looking at the window into the residence above, she smiled when she saw a moving shadow. “Good, they are up.” She was about to lock the door when a thought came to her.

Heading back inside and to her case, she took a quick look through, then took out a key lime pie and placed it in another packing box to take with her. She went back through the door and locked it behind her, then quietly hovered up to the window and took a quick peek. When she saw nobody, she rapped three times on the glass.

A few moments later, an elderly, gray-coated pegasus mare poked her head through an inside door, tilting her head at Cotton as she moved toward the window and opened it to the top. “Why, hello, Cotton. I thought I heard somepony downstairs.”

“Oh no, I didn’t wake you up, Missus Hop, did I?” Cotton asked, cringing.

“I don’t believe so. I didn’t hear anything until a few minutes ago,” the old mare answered. “If I may, what exactly are you doing outside our window? And at this time of the morning?” With a chuckle, she added, “I know we said we have no issue with you working early, but I think spying into our bedroom is pushing the line a little.” 

Cotton’s eyes widened before she glanced down, frowning as her face flushed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“I’m only playing with you, dear,” the mare giggled. “Though I would appreciate knocking on the door instead of the window next time. Now, what are you doing here this morning? Are you opening today?”

After letting out a sigh of relief, Cotton shook her head and replied, “No, I was doing a test run to see if I could actually open at seven like I hoped. And I can. I also wanted to tell you that I’m planning to open on Saturday. Y’know, we’re right outside the park, so there’d probably be a lot of ponies coming around on the weekend.”

“That’s usually the case,” Mrs. Hop responded with a nod, “but I heard through one of my friends in the weather service that they’re planning rain on Saturday. Not the best idea, in my opinion, but I’m not on the team. If I may suggest, I would wait until Monday. Especially if you plan to stay closed on Sundays. Even without the rain, having a grand opening and then being closed the next day probably isn’t a good idea.”

Cotton’s eyes widened again slightly as she raised her brows. “Oh… I didn’t think of that. Thanks a lot for the tip. And thanks for letting me know about the rain.” She smiled, holding up the box as she continued, “I was gonna do this anyway, but here, as an apology for spying, if you’d like; it’s key lime, fresh out of the oven. Well, and chilled— you know how it works.”

The mare’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you remembered my favorite! You’re such a dear; how could I refuse?” Extending her wings, she carefully took the box and pulled it through the window to her hooves. “Thank you so much, Cotton. I’ll just have to make sure that Shuffle doesn’t try to sneak some for breakfast,” she chuckled.

“Well…” Cotton leaned forward and whispered, “I have a blueberry downstairs I could give you.”

Putting a hoof to her muzzle, the mare held in a snort. “You’re a very sweet, but terrible young lady. You know he needs to watch his weight.”

Giggling, Cotton replied, “Hey, it isn’t really fair if I only give one to you.”

“True, very true. But still. Everything in moderation.”

“Yep.” Turning her head, Cotton said, “I need to get back home. Gonna cook breakfast for my aunts and my dad. I won’t be able to anymore starting next week.”

With a smile, the mare responded, “You really are a sweet girl. Give your father and the Princesses our best regards, and have a wonderful day. We’ll see you on Monday, if not sooner.”

Cotton looked back at her briefly and waved before she replied, “Thanks, you too. Say hi to Mister Step for me.” Then she flew off.

Mrs. Hop chuckled as she went back through the door, then into her kitchen. “I’m one to talk. At this rate, I’m going to need to change my name from ‘Hover’ to ‘Haul.’”


Ж


Cotton looked up with a smile. A fabric ‘GRAND OPENING’ banner below the store’s sign flapped ever so lightly in the Monday morning breeze. 	

“That’s it. Everything’s ready.”

“I still think you should have slept a little more, Cotton,” Twilight said from beside her. “You want to be at full energy on your first day.”

Shaking her head, Cotton responded, “Nope. Ponies are up earlier during the week; I wanna make sure they see the banner if they pass by. Besides, I have to stay true to my… hours,” she finished with a yawn.

“See?” Twilight chuckled.

Cotton scrunched up her muzzle, then stuck her tongue out. “I’ll be fine. I scoped out the neighborhood the other day; there’s a little mom-and-pop coffee shop two blocks over that opens early, too. Maybe I’ll go get some coffee.”

“But you don’t drink coffee.”

“Maybe I’ll start.” Cotton shrugged. “Strike up a deal with them; a coffee for a cookie.”

Twilight giggled. “I would try the coffee first before you start thinking of ways to barter for it. You might not even like it.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll figure it out.”

“Did you have breakfast?”

Cotton rolled her eyes. “Yes, Aunt Twilight, I had one of the muffins I made.”

Cocking a brow, Twilight continued fussing, “Do you really think that’s a substantial enough breakfast? Compared to what you’ve been eating at ho—”

“Yes, Aunt Twilight, I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Are you sure you don’t want us to send somepony to bring you lunch later? You’re going to have a long day.”

Shaking her head again, Cotton answered, “No way, I need today to feel like it will on any other day. I don’t want any trace of being a ‘Royal’ here. No food deliveries, no rides in my chariot, no guards keeping an eye on me— nothing. I need to do this on my own. I can fly here myself, there are a few places around that I can snag food from… Please, no special treatment, okay? You don’t need to come and check on me every day before I open. You should be sleeping, too.” 

Twilight chuckled. “Alright, if you insist. I only came today to see if everything was going smoothly, and clearly it is. Do you think you’ll be home for dinner?” 

“Mhm. Dad wants me to be home by sundown the first few weeks, so I’m gonna close at five for now. He made it a rule, actually. The one rule. It gives me time to bring any leftovers around to donate. There are a number of places around that could use them. The orphanage actually isn’t that far south from here.” 

Smiling, Twilight responded, “That’s very generous of you. Rarity would be proud.”

“Yeah, Dad said that, too,” Cotton replied with a blush. She took a moment to look at her reflection in the window, tightening her ponytail and shifting her mane clips slightly to properly display her features. Then she turned to Twilight and asked, “So, how do I look?”

Twilight brushed one more stray lock of Cotton’s mane away from her face with a wing, then traced it down her cheek to her chin with a smile. “You look incredible.” With a soft nuzzle, she added, “Good luck today.”

Cotton smiled in return. "Thanks, Aunt Twilight."

“You’re welcome. We’ll see you tonight." With that, she beat her wings and lifted off, waving as she left.

"See you tonight!" Cotton called, waving back.

The bell above the door jingled as she walked back into the shop and took her place by the register. Then she stared up at the clock; when it struck seven ten minutes later, she walked back to the door and propped it open with a doorstop she had left beside it. Then she walked back behind the counter and firmly placed her forehooves on top.

“Okay. Cotton Candy’s Confections is officially… open.”
> Chapter Fifty-Eight - Heavy Hopes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton let out a deep sigh as one of the guards closed the massive castle door behind her. She unstrapped her saddlebag and let it drop to the floor, her haunches doing the same before she let herself fall onto her side like a toppled statue.

“Hey, sweetie!” Spike came trundling down the stairs with a smile just as she entered. “Great timing. How’d the opening go?” He walked up to her and craned his neck down to face her. “You look exhausted; must’ve been a pretty hectic day, huh? How many customers did you get?”

Staring straight ahead as her cheek rested on the floor, Cotton grunted, “None.”

Spike’s eyes widened as his smile fell. “What?”

“None,” she repeated. “Nobody came. All day. Nobody.” She rolled over onto her back and looked up at him. “Not even the ponies from the court.”

“What about the ponies from the court?” Spike turned his head and found Celestia approaching from the hallway. “I just— Oh! Cotton! How did the opening go?”

Cotton closed her eyes and let out a breath. “Terrible.”

With a flinch, Celestia’s eyebrows pinched as she asked, “Why?”

“No customers,” Spike replied simply. Cotton nodded in confirmation.

“Oh Cotton, I’m sorry.” 

“About what?” Twilight asked as she came down the main staircase, on her way to Dusk Court.

Celestia turned to face her. “Cotton didn’t have any customers at the bakery today.”

Putting a hoof to her muzzle, Twilight let out a small gasp before she walked up to join Spike and Celestia in hovering over Cotton, who still lay on the floor. “Oh, I’m sorry, Cotton.” She tilted her head before she added, “Did you at least eat lunch?”

Cotton groaned as she narrowed her eyes at Twilight briefly, then she answered, “I had some of an apple pie that I made.”

“That isn’t exactly—”

“Twilight,” Spike interrupted her, “I agree with you, but that isn’t helping.” 

Putting a hoof up, Twilight responded, “I know, I’m sorry. Still, I don’t think your own stock is the best lunch.”

“I didn’t wanna leave the store in case somebody showed up.” She let out another deep sigh. “By four there was nobody on the block, so I closed early and walked everything down to the orphanage.”

“The orphanage?” Spike asked. “Your orphanage in Central Canterlot?”

Cotton nodded. “Mhm. You saw the store location; it’s actually not that far. The orphanage is on the east side of Central, and the shop is in the upper east side. It was like, a fifteen-minute walk.”

Celestia tilted her head. “How did you get everything there?”

“Well, I realized I should’ve thought of that before, but the Dancers have a wagon they let me borrow.”

“Who?”

“The ponies upstairs. Shuffle Step and Hover Hop,” Cotton replied.

Twilight nodded. “Yes, they’re a very nice couple. I hope you thanked them.”

“I did. They said I can use it anytime. I might need a bigger one, though; some of the pies almost fell out ‘cause I had to stack them pretty high. And actually, I forgot—they stopped into the shop in the morning and got a couple slices of pie. And my landlord came to pick up the cookie fee, but that was it.” Finally rolling over onto her stomach before sitting back up on her haunches, Cotton let out another sigh. “At least Mother Matron and Tender Care were happy to see me. Some of the kids were, too.”

“Well, I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t have been. They’re always happy to see you,” Spike responded.

Cotton shrugged. “I guess.” After a moment, Spike and the princesses were relieved to see a small smile creep onto her muzzle. “At least some of the kids that were there last time were adopted. There was one colt who was almost as old as I was when I left. Glad he found a home. A couple of fillies got adopted as sisters, too. And a colt that had barely gotten out of a highchair.” 

“Well that’s good to hear,” Twilight said. “How are Mother Matron and Tender Care?”

“Good,” Cotton replied. “Still ‘filling out meals, chasing paperwork, and cooking children,’” she added with a little mirth.

As the princesses laughed, Spike let out a snort. “Yes, I can understand saying something like that.”

Cotton sighed as she stood up. “I’m gonna go to my room. I’ll see you all at dinner.” She picked up her saddlebag, and as she moved for the staircase, she added, “Good luck in court, Aunt Twilight.”

“Oh! Court! I need to go!” Twilight quickly turned tail and galloped off to the throne room. Spike let out a chuckle.

When Cotton made it to the top of the stairs, Celestia sighed herself as she looked up at Spike. “I know she asked me not to, but are you certain I shouldn’t say anything in court? She’s so disappointed.”

Spike let out a breath. “Not unless she changes her mind and asks. You know her; she doesn’t like getting special treatment. A royal endorsement would qualify.”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, I understand. It’s just such a shame. She was so excited, too. I hope this doesn’t discourage her.”

Shaking his head, Spike responded, “No, she’s a very resilient filly. I don’t think she’ll let one bad day of business keep her down.”

“Even her grand opening?”

“Well, Luna did tell her not to get her hopes up.”

Celestia let out a small chuckle. “You mean ‘lift her hopes.’”

“That too,” he grunted. “Despite her butchering of the Equish language, she is right from time to time.” 

With another nod and another sigh, Celestia said, “It’s just a shame she was right about this.”


Ж


As Cotton lay on top of her comforter staring at the ceiling, the breeze from her open window gently fluttering the curtains, there was a knock at her door.

“Yeah?”

“Cotton, ‘tis Us! May We enter thy chamber?”

A small smile crossed Cotton’s muzzle. “Sure, Aunt Luna. Come on in.”

The door swung open as the Night Princess came prancing into the room, dancing on the tips of her hooves as she stopped beside the bed. “We intended to enquire of thee during supper— did fortune smile upon thy first day within thine establishment? Pray, tell Us of thy successes!” 

Cotton sighed as her smile fell. She turned onto her side as she looked at her aunt from the edge of her bed. “There weren’t any.”

Luna’s hooves stopped in midair before she dropped them to the floor. She tilted her head as she said, “Nay, it couldst not be true.”

“Mhm. Nobody showed up.” 

“‘Tis why thou wert silent at the table?”

Nodding, Cotton replied, “Yep. You were right, I shouldn’t’ve gotten my hopes up.”

“Oh, dear Cotton…” Luna slowly walked forward and nuzzled Cotton’s cheek. “We didst not mean—” She sighed as she shook her head. “We are most sorry, Cotton. T’was not Our intention to imply this wouldst be today’s result. Merely to be aware t’was possible.”

Letting out a breath, Cotton responded, “I know. It’s just…” A sniffle escaped her. “I was so pumped. I thought it was gonna be great. Everything was all ready. But…” A tear struggled down her cheek as she finished, “I-it was all for nothing.”

“Oh, Cotton, nay.” Luna sat on her haunches as she reached out a hoof and gently ran it through Cotton’s mane, the filly’s tears silently dripping from her cheek to her pillow. “T’was not for nothing. T’was only thy first day of business. There will be many more. Thou shouldst not let this discourage thee.”

“But… even ponies that knew about it didn’t come. Ponies that heard me talking about it when I was in court with Auntie Tia.”

Luna rested her hoof on Cotton’s shoulder as she wrapped a wing around her like a blanket. “Thou shouldst not rely on the memories of our petitioners. Sometimes they are only aware of what lay directly beneath their muzzles.”

“I… I guess.”

After nuzzling Cotton once more, Luna retracted her wing and looked out the window. “We must attend court, but…” She tilted her head and smiled. “…wouldst thou like Us to visit thee whilst We are on dream patrol?”

Cotton shook her head. “I’m sure other ponies will need you more. Thanks, though.” She sighed again. “Have a good night, Aunt Luna.”

“Sweet dreams, dear Cotton.” After running a hoof through Cotton’s mane one last time, Luna’s ears perked up as her eyes moved to the window once more. Cotton saw her let out a quick breath before she stood and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Once again rolling onto her back, Cotton resumed staring up at the ceiling. 'Sweet dreams.’ Maybe I’ll dream of sweets. And them not getting sold. A beat later, she sniffled as she wiped away her stray tears with a foreleg, then gently brought her opposite hoof to her face and dragged it down her muzzle. “How much did you hear, Tacca?”

After a moment, the noctis’s head slowly descended below the top of the massive window frame, his eyes wide. “H-how did you—”

“Aunt Luna noticed you. You’re lucky she didn't actually catch you. How much did you hear?”

“W-what do you mean? I’ve been on patrol. I just got here a second ago. You were talking to Princess Luna?”

With another sigh, Cotton said, “How many times have I told you you don’t have to sit outside the window? You can come in.” After he nodded and flipped himself inside, Cotton lifted her head and added, “For a spy, you’re really not a good liar.”

Tacca pouted as he took off his helmet. “You know there hasn’t been any reason for me to spy for months. Now I’m basically the papercolt. I didn’t think a Private First Class still had to do grunt work.”

Cotton flipped around to rest on her barrel as she smirked at him, cocking a brow. “So you’ve been practicing on me instead? That’s a little creepy, y’know.”

Tacca’s eyes shifted back and forth before he stammered, “I-I, uh—”

“Relax, I know you wouldn’t do anything stupid.” She chuckled darkly. “My dad would eat you alive if you did.” When Tacca went pale, Cotton added, “Besides, I like it when you pop in.”

He regained his color as he let out a sigh of relief. “Glad to hear. I was gonna say, you’ve never had any problem when I’ve knocked. Well, except that one time, but… nevermind. I don’t do it every night, I— okay, now I need to shut up.”

Cotton giggled at him. “I told you, relax. Just knock next time, okay?”

“Promise,” Tacca replied, holding up a hoof. His face flushed as the same hoof rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, but, uh…to answer your question… Yeah, I think I heard everything. You’re serious? Nopony came to your bakery?” 

Cotton’s head dropped as she shook her head. “Nope. Well, other than the folks upstairs that came down to say hi in the morning. They got a couple pie slices and left. But they don’t count.”

“…Not gonna lie, that sucks.” 

“Tell me about it. I know it was only my first day, but still, I figured at least one pony would show up. Enough ponies heard about it.” Laying her head down on her forelegs, she finished, “Obviously, I was wrong.”

Tacca sighed as he walked around and approached the foot of Cotton’s bed. “Hey, it’s just one day. Didn’t you tell me you’re only gonna take Sundays off? You’ve got six days to the end of the week. I’m sure somepony will come.”

“Five.”

“Huh?”

Cotton lifted her head and smirked again. “Five more days. Today would be the sixth. I may not be a fan, but I’m not that bad at math. Besides, I’ll have to get used to it working a register.”

Smacking his face with a hoof, Tacca responded, “See, this is why I signed up for the military; I don’t need to do math.”

“Really? That’s the reason why?”

“No, I just— I mean—” He let out a grunt. “You know what I meant.”

Cotton giggled. “I know, it’s just fun messing with you.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

Plopping onto his haunches, Tacca scowled as he crossed his forelegs. Then he stuck out his own tongue back at her. As Cotton giggled at him again, he chuckled with her for a moment before he stood back up. “I have to get back to patrol. Have a good sleep, okay?”

“Thanks. I’ll try,” Cotton replied with a shrug. Just as he turned to leave, she said, “Hey, Tacca?”

“What’s up?”

She crawled to the edge of the bed, then booped him on the nose, making him scrunch up his muzzle. “Thanks for dropping by.”

With a smile, he responded, “You’re welcome.” After making his way to the window, he returned his helmet to its rightful place, then looked back at her and added, “G’night.” Then in a wink and a flick of the curtain, he was gone. 
> Chapter Fifty-Nine - Noble Opposition (Part One)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Sorry I didn’t make it over here sooner. I keep meaning to come, but Mom and Dad’ve had me watching the shop nonstop for a while now. Rosebud had to quit.”

“S’all good. Work is kind of a first priority. Flare and Harmony haven’t made it here yet, either.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “I know, but I still wish I could’ve gotten here sooner.”

Cotton let out a sigh. “Well, you’re not missing much.”

Tilting her head, Daisy asked, “What do you mean?”

“Like, nobody has come in. I’ve had maybe three or four ponies come in so far; two of them were ponies from the court, and one of them works in the shop a few blocks over where I get my coffee. Then one came in from a recommendation, but that’s it. Oh, and Missus Stitch came in once.” When Daisy cocked a brow, she added, “The old mare that laid into my old boss.” The filly nodded at that. “It’s been a week. I was hoping word of mouth would move faster than that.”

Daisy’s eyes widened. “Wait, seriously? After a week, that’s it?”

“Well, the folks upstairs have dropped in a few times, too, but that doesn’t count.”

“Haven’t the Princesses been saying anything about this place in the court?”

Cotton shook her head. “No, I told them not to. Some ponies from the court already knew about it, but that’s because they’d come down this block at some point while I was setting up. They haven’t come, though. I want this place to make it on its own, not because my aunts are giving me royal endorsements or making all kinds of decrees saying that ponies have to come. I can just see my Aunt Luna doing it: ‘Thou shalt visit Our niece’s bakery and partake of her delectable desserts or be fined one hundred bits!’ Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her.”

Daisy giggled. “I guess I understand that. But that’s really all the customers you’ve had?”

“Well, some of the castle guards that helped me set up came by, too. Their families like my stuff as much as they do. I don’t charge them, though.”

Raising a brow, Daisy asked, “Why not?”

“Seriously?” Cotton deadpanned at her. “They helped me put this place together. The least I can do is give them some free sweets. I mean, I wouldn’t charge any of the other guards, either. Same deal with them; it’s the least I can do for all the things they do for us.”

“I mean, okay.” Daisy shrugged. “But if you’re never gonna get any more custom— I mean, uh—”

“No, I gotcha,” Cotton interrupted her. “S’all good. I mean, it’s not like I actually need the bits right now; I just wanna do something other than stay in the castle. It’s just… a little discouraging, y’know?”

Daisy nodded. “Yeah, I get it. At least you get to make your own hours. I mean, not that I don’t like working at the flower shop, I just don’t have a ton of free time now.”

“Yeah, neither do Flare or Harmony. Work and school eat up a lot of time. And I think Harmony’s aiming to get into my aunt’s school, so she’s studying extra hard.”

“Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? I thought you had to start there when you were younger after taking some kind of test. Like, between eight and ten or something.”

Shaking her head, Cotton responded, “No, she changed that rule. I mean, my Aunt Twilight went in when she was like, five, I think. She was an exception, obviously, but whatev. Harmony can get in if she does really well at C.U.”

“Well, that’d be pretty sick. Imagine if— Hey, who’s that? It looks like a noble.”

Cotton looked out the window and found a white, blond-maned unicorn wearing a black collar with golden studs, walking with proper posture, approaching the corner from across the street. He seemed to have perhaps only a few years on the two of them. Cotton’s eyes widened as she replied, “Holy horseapples, that’s Blueblood.”

Both her brows rising, Daisy asked, “The Third?”

“Yeah.”

Moments later, the unicorn walked into the shop through the propped door, wearing the ghost of a scowl. “Hello, ‘cousin.’”

“Uh, hello, cousin Blueblood. How are you?”

The stallion nodded his head. “I am doing well. Aunt Celestia pressed the importance of making an appearance at your establishment, so I am here at her request.”

Cotton raised a brow. “Um, thank you?” When Blueblood simply stood there, she added, “Uh, do you want to try something?”

“Hmph. While I am here, I may as well.” He looked at Cotton’s case, then her pricing board. “You seem to be charging two bits for a chocolate chip cookie.”

Smiling, Cotton reached for a cookie and responded, “For family, no charge. Here, give it a try. They’re my specialty.”

His own brows rising briefly, Blueblood took the cookie from her. “Two bits… pocket change,” he mumbled. He took a large bite, chewing for a moment before he swallowed. He cocked one brow before putting the rest of the cookie in his mouth, chewing for a bit longer and shifting his eyes back and forth. After a time, he finally swallowed, then he shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve had better.”

Daisy furrowed her brows as she stood up. “What? You can’t be serious! Those are—”

“Woah, Daisy, chill,” Cotton cut her off. “He’s entitled to his own opinion.”

“Well it’s a bad opinion.”

Cotton waved a hoof. “No, constructive criticism is good.” She turned back to Blueblood and asked, “What do you think I could do to make them better? Less sugar? More chocolate?”

Blueblood shrugged a shoulder again. “As if I bake. Just make them better.”

“Madre de Solis, I’m gonna—”

“Daisy, seriously, stop.” Cotton sighed. “Would you like to try a slice of pie instead?”

“Really? You’re gonna give him something else?”

Cotton put up a hoof. “Hey, like I said, constructive criticism is good.” She looked back at Blueblood and asked, “So what strikes your fancy? There’s key lime, apple, coconut crème, blueberry… There’s chocolate, too, but you probably won’t want that if you didn’t like the cookies.”

Daisy growled under her breath.

“I will sample the coconut crème.”

“Okay. Gimme a sec. Just have to cut it.”

Blueblood scoffed. “You should keep your wares pre-cut if you wish to serve your patrons quickly.”

Cotton raised her brows as she took the pie out of the case. “That’s actually a really good point. Thanks.” She turned to Daisy and said, “See? Constructive criticism.”

“Fine, I guess that’s true,” the filly grumbled.

Moving to the other side of the register, where a small cutting block had been situated, Cotton took out a pie server and cut a piece of the pie out of its tin, put it on a plate, stuck a fork next to it, and placed it on the counter. “Tell me what you think.”

Blueblood cocked a brow, then lifted the plate and fork in his aura. After shaving a piece and placing it in his mouth, he chewed twice, then cringed before spitting it onto the floor. Cotton recoiled at the reaction. Putting the plate and fork on top of the counter, Blueblood pushed it forcefully across the glass, where Cotton caught it in a hoof before it shattered on the floor.

“Blegh! I wouldn’t feed this to the filth at the orphanage. There’s no saving that.”

Cotton and Daisy’s eyes both shot open. Daisy quickly glanced at Cotton, then at Blueblood, then back to Cotton.

Cotton’s eyes narrowed as Blueblood turned his head away with a ‘hmph.’ She took a deep breath, then gently pushed the plate forward again. “Blueblood, please, give it another try. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.” 

As Daisy opened her mouth, Cotton stuffed a hoof in it.

“Please. I wouldn’t dare let that garbage touch my tongue again if you paid me.”

Cotton let out a quiet huff. She took the plate and put it on the cutting block, where the rest of the pie still sat. She then picked up the tin and held it in her hoof. “Oh, no, please...” Her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed once again, then the tin found itself airborne.


“I INSIST!”






> Chapter Sixty - Noble Opposition (Part Two)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Gah!” Blueblood cried as the pie splattered all over his face and mane. “How dare you!” He took a hoof and swiped it down his muzzle, letting the tin clatter to the floor. “See if I ever step hoof in here again!” He turned and made for the exit, squinting through the cream still covering his face as he ran out, galloping down the street.

Daisy stood up and followed him. “Yeah? She doesn’t want you back! In fact, stay off this whole block!” She stood in the door frame as she shook a hoof and shouted, “And you have no taste! Or tact!” She turned and walked back inside, where she found Cotton already wiping up the mess from the floor and a nearby table with a towel, a frown still on her face. “Madre de Solis, what a jerk.”

“Yeah, he’s always been like that. You don’t wanna know how many times he’s come to court looking for stupid stuff. That’s why him saying he doesn’t like anything doesn’t bother me.”

Taking a breath, Daisy responded, “Maybe. But the jab at the orphanage was unnecessary.” 

“Yeah, that sent me over the edge. Nobody takes a shot at my family like that.”

“I don’t blame you.” Stepping around the mess, Daisy asked, “You want some help?”

As her expression settled, Cotton shook her head. “Nah, don’t worry about it, I got it.” After a moment, she started giggling. “Y’know, I should charge him full price for that. He owes me twenty bits.” 

“Twenty bits?”

“Well, check the board.” She pointed at her pricing board behind the register. “It’s three bits for one slice, and I can make eight slices per pie. That would normally be twenty-four bits, so it’s a good deal.” 

Daisy giggled along with her. “Yeah, it is. Too bad he used it as makeup instead.”

Still wiping the floor, Cotton shook her head as she started laughing. “No, that was coconut. If anything he would’ve been taking makeup off.”

“Ha! That’s true, I heard that once.”

“Actually, that should do wonders for his mane, too,” Cotton added.

“I heard that, too!”

The two of them laughed as Cotton continued cleaning, tears leaking from their eyes.

Daisy took a few deep breaths and wiped her eyes with a hoof. “Hey, are you sure you don’t want help? I could go get another towel if you have one.”

“Nah, I’m sure. Thanks, though.”

Shrugging, Daisy responded, “I mean, if you’re really sure, you mind if I go? I should get back to the shop.”

“Oh yeah, go ahead. I don’t want you getting in trouble.” She tilted her head at the case. “You want a cookie? On the house.”

“Really? You know I won’t say no to a Cotton Cookie.”

Cotton chuckled and nodded. “I wanna keep cleaning this up; there’s tissue paper behind the case. Just make sure you use one of those.” 

“Thanks!”

“Sure thing.” 

Daisy walked behind the counter, then took a sheet of tissue paper and grabbed a cookie from the platter inside the case. “But you know I’m not gonna not pay you,” she said, coming back around the counter after dropping two bits next to the register. 

“Oh, come on. It was nice having your company, just lemme treat ya.”

“Nope,” Daisy responded simply, before taking a huge bite.

Rolling her eyes, Cotton said, “Fine.” Then she smiled. “Thanks.” 

Nodding with a smile of her own, Daisy stopped as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. After shaking herself out of her stupor a minute later, she finished her cookie, then turned and waved as she walked out the door, still wearing the same smile. “See ya!”

“See ya!” After she finished cleaning, Cotton went through the kitchen door and tossed the towel into the sink, then washed her hooves. She walked back into the room just as a brown unicorn stallion with a camera around his neck walked through the door. 

Woah, good timing. “Good afternoon, sir,” she began, a smile coming to her face. “Welcome to Cotton Candy’s Confections, where all the sweets are served with a smile. How can I help you?”

After the tiniest of flinches, the stallion smiled in return. “Good afternoon, young lady. Miss Candy, I presume?”

“That’s me. But you can just call me ‘Cotton.’”

He glanced around the room before looking back at her. “Is this a new establishment? I’ll admit, it’s been a while since I’ve been on this block, but last I saw, the space was empty.” 

“Yes, sir. Just opened a week ago. The business is… new.”

The stallion looked around the empty shop. “I’m sure business will pick up. Don’t be discouraged. Now, if I may…” He walked up to the case and looked at the spread.

Cotton waved her hoof over the case. “Of course! I’ve got cookies, donuts, muffins, pies… there’s key lime, apple, chocolate, coconut crè— oh, no, I’m uh—”

“Did you say coconut crème?” the stallion asked, his eyes lighting up.

With a wince, Cotton replied, “I actually, uh, just ran out of coconut crème.” She looked around the register at the cutting block, where the partial slice of pie still sat. “Well, actually… I do have, like, part of some coconut crème, but it’s a slice someone started and didn’t finish. I was going to throw it—”

“Oh, no, please,” the stallion stopped her, leaning on the case. “I love coconut crème. I’d gladly try a partial slice.” He looked at the price board before he continued, “Three bits, I see.”

Cotton shook her head. “Oh, no, free of charge. Someone else already started it, I couldn’t possibly charge you for it.”

The stallion’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

After slicing off the edge of the pie's started side and grabbing a new fork first, Cotton placed the plate on the counter and nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Well, far be it from me to decline free pie. Thank you very much, Miss Ca— uh, Cotton.”

Cotton giggled. “You’re welcome. And thank you.”

Nodding as he picked up the plate and fork in his aura, he sat down at a table, then cut a piece of the pie from the other end and took a bite. His eyes gradually widened as he slowly chewed. He softly put the fork down on the table, then turned and looked at Cotton as he swallowed.

“This… this is fantastic. I’ve never tasted anything like it in my life.”

A blush crossing her face, Cotton responded, “Thank you, sir. I’m glad you think so. I take advanced orders; if you like, I can make a fresh pie for you to pick up another time. Actually, if you want to come back later, I could make one today since business is slow.”

Half of the rest of the slice now gone, the stallion responded, “Certainly another day, Cotton, but not today. I… need to get back to work.” He looked back at the case before he added, “I would gladly purchase some of those chocolate-chip cookies, though.” Then he continued eating.

Cotton giggled as she responded, “Of course. They’re two bits apiece, three for five.”

After his final swallow, he said, “Three, please.”

“Okay.” She took a piece of tissue paper and put the three cookies in a bag, then set the bag on the counter. Having finished the pie, the stallion brought the plate and fork back to her, then reached into his saddlebag. Cotton reached for the plate. “Oh, thank you, sir. I would’ve come to the table to get that.”

“I try to make things easier when I can.” He pulled out five bits and set them on the counter. “Here you are, Miss.”

Cotton smiled and held the bag out to him. “Thank you, sir. Enjoy.”

“Oh, I’m certain I will.” He took the bag and placed it in his saddlebag. “If you don’t mind, may I…” He held up his camera, then tilted his head at the case. “…get a shot of one of those? I’d love to show other ponies what you have to offer.”

With a confused furrow of her brows, Cotton shrugged her shoulders. “Uh, okay. If you want. Thank you.”

“This one over here with the whipped cream on top— this is apple, I assume?”

“Yes it is.”

Nodding, the stallion leaned down and centered his camera, then took a shot. “That should be perfect. Thank you very much, Cotton. I wish you the best of luck in business.”

“You’re welcome. And thank you. Please do spread the word, I’d appreciate it.”

The stallion went to the door, then before he walked out and turned the corner, he smiled and responded, “Oh, believe me, Cotton— I will.”
> Chapter Sixty-One - Mutual Benefits
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton shut the massive door to the castle behind her, then looked at the stationed sentries with a smile. “Good evening, gentlecolts.”

“Good evening, Cotton!” they chorused, stomping their spears on the floor. 

“I just got back from dropping pies at one of the homeless shelters across town, buuut…” She reached into her saddlebag, where she’d stuffed one of her packing boxes sideways, then sat on her haunches and wiggled it in her hooves with a smirk. “Look what IIIIII’ve gooooot~~” she singsonged.

Hearing shuffling from inside the box, all four guards’ eyes widened as they smiled, trading glances with each other.

“After your shift’s over. I’ll keep ‘em in the kitchen until then. And I’ll make sure the kitchen crew leaves some for you if they manage to get their hooves on them.” 

Princess Celestia descended the stairs with a chuckle. “What do you say, colts?”

“Thank you, Cotton!” they cried in unison.

“You’re welcome,” Cotton giggled. Her smile swiftly fell into a scowl as she turned and glared at Celestia. “I need to talk to you.”

Celestia eyed Cotton’s sudden change of tone with curiosity. “Why… of course, Cotton. Is something the matter?”

“Let’s go to my room.”


Ж


“Why in Equestria would you tell Blueblood to come to the shop??”

Narrowing her eyes at Cotton’s shout after she immediately shut the door upon entry, Celestia replied evenly, “Well, you didn’t want any of us to tell citizens to go, so I asked him to make an appearance instead; I thought if ponies saw the presence of a noble, they might follow his example.”

“Don’t justify that with a loophole! I asked you not to tell ponies unless they specifically asked! A bunch of ponies from the court already knew! They could’ve come of their own volition! Not many have, but…” Cotton let out a huff as she raised a hoof into the air. “I mean, look, I know you asked one noble to make an appearance. I get the logic, but…” Her scowl disappeared as she cut herself off, dropping the hoof as she sighed. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful; I know your heart was in the right place, so thank you.” As Celestia started smiling, it was quickly cut off when Cotton cocked a brow and continued, “But seriously, of all the nobles in Canterlot, you picked Blueblood? The snobbiest one in the entire city?”

Celestia let out a nervous chuckle. “Well… he came to the court again on Friday, right at the midday break. Since he was already there, I took him aside and told him I would grant his request if he agreed to visit your bakery.”

“Dare I ask what you granted?”

Rolling her eyes, the princess replied, “His grandfather was looking for funding again. Though unnecessary, there was no harm in it.”	

“Well, maybe not to the treasury, but it was to my shop.”

Celestia’s brows furrowed as she leaned down. “What did he do to you?”

Unfazed, Cotton responded, “He dissed my cookies and pies, and then had the gall to insult my family at the orphanage.”

After letting out a relieved sigh, Celestia asked, “So he didn’t cause any physical harm?”

“To me? No. To the shop? Kinda. I had a lot of mess to clean up.”

Celestia tilted her head as she returned to full standing height. “What happened?”

Cotton’s eyes shifted back and forth. “Uh, he tripped... and fell face first... into a pie tin… totally his fault.” She pursed her lips and snorted.

A hoof shooting to her muzzle, Celestia failed to suppress a chortle before she let out a full belly laugh. Cotton held her muzzle shut in a smirk as she laughed silently, tears falling down her cheeks. After a minute, Celestia wiped away the tears from under her eyes. “I don’t know if I should scold you or applaud you, Cotton, but I’m leaning towards the latter. I hope that didn’t inconvenience you too much, though.”

“Not really,” Cotton responded with a shrug, wiping away her own tears. “It only took about ten minutes to fully clean. Actually, I did get my one customer of the day after I finished, so I guess your plan… kinda worked?”

Celestia finished her laughing with a chuckle. “While I would happily take credit, I doubt the two are related.” As her residual smile faded, her eyebrows arched up slightly. “I do apologize, Cotton. I really was only trying to help. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Cotton smiled as she walked up to the princess and gave her a nuzzle. “Of course I do. But next time, maybe send someone like… I dunno, maybe Fancy Jacket. He’s actually got good taste.”

“‘Next time’?”

Wiggling her hoof, Cotton responded, “Well, maaaaaybe I’ll ask you to send someone if I’m still not having a lot of luck with customers. But for now, please don’t tell anyone else to come, okay? I wanna do this myself.”

“Deal,” Celestia said with a nod, her smile returning. She tilted her head towards the door as she asked, “Shall we go have dinner? Unless you were eating your own stock again.”

“I only did that once,” Cotton grumbled. “But yes, let’s go.” 


Ж


The next day, Cotton walked back into the shop at six, opening the door slowly and holding the bell so it wouldn’t jingle too loudly. After filling the case with her usual stock, she propped open the door at seven like always. Taking one of her cinnamon muffins from the display tray, she sat behind the counter with a cup from the coffee shop a few blocks over. “Mmm, vanilla chai.”

A little while later, a young, cream-colored unicorn mare with a cocoa mane walked through the door. “Hey, Cotton, we— You’re still drinking that? It’s been an hour and a half; isn’t it cold by now?”

“Oh, hey, Mocha! Nah, I keep it next to the ovens while I’m baking. Stays warm that way.” 

Mocha raised her brows. “Woah. That’s genius. Anyway…” She walked up to the counter with a smirk. “Dad is considering that offer of yours.”

Cotton smiled. “Oh? He’s down with coffee for cookies?”

“Well, he’s got a counter offer; a coffee for a cookie is a one-bit loss for us every day. But he was thinking if you give us one pie on Mondays, we’ll supply you for the week. I know that’s a two-bit loss on your end, but it’s less for you than it would be for us. You cool with that? I know we could make it an even cookie-for-coffee trade with nine of your cookies, but… we all love your apple pie. We could always come buy cookies separately.”

Putting a hoof to her chin, Cotton thought about it for a moment. “Hmmm… Tell ya what: I’ll take him up on that if we do an advertising swap, too.”

Mocha cocked a brow. “Huh?

“Well, I’m having a little trouble with customers right now. You put up a sign on your counter telling ponies to come here for sweets, and I’ll put one on mine telling ponies to head your way for coffee. That way when I do start getting customers they’ll go to you if they haven’t already. Sound fair?”

“Sounds fair to me, but I’ll have to ask him.”

Nodding, Cotton responded, “Cool. He in today? Think he could give me an answer right away? I could probably come up with a sign idea pretty quick.”

“Yeah, he’s there,” Mocha answered. “I don’t know how long he’d need to think about it.”

Cotton shrugged. “That’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. Actually, hold on a second…” Putting up a hoof, she looked up in thought for a moment. “Here, I think I’ve already got it— ‘Need a kick for work? Head to Central Perk!’ Short and to the point.”

Giggling, Mocha replied, “I like that! It’s cute! I’ll go ask what he thinks.” 

“Go for it. Like I said, I’m not going anywhere,” Cotton replied with a sigh.

“Sounds good. I’ll be back when he gives me an answer!” She waved as she walked out the door and turned the corner to return to the coffee shop.

Cotton tapped a hoof on the counter with a smirk. Y’know, that might really work out. I dunno how many daily customers they get, but at least they’re established. 

Her muffin finished ten minutes later, Cotton was still sipping on her coffee when Mocha came back with a smile. “It was a quick ‘yes,’ and he thought of a sign along the same line as yours: ‘Want something sweet and dandy? Go see Cotton Candy!’ Took him a sec to rhyme with ‘Candy,’” she giggled.

Giggling in response, Cotton said, “I like it! I can make a sign at home tonight and have it ready by tomorrow.”

“Same. Dad’s done some woodworking, too, so it’d be quick. Anyway, since you’ve already paid twice this week, he offered to start this up next week. Deal?”

“Deal!”

Before leaving, Mocha added, “Hey, you should put up a tip jar like we have. Might get ya a few extra bits.” 

Cotton shrugged. “Not a bad idea. I’ll bring one tomorrow.” As Mocha walked back down the block with a wave, Cotton's eyes widened. "Wait a second… Why didn't I think of putting up signs before?!" 


Ж


Cotton yawned as she walked into the coffee shop the following morning, the sweet and smoky smells of different flavors filling her nostrils. As she approached the counter, she found an engraved, varnished and rainbow-painted sign sitting in front of the register. The little rhyme with her name was displayed in capital letters, along with an arrow pointed in the direction of the bakery. 





When Mocha walked out from the back, both of them smiled as she pointed at it. “So? Whatcha think? I told you my dad was quick. I thought it looked kinda crude, but he said, ‘It pops, but still matches the rustic decor.’ Do you like it?”

Cotton’s smile widened as she nodded. “Yeah, I love it! Here, I wanted to show you mine— we tried to match the decor, too. Take a look.”

Reaching into her saddlebag, Cotton pulled out a sign of her own, also varnished and engraved. With images of dark coffee beans and a white, steaming mug of coffee, it also sported an arrow pointed in the opposite direction.





Mocha's eyes widened. “Whoa, talk about intricate. That's incredible." 

"Yeah, one of our guards has a good rotary drill and really steady hornwriting," Cotton giggled.

"No kidding. That’s so cute! The mug is such a nice touch! Dad’ll love it. And it’s funny that we both thought of the arrows.” She tilted her head before she asked, “By the way, when you say ‘we,’ do you mean you did part of it, too?”

Cotton put the sign back in her bag. “Yeah. The guard did the cutting and engraving, but I designed and painted it.”

Her eyebrows rising, Mocha responded, “Wow. I thought you’d just ask one of the guards to do the whole thing. Guessing Sir Spike couldn’t do something that size… Dad did all the work on ours.”

“Nah, it was fun doing the safe parts myself.” Cotton then smirked and put three bits on the counter. “The usual, please.”

“Comin’ right up. I’ll probably be over later for some cookies. Since we’ll have a whole apple pie next week.” She winked as she moved toward the coffee makers.

“Sounds good!”


Ж


Cotton put three cookies in a bag as the mare in front of her put five bits on the counter. “Here you are, ma’am. Enjoy!”

“If these are as good as I hear, I’m certain I shall, Miss Candy! Have a good day!” The last pony in line from the unexpected surge, the mare smiled, then put a single bit in Cotton’s new tip jar beside the register before she walked out the door. 

“Thank you, ma’am! And just 'Cotton' is fine!” Cotton called after her. Nearly collapsing onto the counter, her case now less than half full and the shop finally empty, she let out a deep sigh. “Holy horseapples… one day of a sign in a coffee shop and half of Canterlot comes in? They must get more customers than I thought.” She took a look inside her case. “Okay, all out of chocolate chip—definitely need to make more. Also need… apple and coconut crème… huh, oughta make more snickerdoodles, too. That’s kinda surprising; didn’t know those would be so popular.”

Just as she headed towards the kitchen, a familiar voice came from the door. “Hey, Cotton!” 

Turning back around, Cotton smiled at the new arrival. “Dreamweaver! Hey! How are you doing? I haven’t seen you since— Wow, not since the war, I think.”

“Yeah, I think so,” he replied. “I didn’t even know you opened up shop! How’s it going?”

Cotton let out a breath. “Well, it hadn’t been going that great. I had less than a dozen customers total over the whole week, until now. I just had like, a hundred over the past couple hours. I have to go make more stuff if the rest of the day’ll be like that. I didn’t know so many ponies went to Central Perk.”

Dreamweaver cocked a brow, then looked at the sign in front of her register. “You mean the place a few blocks over? I've been there.”

“Yeah,” Cotton replied with a nod. “They just put up a sign for me, too.”

“Uhh, I don’t think it was all them, Cotton. You don’t read the paper, do you?”

Cotton tilted her head at him. “…No. Why?”

Smirking, Dreamweaver reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a newspaper, then dropped it onto the counter. “This is today’s. Take a look at page 4C.”
> Chapter Sixty-Two - The Canterlot Review, 4-18-79 Page 4C
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


4C
Thursday 18, Month 4, Year 79 The Canterlot Review



EAT & DRINK
Confectioner Catapults Coconut Crème
By First Scoop
Restaurant Reviewer







I never thought I’d be praising the nobility for anything, especially not for an eatery. I personally prefer to visit and review long-established-but-lesser-known Mom-and-Pop restaurants around Canterlot when I can find them. For this review, I’ve made an exception. 

After supplying our troops with treats to keep their spirits high during last year’s war with the griffons—however brief it may have been—Cotton Candy, the adopted daughter of Knight-Protector and Royal Archivist Sir Spike the Dragon (also widely known as the Dragon of Ponyville), has recently opened her own confectionery on Oak Street, across from the western entrance of East Canterlot Park. While Miss Candy is technically a member of the Royal Family, a trusted source informed me that she prefers not to consider herself as such outside of the castle, and so I am placing her in the nobility category. I forgive her for this transgression.

I happened upon Miss Candy’s store as I was exiting the park after a midday stroll. I managed to catch my source, Miss Daisy Withers—a close friend of Miss Candy’s—before she disappeared into the city proper after leaving the shop. Miss Withers said, “Cotton told me she wanted to make it on her own.” If only other nobles would follow this example!

Aside from the superb sweets this seventeen-year-old prodigious proprietress of pastries has to offer, Miss Candy has also proven herself a friend to us ‘common folk’ by finally giving one of our snobbiest nobility, Blueblood the Third, the comeuppance he so richly deserves. I was fortunate enough—or perhaps unfortunate enough—to come upon the shop just after the incident. I saw a figure, who was confirmed to be Blueblood himself, galloping down Oak Street, and Miss Withers shouting from the door. After she exited the shop, my curiosity was piqued. I flagged her down as she walked down Oak in the opposite direction to enquire about what had just occurred. After a lengthy discussion, my only regret was that I hadn’t walked by two minutes earlier to witness Blueblood receiving his just desserts myself.

The very informative Miss Withers told me, “Oh, you should’ve seen it.” It took a few moments for her resumed laughter to subside. “[Blueblood III] just strutted in the door with his muzzle up in the air…And Cotton offers him one of her chocolate chip-cookies free of charge….He’s got the [redacted] to tell her he’s had better. I’ve had those cookies before, and I’m telling you, they’re the best you will ever have.…So I’m sitting at the counter with Cotton…and I say to him, ‘Yeah? I doubt it.’ Cotton waves me off…so she tries something else. She offers him a slice of her Coconut Crème Pie….He takes a bite and has the nerve to turn his nose up at it. Then after the jerk pushes the plate back to her like he’s trying to knock it off the counter, he says…‘I wouldn’t feed this to the filth at the orphanage.’ Madre de Solis, did that strike a nerve with Cotton, and rightly so! …While he’s got his nose up in the air, Cotton just up and grabs the rest of the pie and chucks it right into his face! He totally deserved it!”

The irony of the foppish dandy’s statement is that Miss Candy has been donating all of her unsold produce to multiple food bank charities, including Luna’s Orphanage in Central Canterlot, where she herself resided for a decade before being adopted by Sir Spike. Indeed, they seem quite grateful, and immensely satisfied—particularly the colts and fillies at the orphanage.

“Cotton’s cookies are the best! I like the snickerdoodles!” said six-year-old Cherry Berry as she bounced on her hooves. This was followed by high praise of Miss Candy’s apple pie from nine-year-old Ollie North, who was promptly scolded for using language unbefitting of a colt his age in his compliments.

Mother Matron, head caretaker at Luna’s Orphanage, spoke to me about Miss Candy. “Cotton is such a sweetheart. After years of helping us in the orphanage while she was living here, now she’s been helping us out of the orphanage ever since she opened that shop of hers.…The children have been absolutely ecstatic about getting these treats. I’ve had to stash them away…but of course I give them out after lunch and supper. I just hope they won’t be disappointed when Cotton’s business starts booming and she has no more leftovers. I will happily go and buy a supply from her myself when that happens.” 

Of course, I did not inform Mother Matron of the occurrence that led to my arrival, but she likely knows now because of this publication. I must apologize to Miss Candy for any negative repercussions that may ensue. Don’t go too hard on her, Madam Matron.

 I myself can attest to all the high opinions of Miss Candy’s wares. After my interview with Miss Withers concluded, just after the incident, I rushed into the store and was lucky enough to sample the remains of the pie slice that Blueblood the Third was foolish enough to turn his nose up at, which Miss Candy gave to me free of charge when I insisted she not discard it. After enjoying what I can only describe as the crème of the crop, I happily purchased a supply of chocolate chip cookies, which, as Miss Withers quite accurately describes, will put you into ‘chocolate ecstasy.’ 

It is incredibly satisfying to see one of the nobility not depending on old money to make a living. While I can only assume that Miss Candy lives quite the life of luxury as a resident of Canterlot Castle, based on what those I’ve spoken to have had to say about her, she is nothing if not selfless and humble. Rest assured, I will be a frequent customer of Cotton Candy’s Confections, not only for the delicious treats, but for what Miss Candy uses as her tagline: ‘Sweets served with a smile.’ I highly recommend that my readers do the same, if not for the sweets, then to support such a noble cause!


First Scoop is a food critic for The Canterlot Review. Contact him at his office on West Maple St.


Sources confirmed and names used with permission.

> Chapter Sixty-Three - None to One [Hundred]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What the— he was a reporter?” Cotton cried. Then she brought a hoof to her forehead. “Y’know, I should’ve realized something was up when he asked to take a picture. I mean, what else was he gonna do with a photo of a pie?” She broke out into a smile as she put her hoof down on the counter. “Well, I’m gonna have to thank Daisy. And Blueblood. I wanted word to spread; that’s one way of doing it.”

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Dreamweaver responded with a chuckle. "Definitely better than the signs Cutter put up."

Cotton's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, Cutter put up signs?"

"Yeah. Big flashy ones in his windows. Hired a colt to flip one around on the street corner, too. He's been advertising everything half-off for about two weeks. Guessing you haven't gone down that way for a while?"

"…No." Cotton sank to her haunches as both her forehooves smacked her face. "And I've been open for a little less than two weeks. I can't believe I didn't think to put up signs…"

Dreamweaver cocked a brow. "You haven't been doing any advertising?" 

Shaking her head, Cotton replied, "I took my 'Grand Opening' sign down the next day. Whyyyyyyyyy did I do that. I am such an idiot… I only even thought about it after I did this swap with Central Perk."

"Wait, nopony told you to advertise? Or help you get the word out?"

Cotton let out a sigh. "After my grand opening I asked everyone not to help me. Like, at all. Guess they took me literally. Only Aunt Celestia told Blueblood to come here, and I practically tore into her about it. I should've thanked her outright; that article wouldn't've been published if not for her."

Putting on a soft smile, Dreamweaver reached across the counter and patted Cotton's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it so much. I can't see Princess Celestia holding a grudge. Especially not against you. You really should be more open to asking for help, though."

With a nod, Cotton responded, "Yeah, I really should. It's just… I don't want help from the Royal Family. I feel like it's cheating."

"Don't think of it that way. Everypony asks their family for help from time to time; your family just happens to be a royal one," Dreamweaver chuckled.

Cotton let out a little giggle. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Glancing at the newspaper on the counter, she added, "But it doesn't really matter now, huh?"

Following her gaze to the newspaper, Dreamweaver laughed, "Yeah, guess not. But still, don't be afraid to ask for help from now on, okay? Or accept it if it's offered."

With a nod, Cotton replied, "Yeah, alright. Thanks."

"Sure. So, how 'bout I go from being 'reassuring friend' to 'customer'?"

Cotton smiled and replied, "By all means. Take your pick."  

After surveying Cotton’s display case, Dreamweaver smirked. “Well, I already know how awesome your cookies are. Is that the last slice of the famous ‘Catapulted Coconut Crème’?”

Giggling into her hoof, Cotton replied, “Yep. I was about to go make another one anyway, so it’s all yours if you want it.” She took the pie tin out of the case, removed the slice, then put it on a plate along with a fork. As she slid it across the counter, Dreamweaver put three bits next to the register, but she pushed them back to him. “Since you let me know about what's going on, on the house this time.” 

Dreamweaver let out a huff with another smirk. “Oh, come on, don’t do that. All I did was show you the newspaper.” He pushed the bits toward her again.

“And gave me a nice pick-me-up.” She let out a single, defiant breath as she pushed the bits back once more.

Deadpanning at her, he asked, “You’re just not gonna let me pay, are you?” Cotton shook her head with a smirk of her own before sticking her tongue out at him. Rolling his eyes, he muttered, “Mares.” Then he smiled and added, “But seriously, thanks a lot. That’s really nice of you.” 

“Sure thing.” When Dreamweaver sat at a table close to the counter, she continued, “So what have you been up to? Still writing at Cutter’s shop?”

“Oh, heck no,” he replied, shaking his head. “Not since what he did to you. I’ve been— Oh wow, dis ish good… I’ve been going to the place across the street from him. They let me sit and write, too. But yeah, that should answer the other half of your question. I think I’m almost halfway through with this one, based on my outline.”

Cotton raised her brows slightly as she nodded. “Nice. What’s it about?”

Dreamweaver smirked after he swallowed another bite, the fork hanging out from between his teeth. “No thpoilerth.”

Cocking a brow, she responded, “Fine, don’t tell me. And don’t talk with your mouth full.” She snickered as she headed towards the kitchen. “Hey, could you let me know if someone comes in? Since I propped the door open, the bell doesn’t ring.”

“Okay, but y’know, if you were propping the door to lure customers in, I don’t think you need to do that anymore,” he called as she walked into the kitchen. “Especially if you think you’ll spend more time in the back and need a warning, I’d just leave it. Unless you— heh, somepony’s here.”

Cotton poked her head back through the kitchen door, and she smiled when spotting two more familiar faces. “Sun Flower! How are you doing? Hey, Comet!”

The little colt galloped up to the case and pressed his muzzle against the glass. “Cookeeth!” Cotton and Sun Flower both laughed.

Sun Flower pulled the little colt back by his tail. “Comet, stop it, you’ll smudge the glass.” She looked back at Cotton and said, “I saw the article this morning. Looks like it found you some new customers.” She glanced at the display case; noticing a doily with no pie on top, she chuckled as she added, “You didn’t throw the Coconut Crème again, did you?”

“No, I got the last slice,” Dreamweaver responded from behind her, pointing at it with his fork when she turned around.

“I’m just about to make another one,” Cotton replied. “A few things, actually— cookies included. Are you here to collect?” she asked with a giggle. “You’ll have to wait for a new dozen.”

Sun Flower tilted her head. “My husband already came for the second dozen last week—your fee is paid in full.” 

“But I said I’d make three,” Cotton said as she walked back to the counter.

Shaking her head with a small smile, the mare responded, “Your lease agreement only requires two dozen for the fee. Pro Rate and I agreed we would pay for anything after that. Just because you’re our tenant, it doesn’t mean we can’t be paying customers also.”

“Thanks,” Cotton replied with a little smile of her own. “You’ll still have to wait a bit if you want chocolate-chip cookies, though. Do you wanna try something else?”

“Cookies!” Comet cried. 

Chuckling as she shook her head, Sun Flower told him, “Cotton’s all out of chocolate-chip cookies, sweetie. We need to get something else.”

The colt’s rear plopped to the floor as his eyes watered. “But… but…”

“You can have one if you can wait.”

“Don’ wanna wait!”

“Then you’ll need to try something else. How about a slice of chocolate pie instead?” 

“Cookiiiies!” Comet whined. Sun Flower rolled her eyes.

“I have snickerdoodles, Comet,” Cotton said with a smile. “They’re cinnamon cookies.”

Sun Flower turned to him with raised brows. “Oh, one of the fillies at the orphanage likes those, sweetie. Want to give one a try?”

Tilting his head at his mother with a sniffle, the colt asked, “Sssimanim?” 

As Cotton giggled, Sun Flower answered, “That’s what I put on top of the whipped cream in your hot cocoa.”

Comet’s eyes widened, then after a moment, he wiped away his tears and silently nodded his head. Sun Flower smiled as she looked back to Cotton. She reached into her bit pouch and said, “I’ll have both of those snickerdoodles. I’d like to try one also.”

Cotton shook her head as she pulled the last two cookies out of the case. “No charge. Call it a sample.”

“Ah-ah-ah, don’t you do that, young lady,” the mare scolded, firmly putting four bits down on the counter. “Like I said, we’re still paying customers.”

“Yeah.” Sun Flower turned and looked at Dreamweaver as he brought his plate and fork up to the counter and put three bits next to hers. “You don’t need to trot in Lady Rarity‘s hoofsteps twenty-four-seven.”

Tilting her head at him, Sun Flower began, “What about Lady Ra— Oh, yes, the Element of Generosity herself.” Dreamweaver smirked as she nodded her head. A moment later, her eyes widened. “Oh! And… Technically your adoptive mother too, if— I’m sorry Cotton, am I getting too personal?”

Cotton shrugged as she let out the tiniest of sighs. “It’s okay, I never knew her. Just what my dad’s told me. Oh, here.” She held out the bag of cookies, which the mare gladly accepted.

“Still, my apologies.” Smiling down at her son, she took out one of the snickerdoodles and held it down to him. “Okay, sweetie. Give it a try and tell Cotton what you think, hm?”

The colt reached out and hesitantly took the cookie in his hoof, then took a bite. His eyes lit up before he took several more and chewed with a happy grin.

The three of them chuckled before Dreamweaver said, “Looks like a new obsession is born.”

“I’d certainly say so.” Sun Flower took the other cookie and took a bite herself, then mirrored her son’s facial expression and nodded with a hum. 

Cotton smiled. “Great! Well, then I definitely need to make more.”

Swallowing first, Sun Flower replied, “I’d say that’s a good idea; we’ll get out of your mane. Have a good one.” She waved after putting the rest of the snickerdoodle in her mouth and leading Comet out the door, his cheeks still stuffed like a squirrel. 

After the two had left, as Cotton took a cloth and wiped the face print off the case’s glass, Dreamweaver asked, “You really pay your landlord with cookies?”

Cotton nodded. “It covers the extra gas I need for the second oven. Otherwise it’d be like, another hundred bits to rent. Two dozen cookies are less than half that,” she answered, before getting up and disappearing through the kitchen door.

“Hey, do you mind if I just sit and write here instead? If you still wanna leave the door open I’ll let you know if anypony comes in.”

“Sure! That’d be great!”

Dreamweaver looked down into the case again before he called, “Hey, Cotton? Before you get engrossed…” 

Her head appearing in the kitchen’s door frame, Cotton cocked a brow and asked, “Yeeeeess?”

He put two bits on the counter. “My dentist is gonna kill me, but could I try one of those donuts?” 

Cotton snorted as she walked back up to the case with a smirk. “Sure.” As she picked up a piece of tissue paper and reached inside, she heard the clip-clop of hooves that stopped just inside the door. When she stood up and held the donut out to Dreamweaver, she looked behind him with wide eyes. “Uh-oh.”

Dreamweaver turned around just in time to hear, “I thought I raised you better than that, young lady.”


Ж


As Cotton touched down in front of the castle, she placed her twine-wrapped box on the ground to give her teeth a rest, and to let her broad smile reveal itself once again. Just as she stood up, the doors opened and an older, amber griffon wearing a satchel walked out.

“Oh, hello, Ambassador Gulliver,” Cotton greeted him. “I forgot you were meeting with my aunts today. How are you?”

“Quite well, Miss Cotton, thank you,” the ambassador replied. “Yourself? You look like you had a good day, if that grin is anything to go by.”

Cotton nodded. “I did, thanks. I finally had customers.” 

With a rather un-diplomatic smirk, Gulliver responded, “I can imagine; I read the paper this morning.”

Her face flushed, and Cotton rubbed the back of her mane. “You did, huh?”

With a nod, he replied, “As did some of my assistants. I heard a few of them considering stopping by; they have insufferable sweet beaks.”

“Really? I mean… That’s good to hear.” 

“Indeed. I’ll admit, I’ve picked up a bit of one myself in my travels.”

Cotton tilted her head. “Really?” She lightly nudged the box in his direction with a hoof. “Since I had a ton of customers today I didn’t have a lot left, so I was bringing the rest home. It’s just a few slices of pie— would you like one?”

The griffon’s brows rose as he slipped a small smile. “Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Cotton, but I wouldn’t want to deprive your family of the delicious fruits of your labor.”

“Aunt Celestia will live with one less slice of pie,” Cotton giggled. “Heck, take them all; give ‘em out at the embassy.” She pushed the box toward him and added, “There’s blueberry and key lime.”

“Oooo, key lime is my fav— I mean, that’s quite generous of you, Miss Cotton. Are you certain your family wouldn’t mind?” the ambassador asked.

“Pfft, if they do, they can deal,” Cotton scoffed. “It’s not like I can’t make more.”

Licking his lips, the ambassador responded, “Oh, s-s-some of my colleagues would be thrilled. Thank you very much, Miss Cotton; I will gladly accept your offer.”

Cotton cocked a brow. “Are you alright, Ambassador? I don’t think I’ve ever heard a griffon hiss before.”

The ambassador’s eyes shifted back and forth briefly before he tilted his head at her. “…Did I? My apologies, that was… my feline side.” He swiftly picked up the box in his claws, shifting his weight to his back legs. “Once again, thank you for your delicious offer, Miss Cotton. I will be certain to recommend to my fellows at the embassy that they should visit your establishment.” He then quickly took wing and flew off.

“Make sure you keep them chilled until you serve them!” Cotton called after him. “They last longer that way!” The only response she received was a wave. “Hmm. Probably has a lot of work to do. Can’t blame him for wanting to get back so fast.” She furrowed her brows as she moved toward the castle entrance. “Wait…feline side?” After a moment, she shrugged her shoulders and pushed the doors open.

After shutting the doors closed behind her, Cotton let out a happy sigh, then glanced at the massive clock on the wall beneath the second level’s railing. “Nice, just in time for dinner.” She smiled as she looked between the guards in the foyer. “Evening, gentlecolts!”

“Good evening, Cotton!” they chimed in unison, stomping their spears.

She giggled, “Please, never change, any of you.”

“No intention of it, Cotton,” one of them replied with a smirk.

With another sigh, she said, “Guess what?” When they tilted their heads at her, she pranced on her hooves as she quickly cried, “The store got cleaned out! Like, the whole city came today!”

They all smiled as they stomped their hooves for her.

“What’s all the noise about, gentlecolts?” Celestia asked as she descended the stairs.

When she reached the floor, Cotton quickly rushed up to the princess and gave her a hug. Cotton nearly knocked both of them down as she stopped Celestia short in front of the stairs. “I had tons of customers today! I had almost nothing left!”

“Congratulations!” Celestia responded, wrapping her forelegs and wings around the filly.

Giggling, Cotton looked up at her and asked, “Did you read the paper today?”

“I haven’t had the chance yet,” the princess replied, folding her wings back. “Why do you—”

“We did!” 

Forgoing all formalities, Luna hopped over the second-story railing and glided down to the floor beside them with a manic grin, immediately launching into a tickle attack. “Thou art a most wicked filly!”

“Aunt Luna, stop it, stop it!” Cotton cried as she rolled on the floor, giggling uncontrollably. 

Luna laughed as she finished her assault. “We are quite amused by thine antics with the nobles.”

“Luna, what are you doing up so— wait, how have you already read the paper?” Celestia asked.

“Tacca doth provide Us with a copy upon Our awakening. We both applaud thee for thy treatment of Blueblood, dear Cotton— he doth indeed deserve it.”

Putting a hoof to her muzzle, Celestia snickered as she asked, “That made it into the newspaper?”

Luna’s eyes widened as she turned to her sister. “Thou wert aware of this occurrence?”

“Cotton told me the night it happened,” Celestia replied with a nod.

“And why didst thou not inform Us?”

Gesturing a hoof at the still-giggling filly, she answered, “It was Cotton’s story to tell, not mine. That’s a question for her.”

Luna pouted as she sat on her haunches and crossed her forelegs. “Why were We not privy to this tale, Cotton?”

Finally standing back up, Cotton answered, “Sorry, Aunt Luna. I was just distracted that night and then it slipped my mind. I only told Auntie Tia ‘cause I was mad at her for sending Blueblood in the first place." Walking up to Celestia, Cotton gave her a hug. "I'm sorry for yelling at you about that. I should've said 'thank you' from the start. Turned out to be exactly what I needed," she giggled. 

Celestia chuckled as she returned the embrace. "It's quite alright, Cotton. I did go against your wishes, so you had every right to be angry. I'm glad it ended up working in your favor."

"It definitely did. Hey, do you know if Dad's read about it yet?”

“I have,” Spike said, trundling down the stairs behind them with a smirk. “I would be scolding you if I hadn’t laughed so hard when I read the article.”

Cotton snickered as she looked up at him. “So I’m not in trouble with you?”

“Hardly. I want to hear what Blueblood says next time he comes to Court.” All four of them laughed at that. Then Spike cocked a brow. “Why specify me?”

Cotton blushed as she looked away with raised eyebrows. “Well, I mayyyyy have gotten chewed out by Mother Matron…” 

There was another round of laughter.

“Sounds like she didn’t listen to First Scoop,” Spike chuckled. “Well, if as many ponies read the paper as it sounds, how many customers did you get?”

Cotton beamed as she replied, “Like, the whole city. Aside from a couple extra pie slices that I gave to Ambassador Gulliver when he left, I got wiped out.” She let out a deep breath, then added, “In more ways than one.”

“You gave the leftovers to Gulliver?” Celestia asked, exaggeratedly puffing out her lower lip.

“Yes,” Cotton responded, sticking her tongue out. “I offered them to the Dancers upstairs, but they still had some of what they bought from me.”

Smiling, Spike said, “I’m sure Gulliver appreciated the offer.”

“Well, he said some other griffons at the embassy that read the paper had thought about going. Figured giving them samples might be an incentive to come get more.”

Luna nodded. “‘Tis good business practice. We are quite impressed.”

“Thanks.” Cotton sat on her haunches as she looked at the three of them. “I’m exhausted. Any idea what’s for dinner?” 

Celestia smirked. “It depends; did you eat any of your own stock before you came home?”

“Once! I did that once!”
> Chapter Sixty-Four - Into the Aether
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton put three cookies into a pastry bag, then held it out to the stallion in front of her before sweeping his bits into the till. “Here you are, sir. Have a great day.”

“Thank you, Miss Cotton. You as well. By the way, I wanted to thank you again for your help in court. Expediting that road construction has made our neighborhood exponentially safer for the foals.”

Smiling, Cotton responded, “That’s right! You’re the one that came to us about Rose Lane! Well, I’m glad Comet Tail and the other foals have a safe place to play.”

The stallion nodded thoughtfully. “This is one of Pro’s properties, isn’t it? He’s your landlord now?”

“Yep. Guess everything came full circle.”

“Indeed it has. Well, I wish you the best of luck, Miss Cotton. If these cookies are as good as First Scoop wrote, I’m certain I’ll be back.” He turned and walked out the door, calling behind him as he left. “Have a great day!”

Waving to his back, Cotton called, “You too, sir! And please, just 'Cotton' is fine!” After he was out of sight, she flopped on top of the counter and let out a deep breath. “Geez. Again?”

“Uh, how many customers did you just have in the last hour?” Dreamweaver asked from a corner table nearby the counter.

“Heck if I know. At least forty. Maybe even fifty. The same thing happened to me yesterday. Maybe everyone that didn’t make it then all showed up today. Pretty sure I already had some returning customers, too. It’s hard to tell; all the faces bleed together after a while.”

“Wow.” He turned and looked at the door, then back at Cotton. “You sure you don’t mind me chillin’ in here again? Given how many customers you’re getting I don’t wanna take up space or anything.”

Cotton shook her head. “Not at all. Guess Cutter had the right idea— you lure them in,” she chuckled.

“I don’t think that has anything to do with me,” Dreamweaver scoffed. After looking at the clock, he closed his notebook as he said, “I better go. Do you mind if I come back Monday, too? It’s nice having a friendly spot to hang. The ponies in the place across from Cutter were usually, kinda… I dunno, snooty. Some of them told me to go to Moonbucks if I was gonna just sit and write.”

Smiling, Cotton replied, “Sure. It’d be cool to have some company when there’s a lull between customers during the lunch hour. Assuming that’ll actually happen. I doubt every day will be like today and yesterday.”

“Awesome, thanks.” He put his notebook in his saddlebag, then made his way to the door. “See you Monday, then.”

“Yep.” She followed him to the door as he walked out, then flipped her sign around to signify her own lunch break. Then she went back behind the counter and looked into her case. “Okay, definitely need to make sixty more cookies… probably should make another two coconut crèmes… I’ll do that when I get back from lunch.” 

After walking back into the kitchen, she wiped down a few cookie sheets, then laid them out on the counter to prepare for her return. A moment later, she heard the bell at the door jingle. “Horseapples, must’ve just missed ‘er. But it just hit one o’clock, and the door’s open… maybe she’s— hey, Cotton?”

Cotton’s ears perked up at the voice. “Was that—” She stuck her head out the kitchen door, finding a navy blue Earth pony stallion with a black mane poking his head through the entrance. “Starry!”

“Hey, you are here! Look at you, bigshot business owner,” Starry Knight laughed, stepping inside.

Cotton rushed out and gave him a hug. “How have you been? What are you even doing now? You never told me.”

With a chuckle, Starry replied, “Still with the ‘rents. Playing the ‘starvin’ artist’ game. Far as I know, everypony else is at school again. Crimson, Tess, Aegis, Sugar… they’re all studying.”

“Yeah, last I heard. I’m still surprised Aegis didn’t apply for the Guard.”

“I know, right? My dad was, too. He says he never sees you since he’s always posted outside in the rear of the castle, except at a distance. But I barely see him, either— whenever he gets home I’m in the basement with a paintbrush.”

Giggling as she pointed at various spots of purple, red, and yellow in his coat, Cotton asked, “So that’s what these are all about? I thought that was just the latest fast fashion.”

Starry let out a snort. “Nah, some paints are just harder to get out than others. I kinda like this one, though— might keep it,” he said, pulling at a teal splotch in his mane. Then he looked around the room. “This place is awesome. So you just opened last week? And you’re already making the papers?” He chuckled. “Sweet Celestia, you have no idea how hard I laughed at that.”

“That was just dumb luck,” Cotton replied, shaking her head with a smirk. “The whole point was to get other ponies to see him here and follow his example to come in, but there was nobody else around. So not only was Blueblood a total jerk, he also had horrible timing. If that reporter hadn’t been walking out of the park at that moment, nobody would’ve known about it. Nobody would’ve believed it either, not without a credible witness, and Blueblood would’ve totally denied it.”

“Hey, dumb luck better than no luck, right?” Starry commented with his own smirk.

Cotton giggled. “Can’t argue with that.” She took a quick glance at the kitchen door, then back to him. “Y’know, you’re the first one of the Central Crew to stop by. I wasn’t expecting to get in the paper; I probably should’ve sent everyone letters, huh? But since practically nobody is home I don’t have current addresses anymore…”

“I dunno. Maybe me since I’m still around, but might not’ve helped with everypony else. ‘Cept maybe Tess, but she’s probably up to her horn in work at CU.”

“True, my friend Harmony is, too. Wonder if they ever cross paths?”

Starry shrugged. “Who knows. It’s a big place, from what I hear. Oh, hold up.” He turned and looked back at the sign on the door. “You just went on your lunch break, didn’t you? Sorry ‘bout that— I shouldn’t eat up your time.”

Rolling her eyes before shaking her head with a smile, Cotton replied, “Don’t worry about it. I was just about to head to a hayburger joint a few blocks over; wanna join me? My treat.”

“Sure! And thanks for the treat offer, but I’m not literally starving. I can pay for my own lunch,” he sighed.

“Aw, c’mon. It’s awesome to see you; lemme treat you. Considering how many customers I’ve gotten the past two days I think I can drop a few bits for another hayburger.”

Starry shook his head with a smirk. “Not a chance. I came up to see you, not to have my lunch comped.”

“Fine,” Cotton said with a huff. “Then at least let me treat you to one of these.” She went back behind the counter, took a piece of tissue paper, reached into her display case, and retrieved a chocolate-chip cookie. Putting it in a bag, she stood up just in time to see him put two bits down on the counter.

“Also not a chance.”

“Aw, come on. Please?”

“Don’t make me put ‘em in the tip jar.”

Cotton pouted, “Fiiiiine.” She swiped the bits into her till, then smiled and added, “Thanks.”

As he put the cookie in his saddlebag, Starry responded, “Of course. Now I’ve got dessert. So where’s this hayburger joint? I don’t know this area; I almost got lost on the way here.”

Guiding him out the door and locking up behind her, Cotton giggled and asked, “How’d you get lost? I’m literally right across from the park.”

“Hey, I did say ‘almost.’” 


Ж


As the sun began touching the horizon, Cotton let out an exhausted sigh as she went to the door and switched her sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed.’ Making her way into the kitchen, she cleaned off her work space, wiped out the ovens, and reorganized all her ingredients. Then she picked up a clean cloth and went back out to wipe down the tables.

“Sheesh, that was just crazy. I can’t believe I almost ran out of stock again. Another whole bunch of new customers, though, that’s awesome. And only on the second day after that article.” She finished the tables, then grabbed another clean cloth and started on the counter and display case. 

After a good half-hour of cleaning, she noticed the kitchen light flicker for a moment. “Ugh, I’ll have to take care of that before I go home. Didn’t think one of the lights would already be going on the fritz.” Looking into her display case, she found six slices of blueberry pie left, but nothing more. “Welp, one slice for each of us and an extra. That’s worth bringing home.” 

As she reached into the case, she heard the bell at the door jingle. “I know the sign says you’re closed, but could you maybe make one more sale?” 

Cotton sighed as she picked her head up. “Well, all I’ve got left is blueber—” Her voice cut off and her eyes widened when she found a charcoal-gray griffon standing in the entrance. He quietly walked in and let the door close behind him, then gradually made his way to the counter, a smile slowly growing on his beak. “Steadclaw…” Aside from the one, Cotton found herself at a loss for words. 

“Yeah,” he said simply. “How’ve you been?”

Her eyes glazed over, Cotton’s mouth moved up and down a few times before she settled on, “Good.”

Steadclaw looked down at the near-empty case. “If this was full this morning, I’d say you’re doing better than ‘good.’”

“Uh-huh.”

Pointing at the remaining slices of pie, Steadclaw asked, “Can I buy one of those?”

After sitting still for a minute, Cotton shook herself out of her daze, then her brows furrowed before she answered, “No.”

Steadclaw tilted his head. “What?”

“I said no,” she replied. “Get out.”

“But…why?” he asked with a flinch.

Cotton let out a huff. “After what you put me through? You told me you didn’t want to speak to me anymore. I didn’t believe you at first, but when you didn’t respond to any of my letters, I started to. Then after more than six months of still writing to you and getting no response I started to think you were dead, and then the war happened, and I thought I saw you die in battle! You’ve been alive this whole time, and now you have the nerve to come back here smiling when you haven’t even bothered to contact me once? Did you hear me? I thought you were dead! After all that, what’d you expect when you came back? A welcome with open hooves?” She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, then let out a low growl. “I don’t want anything to do with you. Now get out,” she said, throwing her wiping cloth at him. 

Reflexively catching the cloth in his claw as it bounced off his chest, Steadclaw said, “Cotton, what ar—”

“I said get out!” she screamed, striking him across his cheek. Then she thrust her hoof towards the door. “Now!”

His eyes wide, Steadclaw shook his head as he backed away, then allowed the cloth to fall to the floor as he quickly turned tail and ran out, the bell ringing again as the door slowly closed behind him.

Cotton took a couple heavy breaths before she dropped her head into her hooves on top of the counter, letting tears fall down her cheeks to accompany her sobs. She noticed the kitchen light flicker again. “D-damn. I s-still have to d-deal with that,” she said with a sniffle.

After a moment, she heard a faint voice coming from within the kitchen. 

“We… We do not understand…”

Cotton picked her head up and looked toward the kitchen. The lights inside turned off completely before the door melted away. When Princess Luna stepped into the room, her face painted in confusion, Cotton sighed.

“Cotton, We are most perplexed. We thought thou wouldst be elated to see thy former suitor once again,” Luna said. “When didst he become the subject of thine ire? We have not heard thee speak ill of him since his departure. Nor were We aware of the contents of thy correspondence with Steadclaw.” 

Sniffling out another tear, Cotton replied, “I-it’s… kind of a long story, Aunt Luna.”

“‘Tis a dream, Cotton. We have ample time,” Luna responded. “Thou knowest that—”

“I-I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

Luna shut her muzzle, then nodded as she took a step towards Cotton behind the counter. “Ah. Then—” 

“Why are you here, anyway?” Cotton asked, cutting her aunt off with a glare. “I’m probably just taking a catnap before I go home; you didn’t have to barge in.” As Luna opened her mouth, Cotton’s brows furrowed before she continued, “But instead of helping someone who needs you, you came here, dredging up my past and ruining my day.”

Luna’s eyes widened as she stopped short. “Cotton, We—”

“What made you think I wanted to see him? I told you I saw him die in the war; he’s never coming back. I don’t wanna see him. I don’t even wanna think about him. I’ve been trying to forget about him!” Cotton cried, tears welling up in her eyes as she advanced on Luna. 

Backing up as Cotton forced her into the front of the room, Luna started, “Cotton—”

“I thought I was finished with him! I never knew what happened to him, but then there he was, and then in a split second he was gone! It didn’t matter what happened to him anymore! I thought I had my closure— there was no need to think about it because he was dead!” Cotton shouted, pounding a hoof on the floor. 

Luna continued her retreat. “Cotton, We—”

“But no! You had to pry into my brain and bring it all back! I haven’t got anything! I still don’t know why!” Cotton collapsed onto the floor, burying her head in her hooves as she sobbed. “W-why?” She looked back up at Luna, tears streaming down her cheeks. "W-why did he do it, Aunt Luna?” Then her head fell back into the depths.

Luna took a deep breath, then slowly walked forward, turned around, and lay next to Cotton before draping a wing over her. “We could not say, dear Cotton. We could not say…” As Cotton continued her silent sobs, Luna nuzzled her cheek. “Our sincerest apologies, Cotton. T’was not our intention to bring these feelings to the surface and cause thee so much pain.” She sighed as she shook her head. “May We… make it up to thee?” she finished, finding the appropriate phrase.

“…Y-yeah,” Cotton answered after a moment. “I… I didn’t wanna do it before, but I just can’t take it anymore.” She looked up at Luna as she swept away her tears. “…C-can you wipe him from my memory? Make me forget him?”

Luna’s eyes widened. “Cotton, ‘tis not what We…” She stopped herself, then slowly nodded. “…‘Tis within Our abilities whilst in the Dreamscape, yes. Dost thou truly wish for Us to do so?”

Cotton nodded in return. “Please, get rid of him. I don’t wanna think about him anymore. I-I just can’t.”

“Very well. It shall be done.” Luna stood up, retracting her wing before she sat back on her haunches, gesturing for Cotton to do the same. Cotton looked up, then followed Luna’s example. Luna briefly rested her head on Cotton’s as she once again wrapped her niece in her wing like a blanket, then said, “Prithee, close thine eyes.”

“Thanks.” Cotton shut her eyes gently, leaning into her aunt’s shoulder. 

Luna lit her horn, and the walls and ceiling of the shop around them melted away, leaving only a dark, starry expanse. Luna took a breath as she held Cotton close, then her horn glowed once again as she craned her neck and softly laid it on Cotton’s forehead. A moment later, she pulled a thin, foggy tether from her niece’s mind, then with a flick of her head, snapped it off and cast it away into the expanse. She nodded after it dissolved into the aether. 

As an infinite hallway of doors rushed up to surround Luna on both sides, she lowered her muzzle to Cotton’s ear and whispered, “‘Tis time for thee to return home, dear Cotton.” 

Cotton suddenly disappeared with a flash.

Luna stood and took a deep breath as she lay her wing back at her side. Then one of the doors behind her opened to reveal a star-filled silhouette. 

“You did not actually just do that, did you?”

Luna looked over her shoulder and snorted. “Of course not. We merely disposed of the dream, and her wish for Us to delete her memory. Forgetting him entirely would mean forgetting everything he did for her. She would be a completely different pony. T’would have caused chaos Discord would be proud of. She must face this struggle herself.” Luna sighed and hung her head. “Thou wert correct. We should not have meddled.”

“Yeah, duh.”

Scowling, Luna responded, “Hush, Moondog. T’was not Our intention to upset her.”

“But you still did. I told you I had reasons not to do that.”

“As We said, t’was not Our intention,” Luna said before looking down the infinite hallway. “We were expecting… somepony else.” She turned around as she finished, “But her subconscious overpowered Us. We were merely a spectator.” Looking at the front of the door Moondog had appeared from, she cocked a brow and began, “What art thou—”

“Hey, he isn’t getting any younger,” Moondog said, shrugging her shoulders with a smirk. Then she went back through the door and shut it behind her.


Ж


Jolting awake, Cotton found herself leaning atop her empty display case. Her head lay in her hooves, one of them still grasping her cleaning cloth. She noticed a single tear running down her cheek. 

“Huh. That’s weird.” She wiped the tear away as she looked outside to find the sky a deep, navy blue. “Oh horseapples, what time is it?” she cried, glancing at the clock but not actually seeing the hands’ positions. She gave the counter one last wipedown where her head had lain, then rushed into the kitchen and tossed the cloth into a bin in the sink. “Dammit dammit dammit Dad’s gonna kill me!” She double-checked that the ovens were off, grabbed her saddlebag, flipped off all the lights, then locked the front door and flew off toward the castle. 

“One rule… Dad gave me one rule…” 


Ж


“I can’t believe she fell asleep,” Spike said to Luna, standing in the castle foyer.

Luna nodded. “‘Tis only Cotton’s second week of business, Spike. ‘Tis possible she is still not accustomed to her new schedule. She is likely exhausted.”

Spike let out a huff. “Maybe so, but I did give her only one rule: be home before nightfall.” He glared down at Luna. "And you tried to encourage her to stay asleep."

Luna glared right back and crossed her forelegs. “T’would have been an additional fifteen minutes at most. We have explained to thee how time works in the Dreamscape. How dost thou think We can visit so many—” 

“Still,” Spike countered, his glare intensifying as he put his claws on his hips. “You made my daughter upset.”

Shuffling backward with wide eyes, Luna responded, “Alright, alright, thou hast created thy nub. We apologize.” Regaining her footing, she let out a breath and added, “Go easy on her, Spike. We may have removed the dream from her memory, but her emotions may yet linger.” She sighed. “By the way, We thank thee for enlightening Us about the situation with the griffon. Cotton’s reaction in her dream makes much more sense to Us now.”

“You’re welcome, but don’t tell her I told you.”

Luna shook her head. “Our muzzle is muted.”
 
Spike sighed himself as he crossed his arms. “It still doesn’t make sense to me; from what I knew of him, and from what Cotton told me, he didn’t seem the type to participate in battle.”

“We believed the same. ‘Tis most disappointing.”

“I wish we could just ask him. If only you and Tia hadn’t made necromancy illegal.” When Luna stared at him with wide eyes, he looked at her and said, “No, I’m not serious. Still, I wish we could find out more. It won't hurt to ask, but I doubt Ambassador Gulliver would know; Gallant wasn’t crowned until after the war. I feel so useless.” 

Luna shook her head and responded, “Do not think of thyself in that manner, Spike. Thou art doing what thou art able. Thou canst not protect her from the colts in her mind.”

“No, but I can protect her from the colts out here. I’ll roast the next one that tries to make a move on her,” Spike said, letting out a small puff of smoke from the side of his mouth with a smirk.

“Spike! Thou canst not deprive thy daughter of a love life!” Luna cried, stomping the floor with a hoof.

Looking down at Luna with a cocked brow, Spike responded, “What, am I talking to Cadance now?”

After a beat, Luna frowned as she crossed her forelegs. “Nay, We simply believe Cotton shouldst have the opportunity to try again if she doth wish to take it.”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“But back to the matter at hoof; as We asked, please, make this exception for Cotton regarding her tardiness. We shall grant her a pleasant dream tonight to erase any lingering thoughts. Now, We must return to the Dreamscape.” She narrowed her eyes. “We must learn what Moondog hath done for Pip…” Luna then closed her eyes and disappeared in a flash of light.

Spike let out a breath. “Fine,” he said out loud to himself. “This one time.”

As if on cue, the door swung open, and in rushed a panting Cotton, who unceremoniously dropped onto the floor with a thud. When she looked up and found her father with his arms crossed, she groaned.

Huffing and puffing, Cotton said, “I’m… sor… ry… I’m… late… Dad… dy...I...fell...asleep…locking up.” She let out another groan, flopping onto her back as her saddlebag slid to the side. “Am… I… ground… ed?”

Spike chuckled internally. If that’s her first assumption, then it looks like I’ve drilled the importance of ‘the one rule’ into her head. Good. He leaned down and picked up Cotton’s bag, then helped her back to her hooves. “Welllll… not this time. I’ll let this one slide since you’re still adjusting to a new schedule. I’d advise going to sleep sooner.”

After taking a moment to regain her breath, Cotton sighed with relief. “Thank you, Daddy. I think you hit it on the head; I definitely need to get to bed earlier.”

Spike shook his head before saying, “You won’t be able to use schedule adjustment as an excuse for being late again, though. Next time you’ll face the full consequences. Understand?” 

Cotton nodded, sitting up straight on her haunches. “Yes, Daddy. It won’t happen again.”

With a smile, Spike leaned down and kissed Cotton on the top of her head. “That’s my girl. Now, go have dinner. I can’t imagine you’re not hungry.” Then he raised a brow and smirked. “Unless you’ve been eating your own stock again.”

“Once! I did that once!” Cotton huffed. Then she chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m gonna go have dinner now.”

“Good. Now don’t let Tasty Twist give you any of his own sweets tonight; you won’t get to sleep earlier if you’re on a sugar high.”

“Truth,” Cotton giggled. 

Before moving for the stairs, Spike said, “Just come say goodnight before you go to bed, Sweetheart. Enjoy your dinner.” He leaned down and kissed Cotton on the cheek, a gesture she returned in kind.

“I will, Daddy. On both accounts.” She cantered toward the kitchen with a sigh, then Spike faintly heard, “Hey Twist, do you have any good gems? And I need the flour and everything. Just wanna eat first.”

Spike grinned as he ascended the staircase. 

Hmm… maybe I should let her off the hook next time, too…