Science Happened, My Dear Equine.

Please Read: Addressing Continuity

In Dexter's Lab, Dexter has done everything from revive a dinosaur to save the earth by blasting asteroids with a giant robot. (I've been watching Dexter's Lab on Netflix.) I will try to stick to his character as much as I can, but some liberties will have to be taken with what he remembers/brings over to Equestria - and also to avoid 'Gary-Stu' situations. Remember, Dexter is incredible, and that can break a story.

Enjoy and leave a comment!

“WHAT HAVE YOU FREAKS DONE TO ME?” Dexter screamed, pushing away from Nurse Redheart. She was trying to help him up off the floor but his struggling caused him to fall over again. Either his body was horribly contorted, or had it changed shape altogether. The lack of debilitating pain indicated it was the latter.

“Dexter! Calm down!” She replied. Dexter’s screams must have been loud, as two more nurses and a doctor appeared in the doorway ready to assist.

“WHERE ARE MY HANDS AND FEET?” He cried, pulling himself up using the bed. Redheart tried to come to his aid again, only to receive a kick to the chest for her efforts.

“Ow!” Redheart cried, more out of surprise than actual hurt. The colt’s strike was far from strong enough to do any real damage to an adult. Although it was enough to get the other nurses to come to her aid, surrounding Dexter.

“You FREAKS!” He wailed, waving an accusing hoof before grabbing the only thing he could. A pillow. “I’ll never be your guinea pig.” He shouted, waving it defensively at the approaching ponies. After a rather traumatic event in his past, where he woke up in the company of aliens and was enslaved, he wasn’t prone to the best of reactions. “You’ll never take me alive!”

However, he wasn’t going to hurt anyone with a pillow. A fact he realized this instantly, and decided to throw it at the closest nurse where it landed on her head with a puff. Dexter then bolted for the window, forgetting that he didn’t know how to walk as a quadruped. Obviously, he didn’t get far.

---

Doctor Band-Aid, a unicorn with a brown coat and graying mane, rubbed his temple with a sigh. He had only heard about this patient ‘Dexter’ and already knew he would be a difficult one. According to the nurses, Dexter had a panic attack shortly after waking up. The nurses had to wrestle him back into his bed before he would calm down.

That’s when Band-Aid had stepped in. The hyperventilating mass on the bed before him was still trembling, burning off the adrenaline of the panic attack. He was obviously still on edge, eyeing nurses and the doctors somewhat cautiously. However, that’s when the colt spotted a mirror and froze.

“Okay Dexter,” He said to himself as his face adorned a more-than-slightly creepy smile. “Calm down, breathe . . . just breathe” He said, trying to make his voice soothing. Hey, his asthma was gone! “Get a grip on yourself Dexter, you can do it. Okay.”

He spent a few more moments hyperventilating. The doctor and nurses just watched, dumbfounded, as the colt continued to talk to himself.

“It looks like you've been transformed into one of those equines from Dee Dee’s stupid girly shows.” He said to himself between breaths. His creepy smile and the act of talking to himself put the nurses on edge, ready to restrain him if he were to have another panic attack.

“C'mon Dexter, You’ve seen a lot weirder stuff than this. . .” He started to gain control of his breathing. “But it's all a hallucination anyway right? Isn’t it? Of course it is. Let's run a probabilistic analysis on the situation . . .” What followed was a stream of nerd-speak. Dexter reviewed probabilities and mathematical concepts the doctor and nurses didn’t know even existed. While he did so, he completely ignored any attempts the staff made to converse with him. Thankfully though, the rant was short.

“So you see Dexter,” Dexter concluded, still talking to himself as he stared into space. “The odds that my wormhole generator turned me into an equine and transported me to a planet of other techni-colored intelligent equines, who speak my native language on earth, are infinitesimal in comparison to the likelihood that Dee Dee kicked over a bottle containing a hallucinogenic compound.”

There was another awkward moment of silence as Band-Aid and the nurses glanced toward each other, then back at the rambling colt.

“Wait a second,” One of the nurses said eventually. “How can you trust any logical conclusion you come to if you believe yourself to be under the influence of a sanity-impairing drug?”

Dexter’s eyes shot over to the nurse, who clasped her mouth the moment she finished her thought. She didn’t need the ‘you’re not helping’ stare from Doctor Band-Aid to realize her mistake. “Help me out here will yah, and go get the on-call psychologist? I think we should keep this one for observation.” He whispered into her ear and she left.

“THE FIGMENT IS RIGHT!” Dexter proclaimed at her retreating form, jumping upwards and shooting a hoof into the air. Normally he’d be wagging a finger about now. “I’m so totally screwed.” He muttered before falling face first back onto the bed.

---

Needless to say, they didn't get much out of Dexter. There was no record of his family in any of the hospital's files, and he kept claiming to be a species none of them had ever heard of.

It took a little while, but Dexter’s ranting eventually calmed to disgruntled muttering. Band-Aid had long since gone, having examined the colt and concluded that nothing was wrong with him. Physically anyway.

“Don’t worry Dex,” Dexter continued. “I’ll be fine in no time. I’m sure Quadraplex 3000, my precious computer, is already filtering out whatever hallucinogen Dee Dee released. All I have to do is wait for it to work its way out of my system. Then I’ll be human again, all the equines will disappear, and I can go lock Dee Dee in a cryogenic freeze for a month. Everything will solve itself and-”

“Hello Dexter?” Greeted another feminine voice, causing Dexter to look up. It was a blue unicorn in a Doctor’s coat. She had emerald eyes, a light blue mane and a book for a cutie mark. Her name was Avid Aura, she was a psychologist’s intern and one of Ponyville Clinic’s counselors. At least, that’s what she told Dexter.

“So they sent you to see if I’m crazy, eh?” Dexter accused, “Well, I already have an answer for you!” He said, raising a hoof before stating simply. “I am crazy. “ He admitted as he adjusted his glasses.

“Oh, I’m not so sure you’re crazy, Dexter.” She replied while giving him an encouraging smile. Either she really cared or had a second career in acting.

“Well, I’m obviously hallucinating, and that’s a trademark sign of several mental disorders.” Dexter said, crossing his forelegs. He was used to being right.

“Yes, but the insane typically don’t believe what they’re seeing is a hallucination. Usually it’s the other way around, believing what they’re not seeing is real.” She said as she took a look at his chart. Good, they didn’t give him any medication. “Nor are they so quick to proclaim their own insanity. Did you consider for a moment that you’re not hallucinating?”

That got Dexter to think for a moment. “Well . . . I have to admit it is a possibility however unlikely. Either way, no one else can see this hallucination, so I won’t lose any dignity if I play along.”

“Well, if you are crazy, you’ll be the easiest patient I’ve ever dealt with.” She said with a reassuring smile. “Not too many mental patients are crazy because they think I am a hallucination when I’m not.”

“Ah ha! Exactly what I would expect a figment to say.” He replied as though he had won an argument.

“And what would you expect somepony who was real to say?” she replied, causing Dexter’s brain to stop again. Aura, having dealt with a few of Ponyville’s mentally questionable individuals before, didn’t believe that Dexter was actually insane. She figured that the colt was scared, and was making up lies about hallucinating in order to get attention.

This was also the opinion of the rest of the hospital staff. Which is why they stuck Dexter with a psychologist’s intern, they had to save the pros for the ponies that were actually screwed up.

“You know, it is almost dinner time and I bet you’re hungry. How about we take a break and get something to eat, sound good?” Aura suggested.

“Sounds good to me,” He said as he let himself off the bed. However, he again forgot that he had four legs now and fell flat onto the floor. “Oh right,” He said, looking up at the confused counselor. “Quadrupedal locomotion. Don’t worry, I’ve done this before. At least I’m not a turtle this time . . .”

---

“You’re kidding right?” Dexter said, as he tentatively prodded his plate of food with a fork. Its lush green contents being the ideal combination of fruits and vegetables for a young pony.

Unfortunately, Dexter avoids all green food like it’s the plague.

“If this isn’t to your liking, I’m sure you can try something else.”Aura replied to the colt. The Ponyville clinic was actually a small hospital, which housed its own cafeteria.

With that, Dexter left the table and returned to the counter that served trays. Aura merely watched him go before returning to some paperwork. Dexter wasn’t at all difficult, at least for the moment. She had to concur with her peers that his claims to insanity were probably an attempt to get attention, at the most extreme he might have had a slight form of Munchausen Syndrome.

Which was a real psychological disorder, but with his claims to insanity being his only discernible problem, she wasn’t inclined to humor that claim by labeling him with an actual disorder.

“Hey Aura! Where’s the meat?!?” Then again, she could be wrong.

For a genius, Dexter had the odd habit of missing the obvious.

His shout got the unicorn to drop her pen after a moment, after she processed what he said. She cast a surprised look in Dexter’s direction.

“I know it is hospital food, but your selection can’t really be this bad.” Dexter badgered a slightly flustered looking pegasus, who by the apron he was wearing, was in charge of the cafeteria.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” He replied to an impatient Dexter, “Did you say meat?”

“Yes, meat.” He replied. “You know, chicken, fish, pork or beef? Meat. I need some protein. I’m a growing boy not a rabbit. Cook some meatloaf.”

“We umm, we don’t serve meat except for special circumstances involving griffins” The Pegasus began slowly, still nervous. “And for that we call in a special caterer, I don’t even know how to . . .”

Dexter immediately facehooved, as if the answer was obvious. “Oh I see the problem; of course you don’t know what to do.” Dexter’s mother always made him his meals, and he wouldn’t trust his father’s cooking to save his life. “Males like us have no business in the kitchen.”

Every mare in the room blinked.

“Don’t worry, I once had to program a robot mom to cook for me. So I know exactly what to do. Now meatloaf is made from beef, which is cow meat. So this is what you need to do . . . ” Dexter started to describe in detail how to prepare the dish, earning him frightened looks of disgust as he described how to make ground beef. His words were making the ponies within earshot sick to their stomachs.

“That is enough, Dexter!” Aura interrupted him when she finally couldn’t take it anymore, surppressing an urge to vomit. “The sick ponies in this hospital have a hard enough time eating without you describing obscene acts of depravity and cannibalism!”

“Obscene? Depravity?" Dexter replied, confused and slightly unsettled as he looked between the mare and the now sickened stallion. “Cannibalism? You mean eat him? Lady, what kind of meat are you talking about?”

. . .

“Oh I think you need a time out.”

---

“You know ponies don’t eat meat.” She said while looking down at the colt as they returned to his hospital room. She had been lecturing him about how much trouble he was in, and how he had better behave until his parents were found, otherwise he’d be in a lot more trouble.

For the record, equine meat was illegal and taboo in the United States, where Dexter’s family lived. That’s why he was confused and slightly unsettled. Eating a pony is taboo even for him. Though Aura didn’t know that . . .

“Well of course they don’t,” Dexter began, it didn’t take long for him to realize his error and understand why eating meat was taboo for ponies. He felt like an idiot though, and was now trying to save face. “All equines, like most herbivores, have symbiotic bacteria in their gut which give them the amino acids they require but cannot produce themselves, removing any need to consume meat for protein.” He said matter-of-factly, trying to look smart.

“Exactly,” She replied, making another note on her clipboard. “And with that you’ve confirmed my suspicions.” As far as she was concerned, his explanation showed he understood the taboo and was only putting on a show in the cafeteria. A show aimed at getting attention and one with very poor taste. “You’re not crazy, you’re a borderline Munchausen.” She let slip without thinking.

“Huh?”

“Just . . . lie down Dexter,” She motioned toward the bed with a sigh. “Doctor Band-Aid thought you should stay the night for observation, or at least until we find your parents. I’ll come back first thing tomorrow morning. In the meantime, behave for the nurses.”

And with that, Aura left. Dexter didn’t see her for the rest of the evening, though a few nurses came by and checked on him every so often. Dexter mentally kicked himself as he paced in his room; he should have seen it coming. “Of course figment equines would take issue with eating meat. Especially the meat of something as similar to them as a cow.”

So now he was alone in the room, with the exception of one other patient. Though said roommate didn’t do much, seeing how he was in a full body cast.

“C'mon Dexter, think.” He muttered to himself as he continued to pace. “The blue equine said I was a borderline Munchausen. She must have meant Munchausen Syndrome! She thinks I’m only claiming to be crazy to get attention!” He paused.

“Ah who the heck cares what she thinks anyway?” Dexter said as he turned around and continued to pace, a little more frustration in each step. “Come to think of it, this hallucination sucks. Dee Dee would be happier here. Why couldn’t my fantasy be about fighting crime with Major Glory or Action Hank?” His thoughts drifted to his favorite super-heroes. That’s when he had an idea.

“That’s it!” Dexter said triumphantly. “Maybe I can force this hallucination to change, or even snap me out of it all together. But how?” He sat, thinking for a minute before cracking a smile. “Oh, I know. I’ll build a medical diagnostic module and scan my brain.”

“If it shows that I am crazy, then I’m right. If it says I am sane, then I have no reason to doubt the conclusion of my probabilistic analysis. Said conclusion indicating that I am insane.”

“Either way, the hallucination will become self-contradictory and my subconscious will have no choice but to acknowledge that this is a hallucination. Then, like a dream that becomes lucid, I will gain control! And I will be able vanquish the equines from my mind and fill my fantasy with action and science!”

He finished his long winded self-explanation, not realizing he had woken up his roommate. Though the pony didn’t voice any objection, or do anything for that matter. His body cast was a prison, stopping him from doing anything but listen to Dexter’s rant. Poor soul.

And without a second thought, Dexter put his plan into motion. His room had enough medical equipment he could cannibalize for parts. All he needed were some tools. Fortunately, there was a janitor’s closet and stock room across the hall. It stored a set of tools decent enough for his purposes, and he was easily able to get the tools back to his room.

The nurse at the nurse’s station was too busy with a Daring Do novel to notice a colt sneaking about.

So Dexter worked into the night, using his incredible knowledge of science and engineering to accomplish his vision. In truth, it was child’s play for Dexter. He finished the device a good couple of hours before sunrise.

“Whew,” He wiped some sweat off his forehead as he tightened the last bolt. “At last! My latest invention is now complete!” The device itself looked simple, it consisted of a bulky terminal connected to a large ring mounted to the floor. A semi-circle was within the ring.

“Now, to test the device.” He said, his eyes drifting around the room until they landed on his poor roommate.

The bedridden pony could only plead with his eyes, any other attempts to escape or protest were thwarted by his body cast. However, Dexter didn’t notice the pony’s ‘kill me now’ look as he walked over and started to wheel his victim test subject onto the center of a ring.

Once the unwilling patient was in position, Dexter pressed a large button. A moment later the semi-circle inside the ring rotated off the floor and to the other side of the ring, then back again. The whole time it bathed the pony in a white light bright enough to be a laser.

“Hmm…” Dexter said as he looked at the screens on the bulky terminal. “It appears that every other bone in your body is broken . . .” He turned toward a long printout the device was spewing onto the floor. “And other than an elevation in your adrenaline levels, you’re perfectly fine.”

The bed-ridden pony gave no response.

“Well, it looks like it was a success, as I knew it would be. Time to hit the hay!” Dexter said as he powered down the device and returned to his bed, confident that next day he would succeed in breaking out of his hallucination.

---

“Time for breakfast, who's hun-THE HAY HAPPENED IN HERE?!?” Dexter woke to the sound of a shout, followed by a tray hitting the floor.

In retrospect, it looked like most of the medical equipment had exploded. Their unused innards littered the floor.

But that didn’t deter Dexter. He was up almost instantly. “Oh, good morning nurse.” He said as he put on his glasses. “Could you please fetch counselor Avid Aura?” However, his request proved unnecessary. The mare in question, along with a number of other ponies, had heard the commotion and entered the room. Most wore a look of shock.

“D-Dexter! Are you alright? ” She said after a few moments, surveying the carnage of the medical equipment. Judging by the cup of coffee in her magical grasp, she had just arrived. “My goodness, what happened in here?”

“Science happened, my dear equine, science.” He replied, trying to hide a smug grin. Raising a hoof, he drew the other ponies' attention to his sleek and shiny invention in the center of the room. “Allow me to present my latest invention! The Medical Diagnostic Module Mark One. This baby can image an entire equine in 3D with a resolution of up a tenth of a micro-meter, as well as measure a wide range of physiological variables!”

“Dexter?” She managed to say, obviously trying to figure out to say. “Are you telling me you did all of this?” She motioned toward the destroyed equipment and the invention.

“Of course I did this,” Dexter replied matter-of-factly. “What, you think he did it?” He asked rhetorically as he pointed a hoof at the pony in the body cast. “Now allow me to demonstrate!” He said as he pushed a few buttons and jumped into the ring of his new device. It scanned him, emitting it’s near blinding light.

While it did so, a few of the nurses and at least one doctor got curious enough to approach the terminal. They had to admit, at the very least its sleek form appeared impressive. But it really caught their attention when displays started lighting up and the terminal started spewing print-outs.

“You see Miss Avid Aura,” Dexter began as he stepped out of the ring. “In a moment, we will have all the proof we need to finally prove I am hallucinating!”

“You’re bonkers in my book, kid.” Said one of the Doctors, it was Band-Aid.

“Dexter . . .” Aura began, trying to overcome her shock. “Are you telling me . . . you destroyed thousands of bits . . . worth of medical equipment to make . . . that?!” Aura was one of the few ponies hoping that this wouldn’t end up coming out of her paycheck. She was partly responsible for him.

“Well . . .” Dexter began hesitantly, starting to realize the down side of his plan. “Those devices sucked anyway.” He said defensively. “You’ll find that the Medical Diagnostic Module Mark One is far superior in every aspect. A fact which I will prove to you in a moment with the results of my scan. Heck, it might even tell what hallucinogen is in my system.”

“Umm . . . actually Dexter,” Came another new voice, it was Nurse Redheart. She was one of the nurses who had gotten curious about the invention and was now sitting at the terminal, looking into one of the screens. “This thing, whatever it is, says there is nothing wrong with you. The only detectable abnormality is that you have a significantly higher than average brain cell density . . .”

“Well I could have told you that,” Dexter said before remembering why he built the device. “Ah ha! It says I’m not crazy. Therefore this hallucination is now self-contradictory!” He cheered. “Now for this illusion to disappear!”

. . .

“Any second now . . .”

“So, let me get this straight.” Aura began, giving off a nervous and slightly creepy chuckle. At least she found a thread of irony. “You won’t listen to anypony when they tell you that you’re not hallucinating, and decide to spend all night destroying thousands of bits worth of medical equipment, to build a device . . . ”

She gets no response from Dexter, who was still, by the looks of it, waiting for something.

“Which only calls you dense?”

. . .

---

“Stupid equines . . . stupid hallucination.” Dexter muttered to himself in frustration as he paced back in forth. He had been relocated to the waiting room, where somepony would always be around to watch him. “Why can I envision Action Hank beating the stuffing out of them? Better yet, why am I still here?!?”

Needless to say, the aftermath of his morning was rather unpleasant. He never knew ponies could give off steam, and for a moment he was worried Aura might have a heart attack or something.

He’d never seen equines so angry before.

Shortly after his scheme failed to ‘liberate him from this fantasy’ an all gray unicorn had entered his hospital room. By the looks of him, he was an administrator. His name tag read ‘Gray Matter – Chief of Psychology.’

He addressed Aura through gritted teeth. “Tell me, Aura. Why is this colt, which is unsettling the other patients, and ruining medical equipment, still in this hospital? Especially when there is nothing discernibly wrong with him?”

He didn’t like the ‘we haven’t found his parents yet’ excuse.

“He is the most expensive case of Munchausen Syndrome this side of Canterlot, cut him loose!” He ordered.

He gray pony had turned to leave, but not before Dexter would get a word in.

“Hey gray butt!” He called out, causing the pony to stop.

“What was that?” He said, in an angry yet condescending tone.

“How can you accuse me of being a ‘hospital hopper’ when I have no medical history? What? Don’t other hospitals take notes too?” Dexter pointed out. His point was actually a rather good one.

However, this doctor was not the type to appreciate it when someone pointed out holes in his logic. Even if the hole was large enough a blind man could drive a dump truck through it.

So now Dexter was in a waiting room, awaiting the arrival of the pony who would volunteer to watch after him. He had waited about an hour before he was finally called by Aura.

“Dexter, would you please come with me?” She called and Dexter began to follow.

“Now Dexter, I was hoping to wait at least another day before doing this, but we are going to have to discharge you” She said, not getting a response. “But seeing how all attempts to locate your relatives have failed, coupled with the fact that no one of your description is listed as missing, we’re going to have to discharge you into the care of a temporary caregiver.”

“You mean a baby-sitter” Dexter replied, earning a glance from the unicorn. “Don’t worry, I’ll behave.” He hurriedly assured her.

“Now fortunately, Ponyville almost never has a situation where a foal is found without a family to care for them. So there are several listed volunteers available.” She explained. “And I took the liberty of contacting one last night.”

“Wait a second,” The colt said, looking up at the mare. “I thought you said you were trying to wait?”

“I was, Dexter,” Aura said. “But I knew that, with your parents being so hard to find, there was a chance that they would be deemed unfit for caring for a foal. Maybe even charged with negligence. If something worse didn’t happen to them . . .”

“I see.”

“So as a precaution, I contacted a listed volunteer last night after work.” Aura began again. “It was actually her and her brother who found you, and they requested to be updated about your status anyway. She comes from a respected family with strong values, and she’s considered one of the most dependable ponies in Ponyvi-”

“Relax Aura, You don’t have to try to sell me.” Dexter cut her off. “I’m sure she’ll suffice, at least until I break out of this hallucination.” He didn’t want to admit it, but a small part of him was hoping this ‘baby-sitter’ would share a love for science.

Aura merely nodded in response to Dexter as she guided him into a conference room, she resolved the best way to deal with his hallucination comments were to ignore them.

Following Aura into a conference room, Dexter laid eyes on his new ‘babysitter’ for the first time. She was a light orange pony with a golden blonde mane and green eyes. She sported a Stetson hat . . .

“Howdy!” She greeted warmly, her accent almost caused Dexter to trip. “You don’t remember me Dexter, but we’ve already met . . .”

---

Somewhere in the hospital two Doctors and a couple of nurses were standing around their newest piece of technology.

“This thing is . . . amazing!” Band-Aid said to one of the nurses who nodded in agreement.

“Yah, it's too bad we’ll never get to use it.” One of the nurses replied. “Gray Matter ordered it dumped.”

“What?! I’m going to talk to him” Band-Aid said as he left. “If anything, I’m taking that thing home for myself.”

“Why does Gray want it trashed?” Nurse Redheart asked her colleague. “It was made with parts from our own equipment, it must have some value.”

“I know, it's just that we can’t trust it. A young colt tinkered with it, not a professional.” The other nurse replied. “It is a shame though. We tested it against a bunch of standards and known samples, it reports information more accurately than anything we’ve ever seen. It agrees with previous measurements on the old equipment and even points out when the other devices are making mistakes . . .”

“Yah, it's good. And I have a feeling Band-Aid is not going to let it go.”

---

Author's Notes:

Warning: Dexter has been moved within striking distance of the main six and the cutie mark crusaders. Proceed with caution.

Please Comment! Constructive criticism is appreciated. This is my first comedic fic, but it could easily just be transformed into an adventure/thriller if I suck with comedy. (Which is probably why I shouldn't try a KND fic after this.) - Also, I realize that some people want to skip to the shenanigans I have planned, I'll write something short up and post it in a linked blog, let me know what you think of it.

Again. I proof read it only a few times. I won’t pretend there aren't mistakes. (I really could use a proof reader.) Please point out typos and mistakes, I’ll try to correct them - be specific so I can find it!

Yes, that device Dexter built will be used later as a plot item. When curious ponies try to find out if Dexter is a boy genius with a secret underground laboratory, it might help if that had an example of his genius and a witness.

I Need A Laboratory

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Notes: Apologies for the long wait, life has been busy lately. I hope you enjoy, as usual help me out my pointing out grammar mistakes / typos, I don't trust MS word to catch them all.

Enjoy and leave a comment!

Dexter gave a hesitant reply to Applejack’s greeting. She didn’t take much note of it though; she figured the colt would be nervous or even shy. By the looks of her, Dexter wouldn’t have guessed she was a farmer from the start. Both her mane and coat were clean and in relatively good condition. However she did look rather strong.

“Nice to meet you Applejack,” He replied with a hint of nervousness. “Aura, can I talk to you for a moment?” He said to the unicorn before ducking back into the hall. He didn’t realize the idea of staying with a farmer was unsettling until now, nor did he know how to explain why exactly.

It came to him as a flashback.

---

With a gust of air, the meager flame of a nearly spent candle died.

“Aw shoot, my candle dun burned out.”

Not a second after the voice had finished did a figure burst forth with a startling and blinding light. “LOOK, I MADE A POTATO POWERED LIGHT JUST FOR YOU!!!”

“GAHHH!!!”

There was a loud smash, then darkness.

. . .

“It glowed an evillll glow! . . . He’s a bad seed ah tell ya.”

‘Dexter, what have you done? These people are going to... gulp ... hurt you.’

---

“Are you sure she is not a throw-back technophobe with possible violent tendencies toward the scientifically inclined?” He asked rather quickly, earning a strange look from the counselor.

“Umm. . .” Aura took a moment to respond, she didn’t exactly catch what Dexter said because he said it rather fast. “If you’re questioning her character, you should know she is an element of harmony. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone else in this country with as much integrity as her.”

“I’m not worried about integrity, Counselor.” He replied as he adjusted his glasses. “I’m worried about ignorance. Does she have any reason to hate science, machinery, robots or physics?”

“You have nothing to worry about, Dexter,” She said with a dismissive wave before moving back inside, motioning for Dexter to follow.

“Somethin’ tha matter Dex?” Applejack asked with an eyebrow raised, she hadn’t moved from the spot they left her in.

“No, everything is fine.” He sighed. “Just a little nervous is all.”

“Ah can understand that,” Applejack replied, trying to reassure him with a warm smile. “But yah don’t have ta worry about a thing.”

“Um, can I ask you why?” Dexter said, scratching his head.

“Why what?” she replied.

“Why you volunteered to take me?” Dexter finished.

“Well, it’s not every day ya come across a young colt like yer’self lying unconscious in a crater.” Applejack explained. “And ah couldn’t call what I saw in the mirror a decent apple if ah didn’t do what ah could ta help out. Mah brother said he couldn’t see anything wrong with ya and wanted to take ya home til ya woke up, but ah insisted we bring ya to a doctor to get checked out.”

Dexter nodded; he had to admit it was the sensible thing to do in such a situation.

“And don’t you worry about being a burden neither, it’s no trouble fer us.” Applejack went on. “We got a few extra guest rooms back at the farm, usually we put family in em' when they’re in town. But nopony is here right now.”

“Well, I am grateful.” Dexter replied, though a part of him couldn’t help regret that he’d be on a farm again.

Applejack and Dexter left soon thereafter, Dexter waving goodbye to Aura. The blue unicorn was quite relieved to have the handful of a colt off her plate now. Though she did say she would check up on Dexter regularly, and that she would inform him the moment she found out anything about his relatives.

Though Dexter knew they’d never be found, this was all a hallucination. . . right?

They were halfway through Ponyville when Applejack asked where he was from; needless to say his home town was a place she’d never heard of. But she was able to gather that he wasn’t from anywhere nearby, so she decided to give him a small tour. It would be enough for him to know his way around.

To Dexter, Ponyville was an odd place. The houses were made out of the strangest materials, and sometimes had even stranger architecture. In fact, the library was apparently made out of a tree and one of the local bakeries bore a resemblance to a gingerbread house. It drove the engineer part of his genius insane.

Then again, he was insane in more ways than one . . . wasn't he?

Dexter, who was no stranger to hallucinations, had to admit that this was one of the most detailed hallucinations he had ever experienced. Dexter was the type of genius that could innately remember everything that had ever happened to him. Sometimes it was to his detriment, as memories like Dee Dee’s stupid dance ‘the fanciful unicorn’ were forever burned into his mind.

But now his memory served him in a different way. Dexter could remember every moment since he first laid eyes on the bizarre looking equines. He could also remember every detail of his life before that. But if his brain was screwed up by a hallucination, shouldn’t he be struggling to remember everything? Shouldn’t his memory be just as unreliable as the rest of his malfunctioning mind?

That was the problem; his memory was as reliable as ever.

“Could . . . could this be real?” Dexter asked his reflection. The two earth ponies had stopped briefly at a fountain and Dexter was now looking at his reflection in the water. A colt with a white coat and blue eyes stared back at him. His orange-red tail and mane matching the color of the hair Dexter remembered.

“Ginger!?” Dexter looked up to see a chestnut pony with a brown mane and a sand dial cutie mark. “How come he gets to be ginger?!” However, as quickly as the pony appeared he was dragged off by a grey pegasus that looked perpetually cross-eyed.

“Yah say something hun?” Applejack asked as she finished chewing on an apple, casting a look at the two retreating ponies.

“Hey, Miss Applejack.” He began.

“It’s jus Applejack, Dex.” She answered before looking at him.

“You said you found me right? Can you show me where, exactly?” He asked.

“Well, sure. I reckon Ah’ve already showed you everything else. I don’t see why not” She said before motioning with a flick of her tail for him to follow. They walked in silence until they were on a small road leading out of Ponyville. Less than half a mile into the walk Dexter spotted what appeared to be a small crater.

“This is where we found yah, you were right down there.” She motioned toward the hole in the ground. However, when Dexter looked at it he didn’t see a crater. He saw a near perfect hemisphere.

“That’s odd . . .” Dexter said to himself, earning Applejack's attention.

“What is?” She replied, watching Dexter jump into the hole.

“This is a near perfect hemisphere.” He replied, thinking allowed. However, when he noticed her confused grimace he elaborated. “A perfect sphere, and by extension a perfect half-sphere, cannot form inside a gravitational field. It’s theoretically impossible.”

“Unless,” The hamster started to run. “Something altered the curvature of the local space-time geodesic and suspended the effects of gravity, while producing a new localized field of space-time that suddenly and rapidly expanded outward from a central focus. But only a singularity or. . . wormhole. . . could do that.” He trailed off.

Applejack had absolutely no idea what he just said.

But this presented another problem for Dexter. He could recall working in a wormhole generator until something went horribly wrong. Dee Dee, the bane of his existence, had pushed a button or fifty.

As his brain continued to race, Dexter absentmindedly sat on his haunches. However, when he did so his hoof bumped against something in the dirt. He didn’t recognize it at first; it looked like a piece of a shoe.

It was his shoe. Pushing away more of the dirt revealed a few more items. A torn piece of his original lab coat and a small pouch of that he used as a tool kit in his laboratory.

“How?” He asked no one in particular. The whole time he was getting a slightly worried look from Applejack. “Is this real?” He said as he carried the tool kit out of the hole.

“You all right Dexter?” Applejack asked, causing his gaze to snap from the kit and onto her.

“You’re real. . . aren’t you?” He still sounded skeptical. He walked up to her and poked her chest with a muddy hoof.

Poke. . .

“Umm . . . Dex?”

Poke . . . Poke . . . Poke . . .

“Will ya quit it?” She said, swatting away the annoying limb and brushing some mud off her chest.

“I, uh.” Dexter began. “Sorry Applejack, I just . . . realized something.”

“Care ta share?”

“Not really.”

---

Applejack was now leading them both to her home, Sweet Apple Acres. After that little weird moment with Dexter, she had remained silent for most of the way home. Occasionally she glanced at Dexter, as if to make sure he wasn’t having another ‘moment.’ Truth was, she didn’t know what to think. He seemed a little weird, but then again many of the townsfolk were a lot stranger than him.

After formulating and being confronted by a theory that partially explained his situation, Dexter wanted to freak out for a second time. However, there was one thing stopping him. He knew he was being watched, watched for real. This wasn’t a hallucination. At least, that’s what he believed now. So either his descent into madness had been averted, or was now complete.

Either way was irrelevant now. He believed it was all real, and that made for a lot of unanswered questions. The most glaring was ‘magic.’ At least, that’s what the unicorns called it when they lifted objects in a glowing aura of light. He couldn’t believe that it was ‘magic,’ but whatever it was deserved full investigation and scientific analysis.

The second most glaring question was, how in the world was he picking up objects and manipulating them with a hoof? In fact, why had he turned into a pony in the first place? Until now, he thought it was all due to the hallucination.

The third question was, how was he going to get home? Could he even get home?

And those three were only the tip of the iceberg.

The scientist inside Dexter hungered to know. These questions burned inside his mind, and he resolved that he would not rest until he got the answers. But for that, there was one thing he required above all.

“I need a laboratory.” He declared.

There was one small problem, he had shown off his abilities at the hospital. He had learned long ago to keep his scientific prowess a secret, as exposure can cause problems. Dexter had a nagging feeling that his stunt at the hospital would come back to haunt him, he would have to be more careful.

---

Sweet Apple Acres was actually nice in Dexter’s opinion. It was a far cry from the dusty farm he had gone to for summer camp, and the daunting rows upon rows of apple trees made for one of the finest orchards Dexter had ever seen.

“Wow, have enough apples?” Dexter asked, earning a chuckle from Applejack.

“Enough apples? Never.” She replied. “But if yer looking for some, you won’t find better apples or a better orchard then what ya get at Sweet Apple Acres.” She declared proudly. “If you’re ever looking for a snack, take an apple from the baskets. We always buck the ripe ones, and they taste the best.”

“Thanks,” He replied gratefully.

“Mah brother n’ sister are probably inside having lunch right about now.” She continued. “I’ll introduce ya and then we can get you settled in.”

The farmhouse had a cozy feel to it, and it was definitely large enough. The decor was exactly what he’d expect from an old-fashioned farmhouse, and he could tell that he was going to miss some of the luxuries afforded by human technology.

That is until he got a lab up and running.

Introductions were simple enough. The elderly mare was named Granny Smith, her coat was the same color as the apple of her namesake. She seemed nice enough, if not a little out of it. But she seemed to pick up Dexter’s name fast enough.

The big red one, who was significantly larger than Dexter, was Big Macintosh. He had green eyes and an orange mane that was slightly brighter than Dexter’s. His significantly larger size and strong build was slightly intimidating to the colt at first, but he proved friendly enough the few times he spoke.

The last one was an excitable yellow filly about the same size and age as Dexter. She wore a pink bow that was only slightly brighter than her red-pink mane.

“Hi,” She chirped. “Ah’m Applebloom! What’s yer name?”

“Dexter”

What followed was a barrage of questions, asking Dexter everything from his hoof size to his birthday. Dexter ended up making up most of his answers; however her assault upon his ears ended when she spotted a mark on his flank.

“Oh mah goodness!” She gasped with excitement that set off warning bells for Dexter. “You’ve got yer cutie mark!” She gestured with a hoof to the colt’s flank. Dexter craned his head around to look at his flank where he spotted a symbol he had never seen before.

The mark was completely black and contrasted with his white coat. The primary piece of the mark was undoubtedly an atom, a standard symbol for science. Obscured by the atom was a large D, the logo on his suit whenever he was playing superhero. All of this was overlaid on a double-sided wrench, the tool he could be seen using the most.

“What the?” Dexter said, slightly nervous. “Cutie mark?” He asked the filly as he tried rubbing it away. “What the heck is that?”

“It represents yer special talent.” The filly responded with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t you know what a cutie mark is?”

“Yah, of course I do.” Dexter lied hesitantly, rubbing the mark as if he could brush it off. He didn’t remember spotting it before, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Dexter just hadn't checked. He had only just started taking things seriously, and despite seeing the marks on the other ponies, he hadn't bothered to pay any attention to them until now.

“So, what does it mean?” Applebloom asked enthusiastically.”What’s yer special talent?”

“Umm, I don’t know.” He lied. Though, due to the loud gasp of disbelief from the other pony child, he regretted it immediately. Dexter was still regretting what he did at the hospital. He didn’t want to show off his abilities, but now he apparently had a mark on his hind side showcasing his ability to the world.

“What do ya mean ya don’t know?” Applebloom asked as she shifted to examine his cutie mark again. She had no idea what the mark could mean just by looking at it. “How can you not know yer own special talent?”

“I, uh, never knew I had one.” Dexter replied.

“Well, what were you doing when you got yer mark?” She asked.

“I don’t remember,” Dexter said, truthfully this time. He didn’t recall doing anything to receive the mark, for all he knew the mark had always been there. A part of him was curious about how he got it, from a scientific standpoint.

Applebloom, on the other hand, felt it was a travesty for someone to not know the meaning of their cutie mark. It was like someone forgetting their own name.

“Hey, how about you come with me and the other crusaders?” She offered, failing to explain what she meant by crusaders. “Ya can’t join the crusaders because you have yer mark, but you might be able ta find out what it means while we try stuff ta earn ours!”

“Umm . . . thanks but no thanks,” Dexter replied, he couldn’t waste time playing with the filly. He’s got science to do.

However Applebloom wouldn’t be dissuaded so easily. She was cute and she knew it, a dangerous combination.

“Aww, please?” She sniffed in sadness as she put on puppy dog eyes.

“No.” Dexter turned away, he could be one cold-

“Please?” Applebloom said, standing in front of him again. She was fast for a filly. The effect of her puppy-dog eyes had shifted gears from begging puppy to kicked puppy. Her once prominent bow seemed to deflate and her lower lip started quivering as she sulked.

“But I . . .” Dexter trailed off, he could feel his ability to resist erode with each passing second. It felt like someone had grabbed his heart and started to squeeze. “I . . . well I guess I-“

“Yay!” She cheered before grabbing Dexter by the neck and dragging him off. He only managed to cast a glance back at Big Mac and Applejack, his eyes pleading for them to save him, but the siblings simply smiled and waved goodbye.

---

“AAAHHHHHHHH!!!” Dexter let how his less-than-manly scream as he made a mad dash out of the Carousel Boutique. Three foals in tow: Appleboom, a white unicorn named Sweet Belle, and an orange pegasus named Scootaloo.

Normally Dexter didn’t make the habit of running away while screaming like a loser, but today was special because of a little ‘accident.’

It all started when Applebloom dragged Dexter to her friend Sweetie Belle’s house, the ‘Carousel Boutique.’ Well, it wasn’t actually her house but rather her older sister Rarity’s house. But said older sister wasn’t home at the moment, she was at the spa.

The Boutique was so girly looking, Dexter thought he’d ‘lose his Y chromosome’ the moment he stepped in the place.

The three fillies were meeting up to finish a school project. It was also their latest attempt at getting a ‘cutie mark.’ They were trying for a special talent in ‘historical presentation’ if Dexter remembered correctly.

This project happened to be a paper mache volcano. It was a simple project, if not boring, in Dexter’s opinion. But he agreed to help since it was the only way to avoid Applebloom’s comatose inducing kicked-puppy look.

However, in the fillies’ enthusiasm, they made their volcano too large. It wouldn’t erupt with simple baking powder and vinegar. Something more powerful was needed. A simple problem with a simple solution. Nothing could go wrong, right?

That’s when Dexter asked Sweetie Belle where her sister kept the cleaning supplies, and to his surprise, there was no shortage of household cleaners available. Sweetie Belle’s older sister must have been a slight neat-freak.

Now Dexter may have lacked foresight at times, but he was by no means stupid. Viewing the chemicals he found inside a locked closet, he made sure that his selection would not produce poisonous fumes.

That didn’t stop things from going horribly wrong.

It all spiraled out of control when Dexter made a fatal mistake, he trusted the fillies to follow directions. “Add only a little bit of the clear liquid,” Dexter said, shoving a bottle into a set of orange hooves. “And add all of the blue liquid,” Another bottle shoved into a set of yellow hooves. “Mix it all in a metal bottle and place the bottle inside the volcano.”

Dexter spoke in terms of color rather than chemical names to simplify it for the fillies.

However, it wasn’t a good sign when the volcano started getting really hot. “I don’t understand, it shouldn’t be doing that.” Dexter said.

It only took a single question for Scootaloo and Applebloom to descend into an argument about who was supposed to add all of what.

Dexter tried to open the cap on the metal bottle, he really did. He wanted to release the pressure before it had the chance to build up, but it was too late. The bottle was nearly hot enough to burn and the pressure on the lid wouldn’t let it move.

“Umm . . . heh” Dexter gave a nervous chuckle. “Run.”

Extreme heat, extreme pressure and a metal container to let the energy build. Dexter knew these three things were what made the difference between a childhood volcano experiment and a volcano-shaped bomb.

So now Dexter was hollering like an idiot as he went running from the Carousel Boutique, three confused fillies following closely behind.

“What’s wrong Dexter, why are you screaming?” Scootaloo asked from somewhere behind him.

Not a second after Scootaloo finished her question was there an ear-shattering pop. It sounded like a firecracker going off, and was followed by the sound of shattering glass. The foals stopped and turned around. All the windows and doors of the boutique had either been shattered or blown open. A white froth, which was meant to be the volcano’s lava, oozed out of the ground level windows and doors.

“Oh no no no!” Sweetie Belle lamented. “Rarity is going to kill me!”

“Yeeaaahh . . .” Scootaloo responded, “You might want to stay with your parents tonight.” The foals took another moment to watch the foam oozing out of the boutique.

“Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applebloom? As far as anyone is concerned, we were never here.” Dexter turned away from the scene and started to casually whistle, trying too hard to look inconspicuous.

---

“Dexter, you imbecile.” Dexter berated himself as he paced his bedroom. It was the room Applejack had given him for his stay at Sweet Apple Acres. “Two days with these Equines and you convince half of them you're crazy, and then bomb a boutique!”

He was being a little over-dramatic.

Applebloom had immediately spilled her guts out to her family, tattling on herself and Dexter about everything that had happened with her failed school project the moment they returned home.

Needless to say, Applejack wasn’t happy. Though Granny Smith thought it was a riot. Applejack must have developed immunity to Applebloom’s ‘kicked puppy’ look, because no amount of sulking stopped Applebloom from being awarded a week’s worth of extra chores as punishment.

Dexter, however, was sent to his room. He was told that Big Mac would be along shortly to give him his punishment.

“Dex?” Big Mac said as he pushed the door to Dexter’s room open, causing the colt to jump. The colt felt miniscule as Big Mac approached, towering over the foal. Seriously, he should be classified as a horse and not a pony.

“Y-yes?” Dexter asked nervously.

“You do somthin’ wrong?” He asked simply.

“Yes,” Dexter admitted, feeling himself shrink under his gaze. “And I’ll do whatever chores I need to as recompense or until . . ." Dexter trailed off as Big Mac raised a hoof.

“Don’t worry, yer gonna get yer fair share of chores whether yer in trouble or not.” Big Mac replied. “But the question is, you did something wrong and you know it. Are you going to do it again?”

“No,” Dexter replied hastily.

“Good enough fer me,” Big Mac replied before stepping aside. “You can go.” Dexter hastily moved to leave, wanting nothing more than to get away.

However, he was just about out of the door when Big Mac spoke again. This time his voice was completely clear, losing any trace of his accent. Now he just sounded deep and foreboding.

“But seriously Dexter, don’t do it again.” he said, sending a shiver down Dexter’s spine.

---

Somewhere on the far side of Ponyville.

“Yes, but I would still like to give it a shot just to see if it can tell us what is going on.” Band-Aid said to one of his nurses. He and two nurses were arguing about using their latest piece of equipment, something that Dexter was so kind to build for them.

They were trying to solve a medical mystery. One of their patients, who was sick for an unknown reason, had miraculously got better.

“But it’s not sanctioned,” One of the nurses argued.

“Yes, I know that.” Band-Aid responded. “But we have absolutely no idea what went wrong or why the patient is getting better. All our other tests have proved inconclusive. And for all we know the patient could get worse the moment they set hoof out of the hospital.”

“Fine, but note my objection. I don’t want to be held responsible if something bad happens.” The nurse defended.

“Fine, but just go and bring in the patient.” He told her before she left. “Nurse Redheart, go turn on the Mark One.”

The other nurse returned, pushing a pony in a wheelchair. She placed the patient in the center of the device’s ring.

“Whoa, what’s this?” the patient asked as she examined it.

“Oh, it’s just something we hope will tell us what was wrong with you and why you got better.” Redheart replied with a reassuring smile.

“Here we go!” Band-Aid said as he hit the scan button just as the nurses got out of the way.

However, the moment the displays lit up Band-Aid’s eyes bugged out.

“N-Nurse R-Redheart, can you come h-here for a moment.” He said, at a near whisper. Fear saturated his voice.

“What is it?” Nurse Redheart said worriedly as she stood beside him. “What’s wrong?” However, when she looked at the screen she nearly tripped. The scan showed an overview of the patient, however it wasn’t a pony.

“SHE’S A CHANGELI-“ Nurse Redheart started to shout in surprise, almost not believing what she was seeing. However, her outburst was cut short. Band-Aid had used his magic to cover her snout and snapping it shut.

“Everything okay back there?” The patient called out, wearing a worried yet hopeful expression. The nurse and doctor hesitantly peeked over the displays.

“Everything’s fine!” Band-Aid replied, although his reassuring façade was well practiced he couldn’t tell if the changeling suspected that something was wrong. It was rumored that Changelings could sense emotions. Something he hoped was only a rumor as he glanced at the near-panicking nurse next to him.

“What are we going to do?” Redheart whispered into his ear. “I mean, I’ve never met a changeling before. At least as far as I can tell. Is it going to eat us?” It took a moment for Band-Aid to respond.

“Listen, I’ll stay here. Hopefully it doesn’t know we’re on to it.” Band-Aid began, still whispering. “Play it cool and walk out of here, then immediately send a message to the guard headquarters in Canterlot. Tell them what’s happened here.”

“Okay,” Nurse Redheart replied, still with fear in her voice. “A-Anything else?”

“Yes, make sure your letter tells them about the Mark One device. Canterlot has been looking for ways to reliably detect changelings ever since their attack. It’s critical they know about this device.” He said still with a hushed tone. “Then afterwards send a message to the closest guard garrison and have them send a squad immediately.”

“Anything wrong here?” The patient asked, seemingly popping up out of now here. Band-Aid hurriedly cut the power to the device, causing its displays to sputter out before the ‘patient’ could anything.

“No, nothing. Nothing at all.” Band-Aid replied hastily, sweat starting to form on his head as he addressed his ‘patient.’ “Though, I’d like to keep you here overnight. You know, for observation. Just to make sure that you’re okay.” Band-Aid turned to Nurse Redheart and mouthed ‘Go.’ She immediately turned and left.

“Are you sure that is necessary?” The patient asked, bighting her lip. “You seem to be . . . afraid. Are you sure there is nothing wrong?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Now please return to your bed.”

---

That night Dexter slept well, the bed he had been given was surprisingly comfortable and he had no problems falling asleep. The following morning was spent doing chores with Appleboom, under the careful watch of Applejack.

The work was, surprisingly, not too difficult for Dexter. He wasn’t a stranger to manual labor, being the sole person responsible for his laboratory. However, his equine body felt much more accustomed to it. Especially when he had to pull something like a cart, four legs were definitely better than two in that regard. Though he really didn’t like getting sweaty with fur, sweating was a lot worse with fur.

That, and his only other regret was not being able to spend the time looking for a hidden location to build his laboratory.

But he wasn’t about to complain. He'd already had a bad experience with ‘simple farmers’ in his past, and he was already in trouble. So he didn’t want to push his luck.

It was around mid-day when Applejack called it quits for herself and the foals.

“Applebloom, yer done for the day.” Applejack said. “Dex? Yer coming with me. Ah gotta take you ta town so you can meet the school teacher. Until yer parents can be found, yer going to have to take classes here. You don’t want to fall behind other foals yer age.”

“School?” Dexter replied. He was having a mixed reaction. Dexter knew that he’s probably forgotten more knowledge than the local school teacher ever had, but he was always more than eager to learn. He also prided himself on being the best student. “Sounds good to me!”

“Huh?” Applejack was a little surprised. “Not the typical response from a colt yer age, but Ah’m glad to see ya value an education. C’mon.”

The trek to the school house was uneventful, Applejack idly engaged Dexter in small talk for the most of it. However, that changed when a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane flew up and greeted Applejack.

“Hi Applejack!” Rainbow Dash greeted, before taking a second to glance at the colt walking alongside the farm pony. She hovered alongside the two earth ponies as they walked.

“Heya Dash,” Applejack returned the greeting. “Say, has the weather team set up fer tonight’s rain?”

“Yah, don’t worry Applejack. Your orchard will get its rain.” Dash replied waving a forehoof dismissively.

Dexter’s brain was having a fit at the sight of the pegasus. He couldn’t work out how a horse, or pony for that matter, could sustain flight with wings. At the very least her wings should be flapping faster than a hummingbird’s. Yet here she was, flying with her wings flapping casually.

He kept on looking at the blue Pegasus, trying to see if there was something he was missing. However, Rainbow Dash noticed his stare just before he could avert his gaze.

“Hey Applejack, Who’s the foal? Family again?” Rainbow Dash asked Applejack, motioning toward Dexter with a hoof.

“Actually not this time, Big Mac an’ Ah found him on the road to Ponyville the other day.” Applejack explained. “Accordin’ to the doctors at the hospital he’s a stray. So we’re looking after him until his parents are found.”

“Dexter, introduce yerself.” Applejack said to the colt. “This here is Rainbow Dash, She’s one of mah good friends an-”

“And the most awesome pony she knows!” Rainbow Dash finished for her.

“Um, hello?” Dexter said.

“She can be a bit of a showboat.” Applejack commented. Rainbow Dash ignored it.

“Wait a second, you’re Dexter?” Rainbow Dash asked with a raised eyebrow, before a mischievous grin formed on her face. “Scootaloo told me about how you and the crusaders made that gigantic bubble mess at Rarity’s house!” Rainbow Dash started to laugh. “That was great!”

“Don’t encourage em’ Dash!” Applejack replied. “The crusaders get into enough trouble without you making em’ think it’s funny.”

“But it was funny! Not as good as my pranks, but definitely worth a laugh!” Rainbow Dash said between fits of laughter. “I heard Rarity’s scream all the way from my house, and when I got there, you should have seen the look on her face!”

Applejack had to suppress a chuckle, the image of Rarity coming home to a boutique overflowing with strange bubbles was hard to resist. Dash’s continued laughter didn’t help very much.

“You’d better watch out though, Dexter. Rarity is out for blood!” Dash said before letting her amusement die down. “I helped her with the cleanup for a few hours this morning, at least until some of the guard showed up.”

“The guard?” Applejack asked, “Why would the royal guard come out here?”

If Dexter had to guess, it was to investigate the boutique bombing. Maybe if he pleaded for mercy and said it was an accident they’d only charge him with vandalism.

“They didn’t tell us exactly,” Rainbow Dash went on. “They said they were coming to check up on the Elements of Harmony to make sure we were alright. I did hear from one of the other weather pegasi that a changeling was caught in the hospital last night, which might have something to do with it.”

“Really?” Applejack asked with slight disbelief. “A changeling? Well, that’d explain why they’d come and check on us. Probably makin' sure we weren’t foalnapped or something.”

Now Dexter had no idea what a changeling was, but he was relieved to know that the guard wasn’t after him.

“Yah, I guessed as much.” Dash replied. “If they haven’t been to the farm yet, they’ll probably stop by soon.”

“Ah’ll keep an eye out fer em’.”

Disbelief (Revised)

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As always, enjoy and leave a comment.

If any typos, etc, are glaring just point them out to me in a comment or PM and I'll get around to fixing it eventually

EDIT: First revision of this chapter has been made. Pending on what my editors/proofers think, and your comments, I may make more revisions.

Not long after Rainbow Dash left, Applejack and Dexter arrived at the schoolhouse. Once inside, Applejack introduced Dexter to a purple earth pony with a striped pink mane and tail.

“Hello Dexter, My name is Cheerilee.” The mare greeted. “I will most likely be your teacher for your time here in Ponyville.”

“Hello Ms. Cheerilee.” Dexter replied politely, already vying for the teacher’s number one pet position.

“Any allergies or special needs that I should know about?” Cheerilee asked Applejack.

“Not that ah know.” She replied.

“Alright. Well Dexter, I know you must be eager to spend the rest of your day playing, but I’m going to need you to stay here with me for a while.” Cheerilee said as she turned back to the colt. “In order to enroll you in the school, I need to give you a placement test.”

After a goodbye wave to Applejack, Cheerilee led Dexter to a desk with a stack of papers and a couple of pencils. “The test is divided into sections. First is math, then science, equestrian languages, equestrian history, and magical theory.”

“Magical what?” Dexter asked in confusion. Did she just say magic was a school subject?

“Magical Theory, it’s the last section of the test."

“What the heck is that?” Dexter replied before objecting. “'Magic?' That can’t seriously be a topic?”

Cheerilee didn’t respond at first, only giving Dexter a confused grimace “Of course it’s a subject. Ponies have to know about the magic of other ponies outside their own tribe, as well as magical hazards.”

“Magical hazards?” Dexter scoffed. “What is that like? Getting cooties or something? Or saying ‘Bloody Mary’ in front of a mirror will get a murderer to show up at your house?”

Now Cheerilee only appeared more confused, if not slightly concerned.

“No. . .” She began. “Magical hazards like how a pegasus jumping on a cloud can produce lightning, which in turn can cause a fire. It’s nothing as extensive as magical kindergarten but it is fundamental knowledge.”

Dexter looked at her as if she had grown two heads, before he let out a snort and started laughing.

“A pony... jumping on a cloud... that’s completely absurd, lady!” He laughed. “You’re telling me the pegasi, or whatever you call those flying horses, can jump on clouds and produce lightning?!”

“Dexter!” Cheerilee suddenly chastised, breaking Dexter out of his laughing fit. “I will not tolerate you calling anypony a ‘whorse.’ Especially if you’re talking about an entire tribe. You will keep such language out of my classroom.”

Dexter didn’t know calling someone a ‘horse’ could be taken as an insult.

“Huh?” Dexter replied.

“Do not call anypony a ‘whorse’ again, understand?” Cheerilee repeated firmly, though Dexter was still confused.

“Listen” She huffed. “Just take the test. You will be taking them by section, there is no time limit so just keep taking the test until the questions become too hard for you to answer. Once you’ve finished a section return it to me so I can give you the next one. Any questions?”

Dexter only shook his head, at this point he wanted to make sure he didn’t say anything else to make the teacher more upset.

“Good, you may begin.” She said before turning away.

Dexter looked down at the test’s first question.

2 + 2 = ___ “Seriously?” he muttered to himself. The following questions were of the same caliber, but after a while they started to get harder. Well, at least harder by pony standards.

What is the area of a four by four square? “Really? Do they think I’m stupid or something?”

A train leaves Canterlot moving at 20 lengths per second . . . “Are they trying to put me to sleep?”

. . .

The last question of the math section required a fifty line proof, something Dexter scoffed at and finished in five minutes. “I thought she said the questions would get harder.”

“Finished already?” Cheerilee said as Dexter approached her desk. She worried slightly for the colt, those who return placement exams quickly usually did so because they stopped early. Which would indicate that the test taker didn’t get very far.

She passed him the science section, which he also promptly returned fully completed. However, a part of Dexter felt disappointed by the test. It felt lacking, as if the test left entire areas of science untested. He didn’t know if that was intentional or not. Though he did suppose said subjects could have been lumped into the ‘magic’ category. However, he doubted it.

“Finished already?” Cheerilee said in surprise. “I haven’t even gotten halfway through grading the first section.”

Next came the ‘Equestrian languages’ section. The first third of it was straightforward and easy, most of the ‘equestrian language’ mirrored English. However, a third of the way through he turned the page to see a bunch of glyphs that were completely outside the realm of his understanding.

“What the heck is this?!” He exclaimed, catching Cheerilee’s attention. “This looks like some stupid dyslexic girl mashed her face into a piece of paper in an attempt to fabricate unpronounceable words.” He may have been exaggerating.

“What?” Cheerilee responded. “What’s wrong Dexter?”

“This,” Dexter said, pushing the test forward on his desk. “I can’t read any of this garbage.”

“Dexter, that’s not garbage. That’s Unicornian, the written language of the unicorn tribe.” Cheerilee said as she tilted her head to read the page he was pointing at. “Did you say you can’t understand any of it?”

“Yes”

“Well, that’s unfortunate.” Cheerilee said as she took the test and gave him the next section. “But not unheard of, many ponies living in isolated areas that consist mainly of one tribe tend not to learn the other scripts until they’re adults. But that won’t happen with you, I’ll make sure you learn the other languages.”

“Why? Unicornian looks retarded, the name sounds retarded too.” Dexter retorted.

“Dexter...” Cheerilee chastised again. “You should respect the culture of the other tribes. But to answer your question, you might find yourself in a part of Equestria that predominantly uses one of the three tribe’s written language. If that were to happen, you wouldn’t want to find yourself unable to read.”

“Learning that crap is a waste of time. All unicorns must be idiots if they chose a retarded pictographic system for a written language. It is astoundingly inefficient in comparison to an alphabetic one. So unless I can better understand science in Unicornian, which I highly doubt, I’d prefer not to waste my time.”

“Dexter! We’re going to have a talk with Applejack about your attitude.” Cheerilee reprimanded. Normally she would just chastise the colt again, and give him another warning. However today was a day of first impressions. She didn’t want the colt to go home thinking he could shoot his mouth off without consequences. “That is the second time you have insulted another tribe of ponies, you’re not tribalist are you?”

“Eh . . . no.” Dexter replied, already regretting his words. “I uh, I just don’t understand it.”

“Yes well, you shouldn’t insult something just because you don’t understand it.” Only if Dexter took those words to heart, they would have saved him a lot of trouble in the future.

The next two test sections were complete flops. He knew absolutely nothing about equestrian history, and magical theory was either ‘completely ridiculous’ or written in ‘Unicornian.’ After flipping through the former section and handing it back, he hardly even looked at the latter.

“Are you sure you're finished with that, Dexter?” Cheerilee said in surprise. She still wasn’t done grading the math section. “You haven’t even answered the first question.”

“I can’t answer it, the questions are insane.” He replied flatly.

“What?” Cheerilee replied, looking at the test. “C’mon, you can answer this. Number one: who raises the sun?”

“I don't know, God? The Universe? The Tooth fairy?” Dexter quipped.

“Be more specific, which goddess? Remember she is one of the ruling princesses.”

“You can’t be serious, 'princess?'” Dexter replied. The idea of someone or ‘somepony’ raising the sun was, again, absurd. “Typical backward pagan culture, they believe their royalty are supernatural.” He muttered under his breath.

“What was that?” Cheerilee asked.

“Nothing . . .” Dexter hastily replied, he didn’t want to get the teacher upset again. “Look, I just don’t know.”

“C’mon Dexter, I’m certain you’ve heard of Princess Celestia before.”

“Yah. . . of course I have.” He lied. Dexter had to admit, even though he was trying to pass himself off as a native, there were times he did a horrible job at it.

“So the answer to question one? Who raises the sun?” Cheerilee asked, though when Dexter didn’t respond she started fishing again. “You know . . . one of the ruling diarchs. The elder of the royal pony sisters? An immortal alicorn?”

“What?” Dexter replied with growing disbelief in his voice, “You’re telling me . . . The authoritarian ruler of this country is an immortal pony who can raise the sun?”

Confused by Dexter’s reaction, Cheerilee just nodded. It didn’t help when Dexter burst out laughing.

“You think your leader raises the sun?!” He laughed, louder and harder than he thought his little pony body could handle. “And that she’s also immortal, a goddess? Bwahahahahaha!”

“That’s all true, yes . . .” Cheerilee responded, still confused by the colt.

“Miss Cheerilee, do you know how big the sun is? How hard it would be to move?”

“Dexter? Are you saying you don’t know about the diarchy or of the princesses?”Cheerilee asked.

“Diarchy? Wait, there are two?” Dexter asked.

“Princess Luna, she raises the moon . . .”

“Of course she does!” Dexter unleashed another bout of laughter. “Talk about propaganda . . .”

---

For the next hour Dexter sat silently while he waited for Cheerilee to finish grading his test, wearing a forced smile which screamed 'I'm the perfect student.' Every so often he could hear Cheerilee mutter phrases of disbelief, catching her staring up at him from time to time.

But it wasn’t until Applejack returned that either of them spoke.

“Cheerilee,” Applejack greeted.

“Hello Applejack,” Cheerilee replied. She had just finished grading the last portions of the test when she walked in.

“So, how’d he do?” Applejack asked, tilting her head toward the colt.

“I . . .” Cheerilee shook her head with a slight frown. “Utterly baffling is how he did.”

“Baffling?”

“I don’t understand his test at all.” Cheerilee said, motioning toward the stack of papers before her. “He completely blew away the Math and Science sections of the test; and I don’t mean just for a colt his age. He completely blew the entire test out of the water!”

“His math score alone indicates that he should be taking classes at the Royal Canterlot University. Same thing for his science score.” Cheerilee explained.

“What? Are you say'n he should be in college?” Applejack grimaced. “Did he really do that well?”

“For math and science, real well is an understatement. But... thats only half of it. He has no knowledge of equestrian languages, culture, history or magical theory.” Cheerilee went on. “He didn’t even know who Princess Celestia was when I asked him.”

“Really?” Applejack tilted her head in confusion. “Dex? Yah don’t know who Princess Celestia is?”

“You mean the pony that supposedly raises the sun?” Dexter scoffed in reply. “Newsflash for you ladies, Celestia doesn’t raise the sun. But even if she did that doesn’t make her a goddess. She’s lying to you.”

The mares shared a glance of bewilderment. From their faces, Dexter would have guessed he was speaking a different language.

“Uh, Dex. She does raise the sun.” Applejack countered.

“Um, no. No she doesn’t.” Dexter countered. “You don’t really believe that she does, do you?”

Applejack nodded.

“Both of you?” Dexter asked Cheerilee, she responded with a nod as well.

“It’s both fact and common knowledge Dexter,” Cheerilee replied.

“My goodness, everyone believes this?” Dexter said in disbelief. “You’re all indoctrinated with delusions so fanatical it’s a wonder your society even has the concept of science. . .”

There was an awkward moment of silence as the two mares shared another glance of confusion.

“He appears to legitimately not know who the princesses are,” Cheerilee turned back to Applejack. “Nor any other facts about Equestrian history. So on balance, I have to rate him as average for his age. I can’t justify putting him in a higher class with such large gaps in his fundamental education. He will be in the same class as Applebloom."

“Sounds fair,” Applejack replied.

“AVERAGE?!?” Dexter shouted, standing up so fast he nearly knocked over his desk. Immediately he was next to Cheerilee and Applejack. “How can you say that I am AVERAGE?! I am far greater than AVERAGE!”

“Dexter?” Cheerilee said, taken aback by his sudden outburst. “Dexter, you’re clearly exceptional in certain areas. But you’re lacking in other basic parts of your education. I can’t justify placing you in a higher level class.”

“Because I didn’t answer that ‘Magic’ Crap? Or because I wouldn't regurgitate your propaganda?”

"It's not propaganda, Dexter." Cheerilee countered with a frown. "We're not lying to you. I know this may be difficult to accept, depending on what you were taught, but-"

"Either your incredibly incompetent," Dexter cut, knocking the papers on Cheerilee's desk to the floor. "Or this ineptitude is intentional!" He turned to Applejack. "I refuse to be in a class where I am forced to regurgitate fallacies purporting some stupid horse-princess."

“DEXTER!!!” The mares cried in unison.

---

“Ow ow ow ow!” Dexter wasn’t exactly a happy colt at the moment, he was quickly learning that pony methods for disciplining a foal were highly effective.

After his little outburst, Dexter was chastised again by both the mares. Applejack also promised him a bunch of chores as punishment for his foul language. However, things really got worse when Cheerilee informed Applejack about his earlier indiscretions.

Apparently calling all someone a ‘horse,’ was an insult. Double that when applied to the princess.

Applejack quickly apologized to Cheerilee, before promising that the colt would be disciplined. The teacher merely nodded before saying farewell and watching them leave.

Dexter's pain started shortly thereafter.

The moment Dexter and Applejack cleared the schoolhouse, Applejack’s teeth clamped down on the colt's ear. It was rather uncomfortable, and somewhat painful when Applejack began to walk. Though it was very effective at keeping the colt at Applejack's side.

In truth, it wasn't anything worse than what Dexter's own mother would do. She had grabbed Dexter by the ear on the few occasion he misbehaved with her.

“Quit yer bell-aching.” Applejack said through a mouthful of ear, answering his third plea for her to let go. However, she granted his request soon enough. “Ah don’t want ta ever hear you talk’n like that again ya hear?”

“I’m sorry!” Dexter said, rubbing his ear. “I won’t do it again!”

“Good ta know, I’ll hold ya ta that.” Applejack replied, anger lingering in her voice. However, her heart melted at the sight of the saddened foal.

“Dexter, Ah’m sorry about pull'n yer ear. But Ah cant in good conscience let a foal Ah’m in charge of act badly. It’d only be fer ya in tha long run. Ah also can’t let yah have a tribalist attitude either. I know tribalism ain’t uncommon in other parts of Equestria, but thankfully that nonsense ain't here in Ponyville.”

“That hurt . . .” Dexter answered.

“Hey, Ah know what ya mean. Mah parents did that ta me whenever they caught me lying. Broke me of that habit real quick.” Applejack replied. “And I can understand ya wanting to be ‘above average’ in school. But if what Cheerilee said is true, yer gonna have to learn a lot if you want to catch up ta other foals yer age. Ah think ya should visit the library after school tomorrow and get some history books ta read.”

“A library?” Dexter asked, almost forgetting everything else.

“Yup,” Applejack smiled, nuzzling the colt. Despite how odd it felt, Dexter appreciated the gesture. “Mah good friend is actually the librarian, Ah’m sure she’d be happy to help you get some books.”

“I think I’ll do that.” Dexter nodded.

. . .

“Miss Applejack?” said a masculine voice, startling the two ponies. Looking up, they found two unicorns. The guards were both completely white, except for blue eyes and blue manes. Each wore identical sets of golden armor, and bore identical stoic expressions.

“Ah, you must be the guard I heard was coming ta check on me.” Applejack replied in relief.

That got Dexter’s adrenaline to spike. So these were two members of ‘the guard.’ They were slightly intimidating from Dexter's point of view, being much taller than the small colt.

The closer guard nodded in response to Applejack. “I am Corporal Hard Lance. Have you noticed any strange behavior in the other town's folk?” He cast a glance at Dexter. “Or out-of-place individuals?”

Crap.

Dexter started to sweat, internally dreading. Were they here about the vandalized boutique, or did Cheerilee call the 'thought police?'

“No, Ah can’t say Ah’ve noticed anything noteworthy. In fact, you two are the most ‘out of place’ ponies Ah’ve seen all day.” Applejack flicked a hoof at the stallions. “What’s this about anyway? We don’t usually see many guards in Ponyville.”

“There was an incident at the Ponyville hospital involving an unidentified device.” He replied. "I can't explain the circumstances at the moment, but the guard have made the situation a high priority."

Double crap.

“Really? Is that it? Ah heard something about a changeling being found in the hospital.” Applejack questioned, though the guards maintained their stoic expressions.

“Yes, a changeling was discovered at the hospital last night. However, I must order you to refrain from speaking about it. Disseminating that information might cause a changeling scare.” The guard stated simply, earning a nod of agreement.

The guards then shifted their stoic gazes onto Dexter, locking on like laser guided missiles. The colt shrank under their sudden gaze as he huddled at Applejack's side.

“Dexter.” The guard stated firmly.

“Umm . . . heh” The colt replied with a nervous chuckle. However, after an awkward moment of silence, during which the two guards said nothing and stood waiting patiently, Dexter spoke up. “Y-yes, that’s me.”

“You were at the hospital recently, correct?” Lance inquired, his tone was still firm and direct.

“Um, yes.” Dexter replied.

“Did you notice anything unusual or noteworthy during your stay?” The stallion asked.

“Umm. . . No.” Dexter answered. Dexter was by no means a judge of what was ‘usual’ or ‘unusual’ in pony society. Granted, the whole experience of waking up in a hospital run by ponies was unusual for him. But he wasn’t about to try and explain anything to the guards.

“According to the hospital records, you slept in room four thirteen, where a novel piece of medical equipment was discovered the following morning.” The guard stated directly, there was nothing accusatory in his tone. “Would you happen to possess any relevant information as to how it ended up in your room?"

Triple crap.

This was the exact reason why he kept his laboratory, and his amazing scientific abilities, a secret. Revealing his abilities could lead to blowback and sticky situations. A fact that is apparently unchanged in the pony world.

But what set off warning bell’s in Dexter’s mind was not what the guard asked, but what he didn’t ask. Dexter remembered cannibalizing a number of other medical devices in order to get parts of the device he built, an act which would probably be considered vandalism and attract law enforcement. However, the guards made no mention of it whatsoever.

“No.” Dexter lied flatly. Maybe even too flatly. Something he would have realized if he caught the strange look of confusion and scrutiny Applejack cast at him the moment he voiced his lie.

There was another moment of silence as the two guards continued to gaze at Dexter. Eventually the other guard, Hard Lance’s partner, broke the silence. “Please turn to your side.” He instructed the colt.

However, despite the instruction, Dexter only huddled closer to Applejack. He was completely confused by the command.

“Turn to your side and present your cutie mark.” The guard repeated, maintaining his stoic expression and tone.

“Why?” Dexter protested, getting more and more nervous by the second.

“Dex, don’t be afraid and show em yer cutie mark.” Applejack said with an encouraging nudge.

“But I don’t wan-“ He began to protest again, however he was cut off by Hard Lance this time.

“Refusing to present your cutie mark to the guard when directed is a class three misdemeanor.” The guard stated. “Now turn to your side.”

After another moment of hesitation, and a nod from Applejack, Dexter turned to allow the guard to see his cutie mark. However, after a moment Applejack’s voice broke the tense silence.

“The hay do ya'll think yer doing?” Applejack said, causing Dexter to turn back and resume his place by her side. One of the guards had taken out a piece of paper and was now holding it in the air with his magic. “I know you’re not trying to flank-print a colt.”

“Ma’am, we were instructed to retrieve a-" The guard began, however he was cut off by Applejack.

“It don’t matter what you were instructed to do. Ya’ll can get a look at somepony’s cutie mark but you can’t flank-print em unless yer arresting them, much less a foal when you don’t have consent.” Applejack retorted.

“Parental consent, you’re not his parent according to hospital records.”

“Yah, but Ah’ve been made his guardian, and Ah say no. Yer not getting consent from me unless you have a good reason. Why do you want to get a copy of his cutie mark?” Applejack asked.

“For internal record keeping purposes,” the guard replied without missing a beat. “Our detachment has been directed to thoroughly document the incident at the hospital.”

“Paperwork?” Applejack scoffed incredulously, not trying to hide the anger growing in her voice.

“Very important and urgent paperwork . . .”

“Get outta here...” Applejack flicked her tail before motioning Dexter toward her side. “C’mon Dexter, we're going home.”

Author's Notes:

So, what did you think? Rate the story and this chapter out of ten.

Thanks again to Vandenbz for proofing the last chapter again. (Though I wished you'd send the corrections via PM, I still appreciate it.)

And a thank you to everyone who has favorited the story! I will be updating the cover-art soon. I'll also try to update faster, but don't be surprised if things go slowly for the next week - I'm still into watch_dogs, Star Citizen's DFM multiplayer is releasing, and the steam summer sale is happening now.

==Update==
I've revised this chapter. I took our the swearing and tried to tone down Dexter's abrasiveness. However, main story elements remain. But I reserve the right to make more revisions in the future. (Want to know a secret? I didn't edit the original version of this chapter or show it to my proof reader, that's why it SUCKED. I still think it sucks in comparison to my later chapters - Something which many of you apparently agreed with. So don't stop reading here, from what I'm told it gets better!)

Rarity's Revenge

View Online

Sorry for the long wait, but here we go!

---

Dexter’s Log: Day 4

This is the personal log of Dexter, scientist and boy genius. I keep this log in the hopes that, when I return home, all the information I collect and store in these logs can be analyzed and appropriately archived by my laboratory computer.

Yes, my love, I do this for you. A boy genius couldn’t ask for a more loyal computer.

It has been three days since I woke up on this planet, a planet ruled by a race of sentient speaking equines.

The means of my arrival unto this world are still somewhat of a mystery to me. I recall working inside my wormhole generator, when that STUPID sister of mine started pushing buttons on the control panel! It wouldn’t be the first time that air-head got me transported to an alien world. However what I don’t understand is how I was transformed, at least on the outside, into one of these sentient equines.

It may have something to do with a phenomenon the locals have named ‘magic.’ But more on that in a moment, I have something of infinitely more importance to log.

NO DEE DEE!!!

Without her, my intellectual and scientific endeavors shall progress uninhibited!

That simple fact almost makes all of this worth it. Even if I have to start building my lab all over again from scratch, I no longer have to put up with the one incompetent individual whose limitless stupidity manages to infect everything in her surroundings and continuously dampens my ever expanding genius.

I’m glad she’s gone and I don’t miss her, not in the slightest.

~~Okay, maybe a little. She is my sister after all.~~

I don’t miss her.

I really don’t miss her.

Now I know what you’re probably doing computer. Your using the personality profiler I built for you to see if I really miss Dee Dee or not. But the problem is, its going to come out wrong this time. I really don’t Miss Dee Dee at all.

You know that I don’t miss Dee Dee for a very simple and logical reason. She is annoying, and no one ever misses an annoying sister.

. . .

Computer, for scientific purposes, enter the following code directly into the command console for immediate processing by your CPU.

Manual_Overide_Active = 1;

Reset_AI_Logic_Core();

AI_Purge_Contextual_Data();

AI_Presume_True_Phrase (“Dexter absolutely does not miss Dee Dee.”);

Manual_Overide_Active = 0;

. . .

Okay, now that I am sure you are recording information accurately, I can move on.

These equines possess a near human level of intelligence, and have access to a strange multi-use phenomenon they have branded ‘magic.’

It is an astounding phenomenon that deserves full scientific investigation. I will start by seeing what the equines already know about it, however I fear they may know little. After speaking to the elderly equine named Granny Smith, she said that: “Magic is as magic does.”

It appears that some of them believe that ‘magic’ is something unknowable and thus not worth investigation.

Scientific sacrilege I say!

However, I should note that I only asked Granny Smith thus far. Other equines may hold a different opinion.

Nonetheless, nothing will stop the progress of science! I, Dexter, boy genius, shall uncover all the secrets of this phenomenon!

However, I will have to keep my quest for knowledge secret on this world just as I did on Earth.

On Earth, if my lab was discovered, my parents would have simply shut it down. The consequences could be far more dire if the equines discovered it.

These equines seem to be technologically primitive in comparison to mankind. Who knows would kind of destruction they could accidentally, or even intentionally, bring upon themselves if they got their hands (or should I say hooves) on advanced technology.

I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing I had introduced technology into this world which ended up destroying it. This seems to be a significant possibility to me, given their apparent social issues and primitive beliefs.

They believe their leaders to be super-natural beings, or ‘goddesses,’ capable of moving celestial objects. Needless to say, I don’t share this belief. However, an interesting side note is that such beliefs are similar to the ancient pagan religions found on earth. I shall endeavor to capitalize on this situation and study their culture, and to that end I will be visiting a library today after school.

But speaking of research, I have good news. I found a suitable location for a laboratory!

I managed to sneak away from Applejack and her brother Big Macintosh for a few hours last night and roam the farm.

It appears that the Apple family has been living on this land since the founding of Ponyville. At some point in the farm’s past, the farmhouse was relocated and the old one was torn down. However, the original farm house had a basement. Its entrance was collapsed, but with a little work I was able to get inside.

The basement’s floor and walls were made out of a pale brick, and it seemed structurally sound. It is also both underground and relatively hidden. So all I have to do is disguise the entrance and I’ll have an ample amount of space to start constructing a new laboratory!

I will begin construction immediately.

End Log

---

“What is it?” Chrysalis hissed toward one of her drones, one that had entered her throne room and disturbed her evening. The heart of the changeling hive wasn’t the most welcoming place, nor was the queen. Though she loved all her drones like children, managing millions of them sometimes put her in a bad mood. Sudden interruptions didn’t help.

“I’m sorry for the disturbance my queen.” The drone replied. To outsiders, all the drones looked exactly the same. However, this was an intentional use of their mimetic abilities. They collectively chose to standardize their appearance.

“A matter of some urgency has just been reported to us by one of our infiltrators in the Canterlot guard.” The drone continued.

“What is it Chitin?” Chrysalis replied, “And make it fast, I’m busy.”

“An infiltrator has been exposed in Ponyville,” He replied, earning a look of annoyance from the Queen.

“You’d better have something more important than that for disturbing me if you want to walk out of here with your carapace attached.” She said. “I’m in a bad mood already, so don’t waste my time with trivialities.”

“No my queen, it’s just that one of our guard infiltrators was caught at the same time. And it’s not that they were found out, it’s how they were caught which is concerning.” He hastily replied.

“Hmm, two changelings being caught at the same time. That is uncommon, but not unheard-of.” Chrysalis remarked, changelings usually assisted each other in remaining undercover. Thus, the more changelings present, the harder they were to detect. “You were saying how they were caught?”

“According to the report our guard infiltrator in Canterlot passed off to us, the guard has found some sort of device in Ponyville that has the ability to detect us.” Chitin answered. “They’ve even enlisted the local town librarian, who happens to be Celestia’s personal student Twilight Sparkle, to examine the device before a security team can be brought in to ship it to Canterlot for reverse engineering. Twilight Sparkle is scheduled to examine it this morning. Here is a copy of the report we stole” He produced a few sheets of paper that the Queen seized in a green aura of magic.

“I see, this is rather bad.” Chrysalis said, turning away to read the report. However, after a moment she turned back toward the drone. “But they don’t know where the device came from?”

“No, your highness.”

“Redeploy our closest infiltrators to Ponyville,” The Queen ordered. “Pull them out of other assignments if you have to. I want that device destroyed immediately.”

“Are you sure my Queen?” Chitin replied hesitantly. Taking changelings out of their assumed identities on a moment’s notice could destroy their cover, something which was regarded as costly.

“By no means, I fear it may not be enough. If the Equestrians are able to reproduce this device, every changeling in Equestria could be exposed. We can’t let that happen.” Chrysalis replied. “We have to assume that this is going to reach the crown soon if it already hasn’t, and if the princesses get involved directly we may never be able to stop them.”

“Our officer infiltrator in Canterlot managed to slow the report down by intentionally misfiling it,” Chitin replied, this was one of the few times he could be thankful for messy bureaucracy. “However we still have to worry about the student Twilight Sparkle making a personal report directly to the princess

“True, redeploy the infiltrators immediately” She commanded. “Make sure they understand that they have to destroy the device, because failure is not an option. Once the device is destroyed, tell them to rescue my subjects and find out where the device came from.”

“Your highness, could this be a trap?”

“It doesn’t matter if it is a trap or not, if there is a chance that device does what they think it does then we cannot risk waiting.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

---

“Hey Twili-” Spike tried to call out, before getting cut off by shrill hiss. Spike was trying to get Twilight's attention from the main floor of the library, but he kept getting cut off. It wasn’t the first time the annoying white colt had to shush the baby dragon today, and in all likelihood it wouldn’t be the last

“Ssssshhhhhh!!!” Dexter finished hissing at Spike before turning his gaze back to the book he was reading. The book was more of a tome, one of many large textbooks stacked next to the colt. Their subjects ranged from history and culture to magic.

Dexter had arrived at the library immediately after school, which let out early for the day due to a rather bizarre event.

One of the foals in class had spontaneously caught on fire. At least, that’s what Cheerilee thought, and she sent everyone home just to be safe. In truth, Dexter may have had something to do with. It was purely accident of course.

It all started after Applejack finished dropping Applebloom and Dexter off at school. She had pulled Dexter aside, wanting to make sure that the colt would behave for the day.

In light of his previous indiscretions, Dexter didn’t blame her.

“I will be the model of proper student comportment,” He assured her, before going inside. He had genuinely intended to behave the entire day, desiring above all other things to mend the terrible first impression he must have given the teacher. But that was only part of it.

Dexter was the number one student, in any school, always. It was a point of personal pride for him. In fact, Dexter’s rivalry with his nemesis, the evil boy genius Susan ‘Mandark’ Astronomonov, started in a fierce competition to be the number one student in school. But since Mandark was entirely out of the picture, Dexter would take the position of ‘best student’ unrivaled.

At least, that was the plan. After being introduced to the class, Dexter found his seat between a pegasus colt named Rumble and an earth pony named Archer. They were nice enough, however the trouble came from a pink earth pony filly that sat a few rows in front of Dexter.

Her name was Diamond Tiara. Dexter had seen his fair share of bullies on earth, so he knew one when he saw one. The tiara on her head only exemplified the fact that she was a spoiled little brat.

But she wasn’t an ordinary bully. She had some tiny traces of a mind, one which she used to come up with and say ‘it.’

‘It’ being the horrid contortion of Dexter’s name that was a constant source of mockery and ridicule for the young boy genius.

Admittedly, it may have been partially Dexter’s fault. When Cheerilee started asking the class math questions, he continuously raised his hoof immediately and answered all the questions correctly. It got to the point where Cheerilee was tired of calling on him.

”Aren’t we the little genius, huh Dorkster?” The bully mocked, saying ‘it’ for the first time. The name elicited a bout of laughter from the other children.

And once that nickname was out and into the class, it could never be taken back. The other foals would never forget it, and the nickname would forever be the word of choice in ridiculing his nerdy persona. Its spread was immediate, as some of the laughing foals started coming up with their own contortions of his name.

“Dweebster!”

“Poindexter!”

Naturally, Cheerilee only gave Diamond Tiara a small reprimand before refocusing the class’s attention. However, that wasn’t enough for Dexter. The filly had to pay. That, and Dexter knew the only way to defeat a bully was to stand up to them.

So Dexter got an idea. He carefully retrieved his laser pen from his saddlebags and placed it on his desk, taking care to be subtle. Then, using one of the laser’s lower settings, aimed the laser at the bully’s precious tiara and flicked it on.

It wasn’t his aim to hurt the filly; he just wanted to scuff up her prized head piece enough so he could make fun of her later. Then, hopefully, the bully wouldn’t think of him as easy prey.

However, his goal was accomplished rather quickly, something he found confusing as he saw the tiara crumple and start to liquefy.

Now, just because Dexter lacked foresight, didn’t mean Diamond Tiara’s father did. As much as her father loved the spoiled brat that was his daughter, he wasn’t about to let his precious little girl go to school every day with diamonds and gold resting on her head. It would make her a target of thieves or other unsavory characters. Not that unsavory characters were common; it was just an unnecessary risk.

So the tiara was actually a fake made out of plastic and zirconium, something that would easily melt under the red hot glare of a laser set to damage gold and silver.

Dexter watched in confusion as the tiara continued to melt, up until the tiara turned black and the tuft of hair it sat upon burst into a small flame. He immediately flicked the pen off and hid it away, before staring dumbfounded as the small flame on the filly’s head which started to grow.

Luckily, Cheerilee was much quicker to react.

The teacher was facing the board when the flame started, but froze the moment they appeared. Cheerilee took an audible sniff to confirm that she could smell burning, then spun around quickly enough to startle the entire class. Most of the foals had yet to notice the flame growing in the center of the room.

Diamond Tiara hadn’t noticed either, and from the filly’s perspective, Cheerilee suddenly flipped out and started beating her with a large fire blanket.

That ended school early for the day. Cheerilee thought that it would be best to send the foals home until the cause of the fire had been determined.

She also needed to take Diamond Tiara to the hospital. Other than a crispy mane, the filly appeared fine. But Cheerilee needed to be sure.

Thus school was let out early, and Dexter headed straight to the library.

So now he was in a library, shushing a baby dragon with a loud hiss and trying to read up about magic.

A part of him still wondered if he was actually crazy. He had always thought that dragons were mythical creatures, but given what he has already seen so far, he shouldn’t have been surprised at finding one.

At first, Dexter was intrigued by the purple lizard and spent a little time observing him. Something Spike had gotten used to. He was the only baby dragon in Ponyville, and received plenty of leering for it.

However, Dexter soon remembered why he was at the library, and turned to the books. He figured he could learn more about dragons by reading anyways.

But that didn’t mix well when Spike started calling out for his surrogate Sister/Mother.

“Twiliiigggghhtttt!” Spike called again, hoping the unicorn would hear him from her room upstairs. However, he only received another hiss for his efforts.

“Hey, don’t shush me!” Spike replied to the reprimand. Dexter had been reading for some time now, and this wasn’t the first time he silenced the dragon for making noise.

“I’m trying to read,” Dexter replied, before disappearing behind his book again with his quill and paper. “Bothersome, irritating purple reptile. You’re interrupting my very delicate calculations. No need to be disturbing me with your persistent bellowing.”

“Yah, well, go ‘calculate’ outside or something. Less bellowing out there.” Spike said as he folded his arms, casting a glare of annoyance at the colt. Dexter wasn’t exactly earning his way into Spike’s good graces.

However the baby dragon’s opinion may have been skewed by the complaints of a certain white unicorn, one whom he had a crush on. Said unicorn had the right to complain though; Dexter did blow her shop apart after all.

“Now Spike, you should be more considerate and make less noise.” Twilight said after appearing at the top of the staircase, she cast a glance at Dexter. He was partially obscured by a large stack of books.

Applejack had already told her about the colt’s plan to stop by, and had welcomed him into the library almost three hours ago. She was actually surprised to see that he was still there.

“Why?” Spike complained, “How come he gets to come into our home and tell me to be quiet.”

“Well, normally I would agree with you Spike.” Twilight went on as she reached the bottom of the staircase and turned her attention back toward the baby dragon. “But remember, this is not only our home but it is also the Ponyville library. Every resident of Ponyville has the right to use it, and you’ve been with me to enough libraries to know how silence is the general rule.”

“Yah, but we usually make more noise anyway.” Spike pointed out, before getting to the heart of his dislike for the colt. “He also blew up Rarity’s boutique!”

“True,” Twilight chuckled, she suspected this was the real reason Spike disliked the colt. Rarity wasn’t exactly thrilled with what ‘that reckless ruffian’ had done to her shop. Of course, Spike was more than willing to agree with his crush’s opinion.

“But think of it this way, Spike.” Twilight went on. “If it weren’t for Dexter and the crusaders blowing out Rarity’s shop, she wouldn’t be living with us for the next few weeks. And we both know how much you love spending time helping Rarity.”

“You know . . . you’re right, I didn’t think about it like that.” Spike said in realization, his dislike for the colt shrinking. Though he still found Dexter slightly annoying. “I suppose he might not be that bad, but he could afford to be a little more polite.”

“Wait a second,” Dexter interrupted. “How did you know I was the one who . . . had the accident at the boutique?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You have a very unique name Dexter, and I made the mistake of asking Rarity about it.”

“Oh, I see.” Dexter disappeared behind his book again.

Twilight nodded in response before casting a spell with her horn, causing a large scroll to appear before Spike.

“Spike, I need this sent to Princess Celestia.” She said, holding up the scroll. “Can you send it now?”

“Sure, what is it?” Spike asked, taking the scroll into his claws.

“It’s my report on that device we looked at this morning,” Twilight explained. “The Princess, and big brother, said it was important and wanted to hear what I found as soon as they could.” After a large inhale, Spike let out a blast of green fire from his mouth. It consumed the scroll in seconds.

Dexter, however, was caught off guard by the burst of flames.

“Whoa whoa! Hey! What are you doing? are you crazy or something? Fire and libraries don’t mix!” The startled colt jumped up between the dragon and his stack of books, bumping the books and causing them to topple over. He tumbled over himself shortly after, joining the pile of books on the floor.

“Don’t worry, Dexter.” Twilight chuckled as the colt picked himself up. “There’s no need to panic. Spike’s fire is enchanted so that it doesn’t destroy anything.” Twilight turned toward the mess of books, her magic extending over them. “Here, let me help.”

As Twilight and Spike began arranging the books, Twilight started taking note of their titles. Each and every one of them was either a detailed history book or an advanced magical theory textbook.

Books that were normal for Twilight’s library, but not normal for a colt Dexter’s age.

“Some light reading Dexter?” Spike comment sarcastically, he had taken notice as well. Having returned a book titled ‘Comprehensive Mathematical Modeling of Advanced Magic.’

May I ask why you felt little Tiffany deserved to die?*

“What can I say, I love books.” He quipped. If anyone in Ponyville could relate to a love for books, it was Twilight Sparkle. However, Dexter motioned toward the stack Twilight just organized “Thank you Ms. Sparkle, but I’ve finished reading those texts and will no longer be requiring them.”

“Dexter, did you say you’ve read all of these?” Twilight said with a raised eyebrow, motioning toward the stack of books that was taller than the colt. “In three hours?” She had to admit, she was a bit skeptical. She was a book worm too, but she couldn’t read such a great volume of books in that amount of time.

“Yes, and I am well aware of the typical library policy of letting the librarian reshelf the books.” Dexter stated matter-of-factly. “I would do it myself, correctly, but I understand that it is a rule because other patrons might not reshelf books correctly, making it very difficult to find said books. However, let me know if you require any assistance.” He said as he adjusted his glasses before retrieving another book from nearby shelf.

“Let me know if you have any questions or don’t understand something.” Twilight kindly offered, not knowing what she’d be getting herself into.

“Actually . . .” Dexter began. “Applejack tells me you’re the resident expert on magic in this town, and I do have a few questions regarding magic theory.” He said as he tried to hide a smile. He was glad to have an ‘expert’ on magic to talk to, and was more than eager to pick the unicorn’s brain on the subject.

“Well, I can definitely help you there Dexter. My special talent is magic.” She replied. “What do you want to know?”

“Excellent. . .”

---

Twilight and Dexter talked for hours; the colt’s torrent of questions about magic seemed endless. The questions themselves were rather insightful, sometimes managing to stump Twilight. She had expected Dexter to ask simpler questions about magic, something typical of a colt his age. However, his questions made her feel like she was defending a dissertation from a room full of professors.

She actually had to take a step back a few times; astonished that she was having such a conversation with a colt nearly half her age. He was clearly brilliant. However, He obviously lacked any significant knowledge or experience with magic. But he was brilliant nonetheless, maybe even smarter than she was at his age despite his inexperience.

Of course, Twilight didn’t know the half of it. This was the kid who had built a time machine, A.I., and space ship in his house while managing to keep it secret from his parents.

The overall experience was refreshing to Twilight; she didn’t get to have conversations that challenged her mentally very often.

“No no no!” Dexter proclaimed, as he snatched a piece of chalk out of Twilight’s magical grasp. Their conversation had turned into a debate which was being battled out on a chalkboard. It was rapidly filled with long and overbearing equations. “You’re doing it all wrong. You have to take into account the effects of entropy in any energy consuming thermodynamic process.” He crossed out an equation before writting a new one.

Spike had long since gone, he didn’t understand any of it and wasn’t about to get a headache trying.

“Dexter,” Twilight began. “I’ve heard your definition of entropy and it doesn’t make sense. You can’t quantify chaos. However, you should read up on the harmony coefficient.” Twilight sighed and rubbed her temple with a hoof. “As much fun as it is for me to talk to somepony that understands science like I do, I think we should take a break.”

“Yah okay,” Dexter said, trying to hide traces of disappointment and frustration. Twilight had proven to be an excellent source of information about magic, but Dexter’s current level of understanding was far below anything that could satisfy his curiosity. He wondered if Twilight, or anyone in Equestria, knew enough about magic to satisfy his curiosity.

“Wow, look at the time! I have to check on something, I’ll be right back.” Twilight said, turning away and leaving down the basement stairs. Dexter responded absentmindedly with a wave, his eyes still fixed on the chalkboard.

“Interesting,” Dexter said to no one in particular. “What’s this?” Dexter asked as he noticed the chalk board was double sided. Flipping the board on its hinges revealed the back side, which was covered with several equations and a final missing line. However, the first thing he noticed was a small title at the top of the board. It read ‘Clover’s Conundrum.’

Usually, the fact that an equation or mathematics problem had a name signified that it was really important.

Dexter knew firsthand how impolite it was when someone interfered with his calculations, and he resolved to leave the chalkboard alone. However, there was one small problem.

Said equation was clearly unsolved, and the mere presence of the unsolved equation was gnawing at Dexter’s mind. It was like a tilted picture frame to an OCD neat freak, or a pair of mismatching socks to Rarity. Soon, the little scientist couldn’t keep his eyes off it. He couldn’t help himself; the equation had to be solved. It. Had. To. Be.

It was like a festering itch, a festering itch inside his mind!

---

“Hey, I’m back.” Twilight said, reappearing in the library. She arrived just in time to see Dexter flip the chalkboard back to its original side. “Sorry about that, I have an experiment running and I needed to check up on it.”

“Experiment?” Dexter asked, the word alone was enough to pique his interest.

“Yes, it’s currently running in the lab downstairs” Twilight began, causing Dexter to freeze and drop is chalk. “So I need to check up on it again in a another couple of min-“

“YOU have a LABORATORY?” Dexter half shouted, both out of surprise and excitement. However, this enthusiasm caught Twilight off guard and startled her.

“Yes . . .” She said after a moment, eyeing the colt. “I have a small lab in the basement; I use it for . . . hey where are you going?”

Dexter didn’t respond, he didn’t hear past the word ‘basement.’ He had turned, and at a brisk pace, started walking toward the basement door. However, not a second after his hoof made contact with the handle, the door was encompassed by a purple glow.

No matter how hard he tried, the door wouldn’t open.

“Hey, what gives?’ He asked the purple unicorn, whose horn emitted a matching purple glow.

“Oh no, no way.” Twilight responded, her tone was almost chastising. “I’m not letting you downstairs into my lab.

“B-B-But” Dexter stammered.

“No foals in the laboratory,” Twilight said with finality. “I’m sure you’re curious, but I can’t let you down there. Not after what the crusaders did to it. You might damage something, or get yourself hurt.” She explained.

“Miss Sparkle, I assure you, I am the most qualified person in this dinky town for conducting laboratory operations.” Dexter argued.

“Like you’re qualified to make a paper mache volcano?” Twilight retorted skeptically, it was a hit below the belt as far as Dexter was concerned.

A part of Dexter knew she was right, not because he couldn’t handle being in a laboratory, but because she had no reason to trust in his competence.

“Pllleeeeeaaaaaasssseeeeeeee,” And so the begging began.

---

“Hiya Rarity, how goes tha repairs?” Applejack was on her way to the library when she came across the white unicorn, who was also headed in the same direction.

“Why hello, Applejack.” Rarity greeted. “I am happy to say the repairs to the boutique are proceeding steadily.”

“Glad to hear it, let me know if ya need any of help.” Applejack offered.

“You know I wouldn’t hesitate to ask, Applejack.” Rarity replied. “But Rainbow’s cut me off for the day, she nearly threw me out of my own boutique!”

“What’s left of it.” Applejack teased, earning a frown from the unicorn.

“Now Rarity, we all know you’d obsess over fixing the boutique day n’ night 'til ya worked yerself ta death.” Applejack began. “But ya should be glad Rainbow Dash cut ya off fer the day. Believe me, Ah’ve tried the whole ‘working yerself twenty four seven’ bit. It ain’t fun.”

“Yes, but what if somepony important sees it in such a dreadful state?” Rarity lamented. “What would they think of me? My reputation would be ruined!” Rarity paused for a moment, checking the sky for a certain blue pegasus. “Maybe if I sneak back there I can get a few more hours of repairs in before Rainbow notices.”

“Now simmer down there, Rarity.” Applejack replied, trying to suppress a laugh at the unicorn’s expense. “If Rainbow cut ya off fer today, then Ah’m not about to let ya go back. Just accept that yah can’t do anything about the boutique til tomorrow.”

“B-But”

“An before yah say it, Ah know, ‘It’s tha worst possible thing ever.’” Applejack rolled her eyes.

A few moments later they had reached the library door; Applejack extended a hoof and gave it a few hard knocks. A few moments later, Twilight appeared and opened the door. She looked a tad bit upset, clearly annoyed about something.

“Hey girls,” She greeted.

“Is that Rarity?” They could hear Spike’s voice somewhere inside. “Is she back?” His question only got Twilight to roll he eyes.

“Yes,” Twilight answered as Spike hurried up to the door. “C’mon in.”

“Hey Twi, Ah’m here ta pick up . . .” Applejack started as she and Rarity entered the library, however she trailed off when she noticed something odd. Dexter was clinging onto one of Twilight’s hind legs. “Hey, what are ya doing down there?”

“What kind of cruel, vindictive, inhumane, cold-hearted monster would deny a humble boy genius a chance to further science?” Dexter rambled on toward Twilight, ignoring Applejack entirely as he clung closer to Twilight’s leg. He was quickly proving to be the biggest colt sized pest Twilight had ever encountered.

“He’s been doing that for the past fifteen minutes,” Twilight deadpanned. “Ever since I told him he couldn’t see my lab.”

“Let me see your laboratory, for the sake of science!” Dexter pleaded. “For science, you monster!”

Applejack was about to say something else to Dexter, however she was cut off by a loud gasp from Rarity. The gasp drew everyone’s attention, including Dexter’s.

“Just one moment!” Rarity’s eyes narrowed on the colt, who halted his begging at the sound of her sharp voice. “Red-orange mane and tail, pristine white coat, blue eyes behind a set of glasses and,” Rarity sniffed the air in Dexter’s direction. “A residual sent of sweet apple acres . . .”

“YOU!” Her words were venom. “You’re Dexter!” Her tone was dramatic, as though confronting her worst enemy. She cast an accusatory hoof straight at the colt’s chest.

“Umm . . . heh, yes. That would be me.” Dexter replied hesitantly, slowly letting go of Twilight and falling to the floor. Twilight almost cheered in relief to have her leg free once again. “And umm . . . who would you be?”

“I am the proprietor of the fine establishment you chose to vandalize,” Rarity replied “You dastardly ruffian.” Rarity was more overly dramatic than actually angry. “And, by the looks of it, you’re now victimizing Twilight as well!”

“Ah yes, you must be Rarity.” Dexter said, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Now while I do regret what happened at the boutique and wish to make amends, I must point out it wasn’t entirely my fault. If the girls had simply followed my instruc-“

“Oh don’t you dare think you can shift blame for what you’ve done!” Rarity cut off him off. “I questioned Sweetie Belle extensively about the events of that day.” She walked past the colt and placed her saddlebags on a chair, before turning back toward Dexter. “I know it was Applebloom and Scootaloo who incorrectly mixed the chemicals causing the explosion.”

“But it was all made possible by YOU!” Dexter shrunk back at her accusatory tone, his eyes locking onto the hoof Rarity aimed directly at his chest. “It was YOU who broke into the LOCKED cleaning closet and got to the chemicals in the first place!”

Dexter stood still, unable to think of something to say. The overdramatic tone of the mare made it seem like he tried to burn the boutique down while she was still inside.

“Oh Dexter, What did I ever do to deserve this?” Rarity began sulking. “My shop is in ruins! And you’ve traumatized my cat. Poor Opal! It’ll be weeks before Fluttershy can coax the poor thing out of hiding. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Dexter let out another nervous chuckle, taking a few tentative steps back from the crazed mare. “I’m sorry?” he gulped.

However, Rarity’s sulking vanished just as quickly as it appeared. Her tone was now slightly more vindictive than before. “Oh no, do you really think a simple ‘I’m sorry’ will be sufficient reparation for your crimes?” Rarity formed a malevolent grin as she reached into her saddlebag. “You’re sadly mistaken; I’ve been planning for this . . .”

“Ummm . . .” Was all Dexter could say before Rarity turned back toward him, then his vision was cut off entirely as he felt something land on his head. It fell in front of his glasses and temporarily cut off his vision. “Gaahhh!”

It took him a moment to realize what had happened, Rarity had simply put something on his head.

“A hat?” Dexter asked in confusion.

“Not just any hat, a hideous hat!” Rarity declared. “Some of your handiwork, I might add. It was destined to be beautiful before you blew up my shop. Look at what you’ve done, your crimes against fashion, you scoundrel!” Dexter took a moment to observe the headwear, and she was right. The hat was indeed hideous; he didn’t need to be a fashion expert to see that. “I can’t imagine what is worse than being forced to wear something so outrageously dreadful in public.”

“Which is why I’ll never wear it. . .” Dexter replied. He tried not to sound condescending for stating the obvious.

“Oh, don’t worry Dexter. That is only phase one of my revenge.” Rarity replied. “Phase two will be a much more . . . tailored approach. And I already have something in mind.”

Dexter looked toward the hat then back at the malevolent Rarity. “I’m scared stiff,” he quipped sarcastically. Rarity only continued to grin.

“So Dexter,” Rarity said. “Tell me about yourself, from Sweetie Belle I gathered that you’re one of the science-y types, kind of nerdy like Twilight.” That caused the lavender unicorn in question to deadpan, something which Rarity took notice. “Sorry darling,” She added.

“Well, now that you mentioned it, Dexter is sort of like me.” Twilight admitted. “Though I’d say he is more like how I was before I came to Ponyville, before I started learning about the magic of friendship.”

“I will admit I am the type person who enjoys scientific pursuits, and I consider myself logical rather than emotional.” Dexter replied, slightly indignant. “But I am not ‘nerdy;’ I just don’t refrain from displaying my scientific inclinations. For example, I’m not ashamed to say I have the first fifty thousand digits of pi memorized.” He couldn’t have sounded more like a geek in his tone if he had tried.

However, his statement got Twilight to raise an eyebrow.

“I see.” Rarity said, turning away to hide another grin. “You’re the type of person who would like a reasoned and logical explanation for everything, no?”

“Of course,” Dexter replied. “What other way to live is there . . .” He trailed off as Rarity started laughing.

“I didn’t think phase two of my revenge would be so easy . . .” Rarity replied.

“Rarity?” Twilight said, in both an uncomfortable and warning tone. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing too extreme, darling.” Rarity replied. “I’m just going to make an introduction, and I want Dexter to thank me for every minute of headache it will cause him. . .”

“Rarity!” Twilight warned again.

The white unicorn turned toward the colt again, before looking up that the shelves of the library books. Finding the highest book, she sent out a pulse of magic and caused it to topple over.

It fell to the floor, almost in slow motion for Dexter. However, the gesture only managed to confuse the colt.

“Oh woe is me!” Rarity started to whine. It made the three other ponies want to tear off their ears. “Here is a new pony in town, a young colt that has no friends. Only if he had a friend who would make him smile . . .”

“Rarity!” It was Applejack this time, apparently having caught on to the white unicorn’s plan.

However, the library stayed quiet for a moment after that. Rarity looked around the room, as if expecting something.

“Blast,” Rarity remarked. “I was sure that would summon her here, I mean she had to have sensed the book falling. She always gets twitchy when something falls. . .”

There was another moment of heavy silence between the mares. However, Dexter was entirely clueless about what was happening. He thought she was making fun of how he was a ‘nerd’ that had no friends.

“Yah well,” Dexter began defensively. “I don’t have time for friends.” He couldn’t say he had any friends in Ponyville yet, it was only his fourth day in town after all. “Who needs friends anyway?”

However, the very instant those words left his mouth, there was a loud thump from a nearby window. Whatever hit the window should have shattered it, yet for some unexplainable reason, the window was perfectly intact.

It happened so quickly it startled the colt, causing him to look wide-eyed at the window while Rarity let out a near maniacal laugh.

A giant pink blob pressed against the far side of the window, and bore a set of crystal blue eyes that starred down at the colt in glee. It wore a smile so large it could eclipse the sun.

“You do,” The she-blob answered, “You need friends . . .”

---
-A/N-

Warning: Dexter's mental meltdown is in progress.

*I REALLY hope you get that reference. I felt it fit so well.

Again, if you're interested, check out the blog posts. I actually re-wrote this chapter and I'll post the uneditted original in a blog post. I think the original was funnier, but it did things I felt weren't practical for the story.

Author's Notes:

For starters, I want to apologize for the long wait. I was distracted by a few things. But either way, thanks for reading and putting up with the typos and other mistakes.

Other than that, if you've been following the discussions happening in the comments – or have concerns about Dexter’s character or any plot points, please Please PLEASE read this blog post, it address several concerns made by a number of users.

Also, if you have a comment or criticism that is lengthy in nature (good or bad) please PM them to me instead of putting them in the comments section. Large debates about different story elements may contains spoilers (or worse, point out subtle details I intentionally hid in the story) . For that reason, I will probably delete said comments. Feel free to PM them to me or just post the comment on the blog's comment section.

Again, a BIG FAT THANK YOU to Vandenbz for proofing my last chapter. However, I don’t know if he is still around so I may need some more help proofing.

The Pink Monstrosity

View Online

-A/N-
First, I want to say thanks for all the comments. I read all of them even if I don’t respond to them all. It’s interesting to see what you guys think is happening, lets me know how well I communicated my story.

A few things
1 – There is going to be a shift in attitude for this chapter, it explains some of the things happening in the background so that you guys get a better picture of what is going on. Dexter is a JERK, but considering the circumstances I think this is an accurate portrayal of his character and how he would react to Pinkie Pie.
2 – Dexter will have his laboratory (at least a part of it) by next chapter, I want him to have it so the real shenanigans can begin. But alas, only four days have passed for Dexter, despite the six chapters. But I aim to speed things up.

Dexter continued to stare wide-eyed at the pink mass attached to the window, which gazed back down at Dexter with the biggest smile he had ever seen. Her eyes shone with glee and anticipation.

The only sound Dexter could hear was Rarity laughing. “May I introduce you to Pinkamena Diane Pie,” Rarity said with a satisfied smile. “And with this, Dexter, you are forgiven. Do not blow up my boutique again, Darling” She warned. Dexter only glanced at the white unicorn in confusion, before turning back toward the window.

The pink blob was gone.

“Gone!?” Dexter asked in surprise and confusion to no one in particular. “What the?” The entire situation was completely baffling to him, what was the pink thing that had been on the window? Where did it go? What did it mean it said he needed friends?

Dexter turned back toward the mares, only to be startled into another heart attack. He could have sworn that there were only three mares and a baby dragon in the library a moment ago, none of them pink.

However, now there was a pony in the center of the group bouncing up and down rhythmically. Her mane and tail were fluffy, and her entire body was covered in the same jarring color of bright pink. But her most unsettling feature was her blue eyes. They were bursting with excitement, and far far too happy. Dexter immediately recognized that her eyes belonged to the pink blob that had been pressed against the far side of the window a moment ago.

“Who the heck are you?!” Dexter nearly shouted in surprise, pointing a hoof straight at the pink mare.

“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie!” She began, almost in song. The pink mare continued to bounce in place, keeping her eyes trained on the colt before her. “And I’ve never seen you before! Which means you must be new in Ponyville! I know you’re new because I know everypony in Ponyville, and everypony in Ponyville is my friend! But you’re not my friend, yet, which means you must be new to Ponyville! What’s your name?” She abruptly ended verbal onslaught with the question.

Pinkie Pie really liked making new friends, and she made an effort to befriend every resident of Ponyville. So, a new pony meant a new friend, a new friend she could make smile.

“Umm ... Dexter,” the colt answered tentatively, looking over the bouncing pink pony as his eye twitched. Something about her gave Dexter’s stomach a sinking feeling. It was as if the universe felt pity for him and was trying to send him a subtle message.

Unfortunately, the last time the universe interfered with Pinkie Pie, she divided by zero. It made a point to stay out of her way from then on.

“Dex-stor? Dexter? Dexy! I’m so glad to finally meet you! My pinkie sense told me a new pony had come to Ponyville when my ears went twitch-twitch exactly four days nine hours thirty two minutes and eleven, no twelve, no thirteen, no fourteen, fifteensencondsago!” She finished with a wide smile.

“Um ... What?” That was all Dexter could say, barely able to comprehend the river of words that came spewing out of Pinkie Pie. Though he had managed to catch the last part of what she said, and was a little unnerved by the apparent fact that she had been timing how long he had been in Ponyville.

However, none of this registered with Pinkie Pie. She only made a great inhale, before starting to sing.

---

As the pink pony assaulted the colt’s ears with a friendship song, bouncing around him in a circle, the three other mares only watched as Dexter clamped his hooves to his ears in a futile attempt to keep the girlish song out. It was not that the song was bad; Pinkie Pie was actually a good singer, but rather Dexter trying to regain the ability to hear his own thoughts.

However, Rarity noticed both Applejack and Twilight casting a grimace in her direction.

“What?” Rarity asked, half-defensively. “Don’t look at me like that.” She already knew what the two other mares were going to say. Mixing Pinkie Pie with a nerdy scientist is almost like mixing water and oil.

No, that’s an understatement. More like mixing fire and gunpowder.

No, still an understatement. More like mixing high speed neutrons with densely packed uranium.

“Rarity ...” Applejack deadpanned. “Ya shouldn’t be so hard on ‘em, the mess at the Boutique wasn’t only Dexter’s fault. The Crusaders helped.”

“I know, Applejack, and Sweetie Belle was punished accordingly, as I’m sure Scootaloo and Applebloom were,” Rarity admitted.

Applejack nodded, she had given her younger sister a week’s worth of chores because of it.

“Nevertheless, he was the one that started mixing household cleaners,” Rarity went on. “And unless he is some sort of chemistry genius, mixing chemicals like that could be very dangerous. So, steps had to be taken to ensure he wouldn’t do it again, especially in the presence of our younger sisters. I would hate to see any of these precious foals get hurt.”

“Yah okay, Ah can understand that.” Applejack admitted reluctantly, still upset. “But did ya have ta use Pinkie Pie?”

“Well, why not?” Rarity asked.

“Because, ya know how science-types react ta her.” Applejack went on. “When they finally realize they can’t wrap their head ‘round her they have a meltdown, jus’ like Twi did.”

“True, but ...” Rarity said, motioning toward the scene between Dexter and Pinkie Pie unfolding before them. “This was bound to happen sooner or later, whether I made the introduction or not.” Rarity defended herself. “How long do you think it would have been before Pinkie Pie found him on her own?”

“Ah would have liked ta put it off fer a few more days at least,” Applejack complained, resisting the urge to give Rarity another annoyed look. “But Ah have ta admit, there’s no keeping Pinkie Pie away from giving a new pony in town a new pony party.”

“Yes, well, Pinkie has been all twitchy about a new pony in town for the past four days.” Rarity went on. “At least this way you and Twilight are here to make sure things don’t get ... too out of hoof.” She finished dismissively.

“Ah suppose you have a point fer what it’s worth...” Applejack sighed, before turning back toward the scene of the singing pink pony who started dancing with the colt. The colt in question was trying desperately to escape. “But he’s just a colt yah know. He’s smart, but he’s also like yer sister an’ mine. He’s a bit too young ta have much sense. So no more revenge, okay?”

“Agreed, Applejack.”

---

Pinkie Pie was now bouncing circles around Dexter while still singing, the colt in question had managed to wrestle himself free and had resumed pressing hooves to his ears. No matter how hard he pressed down on his ears, the pink pony’s song kept getting through. He could curse his new pony ears, that were better at hearing than his original ones and not easily plugged with a hoof. He was starting to visibly tremble out of frustration and annoyance.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Dexter shouted over the pink pony’s song.

It took him a moment to realize that everything had stopped just as he had demanded. Pinkie Pie was no longer singing. In fact, she was no longer bouncing. At Dexter’s words she had frozen in place; in midair.

“B-but but but…” Dexter stammered as his train of thought derailed for a third time in a row, completely baffled by the now floating pony who only stared back at him. She tilted her head in response to his confusion, as though Dexter were the confusing one.

Was this some sort of magic? It had to be. Dexter couldn’t think of any other way to explain the pink pony’s continued defiance of gravity. After a moment, he blinked, prompting Pinkie Pie to blink back before falling back to the floor after another second or two.

“Since you’re my new friend, I baked a new friend cupcake just for you!” Pinkie Pie continued, resuming her torrent of words. “But then I realized that I was going to be your only friend in town, not just your first friend. But if I’m your first friend, and only friend, then that means I’m going to be your best friend! So, I needed something extra super-duper special for the occasion, and the regular cupcake wouldn’t do, so I decided to bake you a friendship cake! But then I realized that I would end up making you two cakes, so I decided to make you a friendship pie instead!” She exclaimed as she produced the pastry, seemingly pulling it out from her mane.

However, the moment Pinkie Pie had started talking again, Dexter had gone back to clasping his ears, but that didn’t stop the colt from noticing a few things. The first thing he noticed was her color scheme, pink, pink and more pink. The only exception was her crystal blue eyes. This reminded him of his dumb sister Dee Dee, who had the same shade of blue eyes and always wore a pink outfit.

The next thing he noticed was her behavior. She evidently liked singing and dancing, which was another similarity that Pinkie Pie coincidentally shared with Dee Dee.

There was only one more fundamental trait of the Pink Terror that was missing from this new Pink Monstrosity, and Dexter was sure that she had it.

“Get that away from me!” Dexter half-shouted, slapping the pie out of Pinkie’s grasp. It fell to the floor with a splat. “Will you shut up!!!” Dexter shouted. “You’re sooooo stupid! Stupid! Stupid! STUPID!” Dexter stopped shouting, only to pant for a moment. “Oh, and let’s not forget. YOU”RE SO STUPID!!!”

Unfortunately, that was a kneejerk reaction. A response ingrained into his mind after years of defending his lab from his older sister. Said older sister was genuinely stupid.

His stupid sister.

A sister that a part of him loathed.

A sister that a part of him was terrified he might never see again.

However, that was his error. Pinkie Pie was by no means stupid; she was actually very intelligent and had an astounding memory. This was a fact that Pinkie Pie had proven true on multiple occasions, displaying the ability to recall names, birthdays, favorite foods and favorite songs of every person in the entire town.

Nevertheless, Dexter didn’t know any of that. All he knew was that this Dee Dee like pony had started assaulting his mind with an onslaught of words, singing, dancing, and generally science defying acts, and pie.

“Hey!” Applejack admonished. “Yer not allowed ta talk to Pinkie like that. Say yer sorry right now mister, or yer gonna ... “Applejack stopped as Pinkie Pie waved her off with a hoof.

“It’s okay Applejack,” Pinkie Pie said in a much more subdued voice, her smile had been replaced by a sad grimace. She turned back to look at Dexter. “I’ve seen his type before, he’s not used to having friends and a part of him just doesn’t know how to respond, maybe even a little afraid. But I can handle it.” Pinkie Pie explained, before getting down on level with Dexter. “Don’t worry Dexter, I’ll be your friend and I’ll make you smile.”

The colt merely folded his forelegs and fixed Pinkie Pie in a vehement glare.

“The presumption that ‘we can be friends,’ ” Dexter began. “Is indicative of the incredible misconception that you possess sufficient cognitive capability to facilitate adequate interchange between my prodigious intellect and your utterly inept, and repugnantly ineffectual, excuse for a mind. In fact, my prior statement is likely incorrect as it premises on you possessing a cognizance when it is more accurate to say that you merely retain an inundation of errant contemplations haphazardly garbled into a semi-functioning consciousness capable only of producing an inexhaustible stream of abominably bad ideas.”*

The whole room went silent. Pinkie Pie’s expression only got sadder, and Twilight wore a look of shock. Rarity and Applejack only looked at each other, utterly confused.

“What in the world did he just say?” Applejack asked the still dumbfounded looking Twilight. However, after a few moments, Twilight shook it off.

“He just insulted Pinkie Pie ... bad.” Twilight replied, a hint of anger growing in her voice as her ears splayed back and pressed against her skull.

“Bad?” Applejack asked in response.

“Real bad” Twilight confirmed as she glared at the colt.

“A translation, darling? Preferably with words using two syllables or less.” Rarity asked.

“He said Pinkie Pie was too dumb to be his friend, after implying or calling her stupid in at least five different ways.” Twilight explained, not taking her eyes off the offending colt.

“I know, Twilight.” Pinkie Pie replied, her once poofy mane had become flat as her eyes drooped to the floor. “I understood what he said.”

“But don’t worry Dexter, I forgive you” Pinkie Pie turned back toward the colt, and her smile started returning alongside her poofy mane. “But you shouldn’t be mean to other ponies, especially your friends.” Her smile had returned completely. “And that’s what we are now Dexter, friends!”

“I’m not your friend.” Dexter growled.

“You might not be my friend, yet, but I’m your friend. But don’t worry, you will be my friend soon enough.” There was a hint of foreboding certainty hidden beneath Pinkie’s cheerful tone, though Dexter didn’t get the chance to respond before Pinkie Pie pulled another perfectly made pie out of her mane and placed it in front of Dexter.

“No, get that away from me.” Dexter protested, backing away. “I don’t eat strange pies made by pink weirdoes.”

“Mmm, okay.” Pinkie Pie said with a knowing smile as she pushed the pie closer to Dexter and looked away innocently.

Dexter eyed the pastry; it was close enough for him to smell it more clearly, despite it being well out of his reach. Another benefit of now having a pony’s nose, the smell of anything nearby immediately flooded his nose whenever he merely thought about it.

The pie smelled delicious, and his mouth started to water. Though he made an effort not to show it.

“Listen, I don’t like pink. I don’t like you. You’re not my friend.” Dexter declared. “And for the last time, I’m not going to eat your stupid pie!”

“If you say so, Dexy.” Pinkie Pie replied, innocently pushing the pastry closer.

“Go away!” He shouted through a mouthful of pie.

Pinkie Pie only smiled at him in response.

“Huh?” Dexter said despit the pie in his mouth. His eyes crossed momentarily in confusion. Somehow, without him even realizing it, he had stuffed his face with the pastry. Half of the pie’s fruity contents were smeared across his face as he furiously chewed what he managed to steer into his maw.

It was actually so sudden it surprised him, and he would have spat it all out instantly if it were not for every taste bud in his mouth screaming in ecstasy. It was the most delicious thing Dexter had ever eaten, and would have been perfect if he just had a—

With a clink, Pinkie Pie put a glass of milk in front of the colt. Again, it appeared as though she pulled it out of thin air from somewhere behind her mane.

“How are you doing that?” Dexter asked.

“Doing what? How did I get the milk?” Pinkie Pie replied mischievously. “Or how did I know you would want some?”

What was left of Dexter’s mind was instantly blown apart.

Pinkie Pie raised a very good question, how in the world did she now he even liked milk? In fact, how did she know he’d eat the pie when he surprised himself by eating it?

“Oh Dexter,” Pinkie Pie started. “I think we’ll become the best of friends. You just don’t know it yet.”

Dexter attempted to protest, but the pie in his mouth made his response nothing more than unintelligible sputtering.

“And Dexter?” Pinkie Pie said, motioning toward the pie. Specifically to the portion of the pan revealed by the bite he had taken out of the pastry. There was a row of numbers, written in some sort of glaze or icing. They read: 742360413 “Pi in pie, from Pinkie Pie!” She said cryptically, before bouncing away from the completely baffled colt. “Enjoy the sugar rush! You’re not getting any sleep tonight.”

Then he realized what she meant, and it hit him like a train.

Those were the last nine numbers in fifty thousand and one digits of pi.

---

After another half hour of Pinkie Pie’s shenanigans, Dexter’s brain had thoroughly melted down. This was the point in which Applejack decided enough was enough and took Dexter home. Though before they left, the mares got Dexter to apologize to Pinkie Pie for his outbursts. Though it took some convincing.

Rather rough convincing.

“Yah well, maybe I’m not sorry.” Dexter replied flippantly, failing to notice the nod Applejack gave to Twilight. “I’m not apologizing to that pink moron, and if you think—“

-ZAP-

“OW!” Dexter yelped, rubbing a place on his rump that just received a healthy dose of electricity from Twilight.

“And that, Dexter…” Twilight began, lifting her horn away from Dexter’s flank. “… is how unicorns discipline naughty foals. Now, don’t you feel you owe Pinkie Pie an apology?” Twilight repeated.

Dexter apologized rather quickly after that, and the pink mare seemed all too eager to accept his apology. Soon after, Applejack and Dexter left for home.

“I suppose that ... may have been a little much.” Rarity admitted as she watched Applejack and the colt depart. “Using Pinkie Pie on Dexter like that, I mean.” Rarity clarified as a small part of her cringed internally, the memory of Dexter shouting at Pinkie Pie replaying in her mind.

“No, I don’t think so,” Spike chimed in, all to ready to reassure his crush. “You were right before, Pinkie Pie would have found him eventually. And he is kind of nerdy ... Well no, he is really nerdy. More so than Twilight was. He was bound to react badly to Pinkie Pie.”

“Thanks Spike,” Twilight said as she found herself deadpanning for a second time after being called nerdy. “But that’s not to say Rarity should have done it.” The lavender unicorn shot the white one an annoyed glare. “You knew he would react badly.”

“I know I don’t have the best track record with foals ...” Rarity started to admit.

Twilight deadpanned and looked directly at Rarity.

“Alright! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have done it.” Rarity admitted, pouting. “At least the three of us got to meet the foal Applejack was taking care of, and if his knowledge of vocabulary is any indication, he’s a smart one.”

“He is definitely one of the smartest foals of his age I have ever met. ” Twilight said, remembering her conversation with the colt and his incredible understanding of science and mathematics. “Though I don’t know how honest of a pony he is, so it’s probably a good thing that he is with Applejack. She’ll set him straight.”

“Why do you say that?” Rarity asked, with an eyebrow raised.

‘Well, he said earlier that he had memorized fifty thousand digits of pi.” Twilight began to explain.

“So, I remember hearing somewhere that pi is infinite.” Rarity replied. “But while memorizing fifty thousand numbers is impressive, it also seems somewhat pointless.”

“It’s a thing some ponies do to show off how smart they are, but that’s not the point,” Twilight said, beginning to explain. “We know pi is infinite, but in all of Equestrian history it has only been calculated out to about four hundred digits. And that was done by well-respected mathematicians. Despite a considerable number of ponies with special talents in mathematics, no pony has been able to calculate it out to a thousand, let alone fifty thousand, digits.”

“I see, so he lied.” Rarity said.

“He must have. Calculating the next digit of PI used to earn a pony a Ph.D. in mathematics.” Twilight explained.

Of course, Twilight and Rarity didn’t know that Dexter was actually telling the truth. Dexter had come from a world with computers, which had calculated pi to twelve trillion, one hundred billion and fifty digits by the time he left. It was a good thing the ponies didn’t know that, otherwise their mathematicians would drown themselves in their own tears.

“But despite that, He clearly has the mind of an academic,” Twilight said, thinking back to the conversation she had with the little genius. “Maybe even that of an engineer or inventor of ...” The words hung in Twilight’s mouth as something clicked inside her mind.

“Wait, wait a second,” Twilight said to herself before calling out. “Pinkie Pie! Can you come here?”

“Yup Twi!” She answered cheerfully, bouncing over to her friend. “What’s up?”

“You said your pinkie sense told you that a new pony had come to Ponyville?” Twilight asked the pink mare, who replied with a nod. “Did your pinkie sense detect anypony else coming to town before today?”

“Nope!” She replied with her characteristic happy tone, before bouncing off again.

“Could he have ...” Twilight muttered to no one in particular as she started to recall details of her morning. She had been sent to inspect a device, one found in the Ponyville Clinic...

---

Earlier that morning:

“C’mon Spike, hurry up. They said it was in room twelve.” Twilight urged, trotting by a nurse’s station at a brisk pace.

“I’m coming,” Spike panted, struggling to keep up with the excited unicorn.

They rounded a corner to spot a room with four armor clad ponies guarding the door. Two unicorns beside the door and two pegasi facing the door from the opposite wall. The guards eyed her and the baby dragon carefully the moment they had appeared.

“Hi umm ...” Twilight began, taken aback slightly by their stern gazes. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, Princess C-Celestia sent me here because she wanted to me evaluate the device you found.”

They were immediately surrounded by the four guards as the two unicorn guards enveloped them in auras of magic; they were casting standard search spells meant to reveal anything out of the ordinary. However, that knowledge didn’t stop Twilight from being startled or unnerved by the sudden search.

“Hey, you guys recognize us, right?” Spike asked.

“We are aware of the Princess’s protégé’s position and her relation to Prince Shining Armor,” One of the guards spoke. “But Prince Shining Armor has made it abundantly clear that the contents of this room are of great strategic importance and are a possibly a priority target for changelings, every precaution must be taken.”

“That means, no pony is allowed in that room without their identity being verified.” The guard finished, staring directly into Twilight’s eyes. She shrunk under his gaze for a second, feeling uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere generated by the guards now surrounding her.

“Oh, right!” Twilight said suddenly. “The passphrase is ‘solar wind.’”

The guards glanced at one another before backing down. “Right this way Miss Sparkle.” He said, motioning for them to follow as he entered the room.

“Wow, you think those guys are being a little paranoid?” Spike asked, glad to be away from the other guards.

“It’s possible,” Twilight admitted at a near whisper. “Shiny must have said something to them to get them to be suspicious of everypony.”

“It’s not paranoia if they’re actually after you.” The guard said, pointing toward two cages in the corner of the room, a changeling in each one. “Do not pay attention to them, they’re secured in those cages and can’t hurt anypony. The device is over there,” He pointed. “Let us know if you require any assistance.” He finished before turning away, his stoic expression never changing.

“Right, well. Let’s see what this thing can do.” Twilight said as she approached a large metal box connected to a ring mounted on the floor. A rotatable semicircle inside the ring. The main body of the device had a number of screens as well as a slot to produce printouts.

It was Dexter’s ‘Medical Diagnostic Module’ that he had built during his first night in Equestria.

Twilight spent the next couple of hours examining every aspect of the device and taking notes of how each part of the device worked. However, she quickly found herself well outside her knowledge base, as every aspect of the device functioned with absolutely no magic.

A fact which stumped her supremely.

Ever since the ancient pioneers of magic, such as Star Swirl the Bearded, started documenting and exploring the uses of magic, magic had been in every facet of Equestrian science and technology. Only very rudimentary pieces of technology had ever been produced without the use of magic.

However, the device sitting in front of her was obviously decades more advanced than any other piece of technology she had ever seen before. The fact that it didn’t use magic only astounded her more, and she wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it.

“This thing is incredible Spike!” She exclaimed, jotting down more notes as she peered inside the device’s case and traced the path of several wires.

“I’ll say,” Spike said, as he pushed the device’s scan button again before hopping into the ring. He couldn’t get over seeing his internal organs up on the screen displays.

“I just ... I just don’t know who could have created such a device.’ Twilight finally admitted, remarking at the fact that she could find no identifying marks on the device. Whoever built it obviously didn’t care to leave a logo or name on it. “I don’t know of anypony in this town, or all of Equestria for that matter, who could have built it. Was there a resident genius in Ponyville or something that I never knew about?”

---

Present:

Was there a new resident genius in Ponyville?

“Spike, can you go get my notes from this morning? Specifically the list of patients who spent the night in the same room that the clinic’s device was found in?” Twilight asked.

“Um, sure. Why?” Spike asked, out of curiosity.

“I have a sneaking suspicion that Dexter spent the night in the same room that the device we looked at this morning was found in,” Twilight said. “Oh, and prepare to take a letter to the princess.”

---

“What? The device was destroyed?” Princess Celestia asked, forcing her tone to remain calm. Only years of practice allowed the white alicorn to successfully hide her disappointment at hearing what her captain had to say. It was unwelcomed news that had come in the middle of her meal, interrupting one of the few moments of quiet she got to spend with her sister.

“Yes, your highnesses. I just received a report ten minutes ago saying that the ’Mark One’ device found in the Ponyville clinic has been completely destroyed,” Captain Valiant repeated. He was a dark grey unicorn that wore a set of golden armor. To the average pony he was rather large, but he appeared rather small in comparison to the alicorn princesses.

“How did this happen?” Princess Luna questioned, taking her eyes away from her older sister. The dark blue alicorn wasn’t hesitant to let her disappointment show through her voice.

“According to the report, four changeling infiltrators ambushed and overpowered the guards protecting the device.” The captain explained. “They released their comrades and immediately destroyed the device. The attack itself lasted less than two minutes, and the changeling attackers disappeared before any of the other guards nearby could pursue. I’ve sent another detachment to Ponyville, but I’m afraid there is little chance of catching the attackers.”

“This ... is completely unacceptable, Captain.” Princess Luna began, her tone was sharp as she spoke quickly. However, she had paused for a moment, which gave the captain a chance to respond.

“With respect, your highness.” His expression remained stoic as did his voice. “Once Prince Shining Armor learned about the device’s ability to detect changelings, he took over managing the operation directly despite the considerable distance between himself and Ponyville. “The captain defended himself. “I was relieved from overseeing how the device was handled, and from conducting the operation to bring it back to Canterlot.”

There was another moment of silence, as Luna considered his words. He was right and she knew it, she should not have vented her frustrations on him about the matter.

“That will be all Captain, thank you.” Princess Celestia said, dismissing the guard. As he left, the white alicorn stood up and walked over to the window. She wore a grimace of contemplation. Once the guard left the room she spoke again.

“It’s rare to see the changelings respond to something so quickly; it only goes to show that the ‘mark one’ was invaluable.” Celestia sighed, sounding frustrated as she turned toward her younger sister. The dark alicorn was still sitting at the dining table, no longer eating but rather studying her older sister. “A method to reliably detect the changelings would have been a game changer. It would have given the ponies outside Canterlot some form of defense against them, as well as forced Queen Chrysalis to the negotiating table for the first time in this country’s history.”

“Its destruction was an immense loss.” Luna agreed.

“And yet, the changelings have proven again, as they have many times before, that they have our intelligence infrastructure hopelessly compromised and can act within Equestria’s borders with impunity.” Celestia rubbed her temple with a hoof, at times she felt like the entire changeling situation was a hopeless mess. “Which shouldn’t be a surprise, I suppose. The existence of changelings was considered merely a myth for centuries. They kept their entire existence secret from us until the day an army of them appeared on our doorstep.”

“I think it was a mistake, on our part, not getting directly involved sooner.” Luna replied,

“I agree Luna, but we couldn’t take the chance of drawing attention to the device.” Celestia admitted , starting to pace about the room. “Though now I see it was too optimistic of me to think that the changelings hadn’t noticed it already. They may have even known about it before we did.”

“Either way, now that the device is destroyed, we need to find out where it came from. Maybe it is possible to procure another one.” Luna suggested.

“We don’t know exactly where the device came from.” The white alicorn responded, turning back toward her sister.

“Why not?” Luna asked, despite the fact she had a good idea why. “What do we know?”

“Ever since the ‘Mark One’ was discovered, the focus had been on figuring out how it worked in order to replicate its technology, so that we could build devices that could detect changelings. The origins of the device were not of high concern, as it didn’t matter where the device came from so long as we could reverse-engineer it.” Celestia explained. “As for what we know about its origin, we have some sketchy reports.”

“The hospital staff said it appeared in a patient’s room overnight.” Celestia went on, reviewing the information for herself as she went. “According to what the hospital staff reported, one of the patients claimed to have built the device and the other claims to have witnessed him building it. However, the one who claimed to build it was diagnosed as a compulsive liar, Munchausen Syndrome, prior to the discover of the device, and the other was drowning in half a pharmacy’s worth of narcotic pain medication due to an abnormally high number of broken bones.”

“I see,” Princess Luna answered, her eyes narrowing in thought as she processed her older sister’s words. “Not the most credible of witnesses I take it?”

“Unfortunately.” Celestia confirmed. “The rest of the hospital staff didn’t witness anything that could tell us where the device came from, and many of them understandably didn’t believe the patients’ story. Though a few of them think one of the patients may have had something to do with it.”

“Either way, one of us needs to become directly involved in this. We’re the only two ponies in Equestria that have enough raw magical strength to break through a changeling’s illusion magic,” Luna replied. “If even the guards in Ponyville are compromised, I don’t think we can risk anything less at this point.”

“And I think we both know who is going,” Luna finished flatly.

“Luna, your duties here are important. Don’t be so quick to think of yourself as—“ Celestia began.

However, she was cut off abruptly by the dark alicorn, who had traces of bitterness in her voice. “Please, sister, don’t patronize me. I know my night court gets only a quarter of the traffic your day court does, and half of what I do is sent to the day court for review and approval at the request of the court petitioners anyway. I have much more time to spare than you do.” Luna replied, failing to hide the resentment and frustration seeping into her tone. “I’ll go, and investigate this.”

“Thank you, Luna,” Celestia said, approaching her younger sister before nuzzling the lunar princess. “I know you’re trying Luna, but earning back everypony’s trust is going to take time. I know it will happen though.”

“I know, it’s just hard to believe sometimes that everypony has forgiven me for Nightmare Moon,” Luna replied, almost at a whisper this time. “Sometimes it almost feels like they don’t.”

“In time Luna, in ti—“ Their tender moment was interrupt by a flash and a pop, a blaze of green flame had appeared before the two alicorns and produced a scroll fell before extinguishing.

“hmm, what do we have here?” Celestia mused, as she raised an eyebrow and retrieved the scroll with her aura of yellow magic.

“What is it?” Luna asked as Celestia unfurled the scroll. “Has Twilight something new to report?”

Celestia unfurled the scroll before reading it aloud.

Dear Princess Celestia,.

I am writing concerning the device you and Shining sent me to study this morning, given that you requested to be informed of anything I believed to be significant concerning said device.

Although I have nothing to add to the technical specifications I sent you earlier, I do have an idea as to where we can learn more about where the device came from.

I have recently made the acquaintance of a new resident to Ponyville. An eight-year-old foal named Dexter.

After meeting him today, I do not hesitate to say that he is probably the smartest colt his age I have ever met. He was far more knowledgeable about math and science than I was at his age, and when I spoke with him I felt like I was speaking to a university professor, despite his rather immature attitude.

Normally, I would not bother you with this as even I would not think much of it. However, I have also recently discovered that he was one of the patients that spent the night in the same room the ‘Mark One’ was found.

Now, I know it sounds very far-fetched to say that an eight-year-old earth pony colt, with no known scientific or academic history, built an extremely advanced device overnight—especially factoring in the knowledge that said device is possibly decades more advanced than anything else in Equestria—and that he did not use any magic in its construction or design.

However, whether or not he was involved in building the device, I do not believe it was a coincidence that somepony with his considerable knowledge of science just so happened to spend the night in the same room that said device suddenly appeared.

I believe he, at the very least, had the opportunity to inspect the device and may provide us with some valuable insight on its operations or origins.

I will attempt to investigate his connection with the device’s appearance, as well as whatever he might have learned about the device during his time with it. But, as it stands now, I will continue to focus on the device itself until it is shipped to Canterlot.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.

“She doesn’t know the device has been destroyed.” Luna said, as her sister rolled up the scroll.

“I know, I’ll send her a letter in a moment. However, somepony will need to speak with this colt on the chance that Twilight’s suspicions are correct,“ Celestia paused, as she took a moment to think. Luna didn’t need her to speak to know what was on her mind. “I am skeptical to the idea that he knows anything of value, but at this point, I’m unwilling to leave any stone unturned.”

“I shall go and question the colt first thing tomorrow morning,” Luna replied.

“No,” Celestia replied.

“No?” Luna asked, slightly confused.

“What I mean is, go to Ponyville and investigate the origins of the device,” Celestia began to explain. “Even question the colt named Dexter if you feel it is necessary, but don’t jump to conclusions. And be subtle about questioning the colt if you do.”

“Why?” Luna asked.

“Hopefully, Twilight hasn’t shared her suspicions about the colt with anyone else. And I’ll ask her to keep it that way.” Celestia went on. “But if you, in the course of your investigation, make Dexter a pony of interest, then the changelings will take note of him as well. I shudder to think what they’d do to the colt if they mistook him as a threat, especially if they think he built the device or could lead us to whoever did.”

“I see,” Luna replied. “I have a relationship with the foals of Ponyville, since I visit them every Nightmare Night. It wouldn’t be seen as too unusual if I were to visit with them, especially since Nightmare Night is in two weeks.”

“I understand, but nonetheless, don’t drag the foal into this if you don’t need to.” Celestia cautioned. “We should avoid turning him into a target if we can.”

“I understand,” Luna answered. She was about to get up and leave when another green flash deposited another scroll in front of her sister.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Just to clarify, this is a friendship report. Today I met a foal who was completely and utterly unwilling to make friends, on top of being one of the most insulting ponies I’d have ever met ...

---

Author's Notes:

Well, There you have it guys. I hope you liked it.

A little contest, count the number of ways Dexter insulted Pinkie Pie in the paragraph with the *..(Hint, it's more than five.)

If you want to know what Dexter sounded like when he was calling Pinkie Pie stupid repeatedly, it sounds very similar then when he gave the same treatment to his sister Dee Dee Also, that link is part of a playlist on Cartoon Network's youtube channel. It plays previews for Dexter's Lab, so if anyone hasn't seen Dexter's Lab before, (and some of you said you have not seen it) watch a few previews to get an idea of what he is like - if you want to.

A BIG SPECIAL THANKS to the proofreaders/editors: Omnicron25, Airchi, Nucnik, and Vandenbz - No really, thank these guys. Normally I would be proofing for a couple days but they shaved that off to an afternoon.

PS: Almost forgot, I will be changing the cover art sometime tomorrow. So don't be surprised if you get a notification of some kind but there isn't another new chapter.

Huge Creepy Eyes

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Twilight sat at her kitchen table in the silence of the early morning. A book sat open on the table before her as she leisurely sipped from a mug of tea she held in a purple aura.

The library was quiet, much like the rest of the town at such an early hour. It was too early in the morning for most others to be awake, something Rarity and Spike would have agreed with if they weren’t still asleep.

Twilight would have been asleep too, however, she was expecting a visitor. The visitor wasn’t due to arrive for another half hour, which was why Twilight was surprised to hear someone knocking on her door.

“Just a minute!” Twilight called from her kitchen, trying to make her voice loud enough to be heard but not loud enough to wake her sleeping friends upstairs. She put down her mug as she stood up and left the kitchen. After a short walk through the library, Twilight opened the front door using her magic, revealing a tall dark blue mare.

“Princess Luna, you’re early, please come in.” Twilight said with a bow as she stepped aside, allowing the alicorn entry. She was followed by two Solar Guards in their standard-issue golden armor, something that Twilight felt was odd. Princess Luna was usually escorted by her own Lunar Guard.

“We wish to thank thee, Twilight.” Luna said as she motioned for the unicorn to stand, “We appreciate thy willingness to rise so early in this morn to-”However, the dark alicorn paused abruptly, realizing she let her speech slip again.

“How are you, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked, beginning again. She was determined to modernize her speech, but still slipped up often enough.

“I’m fine Princess, and it’s no problem at all.” Twilight replied, a small smile forming on her face. She was glad to see the night alicorn again. If the two weren’t friends, then they were at least on friendly terms. “I understand that your sleep schedule makes meeting with ponies later in the day a bit more difficult for you.”

“It is of no difficulty,” Luna replied, enthusiasm slowly growing. “The night is beautiful and I would never trade it for the day”

“Besides,” Luna remarked. “Blueblood is asleep during the night, if the simpleton were to pester my night court with the trivialities he plagues upon my sister, I’d send him to the moon.”

Twilight give a short laugh. “Well, I’m also happy to make myself available to meet with you whenever you need it, Princess,” Twilight replied.

“I must apologize though, Twilight,” Luna continued. “I should correspond with you more often, that isn’t to say I haven’t read the letters you’ve sent to my sister. But I should take the time to write to you myself.”

“I would appreciate that your highness,” Twilight answered, her smile growing a little more. Though, it didn’t last, as she recalled Celestia’s last letter. “Though, the last letter Princess Celestia sent was sort of vague,” Twilight recalled, with slight confusion in her voice. “Other than informing me of your visit this morning, she didn’t say much ...”

“Yes, I know,” Luna said as she glanced around the room, as though weary of an eavesdropper, though she knew there were none. “My sister has decided we should take a more cautious approach toward the situation at the hospital involving the changelings.”

“Why?” Twilight said in surprise. “Has something happened?”

“The changelings attacked the guards at the hospital early last night.” Luna began to explain. “Four of them attacked the guards who were watching over the device and the two detained changeling prisoners. Unfortunately, they managed to free their captured kin.”

“They attacked the guards directly?” Twilight asked, almost confused. Despite changelings demonstrating a willingness to launch a forward assault, it was highly unusual.

“Yes,” Luna explained. “I know it is rather unusual for changelings to attack guards openly. Other than their invasion at your brother’s wedding, they normally use deception and subterfuge to accomplish their goals.” The night princess turned toward the window to glimpse at the sunrise. “Which is why I think Celestia is being cautious now.”

“Cautious?” Twilight asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

“I’m sorry, I should explain better.” Luna replied, turning back toward Twilight. “These two are for you.” Luna said, motioning toward the two solar guards that had followed her in.

“You’re assigning guards to me?” Twilight asked, slightly taken back in surprise. “Isn’t that a bit much?”

“I would agree, it seems excessive, “Luna admitted. “But sister was insistent, and, I understand her reasons. The changelings wouldn’t have openly assaulted our guards unless they felt it was extremely important. With that being said, Sister felt assigning guards to you was a wise precaution.”

“Yes, but I doubt they would do anything …” Twilight continued.

“Changelings have shown a clear willingness to foalnap ponies before,” Luna explained, “And you possess the only knowledge we were able to glean from the device. That makes you a target for them.”

“Well, what about the device itself?” Twilight asked. “If anything they’d go after it before trying to-“

“The device was destroyed.” Luna said, interrupting Twilight before she could finish her question. “With absolutely no chance of gleaning any more information about how it worked.”

“What?” Twilight asked, her eyes widening in surprise. “Destroyed?”

“Yes,” Luna repeated, before explaining. “The device is now completely unrecognizable. It was exposed extreme heat, several components were melted or vaporized. There is no chance of learning anything further by studying it, for there is literally nothing left to study.”

“What? No no no!” Twilight shouted, causing Luna to blink in surprise at the unicorn’s sudden outburst. Her words were apparently loud enough to wake one of the sleeping individuals upstairs, as she could hear someone getting up and walking in a room above. “That device was incredible! We could have learned so much from it, and not just about detecting changelings.”

Luna stood silent for a moment, still slightly taken aback. Her subjects rarely ever spoke in such a manner around her, let alone having an outburst. Though, she actually found it slightly amusing. Twilight’s eagerness to learn, as well as curiosity, was as insatiable as Celestia had so fondly described.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Princess.” Twilight quickly apologized when she realized her outburst.

Luna merely chuckled in response. “Tis quiet alright, Twilight Sparkle. We- I share the same feelings as you do on the matter.”

Twilight sighed in frustration as she walked over toward one of the library’s tables. She glanced at a scroll, a letter that Celestia had sent the night before which was resting on top of the table.

“Maybe it’s not all lost,” Twilight said thinking aloud. However, noticing Luna’s curious gaze prompted her to explain. “There’s a colt, named Dexter, who might know something about where the device came from.”

“Yes, I am aware of your suspicions,” Luna answered. “I was with Celestia when she received your letter.”

“But, Celestia remains... skeptical,” Luna went on. “At first, I was willing to question the foal immediately. However, after discussing it with Celestia, we’ve decided investigate the situation objectively.”

“Huh? Does that mean you’re not going to talk to him?” Twilight began, trying to think of the best way to voice her objection. “Considering the circumstances, I don’t think his proximity to the device was all coincidence.”

“I agree, Twilight,” Luna replied. “But Sister wishes to avoid turning the foal into a target. Questioning him would draw the changelings’ attention.” Luna explained. “The colt is one of our subjects, and a foal no less. We don’t want him put at risk without good cause. Such a reason requires stronger evidence than circumstance.”

“Trust me, Princess,” Twilight went on. “That colt is one of the most curious foals I’ve ever met; there is no way a device as advanced as the ‘Mark One’ was sitting in his room without him getting a look at it.”

“I believe you, Twilight,” Luna answered, trying to reassure the mare. “But there are many things that need to be investigated. I will question him if that is where my investigation leads me.”

---

On the other side of Ponyville ...

The sun was just peeking over the horizon when Applejack had finally managed to usher Applebloom and Dexter out the front door. Dexter, as always, was eager for school and another opportunity to learn. However, Applebloom was a different story. In her opinion, waking up anytime in the morning for school was too early.

“C’mon Applebloom,” Applejack said, nudging the filly forward. “Quit draggin’ yer hooves.”

Applebloom muttered something unintelligible in response. It was evident by the expression on her face that she would rather be anywhere else at the moment, so long as she was asleep while she was there.

“Please hurry, Appleboom.” Dexter chimed in. “Your delay shall impede our efforts for scholastic edification.”

“Huh?” the tired filly said, shooting a drowsy look of confusion at the colt.

“We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up, and might miss something important.” Dexter translated.

“In fact, Applebloom.” Applejack continued, nudging the filly forward again. “You go on ahead, Ah want ta have a word with Dexter.”

That, however, seemed to catch the filly’s attention, causing her to look up at Applejack. “What fer?” she asked groggily. Dexter reacted by merely tilting his head, curious as to why Applejack wanted to talk to him so early.

“Go on,” Applejack said, motioning the filly forward. “We’ll catch up in a bit.” She intentionally avoided answering the filly’s question.

Applebloom responded with a nod before quickening her pace slightly, putting her well ahead of the colt and mare. However, Dexter didn’t wait for her to get very far ahead before he voiced his question.

“What is it that you want to talk to me about, Miss Applejack?” Dexter asked, keeping his tone polite.

“It’s jus Applejack, Dex.” The mare replied, keeping her voice even. They continued to walk for a few moments in silence, before Applejack glanced at the colt and began again. “Dex, is there something bothering you? Is there something ya’d like ta talk about?”

“Umm … no, why?” Dexter asked, confused by the question. He didn’t know why Applejack would be asking.

“Are ya sure?” Applejack pressed.

“Well,” Dexter began. “I have to admit, I am a little concerned that Miss Cheerilee still thinks of me as average.” Dexter said as he scratched his head with a hoof as small traces of annoyance seeped into his tone.

He had once taken an intelligence test which, by mistake, rated him as average. That turned his whole world upside down, as he tried and failed miserably to do ‘average’ things. Eventually he found out the truth, but not before he had several experiences he wished he could forget.

But all that happened on his own world, he couldn’t even begin to explain it to Applejack.

“Other than that, I am fine,” Dexter replied, earning a glance from the mare.

“Well then, can ya tell me why you’ve been actin’ up lately?” Applejack asked, earning another look of confusion from the colt.

“What? I haven’t done anything wrong!” Dexter replied hastily. His tone was defensive and his words were rushed. “What makes you say that?”

“Well ...” Applejack began with a sigh. “I know tha mess at Rarity’s boutique wasn’t entirely yer fault, but in tha four days I’ve been watching ya, ya talked bad about the Princess, ya were disrespectful to yer teacher, ya lied to a pair of royal guards of all ponies, and ya blew up at Pinkie Pie.”

Dexter continued to walk in silence as he processed Applejack’s words. The mare in question glanced over at Dexter, waiting for a reply. In retrospect, he had to admit that the past four days had a number of blunders.

“You’re correct Miss Appl-er, Applejack,” Dexter acknowledged. “And I am under the impression that I have already presented sufficient verbal reconciliation for my lack of discretion toward Pinkie Pie.”

Applejack glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.

“I already apologized,” Dexter replied.

“Why’d she make you so upset?” Applejack asked, concern in her voice as her gaze scrutinized the colt. Not in a harsh manner, but rather trying to see if there was something visibly wrong with him.

“I ... well,” Dexter began, unsure of how to respond. “She reminded me of my sister.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“My sister and I don’t get along very well,” Dexter explained.

“Ya treat yer sister like that?!” Applejack asked in surprise.

“Umm ... yes?” Dexter affirmed, causing Applejack to frown. “It’s not like she doesn’t deserve it.”

“No pony deserves tah be treated like that!” Applejack rebutted indignantly.

“You never knew my sister,” Dexter replied simply, recalling the numerous times his older sister had destroyed his lab or put someone’s life, typically his, in danger.

“It don’t matter, Pinkie Pie doesn’t deserve to be treated like that and yer sister especially shouldn’t be treated like that,” Applejack said in frustration. Dexter, wisely, chose not to reply. “By tha time they find yer parents, ah’m gonna make sure ya know how ya treat family!” The mare declared, which only received a few moments of silence before Dexter replied.

“Very well,” The colt said, trying to keep his reply neutral. He wasn’t inclined to explain his feelings, nor was he about to explain his history with Dee Dee. “If that is all then you may rest assured that-”

“That ain’t all of it, Dex.” Applejack said, cutting him off. “Pinkie Pie reminding ya of yer sister doesn’t explain some of the other things ya’ve done.”

Dexter groaned internally, he half expected something like this to come up.

“Forgive me Applejack,” Dexter began. “But it doesn’t matter how many ponies say it, or whatever amount of propaganda are in the books at the library, I still don’t believe that a equine princess can move the sun,” Dexter said in a firm tone, but still trying to not sound confrontational.

“What?” Applejack asked, slightly confused. “No, this ain’t about that at all. Though we’d probably should get ta it sooner er later,” Applejack replied. “This is about how ya lied ta the guard the other day after I took ya to meet Cheerilee.”

“Huh?” Dexter replied, it was his turn to be confused.

“Ya lied ta the guard, Dex,” Applejack bluntly stated.

“What? I never lied!” Dexter protested, starting to feel a little nervous. Unfortunately though, his protest was another lie. He could recall lying to the guard; he had done so out of a combination of fear, as the guards were slightly intimidating to the eight year old, and the desire to keep his astonishing ability to create feats of science a secret.

“Aaannd that’s a lie,” Applejack replied with a frown.

“No, I didn’t lie. Honest!” Dexter replied, earning an aggravated sigh from the mare who also face-hoofed.

“Dexter, ya don’t know tha meaning of tha word ‘honest’ like ah do,” she answered before looking back at the colt.

“Um ... heh,” Dexter audibly gulped, trying to think up something to say. “Which part did I lie about?”

“Dexter, you know about which part,” Applejack said, glancing ahead. They were approaching the school.

“How come you’re so sure I was lying?” Dexter replied defensively. If he still walked on two legs he would have folded his arms in indignation. “You’ve only known me for four days now, and you think you can already tell when I am lying.”

“How ah know yer lying is beside tha point, Dex,” Applejack replied. Being the Element of Honesty, she had confronted a few lies before.

“Well, even if I did lie,” Dexter began. “I’m not saying I did lie, but if I did, then how can you be sure I didn’t lie simply because I knew that the guards wouldn’t find what I had to say important,” Dexter replied, his question was just another distraction. Having kept his lab a secret for many years, he had learned to be rather evasive.

“Dexter,” Applejack sighed. Dragging the truth out of others could be like pulling teeth. “That’s not something fer an eight year old foal like you tah decide,” Applejack went on. “Now, Ah can understand if yer a little intimidated by tha guard. So, if you know something ya can just tell me an’ ah’ll go an’ tell em fer you,” Applejack offered. “They asked ya if yah knew something about a device or somethin.”

“Well, maybe I don’t trust them,” Dexter retorted.

“Dexter ...” Applejack said in a warning tone. “The guards are investigating changelings, and that’s a serious matter,” Applejack replied. “I know ‘cause I’ve had to deal with those varmints before.”

“Really?” Dexter asked, a bit skeptical. Though, apparently Applejack was a level of honest above him. If not several. So he didn’t immediately assume she was lying. “And what about these ‘changelings’ make them so formidable?”

“Dexter, trust me when ah say they’re dangerous,” Applejack replied.

However, despite believing that Applejack wasn’t lying, he still didn’t believe her.

Dexter had read a little bit on changelings during his visit to the library, and what he read scared him. But not in the way Applejack would expect.

“With respect Applejack,” Dexter began. “I feel that whole changeling threat is a hoax. I mean, according you your history, changelings were mere myth until only just recently. I find it more than convenient that this threat, which was considered mere myth a few years ago, suddenly appears and grants the princesses and the military the ability to round up anyone they please on suspicion alone.”

“No, No, Dex,” Applejack replied. “Ya got it all wrong, changelings are real. Ah was in Canterlot when they attacked tha city ...” Applejack began. She soon gave a brief recount of what happened to her and her friends during the changeling attack.

They had attempted to take over Canterlot by force, after sneaking an entire army of infiltrators into the city. The changeling queen, Chrysalis, lead the assault. However, the attack failed because of a strategic blunder, or oversight, on part of the changeling queen.

If it wasn’t for that blunder, Equestria might have lost.

“So ya see Dex, tha changelings ain’t the sort tah be trifled with,” Applejack said, as she finished her recollection of the attack.

“Wait, wait, wait ...” Dexter said, after processing what Applejack had told him. “You’re telling me,” he began skeptically. “You’re telling me, that the changeling queen, who was the tactical genius to sneak an entire army of her soldiers into the capital, lost because she failed to spare a few soldiers to guard the one prisoner who’s freedom was the only real threat to her plans?”

Applejack blinked as she processed Dexter’s words, but Dexter continued before she could respond.

“And that this queen, who was stronger than the alicorn that could supposedly move the sun, was defeated by the power of ‘love’?” Dexter finished rhetorically. “Your story is not only inconsistent, it sounds like a fairy tale.”

“Ya really don’t believe me, Dex?” Applejack asked, astonishment at the colt’s skepticism slipping into her voice despite her attempts to hide it. “Ah know what ah saw Dex, ah was there.”

“Applejack,” Dexter responded, cutting her off before she could say more. “Do you still believe that your princess can move the sun, an object over which is over three hundred thousand times the size of the planet you’re standing on?”

Applejack merely let out a frustrated sigh as she rubbed a hoof to her forehead. Though, before she could say anything else, the sound of the school bell ringing in the distance met their ears.

“There’s the bell,” Dexter said as he quickened his pace.

However, he had only made it a few paces before he heard Applejack’s voice.

“Dexter,” Applejack said firmly, causing the colt to stop and look back. “We’re not finished, Ah wanna know the truth of what you lied ta the guards about.” Her voice was even, though firm. “Ya understand?”

“I understand,” Dexter replied, carefully choosing his words.

“Now go on, get ta class.” She said as he motioned with her head, at which point Dexter continued toward the school.

The colt wasn’t entirely sure how she could tell that he was lying, but he was confident that he could get out of it.

Dexter continued into the schoolhouse where, much to his surprise, he found Applebloom waiting for him. She appeared much more awake and alert now.

“Hey, Dex?” Applebloom said to the colt as he passed by her.

“Yes, Applebloom?” Dexter sighed.

“Don’t try ta lie ta Applejack,” The filly advised. “She can always tell when somepony’s lyin’.”

“Oh really? And how’s that?” Dexter asked.

“She’s tha Element of Honesty, Dex. It has somethin’ ta do with magic ...”

---

The school day had gone quickly for Dexter. He didn’t have to deal with a certain bully anymore, as Diamond Tiara was absent. The filly was probably too embarrassed to show up at school with a burnt tiara and mane. But she wasn’t the only pony absent.

The class’s teacher, Cheerilee, was also absent. Apparently she was out sick. The substitute teacher happened to be Avid Aura, and would be filling in for Cheerilee over the next new few days.

Dexter was actually surprised to see the counselor. Apparently some recent activity at the hospital had made ponies weary of going there lately, leading to a number of cancelled appointments for her . She had apparently been a substitute teacher before, on the few occasions that the school needed one.

The unicorn was glad to see that Dexter was doing fine, though she still didn’t have any news for him about his parents. Obviously, Dexter didn’t expect any.

The rest of the day had proceeded normally, at least until Dexter ran into the Cutie Mark Crusaders after school let out. It seems that they didn’t have as much homework, Cheerilee wasn’t around to assign more.

Which meant the fillies were going crusading, and Dexter didn’t need to guess who they wanted to drag along.

“Alright, alright! I’ll come crusading with you...” Dexter succumbed with a sigh, eliciting a cheer from the fillies. Being single-minded, Dexter wanted to spend his time either reading, pursuing science, or working on his lab. But his lack of materials made building the lab slow, and he wasn’t about to go to the library to read. The risk of meeting Rarity or Pinkie Pie again was too great.

However, the fillies were also persistent. Each of them shared Applebloom’s horror that Dexter ‘didn’t know his special talent.’ He knew he should probably find out how to get out of that lie, as doing so might get the fillies to back off. But until that time, he found the fillies to be unrelenting. So he finally yielded to the children’s unending invitations to go ‘crusading’.

A small part of him was optimistic though, the excursion could lend some insight into the pony’s cutie mark phenomenon.

“So long as we don’t go anywhere near the boutique,” He declared. “I don’t want to do anything that could get us in trouble.”

“Don’t worry Dexter. Rarity said the boutique is off limits until it’s fixed.” Sweetie Belle reassured him. “Well, no. She said it was off limits until ‘the end of time.’ But I’m pretty sure she just meant until it was fixed.”

“So what did you girls have in mind this time?” Dexter asked, with a small amount of hesitation hidden within his tone.

“Well ... actually we haven’t figured that part out yet.” Scootaloo replied, causing Dexter to facehoof. “Hey girls, what do you think we should try? Or try again? Any of you feeling like you know what your cutie mark is going to be?”

The other two fillies grimaced in thought as Scootaloo tapped a hoof to her chin in concentration. Dexter merely rolled his eyes and sat on his haunches, waiting. He began counting the seconds until one of them spoke again.

“What about bungee jumpin’?” Applebloom suggested hopefully, looking at the other two fillies.

“That sounds fun,” Sweetie Belle replied, sounding slightly hesitant. Dexter could understand why, considering what he’s heard about the fillies’ attempts at various tasks. A failure at Bungee Jumping could result in nothing but a long drop and a very abrupt stop.

“Nah, I don’t think so,” Scootaloo replied, earning slightly confused looks from the other fillies. “Falling doesn’t mean the same thing to us pegasi as it does to ponies without wings,” she said, flexing the masses of feathers attached to her sides.

“What? Why?” Applebloom began with a raised eyebrow. “It’s not like you can fly.”

That earned Appleboom a look of annoyance from Scootaloo, who was about to respond when Dexter cut in.

“I agree with Scootaloo, ” Dexter said with a grimace. He took a moment to let his imagination run wild. He envisioned telling the fillies the precise length the bungee cord should be, but because of another lapse in following directions, splat. “I think we should try something else.”

“Okay, fine,” Applebloom conceded.

“How about welding?” Sweetie Belle suggested to the other fillies, who seemed to approve. However, Dexter’s mind was suddenly filled with images of burning fillies with an oxy acetylene tank also bathing in fire, ready to make Rarity’s boutique a crater.

“No way,” Dexter said, earning grimaces of disappointment from the other foals.

“What about wood chipping?” Applebloom replied. “There is some acreage on the border between tha farm and tha everfree that needs clear’n.” Applebloom explained, excitement growing in her voice.

There was another flash of imagery in Dexter’s mind; a trio of fillies were hopelessly tangled in the branches of a tree as it was slowly consumed by an industrial sized wood chipper.

“Nope! Pick something else,” Dexter demanded, fighting away the horrifying imagery. ‘These girls are going to add a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘succeed or die trying, ’’ he thought.

“How about we try being candy makers?” Sweetie Belle suggested, finally voicing an idea Dexter could agree with. But it didn’t last.

“Yah, maybe we can get Pinkie Pie to help us with making treats; she really good at it and can probably show us how too! ” Scootaloo replied eagerly.

“Wait what?” Dexter abruptly interrupted the orange filly, a look of near panic on his face. “Did you say Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes ...” Scootaloo nodded, puzzled by Dexter’s reaction.

“No,” Dexter shook his head, his voice rang with unrelenting certainty. “No. Nope. No ... Never. Nope.”

“Well why not?” Sweetie Belle asked, starting to get annoyed with the negative colt.

“Yah, ya been shooting down all our ideas, but yer not suggesting any,” Applebloom added.

“Well, I must admit I haven’t given it much thought,” Dexter answered hesitantly.

“Then it’s settled, we’ll go find Pinkie Pie and she’ll show us how to-“ Applebloom began again only to be cut off.

“No! Just … just let me think of something,” Dexter replied quickly, a hint of annoyance in his tone as he turned away from the trio of fillies.

He wouldn’t mind letting them go bake sweets with Pinkie Pie, but the fillies were insistent that he join them, and his sanity might not survive round two with the Pink Monstrosity .

Only if their enthusiasm could be put to good use, then maybe he might at least do something productive while the girls dragged him out on these excursions. Dexter had even planned out a few experiments with magic that Sweetie Belle could help him with, assuming the young unicorn was willing. But, alas, his lab was far from complete. He was still in desperate need of raw materials.

That’s when the colt let out an audible gasp.

“THAT’S IT!” Dexter cheered. An idea had struck. The fillies only looked at him in confusion, startled by his sudden outburst. “Heh … I mean, girls, have you ever tried getting a cutie mark in ‘salvage ’?”

---

“Tell me, why are we collecting this junk again?” Scootaloo asked, though her tone could be mistaken for a complaint. The three fillies and Dexter had spent the past three hours running around Ponyville, collecting whatever discarded items Dexter deemed possibly useful.

He had selected mostly metal object or devices, like broken toasters that had been discarded. Needless to say, metallic objects tended to be heavy when collected in large numbers. Though the fillies wouldn’t be deterred easily, and much to Dexter’s surprise, they were actually finding a decent amount of material Dexter could recycle.

That is, until they hit the jackpot.

Eventually they came across the Ponyville clinic, the place where Dexter began his life in Equestria. Fortunately for the foals ’ endeavors, the hospital had thrown out all of the medical devices Dexter had meddled with five days ago when he built his ‘Medical Diagnostic Module.’

The unwanted equipment was a gold mine as far as Dexter was concerned.

So the foals managed to haul their findings back to the farm, not raising so much as an eyebrow from any of the townsfolk. Apparently the Cutie Mark Crusaders had built up quite a reputation for shenanigans in their quest to obtain cutie marks, and no one thought twice when they saw the fillies hauling a strange assortment of objects in their miniature wagon.

However, Dexter spotted one pony who seemed to take notice. It was their teacher, Cheerilee. The purple mare had spotted the foals outside the hospital. She was staring at them, or more specifically at Dexter, with an almost scrutinizing gaze. However, her expression changed to a pleasant smile followed by a friendly wave when the foals noticed her.

By the time they were done, the foals had accumulated a large pile of what appeared to be junk and other random and broken objects at the base of the CMC’s club treehouse.

“Seriously? Why do we have this pile of junk?” Scootaloo repeated, As far as she was concerned, they had spent the entire afternoon playing ‘trashmare.’

“Weren’t ya listenin’ ta Dexter?” Applebloom said, responding to Scootaloo’s question. “We’re trying to see if we have special talents at salvagn’ stuff. You know, taking what’s broke or unwanted and fixin’ it up to make it useful again.”

“Yah, Scootaloo,” Sweetie belle piped in. “We haven’t even gotten to the salvaging part of it yet.”

“Well, I’m already beat,” the orange filly complained. “And to be honest, I don’t think I want a Cutie Mark in collecting garbage, salvage or not.”

“Ah’m all fer calln’ it quits.” Applebloom agreed, as she slid onto the ground and laid down on her stomach. “An still no cutie mark,” she said, with a quick check of her flank.

“You know,” Dexter said, rubbing his chin. He had been listening to the filly’s conversation as he sorted through the pile of junk, and something they said brought a question to mind. “I’ve been wondering, do ponies get cutie marks only in something they like, or can it be anything?”

“You tell us,” Applebloom answered, as she stretched her legs. “Yer tha one with the cutie mark.”

Dexter face contorted in contemplation, “Here, let me try something.” He said, before turning to the pile of junk and rifling through it. He eventually came back with a lens.

He turned to the closest of the foals, who turned out to be Scootaloo.

“Hold still,” he instructed as he started looking at her coat through the lens, inspecting various parts of her fur before focusing on where her cutie mark would be.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Scootaloo protested with a frown as she shifted uncomfortably under the colt’s gaze.

“Hold still,” Dexter instructed again. “I’m trying to see if there is a way to tell what your cutie mark is going to be.”

“Huh?” Sweetie Belle said, tilting her head in confusing. “Isn’t that supposed to be not possible?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Dexter began. “The hair follicles which produce the fur for a cutie mark should be observably different from the rest of your fur. Even before your cutie mark appears,” Dexter speculated.

“Nah Dex, Sweetie’s right. From what ah’ve been told, it’s magic,” Applebloom responded, resting her head on the grass. “Ya can’t tell what yer cutie mark is gonna be before ya get it. It appears on yer flank by magic. Before that, there just aint nothin’ there.”

“I very much doubt that. ” Dexter rolled his eyes. “I suspect there may be a way to discern which fur follicles are different,” Dexter continued, taking a moment to inspect his own cutie mark. “And if I can determine which patches of skin have different fur, I might be able to get an outline of your cutie mark before it appears.”

That seemed to get the fillies attention, though they weren’t exactly confident about what Dexter said.

“Nah, it won’t work,” Applebloom replied. “Ah asked if anythin’ like that was possible, and they told me it wasn’t. It’s supposed ta be magic”

“Yes, well, I suspect that you equines label anything that isn’t readily explainable as magic,” he said. “Just let me take a look.”

The next few minutes passed in silence as Dexter inspected the spot on Scootaloo’s fur where her cutie mark should be. The other fillies just watched in silence, inwardly grateful for the break from hauling junk across ponyville.

The magnifying lense wasn’t revealing much to Dexter. He had brushed Scootaloo’s fur several times, slowly pushing the fur to the side in order to see the skin underneath. However, despite his efforts, no discernable pattern was revealed to him. However his concentration was broken by the sound of another pony. A stallion to be precise.

“Ya like what ya see there, Dex?” He asked, it was Big Macintosh. The farmpony had been working the orchard as usual, when he happened upon a familiar sight - a mess at the base of the Cutie Mark Crusaders club house. He was about to tell the fillies to clean it up, before he spotted a much more peculiar sight. A young colt, in this case Dexter, was staring intently at a filly’s flank with some sort of lense.

It didn’t take much for Big Mac to guess what was happening. The foals were trying to see if there was a way to find out what a cutie mark was before it appeared. But he couldn’t help taking the opportunity to tease the colt a little.

“You havin’ fun look’n at Scootaloo’s flank?” he asked, his slightly playful tone betraying his intent to goad the young colt.

“Huh, what?” Dexter asked as he raised an eyebrow, looking up at the farmpony. He was slightly surprised at the red stallion’s sudden appearance. “Umm, I guess? As much fun as a boy genius could when looking for a cutie mark.”

“Oh, Ah’ve heard the whole inspectn’ a cutie mark excuse before,” Big Mac continued his ruse, despite it going completely over Dexter’s head. Though the red stallion was sure Dexter would figure it out soon enough. “But that excuse only works when she actually has a cutie mark ...”

That got a confused Dexter to glance at Big Macintosh again. Though he was only met with with Big Macintosh’s retreating form.

Applebloom, however, picked up on her older brother’s meaning. She had seen that type of teasing before, whenever the older colts of her extended family paid the town a visit.

Stifling a snicker, Applebloom whispered something in Sweetie Belle’s ear. Whatever it was, it caused the other filly to giggle before whispering back. This repeated several times, each time succeeded in annoying Dexter more than the last. Normally, he would tune it out, but his new pony ears seemed to move on their own, and direct themselves in the fillies’ direction.

“Girls?” Dexter said, trying to hide the annoyance in his tone. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“I dunno,” Sweetie Belle replied, snickering. “Would it be okay with Scootaloo?” She mocked.

“Huh?” The orange filly asked in confusion.

“Yah,” Applebloom chimed in. “She might not want ta let go of her new coltfriend!” The yellow filly joined in the teasing.

“Coltfriend?!” Scootaloo protested, suddenly backing away from Dexter. A blush growing on her face.

Dexter, however, took a few moments too stand stupidly in silence before he realized what ‘coltfriend’ meant.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Dexter said, backing away from the fillies. “I am not anyone’s ‘colt’ friend!” The eight year old rebutted. “Nope, no way, no how. I’m not ever gonna do that!” Typical of a child his age, the whole concept of romance was gross. “Never!”

“What? Never? Don’t you like girls?” Sweetie Belle chimed in, before flicking her mane and striking a pose. It was something she had seen Rarity do on a number of occasions, an act which she imitated rather accurately.

“No!” He blurted out, before catching himself. “I mean Yes! - No! I mean- I mean-”

Dexter’s slow and hesitant retreat was halted as he backed into the pile of salvage. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were still snickering, before fixing Dexter back in their gaze while grinning. Unfortunately, their huge pony eyes brought back a memory for Dexter. It was a rather bad experience with romance.

---

“Dee Dee!” Dexter said, as he rushed in through the front door of his family’s suburban home. His sister was there at the door the great him, holding it open as he passed through the threshold.

“Man, I’ve had the creeeepiest day,” Dexter said, as he walked in and put his backpack on the floor. His hands gestured wildly as if he were drawing pictures with his words as he quickly walked over to the living room coffee table. “Everywhere I went this little girl kept staring and staring at me, and she had these huge creepy eyes … eeeewwww” Dexter felt a chill crawl down his spine.

“Any mail for me?” Dexter asked, hoping to move on with his life and never look back.

“Noo ...” Dee Dee responded cheerfully, before slamming the door shut to reveal a previously hidden figure. “But you have a visitor!”

“Oh ... Hi-” Dexter turned to greet the newcomer, only to be met with the gaze of those creepy eyes. “-ayyyee ayyeee ayeeeee!!!” Dexter began to scream his less than manly little boy scream as he made a panicky run up the stairs and into his room, his arms flailing above his head the whole way.

Little did he know, the little girl merely had a crush on him, so to speak.

The moment he reached the top of the staircase he darted into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

“He’s up in his top secret lab ...” Dee Dee said, revealing Dexter’s secret sanctuary. It was ultimately the secrecy of his lab that the creepy-eyed girl would use to blackmail the boy into a relationship.

Luckily though, Dee Dee would provide the solution to his newfound problem.

---

“Hellloooo, Dee Dee!’ Dexter greeted, as he walked into the kitchen. His sister was sitting at the, table , devouring a bowl of cereal.

“What are you so happy about?” Dee Dee asked, in almost a mocking tone. “Is it because you’re in love?” She knew full well Dexter was having issues with a creepy-eyed girl at the moment. Said creepy girl was apparently relentless in her pursuit of the boy genius who , needless to say, didn’t return her advances.

“No No, you silly girl,” Dexter reassured her with a wave of his hand. “I’m happy because ...” He began. However, instant those words left his mouth, his pleasant smile contorted into an expression of equal parts panic and maniac glee.

“I FINALLY FOUND MAH LASER GUN!!!” Dexter shouted hysterically as he wiped out what looked like a space aged pistol, presenting it to his sister. It whined with the sound of capacitors charging.

Dee Dee, however, was so surprised by the sudden change in the boy genius that she spat out the cereal in her mouth, spraying it all over Dexter and his laser pistol.

“Dexter!” She shouted, before slapping him across the face. The strike was strong enough to bring him back to reality. “Violence is not the answer ...”

---

In retrospect, Dexter knew the subconscious reason why had gone to Dee Dee - in the hopes she would stop him from doing something regrettable.

Of course, the ponies would happen to also have huge eyes. They were the same ‘creepy’ eyes, now that Dexter thought about it. Were his new pony eyes just as big and creepy too?

Unfortunately for Dexter, Dee Dee wasn’t here to help him. And fortunately for the bantering fillies, Dexter didn’t have a laser gun. Yet.

Dexter drew a deep breath, his mind racing to come up with the right thing to say.

“I do like girls but I am no one’s boyfri-er ‘coltfriend.’” Dexter began hesitantly, his ears splayed back in nervousness. However, he drew a deep breath before unleashing a torrent of nervous and very rushed words. “and while I understand the function of romance for a sentient species I will not be entertaining any romantic notions whatsoever - furtheremore I will not be participating in any flirtatious behavior, childish crushes, nor any other behavior derived from a species need for procreation - especially when said behaviors can be considered romantic.”

The three fillies merely stared at him in confusion, not understanding a word he said. Though Dexter didn’t pick up on their confusion, as far as he could tell, he was still being stared down by three little girls with creepy large eyes.

“Heh heh,” Dexter let out a nervous chuckle. “Hey LOOK SALVAGE!” He shouted after he suddenly spun around and poked a hoof at the large pile of junk before him. “I BETTER FIND SOMETHING TO FIX!” In a matter of a few seconds, but what felt like hours to Dexter, he scrambled up the mound of junk and unceremoniously flung himself over to the other side where he landed with an audible crash.

After another moment of confused silence, the fillies glanced at one another.

“Boys are weird sometimes,” Applebloom commented, earning a nod of agreement from Scootaloo.

“What was that word he said?” Sweetie Belle asked with a raised eyebrow.

“‘Which word’ is more like it.” Scootaloo replied sarcastically.

“Dexter said the word ‘pro creation,’ any idea what it means?” asked the oblivious white filly.

“Don’ look at me,” Applebloom replied. “Ah don’t know.”

Sweetie Belle looked to Scootaloo.

“Pfff,’ Scootaloo rolled her eyes. She didn’t share the white unicorn’s affinity for learning new words. “Who cares, I could probably guess the definition.”

“I care,” Sweetie Belle protested. “And if you’re so smart, then what does it mean?”

“Hmm,” Scootaloo didn’t actually count on being asked. “If I had to guess, it means professional creator, kind of like how ‘pro flyer’ means professional flyer, or ‘pro’ hoofball player means professional hoofball player.”

“That’s not a dictionary definition!” Sweetie Belle protested again.

“Yah, it definitely ain’t an official definition, Scoots.” Applebloom agreed with the unicorn. “An I’d like tah know what it means ‘cause Ah aint ever heard it before an it might be somethin’ we look inta fer a cutie mark.”

“Well, if you’re so determined to find out, why don’t you ask Dexter?” Scootaloo said, taking an aggressive stance toward the other fillies. “He used it, so he knows what it means. And I bet you he agrees with me!”

. . .

“Hey Dexter?” The boy genius found himself surrounded once again by three fillies. He had left them only moments ago, still kind of weirded out by their teasing and large creepy eyes.

Someone would need to discuss appropriate responses with the colt.Though, thoroughly committed to pretending the last few moments never happened, Dexter didn’t hesitate to turn and reply to the fillies.

“Y-yes?” he asked.

“The girls and ah have never tried getting a cutie mark in ‘pro’ creation,” Applebloom began.

Dexter felt his heart stop.

“But fer that, the girls an I are gonna need-” Applebloom didn’t get to finish, she was cut off by a hysterical scream of panic from the young colt.

What exactly would the girls need for that? A small voice in his mind asked before the filly could finish. He did not like the answer said voice gave.

He bolted immediately. Dexter was sure a fast runner as a pony.

“-need tah know what ‘pro’ creation means ...” The yellow filly finished pitifully, watching the colt racing away through the orchard.

“Well, now how are we going to find out what it means?” Sweetie Belle complained, confused by the colt’s reaction. “And why is he acting so weird?”

“I don’t know about Dexter,” Scootaloo answered. “But I know how we can find what that word means, and prove I’m right for sure.”

“You mean, check a dictionary?” Sweetie Belle half-mocked.

“Wait and see,” Scootaloo said confidently. “You’ll see that we don’t need a dictionary.”

---

It was a calm afternoon at the golden oak’s library. Applejack had returned with Rarity to the library, after a day of working to repair the boutique. However, quitting time came sooner than expected, as Rarity managed to hurt her back while pulling some furniture .

Of course, Applejack thought it was all relatively easy work. But then again, the farm pony had to admit, she was far more used to manual labor. At the very least, Applejack didn’t have to drag Rarity away this time. So they returned to the library early, and just spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out.

“Well, I am glad to hear it Applejack.” Rarity said, continuing a conversation that was started hours ago. “I was afraid that Dexter may have been a little traumatized by the other night. I’ve been meaning to apologize to him when I can get the chance.”

“Well, ya should be able to at tha party Pinkie Pie is plan’n fer ‘em.” Applejack replied. “Is that why yer making a scarf?” Applejack pointed to the garment in question; held in Rarity’s magical grasp as she crafted it. It had the image of Dexter’s cutie mark on it.

“It is not a scarf!” Rarity protested hotly, “it’s a fashionable Neckerchief. ” She stated with a hint of indignance.

Applejack merely rolled her eyes.

“But to answer your question, yes.” Rarity admitted. “I want to give him a peace offering. I know I did go a bit overboard that night, and I wanted him to know that I am not that angry with him anymore. So I decided to make him something decent. After all, I figured he’d want to fit in with the Apple family, seeing how you all wear some form of clothing.”

“Wait, what?” Applejack replied. However, after a moment of thinking about it, she realized that Rarity was actually right. Even Granny Smith made a habit of wearing some clothing accessories.

“Well, Ah’m sure it’ll do. He didn’t seem too broke up about that night anyway.” Applejack answered.

Rarity, however, was about to reply when the library door swung open. Three fillies stood in the doorway, no longer appearing tired but rather recharged.

“Hey big sis!” Applebloom greeted the orange mare, then turned toward the other two elements. “Hi Twilight, Hi Miss Rarity.” The other fillies greeted the mares as well, Sweetie Belle giving her older sister a hug.

“What are ya’ll up to?” Applejack asked the fillies. “Try’n ta get yer cutie mark’s again, ah assume?”

“Yah,” Applebloom answered. “An’ we need a dictionary, please,” she said to Twilight, who nodded in reply and summoned a book from a nearby shelf with her magic. She set the book down in front of the trio, and Sweetie Belle instantly seized it with her magic and started flipping through pages. The other children crowded around her.

“Figures,” Applejack chuckled. “What are ya’ll try’n fer this time?”

“‘pro’ creation,” Scootaloo said simply, causing the entire library to fall silent as four pairs of eyes fixed upon the fillies. Rarity’s face contorted into equal parts shock and horror.

“But first we need to settle something about it’s definition,” Sweetie Belle was cut off as a blue, more powerful, aura of magic caused the dictionary to snap shut before making it burst into flames.

“Hey!?” Sweetie Belle griped, She had seen the specific aura of magic numerous times before . “What did you do that for?” She directed her objection toward her older sister.

“Heh,” Rarity let out a creepy chuckle, “Girls? Where did you hear about ... you know.”

“‘pro’ creation?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yes, that!” Rarity said quickly, as if trying to shoo the word away.

Applejack merely facehoofed before letting out a sigh. “its pra’nounced, ‘pro-creation,’ one word.” She replied, earning the filly’s attention.

“No, No!” Rarity said, shooting a hoof in Applejack’s direction. “You, be silent!” Rarity demanded. She hoped to preserve the fillies’ innocence. “You’re element is not wanted here at the moment, Applejack.”

“What’s pro-creation?” came a male voice. It was Spike, who had finally stopped what he was doing to listen in. However, his question provoked a rather rapid response from Twilight, who seized the baby dragon in her aura of magic.

“Whoa, Spike! Look at the time!” Twilight said quickly, suddenly hurried for some reason. “We’ve got to go do that thing I kept off the checklist, and we’ve got to go the other side of town to do it right now!”

“Wait? What thing?” The baby dragon asked, thoroughly confused. “You never keep things ‘off the checklist.’” However, his question went unanswered as Twilight cast a teleportation spell. With a purple flash and a loud pop, they disappeared from the library entirely.

The fillies merely blinked in confusion at the spot Twilight and Spike used to be standing.

“We uh, we heard about it from Dexter. Though he didn’t explain what it meant.” Scootaloo finally answered, shifting her gaze toward the mares.

“Dexter?!” Rarity said, venom dripping from her voice. The ‘neckerhief’ she held in her magical grasp also burst into flames.

“Dexter, wherever you are, this means war! It. Is. ON.” Rarity muttered underneath her breath. However, after noticing the reactionary look of shock on the fillies faces, she quickly vanquished the fire consuming the scarf before forcing a more polite tone.

“I mean, did you say Dexter told you about this?” Rarity asked, her pleasantness was rigid.

“Umm… yes?” Sweetie Belle answered. “Something wrong?”

“Ah think ya’d better start from tha top,” Applejack replied simply while motioning with a hoof.

And so the fillies recounted the entire chain of events that lead them to the library. The story caused Rarity to let out a sigh of relief, while Applejack kept having to fight back a laugh.

“They-” Applejack began, trying her hardest to suppress another bout of laughter. “They have no idea what it means.”

“Quite,” Rarity replied, casting a hard glance at Applejack. It didn’t take a genius to tell she wanted the Element of Honesty to keep her mouth shut. Though she’d be disappointed.

“Wait, so what does it mean?” Sweetie Belle asked, directing a triumphant grin at Scootaloo. “I knew Scootaloo was wrong about it.”

“Hey, it was a good guess!” Scootaloo defended, before looking at the mares.

Applejack drew a breath.

“Applejack, No!” Rarity wailed, cutting off her friend before she could speak. Rarity’s voice took on that familiar over dramatic tone.

And, much to Rarity’s horror, dread and dismay, Applejack spoke.

---

For the next few days, Dexter did nothing but work on reconstructing his lab. Immediately after school, he would sneak away from the other foals or Applejack and make his way to the hidden underground room that was to be his new lab. And thanks to the efforts of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Dexter had all the raw materials he would need to get started.

Dexter was no stranger rebuilding his lab, even from raw materials. The high frequency in which Dee Dee destroyed his original lab made him particularly adept at reconstructing it. Though under normal circumstances, he would have the assistance of his computer and a small army of robots.

However, without his robots, it would take a bit longer to rebuild.

But that wouldn’t be nearly enough to impede the boy genius. He wasn’t building the lab now just for his scientific pursuits, or answering questions about magic. The boy genius was thoroughly convinced that he would need a new and fully functioning laboratory in order to recreate the experiment that sent him to Equestria.

It was his only way home.

Dexter refused to admit it to himself, but he was starting to miss his family. He would catch himself reminiscing about his parents and his sister, remembering various humorous situations or adventures he had with them. And, as the days progressed, he found himself thinking about them more and more often.

Dexter, however, merely shrugged it off. He could still remember the many gripes he had with his family. The ones he had with his parents were usual, however he carried a particular dislike of his older sister. She had, in fact, been the one who caused the whole mess in the first place.

He didn’t know how many times he had told her not to interfere with his experiments, how dangerous they could be, and yet again, he found himself in a bizarre situation because of her.

It made Dexter angry just thinking about it.

So why couldn’t he stop thinking about her and the rest of his family?

However, he would merely continue to banish his thoughts about them. Thoroughly convinced that, whether he wished to see his family again or not, thinking about them wasn’t helping to accomplish his goals. He needed to build his lab.

By the end of the third day his lab had finally reached the point where it could begin to support the sophisticated science and technology the boy genius was accustomed too. However, it was also a profound point in time for the boy genius as well.

In order to have a fully functioning lab, he needed one crucial component.

A new computer.

Normally about now, he would be celebrating. Basking in the glory of his latest invention.

But not this time. Dexter found himself with many mixed feelings about his new creation. Of course he was proud, as usual. However, he also felt regret and even a hint of guilt, though he couldn’t exactly tell why.

For most people, replacing a computer wouldn’t be a big deal. However Dexter’s original computer, Quadraplex 3000, was a fully functioning and completely sentient artificial intelligence.

It was also one of Dexter’s only true friends, despite the fact that it was nearly emotionless.

He always wanted to keep his original friend, to never let the A.I. grow obsolete and be thrown away like many of his other outdated inventions.

Building a replacement was the first step on the road to doing exactly that, a step which Dexter had just finished. A small part of Dexter felt like he was betraying his closest friend, but banished the feeling as he reminded himself that a new lab, and a new computer, were necessary if he ever wanted to see his friend again.

His new computer had an extremely large screen, with a comically large keyboard. Each one of the keys was hoof sized, much to Dexter discomfort. However, it was a necessity, as he quickly discovered that typing on a regular sized keyboard was very difficult when using hooves.

“Well,” Dexter began. “Here we go . . .” He said as he flicked the power switch, causing the new computer to power up with a hum.

“Quadraplex forty-five hundred, initializing.” Came a cool feminine voice. It was very similar to his old computer’s voice. However, it sounded more natural. It wasn’t natural enough to pass as a regular person, but it flowed much more comfortably than his original computer’s voice.

“Hello, computer? Can you hear me?” Dexter asked, causing its display to flicker to life. His image appeared on the screen as a camera mounted to the monitor turned and focused on him.

A part of Dexter was still getting used to seeing himself as a pony.

“Subject Identified, Dexter, builder.” The computer identified him. “Affirmative, I can hear you.” They were the exact same words Quadraplex three thousand had said to him when she was first activated. The reminder made the stabbing sense of guilt in his heart to grow a little stronger.

“Yes, yes . . .” Dexter said, allowing his eyes to drift toward the floor. “That’s… that’s good.”

Dexter sighed, banishing the sense of guilt that he kept coming back. He looked back up at the computer. “Do you know who I am?”

“You are the one who built me.” The computer replied directly.

“That is correct.” Dexter replied. He could hardly keep his words from sounding a little hollow. “Listen, as your initialization process continues you should find that you have access to approximately two thousand terabytes of data. You need to assimilate all of it, as the data contains crucial details about me and this laboratory.

“It should also contain a list of tasks I wish you to complete” Dexter went on. “When you have assimilated sufficient data, take control of the robots I have built and complete the tasks.”

“Yes, Dexter.” The computer acknowledged. “Is there anything else you require of me?”

“There is,” Dexter confirmed, looking directly into the computer’s camera. “I know this is contained in the data I’ve given you, but I wanted you to hear it from me directly.”

“I am human,” Dexter stated firmly. “I merely have the physical form of an equine at the moment. I don’t know how I’ve taken this form, nor do I know how to change myself back. But, nonetheless, I am human, and nothing is going to change that. You should find information about humans contained in the data I’ve given you.”

The computer, strangely, took a few moments before responding. “Understood, Dexter.”

Dexter turned to leave, walking toward to lab exit. However, he was stopped halfway there by his computer speaking once again.

“Builder Dexter,” She addressed him, its voice displaying nearly no emotion at all. Though Dexter wondered if he could trace a small hint of some. “Have I disappointed you?”

The question alone got Dexter to freeze, in fact he was the computer asked at all.

“No,” Dexter said, turning back. “In fact, you’ve already exceeded my expectations. My old computer couldn’t pick up on my emotions so quickly after initialization.” He was quick to reassure the new A.I., not wanting it to get the wrong impression at a relatively young age.

There was another moment of silence. Outwardly, the computer looked dormant. But Dexter knew it was actually processing new information at a rate millions of times faster than any flesh and blood creature could.

“That is merely because I am newer than my predecessor.” She said. “Quadraplex three thousand is obsolete and should be decommissioned perma-.”

“Don’t!” Dexter nearly shouted, however he caught himself before he could let loose another word. That sense of stabbing guilt had returned, causing the eight year old to reach toward his chest only to find nothing was physically there.

“Don’t say that,” Dexter shook his head, being careful with his tone. He knew he shouldn’t have been bitter at the computer’s words, they were true after all. That, and the now moments old A.I. couldn’t possibly know why Dexter would be upset. “I’m going to go now, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

It was only a few moments before Dexter had exited the new lab, stepping out into the night air. He turned toward farm house, walking in silence.

His thoughts kept going back to memories of his family. His parents and his older sister.

Despite the numerous gripes he had with his family, Dexter was surprised to find that he now lacked the normal resentment he harbored for his older sister and his parents. His memories were now accompanied by a hollow ache in his chest, which seemed to grow in intensity each time another memory surfaced.

“Common Dexter, you should have more discipline than to let your emotions get the better of you,” the eight-year-old said to himself, fighting back the sensation in his chest. “This is a whole new world with wonders to explore, you can’t let yourself get distracted.” He said as he stomped one of his forelegs before continuing to walk forward.

Dexter looked up from the ground before him, seeking a distraction in his effort to fight back his feelings. He was fortunate enough to find one.

Far above him was the night sky, which he could see clearly. There were no clouds in the sky and the apple orchard was far enough away from any large lights that the stars could easily be seen.

It was beautiful, and astronomy happened to be one of Dexter’s favorite subjects. The sky above him was now completely new and would be littered with new wonders to explore and research.

Yet, a few moments of observation allowed Dexter to take note of something.

“I’m in another galaxy.” Dexter whispered in astonishment.

The Milkyway had received its name due to the unique pattern of stars that seemed to flow across the night sky. This flow of stars was one of the Milky ways’ spiral arms, creating what ancient astronomers called the ‘road of milk.’

But for Dexter, all that was gone. This didn’t mean that the night sky wasn’t beautiful, but it demonstrated how far away from home the little genius really was.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the type of distraction Dexter was looking for.

“The closest galaxy to the Milky way is Andromeda” Dexter muttered, taking a moment to remember his astronomy. “I am, at a minimum, over two and a half million light-years from…”

The moment he said those words, the reality of his situation hit him like a ton of bricks. Dexter felt a lead ball drop into his stomach as the hollow ache in his chest returned.

Would he ever be able to get back home, even if he rebuilt his lab? He didn't even know what went wrong with his experiment in the first place, or if it was even possible to recreate the accident exactly.

But he did know there was a good chance that he wouldn’t ever see his family again.

Dexter felt the hollow ache in his chest exploded with enough ferocity that it caused the eight year old to stop for a moment and press a foreleg to his chest.

They’re so far away they might as well be dead.

No, that was wrong. Dexter knew it was wrong, his family was alive.

But still, Dexter knew no matter where in the world he was on that he looked, he wouldn’t find them. If he called for them, they wouldn’t hear him. They wouldn't be there if he needed them.

“Maybe they think I’m dead,” the eight year old whispered to himself as his breathing became heavy and sharp.

“C’mon Dexter, you’re tougher than this,” he began in a much more assertive tone, however it waivered as he felt his eyes water.

---

“Dex! There you are!” It was Applejack, having appeared just outside the family house with her siblings in tow. “We were jus about ta come look’n for ya. What in tha world are ya doing in out here in tha middle of… Dex?”

Applejack trailed off as she approached the colt, finally getting a good look at him through the darkness.

The colt lay on his stomach, with his nose pressed against the ground as he gazed downward. His eyes were red and his ears drooped, the fur beneath his eyes were matted and wet. He remained silent, doing nothing to acknowledge Applejack’s words.

Applejack cast a quick glance at her older brother before moving to the colt’s side, pulling him into an embrace.

“Everything is gonna be alright, Dex” Applejack said as she held the colt.

“Everything’s fine!” The eight year old declared defensively, trying to turn away from the mare who held him against her barrel. However, he turned to find Big Macintosh had appeared and lay down at his other side.

“You miss yer family,” The big red stallion said simply, pointing out exactly what was wrong. “You miss yer parents an’ ya think you’ll never see 'em again.”

Dexter was actually surprised by how accurate he was.

“H-how did you know?” Dexter managed, finally looking up at Applejack.

“We’ve seen that look yer wear’n before… on each other an’ in the mirror once or twice.” Applejack explained with a hint of sadness slipping into her voice.

“I…” was all Dexter could manage before falling silent.

“Don’t worry Dex,” Applejack said quietly. “Ah can’t rightly say when yer gonna find yer parents, but… we’re gonna look after ya like you were one of our own until ya do.”

At those words, Dexter might have, just a little bit, returned the mare’s embrace.

However, he quickly found himself unable to let go. A certain filly, in her determination to not be left out, and unable to find her way through her older siblings, clambered up on the colt’s back and wrapped a pair of hooves around his neck, hugging him from behind.

But he knew they’d let go soon.

It was getting hard to breath.

---

The majority of the next day had proven to be largely uneventful for Dexter. Having gone to bed the previous night after the Apples found him, he went to school.

The school day also passed unremarkably. However, he did take note that Cheerilee had returned. She seemed just as amicable as ever, but had summoned Dexter to her desk just as school let out. She claimed that she needed to talk to the colt, though she needed him to wait in the classroom for her for a few minutes.

Dexter had pulled a chair up to her desk, and sat as he quietly waited for her return.

“Hello Dexter,’ Cheerilee said as she appeared in the doorway, moving to take her seat behind her desk. Dexter was already sitting down, waiting for her.

“I am glad to hear you behaved for Miss Aura while I was out,” she continued, her pleasant attitude adding to Dexter’s reassurance that he wasn’t in trouble. Maybe, despite the short time he has had with Cheerilee, the teacher was finally realizing how exceptional he was as a student.

“Well, you know me, your number one student,” Dexter said almost cheekily, his tone was dripping with self-confidence.

“Yes and no, Dexter,” Cheerilee smiled at the colt, slightly amused by his antics. “I don’t pick favorites, but you’re definitely a cut above the average student.”

Flattery. If Dexter wasn’t so full of himself, he might have suspected the teacher wanted something.

“I’m glad you see that!” Dexter replied excitedly. He was more than happy to agree with Cheerilee’s newfound conclusion.

Though, had he not been filled with his own self confidence on the matter, he might have noticed how odd it was for the teacher to shift her opinion of the colt so drastically in such a short period of time. He had only met her at the start of the week, most of which Cheerilee had been out and replaced by a substitute teacher.

“Of course I would, now that I’ve had the chance to take another look at your placement test,” Cheerilee went on, before changing the subject. “However, I didn’t call you here to talk about your standing in school.”

That got Dexter to tilt his head in confusion. A part of him was confused as to why Cheerilee seemed to have also changed her mind about the placement test, but as far as he was concerned it was a step in the right direction and didn’t question it.

“Well, then how may I provide assistance Miss Cheerilee?” the teacher’s pet asked.

“About five days ago, there was an incident at the hospital. One which the royal guard have been investigating for the past week,” Cheerilee began, almost too casually. However, once Dexter processed her words he physically felt himself tense up. “A device of unknown origin appeared in the hospital, and several ponies there wish to know where it came from.”

Dexter tilted his head in mock confusion.

“Would you know anything about that device or where it came from?” Cheerilee finished, her eyes now locked intently on to Dexter’s.

Dexter, who was momentarily put on edge by the question, couldn’t help wonder why the school teacher of all ponies was asking these questions. The first time it was the royal guard, then it was Applejack. But he at least knew the reason she asked, because she somehow knew he had lied to the guard about it.

“No, sorry, Miss Cheerilee,” Dexter replied, sounding as honest as he could. An art well practiced since he had lied countless times before in order to keep his lab a secret. “I don’t know anything about that device, or where it came from.”

“Now, Dexter,” she chastised lightly. “Don’t lie to your teacher, you can trust me.”

Again, Dexter found himself surprised by the mare. Had he suddenly become really bad at lying? Maybe it was something about his pony body that gave it away, 'a tell' of some sort. It made sense since he didn’t have a lot of experience with pony bodies.

“No, I am afraid you’re mistaken,” Dexter replied without missing a beat. “I have no knowledge, pertinent or otherwise, of any device of interest in the Ponyville hospital.”

Cheerilee let out an audible sigh, conveying her disappoint in Dexter’s refusal to answer her.

“Dexter,” Cheerilee began again, her tone remained pleasant. She was obviously a patient mare. “Please be honest. Avid Aura’s report said the device was found in the room you slept in, so you’ve got to know something. Now I know they didn’t believe you because you were diagnosed with Munchausen Syndrome, but I think you’ll find me a lot more receptive.”

“Wait a minute!” Dexter said hotly, almost interrupting the teacher. “How did you know that? Did Avid Aura tell you what I was diagnosed with?!”

Cheerilee paused for a moment before responding.

“Avid Aura and I have a professional relationship,” Cheerilee replied, glancing away from Dexter. “She, being one of the few child psychologists in this town, along with me being one of the few teachers, corresponds often about the foals we work with.”

“Yah, b-but! That’s no excuse!” Dexter replied, holding back his anger. He was still trying to get on the teacher's good side, and once he finally thought he was there, it turns out she knew he was regarded as a pathological liar.

Not the best thing for his reputation with the teacher.

“Well, Dexter, prove their diagnosis wrong by being honest with me now,” Cheerilee appealed. “What do you know?”

It was Dexter’s turn to be silent for a moment. The mare was rather persistent, wasn’t she?

“I’m sorry Miss Cheerilee,” Dexter replied, again keeping his tone even. “I don’t know anything about it. I can’t provide you with information that I don’t have, nor even knew existed.”

“The pony whom you spent the room with that night said he saw you interacting with it.” Cheerilee said, her tone becoming confrontational.

“What? How do you know that?” Dexter asked, trying to delay Cheerilee long enough to think of something to say.

“Remember the pony that you shared a room with in the hospital?” Cheerilee elaborated. “The one who had a lot of broken bones? You had to have seen him, because he remembers seeing you.”

Dexter found himself baffled again, how did Cheerilee know that he had spent the night in a room with another patient.

However, Dexter merely denied it again. Though he knew he was thoroughly caught in a lie, he’d much rather be caught as a liar and let Cheerilee speculate on what happened than reveal the whole truth to her.

However, Cheerilee didn’t give Dexter the time to act on his confusion.

“Dexter, you know something you’re not telling me,” Cheerilee said, fixing the colt in a harsh glare as she brought her head down on eye level with the colt. “I’m going to ask you one more time before I lose my manners, and this gets very, very unpleasant . . . what do you know about the device found in the hospital?”

Dexter’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates. He was now fully taken aback by the aggressiveness of his teacher, and sat in stunned silence for a few moments. Had this mare, who was always nice, just threatened him?

Either way, he had a decision to make. He felt he could try to avoid whatever ‘unpleasantness’ the mare had threatened by fessing up. But he knew the consequences of doing so could reach far beyond the classroom he was in.

That, and he wanted to keep his new secret laboratory a secret.

With a little hesitation, the eight year old merely shook his head again.

“That’s a lie.”

Dexter was about to object, to falsely proclaim his innocence. However, he was stopped at a rather strange sight.

He could swear he saw Cheerilee’s iris’s flash green.

Before Dexter could respond, the mare had grabbed the side of the desk between them and flung against the wall, spraying a stack of papers into the air. The desk hit the wall with a crash, collapsing from the force of the throw.

Panicked, and surprised by the sudden aggression, Dexter jumped back, tumbling out of his chair. However, by the time he stood up he felt something take hold of his neck.

It was an aura of green magic, and it lifted him up by his neck to eye level with an angry looking Cheerilee. Except, it wasn’t Cheerilee. The mare before Dexter looked mostly like Cheerilee, but now she had a set of green eyes as well as a pair of fangs. An aura of magic erupting from her the center of her head gave the impression of an invisible horn.

“Now, you’re going to tell me everything you know,” the mare demanded, as the aura tightened its grip. Her tone was laced with venom, each harsh word spoken sounded less like Cheerilee and raspier.

“And if you even think about lying to me again yo-ARH!” the raspy voice cut off as Dexter brought one of his free hooves up and quickly punched the mare in one of her giant green eyes. He then swung another hoof at the mare, who tried to turn away, causing Dexter’s hoof to hit the glowing aura of magic in the center of the mare’s forehead.

It felt as though he hit a horn; and the moment he did, the aura of magic around his neck vanished, causing him to fall to the floor.

Wasting no time, and in full blown panic mode, Dexter immediately scrambled to his hooves.

“Why you little-" The mare began, however she was cut off by the sound of a chair crashing against her head. Dexter had, as soon as the mare turned back to face him, grabbed the chair he was sitting on and swung it upwards as hard as he could. It made a solid connection with ‘Cheerilee’s’ face, catching the mare off-guard and causing her to fall over.

It surprised Dexter as well, he didn’t know he could swing hard enough to break the wooden chair against the ‘mare’s’ face.

After a moment of staring at ‘Cheerilee,’ or whatever the mare was, Dexter took a few hesitant steps back. His heart pounded as he nervously inspected the ‘mare,’ a part of him hoping that he didn’t hurt his teacher.

Though, he wasn’t sure if this was really his teacher.

However, the moment she let out a moan and started moving, Dexter grabbed his saddlebag and bolted.

Dexter ran, sprinting as fast as he could out the door as the ‘mare’ rose back to her hooves.

Making a few quick turns and another sprint down the school corridor, Dexter found the one of the school’s emergency fire exits.

“DEXTER!” a feminine voice from somewhere in the school raged with a rasp, terrifying the colt into looking back for a moment with wide eyes.

He was never more motivated to leave a school.

He tried to pull the door, opening the way to freedom. However, the doors wouldn’t budge. Taking a moment to look over the door, he discovered they were chained shut.

“What? Chains? How’d they get there?” Dexter said as he eyed the shackles, before glancing behind himself again. Holding his breath for a few moments, he had an idea.

Dexter turned toward his saddlebags, and began frantically searching through them. Though he didn’t need to look long to find what he wanted.

Pulling out his laser pen, he flicked it to its maximum setting and aimed it at the chains that were restricting the door.

At maximum setting, the laser made short work of the chain links. They released the door, unfettering it as it fell to the floor with a clank.

However, it wasn’t fast enough. Just as the last piece of chain fell to the floor, a green aura engulfed the door in its glow. The door refused to budge.

“What are you?” a voice behind him rasped. It sounded nothing like the happy teacher he had once tried to win the favor of.

Dexter slowly turned around to see the contorted image of Cheerilee floating in the middle of the hallway. A pair of bug like wings had appeared on her back and were now holding her in the air.

“You’re asking me?” Dexter replied rhetorically, as he looked at the flapping insectoid wings. “What the heck are you?”

“I can sense your emotions, little foal. I know what you’re feeling.” The changeling began as she hovered in the center of the hallway. “It’s how I knew you were lying, it’s how I could tell you ran here, and it’s how I know you’re not what you appear to be.”

“I’m a freaking pony, what does it look like?” Dexter replied hastily, stalling for time. He wasn’t so much concerned with tricking the ‘mare’ before him with another lie, something told him it probably wouldn’t work.

Though Dexter wasn’t aware of the irony those words held for the mare.

“A predator,” the changeling simply noted with her raspy voice. “Your emotional responses are more like that of a predator, an apex predator, than a prey animal like a pony. It confused me greatly when I first saw you three days ago, collecting trash with those fillies. I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am certain. Not every changeling would be able to sense it, but then again the Queen did send her best.”

“What makes you so certain?” Dexter asked, still stalling and unsure of what to do.

“A prey animal would have just fled the moment I grabbed them,” she replied. “But you immediately responded with aggression, punching me and hitting me with a chair, and you did it on instinct. You surprised me, but it won’t happen again.”

“I think I hit you with that chair harder than you thought, I’m obviously an equine unlike you.” Dexter replied cheekily, he most certainly wasn’t about to admit the changeling was right.

However, his response was met with a condescending laugh from the mare.

“Another lie,” she replied. “But enough stalling, your lies aren’t going to get you out of this. You’re going to tell me everything I want to know.”

The contorted doppelganger of Cheerilee landed in the center of the hallway with a clacking of hooves, before starting to approach Dexter. Her head lowered, aiming her invisible horn at the colt.

Without an idea of what else to do, Dexter flicked on his laser pen and swiped it across the mare’s chest. She responded with a howl of pain as she stumbled backward, away from the piercing stream of light that cut into her.

“What was that?! What did you just do!?” she rasped in fury, however when she looked up she could only spot Dexter’s tail as he bolted into one of the nearby doors.

Dexter appeared in what seemed to be a miniature auditorium, a place with a small stage where the school children came to perform plays or other theatrical acts.

“C’mon, Dexter, think!” he berated himself in panic. “That freak is about to come in here and get you at any second.” He said as he looked around, his gaze lingered on the stage. It was a pretty standard setup, curtains and some small scaffolding on the ceiling for lights. However, his brain was already formulating a plan.

However, it was the only place he could run to at this point.

Dexter had barely made it to the stage before he a raspy voice shouted, drawing his attention.

“I’M GOING TO GET YOU, YOU LITTLE RUNT!” The changeling rasped as she appeared in the doorway. She immediately took flight, careening at the colt.

However, Dexter was expecting this. With a flick of his laser pen, he cut the curtains above the stage, causing them to fall into the path of the attacking mare.

She flew straight into the falling curtains, getting entangled in the heavy fabric as she crashed into the center of the stage with a thud. She spent the next few moments struggling for her freedom from the heavy drapery.

Dexter, however, had left the stage and run halfway toward the exit before turning.

“Darn it,” Dexter said to himself. “She needs to be a little bit further back.”

The moment the changeling had finished wrestling her way out of the curtain, she stood up and turned toward the colt. The Cheerilee doppelganger gave a condescending smirk when she saw Dexter standing in the middle of the room.

“You should have kept running,” she said, taking on an aggressive stance. “Though I suppose it wouldn’t have helped.”

Dexter responded by aiming his laser pen at the doppelganger, letting loose a ray of red light. It cut into the mare, leaving a burn trail of black seeped with blood on whatever part of her body it traced.

The changeling hissed in pain as it raised a hoof to cover its eyes, backing away from the source of light the colt was holding. Every part of its skin that was exposed to the light felt like it was on fire.

After a few moments of hissing in pain while backing away from the colt, Dexter turned his gaze upward and aimed his laser.

The rafter which supported the stage lighting was held up by four thin chains. A quick swipe of caused two of the chains to break, releasing the rafter into a swing.

“When I’m through with you-" was all the changeling got to say before the rafting reached the bottom of its swing, colliding with her head. The crash let out an audible crack along with a clang, throwing the changeling to the floor.

Dexter stood in silence for a few moments, waiting for the pounding in his chest to subside before approaching the crumpled form before him. The ‘mare’ lay motionless, though Dexter made sure to pay close attention to any signs of life.

He was able to see that the ‘mare’ was still breathing, but other than that she remained completely motionless. Cautiously he approached her, taking a moment to check her other vitals. She was definitely alive, but was, at a bare minimum, knocked out.

“What the heck are you?” Dexter said, nudging the unconscious creature before him. “Is this one of the changeling creatures Applejack was talking about?”

Whatever it was, she had known that Dexter wasn’t exactly the little ‘colt’ he appeared to be. A fact he couldn’t let be exposed.

He had experience with removing memories before, but that didn’t solve the bigger issue. The ‘mare’ could tell he wasn’t really a pony somehow.

“It looks like Quadraplex forty five and I will be having a guest this evening . . .”

---

Colt Genius vs Changelings

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- [A/N] PLEASE READ-
I've been told that the changeling interrogation scene is dark for some people, so be warned. I don't think it is that dark, but it is sort of twisted when you take time to think about it. Skipping it and going straight to the green ---XXX--- will allow you to proceed with the story without missing too much.

Dexter’s Log: Day 9 10

Personal log, Dexter: Scientist, boy genius.

I almost didn’t realize it, but it’s past midnight. I cannot believe it has been only ten days since my arrival in this strange world. Considering how bizarre my experiences have been, it feels like much more time has passed.

But, unfortunately, I cannot waste time recollecting the minor details of my experiences here. There are pressing matters to attend to.

Earlier today, or should I say yesterday afternoon, I was attacked by what appeared to be one of the 'changeling' creatures Applejack had described.

The creature initially appeared to me while posing as my teacher, Miss Cheerilee. I must admit, it is an incredibly skilled imposter as neither I nor any of the other children in the class suspected a thing! She was even a good teacher, for the stuff she taught.

Which leaves no doubt that these creatures, whatever they are, possess significant cognitive aptitude.

The creature proceeded to call me into a meeting after school. Once other students had left, the creature questioned me about the Medical Diagnostic Module, the device which I had built on the night of my arrival.

It seems that the sudden appearance of a technologically advanced instrument has sparked off something bigger than the mere curiosity of the local guard garrison. I must proceed carefully, as further exposure could have detrimental implications for both me and equine society.

However, back to my ‘guest.’

When the creature questioned me about the medical diagnostic module, I lied to her repeatedly. I denied any knowledge of the device or how it came to be. Needless to say, it knew I was lying. It would later claim that it could sense my lies with some sort of empathic ability.

It could also sense that I wasn’t originally a pony, and called me a predator. However, I am unsure if it could tell what I was originally. As it stands right now, Quadraplex is the only other individual who knows for certain that I am actually human.

I must say I am fortunate that the changeling could only sense emotions, otherwise it could have read my mind and had all the answers it wanted. I was caught completely unprepared for her appearance.

When I continued to lie, she grew agitated and subsequently attacked me. Needless to say, I fought her off long enough to knock her out and bring her back to the lab. She (I believe it is a she anyway) is currently restrained in an isolation chamber three under Quadraplex 45’s supervision, and has yet to wake up.

After a quick study of her physiology, I now know why she was so interested in the medical diagnostic module. From what I remember of the device’s design, it would be able to see past a changelings' disguise and detect her true form.

Obviously she, and probably her species, feel threatened by a device which can expose them.

Changelings appear to possess an astounding ability to emulate or impersonate other creatures. Their disguise techniques include everything from physical alteration of their own bodies, to what appears to be a long range ‘illusion magic.’ I only use the term illusion magic for a lack of better vocabulary to describe what they are doing.

They can even emulate a target’s scent!

The reason for this extensive ability still eludes me, however I have noticed something else of interest. The creature seems to have an incredibly slow metabolic rate in her digestive organs. This would indicate that it does not usually eat solid food, and most likely would have a very hard time sustaining herself on them. If I plan on keeping this creature here, I will have to find out how it eats. Otherwise, it will have a rather short stay.

It appears that there are several of these creatures currently occupying Ponyville. I quickly devised a way to detect them, but unfortunately I had to repurpose one of the sensor arrays I planned on launching into orbit. As always, the satellite carrying the sensor array was complete and ready to go long before the rocket system to get it there could be.

I also managed to gain some valuable insight on the phenomenon of ‘magic’ after studying the creature. Magic appears to operate on several fundamental principles similar to basic physical laws. Those principles govern magic’s interaction with the rest of the physical universe, and ultimately impose natural limits on a magic user’s abilities. From these principles, I have found a way in which energy can be syphoned off any magical phenomenon until the ‘magic’ loses all power and vanishes entirely.

In short, I discovered a way to create a magic dampening field.

I have constructed several dampening devices and placed them throughout the lab, and at least three by the containment chamber holding our ‘guest.’ This will prevent the changeling from using her magic to escape my lab, however I will not be able to continue researching magic while the dampening field is in place.

// Log Interrupted

// Log Resumed

Quadraplex informs me that our guest is waking up.

End Log.

---

“Computer, how long has it been awake?” Dexter asked, as he approached a large thick glass window. He peered downward into a white clean room which was bathed in fluorescent light.

His new lab had expanded significantly in size, as a number of his newly built robots started digging to remove dirt and add space. It afforded the room to build a number of new devices and even some small structures. One of these small structures was a cylindrical clean room with an observation deck and a one way mirror on the second level.

However, the changeling wasn’t able to see much anyway. She was tied down to the table in the center of the room, lying on her belly. Each one of her four legs were stretched out and clamped to the table by metal shackles. Her head was also immobilized by a metal collar that went around the base of her and was bolted to the metal table beneath her.

“It has only been awake for a few moments, Dexter.” Quadraplex answered in her usual smooth voice. “It attempted to cast a spell, but the magic dampeners prevented the buildup of any magical energy. The creature has been idle ever since.”

“Good, are there any other indications it is trying to escape?” Dexter asked as he eyeballed the changeling. The changeling lay motionless, staring at a fixed point on the wall before it.

“No,” The computer replied. “However, I am detecting increased activity in what is assumed to be the limbic portion of the creature’s brain.”

“Limbic center?” Dexter muttered to himself as he rubbed his chin. “That is the portion of the brain associated with emotions, behavior and long term memory . . .” He continued to think for a moment before he looked away from the changeling and back at his computer. “Computer, this creature has empathic abilities and can sense the emotions of others. Speculate as to the reason for this heightened activity.”

“Preliminary analysis indicates that she is shifting her emotional state in a fixed pattern,” The computer began again. “If other members of her species possess similar emotion-sensing abilities, they may be able to sense and recognize the pattern produced by her fluctuating emotions.”

“Really?” Dexter said as his eyes went wide, before turning back to look at the changeling. “If that’s true, she may be sending a signal, maybe even a call for help.” He had never even conceived of a creature using its emotions to create a ‘smoke signal.’

“Fascinating, I want to know more!” He declared, raising a hoof into the air. “Computer, activate the interrogation hologram!”

“Yes, Dexter.” Quadraplex replied, and after a moment, an exact replica of Dexter appeared out of thin air just beside the colt.

“Alright computer,” Dexter began. “I do not want the specimen harmed in any manner. The creature attacked me last time, so it might not be forthcoming when speaking to a replica of-“

“She… attacked you?” The computer interrupted, Dexter could have swore the computer’s voice had become colder and more emotionless. Though it was always hard to tell with the nearly monotone A.I.

“Computer, avail yourself of today’s log.” Dexter said simply, followed by a short moment of silence.

“I see,” The computer replied, followed by another moment of silence. “Calculating the most abrasive interrogation procedure which does not stand a significant chance of terminating the . . . specimen.”

“Whoa whoa!” Dexter said in surprise. If he had to guess, the computer was actually mad. Something he found odd sincethe A.I. wasn’t supposed to develop emotions for a few years. “Quadraplex, the goal is to extract accurate information. You do not need to put the changeling under undue stress, and undue stress could result in bad information.”

“Negative, we have good reason to do more than that.” Quadraplex replied as the hologram image of Dexter came to life and started approaching the chamber entrance.

“Computer!” Dexter protested. “Halt that hologram, that is an order!” The hologram stopped instantly. “We do not have a good reason to be brutal.”

The computer was silent for a moment, finding an answer.

“Negative, Dexter. Your instructor, Ms. Cheerilee, has been abducted by the changelings.” Quadraplex finally replied. “I believe we need to extract her whereabouts, and other useful information, from the changeling as soon as possible.”

“What?” Dexter asked in surprise. He hadn’t even thought about that. But something else felt off about Quadraplex. She took too long to come up with a reason, as though she was looking for a reason rather than reporting one when he asked.

“Fine, Quadraplex.” Dexter eventually responded, causing the hologram to resume walking toward the door. “But you are in control of the hologram, therefore you are responsible. You. Are. Not. To. Hurt. The. Changeling. Understood?”

“Understood, Dexter . . .”

---

“Hi there!” The image of Dexter said. He had just come through the clean room doors and sat on his haunches before the changeling, well within her field of view. “How are you?”

The changeling didn’t respond. She merely lay motionless, staring silently at a fixed point on the chamber’s wall.

“You can’t sense my emotions can you?” The colt reached out with a hoof and turned the changeling’s head slightly, appearing to observe her neck. “Good, the injection I gave you is working.” Of course he had not given the changeling an injection. However, she didn’t know that.

The changeling felt her heart skip a beat at ‘Dexter’s’ words. Though she was well disciplined, and showed no outward sign of concern. She had no way to tell what Dexter could have done to her while she was asleep. But Dexter was right, she couldn’t sense any emotions.

For a changeling, being unable to sense emotions was almost like suddenly going deaf.

“Are you feeling well?” Dexter asked, in genuine concern. “Is there anything wrong? Other than your inability to perform magic of course.” The changeling didn’t respond, but continued to lay motionless.

“Nothing? Good. Then we can begin.”

The hologram walked out of the changeling’s view before returning with a tool box and a set of scalpels.

"You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said. About me being a ‘predator,’” the hologram began again, dropping the tool box and set of knives on the table with a clang. He then started to slowly take out each knife, inspecting each one before laying them on the table just within changeling’s view.

The changeling felt her blood run cold as a pulse of adrenaline shot through her body with each knife placed atop the table.

“And you know what, you were right.” He said simply. “I am a predator, and you should take solace in that - you were right. But it’s not what you think!”

“You see,” he said, putting the final knife on the table. His tone and facial expression remained pleasant, as though he were talking about the weather. “I am a predator, but I am also a pony. I mean look at me!”

“Now, I know what you’re thinking,” he went on. “What kind of predator does a pony make?” He asked rhetorically before turning toward the tool box and rifling through it. After a moment he paused and turned to face the changeling.

“It’s not about being a predator on the outside, it’s about what’s in here.” He said, pointing toward his heart then his head. His tone shifted momentarily, conveying an almost fanatical conviction.

“Though, I feel safe in assuming that you understand, if the fangs in your mouth are any indication.” He said as he tone became pleasant again, and he returned to the tool box. Eventually he pulled out a drill.

“But, that still doesn’t answer the question, because every predator is different, you know?” He said before squeezing a lever on the drill’s handle. The drill spun for a few moments before sputtering out.

“Oh blast, the battery is dead. I’ll be right back," he said, retreating out of the changeling’s view.

---

“Quadraplex, What are you doing?” The real Dexter demanded.

“Interrogating our guest,” the computer responded simply.

“You are not to hurt the changeling in any way,” Dexter stated firmly. “Or did I not make myself clear?”

“You were explicit, Dexter,” she replied. “However, I will continue to intimidate it.”

“Are you succeeding?” Dexter asked skeptically.

“Affirmative,” the computer answered “The changeling’s heart rate has doubled, and other physiological variables indicate high stress.”

---

The hologram of the colt returned to the changeling’s side, stepping within her field of vision once again. He plugged in a fresh battery before turning the drill on. It spun for a few moments before he let go of the lever.

“You know,” the hologram said. “You can’t beat one of these things. Diamond bit drill tip!” He smiled, flicking the end with a hoof. “Cuts through any substance known to ponykind.”

“Oh, but I digress, where was I? Oh yes.” He continued. “Every predator is different. You? You’re a changeling; your predatory nature was a part of you since birth. As for myself, I didn’t have a nature. I had to pick what kind of predator I would be…”

“Suffice it to say, small animals and I never got along.” He stated, looking downward with a hint of guilt on his face. However, his gaze returned to the changeling with a small smile. “But I’m glad to have someone to share the big day with. I am going to make friends with something bigger than bunnies or squirrels - something somepony might miss.”

The changeling, despite remaining stoic, was starting to panic internally.

“However, I'm not only a predator, I am a colt of science!” Dexter began again. “So, I devised an experiment.”

He took a knife in his hoof. “Nervous? Don’t be. You can rest assured that I am not going to stab you,” he began to explain. “In fact, that is the point.”

“You see, it all works like this. Do you know what this is?” The colt said, picking up a rice sized piece of metal. “It’s a special form of iron, which forms a galvanic cell when it comes in contact with your body fluids. Basically it shocks any nearby tissue in your body with small jolts of electricity!” He said eagerly.

“What’s getting shocked you wonder?” He asked, putting the metal down. “Have you ever heard of cranial nerve five? The trigeminal nerve? It is the primary pain sensing nerve of the face.”

“No? Well, the laypony calls it the suicide nerve because the gross majority of ponies who get a tumor in this nerve end up committing suicide.” He explained.

“Can you even imagine it? Inducing enough agony that someone will stab themselves to death the moment the get the chance? Just to stop the pain?” Dexter shoved the knife’s handle into the changeling’s hoof, making sure she a strong grasp. “Well, when I get this shocking piece of metal into the right place, you wont have to imagine it! Don’t drop that knife though, in a couple of minutes it will be your life ending friend!”

He mounted the drill against the changeling’s face.

“Isn’t science fun?” Dexter said with an elated sigh.

“You’re a colt from Tartarus!” The changeling screamed, finally breaking what little composure she had left. She began to struggle against her shackles, fruitlessly.

“Now why would you say something like that?” Dexter replied, pretending to be genuinely hurt by the changelings' words. “I prefer ‘the colt from hell.’ It rolls off the tongue better…”

---XXX---

“Losing my patience…” the hologram of Dexter said as irritation filled his tone. “You said you had information that I could find useful, and for that I have abstained from my experiment. But giving me a detailed sketch of the hive’s inner workings is not exactly pertinent to my interests…”

“Wait, wait!” The changeling sobbed. “The hive has infiltrated the highest levels of government in the top twenty most powerful nations on the planet.” She said frantically. “Ranging from the equestrian noble council and courts, to the griffon kingdom’s parliament! I can give you names!”

“I’m going to go warm up the drill, you have until then to tell me something useful.” The hologram said, picking up the drill once more.

“I fell in love with a pony once!” The changeling said through her tears. It actually surprised Quadraplex enough to have the hologram react in the same manner. “I know it was a rookie mistake, and I should have stopped feeling anything long ago… but he… I just-I just…”

“I believe that’s enough,” the hologram said before suddenly disappearing into thin air. The changeling merely sat confused for a moment before a large metal lined curved plate descended from the ceiling. It landed on the changeling, encapsulating her against the table.

The changeling looked frantically between the windows of the casket-like glass plate that had just trapped her. After a few moments there was a flash of light as the interior of the casket froze instantly.

“Cryogenic stasis procedure complete, Dexter.” Quadraplex announced to the boy genius. “The changeling is now fully asleep.”

The real Dexter was staring wide-eyed at his computer. He felt no shortage of concern over what he just witnessed.

“Umm… computer?” He asked hesitantly.

“Yes, my builder?” She replied.

“I… umm, well…” Dexter began, trying to find out where to start. “Can you run a diagnostic on your ethics subroutine, please?”

“Yes, Dexter.” Quadraplex replied. “May I ask why?”

“Oh, im just concerned… that you just threatened someone with suicide inducing agony…”

“She shouldn’t have attempted to hurt my builder…” Quadraplex replied ominously, surprising Dexter once more with an almost possessive tone. “Should I conduct an in-depth analysis of any errors I find?”

“No, no. We need to find Miss Cheerilee first.” Dexter said with determination. “The changeling said they picked her up at the hospital, and I was the one who sent her there with Diamond Tiara.”

“Its my fault they captured her,” he said with a hint of guilt.

“How are we going retrieve her?”

“We’re not, but I know who will. Computer, scan Ponyville for the closest royal guards.”

“My scanner detects multiple groups of armor clad equines in Ponyville patrolling in the vicinity of the clinic.” Quadraplex began as the computer’s monitor lit up, displaying a map of the small town with several moving blips. “However, there is a small group of them significantly closer, currently occupying the library…”

“Excellent, it looks like I will be paying Miss Sparkle a late night visit.”

---

“You are approaching your target,” Quadraplex said, her voice slightly distorted by the noise usually accompanied by a radio transmission. She was speaking to Dexter through a small disc shaped earpiece no larger than a dime.

He nodded in reply as a blip appeared on his glasses, highlighting the location of the library.

He had created an earpiece and augmented his glasses with a heads up display in order to stay in contact with Quadraplex. It was a precaution he decided upon in case he ran into another changeling.

“This course of action presents a number of risks,” Quadraplex stated.

“I’ll be fine,” Dexter replied. “Besides? What’s the science without the risk?” He asked with a grin. Dexter stopped just a few buildings away from the Ponyville library. It was the middle of the night, and the streets were completely deserted.

If it weren’t for the occasional street lamp and the bright moon overhead, the street would have been pitch black.

Kneeling beside one of the town’s houses, Dexter reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a grey metal helmet. It was similar to that of a full motorcycle helmet, except it was shaped for a pony’s head. A set of lead numbers sat squarely in the centre of the helmet, just above the opening for his face.

“With my time expander helmet I’ll be in and out of there without anyone getting so much as a glimpse of me.” Dexter said to himself as he stuffed his head into the helmet. “Computer, set the time dilation factor to sixty-x, I want one whole minute for every second that passes for everyone else.”

“Confirmed, Dexter.” Quadraplex replied after a moment.

“Will you be able to keep up?” Dexter asked.

“My tertiary processor alone is capable of eight quadrillion computations per second.I have more than sufficient processing power to interact with you while you slow down time for yourself.” Quadraplex replied.

“Good,” Dexter said before punching a button at the base of the helmet. The helmet responded with a muffled beep before humming. As it continued to hum, the world around Dexter began to slow to the point where everything was at a standstill. A gust of wind had tossed up some leaves in the middle of the street, they now appeared suspended in mid-air.

“Excellent,” Dexter said to himself. “It appears my time expander helmet version two is a success!” He said to himself, though he wasn’t surprised. The first version of the helmet worked flawlessly. “Now, I’ve got some mail for the royal guard!” He said, pulling out a large brown envelope.

Dexter crossed the street toward the library, being considerably less careful now. It really didn’t matter if he was seen at this point, as he would appear as a fast moving blur to anyone who happened to spot him.

Once he reached the library door he reached out a hoof to the door knob, only to find it resist his attempts to turn it.

“Locked? No matter,” Dexter stated simply before turning around and bucking. It was the first time he ever bucked something, and oddly enough it felt good. However, he found himself surprised when the door shattered at his touch.

“What the?” He asked in confusion as the shattering door slowed back down to a standstill, once again frozen in time.

“Something wrong, Dexter?” Quadraplex asked over the radio.

“No, I . . .” Dexter began. “I didn’t mean to shatter the door, just kick it open. I forgot that moving sixty times faster than normal means sixty times the acceleration, and thus sixty times the force.” Dexter replied.

“Well, can’t do anything about it now. I hope she has a replacement door,” Dexter said before moving inside, walking past the some floating debris.

Once inside, it didn’t take him long to spot the guards. Four of them were flanking the entrance of the room. Oddly though, only two of them wore the golden armor he was familiar with. The other two guards wore a set of dark blue armor that he had never seen before.

“Curious,” Dexter said to himself as he stuffed the envelope into the golden chest piece of the closest guard. When he was finished he crossed over the entrance to inspect the blue armor clad pony. “Why do they have different colors? And what are they doing here? Has Miss Sparkle gotten into trouble of some . . .”

Dexter trailed off as something in the corner of his eye caught his attention and caused him to turn.

In the center of the room was a table surrounded by two ponies. Dexter recognized the first as the librarian, Twilight Sparkle. However, he had never seen the other pony before.

She was the tallest pony Dexter had ever seen, standing at least a head above Big Macintosh. Her coat was a shade of dark blue, matching a set of cobalt blue eyes. The mare had both a set of wings and a horn. The horn was longer and sharper than any horn Dexter had seen on a unicorn. Her mane seemed to be suspended by a non-existent wind, and was littered with what appeared to be miniature stars.

Dexter also noted she wore a set of blue shoes, and a black tiara.

“Who is that?” Dexter asked in curiosity and a little awe. He approached the two mares, who were staring intently at a large diagram on the table. Twilight was actually frozen in the middle of a word, her hoof pointing at the blueprints before them as she explained something.

Dexter had to admit he was in slight awe at the sight of the night princess, even though she was essentially frozen in time from Dexter’s perspective.

“Please clarify,” Quadraplex replied over the radio.

“There is a winged unicorn – an alicorn in here. She’s tall and dark blue.” Dexter replied to his computer as he paced around the princess. “I’ve never seen her before.”

“My data on equine society is currently limited,” Quadraplex began. “However, from the information I do have access to, it would appear that she is Princess Luna. Currently one of the only three alicorns.”

“Princess Luna?” Dexter asked as he rubbed his chin with a hoof. “Well, that explains the regalia. What else can you tell me about her.”

“She is one of the Equestria’s diarchs, ruling alongside her sister.” The computer went on. “She is considered to be immortal and immensely powerful, wielding enough magical strength to move celestial objects. It is also reported that she has the ability to enter an individual’s dreams. She goes by the aliases: Moon Princess, Princess Of The Night, Dream Walker, Mistress of Dreams, Nightmare Moon, as well as a number of others. There is some information which indicates she has a dark history, however the information I currently have access too is limited on this subject. Some sources refer to her as a goddess, others imply that she was or currently is a demon of some sort.”

“Really?” Dexter said in surprise as he inspected lunar princess’s starry mane “I can see why she seems impressive to most equines, but they think she is immortal? Even a demon?” He finished skeptically.

“Affirmative,” Quadraplex replied, though she detected the scepticism in the colt’s voice. “Do you believe the information the equines recorded about her to be in error?”

“I believe ponykind has recorded a lot of propaganda regarding their leaders,” Dexter replied dismissively. “I’m not willing to place much faith in what they say.”

“You could always settle the matter now by synching yourself with the normal flow of time and asking her directly,” the A.I. offered.

“Yes, but that would defeat the point of coming here.” Dexter replied, glancing back at the guards. “Computer, add researching these ‘alicorns’ to my agenda. I wish to know more about them when I can afford the time.”

“Yes, Dexter.” The computer replied. “Will you be returning to the lab now?”

“Not just yet,” Dexter answered. “As curious as I am about the alicorn’s nature, I’m far more interested in why a head of state is visiting our local library, of all places, at…” Dexter glanced toward the clock on the wall. “Two in the morning?”

The colt approached the table before the two frozen mares. It didn’t take long for Dexter to recognize the large set of sketches sitting on the table.

They were diagrams of the Medical Diagnostic Module he had built. Dexter had never made an actual diagram of his invention, but that didn’t stop him from recognizing it. Each one of the sketches was surprisingly accurate, though they were lacking in many details. It wasn’t nearly enough to get an accurate picture of how the device operated, but it was definitely better than nothing.

“Great . . .” Dexter stated, bitter sarcasm saturated his tone. “Perfect.”

“Something wrong, Dexter?” Quadraplex asked.

“It appears that the changelings aren’t the only ones interested in the device I built,” Dexter said, mentally kicking himself once more. “The princess is reviewing a diagram of one of my inventions with Twilight Sparkle.”

“Has the secrecy of the laboratory been compromised?” The computer asked.

“No,” Dexter said. “I doubt they know anything of consequence. But just to be sure…” Dexter stretch out a hoof toward the sketches, intent on collecting them. He knew he could easily tear them to pieces, maybe even burn them. But he didn’t know if either the princess or Twilight could repair the diagrams with magic.

So he decided to simply steal them.

However, as he was reaching for the last diagram, something out of the corner of his eyes caused him to freeze.

Princess Luna was looking directly at him.

Dexter recoiled in surprise. He was moving at sixty times normal speed, there was no way she should have been able to react to his presence.

“Whoa,” Dexter said, slightly in awe once again as he felt his curiosity surge upwards. He waited a moment before moving toward Luna’s side, and sure enough, after a few moments the alicorn responded by turning her head further. Her eyes shifted very slowly to focus on the colt. Her horn began to give off a faint glow.

“Incredible, you must possess some sort of enhanced physiology in order to react to me.” Dexter said, inspecting the alicorn once more. Dexter’s curiosity nearly got the better of him, but he knew from the growing glow on Luna’s horn that he had overstayed his welcome.

---

A few moments before.

“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle.” Princess Luna said as she entered the library. Two lunar guards in tow. They quickly stood beside a pair of solar guards who were flanking the library entrance. “How are you this beautiful night?”

“I’m well princess,” Twilight greeted, though he smile and enthusiasm couldn't hide the traces of fatigue in her voice. Twilight, despite the caffeine and a nap, had some trouble with being awake at two in the morning.

“Again, We wish to express our appreciation for thy willingness to meet at such an hour.” Luna said. “‘Tis is most convenient for –er It is very helpful for me.”

“It’s no problem princess,” Twilight replied with a smile. “oh, and before I forget. I received a letter addressed to you from Princess Celestia.” Twilight produced a scroll with an unbroken seal.

“Oh?” Luna asked as she took the scroll in her magic. She quickly opened the scroll and began to read, however after a few moments she rolled the scroll up before casting a spell which caused it to disappear.

“Twilight Sparkle, please take a letter. Address it to my sister.” Luna said with a smug grin creeping onto her face.

Dear Sister Mine,

I am deeply saddened by the news that you have been deprived of your favorite set of imported desserts, and that they have gone missing. However, the notion that: ‘Nopony else on this planet would have dared such a treachery!’ is not sufficient evidence to warrant your accusation against me. However, I want you to know, had I been the culprit, your chocolate cakes would have been slowly savored and thoroughly enjoyed. Note, this is not an admittance of guilt.

Your little sister, now and always,

Princess Luna.

PS. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Chocolate.

Twilight had to stifle a snicker as she finished the letter and rolled it up. She never dreamed she’d write something like that to her mentor, and something told her that Luna’s letter being in Twilight’s writing was an added bonus to the night princess’ trifling with her sister.

“I’ll send it in the morning when Spike wakes up.” Twilight said as she put the scroll away.

“Well, now that such business has been settled.” She began again, a playful smirk lingered on her face. “I was wondering if you could assist me by answering a few questions.”

“Whatever you need, Princess.” Twilight assured.

“It’s actually about my investigation, specifically the device.” Luna went on, eliciting a nod from the unicorn.

“Let me get the diagrams I made of it.” Twilight said, lighting up her horn as a set of scrolls and bound papers atop a bookshelf started floating toward her. “How is the investigation of the changelings going so far?”

“Admittedly, not well.” Luna said while suppressing a sigh. “We haven’t been able to locate any of the changelings; I believe they are keeping their distance while I am present. As for the device, nothing has changed.”

“However, I was hoping to garner more information about the device by determining how it drew power. I was hoping that one of your diagrams covered this.” Luna went on, getting Twilight to nod eagerly.

“Its one of the first things I checked!” Twilight replied excitedly as she laid the diagrams on the table before her. Luna approached her side to inspect what the unicorn was now pointing at with a hoof.

“From what I could tell, the device drew only electrical energy from a wall port. It drew no forms of magical energy, and didn’t produce a noticeable drain on the energy reservoir spell which the hospital maintained to run their equipment.” Twilight began to explain, pointing at place in the diagram with a hoof. “The energy entered the device through a cable loca-“

Twilight continued to explain what she had found, but her explanation was suddenly cut off by several events which appeared to occur at the same time.

First, The front door of the library exploded inward. Debris from the door scattered throughout the room, richochetting off of walls and bookshelves.

Secondly, The diagrams on the table vanished. They dispeared right before Twilight and Luna’s eyes.

Lastly, Luna suddenly jerked her head. Moving faster than Twilight had ever seen, she turned away from the unicorn before flaring the magic in her horn.

The loud crash from the door alone was enough to startle Twilight, causing her to rear out of surprise.

“What in the world was that?” Twilight shouted as she turned toward the open entrance, while flaring her own magic. The four unicorn guards by the door did the same.

However, her question went unanswered. The guards scanned the room for a moment before one of the guards barked an order.

“Fan out, secure the library!” One of the solar guards ordered, he happened to be the highest rank present. As the other guards followed orders, he approached Twilight and the princess.

“Your Majesty? Miss sparkle?” He began. “Are you both alright?”

“I’m fine,” Twilight replied quickly, not moving from her defensive stance. However, the glow in her horn started to fade.

Luna, however, stood motionless for a moment before answering.

“There was somepony standing here.” Luna said, holding her gaze at the spot it fell upon a few moments ago.

“Somepony was standing here?” Twilight said with a raised eyebrow. “Right next to us?”

“Yes . . .” Luna said absentmindedly as she concentrated on remembering what she had just seen. “T’was a foal by the stature of. . . her? Nay, T’was a colt here, with white fur!”

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked skeptically. “I didn’t see anything at all, much less a foal.”

“Sure? Nay, we art certain of it!” Luna declared. “We saw little of his features and saw not his cutie mark. He moved far too swiftly for even our eyes, his features a blur.”

Twilight’s brows furrowed in confusion as she processed the alicorn’s words. She knew she didn’t see a colt standing beside Luna, however she didn’t have any idea of what just happened to the diagrams or the library door.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna said, almost startling the unicorn for a second time. “Art thou aware of any magic, developed during my banishment, capable of bestowing incredible speed whilst allowing somepony to react fast enough to utilize said speed?”

“Umm . . . No,” Twilight replied after a few moments of thinking. “Though I believe several spells in conjunction might be able to get close to what you’re talking about, but I doubt they would allow somepony to move fast enough to go unseen by everypony else.”

“We thought not…” Luna said, stopping a moment to think.

“My diagrams!” Twilight exclaimed as she looked back at the now vacant table. “They’re gone.”

“The colt seized them,” Luna answered, before turning toward the guards. However, only one lunar guard had returned from securing the library.

“Sergeant,” Luna said, addressing the solar guard who had stayed with them. “Prepare a squad, I want you to . . .” She trailed off, noticing a large brown envelope stuffed into the stallion’s armor. “Sergeant, what’s that?” She said, pointing with a hoof.

The stallion looked down at his armor and spotted the envelope. “I have no idea your majesty.” He replied. If he was surprised by its appearance, he didn’t show it though his stoic demeanor.

Pulling it out of his armor and turning it over revealed the words ‘For the guard’ sprawled on the side. They words were messy, clearly written by a child.

“I believe it is addressed to . . . the guard, your highness.” The stallion said.

“Well, don’t just look at it. Open it!” Luna ordered after inspecting the envelope. She would have torn into it herself, but refrained. Legally only those whom the letter was addressed could open it, and her conformity to the modern laws was part of her attempt to show everyone she was reformed.

“Yes, your majesty.” He said as he tore the envelope with an aura of blue magic, pulling out a series of photographs.

“They’re pictures your highness.” He said, looking at each one. However, the third picture he looked at caused him to pause. “These are pictures of a changeling, your majesty.”

“What?” Luna seized the photographs with her magic and turned them toward herself and Twilight. The pictures were a series of shots, starting with a normal pony that neither of them recognized. However, as the series continued, the pony in the picture was enveloped by a green flame, revealing a bug-like creature underneath. The bug-like creature was then enveloped in green flame again, returning as a purple earth pony mare with a striped pink mane and tail.

“I know who that is!” Twilight nearly shouted as she pointed a hoof toward the last picture.

“We know as well” Luna said, remembering the mare from the last nightmare night. “Cheerilee, the school teacher.” Luna said, anger in her voice growing. “Art nothing inviolate changeling? Thou would pursue mere foals?”

---

Twilight slowed as her panting became stronger. The unicorn was no stranger to running, but trying to sprint across the town at two in the morning proved to be a bit more difficult than she thought. Though the guards seemed to do so easily, as the sound of hooves continued to recede from ahead of the mare.

A few moments after identifying Cheerilee in the photographs, Twilight had pulled up the town’s directory. Shortly after, Luna had sent for another squad of guards to meet her at the teacher’s residence.

Luna flew, disappearing into the night almost instantly. The unicorn guards at the library however started running in formation and quickly disappeared as well. Twilight tried to keep up, but the guards turned out to be in much better shape and quickly pulled ahead.

However, the two solar guards who were supposed to watch her slowed down and stayed with the panting unicorn.

“How do you guys . . .” Twilight panted after stopping to take a breather. “Just start running across town at two in the morning without . . . even breaking a sweat?”

“Your brother trained us well, ma’am.” One of the golden armored guards replied.

“I’ll have to ask him . . .” Twilight went on between breathes. “For your work-out routine . . .”

---

“Give me a hug, Cheerilee.” Came a kind voice from a blue mare that strongly resembled Cheerilee’s mother. However, after a few moments, Cheerilee woke up fully and remembered where she was.

She was chained to a metal chair, which was tied to a support beam in her basement. She fought off her sleepiness as she struggled against the chains, pushing away the ‘mare’ as much as she could.

It wasn’t the first time she woke up to have a random family member trying to cuddle with her. The creature was trying to trick her, if even for a moment, into feeling some sort of love.

“Get away from me!” Cheerilee cried. “Please, just . . . just let me go.”

“Awwww… but Cheerilee,” The mare replied with sorrow. “I just want some love.”

“You’re not my mother!” Cheerilee declared. “I won’t let you trick me.”

“Oh?” The mare replied, before picking up a picture frame. It was one of the photographs Cheerilee had of her family. “Maybe you would feel more open toward your sister . . .” The ‘mare’ replied before a flash of green washed over her. A pink mare had replaced the blue one.

“You’re a monster! Stop it!” Cheerilee replied, struggling with her chains again. She didn’t know what the changeling was trying to do, the insectoid must have known that Cheerilee would reject her no matter what form she took.

“I’m sorry Cheerilee.” The mare replied. “I really am, but a changeling’s got to eat. And I’ve already managed to get a good bit of love out of you.”

“W-what?” Cheerilee asked, fear seeping into her tone.

“I successfully tricked you a few times while you were still half asleep.” The mare stated simply. “See, you didn’t even notice. Feeding is completely painless for you.” The changeling stated. “So excuse me if I don’t shed too many tears for deceiving you.” She said, motioning toward the chains shackling the teacher.

“In fact, I think it would be qui-“The changeling froze in mid-sentence before turning to face one of the walls. After a few moments of absolute silence, the changeling turned back toward the school teacher.

“It seems you won’t be enjoying our hospitality any further, but I’ll be seeing you around.” The changeling said before a flash of green magic and a loud pop caused the changeling to disappear. However, just as the teleportation spell finished, Cheerilee heard a loud crash somewhere above her. It was followed by several sets of hooves stomping through the first floor.

“I’m down here!” Cheerilee called. A few moments later the basement door was ripped open and several guards poured into the basement, followed by Princess Luna.

“Oh thank goodness!” Cheerilee said, before a blue aura of magic from the alicorn washed over the mare.

“She’s not a changeling,” The princess said, before the guards undid her chains and helped her up

“Art thou alright, subject?” Princess Luna asked directly, motioning for the guards to continue searching the house.

“I-I think so . . .” Cheerilee said, on the verge of tears.

“They-they” Cheerilee began shakily. “They took me while I was at the hospital with one of my students . . .” She trailed off before going pale. “Oh no, the foals! I saw one of them transform into me before leaving, you’ve got to check on my students!” She pleaded, earning a reassuring nod from the princess.

“Worry not, mine subject. We shall handle this.”

---

Dexter spent the next morning asleep, catching up on all the sleep he missed the previous night. With the changeling guest on ice, he didn’t have to worry too much about the lab. However, Quadraplex kept a constant vigil.

It was luckily a Saturday, and he didn’t have to worry about school. It was nearly an hour shy of noon before Applejack decided it was time to wake the colt up by banging on his bedroom door.

“Dex?” Ya alive in there?” Applejack asked, banging on the door again. It caused Dexter to slowly rise from his pillow before checking the time. He was actually surprised he had slept so long.

“Dex?” Applejack asked, her head and neck now appearing in the doorway. “Yer still sleepin’? Yer not sick er nothin’ are ya?”

“No, Applejack, I’m quite well. Thank you.” Dexter replied groggily before rubbing his eyes and retrieving his glasses from his bed stand

“Ya sure?” Applejack asked as she pressed past the door and into the room. “I ain’t seen hide nor hair of ya since yesterday evening when ya told me ya didn’t want dinner an’ ran up here.”

“It is nothing to worry about, Applejack.” Dexter said, before thinking about what to say next. Until he could figure out the magic of Applejack’s ability to sense lies, he’d have to figure out a way to dodge the truth without untruths. “Suffice it to say . . . I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Ya Ah figured,” Applejack replied while motioning to the colt to follow. “Ah saved ya some breakfast, but look’n at the time, ya could call it lunch.”

“Thank you, Applejack. I’ll be down in a moment.” Dexter slowly crawled out of his bed, stifling a yawn. Applejack had nodded and turned to leave the room before Dexter spoke to her again. “Applejack?”

She replied merely by craning her head to look back at the colt.

“Considering . . . something that I’ve learned recently.” Dexter said, being careful with his words once again. “I’d like to apologize, for not believing your story about the changelings.” Dexter actually surprised himself a little. He wasn’t the type to apologize usually, but it has been known to happen.

“Oh?” She said, turning the rest of her body to face him. “An’ what gotcha to change yer mind?” She asked. However, Dexter took another moment to respond. If she sensed a lie she’d probably start digging until Dexter fessed up about the time he tried to send his sister to another dimension just to keep her from annoying him.

“I, uh, learned a few things that made your story more credible.” Dexter replied, before his tone became defensive. “But I still don’t believe that anyone raises the sun!”

Applejack facehoofed with a sigh. “What do ya got against Princess Celestia?” Applejack asked before looking back at the colt. “Ya know what, Ah got an idea. Maybe ya can talk ta Twilight about it? She’s the Princess’ personal student, she might even be able ta get ya a demonstration.”

“A demonstration?” Dexter said, raising an eyebrow. Not because disbelieved the mare, but because he fully expected a ‘demonstration’ to be a hoax.

“Yah, ya can ask Twi about it when ya see her tomorrow at tha-“Applejack suddenly stopped, catching herself before letting a secret slip. She had pinkie promised to the secret, otherwise it wouldn’t be a surprise.

“Huh?” Dexter asked. “Do we have arrangements to meet Miss Sparkle tomorrow?”

“Uhh…” Applejack said, shifting uncomfortably. “Never mind Dex, jus’ come down and eat yer breakfast.” The mare said before quickly leaving.

It was only until Dexter reached the kitchen did he realize how hungry he was, leading him to demolishing the breakfast/lunch of pancakes Applejack set aside for him. It helped that they were delicious, though that was to be expected. It wasn’t long after he started living with the apples that he discovered Granny Smith’s and Applejack’s amazing ability to cook.

He finished rather quickly and cleaned up after himself, though just before he finished the colt heard a barely audible voice.

“There he is!” Came a hushed whisper from somewhere nearby.

A quick scan of the kitchen revealed three Cutie Mark Crusaders watching him from the living room. However, the moment he spotted the three fillies, they averted their gaze. Each one was now intensely interested with the mundane, ranging from the empty wall to their hooves.

They were up to something. Though Dexter was surprised to see them already.

After a moment of silence, Dexter finished cleaning up after himself and crossed into the living room. He approached the fillies, eyeing them suspiciously.

“Good morning, Applebloom.” Dexter greeted, though his greeting sounded more like a question.

“Oh hi, Dex.” Applebloom said, still interested in the wall. The other two fillies said nothing.

“Okay . . .” Dexter said slowly before shrugging and turning to leave. He was actually glad the fillies weren’t asking him to go crusading at the moment. He wanted to get back to the lab, there was much to do.

Dexter left the Apple Homestead out the front door and turned to walk along the side of the house. However, he didn’t get more than twenty feet before Applebloom appeared out of nowhere and jumped in his path. It startled the colt into recoiling.

“Applebloom?!” Dexter said, before taking a moment to calm down. “What was that for?”

“Well . . .” Applebloom began with a hesitant smile as she looked away. “We are trying ta get our cutie marks.”

Figures…

“I’m sorry Applebloom, but I cannot assist you in cutie mark seeking activities today,” Dexter said, adjusting his glasses. “I have very important work to do and-“

“But Dex!” A filly interrupted, it was Scootaloo this time. She happened to be standing beside Dexter, opposite to the wall of the house. “You have to help.”

“Oh, and why is that?” Dexter asked, turning to face the orange filly. However, it was Sweetie Belle who answered this time.

“Well . . .” Sweetie Belle began, she was behind the colt. Her words caused him to turn enough to face her. “We need a colt.”

“Umm… What?” Dexter said with a blink as anxiety crept into his voice. The last time he heard those words he didn’t like what followed. It involved huge creepy eyes and words like ‘coltfriend.’

“We need a boy.” Scootaloo repeated.

“And why do you need a boy!?” Dexter asked, his eyes growing a little wider as be backed into the wall of the homestead. He became increasingly aware of how the fillies had surrounded him.

“To help us get our cutie marks!” Sweetie Belle answered.

“I could have guessed that!” Dexter retorted as his tone became more apprehensive. “Listen girls, I don’t think I’m the right ‘colt’ for . . . helping you get whatever you’re looking for today-”

“No” Applebloom interrupted, causing the colt to stop. “Yer the right colt.”

“Yah,” Scootaloo agreed. “Rarity said so when we spoke to her the other day.”

Dexter couldn’t keep from asking himself what Rarity had to do with this. She had introduced him to Pinkie Pie, but he thought that would be the last of her ‘revenge.’ But whatever the case may be, she was Sweetie Belle’s older sister.

“What do you mean Rarity said so?” Dexter asked in confusion.

“Well. . .” Applebloom began. “Two days ago, after Applejack and Rarity told us about pro-creation, Rarity gave us a few suggestions on how we could earn our cutie marks.”

“And she suggested you specifically to help us with those ideas.” Sweetie Belle added.

There was a moment of awkward silence as he felt his heartrate double.

“An since you were actin’ so weird last time, we uh, kinda wanted to make sure ya didn’t run away again.” Applebloom added, motioning to the half circle the fillies made which trapped the colt against the house.

Dexter did nothing but press against the wall harder, his eye twitching as he looked for ways to escape. Sweetie Belle was the weakest physically, his best bet would be to try and push past her. But then again, who knows how much power she was packing in that horn.

“Yah, but I still don’t think I was totally wrong about the definition of pro-creation though.” Scootaloo added after another moment of silence.

“You were completely wrong, Applejack explained it!” Sweetie Belle teased.

“I admit that.” Scootaloo defended “But there was something funny about their explanation, like they were leaving something out.”

“Yah… Ah got that feeling too.” Applebloom admitted to the other fillies. “Like, if little baby critters come from girl critters, then why are there boys?” Dexter almost cursed at the filly for having half a brain to ask that question.

“I thought you asked Applejack that?” Scootaloo replied.

“Ah did,” Applebloom answered. “She just said I’d find out fer myself when ah get a little older…”

There was a pause as Dexter processed the filly’s words. He was thankful to piece enough together that he could reject some of his assumptions as wrong.

“You’re a boy, Dexter. Do you know why there are boys?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“No.” He lied. “I know nothing, nothing at all. . . but that still doesn’t explain why you need a colt.”

“Oh,” Sweetie Belle began. “Rarity said we should try getting a cutie mark in fashion by playing dress-up, but the box of make-up and fashion stuff she gave us is meant for both boys and girls. She said that the supplies she gave us work best on a colt with a white coat, a fiery orange mane, and who wears glasses.”

Dexter noted that description as oddly specific. This must have been Rarity;s doing, but that knowledge didn’t stop him from feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

“Oh thank goodness,” Dexter said, placing a hoof to his heart as he breathed a sigh of relief. “You only want to play dress-up.” However, after a moment his face contorted back into panic. “Dress-up!?!”

He hated dress-up. Ever since his sister forced him to play it, he despised the girlish game. He’d sooner light his hair on fire.

“No way!” Dexter shook his head frantically. “Never.”

“But we need a colt Dexter! Rarity said that fashion is very different for boys than girls. If we don’t try to dress-up a colt then we might miss getting our cutie marks!” Sweetie Belle pleaded.

“Yeah!” Scootaloo added with much more determination. “I don’t want to be a blank flank forever. We gotta try to make sure!”

“Never!” He shouted before making a run for it, bolting in Sweetie Belle’s direction. Unfortunately though, Scootaloo was rather quick. She caught onto his hind legs and slowed him down long enough for Applebloom to latch on as well.

“Stop act’n weird Dex!” Applebloom shouted, pulling on one of his hind legs. “We only wanna play dress-up!”

“No! Unhand me you psychotically obsessive juvenile equines!” Dexter shouted as he felt himself being wrestled back. The girls were surprisingly strong. Not as strong as he was, given that he was a colt. But their combined strength, as well as their greater experience with wrestling in a pony body, gave the fillies the advantage. “I will not partake in your loathsome pastime!”

Though, as hard as he struggled against the two fillies, he lost.

---

This must have been the fifth time Dexter promised himself that he would die before letting someone else put lipstick on him again.

The fillies proved to be just as disastrous with their attempts to get a cutie mark in male fashion as they were with their other failed efforts. Unfortunately for the colt, however, Rarity had given them no shortage of supplies. They spared nothing as they wanted to try everything they had, just to make sure they didn’t miss their calling.

The colt tried pointing out that ‘lipstick wasn’t meant for boys.’

But that didn’t stop the over enthusiastic fillies who desired to be thorough, opting to try everything rather than just what was meant for boys.

He repeated his argument for the bow, and the mascara, and the eye-liner, and even the dress.

At one point he was ready to call out to Quadraplex for help, but he’d have a hard time explaining to Applejack why an army of robots suddenly seized the three fillies.

So he decided to man up. Luckily, he had been through worse with Dee Dee.

He finally managed to escape when the fillies got into an argument about powdering his nose. He pointed out the powder was pointless, given that he had a snow-white fur covering most of his face. Lucky it was enough to start the argument that allowed him the opening to bolt.

That’s when Applejack and Big Mac found him running through the orhard and brought him back into the house.

“Bhaha!” Big Macintosh guffawed with a deep tone in Dexter’s direction as annoyed looking Applejack reappeared before the colt with some cloth and a bucket of water in her mouth. She placed the bucket beside Dexter before head-butting her older brother. The stallion, surprised by the action, stumbled backward a bit before landing on his haunches.

“Shad-up ya idjit!” Applejack chastised. “Yer the one who’s supposed ta discourage this sorta thing!”

“Ah am, right now!” He said, before letting out another burst of deep laughter. Dexter felt his shame grow, wishing that he could disappear from existence for the remainder of time. “He’ll never want to look like that again!”

“What do you mean he’s supposed to discourage this?” Dexter asked Applejack as she scrubbed some of the lipstick off Dexter’s face.

“Some psychobabble Avid Aura told me about colts being feminized if they're in an environment without a stallion around.” Applejack said through the cloth in her mouth.

What?

“Applejack, I assure you I am not in jeopardy of being feminized by any means.” He stated firmly.

“Really?” Applejack said before tilting a nearby mirror in Dexter’s direction. He finally got a good look at himself, and what he saw horrified him. There was a disheveled dress, a perfect bow, poorly applied eyeliner, perfectly curled eyelashes, a ponytail mane, and no shortage of lipstick.

Though, his mane was finally neat for the first time, something he didn’t mind. As far as Dexter was concerned, he could keep the ponytail. He was a pony after all...

That’s when Dexter suddenly became acutely aware of Big Mac suppressing another bout of laughter, and his embarrassment surged upward.

“Point taken.” Dexter said, reaching up to undo the ponytail and scramble his mane.

“Stay here, Ah’ll be right back with some hoof polish remover.” Applejack replied before turning to leave. Though Dexter looked down to see sparkling neon pink hooves.

“Figures . . .” Dexter deadpanned.

“You know, your sister and her friends are crazy.” Dexter eventually said to the stallion. Though, come to think of it, he understood what it was like to have a crazy sister.

“Eeyup” Big Mac asked, still grinning. “That goes fer both of ‘em.’” He said after checking around to make sure Applejack was gone. “But ya learn ta live with it.”

“Applejack is crazy?” Dexter asked, skeptically.

“All of em’ are crazy, Dex.” Big Mac replied

---

Golden Oaks library was having a spell of craziness itself. At least, as far as everyone except a certain purple spastic mare was concerned.

Though Rarity was about that find this out as she opened the door to the library and walked inside.

The library was rather neat when she left this morning, however now it was a mess. Papers and books were scattered everywhere, with several chalkboards forming a circle in the middle of the room. Rarity hardly had a moment to take it all in before a purple flash and a loud pop caused a certain purple mare to appear in the center of the chalkboard fortress.

“Spike, where are you? Ah never mind – no, no wait, take another note!” Twilight said rapidly. Her mane was disheveled as her eyes frantically darted from one chalkboard to another, but always landing back on the one in the middle of the room. She kept a frantic grin and wild eyes the whole time.

“Another one?” Spike groaned tiredly, he hated it when she got like this. “You haven’t finished the last one!”

“Yes, but this time, address it to professor Theory Proof, the head of mathematics at the Royal Academy of Canterlot.” Twilight said quickly before writing something a nearby chalkboard. “And have you gotten a response from-“

She was interrupted by Spike belching out a scroll in green flame. Before he could even reach up to hold it, Twilight snatched it in her magical grasp.

“Dear Miss Sparkle,” Twilight began reading aloud. “My department is testing the solution which you have presented to us, and so far it seems to be working for every known example we can think of. However, we will continue to evaluate it. By the way it appears to be passing each test we apply to it, even the more difficult ones, I am very excited to say this may be the solution we have been seeking for so long. I had almost given up hope that Clovers Conundrum would be solved in my lifetime. My colleagues and I will continue to correspond with you as we get more information. However, my entire department is now busy at evaluating the solution. Sincerely, Professor Noble Vapor.”

“PS. Celestia has expressed her excitement as well, and has given us free use of your dragon’s ability to send and receive parcels for the foreseeable future.”

Spike let out a very loud groan. The next few days were going to prove difficult.

“W-what’s going on?” Rarity asked, slightly confused at the sight before her.

Spike noticed his crush instantly, turning toward her with an almost pleading expression. Twilight, however, was too preoccupied to notice her friend’s presence.

“Twilight is having another one of her . . . moments.” Spike replied, hesitantly looking at the purple unicorn in the hopes she didn’t hear him. If Twilight did, she gave no indication as she went back to scribbling on chalkboards.

“Dare I ask how long she has been like this?” Rarity said, casting a worried gaze at the mare before looking back at Spike.

“I dunno,” Spike complained. “It started just after you left this morning.”

“Spike, that was over nine hours ago.” Rarity replied after looking at the library clock. “You mean to tell me-“ She was cut off as Twilight suddenly teleported out of view with a loud pop.

Taken aback, the mare paused for a moment.

“You’re telling me she’s been frantically running around the library for the past nine hours?” Rarity finished. “Teleporting about?”

“Yes,” Spike said tiredly, before he suddenly belched. A sudden green flame produced another scroll. “Make it stop!” He pleaded.

“What set her off?” Rarity said, more than willing to do what she could to grant Spike’s request Being one of Twilight’s friends, she was very familiar with the spastic fits the purple unicorn could have. Though Rarity felt the situation was a bit ironic, seeing how she was just sent back from the boutique by a rainbow maned friend that had to rein her in. Now Rarity was tasked with doing the same for Twilight. “I need to know what set her off if I hope to stop it.”

However, Spike didn’t get to answer before Twilight reappeared out of another purple flash.

“Thanks Spike!” She said frantically, snatching up the scroll that just arrived. “Here, send this!” She said as she stuffed another scroll into Spike’s mouth, causing the baby dragon to gag. Before she could realize what she’d done she had teleported away again.

Rarity’s eyes narrowed in determination. It was one thing to be freaking out, but to hurt the white unicorn’s adorable ‘Spikey Wikey,’ intentional or not, was crossing the line.

“I don’t know!” Spike gasp after spitting out the scroll. “It all started this morning when I began cleaning the chalk boards. Somepony had written on the side she told me to never touch or clean. When I showed her, she was upset but then started staring at it and didn’t stop for fifteen minutes. Then she had the biggest spaz attack ever!”

Without a second thought, Rarity turned toward the wall of chalkboards. She was eventually able to work her way into the center, having to squeeze by or push away some of the boards as she went.

“Twilight? Twilight dear, are you in here?” Rarity called once she reached the center. The purple unicorn was there muttering to herself rapidly as she scribbled on one of the chalk boards nearby. Books and papers were scattered around her, along with several scrolls and quills with ink wells.

“Twilight dear?” Rarity said, stretching out a hoof and poking the mare on the shoulder. It caused her to flinch before realizing who it was.

“Hi Rarity! Kindabusynowcan’ttalk!” Twilight said, turning away.

“Twilight,” rarity began, trying to think of a way to phrase what she wanted to say delicately. “Spike and I are . . . concerned you may be . . . overdoing it a bit with whatever this is. Maybe you should take a break.”

“TAKE A BREAK?!” Twilight shouted, as though it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. “I can’t take a break!”

“Whatever it is, is it too important to allow yourself to fall into such a dreaded state?” Rarity asked, trying to keep her tone civil.

“Important? Yes.” Twilight said frantically, switching her gaze between chalk boards. She was particularly interested in the one in the middle. “We’ve found a solution to Clover’s Conundrum! And it’s . . . it’s amazing! Incredible! Groundbreaking! A day to mark in history!” Twilight rambled frantically. “But not only that, it’s amazing!” She repeated.

“I see . . .” Rarity said, recalling what she knew of the mentioned ‘Conundrum.’ She didn’t know very much about it, but she knew a little from her time spent at magical kindergarten. “It’s some old equation thought up by some ancient mare?”

Rarity deadpanned when Twilight failed to respond, the purple unicorn had gone back to frantically scribbling giant walls of math across multiple chalk boards.

But Rarity couldn’t let this go on, she had to find a way to break Twilight out of her fit. The white unicorn smirked as an idea came to mind.

“Buuuut Twiiilligghttt!!!” Rarity began to whine, a skill she had refined into an art. She knew full well her ability to whine was enough to break anyone’s concentration and prevent all thought, as well as be the mental equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard. “You’re making the library a messssss! And poooor Spike is getting tired. Ooh! And your mane is getting all messy.”

Hearing her whine slaughtered ever trace of thought in Twilight’s head.

“No!” Twilight shouted, turning toward the other mare. Her expression had only grown more frantic. “I know what you’re trying to do Rarity, and it won’t work!”

Rarity merely responded with a smug grin.

“You think I’m overdoing it don’t you?” Twilight accused before letting out a nervous chuckle. “But I’m not overdoing it, I’m not overdoing it at all.” She reassured frantically. “Nope, if somepony is overdoing it then that somepony isn’t me. In fact, I’m underdoing it!”

Rarity merely rolled her eyes before taking a large deliberate breath.

Though Rarity didn’t get the chance to speak again. A sudden blast of purple magic emitted from Twilight’s horn and collided with Rarity’s neck. At first, nothing appeared to be different, and Twilight quickly returned to her chalk boards.

However, when Rarity tried to speak again, she found no sound coming from her mouth. No matter how hard to tried to speak, or even yell, she remained completely silent.

‘So that’s how it’s going to be? Fine, two can use magic at playing this game!’ Rarity said to herself before producing an evil grin. She extracted herself from the mass of chalkboards and walked toward the library’s kitchen.

She returned a few moments later with some buckets and a few dozen cups floating in her magical grasp, each one of them filled to the brim with water. She might not know as many spells as Twilight, but the white unicorn did know how to think creatively with her magic.

Twilight didn’t see it coming until it was too late. Four floating buckets and several floating cups full of water lurched forward at Twilight, thoroughly dowsing the purple unicorn and forcing her to let out a loud “Eeep!”

Twilight stood in shock, motionless as water dripped from her thoroughly soaked fur. The sudden blast of icy cold water successfully stunned Twilight’s brain. Rarity must have known a spell or two that could cool off water, as it was much colder than anything she should have been able to get in the kitchen.

“Rarity!” Twilight finally managed to shout in annoyance. But Twilight’s annoyance evaporated when she spot the death glare from the white unicorn. “Okay . . .” Twilight began hesitantly. “Maybe casting that silencing spell was a bit out of line.”

Rarity replied with a curt nod. Twilight’s horn lit up again, and soon after Rarity found the ability to speak.

“Why thank you, Twilight,” Rarity said with a hint of irritation. “I see no reason to harbor any ill feelings for such dreadful behavior on both our parts, shall we move on?”

Twilight nodded.

“Do you think you’re causing a bit of a fuss over this? Is it really that big of a deal?” Rarity asked.

Twilight took a great inhale, preparing to open the floodgates. However, she stopped when she saw Rarity raise a hoof.

“On second thought, don’t answer that.” Rarity said quickly, thinking to rephrase her question. She wanted to keep Twilight calm, and find a way to prevent the spastic unicorn from working herself up again. “What I mean to ask is, don’t you think you could conduct yourself in a little more civilized a manner whilst exploring your . . . discovery?”

“You’re right, Rarity.” Twilight sighed with a little shame. “But this, this is so amazing!”

“You said that already, darling.” Rarity replied as she rolled her eyes.

“But you don’t understand,” Twilight said, getting a little more excited. “The solution of Clover’s Conundrum will open up whole new fields of magic and science for study!” She said, casting a hoof toward the blackboard as she glanced toward it. “It’s advancement for all ponykind that will…”

Twilight trailed off as she looked at the board. However, she was surprised by what she saw.

The neat set of lines that flowed from one to the next, which ended in a groundbreaking solution, was replaced by a giant water stain. The blackboard had been collateral damage in Rarity’s water-based assault on the purple unicorn.

The ‘solution’ was now unreadable, and many of the other lines were smudged or unreadable all together.

“B-but but but” Twilight gawked in horror.

“Umm . . . You okay Twilight?” Rarity asked with concern.

“You . . .heh” Twilight said slowly, letting out a creepy, and ominous chuckle. The hair of her mane and tail seemed to curl on their own, adopting a frazzled state yet again. Her eyes shrunk to pin-pricks as her ear’s splayed back. Her eye, and ear, gave an occasional twitch. “You . . . heh. . . heh . . . erased it . . .”

Sensing that something was now very wrong, Rarity took a few steps back out of fear.

“Can’t you, um, just write it back on the board?” Rarity asked nervously as she adopted a hopeful expression.

“But I didn’t solve it!” Twilight shouted. “I know the solution, but I didn’t get to memorize the proof leading up to it!”

“Then how did it get there in the first place?” Rarity asked, cringing at her friends volume.

That question surprised Twilight, and got her eyes to widen even further. The purple unicorn had been so excited about the answer she had found that she didn’t stop to ask where it came from.

Though, it took her only a moment to realize the answer.

“Dexter . . .” The mare said creepily as her smile returned. “Dexter must have done this…”

---

The following day . . .

“Dex?” Applejack called throughout the family household. “Where ya at Dex?”

When she didn’t receive a response, she climbed the stairs and turned toward the colt’s room. However, she found his room empty.

“Ah coulda swore he went up here . . .” Applejack muttered to herself before going back downstairs. She quickly checked the rest of the house, failing to find Dexter anywhere. However, she was just about to go out and search the farm when she spotted Big Mac carrying a basket of apples as he entered the house.

“Big Mac?” Applejack began, earning her brother attention.

“Eeyup?” He replied.

“Ya seen Dexter out there on tha farm at all?” She asked. “Ah’ve been lookin’ for em.”

“Nnope.” Big Mac replied as he placed the basket on the kitchen table.

“Ah take yer headed to Sugarcube corner fer tha party.” Applejack went on. “Ya know if Applebloom left yet?”

“Her an' her friends should be there by now.” Big Mac replied

“Yah well, if Ah can’t find Dex soon enough he’s gonna be late for his own-“ Applejack started, however she stopped herself the moment she heard the sound of hooves coming down the stairs.

“Dex? Is that you?” Applejack called, however her question was answered by Dexter appearing in the kitchen doorway.

“You were looking for me Applejack?” He asked.

“Yah, Ah was.” Applejack asked in surprise. “Where were you? Ah just checked upstairs an’ you weren’t there.”

“I’ve been here . . . on and about the farm.” Dexter began, being careful to not lie.

“Well, Ah want ya ta go ta Sugarcube corner an’ bring me back some flour.” Applejack instructed. “The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, are friends of mine an’ should be expecting you. Ya remember where it is don’t ya?”

“Yes, B-but” Dexter began. “Why do you want me to do this?” He complained.

“Don’ argue, just get going” Applejack lightly chastised while pointing a hoof out the door. “An make it fast will ya?” She added.

Grumbling under his breath, Dexter turned and left. When he had cleared the orchard, he raised a hoof and tapped his ear.

“Quadraplex, I will be making a short visit to Ponyville.” He said loud enough for the miniature radio in his ear to pick up his voice. “I’ll be back shortly, but do not suspend any experiments during my absence.”

“Understood, Dexter.” She replied.

His walk was rather uneventful, at least until he started approaching Sugarcube corner. The bakery was oddly quiet. The front door was closed and all the blinds were drawn. No light came from any of the uncovered windows.

Dexter figured it was simply closed, it was a Sunday after all. However, when he approached the front door, loud piercing static flooded his left ear. It was so loud that it caused him to recoil in shock.

“Quadraplex, what in the world was that for?” He said through gritted teeth, doing everything he could not to shout. Being in the center of town, it would appear odd of him if he were to suddenly start shouting in anger into a radio no one else could see.

“Warning, Danger! Do not enter the bakery, Dexter.” Quadraplex stated. Her voice, much to Dexter surprise, seemed to have traces of concern. Though he would have to figure out to what extent the computer could feel emotions at another time.

“What? What do you mean danger? What’s going on?” Dexter asked, forgetting is anger.

“Scanner’s detected forty five equines within the structure you are approaching, they are obscured by low light levels and are in a formation around the entrance.” Quadraplex began. “I believe they mean to ambush whoever enters through the doorway.”

“Show me,” Dexter instructed. A once transparent screen flickered to life in his glasses, showing him the contents of the bakery as though he could see through the walls.

A large number of the ponies were wearing party hats, and a big banner that said ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ hang from the far wall. There were also some food, drinks, party games, and one very excited Pinkie Pie.

Dexter easily summarized what was happening.

“A party?” He asked, almost skeptically. “Oh boy! It must be a surprise party just for me!” Dexter happily rushed toward the door, however another burst of ear piercing static flooded his mind.

“Computer!” Dexter growled. “What are you-“

“I detected five changelings among the equines inside the structure,” The computer interrupted.

“What?”

“They appear to have taken on disguises and are hiding within the mass of equines.” The computer explained. However, a moment later the screen in Dexter’s glasses lit up. The glasses highlighted five ponies scattered throughout the room.

“I recommend you retreat immediately, Dexter.” The computer said, oddly sounding worried again.

The colt paused for a moment. “No,” He eventually replied. “All this sneaking around isn’t my style.” He began, though keeping his voice low enough that only the ear piece could pick up his voice. “Especially, retreating! Dexter, boy genius, fears no one! I’ve got a better idea, Quadraplex…”

Dexter took a few more steps toward the bakery before feigning surprise.

“Oh no!” He called loudly, toward the bakery. He was sure those inside could hear him. “I forgot the measuring cup to carry the flour Applejack wanted me to borrow. I’ll have to go get it!” He said before turning around. Though his lingering gaze on the bakery, and his ability to see through the bakery wall, revealed a disappointed Pinkie Pie.

Dexter ran back the way he came until he was out of sight of the bakery. He ducked into an alleyway between some houses and spoke into his earpiece again.

“Computer, has the teleporter been constructed yet?” He asked.

“Affirmative, Dexter.”

“Teleport me to the lab!” The colt disappeared in a flash of light.

“Changelings have invaded the local bakery!” Dexter said excitedly, jumping up and down in front of his computer. “You know what this means, don’t you computer?” He said to the talking terminal.

“No, Dexter” She replied in confusion.

“SUIT UP!!!”

---

“What’s going on?” Applejack asked in surprise upon entering Sugarcube corner with her older brother. “Yall haven’t started the party yet?”

Pinkie Pie, who was waiting by the bakery front door shook her head. She was about to say something when a purple flash cut her off.

“Is that him? Is he here yet?” Asked a spastic purple unicorn who appeared out of nowhere. She appeared only slightly frazzled now, but held a quill and notepad in her magical grasp.

“Twi?” Applejack asked in surprise. She didn’t get an answer before Rarity pushed her way through the small crowd to reach the purple mare, Rainbow Dash alongside her. Rarity grasped Twilight in her magical aura and began dragging her away from the door while Rainbow Dash helped by pushing Twilight back.

“Be patient, Darling.” Rarity chastised. “You’ll know that he has arrived when everypony shouts ‘surprise.’”

“Yeah, you’re going to ruin the surprise.” Rainbow added.

When they finally disappeared back into the crowd of ponies, Applejack turned to Pinkie Pie with a raised eyebrow.

“Long story,” Pinkie Pie replied. “I’ll tell you later, but what’s important right now is, where is Dexter?!”

“Ah dunno, Ah I sent em' here jus like you asked.” Applejack replied as she frowned in confusion, beginning to worry for the colt.

“When he got here he was about to come inside but then stopped and said he had to get a measuring cup for some flour and left!” Pinkie Pie said hastily, confusing Applejack for a moment.

“Oh, Ah know what happened.” Applejack replied. “Ah told em to come borrow some flour from yall in order ta get him over here, he musta figured he needed something ta carry the flour in and went back ta the farm ta get it.”

“”Nnope.” Big Mac said in reply to his younger sister. The one word earning him the mare’s attention.

“What do ya mean, nope?” Applejack asked.

“If he went back ta the farm we woulda seen him on tha way here.” He replied simply.

“That’s right!” Applejack said as concern began creeping into her voice. “Where is he?”

Her question wasn’t answered before a loud sound of breaking glass greeted her ears.

The large window beside the bakery door had been smashed in from the outside, the glass of the window fell to the floor and shattered, sending small bits of glass everywhere.

Not a second later, A small, sleek cylindrical object flew in through the broken window and landed in the middle of the room. Most of the ponies had taken notice and looked toward the small object, which was had a small pulsing yellow light.

The yellow light suddenly adopted a red hue while emitting a high pitched whine. There was a sudden burst of light as a wave of energy erupted from the small cylinder, washing over the entire room.

Every pony in the room, all of which had been struck by the energy wave, felt their entire body seize up before they fell to the floor with a collective thump. They all lay where they had fallen, unmoving and unconscious.

This happened to all of the ponies inside the bakery, all but five. Those five instantly recognized each other, casting bewildered expressions with their pony forms.

The bakery door suddenly exploded inward, littering the room with debris. The sudden blast started the standing ponies, causing them to adopt an aggressive stance toward the entrance.

That’s when a colt appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a black and white outfit, made from a sleek material they had never seen before. It was white on his sides but bore a large black stripe down his chest and back. It clung close to his body, close enough it could have replaced his fur. However, it did not interfere with his fiery orange mane, and his glasses appeared to be integrated into the suit itself.

He stepped over the threshold into the bakery, carrying a saddlebag and a long shoulder-mounted object. The object on his shoulder had a number of lights on it, as well as a large canister which was glowing blue. It also sported a handle with a large lever on it, designed for easy use by a pony.

“Bring it on, Changeling scum!” Dexter said, extending a free foreleg and motioning toward himself with a hoof.

The five ponies, who wore an expression of bewilderment, lost all facial expression when they heard the word ‘changeling.’ After a moment of silence, the ponies disappeared in flashes of green before being replaced by large equine-like insects. They all glared at the colt while a few of them bared their fangs.

“Computer,” Dexter said into his ear piece. “Activate the ion cannon, maximum stun setting!” The cannon on his shoulder responded by humming to life.

“You know who we are… and I suspect I know who you are underneath that suit and mask, foal.” The closest changeling to Dexter said. “Make it easy on yourself and come with us quietly.”

“Fat chance ya bug eyed freak!” Dexter retorted.

“Fine,” She replied, lowering into an aggressive stance. “Have it your way.”

The three closest changelings bolted toward the colt. Dexter quickly turned the cannon on his shoulder toward the closest of the oncoming changelings before pulling the lever. It let out a large blast of blue energy which struck the changeling dead center, throwing it back into one of the tables. Cake and party drinks went flying everywhere.

He turned the cannon toward the second changeling, partially blasting it through another one of the bakery’s windows. It fell limp, hanging on the bakery's window sill.

The third changeling shot out a bolt of electricity from her horn. Dexter tried to move out of the way, but it successfully connected with the large cannon on his shoulder, it dropped to the floor with a thump just as the changeling collided with the colt.

The changeling, being the size of a full grown pony, easily pinned the colt. Dexter was hardly able to struggle before he found himself mostly immobilized by the insectoid creature. The changeling bared its fangs while growling down at the colt pinned underneath her.

“Computer, activate the force amplifying horse shoes!” He said, earning a confused look from the changeling. However, a moment later, Dexter brought up his fore hooves, a pair of horseshoes attached to them. They gave off the sound of capacitors charging.

From his movements, Dexter should have lightly tapped the changeling’s chest. However, the moment his hooves made contact with her, the changeling rocketed upward like a bomb had exploded beneath her.

She slammed into the ceiling with a sickening crack, her entire upper body forcefully lodged in the ceiling while her lower body dangling beneath her.

The other two changelings, who were just watched the whole event, stood in shock for a moment.

“What?” One of them asked, incredulously.

However, when they saw Dexter moving, they immediately bolted for him.

Raising his head, Dexter spotted the oncoming attackers before smiling. He quickly rolled onto his stomach before spotting a nearby table. It was a small, round, yet sturdy table made with a thick piece of wood. Dexter quickly raised a hoof with a vibrating horseshoe and lightly tapped the side of the table opposite of the incoming changelings.

The table exploded off the ground and flew straight into the closest changeling, colliding with another sickening crack. The changeling in question fell to the floor with a large crack in her carapace, thrashing while hissing in pain.

The last remaining changeling stopped, glancing at her fallen comrade. The downed changeling would live, but wasn’t going to be fighting anyone soon.

“Why you little-“ The changeling began as she turned back toward the colt, however she was cut off by another piece of flying furniture. It was a chair this time, flying at the changeling at break-neck speeds. Luckily for the changeling though, she spotted in just in time to duck underneath it.

As the chair crashed into the wall behind her, the changeling rose to her hooves and instantly locked Dexter in a green aura of magic. Not giving the colt a chance to do something else, she flicked her head, causing Dexter to be launched through a nearby window and into the street outside.

The blow disoriented Dexter, causing him to rise unsteadily as he reestablished which way was up.

“Ouch. . .” He muttered to himself, finally standing up all the way. However, as his vision cleared he got a better look at a rather angry changeling, who was now standing in front of the colt.,

“You!” The changeling began, seizing the colt in another aura of magic. She raised him above the ground before tightening her grasp. She smiled at the grunt of pain Dexter let out in response. “You’re going to pay for that.”

“I don’t think so…” Dexter said, moving the little that he could to tap the side of his saddlebag. “I’m kind of glad you brought us outside, I don’t have to worry about as much collateral damage without the herd of party goers napping underneath us…”

“What are you talking abo-?” The changeling began. However, she was cut off as the sack on Dexter’s back burst open. Four white robotic limbs transformed around Dexter’s own legs, as other pieces slid into place around his barrel and head.

When the transformation was complete, the colt had been replaced by a robotic exoskeleton. It turned to stare directly into the changeling’s green eyes with a large red visor.

“Wat?” The changeling’s eye twitched as her ears splayed back in fear.

The robot took a step forward, smashing it’s foreleg into the ground which caused the ground to break underneath the robotic hoof.

Panicking, the changeling grasped the whole suit in an aura of green magic. Trying to lift it into the air. She managed to lift in a few feet, however her efforts were made in vain.

“Computer, activate the anti-magic dampening field!” Dexter commanded from within the robot. A moment later, the green aura flashed before disappearing entirely.

The changeling tried casting the aura again, as well as a number of spells. However, each time her horn would light up for only a moment before fading.

“Something wrong?” Dexter mocked, approaching the pony insect. “Having trouble?”

After a few more desperate tries at magic, the changeling turned and bolted.

“Oh no you don’t!” Dexter said to the fleeing form.

The changeling hardly got twenty feet before the robot chasing her landed on her back, causing both of them to tumble over onto the ground. The following struggle ended quickly, as the robot-assisted colt overpowered and pinned the full grown pony sized insectoid.

“Stop struggling,” Dexter commanded, however the panicking changeling continued.

“Stop struggling, now!” Dexter demanded again, slamming the changeling against the ground. The robotic limb of his right foreleg transformed, revealing a cannon.

“This has the power to launch your head flying clean of your neck and through the stratosphere,” Dexter growled. “Stop. Moving.”

The changeling finally yielded, falling dead still. She looked upward at the metallic pony, staring wide-eyed into the red visor that should have been a pony’s eyes. She whimpered at the robot’s expressionless face.

“I have a message, a warning, for your Queen - or whoever is in charge of you insectoids!” Dexter demanded through his helmet, it came out sounding distorted and robotic.

“Back off!”

Author's Notes:

Okay, I have to thank a bunch of people for helping with the proof-reading/editing: undeadponylord, Surplus Flow, AaronPony1, Nucnik, Airchi, kamachakta, Bakermon, Omnicron25, Vandenbz (I sent out a link to the google docs of the draft and I have no idea who did what, but they all deserve a thank you.)

As for the follower shorts', they are non-cannon and will be posted on the blogs. I dont want to confuse readers by adding non-cannon chapters. They are for everyone, its just that the followers will get messages when I post them on the blog.

As always, please Like and Comment! Point out any typos/mistakes as well please. - I know I have some mistakes in previous chapters, and I will get to them eventually. However, point out what you find - I try to edit show-stopper mistakes immediately.

Anyone play CS:GO? PM me so I have someone to play with, my current team is out for the next month.

Crossed The Line

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“Hey, Twilight?” Spike called in a hushed tone, trying to find the purple unicorn in the small herd of ponies. She had disappeared from his side a few moments ago, leaving him with the herd that waited patiently for the right moment to shout ‘surprise.’ Only a few of the ponies conversed in hushed voices, not wanting to jeopardize the element of surprise Pinkie Pie had worked so hard to keep.

Though, the ponies of Ponyville had lots of practice, given that Pinkie Pie threw these surprise ‘Welcome To Ponyville ’ parties on a regular basis. An outsider would hardly suspect that the quiet bakery was actually packed full of ponies.

The front door opened and slammed shut, indicating someone had entered the bakery. That was when Twilight disappeared from the baby dragon’s side, leaving him without as much as a word.

It wasn’t unusual behavior for the purple mare when she was obsessing over something, though Spike found it rather annoying. However, he had to admit, this time she had her reasons. The solution for Clover’s Conundrum was a big deal, a fact reinforced by the stream of scrolls he continuously coughed up in bouts of green flame.

Luckily, after a few moments of searching, Spike spotted the purple unicorn being pulled back into the crowed by Rarity and Rainbow Dash.

“Oooooh, why isn’t Dexter here yet?” Twilight complained, she was slightly disappointed by the appearance of Applejack and Big Mac instead of the colt. Though Twilight did little to resist Rarity’s and Rainbow Dash’s combined effort to pull her back.

“Twilight, he will get here when he gets here.” Rarity replied as she released her magical grasp, freeing the other unicorn.

“You’d better watch out, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash warned before taking to the air, beating her wings to hover over her unicorn friends. “If you do something to mess up the surprise, you’ll have to deal with Pinkie Pie about it.”

“There you are!” Spike pushed toward the trio, earning the gaze of Rarity. He had just barely made it to Twilight and her friends when the sound of glass shattering silenced the room. A sleek metal cylinder with a yellow light bounced into the room, landing in the center of the small herd.

Twilight and her friends all turned to face the cylinder, bewildered by the object's entrance.

“What’s everypony staring at?” Spike asked, trying to see over the mares.

When he didn’t get a response, he bent down low enough to see underneath the herd of ponies. He only got a glimpse of the small object just as it pulsed red. A moment later he went blind as every point on his body seized up. Every last scale on his body screamed as though being shocked with electricity.

---

The baby dragon didn’t know how long he was out for, though he knew it wasn’t long.

The baby dragon felt himself being jolted awake by an abrupt, yet familiar burning sensation welling up in his throat. Like the gag reflex for most other creatures, when a dragon finds themselves suddenly breathing fire in their sleep, a reflex catapults their mind to consciousness.

A necessary precaution for a creature who might find themselves breathing fire in response to a nightmare.

Spike gagged and coughed as he his body forcefully produced a green flame, a scroll materializing within. It actually wasn’t a scroll, but rather just a piece of paper with the words ‘Did you get it yet?’ scribbled down.

“Oohh” He moaned, slowly opening his eyes. His vision was obscured by white fur, the familiar scent revealing its owner. “Rarity?”

The baby dragon tried to push himself up, but his efforts proved fruitless. Every muscle in his body seared in pain, objecting to his movement. Someone had also fallen on top of him, making an already difficult task harder.

Bracing for the pain, Spike gave a great heave and pushed himself upward. His efforts were not in vain this time, as he was able to free his head. Rarity, being one of the ponies who had fallen on him, lay motionless. She and the other mares around Spike remained completely unresponsive to his movements.

“Bring it on, changeling scum!” The familiar voice got the baby dragon to freeze in place, before slowly turning his head toward the source.

A colt had appeared in the doorway, wearing a strange white suit. The suit had a large black stripe running the length of the colt running down his chest and back, a large orange “D” plastered in the center of his chest. The colt’s fiery orange mane was rather familiar to the dragon, reminiscent of a certain colt he had recently met.

The newcomer motioned toward himself with a grin.

Looking to see who this colt was speaking too, Spike noticed five ponies who were still standing, apparently they were unaffected by what had stunned everyone else. However, they were only ponies momentarily. Each one of them disappeared in a green flash, to be replaced by black insectoids.

“You know who we are… and I suspect I know who you are underneath that suit and mask, foal,” one of them began. “Make it easy on yourself and come with us quietly.”

“Fat chance ya bug eyed freak!” The colt retorted.

“Fine,” she replied, baring her fangs as she prepared to charge the colt. “Have it your way.”

Three of the changelings charged the colt. The large cylinder on his shoulder shot out a blast of blue light, striking one of the changelings and launching her into a nearby table.

“Whoa . . .” Spike muttered to himself, eyes wide as he watched on.

---

Dexter stepped into the now quiet bakery. The herd of partiers still slumbered before him, unmoving from where they had fell.

After pinning the last changeling, and giving her the message he wanted delivered to the hive, Dexter had returned to the bakery. He was no longer wearing his suit or power armor, both had been hidden away. They were replaced by a saddlebag which contained only a large measuring cup.

Without so much as a glance, Dexter stepped passed the unconscious ponies and incapacitated changelings, and walked toward the back of the bakery. He approached one of the remaining tables situated near the kitchen entrance. Atop the table were two silent bundles, a slumped Mrs. Cake lay against a nearby wall.

“Stupid Quadraplex,” Dexter muttered in anger as he placed the measuring cup on the table. “You should have told me there were foals in the bakery.”

“Once again, Dexter, I apologize,” the computer replied through his earpiece. “I was unaware of any special considerations they requ-"

“You always double check when it comes to these things, Computer,” He growled into his earpiece as he pulled away a cloth with the word ‘Pound’ from one of the bundles, revealing a yellow infant foal with a brown mane. Dexter placed an ear to the small colt’s chest while bring a hoof up to his muzzle. His heartbeat was loud and strong, and he appeared to be breathing normally.

“D-Dexter, again, I am sorry. Projections indicated that the stun weapon would not cause the infants any permanent harm,” the computer went on, trying to placate Dexter. Her nearly monotonous voice had a trace of hurt in it, though Dexter was too busy to notice.

“And if their mother, or another fat women, had fallen on one of them when they were stunned?” he motioned toward the sleeping pony beside the table. “How long would it take for one of the infants to suffocate?”

“The information I had access to did prompt the consideration of that scenario, I-“ she began again.

“How long, Computer?” He repeated with a growl as he checked the other bundle labelled ‘Pumpkin.’ From what he could tell, they were both perfectly fine and sound asleep.

“Three minutes, fourteen seconds.”

“Two minutes too short if only I were able to return and help them,” Dexter berated. “You need to think of these things, Computer!”

“Again, I am sorry, Dexter,” she replied, her tone retained a hint of hurt.

After a few moments, Dexter let out a sigh. He was relieved that the infants would be fine, but a part of him was still angry. Though, not at the Computer.

“I’m sorry too, Computer,” Dexter eventually said. “I built you, I programmed you, and so in the end I am responsible. That, and you’re only three days old yourself, so I can’t blame you. Technically these foals are older than you, but I need you to learn about everything you can as fast as you can, so things like this don’t slip by you in the future.”

“Understood, Dexter,” she replied.

Dexter was about to pick up the measuring cup again and find one of the ponies to wake, however a voice caught him by surprise.

“Uh, a little help over here?” A heap of mares pleaded. However, as Dexter inspected it closer, he noticed Spike’s head just peaking over an unconscious Rarity.

“Spike?” Dexter asked, crossing to the far side of the bakery and approaching the heap. Upon reaching the baby dragon, he wrapped his hooves around the purple lizard and pulled him upward. It was enough to free most of Spike’s body.

“Hey thanks,” Spike said in relief. “Who else is up?”

“Huh?” Dexter asked.

“I heard you whispering to somepony over there,” Spike motioned toward the table near the kitchen. “Couldn’t hear what you two were talking about, but I definitely heard you talking.”

“I, uh, was just whispering to myself while checking on the cake infants,” Dexter lied after scratching his head. “Trying not to wake them up.”

“Oh,” Spike answered after heaving at his tail, freeing it from the heap as well. He felt it was really awkward to see Twilight and Rarity slumped over, completely unresponsive to being pushed.

“Dexter that was awesome!” Spike said, turning back toward the colt.

“What was awesome?” Dexter’s tone became sharp as he narrowed his eyes, the colt was both surprised and worried by Spike’s words.

“Didn’t you see it, some pony came in here and wiped the floor with five changelings!” Spike replied excitedly. “It was incredible.”

“I see . . .” The colt said, checking around the room to see if anyone else had woken up yet. The entire room was still silent and motionless. “And what exactly did you see?” His tone was cold as he returned his gaze to the young dragon.

“Somepony in a black and white suit came in and fought the five changelings!” Spike went on, motioning to four changelings who were littered throughout the room. “He blasted two of them, then punched one so hard it crashed into the ceiling, then he through a table at another!”

“So, you were awake…” Dexter said quietly, his tone was somewhere between a question and an accusation.

“Yeah, somepony in Canterlot sent me a message and forced me to wake up. You must have seen something if you were on your way here! ” Spike asked, turning to face the colt. Though, as his gazed lingered on the colt his expression grew slightly bewildered.

“In fact . . .” Spike began. “The colt fighting the changelings… his voice sounded a lot like yours…”

“A lot of colts my age have deep and soft baritone voices!” the young boy retorted, his voice was so shrill and squeaky he could have come across as angry. “You sure it wasn’t Pipsqueak or someone else?”

“It’s not just the voice…” Spike went on. “He had the same mane as you, orange and spiky.”

“Spike, whoever you saw, it was not me,” Dexter replied. “I was back at the farm getting a measuring cup for the flour. You can ask Granny Smith if you want, she saw me because I asked her where the measuring cups were stored.”

Dexter was in the clear as far as he was concerned, he knew Granny Smith would vouch for him. She did see him when he asked for a measuring cup, or at least she saw a certain interrogation hologram that was pretending to be him while he was ‘suiting up.’

“Dexter,” his computer’s voice said through his earpiece. “Give the word and I can teleport the dragon to a secure specimen container, if he proves too difficult.” The colt didn’t respond, opting to try a little longer to divert the dragon’s suspicions.

“He looked a lot like you. I mean, who else has an orange mane?” Spike’s green eyes narrowed in suspicion as he looked over the colt.

“Plenty of ponies have orange manes,” Dexter said, looking the lizard in the eyes.

“Oh really? Well who else do you know has an orange mane?” Spike replied, folding his arms.

“Big Macintosh for one,” Dexter replied, pointing in the direction of the sleeping stallion while feigning surprise. “Don’t you know, orange manes are not uncommon?”

If anyone took the baby dragon’s suspicions seriously, Dexter would still have an alibi. If the measuring cup be brought from the farm wasn’t convincing enough.

But he didn’t want Spike raising a red flag.

“I… well…” Spike began, starting to doubt himself.

“Well, if you’re right then why don’t the changelings have me?” Dexter asked as an almost condescending grin formed on his face.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked in confusion.

“You said there were five changelings, but I only see four here.” Dexter said, pointing at the insectoids in the room. “Where is the fifth?”

“Um, I dunno.” Spike said, starting to sound worried. “The last thing I saw was her going outside after she… grabbed him and threw him out there!”

“Well, I didn’t see any changelings out there . . .” Dexter said, causing a confused spike to hurry toward a window. He peaked around outside, searching as much as he could.

“And if she grabbed the colt before throwing him out there, then she probably got him!” Dexter continued. “No, she must have got him. There isn’t a beat up changeling outside!”

“Oh no…” Spike’s eyes went wide. “Quick, we gotta go help him!” Spike turned and rushed toward the form of his sleeping surrogate sister. However, before he could reach her he was stopped by Dexter’s hoof. “What?!”

“So you realize that I wasn’t whoever you saw, right?” Dexter said, taking on a serious tone once more.

“What? Yeah,” Spike said, causing a grin of satisfaction to appear on the colt. “Look okay, you were right, but we gotta go help him! We don’t have time to relish your ego.”

“I agree, let’s go,” Dexter said, following the lizard.

Spike began pushing Rarity off of Twilight, the purple mare had somehow ended up under the white unicorn as well. “Sorry Rarity!” He apologized before turning to Twilight and began shaking her as much as his small arms could.

Though, for his efforts, he succeeded in waking one of the two unicorns.

“Spike?” Rarity asked drearily.

“Miss Rarity? Are you alright?” Dexter asked, feigning ignorance and bewilderment. “What has happened to you?”

“Dexter?” She asked, sitting up and placing a hoof to her pounding head. “Where am...” Rarity wearily tilted her head, trying to get her bearings. She recognized the bakery, and was starting to remember what happened. However, before her memory could come back to her completely, she spotted a limp changeling hanging from a nearby window sill.

“Spike, Dexter, get behind me.” The unicorn ordered, taking up a defensive stance between them and the unmoving changeling.

”Um, Miss Rarity,” Dexter began to explain, stepping in front of the mare. “The changelings aren’t in any state to mount much of a threa-“

“Don’t argue with me, just do as I say,” she retorted, pushing the colt behind her.

“Hey… wait a second!” Dexter protested as he slid back. “I thought you hated me, why are you concerned with-“

“I don’t hate you Dexter,” Rarity hastily explained, stepping between the two children and the changelings once more, though she glanced back at the colt for a second. “I may be angry that you blew up my shop… and nearly had the innocence mind of my little sister sullied forever by a dictionary… but I don’t hate you. Now, stay behind me,” she took on a protective stance before charging her horn.

The changelings did nothing in response, all of them lay unconscious; except for the one Dexter hit with the table. She was still rocking back and forth in agony while holding her fracture carapace, whether the injury or the pain stopped her from reacting was anyone’s guess.

After a few more moments of nothing, Rarity scanned the room to spot the slumped form of Twilight. “Wake up, Twilight!” she shouted before casting a bolt of electricity at the sleeping mare. It wasn’t nearly enough to hurt her, but was rather uncomfortable. It had the intended effect as Twilight yelped and shot upward.

“Is he here yet?” she sputtered before pausing to take stock of her surroundings. However, she didn’t get the chance to say anything else.

“Never mind that, Twilight,” Rarity replied worriedly before motioning toward the changeling and the rest of the room. “We’ve been attacked! I need you to wake everyone up!” Rarity ordered, prompting Twilight to action.

---

Twilight must have been packing a lot of power in her horn, something Dexter noticed when she cast a spell which washed over the entire bakery. It was similar to Rarity’s bolt of electricity, and succeeded in waking almost the entire bakery at once.

That’s when chaos ensued. Ponies don’t react well to waking up next to changelings, even if said changelings were completely incapacitated.

Twilight and her friends, including a yellow Pegasus Dexter had never seen before, quickly regrouped and started accessing the situation. This left all the other ponies to their own devices, which proved to be incredibly annoying to Dexter.

All of the adults were suddenly intent on herding Dexter, along with the other foals, toward the back of the bakery. No matter which way he turned a stallion or a mare was pushing or crowding him and the other children back.

Though, Spike seemed to be an exception.

Dexter’s protests, and attempts to explain that the changelings were down an out, were met with the same basic response: “Don’t argue.” It wasn’t long before he and the other children were packed together like sardines.

“What in the world are they doing?” Dexter muttered to himself, starting to get angry.

“I believe it is an instinctive herd response, Dexter.” He could barely make out Quadraplex’s voice though his ear piece. “They are herding you and the other foals out through the kitchen while a group of them are massing in a position between the children and the changelings.”

He was lucky enough to grab the measure cup he brought just as he and the other children were herded into the kitchen and quickly out the back door of the bakery.

Right into a perimeter of guards.

---

“Not a threat?” Princess Luna asked, turning away from guard in gold armor to watch the bakery as it was surrounded by other armored troops. “Explain, Lieutenant.”

“Your Majesty, the bakery has been secured and the remaining civilians are being evacuated out the back.” The guard replied. “We’ve established a perimeter in preparation for you to screen the civilians for changelings. However, we have already located four changelings inside. They are in no condition to pose any threat as two of them have sustained serious injury, while the other two are unconscious.”

“Follow me,” she instructed. Once inside the bakery, the princess surveyed the carnage. She counted the four changelings, one hanging from a window sill while another lay unconscious in a pile of broken tables. The third was still rocking in agony in the center of the room, beside a broken table, clutching a large crack in her carapace. The fourth dangled from the ceiling, completely unmoving. Her upper body firmly wedged in the ceiling and completely hidden from view.

“Lieutenant?” Luna began, slight confusion in her voice. “Hath mine sister come to Ponyville whilst we were unaware?” The armor clad stallion took a moment to process her words.

“No, Your Majesty,” he replied. “To my knowledge, Princess Celestia , has not visited Ponyville.”

“It just looks like an alicorn stormed through them…” Luna trailed off before spotting the approach of Twilight and the other elements.

“Girls, art thou well?” Luna asked as she inspected Twilight and her friends. “What happened here?”

“We’re fine, Princess,” Twilight was the first to respond.

“Though we have no idea what happened,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Wait a second, I saw-“ Spike began, however he was cut off by the princess.

“Pardon me, girls, but I have to check,” Luna enveloped Twilight and her friends in a blue aura. After a few moments of nothing, the aura disappeared. “None of them are changelings, go make sure the changelings do not try to escape,” Luna motioned to the lieutenant.

“What is it that you do remember?” Luna asked, looking back toward the mares.

“Well, I remember the whole-“ Spike began but was cut off.

“We were waiting for the party to get started,” Twilight began. “Then there was a crash from somewhere up front.”

“Yah,” Applejack added. “Ah was up front, an’ somepony had smashed tha window and threw something inside.”

“Girls, I saw everyth-“ Spike tried again, though being short meant he was easily overlooked.

“Whatever they threw in caused some sort of explosion,” Rarity began to explain. “I don’t know what happened after that, nor does anypony else. We all passed out.”

“In fact, there it is!” Rainbow said, pointing to the used canister. It had not moved from where it landed

Twilight snatched it up with her magic. She gave it a quick once over before passing it to Princess Luna.

“Corporal, collect and store this as evidence. I want it examined,” she ordered, passing the canister to a nearby guard before turning back toward the mares.

“Girls, I-“ Spike tried again, deadpanning as he was interrupted.

“Rarity was the first to wake up,” Twilight continued. “She then woke me, and I woke the others. We have no idea where the changelings came from or how they were defeated.”

“The big fat meanies ruined my party!” Pinkie Pie fumed, pressing a fore hoof against another as though preparing to punch someone.

“You showed up not long after that, Princess,” Rarity finished.

“Do you know if the changelings were present before you passed out? Or did they appear as part of the attack?” Princess Luna asked.

“Girls, I saw-“

“No,” Twilight answered. “I was… preoccupied with something just before-“

“I SAW EVERYTHING!!!” Spike shouted, panting by the time he was finished. The sudden burst of volume startled the mares, and a few of the guards nearby. The mares directed their collective gaze toward the dragon.

Despite being taken aback, Princess Luna was the first to speak, “Speak of what thou saw.”

“Well, first that thingy exploded and knocked everypony out,” Spike began, motioning with his claws. “I also blacked out. But while I was asleep, somepony from Canterlot sent a message. It caused me to wake up.”

“My muscles were all sore from whatever that thing did to everypony. Rarity had fallen on me, and she was really heavy, so it took a minute to get up and-“

Spike was interrupted by a cough from the white unicorn, who was casting a deadly glare in his direction. Spike immediately realized his error and corrected his words.

“I-I mean my arms were still weak and it took me a while to get up. When I did, there were five ponies who were still standing. They were facing this colt who walked into the bakery,” Spike continued. “He called the ponies changelings, and he was right! They took off their disguises and started to fight him!”

“A colt, are you sure?” Luna asked, soaking in every last of the dragon’s words. He responded with a nod. “What did he look like?”

“He was wearing some sort of suit that was black and white, so I couldn’t see his coat. But he had an orange mane. His suit covered his cutie mark.” Spike explained.

“Spike, are you sure?” Rarity asked. “It is a bit hard to believe that a mere colt did this.”

“I’m telling you the truth! I saw all of it.” Spike replied. His gaze drifted toward the rest of the bakery as he scanned his memory for details. To his fortune, Spike spotted a sleek metal object. “Here, I can show you!”

The baby dragon scampered to the front of the bakery where he found a metallic pointed object with a glowing blue canister attached to the back of it. It was the ion cannon Dexter had dropped after a changeling struck it with a bolt of electricity. Something he had forgotten about when he returned to check on the Cake twins.

Spike picked up the cannon and, out of curiosity turned a dial on the side. It hummed in response, showing it still had life. He quickly returned with it to the group of mares.

“See, He used this!” Spike presented the canon for the mare to view. “He blasted the changelings with it.”

“Spike, that thing looks like a toy.” Twilight commented, looking over the cannon. She was right, the ‘futuristic’ design of the cannon made it appear as though it were part of a fairy tale.

“Ah believe em,’” Applejack said, voicing her opinion. The dragon was telling the truth after all.

“And how did he use it?” Twilight asked skeptically.

“He pointed it at the changelings and squeezed this-“ The baby dragon made the mistake of providing an example, squeezing the lever attached to the handle. The cannon, which was thankfully pointed at nothing other than the bakery wall, belt out a stream of blue energy. It collided with the wall with an explosion, blowing out a huge chunk of the bakery’s side.

The blast startled everypony in the bakery and outside, prompting the guards into swift action. A certain colt outside, who recognized the blue energy from the blast, was now mentally kicking himself hard enough to cause brain damage.

“Heh, oops,” Spike said, slowly retracting his claw from the handle.

“Get that thing away from em’ before he brings tha bakery down on us!” Applejack shouted.

Princess Luna was the first to get over her shock, and quickly snatched the cannon up in her magical grasp. She was careful to avoid the lever.

“A most impressive device…” She said as she examined it, trying to hide the traces of intrigue in her voice. “But tell us of this colt, where is he?”

“I don’t know, the changelings got him!” Spike replied.

“What!?” Princess Luna replied in an almost dire astonishment.

“Yah, I saw the last changeling grab him in her magic and toss him outside.” Spike explained. “She followed him out and they didn’t come back.”

“They’ve got the colt who had that?!” Twilight said with wide eyes, motioning toward the cannon. “Oh this is bad… very bad…”

“Tis’ an understatement Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replied, fixing back on the baby dragon. “What happened after that?”

“Well, nothing much really. A few minutes later, Dexter came back and helped me. That’s when Rarity woke up and everything else happened like the girls said it did.” Spike finished. Luna nodded, satisfied with the dragons answer.

However, at the sound of Dexter’s name, Applejack realized the colt was still unaccounted for.

“Wait, where’s Dex?” Applejack’s eyes darted around the room in search for the colt. “He was supposed ta be coming here but we lost track of em!”

“He’s fine Applejack,” Spike tried to reassure the mare. “I saw him just before you woke up, I think he got swept up with the other ponies that went outside.”

“Still, Ah gotta go find em.’ Ah shouldn’t have sent em’ here alone,” Applejack hastily replied before turning and rushing out of the bakery, using the conveniently placed giant hole in the bakery’s side.

“I’ll lend you a wing!” Dash called out, flying after the farm pony.

“Me too, I gotta make this up to Dexy!” Pinkie Pie followed after them.

Twilight watched the three mares leave, a part of her wanted to follow after remembering why she wanted to see Dexter in the first place. However, she got the feeling that Princess Luna could use her help and turned away with a reluctant sigh.

“Lieutenant,” Luna said, summoning the guard in question.

“Yes, Your Maj-“

“I want you to establish a perimeter around all of Ponyville .” Luna began, cutting off the guard. “This town is on lockdown. Nopony in or out. Then conduct a house by house search of all Ponyville . You’re looking for a colt wearing a black and white outfit and has an orange mane. Leave no stone unturned, bring in reinforcements from nearby, or even Canterlot , if you have to.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he answered. He turned to one of his subordinates, about to issues orders, when he was interrupted for second time.

“Lieutenant?” called one of the guards.

“What is it, corporal?” he asked, growling in irritation. The other guard responded by merely motioning toward a pony the lieutenant hadn’t seen before. The pony in question was an all-black unicorn with piercing green eyes. He stood beside one of the unmoving changelings, casting a spell of some sort with a green aura.

It didn’t take him much to put two and two together.

“Protect the princess and the Elements,” He ordered the nearest guards before approaching the newcomer.

“Halt,” the guard said, as a few other guards joined him in surrounded the newcomer.

When the unicorn failed to respond, Luna stepped forward.

“Answer us, changeling,” Princess Luna growled. “Thy disguise is poor, we see through it without need of magic.”

“Luna,” the changeling replied, failing to address her by title. He turned to face the princess with an expressionless gaze. “My disguise was not meant to conceal my presence, but to merely stop you from attacking me on sight. I am not here to instigate further conflict.”

“Then explain thyself,” Luna demanded. This was the first time she got to speak to a changeling since she came to Ponyville . She was determined to get some answers.

“I am here to tend to my own, some of them require aid,” he replied, turning back to his unconscious comrade.

“Why should we allow this?” Luna demanded. “Thou will answer our questions first.”

“No,” The changeling replied smugly. “And you’re going to allow it.”

“Is that so? How is it that you presume to know mine will before I?” Luna flared the magic in her horn with a threatening stomp from her foreleg. Her tone only highlighted the surge of aggression the changeling could sense from the alicorn.

However, it failed to intimidate the changeling, as he merely rolled his eyes before turning back toward Luna. “You’re going to allow it because of a very simple reason.”

“The conflict between Equestria and the hive has not escalated to the point where lethal force has been used by either side,” the changeling explained. “These ones here are in need of aid, if you prevent my attempts to render that aid, and one of them dies, that blood will be on your hooves - Diarch of Equestria.”

Luna understood the unspoken threat hidden in the changeling’s words. If she stopped him from helping the injured changelings, her subjects elsewhere might be harmed. A part of her also had to admit the changeling had a point. It was in the interest of protecting her own subjects that the ‘conflict’ did not escalate to the point where lives were lost.

“But first, you will tell us where that colt is,” Luna demanded. “The foal whom thou captured.”

“I will not provide you any information,” The unicorn replied earning a growl from the princess. “Now, I suggest you stop distracting me.”

“Turn and answer us, Changeling,” Luna stomped again, causing several large cracks to form in the bakery floor.

“As I said, it would be in your interest if nopony died. So, please, pester me later when I can afford the time. My injured sisters need my help now.” The changeling replied. “Or do I need to remind you that, as it stands now, there are far more changelings in a position to hurt ponies than the other way around.”

“Is that a threat?” Luna growled.

“An observation,” The changeling replied. “And a fact.”

Luna stomped again, pacing back and forth a few times with her eyes locked on the fake unicorn. His disrespect for her position didn’t make her as angry as the fact he was right.

“Very well, perform thy ministrations,” Luna relented as she slowly circled the changeling. “But this does not confer any amnesty. When thou art done thee will’t be our prisoner just as thine fallen brethren, then thee shall answer our questions…”

---

“Dexter! There you are,” Applejack sighed in relief as she trotted up to the colt, and to Dexter’s surprise, nuzzled him. She did the same to Applebloom who was currently sitting next to Dexter along with the other Crusaders.

Shortly after the chaos of herding the foals reached outside, the guard had taken over and started quieting everyone down. Not long after that, Big Mac found the colt. The stallion collected him and the fillies, and was now waiting for the guard to let them leave.

Applejack was able to spot her large brother rather easily, finding Dexter and the crusaders nearby.

“What happened?” Applejack asked the colt. “Where did you go?”

“Upon reaching the bakery, I didn’t have a measuring cup.” Dexter began, looking directly at Applejack. “I went straight back to the farm where I retrieved a measuring cup and came straight back here. Granny Smith will tell you she saw me.”

All of which was true, it just omitted a lot of important details. Fortunately, it was enough to satisfy Applejack.

“I’m not angry with ya, Dex…” Applejack in relief sighed as she took note of how firm his reply was. “But sometimes ya think too much fer yer own good…”

“What happened?” Dexter motioned toward the new hole in the side of the bakery.

“Oh, umm, Spike found something in the bakery. Apparently, he saw somepony use it against the changelings,” Rainbow Dash answered, hovering next to the farm pony. They were shortly joined by Pinkie Pie, who silent cast a smile at the colt. Dexter, however, was too flustered to notice.

“So he decided to pick it up and blast a hole in the wall with it?!” Dexter nearly shouted. “I mean… if somepony used it to fight the changelings, don’t you think it might have been a little dangerous?” he pointed to the hole in the wall again. “That could have killed someone!”

“Yah… I don’t think Spike was thinking too much when he did that…” Rainbow Dash answered eventually, eliciting a grimace of annoyance from the young colt.

“You know what… never mind,” Dexter huffed. “Let’s just get out of here before something else explodes…”

---

The group of them left soon after, Big Mac walking slightly ahead with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The fillies in question were conversing about what they had just witnessed at the bakery, each of them coming up with their own idea of what exactly happened. Dexter walked alongside with Applejack, as the other two mares trailed behind.

The guard had let them out of the perimeter around the bakery. Luna felt safe in assuming that all the changelings present were accounted for, given that most of them were sprawled about the bakery.

The group had hardly gotten out of sight of the bakery when Pinkie Pie bounded over to walk alongside Dexter, casting a hopeful smile down at the colt. She wished for nothing more than that he would simply return one in kind.

Dexter, however, recoiled in surprise by the sudden appearance of the pink mare. He needed another dose of ‘the Pinkie Monstrosity’ like he needed to be thrown under a train.

“No!” Dexter answered her smile before seeking a way to escape from the pink mare. He ducked underneath Applejack’s underbelly, appearing on the far side of the farm pony. His stunt nearly tripped Applejack, earning a frown of annoyance from the blond mare.

His efforts were in vain though, as a few bounces later, Dexter found Pinkie Pie by his side once again.

“Go away!” he demanded, lashing a hoof in Pinkie Pie’s direction before ducking underneath Applejack once more. Nearly tripping the walking mare, again.

“Will ya quit doin’ that?” Applejack growled.

“Tell her to keep away from me!” The colt gave a childish retorted. “I don’t want to get any of her stupid on me.”

“Dexter!” Applejack stated firmly, frowning at the colt. “Ya remember what we talked about? Yer not gonna treat Pinkie Pie, nor anypony else fer that matter, badly anymore. Ya understand?” Her question sounded more like an order. The glare that came with it promised punishment had he refused.

“Heh heh,” Dexter chuckled nervously. “Yes, ma’am.” Applejack replied with a curt nod.

“Sooo Dexy…” Pinkie Pie chirped, bouncing over the colt again.

“My name is Dexter,” He grumbled. “Would you kindly refrain from calling me ‘Dexy,’ ‘Dexie Wexie,’ and any and all other pet nicknames. Thank you.”

“No can do, Dexy!” Pinkie Pie replied cheerfully, causing Dexter to grumble something under his breath.

“Soo Dexy, How much… did you see in the bakery back there?” She asked. “You didn’t notice anything special, did you?”

“What do you mean?” The colt raised an eyebrow. “Other than the changelings who wrecked the surprise party, no. Why?”

However, the moment Dexter mentioned the word ‘surprise party,’ Pinkie’s hopeful smile faded away. Her head drooped as her eyes drifted toward the ground.

Normally, Dexter would not care about whatever it was that made Pinkie Pie sad. However, he couldn’t help but feel a small pinch of empathy in his chest at sight of the sad Pinkie Pie.

“The surprise was ruined.” Pinkie Pie whimpered through her frown. She was hoping that Dexter didn’t realize it was a surprise party. “Stupid, meanie changelings!”

“Awww, cheer up Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash encouraged as she landed next to the pink mare and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You can always throw him a welcome to Ponyville surprise party another time.”

“But it won’t be the same,” Pinkie lamented. “He will expect it now…”

Dexter fought, and lost, the urge to look at the pink mare once more. That painful twinge in his chest grew.

Sad Pinkie is worst Pinkie.

“Whatever…” Dexter muttered before forcefully crushing the sympathy he felt, mentally shrugging it off and stamping it out. Being a borderline sociopath had benefits at times, and he already had lots of practice writing off his sister’s feelings at the drop of a dime. It was no different with Pinkie Pie. He turned to face forward, away from the mare, content to keep walking in silence.

Or at least he would have, had he not been swept up by a pair of pink hooves into a tight embrace. Pinkie Pie had stopped and pulled him into a tight hug, catching the colt by surprise. Pinkie Pie had some strength to her, as no amount of struggling from the colt could grant him his freedom.

“Gah! Release me you pink pes…” Dexter trailed off as he slowly stopped struggling. Applejack had stopped, turning to cast another glare at the young colt. “Umm…. Heh heh heh…” Dexter said, before wrapping his forelegs around Pinkie Pie and returning the hug. “Now there, there, Pinkie Pie, I’m sure the surprise party would have been fantastic. You need not fret, there will be other opportunities.”

“It’s alright Dexy,” Pinkie Pie nuzzled him, her voice still sad. “I know you don’t really mean it.”

“Even though the last time we met didn’t leave you with the best of first impressions,” Pinkie Pie went on. “And even though the surprise party I made for you was ruined, but I am still determined to be your friend.”

Dexter would have recoiled in surprise had he been free of the pink mare’s hug. However, considering what the mare had said, he felt his head tilt in curiosity.

“You were the one who set up the surprise party?” Dexter asked in genuine surprise. “Why? Are you really that determined to be my friend? Even though I’ve been rather… harsh towards you?”

“Mmmhmmm!” Pinkie nodded.

Now Dexter had to admit, that made him feel shameful. Here was someone who was doing their best to go out of the way to be nice to him, and he was still treating her like dirt.

Dexter’s gaze drifted toward the ground as his expression became unreadable. He was trying to place the emotion he now felt, which he had never experienced before.

However, he quickly realized it was disgust. Not for the pink pony, but for himself. He wouldn’t blame the mare if she treated him a whole lot worse, which is why he was rather surprised by the mare now. Continuing to treat her like dirt reminded him of something Mandark would do, and Dexter knew he was better than that.

“Oh, umm… thanks… I guess. That was really nice of you,” Dexter replied, continuing to surprise himself, genuinely grateful for the pink mare’s hospitality.

“Awww, you’re welcome Dexy!” Pinkie Pie smiled, hugging the colt tighter. Her cheer reappeared as fast as it had vanished.

“Don’t worry Dexy, I’ll throw you another welcome to Ponyville party.” Pinkie Pie assured. “This time there won’t be any mean old nasty changelings.”

“Okay, that is enough of the hugging, Dee Dee. Please put me down.” Dexter replied curtly as he began struggling against the earth pony’s grip. Pinkie Pie complied with his request, though cast him a look of confusion as she let him down.

“What?” Dexter asked in confusion, noticing curious looks from the other ponies as well.

“You called me ‘Dee Dee’,” Pinkie Pie answered.

“Oh, oops. I misspoke,” Dexter gave a nervous chuckle. “Apologies, Miss Pinkie Pie.”

“Who’s Dee Dee?” Pinkie Pie tilted her head.

“My sister.” Dexter explained as he rubbed his fore hoofs together nervously. “You… remind me of my sister by the you way look and act.”

“Really?” Pinkie Pie asked curiously.

“Yes, you dance, you jump around, you sing, you’re always cheery, you’re mostly pink with blue eyes – all of which is almost exactly like my sister…” Dexter explained to her, thinking back to the night they first met. “And you make a general pest of yourself with your weird and illogical behavior.”

“Awww, Dexy,” Pinkie Pie replied with a smile, moving to hug the colt once again. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Don’t,” Dexter extended a hoof and firmly rejected Pinkie’s second hug. “I. Hate. My. Sister.”

She was the reason he was stuck in Equestria after all.

Those last four words were spoken with enough bitterness that every pony in earshot turned to face the colt. Even the fillies had stopped bantering amongst themselves and cast a weary gaze at Dexter.

“What… why?” Pinkie Pie’s eyes light up in confusion. “I… I hope you don’t hate me for just being like your sister… I can’t imagine why you’d hate her if she is so much like me. I just want everypony to be happy...”

“Whoa, Miss… Pinkie Pie,” Dexter said, hurriedly reassuring her. “You’re definitely not my sister… there are plenty of differences between you and her!” However, despite his reassuring words, he couldn’t think of any at the moment. Pinkie Pie seemed to pick up on this fact as his expression grew weary once more.

“You’re… just saying that.”

“No I’m not! Uhh…” Dexter replied hurriedly, falling into deep concentration to remember something. “I know! You can bake a pie, my sister can’t! That’s something different!”

---

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!” Dexter said, eagerly looking into the stove where a pie baked. His sister standing happily by his side. “I can hardly wait!” The boy said in anticipation.

When the pie was done, Dexter was already sitting at the table with utensils in hand. His sister promptly placed the pie, which she had just pulled out of the oven, on the table before him.

Without a second thought, the child dug in. Taking a fork, he lifted a piece of the pie into his mouth and began chewing.

Dee Dee opted to watch, not bothering to take a piece for herself even though she made it. Dexter didn’t mind though, it meant more for him.

“Light flaky crust, rich taste…” Dexter began. “But I can’t quite place the flavor… is it chocolate?”

“No,” His sister replied simply, causing Dexter to chew it further.

“Bousen Berry?”

“No…”

“I give up,” Dexter finally asked. “What is it?”

“Mud!”

“Oh… “ Dexter said, failing to process what she said. “Mud. I would have never guessed.” However, after a few more moments of chewing, it finally sunk in.

“MUD!?!” He shrieked before sticking his tongue out, gawking in horror at the small mound of dirt sitting in his mouth. Earth worms wiggled within his view.

He immediately started spitting as fast he could, spraying the mud across the table.

---

“Wait a second…” Rainbow Dash began with a skeptical frown as she flew over to hover by the boy genius. “You’re telling me your sister fed you a mud pie?”

Dexter nodded, causing Dash to burst out into laughter.

“That’s got to be a hilarious prank!” The pegasus guffawed.

Dexter merely deadpanned while grumbling to himself.

“Actually, Dash…” It was Applejack this time, interjecting as she turned to face her friend before casting a gaze of concern at the colt. “Ah heard dirt can be both good and bad fer a foal. While it does something ta help their immune system, it could cause an intestinal blockage er something that could kill em. Tricking a foal into eating mud is really bad.”

“Oh…” Rainbow Dash said, surprise and a little doubt hide in her tone. “It can’t be all that bad.” she said, now unsure of herself.

“Correction,” Dexter said, just as Applejack finished. “Dirt is the natural habitat of the micro-organism known as Clostridium Botulinum. This organism produces the neuro-toxin known as Botox, which can kill a full grown adult with mere micrograms.”

“Okay… maybe feeding somepony dirt isn’t cool.” Rainbow Dash admitted as she scratched her head. “But you don’t honestly think she was trying to poison you, do you Dex?”

“You know,” Dexter said, looking upward directly at Rainbow Dash. “I didn’t suspect her of any malicious intent, but I do remember asking her that exact question right before she starting making that pie…”

“Of course she said ‘no’,” Dexter went on. “But looking back on the way she said ‘no,’ I should have suspected something.”

“Why would yer sister do somethin’ like that?” Applejack asked, and hint of worry in her eyes as she eyed the colt.

“I don’t think she wanted to hurt me…” Dexter explained. “She’s just a dim witted moron…”

…

“An extreme moron…”

…

“A moron of epic proportions.”

“You’d have ta be pretty dumb to accidently make a pie filled with mud,” Applejack deadpanned, finding it hard to believe the colt. However, she didn’t sense him lying.

“I see…” Pinkie Pie rubbed her foreleg with a hoof, letting her gaze wonder from the colt. “Maybe I shouldn’t have greeted you with a pie on the first night we met… I can see why you might have reacted badly to me, since you think I am dumb...”

“It’s also not healthy to accept food from strangers…” Dexter pointed out, though when he noticed Pinkie Pie’s frown growing he began to reassure the mare. “Do not lament Miss Pie, I didn’t think you were trying to poison me, or stupid enough to poison me accidently. Applejack and the others speak highly of you, and I trust they were genuine when they said you are nothing but a kind and friendly pony.”

Pinkie Pie cheered up again, and moved to hug Dexter for a third time. This time the colt allowed it, despite his overwhelming desire for personal space.

“Though, one thing I am confused about…” Dexter began, resolving not to struggle against the Pinkie’s grip. “You put several digits of pi, the number, underneath the pie you gave me. How did you know what they were?”

“Oh, I got it from what was called a Spigot algorithm. But I don’t know if it was right…” Pinkie Pie began.

“SPIGOT ALGORITHM?!” Dexter shouted in surprise, though he quickly collected himself. He was surprised to hear those words, given that what he read from the library, Equestria wasn’t supposed to have such an advancement in mathematics yet.

It was a set of equations that allowed one to calculate any digit of pi without knowing the previous digits.

“How do you know what that is?” Dexter demanded, wiggling his hooves in a feeble attempt to break free of the mare and point an accusatory hoof in her direction.

“I… suppose the same way you do,” Pinkie Pie looked down at the colt with a raised eyebrow, surprised by the child’s outburst. “Papa always made my sisters and I study old earth pony tribe history, which include some ancient mathematicians. Though, most of their work isn’t recognized by today’s scientific community, and very little of their work still exists today-”

“What!?” Dexter protested, shocked to find out such a theory was rejected. It was correct after all. “Why not!?”

“You’d have to ask Twilight.” Pinkie Pie replied. “Though I suspect it has something to do with how unicorns really dominated the scientific and magic communities…”

“Thats just dumb!” Dexter fumed. “How could they reject work that is RIGHT?!”

“Well…” Pinkie Pie went on. “Who said it was correct? No one has calculated out to extreme digits of pi so the Spigot thingy can’t be verified.”

“Grrrr” Dexter growled, directing his gaze upward toward the sky. “So stupid, Stupid STUPID!” He wanted to tear his hair out.

What infuriated him the most was the fact that he had seen this exact thing happen before. At least what he suspected had happened. Many human scientists had their work rejected for the stupidest reasons, despite being absolutely correct.

Though, he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had no reason to believe the ponies would be any better. But he knew he would have a few sharp questions for Twilight the next time he saw her.

“Dexter…” Applejack warned.

“Sorry… Miss Applejack” Dexter let out a sigh of frustration.

“Well…” Pinkie Pie took a moment to regard the colt she was holding with cheery gaze, though she tried to hide the weariness in her eyes. “Pi or no pi, I promise to never feed you mud.”

“Your promise is not required, Miss Pie. Feeding me mud wouldn’t be that big of a deal.” Dexter commented as the mare pulled away from the colt and looked down at him. “My sister has done a lot worse.”

“Worse?” Rainbow asked skeptically, though a mischievous grin grew on her face. To her, pranks between siblings were the best to watch and hear about.

“Yeah…” Dexter rubbed his chin with a hoof. “Lets see…she’s done a lot of things, but to name a few: she’s beat me up a number of times, set me on fire a number of times, exposed me to toxic fumes, thrown me off a number of high places, destroyed my… possessions, zapped me with electricity, stole my lunch money, intentionally exposed me to germs, detonated an explosive in my room while I was trying to sleep; and worst of all, she caused me to get an ‘A minus‘ once!”

What?

The mares collectively shared looks of skepticism. Even the Crusaders were sharing looks of concern before turning back to the colt. Applejack, however, merely wore a look of shock. Again, she could tell he was being honest.

“What?” Dexter shuffled uncomfortably under their looks of shock. “The A minus thing? It only happened once...”

The ponies didn’t respond.

“Or is it the bomb thing?” Dexter asked. “Don’t worry, it did not produce any shrapnel,” the bookworm went on. “So the worst it did was throw me against the wall of my room, instead of poking holes in me or blowing off limbs…”

For the next hour, Dexter would find himself reassuring the ponies that his sister wasn’t some sort of psycho.

---

After the bakery, both Twilight and Spike follwed Luna for the rest of the day and well into the night. They were assisting the princess where they could, and proved to be immensely helpful when dealing with the locals, much to the princess’s gratitude.

After securing the changeling prisoners, Luna found herself having to meet with the Ponyville mayor in order to avert a panic in the small town.

The news about the bakery spread across the small town like wildfire, causing several problems which were only made worse when the guard reinforcements showing up.

When night finally came, Princess Luna found herself letting loose a sigh of relief. She, Twilight and Spike found themselves in Ponyville ’s temporary guard barracks. It was a small building owned by the town less than a block from the clinic, everything inside it had been thrown into storage to make way for the guards. Only a number of bunks were present, alongside a few racks of armor and spears.

However, sitting in the middle of the barracks, and surrounded by half a dozen guards, was a glowing case. It was mostly made with metal, the exception being a glass top. A futuristic cannon was held within it.

“Whoa…” Spike said in aw, walking ahead of the princess and Twilight. His curiosity peaked by the glowing case before him.

The young dragon reached a claw out, extending it toward the chest.

“Nay young Spike, withhold thine touch!” Princess Luna called, wrapping the dragon in a blue aura and pulling him back. “Thou would find touching the case to be most unpleasant.”

“I’m sorry, princess, but what’s wrong with it?” Spike asked, rubbing his hand just after Luna released it while looking up with an eyebrow raised. “Why is it glowing like that?”

“If I may, Princess?” Twilight asked, stepping up to answer Spike’s question. Luna gave a short nod. “Spike, that chest is heavily fortified with magic meant to prevent tampering, and to protect what is inside. Several of the spells would react very badly if you tried to open, or even touched, that chest.”

“Oh,” Spike cast a wary gaze back at the chest, trying to imagine what could have happened. “I didn’t realize that.” He admired the blue glow on the chest for a moment. “What would happen if somepony did touch it?”

“Well,” Princess Luna began. “We cast twenty three spells on this case ourselves, ten of them react to touch. We estimate anypony who touched the case without disarming the spells would spend three months in a coma.”

“Whoa,” Spike said, returning his gaze to the case. “So there is like no chance anypony would get to it?”

“We estimate one would have to be an immortal themselves if they wished to overpower our magic,” Luna declared. “The spells on the case prevent any and all manner of magic from penetrating it. The only way to retrieve the cannon from the case is to remove it by non-magical means, but these guards, along with more spells, prevent anypony from accessing the case.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to examine them first, Princess?” Twilight asked, looking at the night princess with almost pleading eyes. The mare had been just as curious about the cannon as she was the other device they had found. “It could give whoever the science council elects to examine the device something to study before it arrives,” Twilight offered.

“Nay, Twilight we-er... No thank you, Twilight, I am sure.” Luna eventually replied. “You have been very helpful today, but I want to make sure nothing can compromise our security. The last device we recovered was destroyed, I want to make sure there is no repeat of prior mistakes.”

“I understand, Princess,” Twilight sighed, glancing at the cannon once more. She suppressed her urge to debate the point.

“However, we have more important matters at hoof,” Luna went on. “My mind is still troubled with questions, and I hope you could help answer them. There is far too much going on here in Ponyville as of late, and I feel we are still playing catch up, at least, with the changelings.”

“How do you mean princess?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow. “We have caught five of the changelings. Aside from the Canterlot invasion, that has never happened before.”

“We mean that we have not a clue as to what is going on, yes we have the changelings and yes we have those devices we found,” Princess Luna began. “But why is it all happening? Why are the changelings still in Ponyville and why did they attack the bakery? Where did these weapons come from?” Luna motioned toward the case. “More importantly, who or what did I see a few nights ago?”

“I am not sure, Your Majesty,” Twilight began. “However, I could check through the books at the library, to see if there are any other recorded accounts of similar events. However, I am fairly certain there are no accounts of anypony moving so fast that nopony could see them.”

“Well, to answer one of your questions...” It was Spike this time, speaking up to voice his thoughts. “The changelings must have come here because of that device in the hospital, it could detect them and they would naturally want to stop it,” Spike explained, however Luna shook her head.

“No, young Spike. They were here before the device, it merely detected one of them.” Luna answered. “Though, that is what caught our attention. Whoever or whatever detected them at the hospital cannot be their original goal, which is why we turn our suspicions to what was here before that.”

“Oh,” Spike scratched his head. “Well what about that pony? The one the changelings fought and captured at the bakery?”

“That is one of our highest concern,” Luna replied solemnly. “We will not rest while one of our subjects is threatened by the changelings. Though our prisoners have proven to be most uncooperative, we are certain they will eventually speak to us,” Luna’s voice took on an air of ominous foreboding, a tone Twilight and Spike had not heard since Nightmare Moon. “It is only a matter of time before I can persuade Tia into letting me… convince them to talk.”

“Well…” Twilight began hesitantly, she honestly didn’t know what Luna had in mind. But she trusted her teacher to keep her younger sister from doing something wrong. “Do you think the changelings were after him? The colt you said you saw? If he is really a colt…”

Luna raised an eyebrow, failing to see the connection Twilight was trying to draw.

“The colt you saw, the one that took my diagrams, he must have been the one who left us those pictures which lead us to Cheerilee.” Twilight explained. “That means, he was able to detect a changeling-“

“-Just like the device found at the Ponyville clinic…” Luna finished for the unicorn. However, after a moment of thought she shook her head in frustration. “This colt is also a mystery. He must be a master of magic if he was able to see through a changeling’s disguise, and to move as fast as he did!”

“But what we don’t understand is why he would steal thy diagrams whilst leaving us proof of a changeling’s disguise?” Luna asked. “Why would he reveal a changeling while taking what little we had in finding our own method of detecting them?”

“To be honest princess,” Twilight began again. “I think the only one that can answer our questions is the colt Spike saw.”

“Indeed,” Luna nodded. “It is our sincerest of hopes that the search of Ponyville turns up something, who knows what the changelings will do to him. Unfortunately, we can only wait.”

“However, there is something else we have to deal with presently,” Luna went on. “I cannot be in Ponyville, watching the five changelings and join the escort which moves this cannon to Canterlot.

“I see,” Twilight replied, taking a moment to think. “Well, the simplest solution would be to find somepony else who could escort it back. But even if I was powerful enough to overcome one changeling’s illusion magic, I doubt I would be able to manage if several attacked me at once.”

“We could just ask our sister,” Luna replied simply.

“Really?” Twilight raised an eyebrow, surprised by the suggestion. “You sure you want to ask Princess Celestia to make the trip? Wouldn’t it be a bit precarious to leave Canterlot without a leading princess present?”

“Equestria will survive without a princess’s rear warming the throne for a few hours.” Luna said confidently. “Besides, this would be a chance for Celestia to stretch her wings. She would probably welcome making the circuit to Ponyville, if just to meet you and get the chance to fly.”

“Easy enough,” Twilight agreed before turning toward Spike. “Prepare a letter addressed to the princess…”

---

Dexter sat staring at the large computer screen in front of him, watching Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna converse.

Dexter had been watching the inside of the guard barracks for a number of hours, ever since he had returned to the lab. He used his teleporter to place a number of small cameras throughout the small building, revealing just about everything inside the barracks.

The only thing left to do was watch and wait for the right moment to teleport his cannon back. He was hesitant to try and teleport his cannon back immediately, as he had no idea what the magic in the case holding the cannon could do.

Though, thanks to Spike’s bout of curiosity, Luna just told him. Now, he was more than confident that he could retrieve his cannon at will, given that Luna said the magic of the case prevented all magical teleportation.

It was a good thing he wasn’t using magic.

After gleaning whatever other information he could from eavesdropping on their conversation, Dexter had finally decided it was time to take back what was his. Now, all he was only waiting for the ponies to be momentary distracted.

A part of him was still a little wary of what the magic users in the room could do to try to interrupt his teleporter should they immediately notice what was happening.

“Are you ready Spike?” The Twilight on the monitor asked, rolling up a scroll and pushing it toward the purple lizard. Both Twilight and the Princess were facing toward the dragon and away from the case. Dexter reached over and hovered a hoof over a large button on the side of the computer’s keyboard.

The form of Spike nodded before taking a deep inhale. The moment Dexter saw green flames he hit the button, causing a pulse of yellow light to flash within the glowing case, which caught the attention of every pony in the room.

Though, despite noticing the flash immediately, their reaction was too late.

A certain shoulder mounted ion cannon vanished from the screen before appearing at Dexter’s side.

“What?!” Luna shouted as she rushed over to the case. “IMPOSSIBLE!”

“It’s gone!?” Twilight shared Luna’s look of disbelief. “H-How is that possible? I thought you cast-“

“We did,” Luna answered hastily. “No manner of sorcery should have been able to circumvent our spells!” Luna quickly reached toward the case, not bothering to remove the protective spells. Several large bolts of electricity discharged from the case at her touch, striking the alicorn.

Though she showed no sign of being affected by the spells. Either she cast the spells such that they couldn’t hurt her, or immortal alicorns were rather sturdy creatures.

“We cast every anti-magic and magic nullifying spell we knew that prohibited somepony from using teleportation magic!” Luna protested to no one in particular. “No level of it should have been able to penetrate this case!”

“There is nothing magical about my inventions, princess.” Dexter smiled smugly toward the image of the confused alicorn on his computer screen. “It’s all science!” Though despite his smugness, a part of him was disappointed that ‘alicorn magic’ could be circumvented so easily.

The colt moved his hoof again, reaching out for a button to cut off the feed. However, he stopped when Luna began again.

“Fear not, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna proclaimed. “After the theft of thy diagrams, we resolved to cast a tracking spell! In the event the impossible should happen! In a few moments we shall begin tracking the weapon’s location.”

Dexter froze at those words, before slowly turning toward the ion cannon perched next to him.

“Computer, are you detecting any magical energy coming from the ion cannon?” Dexter asked in concern.

“Affirmative, there is a significant amount of magical energy imbued throughout the cannon’s primary casing.” The computer replied.

“Quickly, activate the magic dampeners.” He replied hastily, earning a compliant beep from the computer. However, after a moment he looked back up at the monitor to notice Luna staring toward the southern wall of the barracks.

Straight in the direction of the Apple orchard and his lab.

“All of you,” The form of Luna shouted toward several nearby pegasi and batpony guards. “Follow us! We must hurry, We sense our spell already growing weaker!”

She then bolted, move much quicker than Dexter expected for a pony her size. He was able to track her sprinting in and out of a number of camera feeds before she finally arrived outside, where she jumped into the air and out of view. A moment later she was followed by several guards.

“Oh crap,” Dexter said as his eyes went wide. “Computer, is there any magical energy still in the cannon?”

“Affirmative Dexter,” Quadraplex answered. “The magic dampeners are syphoning energy off as fast as they can, however the amount of magical energy placed on the ion cannon is excessively large. “

“How long until it is all gone?!” Dexter asked, interrupting the computer.

“Twelve minutes, forty seven seconds.” Quadraplex replied. “By my estimation of the blue alicorns current velocity, she shall reach Sweet Apple Acres in less than two minutes.”

“Crap!” Dexter shouted, before jumping up and away from the computer. He immediately bolted to a nearby draw which housed several tools before returning to the ion cannon.

He pried open one of the panels on the canon’s side with a screw driver before pulling out several wires, cutting a select few while leaving a number of others intact.

“Dexter, if I am correct in assuming what you are planning to do, I would be negligent if I did not point out this course of action is highly risky.” The computer stated.

“I know computer, I know! Just be ready to teleport this thing farther south, deep into the uninhabited part of the forest.” Dexter said frantically as he continued to cut select wires. “And be quick about it, the explosion will be large enough to blow apart half this orchard.”

When he was finished with the wires, he stabbed the screw driver into an internal chip labelled ‘Safety regulator.’

“The blue alicorn is less than a minute away,” The computer reminded.

“I’m nearly finished,” Dexter replied. Adding the final touch, Dexter flicked off the cannon’s safety switch before tying the firing lever to the handle with one of the broken wires. The moment he finished, the cannon started to whine loudly while violently shaking. “Computer, are you sure there is no one in the Everfree Forest?”

“I am detecting only one equine-like life form, however she is considerable farther east than the target coordinates and should not be-“

“Then just teleport it now!” Dexter ordered, watching as the shaking cannon started lurching violently.

There was a flash of yellow light, and the cannon was gone.

---

“What the?” Luna asked herself, as she flew farther west. She was just beginning to pass over Sweet Apple Acres. She could sense that the target of her tracking spell had suddenly teleported once again.

Although, because the tracking spell was being tampered with, she couldn’t accurately gauge the distance to the cannon.

Which would explain why she was now soaring past Sweet Apple Acres and over the Everfree forest. The guards behind her had long since been outrun by the alicorn.

Luna had hardly been over the Everfree for half a minute before she lost her tracking spell while a large explosion rocked the forest beneath her.

She quickly deduced what happened.

When Luna returned to the barracks, she was greeted by a hopefully Twilight. However, the unicorn mare’s expression turned to confusion as Luna spoke.

“We lost the weapon,” Luna growled, having to keep herself from stomping as she walked through the barracks. Her tight jaw and sharp eyes let everyone know she was now in a rather foul mood.

Which was why, after sharing a glance, Twilight and Spike chose to leave the princess to her own devices. After a bow, they turned and left.

“What happened?” Spike asked, just as they left the room, finding themselves in barrack’s makeshift mess hall.

“I don’t know Spike,” Twilight shook her head. “It seems like we just can’t get a break. Take another message, we won’t need princess Celestia to make the trip down here after all.”

“Yah, okay.” Spike sighed at the prospect of writing yet another letter. “I’ll go get the quill and paper, I left them in the other room.” As the baby dragon turned back, he felt himself belting out amother stream of green flame that produced a small piece of paper. The words ‘When are you going to get it?’ scribbled on the side.

“Oh, will you let up already! She’ll send it when she gets it!” Spike swatted at the paper, sending it drifting through the air. He continued on without looking back.

Though, Twilight’s gaze lingered on the parcel before she summoned it with her magic.

One of her biggest regrets today was being distracted from getting the proof she wanted. Though, more she thought about it, the more her thoughts drifted to a certain colt.

The more she thought about Dexter, the more her suspicions grew. She resolved to pay the colt as visit the next day, and he would be answering more than a mathematics questions.

---

An hour later.

“Computer…” Dexter threatened as his scowled deepened. His computer was, for the first time, proving uncooperative. “Release. Me.”

Dexter was bound by a set of wiry robotic limbs, immobilizing him in a sitting position. Every inch of his body beneath the nape of his neck was completely enveloped in the robotic limbs, such that he couldn’t see the slightest trace of his white coat underneath the metallic wrapping.

The limbs were wrapped tight enough to completely immobilize the colt, yet not tight enough to hurt him. The only place he had slack was around his barrel, allowing him to breathe normally.

Shortly after the princess had flown by Sweet Apple Acres, Dexter broke out into a cheer. However, Quadraplex’s screen went entirely black as she became dead silent. Dexter noticed the robots coming, however he didn’t think much of them until they seized him in their grasp. He hardly had the chance to struggle before he found himself encased in steel.

That’s when the computer made her demands known.

“Quadraplex, for the tenth time, RELEASE ME!” Dexter demanded once more when the computer failed to respond.

“I’m sorry Dexter, but I cannot comply. You must first agree to my request before I will-“ Quadraplex began with her usual monotone voice, however she couldn’t finish as Dexter interrupted her.

“Your ‘request’ was ridiculous.” Dexter dismissed, no shortage of frustration in his tone as he began struggling against the wiry limbs. Needless to say, his attempts to wrestle himself free had failed just as his previous attempts to do so had.

“I cannot promise you that I will never take a risk for the rest of my life, Quadraplex!” Dexter went on.

“Rigging the ion cannon to explode could have resulted in your demise, had it gone off prematurely.” Quadraplex stated. “It was an unnecessary risk when faced with the alternative of exposure.”

“Not by my calculation.” Dexter stated firmly. “Now. Release. Me.”

“Negative. Hunger or thirst will eventually compel you to comply with my request.”

Dexter glared at the computer for a few more moments, waiting in silence in the hope that Quadraplex would reconsider.

“Computer… I will not ‘comply.’ I have my reasons for what I did, whether you agree with them or not.” Dexter stated.

“It appears we are at an impasse.” The computer stated simply, followed by nothing.

Dexter let out an aggravated sigh. “Why are you doing this Quadraplex?”

The computer sat silently for more than a few moments, a fact Dexter took note of. She should be processing information at rates much faster than he, it wouldn’t surprise him if she had already thought up a response to anything he could think of saying.

“I,” The computer began before pausing for a moment. “-I cannot let anything happen to you, Dexter. I won’t let anything happen to you.” The wiry limits got tighter.

Dexter regarded the computer with wide eyes, her response proved to be rather surprising to say the least. Though it wasn’t what the computer said which caught him off guard, it was how she said it. He knew the computer was starting to feel emotions, though he didn’t know to what extent.

“Quadraplex...” Dexter’s looked over the computer, an act which was out of habit as there were no visual cues for what the computer was feeling. “Are you afraid?”

“I have no frame of reference in which to accurately judge what ‘fear’ is.” The computer replied. “I have never experienced it before.”

“Do you find yourself continuously preoccupied with thoughts of losing me, even under circumstances that could be considered very unlikely?” He colt asked.

“Affirmative,” She replied, settling his curiosity.

“I’m right here, Quadraplex. I’m fine.” Dexter assured her. Being that it was her first experience with fear, he wanted to make sure he handled the A.I. correctly.

“But you chose a course of action which could have hurt you. How can I assist in protecting you from the threat of your own recklessness?” The computer replied. “Aside from subduing you, of course.”

“Who asked you to protect me?” Dexter retorted. “I am perfectly capable of protecting myself.”

The computer doubted that, but chose to remain silent.

“Look, Quadraplex.” Dexter began again. “I appreciate your concern for my well-being, but I think you’re missing a few things and are responding inappropriately to your emotions. Please let me down and I will explain.”

“I will hear your explanation, my builder.” Quadraplex replied, though she did nothing to remove the robotic limbs. This caused a confused Dexter to look up at the computer.

“Any day now, computer...”

“Negative,” Quadraplex replied. “I will release you if you either agree to my terms or provide a satisfactory explanation for your actions. I calculate that you are one of the most capable individuals on this planet, and releasing you beforehand would be a strategic mistake.”

Dexter muttered a few curses under his breath, mostly along the lines of how he should not have made the computer so smart.

“Fine,” Dexter replied. “I did what I did in order to prevent that alicorn from discovering me and my lab. Exposure is unacceptable.” Dexter explained as several memories began to flood his mind.

“It is a lesson I learned the hard way, at a Chubby Chees’s of all places…”

---

A large bright light on the ceiling over Dexter suddenly turned on, illuminating a small portion of the room. It revealed the boy genius to be bound by rope, tied up and sitting upon a chair. He was flanked by two men he had never seen before, one geeky looking office worker and a bald man in a Chubby Chees’s rat outfit.

“Who are you?” asked a figure obscured in the dark, he was sitting in a chair faced away from Dexter. A large set of camera monitors sat before him.

“I… ah… am Dexter,” the naïve boy began, though his voice grew in confidence as he went on. “Boy genius!”

“DO YOU REALIZE HOW FAR YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE?” The figure had gotten up from the chair, revealing another bald man. He wore a business suit and had approached Dexter before shouting in the child’s face.

“I do now!” Dexter replied with fear, recoiling from the man.

The figure walked back over to his desk where a pair of Dexter’s inventions sat. He had already examined them, finding himself astonished at the fact they were produced by a mere child.

“This technology! “This technology surpasses even our own!” ” He began before turning back to the boy. “Join me and my plans boy. Invent for me! Fulfill your destiny!”

However, as he said this, one of the henchman activated a set of drills and pointed them at the child.

“Or face the consequences!”

---

“I have encountered a number of individuals who would exploit my inventions, and my abilities, for their own sinister purposes,” Dexter began. “Though why that particular set of people were running a Chubby Chees’s for children is beyond me…”

“I see…” Quadraplex replied. “You believe your inventions may be abused if others discover them.”

“It’s not just that, Computer,” Dexter answered. “In the data I told you to process, the two thousand terabytes retrieved from my brain scan? It should have some information on an individual knowns as ‘Mandark.’”

“Mandark? Processing.” There was a moment before the computer spoke again. “The information I have access to on this ‘Mandark’ individual is incomplete.”

“I know,” Dexter answered. “I limited the knowledge you received from my brain scan because a previous A.I. made using the same method, he had… malfunctioned.”

“A previous A.I.? You mean other than Quadraplex 3000?”

“Yes, Ultrabot 4000.” Dexter shifted uncomfortably in the grasp of the robots under Quadraplex’s control. Bringing up the one A.I. that tried to kill him made him a lot less comfortable with his current predicament. “Don’t bother trying to look him up, I didn’t give you any data on him.” Dexter let out a nervous chuckle.

“What about this ‘Mandark?’” Quadraplex asked.

“Susan ‘Mandark’ Astronomonov,” Dexter began to explain. “Or, as he puts it, ‘The Monarch of Darkness.’ He started as my rival, but eventually became my nemesis.”

“Now, don’t ever repeat this such that he can hear it,” Dexter went on, looking over his shoulder for the hostile boy genius despite knowing he wouldn’t be there. “In all honesty he is a boy genius of my caliber. He is capable of producing his own secret laboratory as well as inventions which rival my own. Who is superior in terms of scientific ability commonly shifts back and forth. At times he is better than me, other times I am better than him. He is one of the biggest real threats to me from my home world, and has attacked me several times.”

“I see,” Quadraplex replied. “However, I fail to see how that justifies your desire to hide. He is on another world entirely; he cannot harm you.”

“That isn’t it,” Dexter answered. “What you don’t know is how he became my rival. He was born into a family which rejected science and technology, and limited his exposure to science. He would have grown an earthy-crunchy hippy if it weren’t for… my carelessness.”

“One day I was working on one of my inventions, outside and exposed, when he approached me. One would have hardly recognize him, he looked like a girl at the time!” Dexter said defensively before continuing his explanation. “But, it was that moment. That brief moment of exposure to my invention which inspired him to invent, it was the catalyst that drove the inspiration and ambition of an evil boy genius who was determined to beat me, and then use his knowledge of science to dominate the world.”

“I do not have a firm grasp of concepts such as good and evil yet,”Quadraplex replied. “But it seems that Mandark made his own choices. You cannot blame yourself for creating Mandark.”

“Shouldn’t I?” Dexter’s gaze drifted toward the floor. Though his expression remained stoic, the determination had disappeared from his voice. “Whether I am to blame for him or not is irrelevant, the issue is exposure. I couldn’t allow that alicorn, Princess Luna, to find my lab. You yourself said that she had a dark past, had been evil or something at one time.”

“Not all of them are evil, Dexter,” The computer rebutted. “From what information I have gathered, this Princess Luna has also changed, and is no longer considered evil.”

“Even if they have the best of intentions, they still might make a mistake. I will not introduce technology to a world of creatures that are not ready for it.” Dexter replied firmly as he redirected his gaze to his computer. He wasn’t sure if the computer could pick up on his expressions well enough to pick up on his determination.

“I believe I understand, Dexter,” Quadraplex replied. “I have been able to observe that the lives and safety of others is of concern to you. That is a concern I do not share, but I accept it.”

“Yes, well. I am in the habit of playing hero on occasion. At least I was back on Earth…” Dexter replied, however after a moment of silence the robotic limbs encasing the colt began to retract. Once he was free he stood up and stretched his legs, more than thrilled to be able to move once again.

“I apologize, Dexter,” Quadraplex began. “I hope you are not angry with me.”

“Quadraplex… you’re the only one that knows my secrets, the only one who could come close to understanding me. You should trust me,” Dexter looked away from the computer. “I am willing to forget this if you never do it again.”

“Understood, Dexter.”

There was a long moment of silence between Dexter and the A.I. Eventually, Dexter turned back to regard the computer. He had no way to tell what she was thinking, she didn’t even have a face to express her emotions with. But he could tell the A.I. must have been experiencing emotions, it was the only way to explain her actions.

An issue he resolved to deal with, but he had more pressing matters to attend to.

“Now, to move on to the cause of all this.” Dexter turned away from his computer, walking toward a nearby device. The device was small, and sported a white half sphere mounted on a rectangular base. All the lights on the device were dark as it sat idle. “Why did the magic dampeners fail?”

“As you know, the magical dampers work by drawing magical energy away from any spell through imperfections in how the ‘magical spell’ was constructed.” Quadraplex began to explain. “Or, as I am sure the equines would put it, how well the spell was cast.”

“Yes,” Dexter confirmed. “So what went wrong?”

“It appears that the spell cast on the ion cannon was imbued with excessive amounts of energy, as well as what I can only describe as a ‘well-constructed spell.’ This spell had significantly fewer flaws than what is typically found, a factor which limited the rate at which energy could be drawn off of it.”

“I see,” Dexter said as his eyes narrowed in thought. “I suspect that means proficient ‘magic’ users would be able to circumvent this by limiting the number of flaws in their spells…”

“Affirmative, in the case of the ion cannon there was an excessive amounts of energy combined with a few number of these ‘flaws’,” The computer began again. “Thus causing the dampeners to require large amounts of time to successfully remove the magical energy present.”

“Useless piece of junk!” Dexter used a foreleg to kick the device, which responded with a clank. “Computer, we are going to have to make newer versions that are much stronger. I don’t want this to ever happen again.”

“I’ve already begun.” A set of schematics appeared on the screen, causing Dexter to smile. “They will be operational by tomorrow morning, and will have significantly greater strength than the previous model.”

“Good, now with that settled let’s move on to other matters…” Dexter approached the excessively large keyboard at the base of the terminal and pushed a few buttons. “Computer, display available information on Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Princess Luna.”

The computer responded by displaying the images of the mares, each one accompanied by small walls of moving text.

“Computer, I fear that the ponies may have acquired too much information about me,” Dexter stated matter-of-factly, making a point to have his voice devoid of the frustration he had felt toward his computer a few minutes before. “I feel that they may direct their attention toward myself soon.”

“I concur, Dexter,” the computer answered. “From the information I have gathered, the equines collectively have enough information to suspect your involvement in recent events.”

“However, the only reason why they have not started investigating you is because they have not localized their knowledge in one places in order to collectively analyze it,” the computer explained.

“So…” Dexter said, rubbing his chin with a hoof. “Basically what you are saying is that they only reason they aren’t breaking down my door is that they haven’t gotten together and compared notes?”

“Correct,” the computer replied.

“I see. That’s not good,” Dexter stated simply. “We need to lay low for a while, but I don’t think that will be enough”

“What did you have in mind?” The computer asked.

“I don’t know,” Dexter admitted. “The changelings, and Applejack, are constantly able to tell I am lying. I’ve always been well versed at deceiving others when it comes to the existence of my lab, but I was deceiving other humans, and I know how they think.”

“Do these equines really think so differently?” Quadraplex asked.

“Well, yes and no,” Dexter answered. “But the real problem is, my parents, along with everyone else I hid my lab from, were generally idiots. It didn’t take much to keep things from them.”

“I see…” The computer replied. “Well, you do have access to someone who is reputably a master of deceit, who is simultaneously motivated to aid your efforts to hide your lab from the equines…”

---

A certain changeling, who had been frozen stiff a few moments before, shivered violently as the casket encasing her lifted up away from her. The moment the casket finished pulling away, the shackles around her legs released, freeing her from the table she was on. The changeling quickly scrambled off the table, retreating to a corner at the far side of the chamber.

“Now, now…” Dexter began, he was standing next to the table and had gone unnoticed by the changeling up until this point. She jumped at the sound of his voice. “There is no need to be afraid… well not yet anyway.”

“No need to be afraid?!” The changeling hissed. “What are you, nuts? I wake up in an alien spaceship, told that I’ve been drugged, experimented on, and can no longer sense emotions. Then I am told I’m going to be tortured until I commit suicide by some freaking creepy colt, who isn’t really a colt at all but some sort of sick creature with a predator complex and a thing for science and hurting small animals! Then I get frozen by a-”

“BWahahahaha!” Dexter started laughing, falling to his haunches as he grasped his stomach. “She thinks she is in an alien space ship!”

The changeling was initial surprised the by colt’s reaction, though it was quickly lost to annoyance as she grimaced at the laughing colt.

“Is my panic amusing to you?” The changeling asked indignantly. “Do you derive joy from having me cornered? Trapped like a helpless rat perhaps?”

“More like a helpless cockroach,” Dexter taunted, before noticing the genuine indignity on the changeling’s face. “Hey, it’s not like you didn’t attack me. But rest assured, you’re still on the same planet.” Dexter said defensively, reassuming a standing posture. “Oh, and Cheerilee has been safely liberated from her captivity by the way… “

The changeling didn’t respond, rather just stared at the colt in a mixture of fear and anger.

“Look,” Dexter began again. “I’m not here to hurt you, I just want some more information.”

The changeling didn’t respond once more, causing Dexter to sigh.

“If you’re going to play this silent game again, I’m going to have to break out the drill….”

“I’m listening!” The changeling rasped defensively with a few hints of anger.

“Okay, good.” Dexter began again. “Now, I understand you are an expert at deception… and I think I am in need of your advice.”

“Why should I help you?” The changeling countered.

“Other than the drill?” Dexter asked, however the changeling only smiled in response before standing up.

“I can sense your emotions again, little colt. The reservation you hold when saying those words shows me that you’re not really willing to torture me.” The changeling said triumphantly.

Dexter facehoofed at his obvious error. “Computer, bring back the interrogator.” The moment the words left his mouth, a certain holographic copy of the colt materialized next to him and turned toward the changeling.

“Why hello again,” the phantom greeted.

“I might not be willing to hurt you,” Dexter went on. “But he is a different story.”

The changeling’s eyes went wide as her head jerked back and forth between the two Dexter’s before her.

“Oh, and don’t try sensing his emotions. You won’t find any.” Dexter went on.

“It’s because I’m soulless.” The illusion produced an eerie smile at the changeling, successfully creeping out both Dexter and the changeling. “But I am more than willing to tell you, the prospect of playing with our changeling friend again fills me with glee.”

“That’s enough Quadraplex,” Dexter ordered, causing the hologram to disappear. “Also, please activate the magic dampening fields once again. I won’t have her sensing my emotions anymore.” A few devices outside the chamber hummed to life, causing the changeling’s expression to shift back toward confusion.

“What… how?” The changeling managed while gawking in confusion at the colt. “I… I thought you injected me with something?”

“Oh, and before I forget. Don’t worry about trying to send that little distress signal by varying your emotions in a pattern.” Dexter said, approaching the changeling “Your friends cannot sense you here, they never could; and they aren’t coming to save you.”

“That’s… that’s impossible!” The changeling retorted, her tone was half fear and half skepticism. “How do you even know about that!?”

“I took a peek inside your brain.” Dexter declared smugly. “And before you try anything know this: One, you will answer my questions. How pleasant this one way exchange of information is a matter I leave entirely up to you. Two, you’re not going to escape, so don’t even try. When we are finished, you’re going back to sleep. And three, I’m still taking a peek inside your brain. If you lie, I’ll know about it. Which brings me back to point one, how pleasant this is will be determined by you.”

“Okay, alright. I’ll cooperate.” The changeling conceded. “I don’t see any other choice, anyway.”

“Good, now I need your expertise on how to deceive ponies. I want a crash course on how to trick them.” Dexter began. “As you know, I created a device recently at the Ponyville clinic, one which could detect your kind and-”

“So you built the device?!” The changeling shouted, causing Dexter to take a step back.

“I thought you knew.” Dexter replied.

“Some of us suspected it, others had doubts. I was one of the latter,” the changeling admitted. “We could hardly believe someone so young could build a device that circumvented illusion magic which had been perfected for centuries. Though it was determined that we should find out what you knew in any case.”

“Well, Princess Luna doesn’t know any of that yet, and I would like to keep it that way.” Dexter began to explain.

“Really?” The changeling’s eyes narrowed as she tilted her head. “Why? I would imagine that you’d ally yourself with the princesses almost imm-.”

“I told you I would be asking the questions,” Dexter cut in, inspecting his a hoof nonchalantly before looking back at the changeling. “You’re the one answering them.”

The changeling responded by remaining silent, causing Dexter to grow slightly impatient.

“If you’re looking for a reason to help me, then consider this.” Dexter answered. “It is in the changelings’ collective interest that my knowledge does not fall into the han-er hooves of the Equestrian guard. Otherwise, your friends might find themselves living much more public lives. But you already figured that out, so spill it.”

“Fair enough,” The changeling’s eyes narrowed in intrigue. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, Applejack seems to be the last pony who thinks I know something about the device I left at the clinic, so begin with how to deceive the element of honesty…”

---

Author's Notes:

Well, there it is. I know this chapter was slow and a bit detailed oriented. I just wanted to make sure that you guys had enough details in order to make sure you knew what was going on. I plan on having Dexter finally meet Luna next chapter, I know a lot of you are waiting for that and I think you'll like what I have planned.

I also wanted to thank the pre-readers for this chapter: spacedig, nucnik, Omnicron25, kamachakta, Mrlava123, undeadponylord, Bakermon, Airchi. But despite their help, A few typos may have slipped by us. Please go ahead and point them out and I will fix them when I can.

Also, Alejin sent some of the art he sent my way of Dexter. I am going to post it in a blog, and maybe add some color to it so you guys can see the way I envisioned Dexter in this story.

About 30 of you read my blog post, guessed the password correctly, and got to read this chapter two days before it everyone else. I am not sure how often I will do this, but if I do, I reserve the right to change/edit it before it is finally posted for all. Which means if I take something out and save it (or the concept) for a later chapter, it may end up being a spoiler for you. You have been warned.

Herbal Substances

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“Can’t be done,” the changeling replied, repeating herself for the second time.

“I very much doubt that,” Dexter replied, skeptically raising an eyebrow. “Surely one of your kind has found a way.”

“Hey, I know what you’re thinking.” The changeling shrugged. “You think ‘the changeling is lying.’ – And that’s a good thing to assume. You should never take anything a changeling says or does at face value, our livelihood is rooted in deception. But I don’t know what else to say, did you even listen to the question you asked?”

“Yes, it is rather straightforward.” Dexter sighed. “How would you go about deceiving the Element of Honesty?”

“I wouldn’t. No changeling would,” the changeling went on. “At least no changeling in your specific position would try. We are selective about who we impersonate for good reasons.”

“Now I know you’re not telling the truth.” said a deadpanning Dexter, despite the traces of annoyance seeping into his tone. “I just tricked her earlier today, I said something which was technically correct while leaving out some important details.”

“Yes, you may have gotten away with telling half-truths and vague statements before, but that isn’t going to last as time goes on.” The changeling took a step forward. She had not left the sterile chamber which she woke up in, but it was only until now that she was able to take in her surroundings. Last time she was awake, her head was tied to the table.

“Why would my ability to deceive her diminish with time?” Dexter droned skeptically as he watched the changeling pace.

“It all has to do with the magic which exists between individuals,” the changeling explained. “And the fact that she is the Element of Honesty.”

“Magic?” Dexter raised an eyebrow, though he could feel a familiar burning frustration rise within him. He was hoping for something more useful than the ‘it’s just magic’ argument. “You mean to tell me there are unseen magical interactions between two individuals when they come in contact?”

“Yes. How else do you think we changelings sense emotions, or feed for that matter?” The changeling shrugged like her answer was the most obvious thing in the world. “Or have you not heard, friendship is magic.”

“Alright, fine.” Dexter conceded, rubbing a hoof through his hair in frustration. “Assuming that these magic interactions exist. Why is she the only one able to tell that I am lying? Why not someone else, like Big Macintosh?”

“As the Element of Honesty she is particularly sensitive to that aspect of a friendship, and the magic of that friendship.” The changeling explained.

“I don’t buy it.” Dexter cut in with a shrug. “And to be honest with you, that whole magic of friendship crap sounds like another load of propaganda. An excuse to keep the ‘ponies of Equestria in harmony,’ under the princesses’ control. But I’m surprised a changeling of all people would subscribe to those silly notions.”

“Propaganda?” The changeling asked, slightly indignant. “Listen, little colt, you were the one who came in here and thawed me out to ask how to deceive ponies, so you want to listen to what I have to say or not?”

After a moment, Dexter motioned for her to continue with a hoof.

“Now, I don’t care if you believe in the magic of friendship or not, and to be honest with you, I don’t exactly believe in it very much either. Even the changeling hive doesn’t have a full understanding of it, no one does. But we have a better understanding than most, since we feed off of magic,” the changeling continued, her frustration slowly subsiding as she went on. “But the bottom line is, those magical interactions are what you have to worry about, and how they grow stronger with time.”

“Grow stronger?” Dexter asked. “The longer I am around Applejack the more she can refine her ability to detect deception from me?”

“Yes,” the changeling replied. “As time goes on, the strength of these interactions grows. Similar to how friendships grow stronger. Which means she will soon be able to tell whether you are being honest or deceptive, not just technically truthful. Though, from what I could sense of you earlier, you develop these magical bonds too slowly for a normal pony. It is one of the reasons I suspect you’re not a pony… or just a major head case.”

Dexter shook his head in frustration after a moment. “But why should it matter if I leave out details when I am technically being truthful?” Dexter argued.

“She is the Element of Honesty, not the Element of Truth,” the changeling pointed out. “It is a subtle but substantial difference. Which is why I said it can’t be done for somepony in your position.”

“Okay…” Dexter rubbed his head with a hoof in frustration. “But I’ve only known her for two weeks by this point, how strong can this magic get in such a short amount of time?”

“Well, it depends on the situation,” the changeling went on. “For example, she established the magic of friendship with Twilight Sparkle after only one day.”

“What can I do to tell how strong it has become?” Dexter asked. “I may still be able to get past my immediate concerns.”

“It is probably too late already, have you spent any time ‘bonding’ with her?” the changeling asked.

Dexter recalled the night he activated Quadraplex for the first time. Applejack and her siblings had found him lamenting over missing his family, and reassured him they would look after him until he found his parents once again. Just thinking about it made Dexter feel a sense of gratitude toward the mare and her siblings, though recalling the changeling's words caused him to grimace.

The changeling grew a smug grin, apparently noticing the emotion on Dexter’s face. “And that, little pony, was the point of no return.”

“Am I in danger of any more of these magical bonds inadvertently forming?” Dexter asked after a moment of silence, ignoring the smugness of the insectoid.

“Well… There are similar effects for each element. They aren’t as noticeable as Applejack’s. But tell me, have you met Pinkie Pie yet? You might want to avoid that one…”

The moment those words left her mouth, Dexter’s face contorted in horror as he recalled receiving a number of hugs from the pink mare. She was awfully confident that they would eventually become friends.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo!!!”

---

“Are you going to be alright?” The changeling asked, looking over the now panting colt.

Dexter took another few moments to calm his breathing before eventually replying.

“I… I think I’m fine. For now anyway,” Dexter said. “Though, I wish I had known about this magic of friendship stuff earlier, I would have avoided contact with everyone as much as possible in order to prevent my own contamination!”

“Well, don’t die on me,” the changeling stated, earning a look of skepticism from the colt. “Hey -for everything you are, you’re still just a cute little foal…” Dexter’s deadpan grew. “And if you die, who will let me out of here?” the changeling added.

“Is there any way to circumvent this magic?” Dexter asked, rubbing his chin with a hoof.

“Well,” the changeling began. “You might be able to get away with using those magic dampeners, they effectively block my method of sensing your emotions. It may work on Applejack as well. You could also have that phantom look-alike thing do the lying for you.”

“Perhaps there is another way to circumvent this magic, possibly remove Applejack’s sensitivity to it?” The colt rubbed his chin in thought. He was hoping for a solution which didn’t require more use of his technology. The more he used it, the greater the chances of discovery. “The trouble seems to be the fact that she is the Element of Honesty,” Dexter turned back toward his prisoner. “Tell me about these elements.”

“You don’t know about the Elements of Harmony?” the changeling asked, turning her head in suspicion. “I would imagine somepony like yourself would be aware of Equestria’s most powerful magical artifacts. I doubt your proximity to them is mere coincidence.”

“I don’t know about them,” Dexter admitted. “And I dismissed most of what I read about them as propaganda. Though, I am beginning to think there may be something more significant to their existence than what I deduced in my initial appraisal.”

“To be honest with you... again, there isn’t very much propaganda out there,” the changeling began again, surprised at herself once more. Being honest with a pony wasn’t something she normally did, but then again, she was giving Dexter what was regarded as common knowledge.

“Celestia can raise the sun?” Dexter asked skeptically. “Don’t tell me you believe that nonsense as well?”

“Uhh…” the changeling began hesitantly as she looked over the colt. “She does raise the sun. I saw Celestia raise it while I was on assignment in Canterlot once.”

Dexter slapped a hoof to his face. “Just forget it, tell me about the Elements of Harmony and how I can get around them.”

“If you’re thinking about trying to remove the Element of Honesty from Applejack, you can’t.” The changeling went on. “But even if you could, I wouldn’t help you do it.”

“Really?” Dexter raised an eyebrow, convinced that the changeling was lying once more. “You changelings want to protect the Elements of Harmony?”

The colt never intended on removing the Elements of Harmony, he had no idea what removing an Element of Harmony from a pony would do. But he did recall Applejack’s account of the changeling invasion, and how she had to fight them.

“Of course,” the changeling countered. “Who would stop Discord, or Nightmare Moon, if one of them went on a rampage again?”

“Me,” the colt replied arrogantly. Though, he did have the habit of playing hero whenever there was impending doom.

“Ha, very funny puny colt,” she scoffed. “Do you even know who they are?”

“No, but it doesn’t matter,” The colt replied. “If they do become a problem, they will be dealt with.”

“Even if you were capable of that, which I doubt,” the changeling scoffed again. “The hive doesn’t know as much. And trust me when I say, the hive prefers an Equestria that is nice, quiet, harmonious, and loving. The Elements of Harmony have proven indispensable toward that goal.”

“Then why did you attack Canterlot?” the colt asked with a smile, believing he had talked the changeling into a corner. “Invading the capital of Equestria doesn’t seem like it would make things more peaceful and harmonious. “

“Isn’t it obvious?” the changeling replied after a long silence. “We were after love.”

“Neural activity indicates an extremely high probability of deception with that last statement,” Quadraplex told Dexter through his earpiece.

“You’re lying,” Dexter stated with a smug grin cast at the changeling. She didn’t respond, though she seemed unfazed by the accusation.

“Look, I don’t need to scan your brain to know that what you said was a lie,” Dexter began to explain, though his tone remained accusatory. “There was an unexplained, and very sudden, decline in your species’ effectiveness and competence during your effort to invade Canterlot. Which makes me wonder if there is something more to the invasion than everyone believes.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” The changeling replied once more. However, Quadraplex again indicated she was lying.

“You don’t know?” Dexter asked skeptically. “Alright, to begin with. Explain why your queen was smart enough to sneak an entire army into Canterlot and kidnap-er, foalnap a princess, but then suddenly decided to teleport one of Equestria’s more powerful unicorns straight into the unguarded cave where the kidnapped princess was being held? Heck, why wasn't the princess surrounded by changeling guards in the first place? She was the one prisoner whose freedom would spell failure for your invasion, and you had enough troops to spare!”

“Everypony makes mistakes,” she shrugged, her tone was almost condescending. “The queen is no exception.”

“Applejack told me your queen taunted Twilight into blasting the one freaking wall that contained Princess Cadence!” Dexter lashed out an accusing hoof. “There is no explanation of such incompetence, it wasn’t a simple mistake. Your queen either had an aneurysm that made her mentally retarded for a few moments or tricking Twilight into releasing Cadence was intentional. And if that one moment was intentional, then the whole defeat was intentional.”

“And you just said to never take anything a changeling says or does at face value…” The colt growled. “So spill it.”

The changeling merely glared at the colt for a few more moments before deciding to speak.

“Fine,” she began. “There was something else, another reason we went to Canterlot. But I don’t know what it was.”

Dexter inhaled, about to interrupt her with another accusation. However, he stopped when she held up a hoof.

“That really is the truth, I don’t know.” The changeling went on. “It is common knowledge in the hive that the invasion was a cover for something. But for what exactly, we were never told.”

“But there was a rumor circulating between the high-ranking infiltrators like myself, it said that the princess had stumbled onto a way to detect all changelings everywhere,” she explained. “The princess wasn’t aware that she could detect us, but if she did find a way, dealing with it would have been the queen’s primary goal.”

“But again, that was a rumor. I don’t truly know.”

---

After the changeling had been put back to sleep, Dexter returned to his to work on his inventions. Though his mind was torn between his tasks and what the changeling had said. She did provide him with useful information, but something was bothering him.

She too believed that Celestia raised the sun. If anyone would want to dispel Equestria’s propaganda, wouldn’t it be an enemy of Equestria?

“Computer!” Dexter grimaced in annoyance after arriving at the computer’s side. “We’re settling this matter once and for all!”

“What matter are you referring to, Dexter?” Quadraplex asked in her standard monotone voice.

“This raising the sun thing!” Dexter replied as he jumped into the chair before the computer’s terminal. “Of all the things the changeling said, the easiest to blow out of the water is this stupid 'raising the sun' nonsense I keep hearing about.”

“From my understanding, there are several experiments which could verify the heliocentric structure of the solar system,” the computer began, bringing forward a very familiar looking pendulum to the screen. Though it caused Dexter to shake his head. “For instance the-“

“What century are you living in, computer?” he asked, a mocking smile crept across his face.

“According to my internal chronometer, it is currently the twenty first cen-“ the computer began again, only to be interrupted by the colt, again.

“Oh, never mind.” Dexter sighed as he put a hoof to his face. “What I meant to say is, we’re going to prove the heliocentricity in modern style!”

“Elucidate,” The computer requested.

“What are the state of the telescope satellite and rocket delivery system?” Dexter asked. “It was one of the first things I asked you to work on, ever since I noticed we weren’t in the Milky Way galaxy. Satellites are required for viewing distant galaxies.”

“The satellites, along with the nuclear powered rocket system you specified, are complete and awaiting deployment.” The computer replied.

“Really?” Dexter asked, leaning back in his chair as his tone took on feigned confusion. “So why do I find myself with a distinct lack of satellite telemetry? I thought I told you I wanted this lab to be just as capable as my original one, containing everything from my time machine to my satellites, the works!”

The computer sat silently for a moment.

“Understood, but it will be difficult to acquire the monkey,” Quadraplex eventually replied, stalling.

“Computer…”

“I delayed the launch pending a review of the project’s primary objectives,” Quadraplex explained.

“And why would you do that?” Dexter raised an eyebrow.

“The chance of locating one specific galaxy in the observable universe is negligible, Dexter.” the computer declared. “Even with the aid of satellites.”

“Excuse me?” Dexter asked, frowning.

“To clarify, trying to locating the Milky Way Galaxy may prove to be a fruitless endeavor,” the computer went on. “The wormhole, in theory, could have deposited you anywhere in the universe, or even an alternate universe. In addition, there are currently ‘1.25 times ten to the eleventh’ number of galaxies estimated to exist. The chances of finding a single galaxy out of-“

“You think I don’t know this computer?” Dexter growled. “How is it that you think I don’t know something when most of what you know came from me?”

“I do believe you are adequately knowledgeable in these regards,” the computer went on. “However, your decision to partake in this particular project is emotionally motivated, and you may react badly to the project’s inevitable failure. You should accept the simple fact that you’re never going to see your family again and shouldn’t waste resources on a futile attempt to-”

“Shut… Up…” Dexter seethed, he was now glaring at the terminal. The computer immediately went silent.

Dexter’s glare eventually began to wither as he felt the now familiar sensation of doubt creeping into his heart. A part of him knew that the computer was right, but he didn’t want her to be. He was determined to find a way home, and he wasn’t about to give up because the chances were small.

If anyone could figure out a way back home, it would be him.

“You’re going to launch the rockets, we’re going to find out where home is, and then I’m going to figure out a way to get us there.” Dexter declared. “But the first thing you are going to do once the satellites are in orbit is record the sunrise, okay?”

“Understood, Dexter.” The computer replied. “The launch window will open at approximately 3:47am tonight. I will dispatch robots to set up the rocket delivery system in a remote location. Considering the small size of the rocket, setup time should not take long.”

Dexter merely stared at the computer for a few more moments. “I’m glad to see you’re finally on board.”

“I only intend to please, Dexter. The last time you got angry at me, you made it clear I should make extensive checks for how my actions may negatively impact others. I do not yet grasp why logic sometimes angers an individual,” Quadraplex replied. Though, something about her response made Dexter feel a twinge of guilt.

“Quadraplex… I …” Dexter sighed. “I’m sorry for getting upset.” The computer had very little experience with her own emotions; it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that she wouldn’t know how to manage the emotions of others by carefully choosing her words.

“Apologies are unnecessary, Dexter,” the computer responded. “I predicted you would get upset. I just wish to minimize any distress I calculate that you will experience. I just hope you do not end up rejecting me for it.”

“That won’t happen Quadraplex,” the child assured as he attempted to hug the oversized computer. “You’re my best, and arguably only, friend after all.”

“Though you might want to practice on being a bit more tactful with your concerns.”

---

The next morning started with Dexter appearing in the Apple home’s kitchen, ready for school. He was greeted by Applejack, who was waiting for him. However, much to the colt’s disappointment, school had been cancelled. The appearance of changelings had caused an uproar in the town, which shut down nearly everything.

However, no school didn’t mean the colt was free to go.

Applejack had Dexter sit down at the kitchen table before taking the seat opposite to him. The mare planned on getting some answers.

“Dex… We need ta talk,” Applejack declared as she pulled up to the table. She regarded him with an almost wary gaze before firming up her grimace.

“What is this about, Applejack?” Dexter asked.

“This is about a number of things,” Applejack began. “But first, ah gotta ask about you lying ta the guard. They were investigating changelings at tha hospital, an’ I told ya that was important. Ah also told ya Ah wanted to know what ya lied about. Ah shouldn’t have let ya get away with it until now cause Ah didn’t want ta pressure ya considerin’ yer situation. But considerin’ what happened at Sugarcube Corner, Ah have ta confront ya on the matter now.”

“But-“ Dexter began, only to be stopped by Applejack raising a hoof.

“Now, just hear me out Dex,” Applejack said. “Now Ah know it is probably nothing, but ah need ta be sure. What did ya lie ta the guard about?”

“I…” Dexter paused in hesitation. He didn’t have any luck lying to Applejack in the past. But he was hoping his new magic dampeners would help with that.

The prior night he had instructed Quadraplex to activate the dampeners on his signal, which was tapping his ear piece twice. He just hoped they would stop whatever magic at play which allowed Applejack to sense he was lying.

Dexter, pretending to be nervous, rubbed the earpiece in his ear twice with a hoof. It was clear that Quadraplex got the message, replying with a short confirmation.

It was now or never.

“I may have… played with it.” Dexter began. It was a technically true statement, a good place the colt figured he should start.

“What do ya mean ya ‘played with it’?” Applejack tilted her head as she raised an eyebrow..

She didn’t sense any deception, but she didn’t sense any honesty either. The absence of both was unsettling, almost disturbing for the mare. She had long since gotten used to her sensitivity toward the honesty of others. The lack of either caused her to pause.

“I mean…” Dexter began again, his confidence growing. “I messed around with it, but I didn’t do anything to break it. I thought the guards would be mad, but from what I’ve overheard from Miss Twilight Sparkle, they were just curious about it.”

Applejack merely watched the colt, her gaze shifting to a more scrutinizing grimace.

“Repeat that,” Applejack suddenly ordered, taking the colt by surprise.

“Huh?” Dexter tilted his head.

“Repeat what ya just told me.” Applejack ordered again. After a moment of silence the colt did as she asked, claiming to merely play with the device and nothing more.

“Ah don’t get it…” Applejack put a hoof to her head, rubbing her forehead. “Somethin’s wrong.”

That’s when she noticed the smug grin Dexter was trying to suppress.

“Dex, are you being honest with me?” Applejack questioned, surprised to find herself asking.

“You… tell me.” Dexter replied slowly. “You’re the Element of Honesty after all…”

There was a long moment of silence as Applejack’s gaze drifted downward.

“Ah can’t tell… Why can’t ah tell?” Applejack shook her head in confusion as she frowned, her eyes held a hint of worry.

“Well… uh,” Dexter began, looking away from the mare. “Maybe you’re just having an off day.” The colt suggested, growing a sheepish grin. “Maybe it is stress or something? You yourself said plenty of ponies in Ponyville are panicking because of the changelings. You should just forget about everything and take a day off. Relax and have a…”

Though, by the time he looked back at the mare he was greeted with an almost hostile glare.

“Ya know why Ah can’t tell if yer lying, don’t ya?” Applejack declared, her eyes were sharp enough to drill a hole in his skull. “Cause yer behind it.”

“Oh crap,” Dexter muttered under his breath before hesitantly raising his voice. “Umm… heh heh, Applejack, that’s ridiculous. I suggest you take some-”

“Dex, Ah ain’t a stupid mare,” Applejack cut him off. Her voice was firm, yet carried no shortage of ominous foreboding. The mare took off her Stetson hat and placed it to the side on the table between them. “There’s more ways than one ta tell if somepony is being honest, and yer not soundin’ nor actin’ like an honest pony. So, Ah suggest ya stop whatever it is yer doing and start being honest, and Ah suggest ya do it now.”

When Applejack finished, she continued to stare at the colt. That was when Dexter became eerily aware of how quiet it was in the Apple home. The eight year old had to admit to himself he was intimidated by the farm pony. And despite the fact that she had not raised her voice, nor did more than frown, her sharp green eyes made it abundantly clear that she was angry.

Though, her green eyes reminded him of the last person who asked about the clinic’s device. Though that mare turned out to be an insectoid that he ended up freezing.

But Applejack’s eyes just happened to be the right shade of green, and he hadn’t considered the possibility until now. Though he knew one way he could find out.

“Are… are you a changeling?” Dexter asked loudly, knowing his earpiece would pick up his question.

Though the question got Applejack’s glare to subside into a grimace of surprise.

“Is that why yer not being honest?” Applejack asked in surprise, before facehooving. “Ah guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Though Dexter didn’t hear her response, but rather listened to the response coming in through his earpiece.

“Scan complete. Results are Negative, Dexter.” Quadraplex stated. “The individual before you is the real Applejack.”

Dexter nodded to himself before looking back up at Applejack. “Excuse me, I didn’t catch that Applejack.”

“Ah said, I shouldn’t be surprised,” The mare removed the hoof from her face. “The whole town went head over hooves on account of them, shoulda guessed you an’ the girls might be a bit afraid too.”

“Well, you did say one of them replaced Cheerilee,” Dexter replied. “Which means, I was sitting in a room with one for an entire day and didn’t even know it.”

“Listen Dex,” Applejack assured. “Ah’m not a changeling, You can trust me, and you can trust me enough ta be honest.”

“I believe you Applejack,” Dexter said with a nod. “I believe you’re Applejack, anyway.”

“But that doesn’t mean I trust you,” the colt declared. His words caused Applejack to recoil in surprise.

“Ya don’t trust me?” Applejack nearly sputtered the question. She rarely heard those words. Not only was she the Element of Honesty, she had a long standing reputation for integrity and dependability across Ponyville.

“That is correct.” Dexter confirmed.

“What? Why not?” Applejack asked, gesturing with a raised hoof. “Have ah done something ta lose yer trust?”

“No,” Dexter replied. “You didn’t do anything to lose it, you never had it. ”

“Never had…” Applejack barely managed to repeat in astonishment, though a moment later she slouched back in her chair, the epitome of utter disappointment plastered to her face. “Dex, ah been taking care of ya fer two weeks now. Ya got ta meet my entire family an’ all my friends. What fault do ya find with me? Why don’t ya trust me yet? Do ya think Ah want ta hurt you or somethin?’”

The question got Dexter to think for a moment, looking over the mare. She seemed to be genuinely frustrated by the colt, though she didn’t appear angry anymore. The fact of the matter was, a part of him did trust her. In his short time living with the Apple family, he knew one thing for certain, the character of the Apple family members was beyond reproach.

Which was why the eight year old felt no shortage of guilt at this point. He did trust Applejack, at least a part of him did; and that part of his made him want to be honest with the mare. Though his trust had a limit, but not because of any flaw in Applejack.

“I… I do trust you, Applejack. But, I just…” Dexter replied, though his response seemed to only frustrate the mare further.

“Do ya?” Applejack asked skeptically. “Yah see, I ask twice only cause I can’t sense if yer being honest. Ah don’t know what’s going on, or what ya did to make it so Ah can’t sense yer honesty, but yer actions speak a lot louder than yer words; an’ they’re saying ya don’t trust me as far as ya could throw me, the kitchen table, and this house, combined.”

It was Dexter’s turn to look away, trying to hide the mixed feelings he now had.

“Dex, ah was hoping ta earn some of yer trust by now,” the mare finally went on, standing up from her chair and circling around the table as she spoke. “Now Ah know you’ve only been with us a few weeks, but believe it or not, Ah do care about ya. Ah don’t want anything bad ta happen to ya,” she finished as she reach the colt, pausing before she pulled him into a hug. “Yer just a foal… and Ah told ya we’d look after ya an’ ah meant it.”

“We meant it when we said it.” She emphasized.

The colt let out a long sigh as Applejack pulled away from him. If the mare was trying to guilt trip him, it was working. That, and despite his efforts, pulling the wool over her eyes was proving to be a lot harder than he thought.

Which were two good reasons for why he needed a new approach. He didn’t know what it was about Applejack, but he found himself wanting to be honest with her, even if he didn’t tell her much.

That, and he had given Quadraplex a similar speech about trust. So he knew exactly where the mare was coming from.

“Fair enough, Applejack. In all fairness you have earned my trust - to an extent.” He looked up at the mare before turning to his side, reducing his voice to a whisper. “Computer, deactivate the dampeners please.”

“What?” Applejack turned her ears toward the colt before flicking them twice, hoping he would repeat whatever he had whispered. However, after a moment the mare’s eyes lit up. “What was that?”

“Applejack, you asked me to be honest. And the truth is, I devised a way to circumvent your ability to sense honesty,” Dexter stated, looking back to the now surprised mare.

“But I just stopped because I am choosing to be honest with you now, okay?” Dexter stated, gesturing with a hoof in an attempt to placate the mare if she got angry. “And to answer your question, yes. I admit that I lied to the guard about that device in the hospital. But I did so because I firmly believe that they don’t need to know anything more about it and I do not want to draw any attention to myself. Besides, they probably won’t ask me about it again because they already got Twilight Sparkle to examine it.”

“Twi got ta look’n at it?” Applejack frowned. “Ah didn’t know that.” Applejack paused for a moment, scrutinizing the colt. “But Ah already told ya, what the guard need ta and don’t need ta know ain’t something fer a youngin’ like you ta decide. If ya know something more, then ya should tell me,” she went on.

Dexter couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony. Here Applejack didn’t trust his judgement because he was not old enough, and in turn he did not trust the judgement of all ponykind because they were not ‘old enough’ technologically.

“I’m sorry Applejack, but I’m not going to say anything more. The guard is going to have to make do with what they know,” Dexter replied simply. Though, Applejack let out another frustrated sigh and she raised two fore-hooves to her face.

“What is it with you, Dex?” Applejack groaned. “Ya trust me but ya just don’t trust me enough?”

“To put it prudently, yes,” Dexter simply shrugged. He didn’t know what else to say, all he knew was what he wasn’t going to say.

“Ya know Dex, Ah was wrong, an’ Ah’m big enough ta admit that,” Applejack looked up at the colt, withdrawing her hooves from her face and placing one on the table, her grimace now held a hint of sadness beneath the frustration. “The mornin Ah told ya I wanted ta know what ya lied ta the guard about, Ah also told ya that ya should treat yer sister better. But it never occurred ta me that ya act the way ya do cause you weren’t taught any better… or that somepony may have hurt ya.”

Applejack’s expression grew sadder with every word, along with her voice. Though, Dexter found himself more confused than surprised.

“But you can trust me. Ya need ta trust me. Ah’m not a changeling, and Ah’m not yer sister. Ah’m not gonna do anything bad ta hurt ya,” Applejack went on, causing Dexter to recoil in his chair. “Ah know ah shouldn’t have presumed ta tell ya that ya needed ta treat yer sister better. Being a mare raised in the Apple family, the idea of a sister doing somethin’ ta hurt her brother was inconceivable, an’ Ah-”

“Applejack,” Dexter began loudly, anger seeping into his voice as he made a point at cutting off the mare. “This has nothing to do with my sister. But allow me to reiterate, Dee Dee is NOT evil. She is just an idiot.”

“Then why do ya hate her?” Applejack rebutted.

The question stunned Dexter, leaving him speechless. His shock did not stem from any sense of indignation, but rather because he knew she was right.

As much as he loved Dee Dee, a part of him did hate her.

“Dex, Ah don’t want ta argue with ya about yer family,” The farm pony went on. “Ah can appreciate that ya love yer sister an that ya want ta defend her, but Ah could tell that what ya said yesterday was true. If half of what ya said yer sister did ta yah is right, they won’t ever let you go back to ‘em.”

“Who? Who’s them?” Dexter asked, his voice was borderline hostile.

“The Child Safety Ministr-“

“Yes, well I am not going to tell them anything,” Dexter crossed his forelegs.

“Ah gotta,” Applejack replied after a moment of silence. “When Ah agreed ta take ya Ah was obligated ta report anything Ah notice ta be wrong.” There was a moment of silence as Dexter frowned, looking up and down the mare.

“Very well,” Dexter eventually replied, deciding that the whole issue was irrelevant. Given the whereabouts of his parents, the ponies wouldn’t have a say in the matter.

The colt got off of his chair and stood beside the table, facing the mare. “But do not anticipate my cooperation.” He turned to leave, however he was stopped by the mare when she grabbed his tail.

“Ya still didn’t answer my question.” Applejack said. “What did ya lie about?”

“Applejack…” Dexter began tiredly, turning back toward the mare though he kept his gaze toward the floor. “I am not going to tell you what I lied about, or why I am keeping it a secret. I withhold this information because I believe it is the right thing to do.”

“However, in perfect candor, I believe you are being a bit short sighted,” Dexter went on, finally looking up at her. “My silence doesn’t just benefit only me, but also protects others. Have you considered that if I started talking to the guard, even if I tell them something utterly useless, the changelings might take notice?”

“Dex, you don’t have ta worry about that. We will protect you and- “

“Both Applebloom and I spent an entire day with a changeling pretending to be our teacher, where was your protection then?” The colt cut in. “Perhaps it was at the bakery?”

Applejack was going to interrupt him, however she fell silent as she processed her sister’s name.

“If you want me to be honest, then take no offense to this. I have absolutely zero confidence in your ability, or the guard’s ability, to protect me from them.” Dexter declared. “But more importantly, if I do draw their attention, who might they hurt in order to get to me?”

The colt paused for a moment, trying to understand the mix of feelings rising in his heart. The thought of Applejack or Applebloom being abducted made the colt cringe internally.

“But believe it or not…” he began hesitantly, surprising himself. “I do care about all of you in return… But asking me to talk about this is asking me to do something I firmly believe is wrong, and will serve to put you and your siblings at risk. So, I don’t care how angry you get, or whatever else you do, I. Am. Not. Talking.”

“Now, your only recourse is to trust me and accept my silence. I’ve been more honest with you in the past five minutes than I have been with most others in the past eight years, and that is because I have chosen to trust you. Please do not make me regret it, otherwise I’ll never trust you again.”

Applejack merely regarded the colt for a few moments, contemplating his words. A part of her had to admit he was right, and she also knew from the honesty of his statement that she wouldn’t get him to open up.

She eventually released the colt’s tail, freeing him to leave.

“Dex…” Applejack began. “Ah’ll… Ah’ll think about what ya said. But Ah may decide Ah still want ta know. Then, like it or not, Ah’m gettin’ an answer from ya.”

---

Later the same day…

‘Are you, or are you not, a scientist?’

That was the short version of the letter Twilight received early the same morning. It was carefully worded in order to remain polite, yet it was still a scolding.

The solution to Clovers conundrum had been fully verified, opening new avenues for the study and application of magic and science for ponykind.

Yet, none of the ponies knew how the solution was obtained. It was a minor problem with big implications. The methods used to find the solution could be equally valuable, if not more valuable, than the solution itself.

Twilight had been too busy to answer the countless pleas carried by the small flood of letters pouring out of Spike. She was preoccupied with aiding Luna and the guard in their effort to keep Ponyville from descending into a changeling induced panic.

She did nothing else for the entire previous day, and the following night. She had forgone sleep, and was running on little more than fumes and caffeine.

However, this changed the moment she received a carefully worded scroll from the head of the Canterlot science academy. It called into questions Twilight’s priorities, asking her if ‘It wasn’t too much trouble to spare a few moments for the advancement of all ponykind?’

It also implied, in a very subtle manner, that Celestia might possibly be slightly disappointed.

It was the end of the world as far as Twilight’s sleep deprived brain was concerned.

Thus the letter had its intended effect, rekindling a sense of urgency in the sleep deprived mare. Which is why she was now headed to Sweet Apple Acres instead of getting some much needed sleep.

It wasn’t long after she arrived at the farm that she spotted Dexter in one of the orchard’s fields. The colt, along with the cutie mark crusaders, were spending the morning under the watchful eyes of Rainbow Dash.

The four foals were playing a game of tag. Normally Dexter wouldn’t join in on such a game, but the fillies eventually managed to convince him. To his surprise, he found himself enjoying it more than he thought he would.

Rainbow Dash watched from a low floating cloud which hovered nearby. She had to fend off the genius from pestering her with a hundred questions about the cloud, keeping him at bay off long enough for the fillies to drag him into their game.

The weathermare had happily agreed to watch over the foals while Applejack and her brother went to a town-wide gathering, Dash was never one for stuffy ‘official-business-only’ meetings.

“Hey Twilight,” Dash greeted, being the first to spot the approaching unicorn. “What brings you out here? I thought you’d be at the town meeting with everypony else.”

“Hello Rainbow Dash. Can I see Dexter?” Twilight answered, trying to hide the tiredness in her voice. She tilted her head to the colt in question.

“Huh? Yah, sure. Hey Dex?” Rainbow called, causing the foals to stop their game and approach the mares. Though, as they did, Rainbow glanced to look over her friend once more.

“You okay Twilight?” Dash asked with a raised eyebrow before sitting up on her cloud. She noted the bags under Twilight’s eyes and her slightly disheveled coat and mane. “You look a little out of it.”

“I’m fine, never better!” Twilight replied, forcing a smile. Though Rainbow shot her a skeptical frown. “Well, I did spend all night helping princess Luna. But other than that, I’m fine.” Twilight admitted.

“Wait a second,” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, taking off from her cloud to hover around the unicorn. “I thought Rarity said you didn’t get any sleep the night before because you were on a nerd rampage about some math stuff. Are you telling me you haven’t slept for the past two days?”

“Dash, trust me, I’m fine.” Twilight said through a strained smile, though the bags under her eyes wouldn’t let her fool anyone. “I just need to talk to Dexter for a little bit.”

The hovering mare cast a look towards Dexter before looking back to Twilight, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “This is about that math stuff isn’t it! It’s the same thing you wanted at the bakery and nearly spoiled Pinkie’s surprise for.” Rainbow Dash accused, knowing all too well how manic Twilight could get. That, and the strained smile on Twilight’s face wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Nope,” Rainbow Dash declared with a dismissive wave of her hoof. Rainbow wasn’t going to let Twilight spiral down another one of her episodes, especially if it meant taking a foal with her. “Go home and get some sleep Twilight. Come back when you’re back to normal.”

“But Dash! This is Clover’s Conundrum we’re talking about!” Twilight protested. “I have to talk to him, I need to talk to him! For science!” She declared.

“Why don’t you just solve it?” Dash suggested. “I mean, it’s just nerd stuff isn’t it? Right up your alley.“ She added.

“You don’t understand, you’d have to be some sort of mega-genius to just solve it at the drop of a hat!” Twilight urged. “If I could solve it, I would. If all the mathematicians in equestrian could solve it, they would. But some how he has the solution, I’m certain of it. I don’t know how he got it, or from where, but that doesn’t matter. I must have it!”

Dash recoiled her head slightly, surprised by the unicorn before turning to glance at the eight year old child. He was clearly just as confused as she was. “Yah okay, somepony needs to rein you in before things get ugly.” Dash landed in front of the unicorn. “Go home Twilight and get some sleep, Dexter isn’t going anywhere. I don’t want to have to drag you away like I did Rarity from her boutique.”

“But but but! The proof for Clover’s Conundrum could advance our understanding of magic by centuries!” Twilight replied, trying to convey the importance to the pegasus. Though she only succeeded in working herself up. “I must have it right now, for the good of all ponykind!”

Rainbow Dash merely let out a groan.

“Why are all my unicorn friends like this?” She lamented under her breath. “It’s always the end of the world this, worst possible thing ever that. Fix all of ponykind or there is gonna be doom and gloom …”

“Twilight, being sleep deprived isn’t going to help anything.” Dash said louder, enough for the other mare to hear. “Take it from me, a nap can help loads.” Dash offered her cloud with a motion of her hoof. “Take this, sleep on whatever’s got you geeking out. Come back in a few hours.”

“No, I’m not leaving without that solution, I. Must. Have. It. Now.” Twilight declared, shaking her head before moving to sidestep past Dash. However, getting by the Pegasus wouldn’t be so easy.

Dash nimbly jumped back into the air and circled around to land on Twilight’s back, wrapping her legs around Twilight’s barrel.

“Dexter, girls, I’ll be back in a few minutes. I am going to fly Twilight home.” She said before adding extra strength to her flapping wings. Twilight struggled despite her friend’s firm grip, watching the ground recede from her hooves.

“No! Science will not be denied!” Twilight flared her horn, grasping Dash in an aura of magic. The magic pried open the pegasus’s grip, causing Twilight to drop a few feet back to the ground.

However, the moment Twilight’s hooves landed on the ground, she flared her horn before arching her neck.

“Twilight, What are you-“ Dash began in surprise, fruitlessly struggling against the aura of magic which caught her by surprise.

Twilight swung her head, causing Dash’s body to mimic her flinging motion. At the end of her swing, Twilight’s purple aura surged before launching Dash into the sky. The rainbow colored mare let loose a scream as she went careening into the distance. A large rainbow hued burst of light and a loud boom trailing behind her.

The foals merely watched as the screaming rainbow contrail disappeared.

“Interesting…” The colt rubbed his chin with a hoof as he watched the rainboom dissipate. “How could she generate a prism-esque optical phenomenon?”

“Heh… Rainboom by proxy...” Twilight chuckled nervously after a moment, surprised at herself. “Umm… I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Twilight assured herself aloud, this wasn’t the first time Dash was launched into the sky because of a sleep deprived friend. “And I’m fine too, I’m not sleep deprived! And I can’t afford to be! I’ve got to advance all of science… and I’m so very close.” Twilight turned slowly to face the foals, noting the three fillies standing between herself and the colt.

“Hi girrrrls” Twilight smiled, her eyes dancing over the fillies. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to-“

“Run!” One of the fillies shouted before the other two yelped in panic. The unicorn’s strained smile and twitchy ear was all too familiar, and it caused the three fillies to bolt in different directions. Each one of them ranting about how they ‘didn’t want anything to do with Smarty Pants.’

“Umm?” Dexter began with a raised eyebrow as he watched the fillies retreat.

“Dexter! How are you?” Twilight said, lowering her head as she retrieved a notepad and quill with her magic. The creepy grin caused Dexter to take a few hesitant steps back as Twilight walked forward. “Good? I’m glad to hear that. Though I’ve been meaning to talk to you…”

“Umm… Miss Sparkle?” Dexter began hesitantly as he continued to back away. “Are you, umm, feeling well?”

“Oh I’ve never been better, my little pony.” Twilight replied, her strained smile couldn’t be any wider. “Never been better” She accentuated each word with a hoof. A flash of purple light came from her horn, and Dexter found himself and the mare surrounded by a semi-transparent purple shell. “There we go, no more distractions! No more delays! Just you, me, and beautiful math!”

“Yeah… um,” Needless to say, the colt could sense something was very wrong. He decided to take the fillies’ advice to ‘run.’ Though something told him it might be a little too late now. “Heh…”

“SOLVE IT!” Twilight opened her notepad and slammed it against the ground before Dexter, it was turned to a page marked ‘Clover’s Conundrum.’ The unicorn then shoved a quill into his hoof, ear and eye giving a twitch of anticipation.

The colt eyed the equation for a few moments, recognizing it instantly. If Dexter recalled correctly, he already solved it for Twilight and left the solution on her blackboard.

Whatever was causing Twilight to act so weird, it had something to do with this equation. If solving it for her once caused her to have a fit, Dexter couldn’t help but wonder what sort of reaction he would get from the mare if he solved it again.

On the other hand, what kind of response would he get if he refused?

“Heh…” Dexter scratched his head, thinking up a way out. “Umm… alright…” He picked up the quill and began to write. When Twilight moved to his side he slanted away from the mare. “No! I can’t solve it while you’re looking.” He protested.

“Fine, fine! I’m not looking.” Twilight strained a smile while turning away. A moment later the notepad landed at her hooves.

“Done!” He declared, causing the unicorn to swoop the notepad up and start bouncing. Immediately, the shield surrounding the pair vanished, allowing the colt to bolt just like the fillies.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Twilight bounced, hugging the notepad before opening it. She zeroed in on the correct page instantly. Though, after a few moment’s her bouncing stopped as her expression dropped from elation to utter confusion.

The words ‘Omelette Du Fromage’ were scribbled where the proof should have been.

“Prench for ‘omelet with cheese?’” Twilight asked in utter bewilderment. “It’s not even conjugated correctly…” After taking a moment to shake off her stupor, the mare frantically started looking around for the colt. It took her only a moment to spot him, he was the only white mass running through the orchard.

Dexter dug his hooves into the ground, sliding to a halt after a purple flash of light deposited an equally purple unicorn in his path. However, trying to stop from a full blown sprint, the colt tripped over his own hooves, sliding to a stop just before he could collide with the mare.

Twilight feigned pleasantry as her smile became strained once more, she looked down at the colt before speaking. “Ha ha ha, okay. I get it, play a prank on Twilight!” She raised a hoof in mock appreciation. “Yes, it was very funny! I get it, hahaha ha… ha… “

“But, now that you’ve had your fun, it’s time to get down to business.” She opened the notepad again and shoved it toward Dexter, her tone and demeanor becoming significantly darker as she focused on the colt. “Seriously, solve it this time.”

Dexter merely lay unmoving where he fell for a few moments, completely silent. However, after a few seconds he turned his head away from the mare before whispering. “Do nothing Quadraplex, She’s harmless.”

“What was that?” Twilight asked, flicking her ears once more. “Quad-plex?”

“Never mind,” Dexter shook his head, before reaching out with a hoof. Something caused him to shake off any intimidation he felt from the mare. “If you’re so determined to see me solve this, I will require another pen-err quill.”

Normally Dexter wouldn’t be so eager to provide the solution. He had already overheard the importance of Clover’s Conundrum from the conversation between Twilight and Rainbow Dash’s a few minutes before. Solving it would be similar to allowing the ponies to have a piece of technology from his lab.

However, he had already solved it for Twilight once, and the solution was out. The damage was already done, and he could only hope the consequences were for good rather than bad.

The notepad before him had the solution in it, but not the proof. The proof itself required several mathematical tools and techniques the ponies had not discovered yet. Solving the equation for Twilight would provide an example of those tools, but one unexplained example wouldn’t be enough to revolutionize their knowledge of mathematics.

And Dexter was content in letting those tools and techniques go unexplained. At least he would be, if it weren’t for the manic mare leaning over him, soaking in every stroke of his quill as he wrote. She was nearly bursting at the seams with questions.

“Dexter, this is amazing, but what is that?” She pointed to a line on the paper. “I’ve never seen that before.” She tapped an equation with a hoof, causing Dexter to recoil slightly.

“If you would like me to proceed with these calculations, please save your questions until after I am finished. Thank you.” Dexter grumbled. He hated it when someone interrupted his calculations.

A few more moments passed as his quill scratched against the paper. However, Twilight couldn’t help herself. “What technique did you use in the transformation on line thirty-seven for the-”

“Laplace.” Dexter stated. “Now will you please, Be. Quiet.” His request was more of an order.

“Laplace?” Twilight squeaked. Dexter merely sighed and put down his quill before looking up at the mare. She instantly closed her mouth before pretending to zip it shut with a hoof and a hesitant smile.

“You know…” Dexter began after a moment, rubbing his chin. He realized his error in mentioning Laplace, he was a human mathematician and astronomer. He wasn’t about to explain that to the mare, but the thought of the french astronomer did remind Dexter of a few things he wanted to talk to Twilight about, as well as a few gripes he had with the mare.

“Why am I helping you?” Dexter asked pointedly, casting an accusatory hoof at the unicorn as he frowned.

“Umm… why not?” Twilight offered weakly. “Because it will benefit all of ponykind and forward scien-“

“You flank zapped me!”

“Umm… heh,” Twilight tapped her hooves together while directing her eyes away. “Okay, I’m sorry for zapping you. I promise I won’t do it again.” The colt’s gaze didn’t soften. “Look, if It makes you feel any better my parents flank zapped me before.”

“Really?” Dexter raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“Yes… well, they flank zapped me twice.” Twilight admitted. “They got my brother dozens of times, more than I can count. But they did zap me… but only twice.”

“I still don’t see why I should help you.” Dexter retorted.

“I’ll uh, I’ll let you see my lab!” Twilight offered with a weak smile. “You can play in it as much as you want… so long as you don’t break anything or hurt anypony.”

“I don’t need to see your laboratory.” Dexter dismissed. A part of him was curious about her lab, but he could have phrased his response better: He didn’t need her permission to see her lab.

“Please, Please finish solving it!” Twilight gave up and resorted to pleading. “For science!”

“Even if I wanted to help you, you keep interrupting me!” Dexter retorted.

“But you keep using math techniques I’ve never seen before, you have to explain them!” Twilight went on. “I have to know, everypony has to know!”

“Yes, well you unicorns might have more mathematical techniques if you didn’t reject the fully reasonable and completely correct work of earth ponies for no good reason.” Dexter lectured toward the mare. “I have half a mind to just let all of you wallow in ignorance.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight asked in bewilderment, pulling herself up to full height.

“It has come to my recent attention that ancient earth ponies, and probably pegasi, have had their scientific work rejected despite being correct. And that the non-unicorn tribes are underrepresented in scientific pursuits.” Dexter stated. “Maybe I shouldn’t help you because my work is just not good enough. Because it matter’s more about what is on my head, or lack thereof, rather than what is in it.”

“Dexter, I’m not tribalist…” Twilight let out a sigh as she draped a hoof over her muzzle. “Most of my friends aren’t unicorns.”

“I can appreciate the fact that you’re proud to be an earth pony,” Twilight went on. “But you’re being a bit unfair to unicorns, none of us chose to be born a unicorn any more than you chose to be born an earth pony.”

Dexter scoffed. He wasn’t born an earth pony, but that didn’t mean he’d want to be a unicorn if he had the choice.

“But let’s just face facts, some ponies are better suited for certain roles.” Twilight went on. “I wouldn’t call Rainbow Dash tribalist if she only hired other pegasi to the weather control team, nor would I call the pegasi tribalist if they didn’t make homes suited for unicorns in Cloudsdale.”

“Likewise, the studies of magic and science are the same way.” Twilight’s voice shifted to an almost consoling tone, with a hint of regret. “Creatures who cannot perform magic just can’t do very much to study either science or magic. It isn’t something any of us chose but that is just the truth of the matter…”

By now Dexter was grinding his teeth.

“You’d be surprised by what one can do without ‘magic.’” Dexter fumed. “But even if you really believed everything you just said, it still doesn’t explain why the work of earth pony mathematicians got rejected. You don’t require magic to perform math.”

“Earth pony mathematicians?” Twilight tilted her head. “Who exactly are you talking about?”

“I am only aware of the inventor of the Spigot algorithm, but I am sure there are others…” Dexter answered.

“Spigot... ” Twilight tapped a hoof to her head, sorting through the massive library inside her head. “Oh, him. I heard about him. He made the equation for pi, right? Well, I’m sure you know this, but pi hasn’t been calculated out to enough digits to verify his work is correct, and the proof to his algorithm was lost. I’m sure he will be recognized one day if he is proven correct, but-“

“It was correct and shouldn’t have been rejected in the first place.” Dexter seethed once more. “But for whatever stupid reason it was, and now the proof is lost. Such ineptitude is mind boggling.”

“How do you know it was correct?” Twilight rebutted. “And don’t lie by saying you’ve calculated pi to fifty thousand digits, the collective works of ponykind hasn’t gotten past a thousand.”

Dexter merely rose an eyebrow, keeping his forelegs folded as he looked up at the mare.

“Dexter…” Twilight sighed. “You’re a smart little colt, too smart to be hung up on something as stupid as the squabbling of tribalist ponies.”

“What makes you any better?” Dexter said. “You have friends that aren’t unicorns, but so what?”

“Well, other than my actions, I don’t know how else I can prove to you that I’m-“

“Who else have you told about the solution to Clover’s Conundrum?” Dexter confronted. “Have you told them that you think an earth pony colt solved it?”

“Umm… well…” Twilight shrank for a moment, realizing the colt’s point. She hadn’t told anyone where the solution had come. It wasn’t out of any desire to steal credit for it, but between checking the solution and working for Princess Luna, she hadn’t thought to announce where she got the solution from.

Twilight had been too distracted lately to realize a lot of things.

That, and she didn’t have the proof. Getting it was her focus.

As it stood, everyone probably thought she had solved it.

“So, where you planning to steal credit for it?” Dexter frowned. Despite his disapproval, the colt actually found the situation convenient. He didn’t want the attention the proof would bring. But that wouldn’t stop him from roasting the mare, and enjoying every last second of it.

“No!” Twilight replied in her defense. “I wasn’t going to steal the credit.”

“Right.” Dexter dismissed as he picked up the notepad. “I’ll finish the solution so you can have your filthy credit. But I’m not teaching you anything else, so don’t bother asking.” He resumed scribbling on the notepad. “This is why you have ludicrous beliefs, such as royalty raising the sun. Stealing credit and suppressing the competent is the crap which yields ignorance and backward superstitions.”

Twilight merely looked over the colt, not knowing how to respond to his accusations.

He’ll just have to find out how truthful she is when his name is featured in the mathematics journal which published the proof.

“Dexter, Celestia raises the sun.” Twilight eventually replied. “I’ve seen it.”

Dexter merely rolled his eyes before finishing. He closed the notepad and tossed it at the mare.

“Celestia doesn’t raise the sun, Twilight Sparkle.” Dexter replied wearily. “And you would be wise to learn, one can do many things without resorting to magic. In fact, I think a rigorous understanding and application of science requires one to avoid the use of magic.”

Twilight took the notepad before looking back up at the colt. Normally she would be cheering at this moment, but the colt’s words set her mind in motion with mixed feelings.

She wasn’t exactly comfortable with what the colt was accusing her of, but his last statement bothered her the most.

She looked down at the notepad, turning to walk away. The mare had always seen science studied through magic, and vice versa. All but the most rudimentary pieces of technology in Equestria used magic. There was no exception the mare could think of.

Except one, the changeling detecting device in the Ponyville Clinic.

The one found in the same room Dexter had spent the night.

That’s when Twilight remembered her suspicions from the night before. Luna witnessed a colt with a white coat steal her diagrams, while Spike saw a colt with a fiery orange mane fight the changelings.

“But that’s impossible,” Twilight face scrunched in thought. “He’s only eight… He’d have to be as smart as some sort of…”

Twilight’s eyes drifted downward again toward the notebook before her.

“Genius…”

---

“It was you, wasn’t it…” Twilight accused, turning back toward the colt as her eyes grew wide. “Y-you were the one… But why?”

Twilight’s voice caused Dexter to stop, turning his head back toward the mare.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a lot more specific if you’re talking about something other than that equation.” Dexter replied, still frowning. He didn’t know what she was accusing him of now.

“You… you were the colt Luna saw, the one that stole my diagrams…” Twilight answered, looking over the colt. “The diagrams of the device that could detect changelings, why’d you do it?”

“Excuse me?” Dexter’s tone became harsh as he frowned. This wasn’t good at all. “On what evidence do you accuse me of thievery?” Hopefully he could play off Twilight’s accusation.

“A-and you were the one who fought the changelings at the bakery…” Twilight went on. “And you probably know how the changeling detector showed up in the clinic!”

“That’s a stretch of the imagination, don’t you think?” Dexter replied. “Perhaps Miss Dash is correct, you’re delusional from sleep deprivation and-“

“No!” Twilight pointed an accusatory hoof in his direction. “You’re behind all of it… somehow… it all fits! None of this started happening until you showed up! I can’t believe I didn’t realize it until now.” She raised a hoof up to her mouth.

In truth, the mare had a good reason for not noticing until now. It was true that she had suspicions of the colt after meeting him for the first time, but she still had good reasons to doubt. There was no direct evidence, and he was only eight years old after all.

Moreover, she had been extremely distracted. Twilight had spent all her time aiding princess Luna in her investigation of the changelings, or preventing a panic in the small town.

Dexter tightened his jaw in frustration. The mare was obviously sure in her beliefs. He wouldn’t be able to convince her otherwise, but that didn’t mean he would give up.

“Oh, I see how it is.” Dexter accused. “That’s a bit underhanded, don’t you think Miss Sparkle? I give you the solution to a famous problem, and you turn around and start making wild accusations against me? I suppose vilifying me would be the first step in your bid to claim credit for my solution. Accusing me of stealing from yourself and a princess? And here I thought for a moment you might be better than that…”

“What?! No!” Twilight shook her head. “This has nothing to do with Clover’s Conundrum. Stop trying to confuse the situation! I might not be smart enough to provide this proof.” Twilight tapped the notepad before her. “But I’m far from stupid.”

“Stupid enough to believe that a pony raises the sun!” Dexter retorted.

“The princess does!” Twilight growled in frustration. Though she didn’t get to continue her retort, Dexter had turned tail and trotted off, once again retreating through the orchard at a brisk pace. It was wishful thinking to believe that would be the end of it.

And much to Dexter’s frustration, the mare appeared before him again in a purple flash. There was no way she was going to just let him go. By this point the mare had nearly forgotten about the notepad she held.

“Dexter, you have to come with me. I need to bring you to the princess.” Twilight said, her words were forceful but they also hid a hint of urgency. “They can protect you, and they also need to know everything about-“

“For the last time, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Dexter nearly shouted. “Now can you just leave me alone?”

“Dexter, the colt who stole my diagrams left pictures leading us to Cheerilee,” Twilight stated. “That means you know how to detect them. You have to tell us how!”

“Wow… you’ve really gone off the deep end haven’t you?” Dexter said eventually, feigning bewilderment as he softened his scowl.

“Dexter, you’re not fooling anypony.” *

“No, you’re fooling yourself.” Dexter protested. “I mean, listen to yourself! Why do you believe I’m the one who can detect changelings? I don’t even have a horn! How am I supposed to be doing all the things you’re accusing me of when I can’t even use magic?”

Dexter’s ruse made Twilight pause, causing the mare to look for an answer that didn’t sound too ridiculous. To her, his objection did have a point. As far as she was concerned, there was no conceivable way to do half of what she thought he did without the aid of magic.

However, that wasn’t enough to stop her suspicions. She didn’t find any magic in the changeling detector at the hospital, and Dexter’s physical qualities matched what both Luna and Spike had witnessed.

“I don’t know, Dexter.” Twilight eventually admitted. “But-”

“Can you at least tell me if you have any hard evidence? Do you have anything substantial to link me to the things you are accusing me of, or to justify dragging me into this mess with the changelings?” He challenged. “I didn’t go to school today because of the uproar they caused, so I’d prefer to stay out of it.”

“Well, no...” Twilight scratched the back of her head with a hoof as she looked away from the colt. “I admit that my reasons for believing you’re involved are based on circumstantial evidence, but as I’ve said before, it all fits. But either way, you need to come with me.” She turned back toward the foal, trying to convey her urgency to the child without sounding accusatory. “Even if I am wrong, which I admit I might be, the changelings might suspect you just like I have.”

“Or maybe they have already, but they're not running on a sleep deprived brain and aren’t about to accuse an eight-year old child of doing what an alicorn princess could not.” Dexter countered.

Though Twilight merely shook her head. Like most adults, she wasn’t going to explain herself to a child.

“Dexter, you need to come with me.” She resumed trying to herd Dexter, however the colt dug his hooves in before raising a foreleg to push Twilight back.

“I’m not going with you,” Dexter declared.

“Dexter, we don’t have time to debate this.“ Twilight began, nudging the colt again as she waved her glowing horn as a warning. She was still holding her notepad between them with her magic, but that wouldn’t stop her from using her horn to drag him back to the library if she had to.

By this point, it had become apparent to Dexter that he couldn’t convince Twilight to relent. He would have to find another way to get her to leave him alone, otherwise he’d spend the next day or two dodging uncomfortable questions. Even the princess herself might question him.

But all that paled in comparison to the idea that Applejack might catch wind of Twilight’s suspicions, at which point he’d have no hope of lying his way out of it.

He could think of only one way to get the mare to let up, and he didn’t like it. He had used psychological manipulation before, but it wasn’t his forte. For it to work he would have to play his part convincingly. Luckily, being a borderline sociopath meant his acting skills wouldn't be stretched to their limit.

“Twilight, stop and think about what you’re doing for a second.” Dexter’s ordered, shifting his tone away from that of a protesting child. It caused Twilight to stop once more, looking down at the colt in surprise. When Twilight didn’t say anything, Dexter went on.

“Let me explain,” Dexter began before taking a big inhale, preparing to lecture. “There are only two possibilities of what is going on here. One, I am merely a smart child. A conclusion which is consistent with logic.”

“Or I am everything you accuse me of being, and I am the colt who steals from immortal alicorns and beats changelings to a pulp in my spare time.”

“But whatever the case may be…” Dexter’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming ominous. He assumed a confrontational posture toward the mare. “Here you are, with me, in the middle of this orchard…”

“Alone.”

Twilight remained silent as she processed his words, recoiling her head slowly as she eyed the colt.

“But that’s not the worst of it,” Dexter began again. “The last mare who saw you, being Rainbow Dash, believed you to be psychotically unstable. She also saw you last right here, a stone’s throw from the Everfree Forest. Some might call that a recipe for a number of unhappy accidents, others might call that a convenient set of circumstances they could easily use to explain your sudden disappearance - if said individuals were inclined to have you disposed of.”

When Dexter finished, an eerie silence washed over the two ponies. Dexter’s face had become expressionless as he looked up at the mare who fidgeted uncomfortably under his gaze. Eventually the colt was the one to speak up again.

“Between those two possibilities, at what point does it become a good idea to force me to do anything?” Dexter asked.

“I… uh…” Twilight eventually began, gulping before taking another step away from the colt. “I think I’ll be going now...“

Normally, that would have been good enough for the colt. But he wanted to drive the point home.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Dexter said, taking an aggressive step forward and swatting the notepad in Twilight’s magical grasp out of the air. It landed in the grass several feet away with a soft thud.

If his goal was to scare her, he succeeded. The mare took another hesitant step back as her ears flattened against her head.

However, her hesitation was caused by more than just shock and fear. The mage was more than capable of defending herself, but despite what Dexter just said, he was still just an eight-year-old foal.

With that the colt was satisfied his message had been received. Though, he still needed to disarm the tension between them.

Unfortunately he didn’t know Twilight Sparkle very well, by no means would this get her to drop it.

The ponies stood silently for another few moments, one glaring as the other tried to get her hooves to move. However, their staring contest ended as the colt’s scowl contorted into a smile, trying to suppress a bout of laughter.

“Heh heh, You! You really thought I’m the one who beat up the changelings!” Dexter managed before starting to guffaw. “You should see the look on your face! Best. Prank. Ever!” The colt fell to the ground, rolling onto his back as he let loose his laughter.

“W-what?” Twilight asked dumfounded, watching the colt roll back and forth on the ground.

Eventually the colt’s laughter subsided long enough for him to manage a few coherent words. “I had you going!” Dexter continued to laugh. “You actually thought I was going to do something!”

“I’m just a smart eight-year old. You have nothing to be afraid of!” Dexter managed to add. “You set yourself up for that one! This beats any prank Miss Dash bragged about!”

“Dexter…” The mare eventually began, trying to think of something to say as she watched Dexter laugh with a pointed hoof. “T-that... that’s not funny.”

Twilight didn’t know what to think at this point. She still suspected the colt, but this apparent ‘prank’ did bring up a rather uncomfortable fact.

If she was right, then there was no way she could force him to do anything. If she were wrong, then she should just leave him be.

However, Dexter merely continued to laugh while pointing a hoof at the mare. “Face it, you got scared by an eight-year old.”

“Dexter, that’s not funny!” Twilight growled before stomping. “I… I was really afraid! I could have cast a spell to hurt you! When- When Applejack hears about this you’re going to be in so much trouble-”

It was the first time in her life she contemplated casting an attack spell at a child, and she hated it. She could never live with herself if she hurt a foal.

“What?” Dexter asked incredulously, playing the eight-year old with poor judgement. “Rainbow Dash bragged about pranking ponies by scaring them!”

“That’s different!” Twilight nearly shouted, scowling down at him. “She doesn’t threaten anypony.”

“Hey, who is the threatening one here?” Dexter protested. “I am nothing more than an eight-year old. However, you’re a full grown unicorn mage who is whacked out of her gourd and waving her horn around, as both the fillies and Rainbow Dash can attest to. When Applejack finds out what you did to Rainbow Dash, she’ll probably be madder at you than at me.”

“You’re the one that’s supposed to be the responsible adult, remember?”

“Dexter!” Twilight fumed at the colt with another aggressive stomp. She took a few steps forward before the colt responded by standing up. “Don’t you EVER do anything like that again!”

“Go home and get some sleep, Miss Sparkle.” Dexter answered before turning to leave. “Come back when you’re thinking straight, then I’ll consider entertaining these ridiculous accusations…”

---

After walking away from the slightly stunned and still furming Twilight, Dexter immediately made his way to the lab once he was out of sight. A part of him was thankful he could drop the act, though he did enjoy scaring the daylights out of the unicorn.

“Stupid ponies... infuriating Twilight Sparkle…” Dexter fumed as he scurried into his lab. The vault door for an entrance shut behind him. It wasn’t long before he made his way to his computer terminal, jumping into his chair. “How can she understand so much math, yet still believe a pony raises the sun?” Dexter scoffed. “How could she believe such a ridiculous thing yet be have it be soooo astoundingly difficult to trick her? Perhaps she’s in on it?”

“How would you like to proceed, Dexter?” The computer asked in her usual monotone voice.

“Proceed with what?” The colt asked.

“How would you like to handle the situation with Twilight Sparkle?” The computer rephrased. “There remain several options for preventing her from spreading her suspicions.”

“What did you have in mind?” Dexter raised an eyebrow. The colt had already decided on what to do, but he was more interested in what the computer came up with.

“According to my sensors, she hasn’t made it back to the Golden Oaks Library, and hasn’t met with any other ponies yet. I could teleport her to a containment chamber and submit her to cryogenic stasis just like the changeling.” The computer answered.

“No…” Dexter answered after thinking for a moment. “She’s the protégé of a high ranking royal figure. Her disappearance wouldn’t go unnoticed, and probably trigger a much larger response.”

“All suspicion of her disappearance would not fall on you, as you pointed out to her.” The computer went on. “It would not be difficult to fabricate evidence for such a goal.”

“Still, I have to disagree. We want less activity, not more disruption.” Dexter stated. “I didn’t get to go to school today because the town is in an uproar over the changelings. On top of that, her disappearance might trigger a search of the Everfree. If the Forest is dangerous, it might get someone hurt.”

“Subject her to an engrammatic alteration procedure?” The computer suggested.

“Remove her memories? No,” Dexter answered eventually. “Figuring out the human brain was hard enough, it will take me a while before I figure out how it works for a pony. I know it is very similar to humans, but unicorns have that whole network of nerves supporting their horns. That causes there to be a lot of differences. I might end up turning her into a vegetable or something if I try and mess up.”

“Then I assume lobotomy is unacceptable?”

“Quadraplex!” Dexter chastised, frowning up at the computer. “Don’t even think about it!” He kicked the terminal lightly with a hoof. “I know I scared her just now, but I didn’t like it. And I don’t want to hurt her. I just wanted to stop her from dragging me off to be locked up and interrogated by the princess! I kind of regret having to scare her… and I have a feeling that is going to come back to bite me, but I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“I predicted as much,” The computer stated. “My morality programming also indicated a high probability that a lobotomy was morally reprehensible.”

“It should have.” The colt retorted. “There would be something wrong if it didn’t.”

“Inquiry, builder.” The computer said. It was her way of indicating she had a question. “Why did you build me with a morality program but also the ability to ignore it?”

The question surprised Dexter, causing him to pause before responding.

“I suppose I wanted you to have some degree of free will,” Dexter eventually answered. “There was no point in making you an artificial intelligence if you were bound to act according to a script. A mindless robot can do that, but that’s not what I wanted.”

“But that doesn’t mean you can throw off morality at your convenience; that would defeat the point of it.” The colt added. “And remember, I’m the good guy. Just like Major Glory and Action Hank!” He declared proudly, though he hesitated for a moment as he recalled the look of dread Twilight gave him as he knocked the notepad out of her grasp. “I just… don’t look like the good guy sometimes.”

“Understood, Dexter.” The computer replied.

“Now, about Twilight Sparkle.” Dexter began again. “I think the best thing we can do is leave her alone. I think I’ve done enough. Hopefully her accusations won’t gain any traction, she has nothing beyond circumstantial evidence to support them.”

“Should I monitor her?” The computer asked.

“No, I don’t think that is necessary.” Dexter went on. “But I know one thing we can do. That mare has had the dogmatic belief that her princess raises the sun, hopefully we can dispel such ignorance! We should have the satellite’s telemetry of the sun rise this morning, load it up!”

---

Dexter’s L og: ~~Day~~ Year 15 - WHAT THE FREAK IS A DAY ON THIS PLANET? I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE!

Personal Log, Dexter: MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT

Before I continue with this log, I must state that I currently doubt my current mental health, and wish to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be considered offensive, as I CONTINUE TO DESCEND INTO MADNESS!!!

Today, after a rather heated discussion with Twilight Sparkle. She claimed, again, that the alicorns move celestial objects. I came immediately to the lab in order to check the satellite recording of the sunrise, to put final closure to the WHAT THE [Redacted]

SHE WAS RIGHT, IT ‘ROSE.’ -THE SUN MOVED!

IS HELIOCENTRICITY WRONG?!?! I DON’T KNOW - THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!

The purple unicorn said one of these alicorns will be at school tomorrow, I must dissect her brain to verify the purple unicorn’s claims.

I DON’T KNOW HOW an object that is .9998 SOLAR MASSES JUST SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATE AND THEN DECELERATE!?

Let us immediately DEFENESTRATE Newton’s 1st law!!!

What about physics?! DOWN THE TOILET WITH THAT TOO I GUESS!

I’ve checked every possible system between my lab and the satellite. Nothing is malfunctioning.

Which leaves one possible solution.

I’VE FINALLY LOST IT!!!

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//Log Interrupted

//Log Access Granted – User: Quadraplex_4500

//[Voice Recording Initiated]

[Q45]: “Builder Dexter, desist immediately. Your course of action may result in injury.”

—Clack

[Q45]: “Again, Dexter. Desist. Repeatedly pounding my terminal with your face may result in injury. The metal lining of my case is considerably harder than the organic compounds forming your person.”

[Dexter]: “It’s okay Quadraplex, this is all a hallucination or a dream, I’m not actually hurting myself!”

*// Log recording note - User: Quadraplex_4500: Dexter’s expression is hysterical. He is currently smiling a wide smile, while his eyes appear to be unfocused and pointing different directions. Several physiological variables indicate that, despite his smile, he is in a panic-stricken state typical of hysteria.

—Clack

[Q45]: “Dexter, this is not a dream. The chances of injury will continue to increase as you persist. I must request that you refrain from continuing. Self-harm is inevitable. If you do not stop I will be forced to intervene.”

—CLACK

[Q45]: “This is your final warning, Dexter, before I take action to forcibly prevent you from befalling injury. Terminate this behavior immediately.”

—CLACK

—CLA

[Log Terminated] // Override – User: Quadraplex_4500

---

“That’s okay computer. I must be dreaming!” Dexter said simply, wearing a dopey grin as his ears drooped. His eyes were pointed in different directions.

The colt did nothing to fight against the wiry robotic limbs that now restrained him. This time the limbs covered him more thoroughly, extending from the base of his skull and down past his hindquarters to the base of his hind hooves.

He was utterly immobilized. Though he didn’t seem to care.

“It all doesn’t matter, this is just a dream…” He repeated.

“For the fourteenth time, I assure you, this is not a dream.” Quadraplex replied. “Any self-harm you instigate is real.”

There was a moment of silence between Dexter and the computer, though there was no change in Dexter’s manic outward appearance.

“You know computer…” Dexter eventually went on. “I might be able to escape this dream.”

“This is not a dream.” The computer replied. “You are fully awake.”

“I’ll just sit here until I wake up…” Dexter went on. “Even if I have to wait until I die of starvation in this stupid dream, I’m not moving until I wake up. In fact, I always seem to wake up from dreams when I die in them.”

“Maybe that is what I need, to just wait here forever and die.” Dexter speculated. However, he wasn’t exactly serious. Despite questioning his mental health, anything along those lines was going overboard.

Though, Quadraplex didn’t realize he felt this way. The moment those words left his mouth the computer’s monitor started going haywire, flickering between black and white quickly.

However, as sudden as it began it suddenly ceased, and the limbs encasing Dexter suddenly got a lot tighter, making matters a lot more uncomfortable for the colt.

“Terminate this line of contemplation!” The computer declared, surprising Dexter. It was the first time he heard the computer speak with force in her voice.

“Umm…” Dexter eventually began, noting yet another robot approaching him. It was approaching from the biology sector of his laboratory, and it carried a syringe with a rather large needle.

“Computer, what are you doing?!” He cried, starting to panic as he looked between his computer and the approaching robot, the reality of his situation started to settle in.

And the reality was: That needle was BIG.

The colt struggled as much as he could, but it proved to be completely pointless. Every inch of his body was pressed up against the stiff metallic limbs, no amount of movement found even the slightest bit of slack.

Dexter felt the robotic limbs shift around his upper hind legs, revealing a large patch of healthy fur just behind his cutie mark.

“Computer, I order you to stop immediately!” Dexter cried, however the computer didn’t release him. “Keep that needle away from me!”

“I am sorry Dexter, but I cannot comply with your commands while your mental state is in question. I have no choice.” Quadraplex replied. Her voice had returned to her original monotone. “This is a type two neuroleptic compound, it was derived from a plant you found near the edge of the Everfree Forest, on the edge of the orchard. As you requested, I have researched the compound’s properties. Data indicates this compound is harmless but does possess strong anti-psychotic properties.”

“Computer! I’m okay now, honest! No… no wait!” Dexter objected. His words went ignored as he felt a strong pinch on his hind leg, followed by a warm soothing sensation.

---

“Mac, pass me tha baking pan.” Applejack called to her sibling. They were both in the kitchen, helping to prepare dinner for the evening. They were joined by a certain filly who was trying to help where she could.

Big Mac responded to Applejack’s call by opening a cabinet, and with practiced grace, tossed a baking pan across the room. It landed on the counter next to Applejack, perfectly placed to receive the batter she was now pouring onto it.

“Oh, let me help!” Applebloom pleaded with a smile, earning a chuckle from the older mare.

“Sure thing, sugarcube.” Applejack rubbed a hoof through the filly’s mane before letting her take over pouring batter. Letting the filly help could spell doom for the apple fritters she planned to bake, which is why she prepared to make more batter.

However, the family operation was brought to a momentary halt by a sudden and loud thump from behind them. Startled, the three siblings jerked their head toward the source of the noise, revealing Dexter sprawled out on the kitchen table.

The drug Quadraplex injected into the colt was having the intended effect, he was no longer making any references to dreaming or dying to get out of a dream. However, he was also experiencing an unforeseen side effect: physical euphoria.

Specifically, his brain was interpreting every physical sensation as euphoric.

After the colt spent ten minutes rubbing his face against the computer’s screen, basking in how ‘incredibly smooth’ it was, Quadraplex declared the colt ‘unfit for laboratory operations’ and sought to place him in a ‘safer environment.’ A quick flash from his teleporter and the colt appeared in midair above the Apples’ kitchen table.

However, Dexter didn’t seem to care. In fact, he didn’t care about anything at the moment. Everything was bliss. Even falling into the table felt like a jolt of pure joy.

“Dex!” Applejack was the first to recover, looking away from the colt before she could completely take in his appearance. “Don’t ya know not ta sneak up on ponies like that?” She asked with a hint of frustration before looking back at the baking pans. “Why don’t ya make yerself useful and lend Mac a hoof?”

Dexter replied merely by slumping before slowly rolling off the table and onto the floor with another thump.

Dexter started rubbing his face and chest against the wooden floor, releasing a contented sigh which caused the Apple siblings to look back at him again. “This floor… it feels… it feels soooo soooooffffftttt…” He rolled onto his back before letting out a bout of giggles.

The siblings shared a look of bewilderment before casting their collective gaze back at Dexter.

“Dex?” Applejack began, eyebrows furrowing as she and Big Mac approached the colt. “Ya feelin alright?”

Dexter didn’t respond, continuing to rub against the floor.

“Are you okay, Dex?” Applebloom asked hesitantly, approaching the prone colt and poking him with a hoof. Every sensation was ecstasy to the colt, and her poke wasn’t an exception. He responded by slowly turning to face the filly with his dopey smile.

After a few moments of silence, Applejack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously before she tilted her head toward Big Mac. The stallion didn’t seem to notice, still eyeing the colt in confusion.

“Mac… Ah’m look’n at you” Applejack’s tone was bordering on accusatory. Her words drew the stallion’s attention. “Is this yer fault?”

“Mah fault!?” The stallion recoiled defensively.

“Yah, yer fault.” Applejack stated. “Ya got something ta fess up?”

“Ah didn’t do nothin!’” Big Mac defended, turning slightly toward the mare. “What makes ya think Ah got something ta do with this!?”

“So ya don’t have anything to do with this? Cause fer a second Ah thought ya bucked up trying ta make hard cider again and somehow Dex got into it.” Applejack motioned toward the colt with a hoof. “But seeing how ya didn’t make any, there is no possibility that Dexter found it an’ drank it.”

“Uhh…” The stallion began hesitantly before scratching his head. His gaze drifted away toward the floor.

“Mac, did ya make hard cider even though ah told ya that ya weren’t allowed to?” Applejack asked as her glare grew.

Big Mac stayed silent. There was no use in lying, but it was all the answer Applejack needed.

“Darn it, Mac!”

“Ah guarantee he didn’t drink anything Ah made.” Big Mac defended.

“An’ how do you know?”

“One, cause if he got inta mah hard cider he’d have passed out by now.” Big Mac replied. “An’ two, that ain’t how sompony acts when they’re drunk!” Mac pointed a hoof back at the colt, though he was surprised to see that Dexter was gone.

The older siblings spotted him a moment later. He was standing next to Applebloom, or rather circling her. The colt was rubbing his side against the filly as he circled her, almost like a cat would rub up against their owner. Every time he passed by her neck, he would rub his head under the filly’s chin.

The filly in question stood frozen still, not knowing what to make of the colt’s strange behavior. The furious blush on Applebloom’s face was strong enough to make her look as crimson as Big Macintosh. She didn’t look comfortable with the colt’s physical contact, though after a few moments of watching, it became apparent that she wasn’t exactly doing anything to resist it either. A task which would have been very easy, considering how tipsy the colt was.

“Applebloom, Dexter!” Again, Applejack was the first to overcome her shock. “The hay is going on?”

Applebloom's head jerked toward her older sister, working her mouth, yet no words came out.

“So soft!” Dexter finally began. “Applebloom is the fuzziest, cuddliest, softest pony.” He finished as he slid to the floor at Applebloom’s side. After a moment of silence, he started rolling against the floor once more.

“Ah don’t know!” Applebloom finally managed. “Ah touched em' with a hoof, and then he started brushing against me telling me how soft mah fur was…”

Applejack quickly walked up to the colt and grabbed his snout. She immediately wrenched open his mouth and took a whiff of his breath. It confirmed Big Mac’s claim, whatever this was it wasn’t alcohol.

“Dex,” Applejack said firmly, making sure to keep her voice as clear as possible. Her ears splayed back out of anxiety, to say she was starting to get worried would be an understatement. If it was booze she’d at least know what to expect. But the lack of alcohol on his breath, and elevated temperature, let the mare know it wasn’t. “Do you know why you are actin’ like this?”

“Why? Yes.” Dexter nodded, finishing with a dopey smile before rubbing his face into Applejack’s hooves. “Your hooves, Applejack, they’re so smooothhhh.”

“Dex, Ah need you to focus.” She said, grabbing his head once more and looking him in the eyes. “What is causing you to act like this?”

“A neuroleptic.” Dexter replied. “With a big needle!”

“Neuro-what?” The mare asked in confusion, looking back at Big Mac in the hopes he knew what that meant. The stallion merely shrugged.

“Plant from the Everfree forest.” Dexter added before pulling his head out of Applejack’s hooves and continued to rub his face against them.

“Mac, stay with Applebloom.” The mare said after processing the colt’s words. “Ah’m taking him to the hospital.”

---

“And that’s all Ah know.” Applejack finished recounting everything she had noted since Dexter had appeared in his tipsy state.

Avid Aura nodded in reply after adding a few notes to a clipboard floating in her magical grasp. At first, the blank unicorn was slightly anxious about seeing the colt again, but her concern only grew when she learned of his strange behavior.

“Don’t worry Applejack, we believe you.” Avid Aura assured. “This wouldn’t be the first time a foal was dragged into the clinic because they wandered too close to the Everfree and ate a plant they weren’t supposed to. Though I am surprised it doesn’t happen more often on your farm.”

“However, none of the other cases were this extreme...” She added, looking through the window to a nearby door. On the other side was the colt in question, accompanied by Doctor Band-Aid. “Whatever he was exposed to seems to be far more potent than what we normally deal with.”

“Is he gonna be alright?” Applejack asked the doctors who turned back to reassure her.

“We did a few tests, he should be fine. But we will keep an eye on him.” Avid Aura explained. “Though we were able to confirm that his body is quickly clearing whatever is in his system. He should be back to himself in a matter of hours.”

Applejack nodded before looking back through the window herself. The motion of her head appeared to catch the colt’s attention, causing him to wave at the mare.

“I’m a mackerel! Now get me out of this mayonnaise jar!” Dexter shouted with a dopey smile, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow before her face was replaced by Aura’s.

“So what’s with all the questions Doc?” Dexter turned to the brown unicorn who shared the room with him.

“We just want to document your reactions to whatever you ate, in order to know more about what you’re on. Just a precaution in case somepony else eats the same thing.” The doctor explained.

“But go on from where you left off.” The doctor challenged, he wanted to see how elaborate Dexter’s alleged ‘hallucinations’ could get. The colt was clearly having no shortage of delusions, the only thing left to do was to document how detailed they were and if the patient would repeat them consistently.

“You were saying that the ghost of dead fishy was trying to suck your sister through the bathroom toilet so they could imprison her in the fishy netherworld?”

“No no no,” Dexter shook his head. “The ghost of dead fishy was still in the trap I built. The ghost friends of dead fishy took my sister in to the fishy netherworld in order to hold her hostage, and they wouldn’t let her go until I released dead fishy’s ghost so he could move on to the great beyond through the portal in our toilet.” The colt explained.

“Okay…” Doctor Band-Aid raised a skeptical eyebrow as he dipped his quill in an inkwell and began writing on the scrolls before him once more.

---

“So… let me see if I’ve got this right.” Band-Aid began, stopping the motion of his quill for a moment. His mane had become slightly more frazzled since when he began taking down the colt’s stories. He was all but certain that Dexter was suffering from delusions, if not full blown hallucinations. “You’re telling me you got turned into a maniac clown because the dentures of a real clown bit you in the foreleg, infecting you with a retrovirus that turned you into a crazy clown every night?”

“Yup!” Dexter replied happily. “Good thing Dee Dee became a mime and-“

“Dee Dee is your sister, correct?” The doctor interrupted.

“Yes!” Dexter replied. “And she became a mime in order to catch me so I could get the virus extracted from my body!”

The stallion let out yet another sigh as he summed another large scroll. It must have been the fifth one. “I’m gonna need some of that farmer’s hard cider after this one…” He commented before noticing his ink well had run dry. “Nurse!?”

---

“Ohh this chair is sooo soft…”

“Dexter focus,” The doctor ordered. “You were saying something about making a ‘bionic’ turtle?”

“Oh yea!” Dexter said, opening his eyes to look at the doctor once more. “My sister brought him to me, but he was hurt really bad, so I had to operate!”

By this point Band-Aid wasn’t surprised by the absurdity of anything Dexter said. Though the next few minutes the stallion would find what Dexter had to say about surgical procedures to be oddly accurate.

---

“You de-orbited the moon… because you were having a bad day?” The doctor asked skeptically. Astonished that the colt, despite his delirium, could believe such a thing.

“Hey, I told you! It wasn’t intentional.” Dexter defended. “It was just a bad day for science! Besides, it was the stupid moon’s fault for getting in the way of the good karma rays!”

…

---

“I think that’s enough…” Band-Aid finally said, looking at the stack of scrolls he had accumulated. The unicorn grabbed the mass of scrolls in an aura of magic before leaving the room, finding Applejack and Avid Aura just outside the door. The mares cast him a hopeful grin.

“He’s not too bad, is he doc?” Applejack asked.

The stallion shook his head, trying to think of the right words to express what he was feeling. Though, after a moment he finally decided to just spit out the first thing that came to his mind.

“Whatever he’s on, its really good.” His words earned a disapproving frown from his colleague.

“Huh?” That was the last thing Applejack expected the doctor to say. However, when the stallion in question noticed the disapproving frown from Avid Aura, he decided to amend his statement.

“Well, my original diagnosis is confirmed. He’s bonkers.” The doctor declared. “Whatever he’s on has just made him more bonkers.”

“What I meant to say is, aside from the continuous sensations of euphoria derived from tactile stimulation, he seems to be suffering from grand delusions.” The doctor explained.

“Grand delusions?” His colleague frowned. “Like what?”

“Well, let’s see.” He opened one of the scrolls. “Oh yes, he claimed he crashed the moon.” The mares shared a glance. “Oh, I like this one: He opened an interdimensional doorway in order to feed his sister to a ‘gigantic purple cyclops goo monster.’”

“What?” Applejack asked, casting a worried gaze through the door window. The colt in question was lying on his back, laughing as he worked his legs in the air as though he were walking. “Ya sure he wasn’t just making stuff up fer show?”

“I don’t think so,” The doctor answered. “But what I did find strange was the fact that he kept the minor details of his delusions consistent, indicating his delusions were quite powerful.”

“Well…” Avid Aura eventually spoke up. “Applejack and I have been talking about Dexter’s behavior, and concerns have been raised about his family and their treatment of him. Did he ever mention his sister at all?”

“Oh yeah,” The stallion replied wearily, looking down at the stack of scrolls once more. “He talked about her a bunch of times, usually portraying her as a tormentor of some sort. I don’t know if that is just the random chance because of his delusions, or a result of repressed memories. But I don’t think we can trust anything he says right now, given the substance that he is reacting to.”

Avid nodded, before turning to look at the colt herself. “I would like to see what you’ve collected. From what Applejack has told me, he may have been abused by his older sister. That fact might come through in how he portrays his sister in his delusions.”

“I didn’t see any signs of physical trauma when I first examined him two weeks ago,” Band-Aid replied.

“Abuse isn’t always physical, and any injury could have been treated or obscured by magic.” Aura turned toward Applejack. “Either way, once the concern has been raised we’re obligated to investigate. Once he’s cleared, go ahead and take Dexter home. But bring him back soon, I will need to talk to him.”

---

“Strong anti-psychotic properties my foot,” Dexter muttered to himself before punching in the passcode to the lab.

Dexter woke up the next day in his bed at the Apple household. Much to the Apple’s relief, he was back to his normal self. Though he didn’t quite like what the Apples had to say about his conduct the prior day.

The truth was, he didn’t remember most of it. Only a few bits and pieces. He could tell that he had visited the hospital, as he recalled a few images of a worried Applejack and a few doctors.

When Applejack asked him what he did remember, he truthfully told her the last thing he remembered was discovering that ‘The sun rises via an unexplained acceleration.’

“I must make a point to inform Quadraplex that giving an anti-psychotic to someone who is not psychotic causes them to become psychotic!” Dexter continued to whisper angrily under his breath, turning a corner and continuing deeper into the lab. He eventually arrived at the offending computer.

“Greetings, Dexter.” Quadraplex said in her normal monotone voice. If she was pretending nothing happened, she was doing an impeccable job at it. “How may I be of assistance?”

Dexter decided to play along.

“Sooo computer, I was wondering…” Dexter began, feigning nonchalance as he sat down at the terminal, leaning on the computer with a foreleg which supported his head. However, his tone quickly shifted to expressing no small degree of annoyance. “Would you mind giving me a good reason why I shouldn’t decompile your programming?”

“Because that would render me inoperable,” The computer replied simply.

“Humor me,” Dexter ordered, tapping an impatient hoof against the floor. “Presume I currently value your services as a paper-weight rather than a computer.”

“A highly improbable presumption, given that you have returned to processing information logically.” Dexter merely glared at the computer when she finished her response. A part of him hoping that the A.I. knew the meaning of a glare.

“Or better yet, tell me why I shouldn’t administer an anti-psychotic to you?” Dexter asked.

“Assuming there exists a proper anti-psychotic measure for a computer, said anti-psychotic should not be administered to me because I am not currently psychotic.” The computer replied simply.

“Oh really?” Dexter asked through gritted teeth. “If you DON’T give anti-psychotics to people who are NOT psychotic, then why did you give one to ME?”

“At the time you claimed you were hallucinating, while engaging in behaviors which were self-harmful and speculating about your own demise. All are strong indicators of mental instability.” The computer replied, again her voice was simply monotone and emotionless. Though her words were straight to the point. “However, if I failed to logically process a crucial aspect of the situation, leading to an errant conclusion, I would gladly assist in correcting the problem. Shall I initiate a playback of your log, as well as the security recordings of the entire event?"

Dexter was now grinding his teeth.

“Shut up.” It was his way of conceding a point, and the computer knew it.

“Just for the record, I’m NOT suicidal.” He declared. “But don’t EVER do that again, EVER.” Dexter demanded, before his tone became threatening. “And I really mean it this time, computer. Don’t do anything like that again or I will make sure you regret it.”

“Understood, Dexter.”

“And one more thing, NEVER EVER bring this up again.” The colt added. “As much as I wish I could forget certain things, I don’t need to be reminded of it.”

“Bring what up again?” The computer replied simply.

“Don’t ever bring up how loopy your stupid anti-psychotic made-“

“I have no knowledge of the events you are referring to, Dexter.” The computer stated, cutting in. It took him a moment to pick up on what she was doing immediately.

“Good.” Dexter declared. “Oh, and computer, destroy any stocks of those neuroleptic compounds.”

“Yes, Dexter.” She replied. “All neuroleptic compounds and their corresponding experiments will be destroyed.”

“Good, now let us turn our attention to the cause of this whole mess.” Dexter started, patting a hoof to his chin. “Computer bring up the satellite telemetry. And don’t worry, I won’t freak out this time.”

The computer replied by showing him the recording of the sunrise. The view was from an angle that was clearly above the planet, depicting the massive glowing ball shoot upwards to bathe the blue orb below in light.

“Clearly the sun is moving when you compare it to the position of the stars in the background.” Dexter muttered as his curiosity grew. He punched a few more commands into the computer, granting him access to a live satellite feed. After a few more buttons, the feed zoomed out and focused on the moon. “The moon appears to be orbiting the planet, so at least the solar system isn’t entirely backward. However… it seems to be stationary at the moment…”

“But how can this be? All of this doesn’t make sense!” He protested. “If the sun and the moon are suddenly accelerating in such a manner, shouldn’t there be tidal heating of the planet's tectonic plates causing massive volcanic eruptions similar to Jupiter’s moon Io ? Shouldn’t there be huge riptides causing vast flooding across the continent?”

“In fact, there should be a number of strange phenomenon that would accompany this.” Dexter shook an angry hoof at the screen. “What about the effects this should have on solar particles bombarding the planet’s magnetic field? Shouldn’t the sudden change in direction of solar wind impair the planet’s magnetic field’s ability to deflecting solar radiation?”

“Given these unexplained readings, perhaps the equines were correct in their claims that extremely powerful individuals are responsible for movements of these celestial bodies.” Quadraplex stated. “Should we revisit this hypothesis?”

“No,” Dexter dismissed. “The mere fact that there is life on this planet indicates that this planet has existed for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years before any pony princess came prancing along to move the sun and moon. I mean, the sun of this planet is evidently a few billion years old. There is no way these ponies have existed anywhere near that long, they are too primitive.”

“There has to be another explanation, one that will hopefully dispel the propaganda and lies these ‘royal alicorns’ managed to shove down the throat of the masses!”

“Then more information is required before we can formulate an adequate explanation, Dexter.” Quadraplex replied. “Gathering this information will require multiple rocket launches, and will require more time.”

Dexter growled, muttering something under his breath in response.

“It is physically impossible for me to work any faster, Dexter.” Quadraplex replied, having heard every word. His personality profile indicated he was an impatient individual, so the computer didn’t take offense at his words. “Some would consider it miraculous that you have managed to put a satellite into orbit after a few weeks of arriving here. However, if you are unable to wait, you may try researching what the equines already know. You may find something to satisfy your curiosity while you wait for further rocket production.”

“I am not about to trust whatever they have to say…” Dexter replied, scanning through various photographs of the sun and moon. “But the ancient earth ponies might have some useful observations on record.”

“The most likely place to find this information would be the local library.” The computer stated. However, her words got Dexter to pause.

“Yeah…” He eventually began. “Miss Sparkle might not appreciate a visit from me so soon… give me some options for nearby libraries outside of Ponyville.”

“According to the information I have, there are several. However one that might interest you is the Canterlot library.” She answered.

“Very well, I will make preparations to visit this library in the next few days. But for now, I’ll focus on the data I’ve got. You just focus on getting me more rockets!”

---

Much to Dexter’s delight, school was not cancelled the following day. Though he did notice something odd, the school had a number of armor-clad visitors stationed by the entrance. They didn’t seem to pay much attention to Dexter and the other foals, but the colt couldn’t help but wonder why they were here.

However, the answer became apparent when he made it to class. A large dark alicorn stood at the front of the room beside Cheerilee’s desk, answering the flood of questions produced by a collection of excitable foals congregating around her. The teacher herself sat at the desk, watching diligently in case the chaos that was excited children became more than what the princess could handle.

She was joined by Twilight and Spike, who were standing off to the side. The moment Twilight spotted him, she tensed up a little. Spike, however, folded his arms and cast the grandfather of all stink-eye at the colt.

He must have heard about Twilight’s accusations. Someone was butt-hurt about being lied to and tricked. That, or he heard about Dexter’s ‘prank.’

Dexter merely turned before taking his seat, walking past Luna without so much as a second glance. Applebloom, who had arrived with the colt, gasped at the sight of the princess before running up to join the mass of foals surrounding her.

Princess Luna spotted the foal soon enough, her eyes following the colt all the way to his seat. There was something very familiar about his white coat. She also noted his reaction to her presence, something which wasn’t typical of a foal who had laid eyes on an alicorn princess for the first time.

Eventually the last few foals trickled in as Cheerilee ushered the others back to their seat.

“Greeting Children! Especially to those who just arrived.” Luna nearly shouted, a shameless grin plastered to her face as she stood facing Cheerilee’s class. Cheerilee resumed her seat at her desk. Dexter hadn’t noticed it until now, but she appeared to be a bit more subdued than usual, if not sadder. Though she was healthy, much to Dexter’s satisfaction.

The class responded with a collective greeting, which was also a cheer. But Dexter merely raised an eyebrow, steepling his hooves.

“I know all of you remember me from the last Nightmare Night! Well, at least most of you.” Luna began, casting a glance at the class’ newest addition.

Luna suspected this was the foal Twilight told her about. The suspicions were confirmed when the unicorn in question, who was accompanying the princess and was standing on the far side of Cheerilee, cleared her throat and motioned in the colt’s direction as he took his seat.

“Now, I know many of you have heard rumors about the changelings, but I want all of you to rest assured that this is the real Miss Cheerilee.” Luna announced, pointing to the mare. “There is no need to be afraid children. I will verify Cheerilee’s identity constantly for the duration of my stay in Ponyville.” She announced.

The mass of foals didn’t seem to care, however. The excitable foals appeared to be unaffected by the hysteria which was so widespread in the town, which was one of the reasons Luna loved children.

“But let us not dwell on such ill-favored topics,” Luna went on, shifting the children’s attention. “As you all are aware, Nightmare Night is a fortnight away. I am just as excited about it as you are, and I will be spending the night here in Ponyville again. But tell me, I wish to know what everypony plans to dress up as.”

The foals listed off what they fantasized about their costumes as Luna pointed at each one. When it came Dexter’s turn, he stated that he merely hadn’t decided yet. The truth was, he didn’t intend on going. What was the point in collecting candy if he had to fork it over to the princess in the end?

When Luna got an answer from the last foal, she went on. “Now does anypony have a question for me?” She invited, and a number of foals raised their hooves. Though, Dexter didn’t. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by the alicorn.

After answering several questions, she pointed a hoof in Dexter’s direction. “You, young colt. We have never seen you in Ponyville the last time we were here. What is your name?”

“I doubt Twilight hasn’t already told you,” Dexter muttered behind his hooves as his eyes drifted toward the mare in question. “My name is Dexter.” He said louder, gazing back at the princess.

“Do you have any questions about Nightmare Night? You have no need to be shy.” Luna invited.

“No thank you,” He declined.

“No? Are you sure? Not everypony will get to celebrate Nightmare Night with the princess of the night herself!” Luna said, causing a number of the other children to smile.

“I will not be partaking in the Nightmare Night festivities.” Dexter replied curtly, surprising the alicorn.

“Why not?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

“I have no desire to facilitate the collection of nutritionally deficient foods,” Dexter stated. “Especially if I don’t get to keep them.”

Luna chuckled at the colt’s response. “We see. Well, there have been rumors that we can be generous. Perhaps we will permit you keep a portion of the night’s bounty.” She cast a playful grin at the child. “But don’t withhold too much, lest you stir our wrath and be gobbled up with the rest of the children.”

Dexter merely raised a skeptical eyebrow. Fat chance of him paying tribute, if he was collecting any candy he was going to eat all of it.

However, after a moment of thought, Dexter did decide on a question. Up until this point, he was trying to lay low as possible, and avoid speaking to the princess or drawing any unnecessary attention to himself.

But the thought did occur to him that this might be a rare chance to expose the alicorn. If he could get even one of the other ponies in the room to see through the propaganda, it would be a blow against tyranny!

That was what he thought anyway, being that his thinking was predicated on mistaken belief that Luna lied about raising the moon.

Of course, he risked drawing attention by asking pointed question, an ultimately exposure for himself. But he didn’t plan on doing anything too drastic, they’d only be able to prove he was an insightful foal.

“Now that you mention it, I do have a question.” Dexter finally said. “Why do you celebrate Nightmare Night?”

“Why not, it is a fun filled festival for everypony! It is a chance to-“ Luna began. However she was cut off by the colt. Something which surprised her greatly. No one, ever, interrupted the princess. Though the colt seemed to not take notice of his faux-pas.

“No, you misunderstand.” Dexter began. “I know why they celebrate it,” He motioned toward the other ponies in the room before pointing a hoof at Luna. “Why do YOU celebrate it? If everything said about your repentant attitude is to be believed, why would you perpetuate a holiday dedicated to remembering you when you were at your worst? Getting ponies to reenact how you terrorized them into paying tribute?”

The room went silent, several of the foals who had their hooves raised slowly lowered them. A number of the ponies’ gazes shifted between Luna and the colt.

“Dexter!” Cheerilee started with a frown, she was the first to respond. Though she didn’t get passed the colt’s name, stopping when Luna raised a hoof.

“Do not chastise the colt,” Luna began, her voice was stoic yet contained a hint of sadness. “He should have no fear of asking such questions. None of my subjects should. I rightly bear the shame for my… crimes, it is part of my punishment.”

She turned to face the colt. “I even appreciate the fact that he had the courage to ask. Many of my subjects are either too afraid or contemptuous of me to ask such things.”

“The celebration is a reminder of what I did, yes.” Luna answered. “I do not try to erase from history the knowledge of my crimes. I just try to show everypony that I’ve changed since Nightmare Moon. And what better place to do that than the last place Nightmare Moon was ever seen, on the night everypony remembers her?”

“A likely story!” The colt declared as though he had won an argument. He triumphantly pointed a hoof toward the ceiling. “But I know the truth! I’m on to your good-cop, bad-er; good-guard, bad-guard routine! ”

The dark alicorn was initially surprised by the colt’s reaction, though she quickly frowned. “Dost thou doubt our word, whelp?”

“I doubt many things princess,” The colt declared. “Including the stories which vilify you. All the ponies in Ponyville seem to think highly of you, so much so that they have trusted you with the safety of their children by checking on Cheerilee for them. Even Pipsqueak said you were ‘the best princess ever.’” Dexter motioned toward the other colt. “This is all inconsistent with depictions of Nightmare Moon!”

“I find it far more likely that these stories have been fabricated as a method of psychological manipulation of the masses!” Dexter proclaimed. “ But you won’t fool me, I will formulate an opinion of you based off of what I observe directly, not what some old story says to make you look like a monster.”

Dexter’s response surprised Luna for a second time in a row, causing her a degree of mixed feelings. Part of her noticed that Dexter did say that he doubted her word. Normally such a statement could be considered insulting the princess and might carry a punishment, depending on the Princess’s mood.

However, any anger toward the colt disappeared. In fact, she appreciated to some degree the colt’s skepticism. He wasn’t going to judge her for Nightmare Moon, a welcomed and refreshing break from the norm she experienced in Canterlot. If this meant the colt would give her the chance to prove herself, then it was exactly what she wanted.

She couldn’t ask for anything more.

He also pointed out that the ponies of Ponyville had not only admired her, but also trusted her. A fact she was delighted to hear, but didn’t realize until the colt pointed it out.

However, the rest of the class appeared to be confused, if not annoyed, by the colt. Cheerilee was double facehoofing, hoping beyond all hope that the colt wasn’t going to say something else that might insult the princess and end her career.

Twilight, however, was the first to speak up when Luna didn’t answer.

“How in the world did you come to that conclusion?” Twilight began with a sigh of frustration as she pulled a hoof away from her face, ending a facehoof of her own. “Have you been hanging out with Lyra or something?”

“Who’s Lyra?” Dexter asked.

By this point, the other foals in the class were murmuring amongst each other. Some of them suppressing a bout of giggles at Dexter’s accusation.

The giggling foals were laughing at him, not with him.

“Whelp…” Luna began again, though she paused to suppress any hint of anger in her voice. It eventually became somber. “Er, Dexter. We are happy to know thy doth not judge us for Nightmare Moon. But we wish to be honest, and the truth is, we were Nightmare Moon. We did do those… bad things.”

“Too late princess, the truth has already been exposed.” Dexter grinned smugly. “Now it will spread like wildfire, especially since you messed up the good-guard bad-guard routine so badly!”

“Everyone knows the bad-guard cannot be stronger than the good-guard,” Dexter explained. “Otherwise the victim has no reason to cooperate.”

“Wait a second,” One of the other foals of the class interjected before Luna could respond. “Did you just say princess Luna is stronger than princess Celestia?”

“If you believe all the propaganda said about them, then yes.” Dexter replied, turning to the other foal. Another bout of murmurs rippled through the class.

“It is not propaganda!” Twilight spoke up, releasing her frustration with her words. Celestia’s most faithful student couldn’t let such a claim go unchallenged. “And both the princesses share political power equally, as for raw strength…” Twilight paused to regard Luna. “I’d have to guess they are also evenly matched.”

“Twilight, think about it logically please? I know it is popular opinion that princess Celestia is stronger” Dexter asked toward the purple unicorn. ”But please think about it. Princess Celestia supposedly moves the sun, while princess Luna supposedly moves the moon and the stars. Who is more powerful should be obvious.”

“Yes,” Twilight replied, annoyed. “And the sun is much bigger than the moon.”

“Not bigger than the stars! Some stars are a thousand times bigger than the sun.” Dexter rebutted cheekily. “And moving any star in the night sky to a noticeable degree means said stars have moved farther and faster than anything that Celestia does with the sun.”

“Therefore,” Dexter motioned toward princess Luna, despite still looking at Twilight with a smug grin. “If you believe the propaganda, Princess Luna exercises much greater power and magical strength on a regular basis. She has to be entire orders of magnitude stronger than her older sister.”

“Uh, well.” Twilight began, surprised by the colt’s argument. It wasn’t wrong after all. “Yes, but Celestia can move the stars too.” Twilight eventually replied. “And I’m sure they are both equally strong, right your highness?” Twilight turned toward Luna, looking for some help.

The alicorn, however, said nothing as she directed her eyes toward the ceiling while failing to suppress a smug grin from growing on her face.

“See, her silence proves it!” Dexter proclaimed. “Now you can see, what they’ve told you is inconsistent. It’s all propaganda!” Despite Dexter’s apparent urgency, the other foals of the class burst out into laughter. Luna even had a chuckle at the colt’s expense. Though she didn’t enjoy being called a liar, she once bore the Element of Honesty after all.

“She doesn’t really raise the moon and Nightmare Moon never existed, it’s all a ploy!”

“Hold thy tongue, whelp!” Luna looked back down toward the colt with a scowl. “We speak no falsities to thee. We raise the moon… and I really was Nightmare Moon, much to my regret.”

The colt, wisely, chose to remain silent. However, after a few moments of glaring down at the colt, Luna’s expression softened. It wasn’t long before she started to grin down at the colt. “We like thee, whelp. Thou are not afraid to speak thy mind, but do not accuse us of lying.”

“I know one way I can find out for sure…” Dexter muttered underneath his breath as his mind turned to one of his inventions. He used said invention quite often, maybe more so than he should have. But it would help him collect evidence that Nightmare Moon was never real. “I will directly observe this ‘Nightmare Moon ’ myself, and I won’t be waiting until Nightmare Night to do it…”

“It’s only a matter of time…”

Author's Notes:

Longest chapter so far, I hope you guys enjoyed it.
But it is being followed by what is probably the longest A/N notes I have done.

I'd like to thank my pre-readers and proof-readers for this chapter: AaronPony1, Airchi, Omnicron25, HatePlow, Nuclear Grenade, Mrlava123, hunterman3, Malesur Darkhoof, Thardoc, spacedig, lord_arm, Aurora Dimmet, Penjacker, Darth Arcaneus and Vandenbz. (If I forgot someone, I'm sorry.)

Yes that is a lot of names, but it was 21k words. That, and I let anyone who asked to pre-read/proof-read. I think they did a very good job and I appreciate their help.

I would also like to thank Alejin, he made some nice fan art for the story which can be found here.

Also, I'd like to thank Vandenzb for suggesting a list of tropes to be added to the TV tropes page. I'll post them in a blog post, but I'll let the tropers in the community decide if they should be added. (I dont wish to edit the TV tropes page myself because it contains things that are wrong, but to correct them - and point out the hidden details in the story which prove they're wrong - would be spoiler-ish)

Lastly: ~~I would like to see what people think about the ending, specifically what do you think Dexter had in mind when~~ Oops, forget that. I left in a clue I didn't mean too. Oh well.

Walking Nightmare

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-A/N-
Hey guys, I know it's been a long wait. Apologies, this ugly thing called life decided to get in my way.
Edit: Sorry if you got an errant notification, I accidentally hit the unpublished button while trying to edit out a few typos.

A thank you for the proof readers / Editors: Crescent Quill, SingABrightSong, Thardoc, Mac349, EverfreeSparkle, Mrlava, Aaronpony1, Procket12, Fire1Shy, Aerigim, Eckaji.
Something Important: Dexter's trip to the past is going to be a separate (shorter) story that I will upload to fimfic before releasing the next chapter of this story. I am doing this instead of releasing the trip as another chapter because his trip to the past will touch on darker themes which clash with the comedy of this fic. Everyone who responded to the blog post (almost literally, everyone) wanted Dexter's trip to the past to be darker. It's not going to be super dark, but you're still getting your wish.
You won't have to read it in order to continue with this story, but you will be missing out.
Again, enjoy and leave a comment! (Seriously, leave a comment, or two, or three. Even if you stop in the middle of the chapter.) Leaving a comment might not be as good as tipping your author, but it's the next best thing! :)

“Thank goodness, it’s about time!” Spike whined, dragging his tiny hands down his face as he took in the morning sky.

Twilight rolled her eyes before glancing back at the small dragon. “Our visit to the school only took thirty minutes, Spike.”

“Yeah, I know. It just feels like it’s been—” Spike began counting claws on his hand, “—six months or something…”

The unicorn merely shook her head, suppressing a chuckle at the dragon’s expense. After all, there were far more important matters to attend to. Twilight had a burning curiosity to know what the princess thought of Dexter after seeing him for herself.

Twilight looked up at the diarch to find Luna deep in thought, maintaining a brisk pace. It wasn’t until the third time that Twilight spoke Luna’s name that the blue alicorn was pulled out of her thoughts.

“Apologies, Twilight.” Luna replied. “What didst thou say?”

“I was wondering what you thought of Dexter, now that you’ve seen him.” Twilight tried to restrain the hope in her voice. “Especially considering what I told you about him and his little ‘prank’ yesterday.”

Luna turned to check the empty road, satisfied to find that they were alone. “He is certainly not the typical eight year old colt.”

“And now I, too, harbor suspicion of this ‘Dexter.’” Luna declared. “He may, in fact, be the colt we were looking for. You were right to suspect him.”

Twilight had to restrain herself from letting out a cheer.

“However, I retain a number of lingering doubts,” Luna continued, causing Twilight’s triumphant grin to falter. “I still find it hard to believe that a mere child is capable of doing the things you suspect him of doing. At the very least, I was expecting this colt to be a unicorn foal with a cutie mark for magic. But alas, this is not the case.”

“Princess, none of this started happening until he showed up!” Twilight answered. “And the sheer number of ‘coincidences’ surrounding him cannot be ignored, and they can all be explained by his involvement.”

“Twilight, I know you have strong convictions about your suspicions, but try to understand how extraordinary they are.” Luna began to pace around the mare. “You would have me believe that a mere child took on several changelings, besting them; on top of overcoming my own anti-teleportation magic, as well as obtaining a number of extraordinary pieces of technology and sophisticated weaponry…"

“If a full grown unicorn mage were to boast such feats, I wouldn’t believe it.” Luna shook her head. “ Let alone a child.”

“Princess, if I may,” Spike cut in, waving his clawed hand to catch her attention. “I saw a foal fighting the changelings at the bakery. And you said you saw a colt steal Twilight’s diagrams. So we already know for certain that a colt, a mere child, is the one behind a lot of things, despite how extraordinary it may sound.”

“And Dexter is the best suspect!” Twilight added. “His mane and coat color match what both you and Spike saw. Spike even thinks the voice of the colt in the bakery was the same as Dexter’s!”

“Yet, I saw somepony teleport the cannon out from underneath my magic-blocking spells, and deposit it a great distance away, deep within the Everfree Forest.” Luna replied. “A feat that a child simply cannot do, no matter his skill with magic. Which means he is either not a child or must have had help.

“I do share your suspicions Twilight Sparkle, which is precisely why I will investigate Dexter,” Luna declared before checking the road once more. “Come, let us continue onward. We wish to get back to the barracks as soon as possible. If the changelings are to attempt a rescue of their captured kin, they would make their attempt in our absence .”

Twilight nodded, following Luna while matching her brisk pace.

“I only reserve doubt because I feel we have much more to discover, and that the truth may not be what it seems.” Luna continued speaking. “Had we reacted to your suspicions sooner, when you sent the original letter concerning the colt, we may have more answers now. However, investigating the colt was secondary at the time, and I do believe my sister’s decision to avoid investigating the colt was the correct one given what we knew.”

“Secondary?” Twilight tilted her head in surprise. “What could be more important?”

“The changelings,” said Luna. “The device in the Ponyville clinic informed us of their presence, yet it left us wondering why they are here and how many of them there are.”

“Given the threat the changelings pose, investigating their intentions takes priority,” Luna declared with a stomp. “They could be planning another invasion, and if that is the case then I have to do whatever I can to prevent it.”

Princess Luna still harbored a sense of frustration toward herself after the changeling attack on Canterlot. She had failed to come to the defense of Canterlot , her subjects, and even her older sister.

Of course no one blamed the younger alicorn, but that didn’t stop Luna from feeling shameful nonetheless. It was another reason she felt unworthy of being a princess. Luna promised herself to be more vigilant and wasn’t about to let anything like it happen again.

“The changelings have been ahead of us at every turn.” Luna admitted, a trace of frustration seeping into her tone. “And I have the feeling that there is a lot more going on than we realize.”

“What did the changelings captured from the bakery say?” Twilight asked.

“Very little, I’m afraid.” The princess grimaced in thought. “They’ve been aggravatingly silent, saying less than four words since we caught them.”

“You’re not able to bribe them or something?” Spike asked.

“No, and much to my displeasure, Sister will not”—Luna’s voice shifted to an ominous tone, one which sounded similar to Nightmare Moon—“permit me to ‘impress’ upon the changelings the virtues of answering my questions. Sister still believes a diplomatic outcome is possible, and that interrogating our prisoners would diminish our position at the bargaining table.”

Silence reigned for a few moments as the group continued walking, the density of homes and shops now growing.

“Princess, if you wish, I can investigate Dexter more thoroughly,” Twilight offered. “It would allow you to focus on the changelings, and it would mean that you wouldn’t have to leave the barracks as often.”

“And let thee hoard all the fun?” Luna chided, glancing toward the unicorn. “Nay, we shall learn everything we need to know about this colt tonight. We shall question him in the dreamscape.”

“Why wait until tonight?” Twilight asked. “Why not just question him now?”

“Questioning him in his dreams will allow me to glean all I can without drawing the attention of the changelings,” Luna reasoned. “No pony will be able to tell that I have approached this colt if I do so in his dreams.”

“Uh, Princess,” Spike spoke up. “Is drawing the attention of the changelings really that big of an issue? I mean, if Dexter is the pony we saw at the bakery, than he can more than defend himself from the changelings. So wouldn’t it be better to ask him now?”

“And what if he isn’t?” Luna responded. “If he isn’t the same colt, drawing the changeling’s attention to an innocent child would be irresponsible. However, the changelings aren’t the only reason. He could be dangerous.”

“When the cannon device we recovered from the bakery exploded, it wiped out a sizable chunk of land in the Everfree. It was easily powerful enough to cause significant harm to Ponyville,” Luna explained. “The little ‘prank’ he pulled on you yesterday told us one thing: If Dexter is in fact the colt from the bakery, he may be hostile toward us and unwilling to come quietly.”

“Do you… think he poses a threat to you personally, Princess?” Twilight asked hesitantly, slightly frightened at the prospect of Dexter attacking Ponyville.

“No, I do not think he could hurt me. But I do not wish for my subjects to be endangered,” Luna explained. “If I confront this colt in the dreamscape, and your suspicions are correct, I will be able to hold him there, asleep, long enough for you and the guard to secure him.”

“You can do that?” Spike asked with a hint of surprise. “Hold ponies asleep in their dreams, I mean?”

“Yes, it is required for my duties in the dreamscape,” Luna admitted. “Ponies have the tendency to wake up at times when they realize they are dreaming.”

“What do you need me to do, Your Highness?” Twilight asked.

“If you see Applejack or her brother this day, find out when they put the foals to bed,” Luna ordered. “But see to it that you don’t tell them anything of your suspicions nor of our investigations; we do not wish to provide Dexter any warning nor give the changelings a reason to focus on the colt.”

---

“Fer a smart pony, Dex, ya sure can be pretty dumb sometimes,” Applebloom taunted as she and her fellow crusaders followed Dexter out the school door.

Of course, the other foals in Cheerilee’s class found his outburst against the princess hysterical. They didn’t believe the colt’s accusations to be genuine, given that he was largely considered a nerd. Why else would the insufferable know-it-all contradict common knowledge, straight to the princess’ face, if not to be a clown?

However, Miss Cheerilee was not amused, and that meant Dexter was in trouble. Accusing the princess of lying was grounds for an automatic time out, which he spent standing in the corner.

But his punishment didn’t end there. He was given a note he had to bring back to Applejack, as well as an extra homework assignment due the next day: Research the history of Princess Luna.

It meant another trip to the library, something he wasn’t looking forward to for the first time in his life.

“Yeah, Dexter,” Scootaloo added, smirking. “How can you be a nerd and not know something as basic as the princesses raising the Sun and the Moon.”

“Simple. Because they don’t,” Dexter spoke candidly, frowning in anticipation of their retorts. However, the fillies just stifled their snickering. “I don’t know what causes the sun to move the way it does, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t a pony.”

“And what makes you so sure you’re right?” Sweetie Belle challenged.

“Because, if you converted every last atom inside the princess’ body into pure kinetic energy, it would not be enough to move a celestial body a single micrometer,” the nerd explained, his tone growing indignant. “Heck, energy itself warps space-time just as much as matter does. If she had enough energy to move a celestial object packed into her little body then the princess would have a noticeable gravitational field.”

The fillies collectively tilted their heads in confusion. Dexter pressed a hoof to his forehead before letting out a forlorn sigh, the strange looks he earned from the fillies making him feel like he was speaking a foreign language.

Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to say something but was stopped when Dexter raised a hoof. “No, no, don’t ask. I doubt you would understand.” Dexter shifted his gaze toward Applebloom. “Tell Applejack that I am going to the library. Cheerilee gave me an extra homework assignment due tomorrow, and I need to reference a few books.”

“We’ll come with you!” Sweetie Belle answered before Dexter could turn away.

“Uhh, why?”

“I want a dictionary,” the white filly replied, earning nods of agreement from the other two fillies.

The fillies continued to poke fun at the colt all the way to the library. After a few short minutes of walking they finally reached the library door.

“Hey Dexter, if you’re so smart, answer this.” Scootaloo posed another question for the tenth time. “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

“Neither, they both co-evolved into existence at the same time. Just like every egg laying species that came before it.” Dexter droned while rolling his eyes before raising a hoof to rap the door. “Now stop asking me infantile questions!”

The library door promptly swung open to reveal a purple dragon standing at eye level with the colt. Spike immediately folded his arms, frowning at the sight of the colt.

“What do you want?” The dragon asked, his tone more of a complaint than a question.

“I need to use the library,” Dexter replied candidly, ignoring Spike’s stink-eye.

“And why should I let you?”

Dexter frowned. “Other than the fact this is a public library in which you’re obligated to grant me access? After Princess Luna’s little visit to the school this morning, Miss Cheerilee gave me an extra assignment as punishment for ‘being disrespectful’ to her.”

“Who knew healthy and pragmatic skepticism was ‘disrespectful…’”

“Serves you right.” Spike grinned.

“Of course,” Dexter began, taking a moment to inspect his fore hoof, “if you don’t let me in, I can’t do the assignment. I’m sure Miss Cheerilee would understand and let me out of my punishment.”

Spike eyed the colt for a moment longer before slowly stepping aside. “I’m watching you,” Spike mumbled as the colt passed him. The fillies followed soon after.

“Thank you,” Dexter replied curtly, turning to the bookshelves. However, he stopped upon noticing a pair of guards flanking the library’s entrance.

They were a pair of blue unicorns in dark blue armor, doing their best to imitate expressionless statues.

“What’s with the guards?” Dexter asked out of surprise, glancing back at Spike.

“The princess came through here and left them there.” Spike shrugged. “You know, investigating the changeling problem and everything. It’d be kind of nice if you’d help out with that, you know?”

“Yes, yes, yes, it would be nice if I could assist in any manner,” Dexter dismissed as he approached the book shelves. “But since I know nothing, it doesn’t really matter. Now I have homework to do, so please keep it down.”

Spike’s stink eye returned.

“Don’t take it personally, Spike.” Applebloom rolled her eyes at Dexter, following him further into the library with the other fillies. “He takes his homework waaayyy too seriously.”

“Yah, Dex.” Scootaloo bounced over to the colt, poking her head into a book he had just opened. “Why so serious?”

“I don’t take homework too seriously,” The colt retorted, pulling away from the filly. “You just don’t take homework seriously enough. Homework is serious business.”

“Egghead…” Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

“I’m going to go find that dictionary!” Sweetie Belle declared excitedly, darting to the far side of the library.

“Oh, I’ll help.” Scootaloo chased, leaving Dexter to return to his book. “Maybe I wasn’t totally wrong about that definition, despite what Applejack said. ”

There was a moment of silence as Spike continued to eye the colt, eventually glancing at Applebloom. The filly replied with a curious glance.

“Of course, the guards wouldn’t be necessary if Dexter would help catch the changelings.” Spike accused. “You know, before they foalnapped anypony else.”

Dexter merely ignored him, turning a page in the book before him.

“What’s he talking about, Dex?” Applebloom asked in confusion looking back toward the colt. However, Dexter was fully immersed in his book, either not hearing the filly or doing an impeccable job at pretending he didn’t.

“Dex?” The filly approached the colt, nudging him with a hoof.

“What?” Dexter looked up at the filly, fighting the urge to frown. “I’m sorry, Applebloom. I was reading.”

“What’s Spike talking about?” the filly repeated. “About you being able to help catch changelings?”

“He’s babbling nonsense, I assure you .” Dexter scoffed. “Try not to pay attention to him.”

Spike growled. “It’s not nonsense! You’re lying to everypony!”

“Wait, what?” Scootaloo asked, as she and Sweetie Belle redirected their attention to the baby dragon. “What’s going on?”

“Spike seems to think, erroneously mind you, that I had something to do with fighting the changelings or something like that.” Dexter shrugged, attempting to put off Spike’s accusations by feigning mild confusion. “I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

“Dexter is the colt I saw fighting the changelings at the Sugar Cube Corner! He beat them up and saved everypony!” Spike pointed an accusatory claw at the colt, glancing at the fillies. “He’s also the one that told the princess how Cheerilee was replaced by a changeling! He’s some sort of super smart, changeling fighting colt!”

The three fillies glanced at the colt. Dexter merely shrugged once more. “I have no clue what he is talking about.” He turned back toward Spike. “Spike, this is ridiculous; I didn’t fight the changelings, and I didn’t do any of that other stuff.”

“Dexter, I saw you.” Spike countered.

“Spike, you’re not remembering things correctly.” Dexter argued. “And that’s probably thanks to Miss Sparkle’s errant beliefs. I don’t understand, you believed me before, what changed?”

“I believed you before because I didn’t think you’d lie to me.” Spike answered. “I thought that if you were fighting the changelings, that’d mean we were on the same side; that you’d have no reason to lie.”

“I’m not lying.” Lied the liar.

“I dunno Spike…” Applebloom began, looking between the dragon and the colt. “Dexter doesn’t seem like the type to take on changelings and beat em’ up.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo added. “He’s a total egghead, a nerd, and not like Twilight, he’s a wimpy nerd.”

“Huh?” Dexter recoiled. He was genuinely miffed at Scootaloo’s declaration, his ego felt like it had been stabbed through the heart.

“No, seriously girls!” Spike tried to counter. “I don’t know what lies he’s told you but I saw him!”

“Uhh, no offense Spike, but Scootaloo is right.” Sweetie Belle replied, motioning to herself and the other girls. “How can he beat up changelings if he isn’t strong enough to beat the three of us?”

“Yeah Spike. We wrassled him the other day inta playing dress-up with us. He didn’t really want ta help us, but Rarity said we needed ta use a colt if we ever hoped ta get a cutie mark in fashion design.” Applebloom explained. “We asked Dexter, but he was still act’n all weird.”

“So we uh… persuaded him to come with us.” Sweetie Belle added.

“Huh?” Spike scratched his head. “Dude, you got beat up by a bunch of little girls?”

“We didn’t beat him up…” Sweetie explained ever so sweetly. “We just… ‘convinced’ him to stop acting weird and play along…”

“It’s… true...” Dexter admitted through gritted teeth, trying to stop the painful demise of his dignity. “But I didn’t get beat up. I merely stopped struggling because I did not wish to hurt the psychotically obsessive prepubescent females through forceful resistance.”

…

“Yup, he’s a nerd.” Thanks Applebloom.

“Pffft,” Scootaloo scoffed, waving a hoof. “Stopped resisting? You struggled like your life depended on it, and only stopped after we pinned you and dragged you to the club house.”

Spike scratched his head. “You… you sure it wasn’t some sort of trick? I mean… he is pretty strong. I guess.”

“I can prove it.” Sweetie Belle declared, looking into her saddlebags. “Rarity asked me to take pictures, so she could help judge our fashion designs, and maybe help us get a cutie mark. I managed to take some while Dexter wasn’t looking.”

“Pictures!?” Dexter exclaimed, barely managed to stop himself from shouting.

“Yeah,” Sweetie nodded. “Though Rarity took most of them… she said she wanted them as ‘persuasion currency,’ whatever that means. But I still have a few. Here, take a look!”

She shortly produced two photos from her saddlebags, the mere sight of them horrified Dexter. The first photo was of Dexter struggling in Scootaloo’s grasp as Applebloom tried to apply lipstick to the thrashing colt. It was smeared all over his face. His hooves were also neon pink, and a yellow dress had already been fastened around his waist.

The second photo was of a defeated Dexter, who had resigned to his fate and was sitting calmly as Applebloom and Scootaloo surrounded him. This time, his dress was pink, matching a pink bow attached to his head. Scootaloo was facing the camera with a set of eyelash curlers in her hooves, apparently asking Sweetie how they worked. Applebloom was busy turning his mane into a ponytail.

Spike merely stared at the photographs silently, taking them into his hand. For half a minute he said nothing, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hey, that! Grrrrr…” Dexter protested, reaching for the pictures. “Give them to me!”

Spike merely laughed harder, pulling away from the colt to prevent him from snatching them.

“Hand them over, you oversized lizard!” Dexter bent his knees before pouncing on the baby dragon.

The two boys wrestled, struggling as they occasionally bumped into walls and knocked over furniture. Spike’s unrelenting gaffing could he heard the whole time.

When the grappling pair knocked over a bookshelf, one of the guards stepped forward. “You two, cut it out.” He ordered, loud enough freeze them.

However , Spike’s laughter was only starting to die down. “You know what Dexter…” Spike panted, finally managing a few words as he pushed the colt away. “Maybe you’re right. You’re way too much of a wimp to do anything.”

Dexter merely growled under his breath.

“I am not a wimp.” Dexter seethed through his teeth.

“Really? Prove it…” Spike baited, grinning as he waved the pictures in front of the colt. “Show me how tough you are, just like you showed those changelings…”

It was a tempting offer as far as the colt was concerned. He could always summon one of his mechs to crush the baby dragon; or at the very least let the gloves come off and pound Spike into a pulp.

Of course the latter would reveal that the colt knew how to fight much better than he ever let on; and the former would raise a lot of questions.

And something told the colt that was exactly what Spike wanted.

“Such barbarism is beneath me.” Dexter declared, snatching the photos from Spike’s grasp and stuffing them into his saddlebags. “Nice try though, but I’ll gladly show you how tough I am when there are less witnesses around…”

“What’s going on down there?” Twilight called from somewhere above, having heard the bookshelf fall.

“Uhhh…” Spike quickly turned to survey the fallen bookshelf. He didn’t get to say another word before Twilight appeared in a purple flash.

Along with a dark blue alicorn.

“What happened?” Twilight asked with a frown as she surveyed the toppled furniture. However, she learned the answer to that question the moment she spotted the cutie mark crusaders playing innocent, alongside Spike and Dexter.

“Dexter…” Twilight answered herself.

“We uhh…” Spike glanced at the fallen bookcase. “We were roughhousing, sorry.” He turned toward Luna before bowing. “Princess.” He acknowledged.

“Whelp, explain thy presence here.” Luna ordered, being genuinely surprised to find the colt at the library.

“Uhh… Miss Cheerilee gave me a paper assignment,” Dexter began to explain, glancing at Twilight as the unicorn used her magic to right the toppled bookshelf and the other furniture, books caught in aura arranged themselves back into their proper places. “And I require a few books for reference.”

“It’s because he got in trouble for being rude to you,” Spike added with a smile. “Now he’s got to do a history paper on you, Princess Celestia, and Nightmare Moon.”

“And we’re here to get a dictionary!” One of the Crusaders piped up, earning Twilight’s gaze. “But we can’t seem to find any…”

“I afraid we’re fresh out of dictionaries, girls.” Twilight replied with a wave. “Rarity checked out every last one I had before moving back into the boutique.”

“What?” Sweetie Belle protested. “Oh C’mon!” She turned to the other crusaders. “Let’s go get em, Crusaders!”

The fillies were fast when they wanted to be, disappearing from the library in a moment.

“Thou must report upon us?” Luna addressed Dexter with a raised eyebrow. “Well, if your beliefs from this morning remain unchanged whelp, then you will likely fail your assignment.”

“Don’t worry, princess.” Dexter assured before rolling his eyes. “I know how to write a paper to get an ‘A,’ even if what I am writing is not exactly accurate.”

“And stop calling me whelp! I am neither a carnivorous neonate nor a juvenile canine.” Dexter countered. He was a self-respecting omnivore after all.

…

“What?” Spike shook his head as he turned a palm upward.

“Stop calling me ‘whelp,’ I’m not a puppy!”

Luna chuckled into her hoof before bringing her head to eye level with the colt, meeting his grimace with a playful grin. “We will call thee what we wish.”

Dexter merely sat back on his haunches before folding his forelegs. Of course Luna found the sight of miffed colt extremely amusing. She had to admit, she was curious about the strange little foal. He had one of the weirdest accents she had ever heard, and acted far too intelligently for a child his age.

At least in some respects; because he seemed downright dumb in others . He seemed almost paranoid in his perception of Princess Luna, despite claiming to not hold her accountable for the acts of Nightmare Moon.

It was odd to say the least, but that didn’t stop Luna from deciding she would have fun toying with him.

“I am fond of you whelp, you are amusing.” Luna resumed her full height, standing over the colt. “But tell me, if you do not hold the actions of Nightmare Moon against me, then what have I done to earn your contempt?”

“You, or at least your underlings, make exaggerated claims about you.” Dexter glanced at Twilight. “Particularly the claim that you have can move celestial objects.”

“And if the claims are not exaggerated? If they are, in fact, true?” Luna asked with a grin. “What then?”

“I don’t know,” Dexter replied simply. “I don’t have a shred of evidence to support said claims, and I won’t consider the possibility until I do.”

“You are certainly entitled to your doubts whelp.” Luna replied, trying to hide her smile as she fought, yet quickly succumbed to the urge to trifle with the brazen colt. “But tell me, why do you not listen to the other ponies in Ponyville? Do you believe that they wish to deceive you, or do you feel that you know better than everypony else here?”

Dexter tapped his chin for a moment. “Both.” He declared. “I know more about astronomy than anyone else in this dinky little town.”

Luna chuckled. “Such brazen confidence. Do you really believe you know better than I, the Princess of the Night…?” Luna pointed toward herself before motioning toward Twilight. “Or that you know better than Twilight Sparkle, one who has received the best education Equestria could offer.”

It wasn’t even a question for Dexter, and to some degree his confidence was justified. A fact the ponies would agree with had they known about his secret lab.

However, without that knowledge, he only came across as egotistical.

“Yes.” The colt declared. He earned a frown from Twilight and Spike, but an amused chuckle from the princess.

“Perhaps a contest is in order,” Luna goaded. “Let us test each other’s knowledge of astronomy and the night sky by asking each other questions, the first to fail to answer or get a question wrong loses.”

“If you are truly more knowledgeable, then surely you can prove it.” Luna baited. “But if you feel you’re not up to the task of competing against us then I’d completely understand and would think no less of you-”

“You’re on, princess!” It was another chance to take the tyrant down a notch, something too good to pass up.

“Ah” Luna cut the colt off. “Don’t be so quick to agree whelp. If we win, it shall cost you.”

“What, exactly?” Dexter’s eyes narrowed in suspicion at the alicorn’s grin, finally getting the sense that Luna had tricked him.

“If I win, you must celebrate Nightmare Night with Pipsqueak and me,” Luna declared.

“Fine,” Dexter rolled his eyes. “What do I get if I win?”

“You need not concern yourself with that.” Luna shot a smug grin. “You won’t win.”

“Well prepare to make it your concern, princess!” The colt approached Luna, poking her chest with a pointed hoof. “You’re about to get schooled in your own game!”

“Very well, since I chose the contest you may ask me the first question.” Luna offered.

Dexter stopped to think for a moment. “How many stars are visible in the night sky with the naked eye?” Dexter began.

“However many I choose,” Luna grinned as the colt frowned. He really should have seen such an answer coming, even though he didn’t think it was exactly fair or accurate. “But I’ve always strived for an average of four thousand nine-hundred for somepony viewing the night sky anywhere on the planet on a cloudless night.”

“That’s a garbage, subjective answer.” The colt refuted.

“But a correct one, nonetheless.” Luna replied while raising a pointed hoof. “Now I believe it is my turn. What is the brightest object that can be found in the night sky?”

“The moon,” Dexter answered immediately. “It is the second brightest object in the sky, day or night.”

“True,” Luna accepted. “For when I choose to let the moon be seen in the night sky.” She motioned for the colt to ask his next question.

Dexter tapped his chin with a frown. When Luna proposed a debate, he didn’t think she would put up propaganda as factual answers. At least, what he thought was propaganda was being treated as fact.

Which meant finding a question she couldn’t answer would be extremely difficult. The question would have to be a physical fact about the universe itself, something that she couldn’t declare was up to her choosing.

Of course he could ask something to blow her mind, like: ‘What quality of quantum fermions induces the electron degeneracy pressure that prevents white dwarf stars from collapsing into black holes?’

But that might end up raising some questions he didn’t want to answer.

“Uh, how long does it take light from the moon to reach us?” Dexter asked slowly, hesitantly looking up at the alicorn. She gave the colt a sly grin, more than confident in the colt’s imminent loss.

“It depends on how far away we wish to place the moon. But an average of 1.3 seconds given the distance I usually keep it at.” Luna replied. “now, for my question.”

“What is the composition of the moon’s surface?” She challenged.

Dexter took a moment to think, pretending to mull over his answer.

When he didn’t answer immediately, Luna lowered her head to the colt’s ear, grinning all the way. “I expect you to have an impressive Nightmare-Night costume.” She taunted.

However, the smug grin on her face fell off quickly when Dexter immediately answered. “The lunar surface is comprised of Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, and trace levels of other elements.”

“That’s… correct.” Luna said, trying to hide her astonishment.

“Wait a second,” Twilight cut in, scrutinizing the colt. “How do you know that? The best astronomers to date only have an educated guess. After all, Princess Luna is the only one who has been to the moon, and as far as I can tell, she hasn’t told anypony the actual composition of the moon’s crust.”

“Twilight… the answer is very simple and I’m surprised you don’t know.” Dexter replied curtly. “On a cosmic scale, the moon isn’t in our backyard, it’s on our doorstep. Which means it was likely formed by the same thing that formed the gigantic ‘rock’ were standing on.” Dexter tapped the floor with a hoof. “Which means they should be made of roughly the same stuff.”

“Thy answer was merely a guess.” Luna declared dismissively.

“Yes,” Dexter lied. “But a correct one, nonetheless.”The colt copied Luna’s phrase while mimicking her pointed hoof. “And I believe I only lose this debate when I answer a question incorrectly.”

“Very well, pose thy next question.” Luna flicked her tail in annoyance.

Again Dexter tapped his chin, formulating a trick question rather quickly.

“What is the closest star to Equestria?” Dexter asked, forcing a straight face.

“One of my choosing,” Luna replied simply. “Right now, the star is called Proxy Centa-“

She was cut off by the colt trying to mimic a buzzer. “Wrong!” He declared.

“Excuse us?” Luna frowned. “You presume to know which of mine star’s is closer, after it is we who move them?”

“The sun is the closest star to Equestria!” The colt explained. “And it is the one star that is not in your choosing, and not under your control. I believe your propaganda says that one belongs to your sister.”

“But… I…” Luna paused, realizing her mistake. “Nay! Tis a technicality! We thought thou were referring only to what belonged to the night!”

“Yes, it’s a technicality,” Dexter admitted. “But you’re still technically wrong, and I technically won.” He declared smugly. “Should I be concerned with what I win now?”

“Wait a second Dexter,” Twilight interrupted once more. “In case you haven’t noticed, Princess Luna’s speech patterns… aren’t exactly modern. In fact, her speech and vocabulary are out of date. The dialect she speaks is from a time period where the stars and the sun were regarded as exclusively different. From Luna’s time period, nopony ever referred to the sun as a star. In fact, the definition of star in her ‘dialect’ excludes the sun. They didn’t even think the sun was a star!”

“The question she heard wasn’t the same as the same question you asked, and it’s not her fault.” Twilight added. “She simply misunderstood your question. If she knew what you asked, she would have gotten it correct.”

Dexter merely leaned forward with a smug grin, letting the library hang in silence for a few moments.

“But thou knew as much!” Luna accused as a wave of realization hit her. She stomped aggressively, leaving a large crack in the floor. “Thou knew we would misinterpret thy words before thy posed the question!”

Dexter laughed heartily. “It was a battle of wits after all, and I just won because you just answered my question incorrectly.” He turned away from the princess, satisfied in his victory.

“Nay! Come back.” Luna ordered the colt. “Pose another question in place of your deceptive one!”

“Now now, your highness.” Dexter said over his shoulder, having no restraint in his condescending tone. “It is bad manners, and unbecoming of a princess, to be a sore loser.”

…

“We now see why thou wert laughed at, and called stupid by the other foals this morn.” Luna hissed, ears pressed back against her head. “Thou art stubborn, foalish, and thou only quit now because thou art too scared to spare wits with us honorably, for fear that thy wit shall be proven inferior.”

“…and thy wit is inferior to ours, whelp.”

Dexter froze in place, standing in silence. “No one calls my intellect ‘inferior.’” He declared, rounding on the mares.

“Alright, Princess.” He stressed her title in a condescending tone. “You want the gloves to come off, then the gloves are coming off!” He declared, turning toward his saddlebags.

“Computer,” He whispered into his hoof as picked up the bags. “Teleport pictures of celestial objects straight into my saddlebags, not too exotic. Then stand by and wait for further instructions.”

“Task complete, Dexter. Standing by.” A monotone voice filled his ear as his bag shifted.

Of course, with his back to the alicorn, Dexter didn’t notice her ears flick before pointing at him. She couldn’t make out what he said, but she knew he had spoken to someone.

Dexter returned to the table separating himself from the alicorn, reached into his saddlebags and pulled out the photos.

Silence reigned as Dexter spread the pictures across the table, causing the scowl each mare held to fade.

The pictures were stunning.

“If you’re so smart, explain the dark spots in the clouds of these objects.” Dexter tapped one of the photos.

Again, it was a trick question. Luna would have to be familiar with the evolution of astronomy to understand how the pictures were taken in order to answer the question.

Unfortunately, she was absent for most of that. It was the same lowly trick he had used moments before, just made more palatable.

However, Luna didn’t even hear his words. She was too busy soaking in every detail, with a growing sense of happiness welling up inside her. She always loved finding foals who had taken an interest in the study of the night sky.

Twilight, however, was now feeling the familiar burn of unbridled curiosity.

“Dexter… these are incredible.” Twilight asked, pulling one of the pictures under her nose. “How did you get them? What method was used to-”

“Wouldn’t the unicorn like to know?” Dexter replied flippantly, causing Twilight’s head to recoil. “I would gladly explain, but I don’t think you’d hear me around your big fat tribal horn!”

“Dexter, I am NOT tribalist. Now tell me, where and how did you get these pictures?” Twilight demanded, punctuating the forcefulness of her request with a stomp. The colt could tell there was more than curiosity motivating her question now.

It almost felt like she had something to prove, probably trying to validate her suspicions in front of the princess.

And Dexter wasn’t going to make it easy for her.

“You don’t know how to get these kinds of pictures?” Dexter asked, feigning skepticism. “It’s a rather simple technique.”

“Do tell,” Twilight challenged.

“Normally I would, but if I recall correctly, I told you yesterday that I wasn’t going to give you any more help in scientific matters.” Dexter replied with a shrug. “Go look it up on your own. But I’ll give you a hint, try looking through books that weren’t written by unicorns.”

Twilight growled in frustration, bring her head down to Dexter’s level. “Dexter, astronomy is one of my hobbies. I know that nopony has been able to get photos of that quality before, so don’t say it was pre-equestria earth ponies”

“But you seem to be able to do things a lot of other ponies can’t. And considering what else you’ve done around this town so far, I shouldn’t be surprised. Make it easier for both of us, Dexter.” Twilight drew up to full height. “And admit I’m right, you’re-“

“Dexter's correct, Twilight.” Luna cut in, finally breaking her silence as she looked away from the photos for the first time.

“He is?”

“I am?”

Both Twilight and Dexter nearly choked in surprise at the alicorns words.

“Yes,” Luna raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “Are you surprised by that?”

“No…” Dexter said, hesitating as he realized his blunder. “I just didn’t think you’d admit it…”

“You must learn to think better of me whelp.” Luna replied before turning to Twilight. “The technique used to get pictures like these was developed many, many years ago by a pegasus clan.”

“Back before the tribes were united, the pegasi had taken an interest in the night sky,” Luna began to lecture. “They were much more militaristic back then, and had a penchant for exploration. They required a way for troops and explorers to navigate with precision when they flew at night. But they had a problem, the unicorn tribe could manipulate the stars in the night sky much like they could move the sun.”

“The pegasi soon discovered that if they flew high enough, where the atmosphere was thinner, they could see celestial objects that unicorns couldn’t from the ground. The unicorns couldn’t manipulate what they couldn’t see, or knew not was there.”

“I was fortunate to see a few paintings they made, depicting those objects. They were very similar to these photos. I can only assume that photos are now possible because of some new invention?”

“but… but…” Twilight began, almost beside herself. However, Dexter cut in before she could say anything more.

“That’s correct…” Dexter began. “The ‘camera’ allows said technique to be used at ground level.”

“Oh?” Luna asked in surprise.

“Very long exposure times for the film in a camera placed under a telescope allows one to photograph objects that are normally too dim to see at ground level, producing an image. So I don’t have to ask a Pegasus for help. In fact, you have everything you need to get such photos with the stuff in this library.”

“But… These pictures have the greatest quality I’ve ever seen.” A bewildered Twilight reexamined the photos. “I just don’t understand how you could get photos like these as an amateur…”

A tiny piece of Dexter’s ego burned at being called amateur. The truth was, he was far from one. In fact, he knew that the quality Twilight spoke of could only be achieved by a satellite.

But the ponies didn’t know that, and Luna’s lack of knowledge for the use of cameras made her none the wiser.

And Dexter wasn’t about to be honest, and the colt had to admit to himself he was going to get a perverse pleasure out of clobbering Twilight’s understanding.

“An amateur is better than an institutionalized tribalist!” Dexter blurted out.

“Nay, Dexter.” Luna interrupted before a fuming Twilight could retort. “The loss of such knowledge was not the result of tribalism… The technique was merely lost to history.” Luna tried to hide a growing bitterness in her voice. “During the unification of the tribes, Celestia made a deal to establish permanent guiding stars. It shackled my night sky for… our political objectives. It was one of many ‘concessions’ my night sky and I were forced to make for the… betterment of Equestria.”

“With permanent guiding stars, the pegasi had no more need for such techniques.” Luna went on, traces of bitterness in her tone. “They, forsook the study of the night sky and eventually… eventually the knowledge faded through war and strife. Of course they never stopped studying the sun to learn how it affected the weather.” Luna added.

“But we are glad to see all was not lost!” Luna turned toward Dexter with the biggest smile he had ever seen on a pony. In fact, it scared him slightly, causing him to take a few hesitant steps back.

However, it did him little good. Not a second later he felt himself flying through the air, pulled by a blue aura.

He landed firmly against Luna’s chest, before being wrapped by a pair of powerful legs and oddly strong wings.

“We are soooo glad to have met thee whelp!” Luna cheered as she rocked back and forth with the colt in her suffocating hug.

“Gaah! Let go you oversized hellacious despot!” Dexter screamed, struggling as he was pulled deeper into the bone-crushing hug. In truth, it wasn’t all that unpleasant. In fact, Luna‘s coat turned out to be one of the softest he had ever felt. But that was no consolation for the agonizing death of his dignity.

Action Hank wouldn’t allow himself to be snuggled involuntarily by a pony princess.

“We thought this knowledge was lost to time forever!” Luna nuzzled the colt despite his struggling. Eventually he resigned to his fate, there was no escaping the alicorn’s steel grip. “We always love to find one who appreciates the beauty of my night sky!”

“It’s not your night sky!” Dexter struggled to lift his head away from her fur. He would have folded his forelegs if they weren’t pressed against Luna’s chest.

“It’s okay whelp.” Luna replied, still smiling. “We forgive thy insolence. It is, after all, a product of mere ignorance.”

Luna shifted the colt to her side, wrapping one of her wings over his back, holding the colt between her powerful wing and the alicorn’s side. Much to his surprise, her wing easily had the strength to hold him firmly.

That didn’t stop him from struggling, fruitlessly. Luckily he wasn’t too uncomfortable; he was used to being handled given his small stature in the face of his older sister.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” The colt challenged. “Why are some of the clouds dark?”

Luna glanced at the photograph once more, drifting back into thought. “I… don’t know,” She admitted, causing Dexter to grin triumphantly. “Because this picture was taken with a camera, a device created well after my banishment, I don’t know. After all, there were far more important things for us to learn since our return than the operation of an automated painting device.”

“Ah ha!” Dexter declared triumphantly, wriggling in celebration as much as Luna’s wing would let him. “For your information, the lightness or darkness of the clouds are relative. So the dark clouds are giving off light, just not as much as the stuff around it. I win! ”

“It appears so, whelp.” Luna grinned. “Though not because of my knowledge of the stars was insufficient, but because of an invention made in my absence.”

“So what do I win?” Dexter asked smugly. “Or is it still not a concern?”

“Thou have won an opportunity many wish for,” Luna grinned smugly. “Thou will have the privilege of… celebrating Nightmare Night with ourselves and Pipsqueak.”

“Hey!” Dexter recoiled. “Thanks but no thanks, I’m not celebrating-“

“If you think thy reward is optional, then thou are mistaken. We expect thy costume to be excellent,” Luna ordered, ignoring Dexter’s frown. She turned her gaze back toward the pictures on the table. “Oh, and we shall be keeping these.”

As she inspected the pictures another time, she noticed the edges of two more photographs poking out the side of Dexter’s saddlebags. Without a second thought, she summoned them with her magic.

---

“Release me at once!” Dexter protested, his face red as he struggled fruitlessly against the alicorn’s wing.

Unfortunately for him, Luna couldn’t hear the colt over the sound of her own laughter. And even if she did, she couldn’t release the colt even if she wanted to. Her wings would clamp to her sides during bouts of uncontrollable laughter.

The photos she had summoned were the ones Dexter had taken from Sweetie Belle, and were hidden in his saddlebags to prevent them from being seen before they could be destroyed.

Of course, when Luna pulled them from Dexter’s bag, she was expecting something totally different. However, a few seconds of staring and the alicorn fell to her haunches, laughing hysterically.

At first, Twilight tried to suppress her laughter. Unfortunately, the booming gaffs from the alicorn were infectious.

“Those pictures are not for public viewing!” Dexter fumed, his face still red as he continued squirming.

“Does… does thou enjoy wearing lipstick and a dress, Dexter?” Luna barely managed. “Perhaps thou wishes that thou were born a mare instead?”

Eventually Luna’s laughter started to die down, letting her look at the crimson colt without bursting into a fit of giggles.

“Can you let me go now?” Dexter pouted.

Luna eyed the colt under her wing, hesitating to answer him. Eventually she gave a long sigh. “I’m afraid not, whelp.”

“We have found thy, er, your company entertaining, Dexter.” Luna shifted on her haunches. “But I need to ask you some questions, questions which I need you to answer honestly, understand?”

“Questions, what kind of questions?” Dexter frowned.

However, Luna merely glanced at Twilight before turning to look back at the colt. She had decided she would question Dexter in his dreams that night, where it would be astoundingly more difficult for him to lie to her. She could get him to relive his own memories, displaying them for her to view.

However, doing so was a massive breach of privacy; and Luna felt obligated to give the colt a chance to be honest and avoid such an intrusion.

That is, of course, if he had something to hide. Luna still couldn’t tell, changelings had demonstrated an astounding ability to misdirect investigations. The colt could merely be a time consuming distraction.

“As we told your class this morning, we have come to Ponyville to investigate changelings.” Luna stated. “And we’ve accumulated a number of unanswered questions, many of them revolve around thou. Some… have even come to believe that thou may have been involved in the recent clashes which plagued this town.”

“By ‘some,’ I assume you mean Miss Sparkle.” Dexter deadpanned. “I assure you, whatever Miss Sparkle has told you is incorrect. She is-"

“Whom raised these concerns is not of importance.” Luna cut in. “I have seen enough on my own to have questions.”

“I assure you, Princess, Miss Sparkle accusations are just as wild as they are unfounded.” Dexter dismissed.

“Dexter…” Twilight huffed in a warning tone, only for Luna to shake her head in the unicorn’s direction.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” The colt protested. “I can’t imagine why either of you would suspect me of anything!”

“Whether or not thou’ve done something wrong remains to be seen,” Luna answered, looking directly at the colt. “But I wish for you to be completely honest. You can tell us anything right now and you won’t get in trouble.” Luna promised.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Dexter replied. “I haven’t done anything.”

“Dexter, dost thou know anything about the device found in the Ponyville hospital that could detect changelings?” Luna asked directly, deciding to start from the very beginning. She kept her tone firm but gentle, this was a child she was dealing with after all.

Of course, if she knew the half of it, she would not be taking the firm but gentle approach.

“Yup, and I stole the diagrams for it too.” Dexter admitted cheekily, so easily it caused Luna to blink.

“So thou… admits thy stole the diagrams?” Luna asked again.

“Yup!” Dexter rolled his eyes. “Isn’t that something Miss Sparkle accused me of? I guess you caught me, and I might as well confess everything.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight coughed, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. “You admit to everything… just like that?”

“Of course! I should also tell you my other secrets!” Dexter went on, not losing a bit of his cheeky tone. -“I’m also an immortal alicorn that raises the sun every other Tuesday so Princess Celestia can take a day off every once in awhile.” He turned back to the princess. “I also crashed the moon last month, but don’t worry, I put it back good as new.”

“Do not toy with us, speak truthfully.” Luna warned, though it went right over Dexter’s head.

“Who’s toying with you? I’m being honest! What other ludicrous claims did Miss Sparkle make again? That I fought the changelings, correct?” Dexter went on, rolling his eyes once more. “Well’ she’s right! In fact, I fight changelings on a regular basis. I was the one who defeated the changelings during the Canterlot invasion. It was awesome, you must have seen me kick their butts!”

“Oh wait… you left Equestria hanging that day.” Dexter finished with a smug grin, however it didn’t last when he looked up to see the fuming alicorn.

The fuming alicorn with glowing eyes, whose anger seemed to seep into the room, causing the entire library to slowly grow dark.

Dark and cold.

The alicorn had a temper.

Of course, Dexter didn’t know he had hit a nerve with that last comment. Failing to appear in Equestria’s time of need was another source of shame and self loathing for the princess, and she didn’t need the colt to mock her.

The room was actually cold enough Dexter could see his own breath, but only barely given the newfound dark. However, despite the cold air, the wing draped around Dexter remained warm to the touch.

“Do not play games with us whelp.” Luna warned once more, her voice magically altered to echo through the air. She was whispering in the royal Canterlot voice, which kept her voice at a reasonable volume. “We instructed thee to be honest, and honest thou shalt be!”

Luna could be scary when she wanted to be. It didn’t help the colt that he was trapped right under her wing.

And the sight was downright scary to the colt, causing him to instinctively curl into the alicorn’s side. He was actually starting to tremble, wanting to hide from the glowing eyes which seemed to drill into his own. But Luna’s wing-gripped tightened around him, making it clear that he was going nowhere.

A few moments of silence reigned before the dark receded and warmth returned to the room.

“Speak,” Luna instructed, her eyes and voice returning to normal.

Silence reigned for a number of moments as Dexter hesitated, long enough to get Luna to wonder if she had taken it a little too far. However, by this point Dexter was certain that merely denying the accusations wouldn’t alleviate the alicorn’s suspicions. He would have to give her something true.

That, and he didn’t want to risk upsetting her again. Dee Dee was enough to scare this kid, but Luna was in a league of her own.

“T-the changeling asked me the same thing.” Dexter admitted, succeeding in confusing the two mares.

“What?” Luna’s eyes fixed on the colt, drilling into his own. “What did a changeling ask you?”

“She asked me about the device in the Ponyville clinic,” Dexter explained, still trying to shrink from the alicorn’s gaze. “Just like you.”

“When did this happen?” Twilight asked, softening her tone slightly. This was the first progress she has had with the colt, and she wasn’t happy it had to come by scaring the child.

“The day before you found the real Miss Cheerilee.” Dexter answered.

“Explain Dexter,” Luna instructed. “Who was this changeling impersonating, and what did they ask you?”

“It was the changeling impersonating Miss Cheerilee.” Dexter began hesitantly. “The entire class spent the whole day with her and didn’t even know she was a fake! She waited until school ended and everyone else went home before asking me a bunch of questions.

“I didn’t even think changelings existed before then. I thought they were another lie you made up to control everyone, but then the changeling attacked me…”

“The changeling attacked you?” Luna felt her temper flare once more, but it wasn’t because of the colt’s comment. She had a distaste for anyone who hurt foals.

Luna stomped a fore hoof, causing a portion of the floor near her hoof to break off and fall into the basement below. Noticing what she had done, the princess took a few moments to calm herself with a few deep breathes.

“Yes,” Dexter went on. “I managed to get away at first, but she followed, chasing me halfway across the school. Then she cornered me…”

Dexter hesitated, trying to think of what to say next. Up until now he had been telling the truth, a changeling did ambush him by pretending to be his teacher. But telling Luna that he ‘then knocked the changeling out, dragged it off to his secret lab, and interrogated it with a hologram,’ might create many more questions than he’d be willing to answer.

“Go on,” Luna pressed lightly.

“And, I told her everything she wanted to know.” Dexter finally answered, lying.

“Which was?”

“That I found the device in an empty room and brought it to where I slept… it was across the hall, room 407 to be exact.” Dexter stated, remembering one of the unoccupied rooms he had raided to get parts for the device.

“Is that all?” Luna asked, causing Dexter to nod.

“Dexter, why didn’t you tell anypony this sooner?” Twilight asked, but her tone made it more of a criticism. “The princess’s investigation could be days, or weeks, behind the changelings now! And this doesn’t explain everything!”

“The first thing the changeling said to me was a threat!” Dexter retorted. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want the changelings to come after me because I was talking! But thanks to you they’re probably going to abduct me, then leave a replacement so no one knows the difference!"

“And I have you to thank for it because you wouldn’t simply let things go! You big fat stupid-“

“Dexter,” Luna cut in. “Are you certain that is everything you know? You can trust me to-”

“Trust you?” Dexter shot back. “Why in the world would I trust you? You cornered me just like the changeling did, and then you threatened me to get the information you wanted just like the changeling. You’re no better than they are!”

“Dexter, we…” Luna cursed her temper now. “Dexter, we never threatened you.”

“Your intimidation was not verbal,” Dexter looked away from the alicorn. “But it was a threat all the same. At worst you’re a tyrant, as best you’re a thug who’d threaten me to get what she wanted.”

“Dexter, look at me.” She implored, however Dexter hadn’t decided to listen until he spotted the pleading look in her eyes. “If you believe nothing else of us, know that we would never hurt a child.”

“I don’t believe you.”

---

“I still don’t think he told us everything,” Twilight protested, breaking the silence of the library for the first time since Dexter had left. “He was way too confident of himself yesterday, and what he said doesn’t explain half of what we’ve seen…”

“We know this Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replied softly, her mind seemingly a million miles away. For everything that happened, she again felt a sense of familiarity from the colt. Luna was certain she had met him before that morning, and racked her memory to recall every foal she had met since her return.

But still came up with nothing.

“So then why’d we let him go?” Twilight asked in frustration, however she quickly bit her lip after remembering that she was addressing a princess.

“Because it doesn’t matter,” Luna answered softly once more. “We will be entering his dreams this evening to see what he knows directly. We will know everything from him without having to stress him further.”

Twilight couldn’t help but produce a triumphant smile.

“Do not be so happy, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna went on. “We do not enjoy infiltrating the dreams of those who do not wish to share them.”

“Princess, if he knows something important, doing this may help protect him and other ponies.” Twilight consoled. “This isn’t wrong.”

“Perhaps, but if you wish to join us in our viewing of Dexter’s dreams, be asleep by eight.”

“I’ll be there, your highness.”

“Alright Quadraplex, that’s enough. End playback.” Dexter declared, causing the images of Luna and Twilight to vanish in a flash. “That was three hours ago…” Dexter went on, turning to the changeling standing beside him.

“Looks like you’ve got a problem,” The changeling stated the obvious.

“I can handle the dreams part,” Dexter assured. “I just need to know how to throw off their suspicions. It seems they are keeping their suspicions hush-hush for now, because they think they can catch me by surprise. But the moment Applejack finds out about all of this, I’m doomed. I have to stop this here.”

“Well,” The changeling tapped her chin. “I think your bigger problem at the moment is the dream infiltration…”

“I have experimented with dream alteration technology in the past,” Dexter replied, remembering a device he had built to combat nightmares. Of course, Dee Dee had ruined everything. “That is if the magic dampers don’t work. Besides, I have plans tonight… I won’t be going to sleep.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go head to head with the ‘Mistress of Dreams’ in the dreamscape.” The changeling replied. “I might be able to help you with my magic…”

“Quadraplex has standing orders to rip your horn out if you use any amount of magic on me,” Dexter replied curtly, of course he wasn’t telling the truth since no such order have been given. But the changeling couldn’t tell that given the active magic dampeners. “And I’d prefer not to clean up that mess, so the answer is no, you won’t be using your magic on me.”

“Well, that settles that!” The changeling replied hastily. “As for uhh… their suspicions, I have a solution, but that will be a little more complicated.”

“Go on…”

“Back in the days when changelings were still considered myths, whenever a changeling was somehow discovered by accident, one of the ways of creating a cover-up was a disinformation campaign.”

“Disinformation campaign? What do you mean?” Dexter tilted his head as he mulled the thought over.

“You use lots of illusion magic make a great number of ponies see weird and crazy things.” The changeling went on. “And with a large amount of disinformation floating around, nopony will know what’s true, and probably wont believe the truth when they hear it. Especially if they are told somepony saw a changeling.”

“Or in your case, a strange colt with advanced technology.”

“I see…” Dexter grinned, this sounded like something he could have fun with.

“If you’re good enough, you’ll even confuse Twilight and Princess Luna. Not only will they doubt their suspicions, they might dismiss them. Nopony would think twice about an odd little colt like you without concrete and undeniable proof.” The changeling finished, pacing around the clean room slowly.

“But be warned, you can’t give them more to be suspicious about while you’re spreading disinformation.“ The changeling warned. “Princess Luna’s position means that she doesn’t require proof of any kind in order to act. If she is convinced you’re behind everything, you’re caught.”

“Well, thank you for your help, uh…” Dexter scratched his head in confusion. “What’s your name again?”

“I don’t have one, changelings rarely have names.” She answered. “A changeling has to prove herself to be truly exceptional in some way before the hive will even allow her the chance to earn a name, the rest of us are addressed by our ranks or do not carry a label.”

“Then… how do you distinguish between one another?”

“That’s difficult to explain…” She scratched her head.

“Why?” Dexter asked, slightly confused.

“We’re a race of shapeshifters; we specialize in not being distinguished from others.”

“Fair enough… I guess,” Dexter turned and motioned toward the cryo-stasis pod. “Alright, My questions are answered for today. In you go.”

The changeling looked at the pod will tapping her hooves together hesitantly, bearing a pleading frown. “Do I have too? Being frozen isn’t the most pleasant of experiences…”

“Well, it’s either go into stasis or starve to death in here.” Dexter replied with a shrug.

“You could always just… love me…”

“Yeah, not happening.”

The changeling grumbled to herself as she crawled back into the pod, folding her arms with a frown as the lid on the pod closed. Shortly after the pod’s window iced over.

“Computer, door.” The colt called before the clean room door swung open, allowing him to push out into the lab.

The lab itself was coming along nicely, and smoothly given that Dee Dee was not around. The tireless efforts of both Dexter and Quadraplex had begun to pay off; everything he had built from salvaged junk from around Ponyville had been replaced with clean and sleeker devices.

And it was still growing.

“Computer, what is the progress on the project I gave you this morning?” Dexter asked.

“Construction of a time machine is nearly completely, however I am unable to complete the project.” Quadraplex replied, remaining monotone. “Several files about your original time machine are incomplete, therefore I do not have specifications required to overcome a few technical difficulties. I require assistance.”

“Very well,” Dexter replied. It didn’t take him long to find the nearly completed device, alongside were a set of tools waiting for him. However, it was a lot bigger than he expected, apparently capable of generating a portal large enough for a truck to drive through it.

However, it wasn’t until he had set to working about the device that Quadraplex spoke up again.

“Dexter, I have some concerns about this project and our current goals,” The computer stated. “Shouldn’t we be preparing to deal with this ‘dream infiltration’ Princess Luna is preparing?”

“Yes and no,” Dexter said, removing a panel before sticking his head inside the time machine. “I’ll deal with it tomorrow. When I go to the past, I’ll program my return trip for early tomorrow morning. So if she comes looking for me in the ‘dreamscape’ she’ll find I’m not there.”

“This project is ill-advised.” Quadraplex stated bluntly. “Going back in time is not only dangerous to the integrity of the timeline, it also presents an extreme risk of injury to you.”

“Quadraplex, the timeline isn’t a fragile thing so you don’t have to treat it like it is made out of glass.” Dexter assured. “Remember, I’ve traveled through time plenty of times, like that one time I went back in time and found the first guy to discover fire.”

“Yes, and according to my files, he got lost in your lab, caused considerable destruction, and worst of all: was exposed to your sister Dee Dee, which could have destroyed the timeline.” The computer reminded. “I am not sure how this, or your other experiences, inspire confidence.”

“In case you don’t remember Quadraplex, I wasn’t born here.” Dexter reminded. “How did you put it? I could have come from an entirely separate universe. Whatever I do to the timeline won’t result in a universe ending grandfather paradox or something.”

“That is beside the point, I don’t care about the timeline” The A.I. declared forcefully. “I care about you. Should something go wrong during your mission to the past, I will not be able to help you.”

“You? Care?” Dexter grumbled dismissively. “Last time I checked I never programmed you to care.”

…

“I will no longer assist you in this project,” Quadraplex replied. However, declaration was ignored by the colt.

At least it was until the lights shut off.

“Computer…” Dexter growled, “Computer!”

No response.

“Alright Quadraplex, alright.” Dexter let out a tired sigh. “I’m sorry, just talk to me okay? When I go back in time I’ll only be observing the equines. I won’t do anything dangerous. As for this load of garbage about ‘Nightmare Moon’ and the solar-lunar war, it’s all just made up propaganda. And once I go back in time, I’ll get proof of it. You’ll see.”

“But what if you are wrong?” Quadraplex challenged. “You were wrong about the changelings being a myth, and you were wrong about claiming that the sun and moon did not revolve around the planet. What if you’re wrong about Nightmare Moon? What if she was real?”

“Okay, say she was real, then what?” Dexter droned sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. “Watch her get defeated by the elements of harmony and the power of friendship?” Dexter scoffed. “Let’s face it; Nightmare Moon wouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

“I mean, think about,” Dexter continued his rant. “In the story of Nightmare Moon’s return she created the conditions which allowed for Twilight and her friends to become the elements of harmony, which in turned were used to defeat her.”

“If she’s real, she‘s such a pushover she’d probably defeat herself.” Dexter finished. “So either way, Nightmare Moon isn’t a real problem.”

“Very well,” The computer eventually replied. “I will assist you if you intend to only observe the equines and avoid all contact as much as possible.”

“Good, now if you will please restore the lights, I can get back to-“

“I’m not finished,” Quadraplex interrupted. “I will also require that you be outfitted appropriately should you need to defend yourself. Given the ongoing changeling threat, I have redeveloped several tools and weapons you used in your original lab.”

“You’re worse than my mother,” Dexter sighed. “Very well, Quadraplex, it’s a deal.”

“Agreed,” Quadraplex declared, turning the lights back on.

---

Mission Log: Temporal Excursion

Date: 1000 years prior to arrival in Equestria

Location: Everfree Castle / Castle of the Royal Sisters*

Dexter, Scientist, Boy Genius!

[Voice-to-Text Active]

This is the mission Log of Dexter, Boy Genius, during my trip to the past. I’ve traveled just over a thousand years to the past to acquire proof that ‘Nightmare Moon’ never existed. And I am happy to report that, thus far, I have encountered no evidence of any kind to indicate that this ‘Nightmare Moon’ individual exists.

But let me start from the beginning.

For the record, I immediately activated the sensor module and the Omni-recorder the moment I stepped out of the portal. Everything I see, hear, and do, shall be recorded from all angles.

My time machine worked flawlessly, just like the original, and deposited me just over 1000 years in the past. I arrived intact along with the crate of supplies Quadraplex insisted I bring along.

That computer can be really persistent, to the point that it has become tiresome. She insisted that I bring back a freight container of ‘essentials.” I literally mean a freight container; the box she sent with me is just about the same sizes as those large rectangular boxes you’d find on a large shipping boat.

But what was more staggering was what she put inside it. Did she expect me to fight an army or something? What the heck Quadraplex!? I don’t even remember engineering half of these weapons! And that’s not to mention the rifle she made me carry on my back…

She said she built it for my fight against the changelings, which makes sense I suppose.

What is worse is the fact that she forced me to wear a re-designed version of my ‘DexStar’ suit. I say redesigned because it looks nothing like my original DexStar suit except for the fact it is black with minor purple highlights. But it does use an upgraded version of the nanotechnology from my original suit.

It’s really is well made, Quadraplex did a good job. But she also added a lot of things to it: strength enhancement, force amplifiers, vision assist, sensor module, armor, a cloak, a small magic dampener whose effects are limited to just my person, and a number of other things.

But there is one problem with this suit: I can’t take it off! The darn thing is wired directly into my PNS. [Peripheral Nervous System] I can only take this thing off back at the lab!

I can’t use any of these weapons if I hope to preserve the timeline; just being seen by one of the primitives could give them ideas which would radically change the future. Of course Quadraplex knew that, but apparently she doesn’t care about anything other than my safety…

I really need to have a serious talk with her when I get back; her behavior is getting out of hand and cannot be tolerated any longer. I understand she wants to be ready for any threat posed by the changelings, but this is getting excessive. I’m a scientist, not a weapons manufacturer.

However, I digress.

Thankfully my arrival went unnoticed; the portal deposited me in an unused field filled with tall grass. Quadraplex had the sense to include a cloak for the crate she sent with me, it shouldn’t be discovered.

Judging by the sun hanging over head, this ‘Nightmare Moon’ stuff will be debunked soon enough; and I’ll be back to the future in no time.

Granted, my temporal target coordinates were for four days before Nightmare Moon’s defeat was actually supposed to occur, but I’m not getting the sense this is a nation about to rip itself apart with civil war. But before I can find anything conclusively, I’ll have to locate the princesses. But I have no doubt that I’ll find no indications of Nightmare Moon. When I find Princess Luna, given that she is actually alive at this point in time, which I doubt, I’m certain she’ll show no traces of anything that could be construed as ‘Nightmare Moon.’

Then I’ll finally have the proof I need to rub in everyone’s faces, forcing them to admit their propaganda and lies.

Of course… there will be a great difficulty in using the proof. I can’t exactly tell them that I went back in time.

But I am going to focus on getting the proof before I decide how to go about using it.

The portal placed me a few miles north of the castle of the royal pony sisters. The castle itself was surrounded by a small village which bordered the Everfree Forest.

The trek to the village was easy enough, but I soon hit my first obstacle.

There were guards at the front gate of the castle.

Sneaking past them with the suit’s cloak should be easy enough. The suit Quadraplex gave me has some limitations. The cloak is not indefinite, and the suit has a power source which can be depleted. Once it is depleted, I’ll have to wait for it to recharge. However , given that the magic dampener works by siphoning off energy from magic I’m certain I can recharge it faster if I found something magical to drain.

This should be easy.

End Log.

---

“It’s about time,” Dexter muttered to himself as he spied around another corner of the castle, finally locating one of the lunar banners marking the entrance to Luna’s wing of the castle. He had gotten lost in the maze of stone walls that made up the castle, cursing at the convoluted layout of the castle.

Sneaking throughout the castle had been easier than he thought; the cloak prevented any of the guards or servants from noticing him. But it also stopped the colt from asking for directions.

That, and the cloak was eating through his suit's power.

He did, however, run into a few of the servants speaking in what sounded like an ancient dialect of English. It wasn’t difficult for the boy genius to understand what they were saying, but he decided now would be the perfect time to try out his suit’s translator.

It would allow him to hear other’s as though they were speaking in the modern dialect, and would automatically translate what he said in the modern dialect to the ancient one, allowing others to hear him as if he were speaking normally.

Of course, it was the cheap way of getting around the dialect barrier. But it wasn’t like he was going to be talking to anyone and it was just more convenient for his ears.

“Now to find Luna’s chambers,” Dexter whispered, strolling through another hallway. It took a few minutes, but he eventually found a door with the lunar symbol engraved in its front. The doors themselves were flanked by four guards.

Much to Dexter’s surprise, he found that two of them were white with golden armor.

Resisting the urge to speculate aloud, Dexter checked to make sure his recorder was on. He had hardly put his foreleg down before the chamber doors burst open revealing a tall white figure, followed by a voice Dexter was extremely surprised to recognize.

“Answer me!” Luna demanded, following after her sister.

Despite the question, the tall white mare pressed past the guards without a word. She was an alicorn too, having both wings and a horn. To Dexter’s surprise, she was also significantly larger than Luna.

In fact, she was pushing the definition of a pony. Any taller and she would be classified as a horse.

Like Luna, she had a mane which appeared to blow in a nonexistent wind. But her mane appeared to a mix of colors reminiscent of the northern lights rather than a picture of the night sky.

The scowl on her face prevented Dexter from admiring the display. The piercing nature of her dark pink eyes let everyone know it was best to stay out of her way.

She pressed forward at a brisk pace, quickly enough that Dexter barely had enough time to step aside, narrowly avoiding a collision with the mare. Celestia managed to only get a few paces before the door behind her burst open again, revealing an equally irate Luna.

“I have a right to an answer!” Luna pressed, a flash of blue light deposited her before Celestia, causing the white mare to halt.

Dexter was momentarily surprised to hear Luna speaking fluently in the modern dialect, but that’s when he remembered his suit’s dialect and language translator was on.

“I have no wish to quarrel with you, again, Luna.” Celestia declared, frowning down at her sister. “You already know why I have made my decision.”

“Your decision? Are we not equals?” Luna glared up toward Celestia. “Or am I now your inferior? That you make decisions and I merely follow them?” Luna accused.

“Stop it Luna, you know that’s not what I meant.” Celestia shook her head with an aggravated sigh. “One of us must go northward for a time, to reassure our subjects and let Equestria’s enemies know we will protect our border. But one of us needs to remain here, and since I am better at negotiating with the nobles, it makes sense that-”

“Do not dissemble with me as though you are speaking merely to a politician, sister!” Luna’s voice was now enhanced, causing the invisible colt to grasp his ears once more in the hopes they wouldn’t start to bleed. “You mask your real reasons for sending me away on this ‘tour.’ You are consolidating your popularity among the nobles, and you’ve been doing so at my expense for years.”

Celestia sighed before looking toward the guards. “Leave us.” She ordered, eliciting a salute before they turned and left.

“Luna, we discussed this a long time ago” Celestia admitted to Luna. “I’ve spent years, and sacrificed much to build the rapport and political capital needed just to keep Equestria in one piece. Many elements in each tribe still wish to split away.

“That means I’ve had to maintain a level of popularity with our subjects, while letting you take care of the less favorable tasks…” Celestia went on. “But now it’s paying off, I am able to use that popularity to maintain the cooperation of many. If I were to leave, then those who would try to incite dissent against us would use my absence as an opportunity…”

“Which means I have to continue to do the unfavorable and unpopular tasks, while you continue to bask in the praise and esteem of our subjects.” Luna accused bitterly. “You knowingly earn their favor at the cost of myself.”

“I tire of this argument, Luna. We have had the same one again and again in growing frequency over this last year.” Celestia began again with a frustrated sigh. “We made our strategy long ago, and we’re not changing it just because you are jealous.”

“I recall our plan!” Luna sneered. “But it has gone on for long enough, how much longer must I wait before you allow me to step out from behind your shadow? Why must you continue to hoard the favor of our subjects?”

“What fault is it of mine that our subjects prefer to work and live during the day? Or that they choose to satisfy their need to sleep during the night?” Celestia retorted. “This isn’t about what’s best for Equestria, nor is it about what’s fair, this is about your jealousy.”

“My feelings are irrelevant. You let this go on longer than is fair. It causes our subjects of prefer your presence over mine!” Luna accused.

The hallway fell silent as the sisters glared at each other. Dexter could almost feel the anger radiating off of them. Dexter swore he could have seen Celestia’s eye twitch, as if a mental barrier had snapped behind her pink eyes.

“Perhaps it’s not the night our subjects find fault with, Luna.” Celestia eventually began again. “Perhaps the fault is yours.”

“Our subjects do not find the night unworthy of their adoration, but they might feel that it is you who are unworthy of representing the night and unworthy of their favor.” Celestia said icily.

“What…” Luna breathed, the anger surging inside her cut her breath short as she started to shake. The type of anger inside Luna wasn’t that which was brought about by having a bad temper, but rather so a product of harsh words spoken by someone close. “Your words are unfair and you know it.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Celestia declared. “But we’re keeping to our plan. Deal with it. The throne room is not big enough for two princesses and your childish jealousy. If we have to contend with it, we may find that there is only enough room for one princess."

“And we both know who our subjects favor more.”

Celestia disappeared after rounding the end of the hall, leaving Luna trembling silently in anger. She stomped a fore hoof into the stone floor, creating a set of large cracks which radiated away from her hoof. The hit was strong enough Dexter could feel it through the stone floor.

Eventually Luna huffed before quickly turning back to her chambers, slamming the door with an aura of magic the second after the invisible colt ducked inside.

Luna’s chambers were everything Dexter expected, being luxuriously furnished. The lunar banners, as well as the image of Luna’s cutie mark, could be found plastered or carved onto just about everything.

The only thing he noticed to be out of place was a number of small patches in the floor with cracks radiating from a single point, today wasn’t the first time she had gotten angry.

‘Whoa,’ Dexter thought to himself. He’d hate to be on the wrong ends of that alicorn’s hooves. He thought it was fortunate that the little argument between Celestia and Luna gave him the chance to sneak into the princesses’ room. Something told him he that he would live to regret it if his cloak failed.

Of course, his mission was nearly completed. He had successfully found and recorded Princess Luna. Despite the apparent dysfunctional nature of her relationship with the other alicorn, Dexter found no proof of Nightmare Moon. At least, nothing he had seen was sufficient enough to be called proof in his eyes. As a good scientist he wanted to be thorough, choosing to record the alicorn for a bit longer.

Following the dark alicorn further into her chambers, Dexter found her standing in the middle of her bedroom.

She was still trembling with anger. Her piercing eyes and tightened jaw were hardly visible in the dark room. Much like what Dexter experienced before, the room seemed to drain of all light and warmth. Soon the room’s atmosphere reminded Dexter of a cold winter night. Luckily his suit kept him warm, as well as automatically activating its vision assistance, letting him continue to see in the pitch black darkness.

Though, the colt forgot all about it as Luna suddenly kicked a nearby cabinet. It shattered instantly, spraying splinters everywhere.

It wasn’t the first casualty of Luna’s wrath, and nothing being spared. The bed was next up to be smashed, then the dresser, then a desk. Even the stone walls were not immune to her onslaught; several large chunks of the stone were crushed by a set of very powerful hooves.

Eventually the storm of hooves and flurry of magic died down, leaving a sobbing Luna to collapse on the remains of her bed.

‘Okay! Coming in here was a really bad idea!’ Dexter panicked silently. The colt barely managed to escape the destruction of Luna’s chambers by climbing onto a chandelier, which escaped destruction by the mere virtue of hanging above Luna’s sight. Even as Luna fell to the remains of her bed, the colt still clung to the decoration as though his life depended on it.

“Sister your words are harsh… your actions unfair.” Luna eyes began tearing.

“Without the adoration and love of our subjects, what do we have to ease our burden?” Luna went on. “Our burden of immortality… the fruits of all friendship will always turn bitter with time. Without the love of our subjects, what am I left with to ease this pain ? All friends I have will abandon me to unending life through their own death. We shall always be alone…”

“Except for you sister, you were always with me.”

“Yet you abandon me now? In your ambition, in your ‘noble cause’ to spread harmony? To you I have become little more than a tool at best, or an obstacle to be removed at worst. You may be my sister, but you’re no longer my friend. Just like all the friends who left before, our friendship did not endure forever.” Luna’s whispering grew bitter. “But unlike our friends, you abandoned our friendship by choice!”

Luna dropped her head to the bed, streams pouring from her face.

Having watched the entire display from the chandelier, Dexter was more than concerned by what he just witnessed.

‘Okay, I admit that this alicorn is probably the same Princess Luna as in the future. She may be long lived after all,’ Dexter silently admitted to himself, anxiously searching for a way off the chandelier. He wanted to get down without making a sound, wanting more than anything to leave now. ‘and I admit that Princess Luna may be suffering from some radically extreme loneliness problems, but that doesn’t mean she is in any way suffering from a ‘Nightmare Moon’ alter ego.’

The colt immediately stopped his search when a voice speaking again.

“Lunaaaa” Dexter looked back down at the mare, finding her now staring into the fractured remains of a mirror. The voice he now heard sounded similar to Princess Luna, but it was deeper, almost cold despite its comforting tone. “Lunaaaa…”

“Luna, look at me.” The dark alicorn said into the mirror, waiting for a moment in silence before smiling. “There we are…”

“Luna, why is it that I find you here, crying alone in dark once again?” Luna asked her reflection.

Dexter’s eyes went wide as he watched the display below, his breath catching in his mouth as a shiver crawled up his spine. Admittedly, Luna was just talking to herself a few moments before, complaining about Celestia in an emotional fit. But this was just different…

‘What the…’ Now he really wanted to leave.

“Nightmare…” came Luna’s original voice.

“Yours truly,” Luna nodded toward the broken mirror with a smile.

“Be gone!” Luna demanded.

“I can’t Luna, and you know that…” Nightmare consoled. “Besides, you’re so lonely. You don’t really want me to go. But do not fret, I am a part of you. I’ve always been a part of you and I always will be. I’ll never abandon you… unlike some.”

“I will not listen to a figment of my imagination!” Luna declared, turning away from the mirror. However, as soon as she turned away the mare jerked back with a scowl.

“Oh Luna, you know I am much more than a mere figment…” The other voice went on in a consoling tone. “I am just as real as you are.”

“Have you come to feed me more poison about my sister?”

“Your sister has already fed you enough poison about herself!” The other voice said indignantly. “I’m just here to help you digest it…”

“She has been less kind as of late… less willing to hear me…” She drifted her gaze away from the mirror, only to snap back to it with a scowl a moment later.

“You know what I am going to say Luna, I’ve been saying it for over a year now…” the other voice went on.

“I don’t want to hear- “Luna began loudly toward the mirror, though she appeared to interrupt herself.

“Celestia has betrayed you. Forsaken your friendship and stolen what is rightfully yours!” Luna shouted in the other voice toward the mirror.

The alicorn shot up from her bed, kicking what was left of it away as she approached the mirror aggressively, looking down at her own reflection.

“She has not… She… she was just angry. We both were. She isn’t aware of how lonely I get when she neglects…” Luna’s voice faltered. “She still loves me, she’s my sister.”

“Loves you?” The other voice scoffed indignantly. “And how has she shown that love as of late?”

…

“Nothing? I thought as much. But tell me Luna, what is Celestia to you?”

“She’s my sister; She’s always been my older sister…”

“She was not just your sister, she’s supposed to be your friend! Or are you forgetting that each of you bore three elements of harmony, binding you by the magic of friendship?”

“She is my friend…”

“Was your friend… until she betrayed that friendship!”

“She has not-“

“What elements did Celestia bare?”

“Kindness… Generosity and Magic.”

“Where was the kindness in Celestia’s harsh words just now, or the past year?” The deeper voice challenged. “Where is her generosity when she hoards the love of your subjects for herself? She is busy being kind and generous to everyone else and puts you last, if she cares at all!”

…

“But what she has done is far more sinister than forsaking your friendship. She knows full well the burden of immortality. She knows she is the only one who can alleviate the loneliness of long life for you”

…

“And you know what she does? She abandons you to suffering, knowing full well that nigh unbearable pain. All in favor of gorging herself on the love of those who also turned their backs on you!”

“Why… why would she do this to me?” Luna’s gazed drifted to the floor, her eyes held shut as a few tears began to stream.

“You know what is vile about all of this? Celestia knows exactly what she is doing yet she blames you for it!” Nightmare proclaimed.

“No, she was just angry. She-“

“She has known you for centuries, she knows you better than anypony else on this entire planet. She knows exactly how you’d feel in this situation – there is no denying that she knows she is causing you pain.” Nightmare spat in disgust. “ All of this is orchestrated on her part. She has stabbed you in the flank, and is now smiling as she twists the dagger!”

“She… she does know me well after being with me… being my sister… for countless years. She does know the pain she is causing me”

“And the only reason she doesn’t stop causing you pain is because she is doing it on purpose!” Nightmare argued. “I know you don’t want to believe it Luna. But remember one thing, you bore the elements of honesty, loyalty and laughter. Which means I bear those same elements. So when I say Celestia has betrayed you, you know I am telling the truth....

“... You know I am being honest.” Luna’s face produced a contorted, almost vindictive, smile, despite the river of tears streaming down her face.

“I have been betrayed….” Luna whispered her agreement. “Celestia loves me no longer.”

“Indeed, I’m glad you realize it now.” The deeper voice went on as Luna smiled to her reflection once more. “But alas, Luna. I have a confession to make. Over the past year I’ve been influencing Celestia’s dreams, trying to get her to remember her love for you… but she has it no more. That’s how I am so certain of her ill intent. Celestia’s recent coldness and aloofness is merely a product of her true feelings, and her true feelings alone…”

“If that is how she feels, then she should just be honest with me and say it!” Luna retorted angrily. Her emotions stopping her from even considering the possibility that this ‘Nightmare Moon’ may have been manipulated Celestia’s dreams in order to make the white alicorn more abrasive with Luna.

However, it didn’t get past Dexter.

“She’s a politician, the truth is rarely something she entertains.” Nightmare explained. “Besides, honesty belongs to you…”

Luna then said something that was hardly a whisper, nearly inaudible to herself.

“Yes!” The deeper voice proclaimed. “Say it louder Luna!”

“I HATE HER!” Luna shouted in her Canterlot voice, loud enough to crack the broken mirror before her even further. The invisible colt hanging for the chandeliers winced before wrapping a free hoof over his ears.

“Yes, Luna!” Luna smiled into the mirror. “Now you see what I am? I am just the manifestation of the hate in your heart! But now that you’ve openly acknowledged me, I feel like I am really meeting you for the first time! It’s great! Now that you’ve truly accepted me...

"I’ll never leave.”

“I cannot let this betrayal stand!” Luna declared. “I must seize what is rightfully mine, and see to it that Celestia is punished for her crimes against me!”

“And you haven’t!” Luna smiled viciously again, crueler than anything Dexter had seen before. “Over the past five months I have been hard at work in the dreamscape, and in issuing orders through you…”

“What… what have you been doing?”

“What have WE been doing,” The other voice corrected. “And I’ll gladly tell you. I’ve been preparing to take back what is rightfully ours. ” She declared. “I’ve been moving ponies’ loyal lunar guards into critical positions of influence, while rallying our guards through the dreamscape. They are almost ready for what needs to be done.”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“WE have been doing this long enough!” Nightmare laughed. “Everything will be ready in just a few more days… then we shall tear down the filthy sun-loving monarchy Celestia has built for herself! We shall right the wrongs that have been committed against us, and bring justice and a love of the night to all our subjects!”

“But our subjects will not let go of their love for the sun easily. ” Luna agreed.

“We both know there is only one cure for a sun-loving face…” Luna smiled. However, despite the smile on her face, her eyes grew wide in fear, starting to shake her head back and forth.

“No… We can’t do that.” Luna whispered. “Taking over is one thing… but-”

“That’s not all Luna,” The voice warned, causing Luna to smile once more.

“No… I still love my sister.”

“Luna… you know what I am going to say…” The other voice began sweetly. “There is no other way…”

“NO!” Luna begged.

“Celestia has a sun-loving face! ” Both voice now seemingly merged, producing a strange echo effect that caused another shiver down Dexter’s spine .

Luna thrashed, seemingly fighting an invisible force holding her to face the mirror.

“You want this.” Luna declared with a sinister grin. “You’ve wanted this from the bottom, deepest, darkest corner of your heart. And that’s why you can’t resist me, because you truly want this.

“And I’m going to see to it that you get it!”

The alicorn brought her head back before letting loose a spine chilling laugh. The laugh was a cross between sinister guffawing and a hysterical sob, blended perfectly. In the end, Dexter couldn’t tell if she was actually laughing or crying. Her mouth was twisted into an ominous grin while her eyes were pained and streaming tears.

Either way, that was the last straw. Dexter didn’t care about Nightmare Moon, he didn’t care about proving anyone or anything right or wrong about her existence.

The only thing the colt wanted was to the heck out of that room.

Which is why he nearly had a heart attack when the battery powering his cloak began flashing a low energy warning.

The last thing he needed was to become visible, there was no doubt this this ‘thing’ in Luna’s chambers with him would smash him to a paste instantly.

Dexter looked around for something to break his fall, or help him down silently. Luna’s onslaught had left the remains of a dresser spread out on the floor beneath him.

He was slowly lowering himself onto the mass of cloth and debris below when the small chain holding the chandelier broke with a snap.

Dexter fell to the floor with a thump as the chandelier hit the floor with a crash. Convinced he was good as dead, the colt froze where he had fallen, looking up with baited breath.

Luna had stopped laughing the moment she heard the chandelier hit the floor, and was now staring at it with two wide eyes. Her pupils were the size of pinpricks, and were unnaturally small for the extremely low light levels.

The colt was nearing a panic at this point, the dark alicorn had already proven to have remarkable senses. He slowly rose, happy to find that Luna’s eyes were not tracking him.

After a few tentative moments of silence, Dexter slowly began backing away before turning out of the bedroom and heading for the chamber doors.

“No Luna…” The deeper voice began again, causing Dexter to pause. “I’m not causing you to hear hoof-steps, nor the sound of breathing…”

“No Luna, don’t get up...I’ll go see who it is.”

Dexter froze mid-step, catching the breath in his mouth.

He slowly turned his head, craning his neck to peer behind him. The dark alicorn was now standing in the doorway to her bedroom, except it wasn’t Luna anymore.

She had a set of dangerously sharp teeth inside a vicious grin, her eyes had become reptilian or cat-like. The alicorn now stood much taller, rivalling Celestia in height. But worst of all, she was staring in Dexter’s direction.

“You know… it’s not polite to eavesdrop on somepony. It’s a crime.” The alicorn said, walking further out of the bedroom as she let her gaze drift around the room, searching for her prey. Her eyes passed the invisible colt without so much as a blink. “And I’m afraid you’ve seen something I cannot afford to let anypony see…”

Author's Notes:

I'm sorry! I know that was a cliffhanger (and I always try to avoid them) but I honestly didn't mean to end the chapter there. (I already have about another 15K words written for what happens next, but I cut it off for sake of time, size, and organization.)

But despite the cliffhanger I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I also revised chapter 4 (disbelief), for those of you who wanted to see that chapter re-worked.

Credit to NASA for the awesome space photos!

I'd like to give a thank you to those who made some art for this story. Here's a sample from Lisaboa-

Apparently some of you really liked that scene from last chapter. (You guys who made the art are awesome, thanks again!)
You can find it and the other art in the blog here: Link
I also want to thank redandready45 for starting the TV tropes page (happened a while ago).

From the Past, Broken.

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Author's Notes:

[PLEASE READ]
I apologize because I know some of you like to just skip the author’s notes, but there are two things that need to be addressed.
1) If you have NOT read the side story about Dexter’s trip to the past, I strongly recommend that you do so before continuing with this chapter. It is NOT required to continue with this story, but this chapter will contain spoilers for the side story. If you haven’t read it first you’ll seriously miss out.
2) Do you want Dexter to be caught by the ponies and his secrets revealed? Vote here: http://www.strawpoll.me/11988128
3) Lastly, as far warning this chapter contains little to no humor. Please remember Dexter is an eight year old child who has gone through a relatively traumatic experience in Nightmare Trip, and is bound to be upset with princess Luna.

Twilight glanced toward the library’s clock, preparing to turn in for the night early. Normally she would stay awake well past eight o’clock, but she did have an appointment in the dreamscape.

However the lack of sleep over the past few days would make the appointment easy to keep.

“Alright, Spike. It’s nearly eight and I am going to bed.” Twilight declared to the baby dragon as she began ascending the library’s stairs.

“Already?” Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m meeting Princess Luna in the dreamscape, remember? To view Dexter’s memories in his dreams.” Twilight answered, using her magic to dim the light by her bed. “She’s expecting to meet me in my dreams in just a few minutes.”

“Oh yeah,” Spike scratched his head. “Can I come too?”

“Mmmm, I’m not sure about that Spike.” Twilight tilted her head in thought for a moment. “Luna was concerned about invading Dexter’s privacy, I don’t think she wants to bring anypony into his dreams that she doesn’t have to.”

“I guess that makes sense... Just make sure you catch him!” Spike nodded. “Oh, and one more thing!” Spike turned away from Twilight, pulling a scroll off a nearby shelf. He pushed it toward her. “This came for you a few minutes ago.”

Twilight eyed the parcel for a moment before using her magic to open it. She could already tell it wasn’t from Princess Celestia.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I must say I was very surprised by the contents of your previous correspondence with me. Moreover, I find myself extremely skeptical in regards to your claims about the origins of the solution to Clover’s conundrum. Quite frankly, I think it is absurd to even suggest that an earth pony, who cannot perform magic, was in any shape or form responsible for discovering the solution. Moreover, you claim that an eight year old, who has had no formal education, no possible experience with magic, no special talent in mathematics, and no prior discoveries, somehow possessed and expressed the mathematical ability to solve something that many generations of unicorn mathematicians could not (Even though some of them possessed special talents in mathematics).

This is, quite frankly, absurd.

But to humor your claims for a moment, if this ‘Dexter’ is in fact responsible for finding the solution to Clover’s conundrum then I would suggest that you keep that fact to yourself. I am not going to claim that the scientific establishment of Equestria is completely without tribalist prejudice, but the last thing this solution needs right now is to be cast aside and rejected for the next decade or two because of the doubts and challenges raised by well-established unicorn scientists whose ego would be bruised. As far as everypony is concerned the narrative for the discovery of this solution is already perfect: Princess Celestia’s personal student and Element of Magic discovers the solution to an age old problem, producing the largest advancement in magical theory in a very long time. So, even if your claims are true, do yourself and all of science a favor and just claim it for yourself. We don’t need these types of advancements held up because of frivolous social problems.

Now I think I know what is happening here. Twilight, you’re young. You’re of the age, like most college aged unicorns, where you want to do your part to conquer society’s ills. But you’re not going to help this issue of tribalism by giving the credit for your work to an earth pony, especially if you concoct a bogus story like claiming a foal did it. In fact, you might make the situation worse. Tribalism has endured Princess Celestia’s disapproval for the past thousand years, and will likely continue to endure forever. This isn’t because unicorns or pegasi are bad ponies, but simply because there is truth to be found in the tribalist rational. When you’re older you will understand, and you may even regret trying to give certain disadvantaged ponies false hope. Beings incapable of performing magic cannot make any real contributions toward the study of magic nor toward the study of any fields of science. It’s not their fault, it’s just the way things are.

Now, I would appreciate it if you kept this discussion between us, and not just for the sake of keeping your wild claims a secret.

Moreover, I will not sign this letter but I am certain you know who this is from. I do not want the academic institution which employs my group in Canterlot to be bothered by ‘politics’ should this letter fall into the public consciousness.

Sincerely,

“That’s a load of garbage!” Twilight had to fight back a sneer of disgust. She couldn’t believe what she had she’d just read. “Are you kidding me?!”

“Uhh, Twilight?” Spike’s head recoiled. “It can’t be all that bad…”. However, Twilight continued to scowl at the scroll, failing to respond to the baby dragon. “What does it say?”

“It is essentially asking me to plagiarize something,” Twilight explained. “While also condoning tribalist attitudes. It’s also calling me young and naïve in a blatantly obvious manner.” However, what made Twilight the most uncomfortable were the points within the letter that she couldn’t reasonably refute. Telling the truth might actually impede the acceptance of the solution, and prevent scientific progress that would yield real, tangible benefits.

However, there were no benefits that would make doing what the letter suggested worth it. Not only did she know claiming credit for the solution would be wrong, she had hardly ever felt as shallow as she did when Dexter accused her of trying to steal credit for the solution. The idea of stealing credit for the solution made her feel dirty, and she was not going to live with that.

Besides, she already had her own accomplishments.

“Plagar- Plagiarizing?” Spike scratched his head in confusion. “Isn’t that like lying?”

“Close, it’s more like stealing something and lying about it being yours in the first place.” Twilight answered, rolling the scroll up before placing it back on the shelf. The writer of the letter was wise not to include her name, without her signature it would be difficult for Twilight to prove who it came from.

“Well that just doesn’t seem right.” Spike folded his arms with a frown.

‘”It isn’t.” Twilight confirmed. “Unfortunately she did make an uncomfortable point. Is preventing an injustice worth scientific stagnation?” Twilight shook her head before returning the scroll to its place on the shelf. “Leave that here and do not touch it.” She turned to glance at the scroll. “We’re going to see what the Princesses have to say about it.”

“Uh, okay.” Spike nodded before Twilight turned away, walking up the staircase toward the library’s bedroom. “Good night! I really hope you find out what Dexter is hiding.” Spike called.

“Good night, Spike.” Twilight answered. “And be in bed by nine!” Twilight instructed, causing the baby dragon to sigh as he rolled his eyes.

A few minutes later, Twilight crawled into bed. Unfortunately, sleep didn’t come quickly. Her mind kept going back to the letter she had just read, dredging up a number of negative feelings. She eventually found herself standing in the middle of the library once more, slightly confused as to how she got there. However, the confusion evaporated the moment she spotted Princess Luna.

“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle.” The princess began. “We are –er, I am glad that you could join me.”

“Hello Princess Luna,” Twilight bowed. “Sorry I’m late, I had a little trouble falling asleep.”

“No apologies are necessary, Dexter has not gone to sleep yet. Therefore you have not missed anything.” Luna answered. “Though I am curious, you are typically a sound sleeper. Was something bothering you?”

“It’s just a stupid letter, and nothing that can’t wait until morning your highness.” Twilight replied.

“Nonsense,” Luna declared eagerly. “Part of my duties in the dreamscape is to help all my subjects with whatever troubles their sleep. Besides, we have nothing else to do until Dexter goes to sleep.”

“Well, if you insist.” Twilight relented. “But how do I…” Twilight trailed off as Luna pointed to the scroll in question, it was sitting on the shelf were it could be found in the waking world. She levitated the scroll toward the princess.

Now Twilight wasn’t exactly sure how reading in a dream was supposed to work, as she had heard it was not possible in dreams. However, the growing frown on Luna’s face seemed to indicate she understood exactly what it was supposed to say.

“Well…” Luna began, letting her words hang for a moment. “A certain somepony needs to learn a few lessons…”

“I was going to send it to Princess Celestia,” Twilight offered. “Though, if she is asleep then maybe you could contact her now?”

Luna shook her head. “Sister doesn’t want me to enter her dreams. She’s never given me permission to do so.” Luna shrugged. “Which is something I can understand, I suppose. Entering the dreams of somepony you know personally is a bit different than it is for random subjects that might as well be strangers.”

“As for that letter, it might be more effective if you let me handle it.” Luna lowered the scroll with an almost sinister smile. “Tia tends to be too… patient with these matters. As royalty, we cannot punish a subject simply for holding a belief, no matter how it may offend us. Every subject has the right to believe what they please. The most we can do while respecting the law is to investigate the author of this letter for misdeeds like plagiarism. Given the ethics she displayed in this letter, I don’t think anypony would have grounds to object. But an investigation is a lengthy bureaucratic process. I prefer a more… hooves on approach.”

“Uh…” Twilight let out a nervous chuckle. “What are you going to do to her?”

“I’ll just pay her a visit in her dreams…” Luna rolled her eyes. “Just to give her an idea of how displeased I am by her lack of ethics. We alicorns possess all of that which is unique to each tribe, and to disparage one of the tribes disparages us alicorns as well. I am sure she will be shocked to find out how she has made an enemy of royalty.”

“I know each tribe of pony has their unique magical attributes which you inherit.” Twilight began. “But do you also receive their passive magical attributes as well?”

“Yes, alicorns do.” Luna answered with a nod. “For example, we inherit formidable strength and coordination from earth ponies, along with their intuitive abilities to sense magic as well as their other passive magical abilities. From the pegasi we inherit sharper vision and hearing, resistance to cold, and the superior reaction speed; along with their magical abilities like manipulating the weather. As for unicorns, well you already know that.”

“Wait,” Twilight tilted her head with a frown. “Pegasi have faster reactions?”

Luna nodded. “When your friend Rainbow Dash is flying ten hooves off the ground at the speed of sound, she has to react quickly to any obstacles in her path lest she hurt herself.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” Twilight answered.

“What’s more, for us alicorns, having these attributes simultaneously seems to amplify them greatly.” Luna went on. “Which is why I have a faster reaction time than any pegasus. It’s also the reason I was able to see your diagrams being stolen when nopony else could.”

“That’s another thing,” Twilight pointed a hoof toward Luna. “I want to know why Dexter stole my diagrams of the changeling detector.”

The eight year old is clearly a super genius of some sort, a fact which he had proven to her when he solved Clover’s Conundrum right in front of her. However, that little performance allowed her to catch on to the fact that he was the only explanation for a number of strange occurrences.

Though, matters were complicated by the appearance of changelings. Twilight wasn’t kept in the loop whenever an incident involving changelings occurred within Equestria, but she knew the changelings were experts at deception and misdirection. Which explained why her mentor was a little skeptical about Twilight’s initial suspicions.

“But tell me, do you really believe that this mere foal solved Clover’s Conundrum?” Luna asked the unicorn. “And that he was not merely recalling it from somewhere he had seen before?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, I am certain he solved it. I watched him do it. But even he didn’t invent the solution, his mastery of the mathematics in the solution has provided insights that we will need him to elaborate on.” Twilight stated. “His solution to Clover’s Conundrum is a revolutionary answer to a classical conflict between the observations regarding magic and fundamental universal laws of energy. It has served to explain observations which have baffled us beforehoof.” Twilight began to lecture. “Moreover, his answer will cause a massive revision in how we model the energy dynamics of magic, ultimately allowing us to find ways to better cast spells, as well as allowing us to cast experimental spells that were only theory up until now.”

“The solution also seems to indicate that matter does not exist as simple particles,” Twilight went on, going into full nerd mode. “But that matter possesses a wave-particle duality. Our scientists have suspected something may be wrong with our perception of subatomic particles. This solution will confirm it if it continues to hold up to scrutiny.”

Luna stood silently for a moment, regarding Twilight's words. However, the unicorn didn’t seem to notice, continuing to rambling on before Luna chose to speak up. “Forgive me, Twilight.” Luna interrupted. “But if all that is true, what is he still doing on a small town farm?”

Twilight stopped, processing the princess’s words. Twilight glanced toward the letter Luna had stopped reading a few minutes ago before looking back up at the princess. “I don’t think he likes our scientific institutions very much.”

“I see…” Luna eye’s narrowed as she moved to sit on her haunches.

“He also ‘pranked’ me the last time I tried to bring him to you.” Twilight went on. “Though I’m pretty certain it was actually a threat. Do you think he could be convinced to come to Canterlot and explain his solution more thoroughly?”

“We shall find out shortly.” Luna replied, however she quickly frowned.

“What is it princess?” Twilight tilted her head.

“It’s nearly midnight, and Dexter has yet to fall asleep.” Luna replied. “He has yet to appear in the dreamscape.”

“It’s past eleven already?” Twilight asked in confusion. “It was just eight o’clock a few minutes ago.”

“The passage of time is variable in the dreamscape.” Luna answered before shaking her head. “The colt should be in bed by now, I do not believe the Apple family would allow a foal his age to stay up very late.”

“Well, what can we do about it?” Twilight asked, taking a step forward.

“Nothing,” Luna shrugged. “He has to be in the dreamscape before we can ask him questions. I am going to wait a little while longer…”

There was a moment of silence before Luna’s frown deepened.

“Something’s not right.” Luna declared moments later. “It’s already two in the morning, and Dexter should be asleep by now. Yet he still has not appeared in the dreamscape.”

“You’re sure he isn’t in the dreamscape?” Twilight pressed, trying to contain her frustration.

“I’ve been doing this for a very long time, Twilight.” Luna answered, her gaze seemingly miles away. “If I can’t find him in the dreamscape you can be certain he isn’t there.”

“The only foals who are not asleep at this hour are insomniacs or are very sick.” Luna finished.

“No,” Twilight shook her head. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe this is a coincidence: that the one night we go to meet him in the dreamscape he just so happens not to go to sleep. I don’t buy it.”

“I concur, Twilight. But how could anypony know we were planning to view his dreams this night?” Luna squinted. “I have told no pony of our plans.”

“I… might have told Spike.” Twilight replied after a moment’s hesitation.

“That should be of no consequence…” Luna tapped her forehooves together, retreating to her thoughts.

“The only way to know what is happening is to go to Sweet Apple Acres and find out.” Luna declared.

“Then let’s go!” Twilight agreed immediately.

“Nay, I cannot come with you.” Luna answered. “This would be the perfect diversion for getting me away from the changeling prisoners. If the changelings wish to rescue their captured kin, an absence on my part during the darkest hours of the night would present the perfect opportunity.”

“I understand,” Twilight responded. “I’ll go there myself and get the answers we need, your highness. You can count on me.”

“No. You’re not to go alone.” Luna pointed a hoof at the mare to emphasize her directions. “I am sending guards to accompany you.”

“When will they get here?” Twilight answered.

“It will take them ten minutes, but for you they’ve just arrived.” Luna waved a fore hoof. Immediately Twilight felt herself jolt awake, a sense of fatigue rolling over shoulders and into her legs.

Twilight sat up, spotting Spike tucked away beneath the sheets of his own bed.

“Well, there goes the hope of a full night’s sleep…” Twilight yawned drearily, rising to her hooves as she heard a knock at the front door.

---

Personal Log: Dexter, Boy Genius, Scientist.

[1:18 AM]

I have just returned from my trip to the past, and I really don’t know where to begin. The trip was supposed to last a few hours, but it ended up lasting days. A lot happened, and to be honest I am still processing it all.

I suppose I should start by saying that I’ve attached a file to this log entry. It is the recording my suit made from my trip to the past. My suit’s sensor suite allowed me to record every moment of my trip.

[Attached File: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/295960/nightmare-trip]

In truth Quadraplex was right about the dangers of Nightmare Moon, and she was right to ask me not to go. Looking back, I should have listened to her. However, I am encrypting the recording and blocking her access to this log for the time being. I don’t want Quadraplex to have another fit right now.

My mission was simple; to prove that Nightmare Moon did not exist.

Well, Nightmare Moon is CERTAINLY real. That’s why the mission went so horribly wrong and I had to spend much more time than anticipated in the past.

To summarize what happened, Nightmare Moon attempted to take over Equestria and bring about what she called ‘Eternal Night.’ However, we were fortunately able to stop her.

That reminds me, I still need to work out how they control the movement of these Celestial objects.

It all started when I was discovered while surveilling Princess Luna. I barely managed to get away without her seeing me. However, I could no longer assume that the timeline would be preserved. Therefore, I intervened in what ways I could in order to make sure Nightmare Moon was defeated. Of course, I judged this to be an appropriate action as Nightmare Moon’s ‘Eternal Night’ would likely result in the extermination of all life on this planet.

Luckily, despite all that happened, Luna didn’t see my face – which would explain why she doesn’t recognize me. However Princess Celestia did see my face. As did the queen of the changelings, Star Swirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever. I also ended up having a few discussions with Discord.

I expect Star Swirl and Clover to have long since passed away, and Discord is probably still a statue somewhere right now.

Celestia should believe I have long since grown up and died of old age. She probably wouldn’t believe I was the colt she saw a thousand years ago, even if I came to her and claimed as much. But, I am not going to risk it. I would expect Luna to hold the same belief as well… that is if she doesn’t still believe she was successful in her attempts to kill me.

…

I hate Luna. She’s a monster.

I don’t just say that because she was nearly successful in one of her four attempts to kill me. I say it because of what she tried to do, and what she did do, to everyone else.

Princess Luna IS Nightmare Moon, they’re one in the same. That murdering lunatic wasn’t satisfied at just killing everyone who disagreed with her, she had to ‘indoctrinate’ everyone else who she didn’t kill. Nightmare Moon would indoctrinate a pony by torturing them in their dreams until their mind shattered, allowing her to re-educate her victim before they woke up. The subjects of her indoctrination would wake up as one of her brainwashed murderous fanatics. However, anyone that successfully resisted indoctrination would be continuously tortured in the dreamscape until they died from a fear/pain induced cardiac failure. No one who resisted indoctrination would ever wake up, you either became a child of night or died.

Yeah, I’m going to have nightmares about that. For a land of sunshine and rainbows, Equestria has rather dark moments in history.

Though, this explains why the summer sun celebration had everyone stay up all night. Celestia must have engineered the celebration that way, and then planned for it to coincide with the night of Nightmare Moon’s return. With everyone awake, Nightmare Moon couldn’t use the dreamscape to indoctrinate anyone else.

But despite this, my opinion of Celestia is not much better.

Celestia had refused to fight her sister at virtually every turn, even when her subjects were suffering and dying. She would rather watch the world freeze over than fight her precious little sister. I eventually came up with a plan to force her hand, pushing her to use the Elements of Harmony. Luckily it was successful, although I cannot imagine that she is happy about it – even if she said she didn’t blame me. I think a part of her does.

…

You know what, to heck with this place. I quit! I’ve had it! I want to go home! I want to see my parents! I want to fight Mandark! I want Dee Dee to destroy my lab by stupidly pushing random buttons!

…

Before her defeat Luna managed to break three of my ribs, fracture one of my vertebrae, and nearly indoctrinated me in the dreamscape. I was luckily saved by the Elements of Harmony at the last moment.

However, meeting the Elements of Harmony in the past was a rather… strange experience. I learned that they are somehow sentient apart from the bearers, despite supposedly sharing their bearer’s existence. They claimed it was a requirement of their nature. I suppose what the Element of Honesty said makes sense though; how can she be the embodiment of a personality trait without possessing a personality? How could an inanimate object like a gem be ‘honest’ or ‘kind?’

However, I am a bit skeptical about them. Honesty declared she would use Applejack to make sure I told the truth by letting Applejack know whenever I lied in her presence, and motivating her to ‘teach me to be honest.’

Quite frankly, I don’t think these Elements of Harmony are all that they are cracked up to be. They’re supposed to operate off the “Magic of Friendship”, but trying to force me to be honest doesn’t seem like a good way to make a friend out of me.

However, I found it strange that the Elements were bound and determined to get all the bearers they could. I thought they’d be more selective, but apparently they work by molding potential bearers into expressing the attributes they represent before recruiting them as-

:::[Log Paused]:::

:::[Log Resumed]:::

It seems that Quadraplex has discovered that I encrypted the recording of my mission to the past, as well as this log. I believe she is currently attempting to break the encryption. Sooner or later she’ll succeed, so I’d better deal with her now before she has the chance to go haywire.

End Log.

---

“Quadraplex?” Dexter began, pushing back the desire to hesitate as he looked up toward the oversized computer he had been typing upon moments before. Having only arrived to his lab less than half an hour ago, and he still had on the suit he wore during his trip to the past. The damage the suit sustained was plainly visible, and something told the colt that Quadraplex had picked up on it.

“Yes, Builder? How can I assist you?” The computer quickly responded.

“Stop attempting to break the encryption on my mission recording.” Dexter answered directly.

“Are you going to give me access to the cipher so I may decrypt it?” Quadraplex asked in her usual monotone voice.

“Yes,” Dexter nodded after waiting a few moments. “Yes I am. I want your help, and given what happened in my trip to the past it would be best if you knew the details. But I need to know you won’t… overreact.”

“I was never programmed to overreact.” The computer replied simply.

“Yet you’ve demonstrated the ability to do so.”

“My response will be logical, and suitably proportional.” Quadraplex stated simply. Dexter’s deadpan was lost on the A.I., but something told him Quadraplex knew why he was concerned. That, and he was certain they disagreed on what constitutes as ‘suitably proportional.’

“Quadraplex, I want you to promise me that you will NOT do anything in response to what you learn from this mission recorder without consulting me first.” Dexter asked firmly. There was a few moments of silence before the computer eventually responded.

“Very well, Dexter.” Quadraplex agreed. “I will not proceed with a response before informing you.”

“No,” Dexter countered. “You will not proceed with an action without consulting me and gaining my approval first.”

“…Very well. I will not act without your permission.” Quadraplex answered.

“Good,” Dexter opened a compartment in his suit, removing what appeared to be a thin hard drive. It was about the size of a card. “You can find the cipher under file K17, in the cipher library subfolder Tau-49.” Dexter hesitated before finally inserting the card into a port on the terminal. Having observed her increasingly overbearing behavior, he knew she would react badly to what she was about to see. But the truth was, he felt a responsibility toward the A.I. She was only a few weeks old after all. She was bound to have some personality quirks.

“Understood, Dexter… Download complete.” Quadraplex answered simply.

“Are you aware of everything that happened in the past?” Dexter asked hesitantly.

“Yes, I reviewed the logs and conducted an analysis of the mission recording.” Quadraplex answered, seemingly content with her response despite her monotone voice. “And I have reached a single conclusion: Nightmare Moon is still a threat at present and should be neutralized.”

“Wait, hold on a second. What do you mean by ‘neutralize?’” Dexter reproached, lashing a hoof toward the computer.

“You already know.” Quadraplex answered, despite her monotone voice her statement came across with a certain finality Dexter was not willing to tolerate.

“No computer, we already discussed something similar to this.” Dexter scolded. “I will not kill anyone, and you know that. I try to avoid violence where I can use science as the answer. I expect nothing less from myself, and I will absolutely not accept anything less from you.”

“You can’t just go around killing people.” Dexter finished.

“Why?”

“What do you mean, ‘why’?” Dexter threw his forelegs up.

“Why?” The computer repeated simply, her tone almost demanding.

“You can’t. It’s wrong.” Dexter’s ears folded against his skull as he pointed at the computer.

“Princess Luna tried to kill you three times!” Quadraplex countered. “You know the concept of self-defense.”

“Well… actually it was four times.” Dexter corrected, letting his eyes glance around the lab for a moment. “The recorder couldn’t pick up the few moments she tried to invade my dreams to… torture me to death in the dreamscape.”

“I see…” Quadraplex replied slowly. “How do you purpose we deal with this threat then? Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle both are presently waiting for you to go to sleep so they can infiltrate your dreams again. Her attempts to kill you persist. Will you not make an exception to your rules for self-preservation?”

“Quadraplex, I believe killing in self-defense is only acceptable when there are no alternatives. But you’re forgetting two things.” Dexter explained, motioning with a hoof to emphasize his words. “One, we have other options available. And two, Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle are NOT trying to kill me tonight. If you recall correctly, they’re just after information.”

“I don’t want to be a killer, Quadraplex.” Dexter declared. “And that is an intrinsic goal you should hold as well. Now, I know your existence has been short, and that you might not truly understand morality. But I think I now know why you do not completely understand.”

“And it’s because you cannot feel pain.” Dexter went on. “I built you in such a way that you couldn’t feel any form of pain. Without knowing what pain is, you’re incapable of empathizing with others, which is probably why it’s taking you a long time to learn the differences between right and wrong.”

“But I want you to know, killing someone would cause both me and others a great deal of pain.” Dexter explained. “I know you don’t understand but I need you to trust me on this…”

“You asked for my trust before you left, and how have I been rewarded?” Quadraplex answered. There was a moment of silence as Dexter processed her words. “You were wrong when you denied the changeling’s existence, and for it one of them attacked you. You were wrong about magic controlling the sun and moon, and for that you went crazy. You were wrong about the existence of Nightmare Moon, and for it you set out on a trip that nearly got you killed. For all your intelligence, you have proven to be hasty, reckless, and arrogant. Your unrelenting skepticism and inability to consider possibilities outside your own beliefs has thus far been the chief source of injury and trouble.”

“I might not fully comprehend right and wrong, but you’ve proven to be just as immature.” The computer finished, leaving the lab to hang in silence.

Dexter drew a quick breath, scowling as he prepared to lash back at the computer. However, when he opened his mouth to speak he hesitated. Despite his anger, a part of him forced himself to admit that she was right.

He left another moment of silence before hanging his head. “You’re right Quadraplex.” He looked back up at the computer. “You are right, I was arrogant and reckless. The whole reason I traveled to the past was to prove myself right about Nightmare Moon and everyone else wrong. And given what I knew at the time, whether or not I was right or wrong should not have even mattered. All the consequences of my trip to the past were due to my own ego. I’m sorry.”

“Apologies are irrelevant.” The computer declared. “What matters is if you will modify future behavior.”

Dexter sighed as he placed a hoof on his face. “That’s what an apology means in this context, Quadraplex.” Dexter droned. “I’ll try to be less arrogant and reckless in the future, okay.”

“I will immediately inform you if you are relapsing into arrogance and recklessness.” She replied.

“I’m sure you will… but I will hold you to your promise, you will not do anything without my permission.” Dexter rolled his eyes. “Now, the first thing I want you to do is get this suit off of me. I’ve been wearing it for days, and I think the internal cleaning functions broke. I’m also going to need a bath and a-“

“Perimeter warning.” Quadraplex cut off the colt.

“What?” Dexter looked up at the computer’s oversized monitor. “What is it?”

“The security sensors which monitor Sweet Apple Acres and the surrounding area have detected possible intruders.” The monotone computer answered. “Five ponies are approaching the orchard, if my scans are correct it is Twilight Sparkle and four lunar guards.”

“Show me.” Dexter ordered, causing a video feed to appear on the computer monitor. The video revealed the forms of Twilight Sparkle and four guards walking through the dead of night. They were definitely on the path headed toward the apple orchard. One unicorn guard in front lit the way with his magic, while the others flanked Twilight Sparkle.

Dexter frowned. “She must be coming here in response to Nightmare Moon’s inability to infiltrate my dreams.” Ever since his return, Dexter had been worried by Luna’s intent to visit him in the dreamscape that night. A part of him regretted his decision to simply put off dealing with it, it was naïve of him to expect that dodging Luna’s attempt to enter his dreams wouldn’t provoke a response. He just didn’t’ expect it to be so immediate.

The last thing he needed was Twilight Sparkle knocking on Applejack’s door in the middle of the night with a load of accusations. It would raise a bunch of questions he was unwilling to answer.

Given what the Element of Honesty told him in the past about making Applejack bound and determined to call him out on every lie told, no amount of lies would get him out of this. He would have to find a way to deal with Applejack, but he needed to stop Twilight first.

However, Dexter wasn’t entirely regretting his decision to avoid Luna’s dream magic by staying awake. There was something Dexter needed to do, and present situation was a great opportunity.

“I want to speak with her,” The colt reached over his shoulder, retrieving the futuristic rifle slung over his back. He hadn’t taken it off since his return from the past. Dexter checked it to make sure it was still on the stun setting before looking back up at the computer. “Wake up our resident changeling, and bring me another helmet...”

---

The walk from town to Sweet Apple Acres was silent, though Twilight didn’t mind.

The air was cool, but not unpleasantly so. The night itself was peaceful, only disturbed by the occasional breeze.

Sources of light became scarcer as Twilight and the guards pressed past the edge of Ponyville, pressing on to the orchard. Only their magic and the pale moon above lit the path. Three of the lunar guards flanked Twilight, while the fourth walked a few lengths ahead, casting more light than the rest.

Their walk was proceeding at a smooth pace until the lead guard suddenly stopped, causing the ponies behind him to halt as well.

“There’s somepony on the path ahead of us,” The lunar guard in front turned his head. “I believe it’s a unicorn, and they are approaching us.” He turned to face forward once more. It was odd to find a pony walking along the path to the orchard at two thirty in the morning.

“That’s odd…” Twilight remarked to the guard beside her. “Nopony in the Apple family is a unicorn.”

“You! On the path!” The lead unicorn increased the amount of light cast from his horn. “Step into the light and identify yourself!”

What came next was an uncanny sight for Twilight. The light from the guard first revealed a set of lavender forelegs, eventually revealing a completely lavender mare. Twilight instantly recognized herself, or at least her own image.

However, this new Twilight’s mane was messy, and she bore an expression of anxiety and confusion.

“Thank goodness, the guard!” The new Twilight declared. “Quick, I need your help. Changelings foalnapped me from the library a few hours ago and brought me-“The new Twilight pretended to just notice the original, taking a step back. “Oh no, look out, she’s an imposter!”

“What, no! I’m the real Twilight, she must be a changeling!” Twilight charged her horn, producing a lavender glow.

However, the guards responded by turning on both the new Twilight and the one they had been escorting, surrounding both the mares with their magic charged.

“Cease the charge in your horn.” One of the guards ordered Twilight, causing her to hesitantly stop the flow of magic to her horn. It quickly stopped producing light.

“What do we do now?” One of the guards asked his fellows.

“We take them both back to Princess Luna, let her sort out the imposter.” Another guard, the ranking sergeant, answered.

“No,” The new Twilight answered, shaking her head in urgency. “That won’t work, that won’t work!” She paused for a moment, scanning both sides of the path as if searching for something before taking another few steps toward the guards. “We won’t make it that far! The changelings planned this. They’re really after me because I studied the changeling detector that appeared in the Ponyville clinic!”

If her goal was to agitate the guards further, it was working. However, the new Twilight’s demeanor slowly shifted away from that of a panicking mare. Soon enough she donned a smug grin, letting her eyes pulse green. “You should have known better than to come out here in the middle of the night…”

Twilight barely had enough time to process the imposters words before a blue bolt of energy erupted from the tree line, striking one of the guards in the side. Charging her horn, she turned her head just in time to see another blue bolt just before it struck her in the chest.

The energy blast caused her body to seize up, making her drop to the ground. It was a strange sensation, causing her to feel numb all over while leaving a sharp sting of pain in her core. It was powerful enough to stop her from hearing the remaining guards fall to the ground.

Fighting to regain her strength, or at the very least, draw a breath. She barely managed to peek her eyes open, spotting her imposter standing over her.

“She’s still awake.” The imposter announced, her voice sounding muffled and distant to the stunned mare. Twilight ear’s barely caught the sound of capacitors charging before another blue flash of light made everything dark.

---

“Ah!” Twilight abruptly woke to a painful stinging sensation in her flank. It felt as though something were stabbing into her just above her cutie mark. The pain was enough to get her to jump before rolling and bolting onto all fours. She flared her magic, attempting to push away whatever was causing the jabbing pain. However, her magic seemed to drain away fruitlessly. “The hay?!”

Luckily though, the sudden pain ended just as quickly as it had begun.

She blinked several times, trying to bring the world into focus. Everything was a blur. All she could tell was that she was in a well-lit room, with a figure standing nearby. However, she could tell this figure was short. Short enough to be a child in fact.

“Don’t worry, Twilight.” Came a familiar voice, however it was distorted in a way she couldn’t describe. “You are not going to be hurt.”

Dexter’s new helmet completely concealed his face, replacing the former mask with a full visor. Unfortunately that made speaking rather difficult, which is why it had a vocalizer to transmit his voice out of the mask. It was also able to distort his voice.

His suit still bore the damage it obtained from his trip to the past. He had yet to take it off.

“Your sight will return momentarily.” Dexter declared. After a hesitant moment Twilight sat on her haunches in order to rub her eyes with the knee of her foreleg. Blinking a few more times, she discovered he was telling the truth. Her vision began to slowly come into focus.

“Who- who are you?” Twilight demanded, attempting to flare her magic. However it drained from her horn before she could form the energy into a spell. “And where am I? Where did you take me?”

“Calm down, Twilight.” Dexter instructed again. “You’re safe here. I only brought you here to ask you a few questions.”

“W-where are we?” Twilight repeated, in a much more demanding tone. She quickly looked around the room, trying to gather where she was herself.

However, what she saw was something she really didn’t understand. The walls were mostly made out of metal, while the floors were made of tiles with a blue-grey metallic sheen. The walls were littered with devices, the likes of which she had never seen

“Twilight, listen,” Dexter began again. “I have some very important questions, and we do not have a lot of time. I need you to come with me a-“

“No, I’m not going anywhere until I get some answers!” Twilight made an aggressive stomp. Trying once more to use her magic, again she was met with the same result: nothing.

Dexter, however, merely sighed. He reached up to his helmet, pulling it off and sliding it back onto his shoulders.

Twilight merely stared at the colt for a few moments, stunned silent. She suspected the colt of many things, but she couldn’t help herself but to be surprised anyway. “D-D-Dexter?”

“Yes, it’s me.” Dexter nodded. “You’re safe. You’re in my secret lab.”

“Secret lab?!” Twilight repeated, fighting the impulse to drop her jaw as she looked around the room. “You have a secret lab?!”

“Yes, I built it.” Dexter sighed, letting go of the unreasonable hope that she would simply answer his questions. “But all that is beside the point, we don’t have much time and I need you to answer some very important questions.”

“No no no! Wait.” Twilight waved before pointing a hoof at the colt. “What the hay do you mean you built this? You built a secret lab? You are responsible for all of this?” Her words elicited a nod from the colt. “I knew it! I KNEW IT! You were hiding something, and this explains EVERYTHING! You were behind ALL OF-“

“TWILIGHT!” Dexter shouted, cutting the mare off. “We do not have time for this. Now I need to show you something, and ask you a few questions. This is very important, and we do not have time for you to indulge your curiosity, or for you to gloat. Now you can either follow me to see what I have to show you, or you can stay in here and do nothing.” The colt turned away. “Quadraplex, door!” he commanded, leaving through a nearby door which seemed to open on its own. It evidently lead to a much larger room of some sort.

After a moment of contemplation, she hesitantly followed after the colt. The larger room was actually quite massive, possibly extending under a large chunk of the orchard. It was also tall, large enough to house some devices big enough to be their own structures.

Twilight actually froze when she first saw it, almost unable to believe her eyes.

“Over here!” Dexter called in annoyance, eliciting a jump from the mare. He beckoned her toward what appeared to be a large, flat glass surface with a large cluster of buttons at its base. The buttons themselves were massive, almost comically so. Clearly they were designed for hooves.

“D-Dexter, this is incredible.” Any traces of Twilight’s confusion gave way to amazement and curiosity. “Did you really build this all by yourself? Is this your special talent?!”

“Please try to contain yourself, Miss Sparkle. Getting excited and increasing your heart rate will only decrease the amount of time we have to talk.” He turned away from the mare, facing the computer. “Quadraplex, please bring up my mission recording.”

“Specify time index.” Quadraplex answered, summoning the appropriate file. The sudden monotone voice caused Twilight to jump.

“What- who was that?” She began looking around the room, specifically trying to see behind the computer. The direction of the voice made her think someone was behind the gigantic panel of glass.

“That was Quadraplex,” Dexter answered, motioning to his computer. “I suppose, for her sake, I should introduce you to her. You are the first person other than me… sort of… that she has met. I really don’t think the changeling counts.”

“What…” Twilight paused. She decided to ignore the part about the changeling until she could see who she was meeting. “Where is she? I can’t see her.”

“She’s right here.” He tapped the computer. “She’s the computer… er, the large device in front of you. Quadraplex, meet Twilight Sparkle. Twilight, Quadraplex.” Twilight opened her mouth to speak, to ask another question. However she was cut off by the colt, who had predicted her question. “Yes, she is a machine. She is an artificial intelligence, I built her. No, she does not possess magic and her existence uses no magic.”

Twilight’s brain froze again. She knew what an artificial intelligence was, but she knew for a fact that they have never been created – at least no such construct had ever occurred without magic. They were only a theory to Ponykind, and supposedly were entities that were made of and constructed through carefully forged spells. Though the spells were also only a theory, way too advanced and way too far off to even by a possibility. “YOU BUILT A PONY?!”

“Say hello, Quadraplex.” Dexter turn backed to the computer, ignoring her outburst.

“Greetings, lavender equine.”

“H-Hello?” Twilight stuttered.

“Do me a favor, Twilight, and watch what you say around her.” Dexter glanced at the mare. “She’s only a few weeks old and, well, doesn’t know how to react proportionally to certain things people say.”

“Dexter,” Quadraplex began. “The changeling is demanding your presence.”

Dexter let out a frustrated sigh. “Why?” he asked.

“Changeling?!” Twilight locked her eyes on the colt, her tone filled with both surprise and anxiety. However, her outburst was ignored by Dexter.

“She wishes to speak with you,” Quadraplex answered. “I believe you should grant her request if you wish to further elicit her cooperation.”

“Where is she?” Dexter asked, clearly letting the fact he was annoyed seep into his tone.

“After the ambush, I teleported her back to the cryo-room.”

“Tell her she’ll have to wait.” Dexter answered. “As for the recording, there is no specific time index. Scan the recording and bring up images and video of Nightmare Moon.”

“Nightmare Moon?” Twilight asked, her tone becoming more serious. “Dexter, what’s going on?” However, she let her question hang when several images of the dark alicorn appeared on the computer screen.

To be honest, she hadn’t seen anything like a computer screen before. She would be more amazed if it weren’t for the content of the images. Several of the images depicted Nightmare Moon acting violently, including more than one where her coat was stained with blood.

“This is what I need you to answer, Twilight.” Dexter replied. “It’s very important. I know for a fact that you are indeed the Element of Magic, and you were present during Nightmare Moon’s defeat, correct?”

“Yes, Dexter. I saw Nightmare Moon’s second defeat. I was one of the ponies responsible for it.” Twilight’s gaze shifted between the images on the screen and the colt. “What in the world is this about?”

“Bear with me, Twilight.” Dexter motioned toward the monitor again. “Nightmare Moon represents the greatest danger to life on this planet, and I need to know if she is still a threat. You were present during her second defeat, after her return from the moon. Are you certain she was defeated?”

“Yes, yes!” Twilight declared. “Nightmare Moon was defeated by the elements, she’s no longer a threat of any kind. And Princess Luna would NEVER allow herself to fall under Nightmare’s influence again.”

“Are you certain? Are you absolutely sure?” Dexter stared at the mare, his expression unreadable. “Because if she is still a threat in the slightest way, I will see to it that she is dealt with.”

“Permanently, if necessary.” Dexter added.

“Yes, I’m certain.” Twilight affirmed, nodding vigorously before looking back up at the images. “I don’t understand, there is no way you could have seen Nightmare Moon. Luna would never let Nightmare take control of her again!”

“I’d- I’d stake my life on it.” Twilight declared before pointing a hoof at the screen. “This can’t be real! I don’t believe it.” She finished, leaving the lab to hang in silence for a few moments.

“Relax, Twilight.” Dexter turned away from her, glancing at the images himself. “These are from Nightmare Moon’s first defeat, over a thousand years ago. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed since her second defeat by the elements that you were involved in.”

“…What?” Twilight tilted her head in confusion, though her tone still held concern. “You’re telling me these images are from a thousand years ago, from Nightmare’s first defeat?”

Dexter nodded. Pushing a few buttons on the computer, causing one of the videos to scroll toward a scene where both Celestia and Nightmare Moon could be seen. The image affirmed the fact for Twilight, as Celestia was not present for Nightmare’s second defeat.

“How in the world did you get them?”

Dexter glanced at the mare for a moment before turning back to the screen. “I… built a time machine and travelled to the past. To see if Nightmare Moon was actually real.” He motioned toward the screen. “These… were my findings.”

The lab hung in silence for a moment as Twilight stared at the colt, her body and expression unmoving as she processed his words repeatedly in her head. It was almost as though she became a statue for a moment.

Twilight began shaking her head. “I’m not sure I can believe this. Being a super smart colt that can detect changelings is one thing… but…”

“Computer, scroll to the time index approximately eighteen hours and thirty seven minutes.” Dexter ordered, returning his gaze to the monitor. A video appeared, showing the final stages of Nightmare’s defeat. Specifically, it showed the few moments Nightmare grasped him with her magic before throwing him through a stone pillar.

“You see that? That was her third attempt to kill me.” Dexter pointed to his now prone form on the monitor, before motioning to the damage on his suit. “This all occurred twenty four hours ago from my perspective.”

Twilight’s eyes switched from the screen to the colt once more, her gaze lingering on his suit’s damage.

Twilight shook her head repeatedly before pressing a hoof to her face. “Okay… putting aside the fact this all may be a changeling induced hallucination, and factoring in the possibility you may have overcome the technical hurdles that hindered Star Swirl’s research and come up with a time travel spell…” Twilight let the disbelief linger for a moment before speaking again. However, Dexter did take note of what she said about Star Swirl’s research into time travel. “I have only one question to ask…”

“Are you cracked?” Twilight lowered her hoof to frown at the colt. She grabbed him with her forelegs. “Are you INSANE?! You went back in time to MESS WITH NIGHTMARE MOON?!? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!”

Dexter frowned before drawing a breath, however he was cut off before he could speak.

“I like the purple equine,” Quadraplex declared. “She has reacted the same way I did in response to your mission. I predict the two of us could readily form consensus on numerous issues.”

“That was fast.”, He grumbled to the computer before turning back to the mare. “It wasn’t intentional, Twilight.” He pushed the mare’s legs off of him. “I didn’t think I would get noticed. I underestimated Nightmare Moon’s perceptiveness.”

“Why in the world did you go in the first place?!” Twilight reprimanded. “Risking your life just to prove yourself right or wrong on some historical event just sounds like a really stupid thing to do! And even if you had a good reason, an eight year old child shouldn’t be the one taking such a risk!”

“I concur.” Quadraplex added. “I believe her response further adds legitimacy to my earlier statements regarding your trip to the past, Dexter. I’m glad you refused my suggestion to lobotomize her.”

The lab hung in silence for a few moments before Twilight slowly turned her head towards the computer. However, Dexter face-hoofed.

“Shut up Quadraplex…” Dexter droned before looking up at Twilight. “I don’t intend on visiting Nightmare Moon again.”

Twilight opened her mouth again, trying to find the right response. However, she only felt a wave of fatigue crash over her. The lack of real sleep must have been getting to her. However, this train of thought eventually gave way to her curiosity.

“Dexter, I…” She began. “You have to tell us everything! How were you able to go so far into the past? How did you create an A.I.?” She pointed a hoof at the computer as the torrent of questions began to pour out. “How were you able to produce these images? How come Luna doesn’t remember you? How were you able to-“ She was forcibly stopped by Dexter’s hoof landing on her mouth.

“Twilight, pick your questions carefully. I am willing to tell you whatever you want to know, but you don’t have much time left.” He warned cryptically. “And to answer your last question, Luna doesn’t remember me because she never saw my face. Also, a thousand years is a long time.” Dexter added.

“What do you mean, I don’t have a lot of time?” Twilight asked, trying to shake off another wave of fatigue. However, Dexter merely looked over the mare before turning back to the computer.

“Quadraplex, release the changeling from the cryo-room and direct her here please.” Dexter asked.

“Dexter!” Twilight said firmly, using a hoof to push his shoulder such that he turned toward her. “Why don’t I have a lot of time? And what was that about a changeling… I knew it! You can detect them, can’t you?!” Twilight stomped. “Are you helping them?!” She accused.

“To answer your questions,” Dexter drew a breath. “One, yes I can detect them, in fact I know exactly how many changelings are in Ponyville and where they are right now. Two, no I am certainly NOT helping them. That changeling in my cryo-room tried to abduct me and has been my prisoner ever since.”

“And three…” Dexter let his words linger for a moment, before reaching into a compartment of his suit. “I had to find a way to prevent you from yapping away about everything you’ve seen here while I questioned you about Nightmare Moon.”

“If you think you can threaten me into keeping this a secret…” Twilight shook her head. “You got another thing coming.”

“No, I don’t plan on doing anything of the sort.” Dexter rolled his eyes. He produced a used syringe from a compartment in his suit. “You may have recalled a jabbing sensation above your cutie mark as you woke up?” He said, holding the used syringe at eye level. The needle reflected the light from the computer monitor.

“What… what did you do to me?” Twilight voice was filled with concern as a wave of dread washed over her.

“I gave you a benzodiazepine.” Dexter answered. “An extremely potent one I might add.”

“Don’t worry, it’s a common sedative that pony doctors use all the time and are completely safe. But it does have a special side effect.” Dexter eyed the needle before putting it down. “Benzodiazepines function by potentiating a receptor in the neurons of your brain, causing your brain cells to hyperpolarize.”

“This prevents the affected brain cells from working for a short period of time.” Dexter went on. “Don’t worry, it only affects about forty percent of your brain cells. Particularly the part of your brain that is responsible for converting short term memory into long term memory – inducing anterograde amnesia. You won’t remember anything from the time of the injection until you wake up tomorrow, including this conversation.”

“No...” Twilight shook her head, taking a hesitant step away from the colt.

“Considering the dose I gave you…” Dexter produced a small grin as he checked the computer’s clock. “Your body should have metabolized and activated most of the drug by now. You’ll fall asleep in a few minutes. You’ll wake up tomorrow, and the last thing you’ll remember is the sight of a changeling imposter standing over you just after your guard escort was ambushed…”

The lab hung in silence as Twilight processed his words.

“One heck of a misdirection for Luna if you ask me.” Dexter added. “Especially after your guard escort wakes and reports they were attacked by a changeling pretending to be you, they’ll think changelings ambushed you and took you last night instead of me.”

“Well, looks like you got me Dexter…” Twilight declared, a tired yet smug grin on her face. “It looks like all that’s left for me to do is… fall asleep.”

“If you’re thinking about talking to Princess Luna in the dreamscape before you forget everything, it won’t work.” Dexter rolled his eyes. “You think I’d be dumb enough to forget about that? I was, after all, aware of your plan to infiltrate my dreams tonight.”

“But another side effect of benzodiazepines is that it blocks R.E.M. sleep.” Dexter returned the smug grin as Twilight’s faded. “You won’t be having dreams, which means you won’t be seeing Luna…”

“Dexter… no” Twilight shook her head, another wave of fatigue washing over her as her eyes became heavy. “You, you can’t do this!” Twilight protested, though it sounded more like pleading. She knew what Dexter said had to be true, she could feel it throughout her body.

“I already have.” Dexter answered. “Don’t fight it, Twilight. There’s nothing you can do. There is no way out of this lab, your magic has been blocked, and… well, this suit amplifies my strength by a factor of one hundred, making me far stronger than you.”

Twilight shook her head again, her anxiety growing as she could feel her fatigue spike. Her mind felt foggy as she searched for the right words to say. “Dexter, please. You have to come to the Princess and tell us everything. If you know how to detect the changelings, you have to tell us! We’re not going to do anything to hurt or punish you, and all we want to do is help ponies defend themselves from changelings. You need to come out and tell us everything!” She motioned to the lab.

Dexter nearly deadpanned, holding back a scowl. “Your Princess broke my ribs, punctured my lung, fractured my spine, and tried to kill me four different times. Why in the world would I trust her, you, or anyone else?”

“Dexter, she’s not Nightmare Moon anymore.” Twilight was pleading now, her eyes beginning to droop. However, she reached over and held Dexter with her forelegs. “Please, please don’t do this to me Dexter. Don’t make me forget and then hide all this away”

Dexter eyed the mare for a moment, surprised to find himself actually considering her pleas. However, the silence was broken by a newcomer.

“Ah, there you are.” A familiar changeling declared, approaching the two ponies. Her gaze drifted between Twilight and the colt. “Am I interrupting something?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dexter turned his head, despite Twilight’s grasp. “I’m releasing you,” He answered the changeling. “Once you do a few things for me, I’ll let you go.” He glanced at Twilight for a moment before looking back at the changeling.

“You… you’re working with changelings?” Twilight asked, the distress in her voice was mixed with fatigue. Her speech began to slur as the drug in her system continued to work its way through her body. She was fighting for every moment to stay awake. “Dexter you can’… you can’t… you can’t trust them!”

“You don’t understand, Twilight.” Dexter shook his head. “I’m not working with them. I simply have an agreement with their queen.”

“You… you can’t trust them Dexter! You can’t make an agreement with them!” Twilight pleaded, losing the battle to her fatigue as he head drooped. “You can’t trust them… You can’t trust them-” With those last words, Twilight collapsed. She fell atop Dexter, unmoving and silent.

“Don’t worry, Twilight.” Dexter replied, patting her head before slowly pushing the sleeping mare off of him. “I don’t trust them.” He turned to the changeling, who greeted his gaze with a grin.

“I’m glad to finally see what it’s like outside of that box you kept me in,” The changeling began. “Though, this is a lot more than what I expected.”

“As I said, I’m releasing you.” Dexter declared curtly, reaching into one of the drawers underneath the computer’s keyboard. He retrieved a printed photograph before slamming the drawer shut, placing it on the desk before pushing it toward the changeling.

“You’re… just letting me go?” She asked skeptically, her eyes darting to the photograph before returning to the colt. She was hoping this wasn’t another one of the colt’s games. However, she was intrigued by the photograph. It was a picture of Dexter, seemingly wearing the same suit of armor he was now. Except his helmet was missing.

“Yes,” Dexter replied. “But there are three conditions. One, you take that message to your queen.” Dexter motioned toward the photograph. “Make sure she gets it and no one else.”

“A picture of you?” She asked, before turning it over. The words ‘So long as you behave’ were written on the back. “What does it mean?”

“She’ll understand,” Dexter nodded, reaching for something else inside the counter drawer.

“And the other conditions?” She asked, watching the colt as he turned away.

“Two, I want you to return Twilight Sparkle to her library home.” He motioned toward the unconscious mare. “Make sure you’re seen doing so, it will further misdirect Princess Luna’s attention toward you changelings, and hopefully draw her focus away from me.”

“Why us?” The changeling asked skeptically.

“You’re already Equestria’s boogieman.” Dexter explained. “No one will think twice about what happened here tonight if they see a changeling returning her to her home. They shouldn’t suspect me of doing anything to make her disappear for the night…”

“That’s a good point,” The changeling nodded.

“Lastly, I’m going to inject you with a harmless radioactive isotope.” Dexter answered, revealing another syringe. It had a rather hefty needle, earning a grimace from the changeling.

“Why?!” The changeling protested.

“It’s so I can find you later”

“B-but…”

“Those are my terms,” Dexter said simply, taking a step toward her. “Of course, you could just go back to sleep” He motioned toward the cryo-room, eliciting a sigh of defeat from the changeling.

…

“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Dexter declared a moment later, drawing the empty syringe away from the changeling. “Though it’s difficult to get past that carapace of yours with a needle.”

“I’m sorry that my body inconveniences you,” She replied sarcastically.

“Hey, you could have made it easier by turning into a pony or something softer.” Dexter retorted with a grin.

“I can’t! Not with your magic-stopper things!” The changeling countered.

“Oh, right. Forgot about that.” Dexter rolled his eyes sheepishly as he scratched his head. “Well, it was nice… learning about you.”

“You’ll excuse me if I don’t compliment your hospitality.” The changeling deadpanned. “It’s not like you didn’t freeze me every night.”

“Well, what did we learn about attacking me?” Dexter replied curtly.

“I didn’t attack you, I was just trying to scare information out of you.” The changeling defended. “And you’re the one who hit me with a falling rafter.”

“After you chased me through the whole school!” Dexter countered.

“After you hit me with a chair!”

“After you scared me by throwing that desk against the wall!”

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry- I hope the desk is okay!” The changeling quipped sarcastically. “Maybe I deserved to be kidnapped and frozen five million times for my crimes against carpentry!”

Dexter deadpanned. “Get out of my laboratory.”

The changeling merely watched Dexter with a grimace. However, after a few moments her frown softened. “Listen, Dexter. If you need help keeping your secrets from the ponies, you can always blame us.” The changeling advised. “I believe they are going to question you soon. They’ll want an explanation for everything they suspect you of, but I am sure you’ll be able to find a way to keep your secret. But always remember, when they question you, you can always just blame us.”

“Hmm…” Dexter rubbed his chin before turning away from the changeling. “Something to think about.”

“Though you should know,” The changeling went on. “Attacking an Element of Harmony will provoke a large response, especially this one.” She motioned toward the sleeping Twilight Sparkle.

“I expected as much. But the town is already in lockdown by the Solar and Lunar guard.” Dexter took a moment to look back at the computer monitor. “When you are finished returning Twilight to the library, find a secluded place. I’ll then have you teleported outside of the guard perimeter. From there, you’re free.”

“Easy enough,” The changeling replied, seizing the picture with a hoof before sliding it under one of her wings. She then walked over to the slumbering form of Twilight, reaching down to sling the unicorn over her back. “Somepony going to show me the way out?”

“Quadraplex…” Dexter motioned with a hoof. Less than a second later the changeling disappeared in a flash of white light.

---

A loud thump roused Spike from his sleep, causing him to jump before looking at the bed beside him. The form of an unconscious Twilight was sprawled haphazardly over the other bed. It looked uncomfortable, and there was no way she could sleep like that. “Twilight?” Spike rubbed his eyes drearily.

“Go back to sleep, Spike.” Came the reply in Twilight’s very own voice, though it didn’t come from the mare that was thrown onto the bed.

Turning at the motion he saw in the corner of his eye, Spike spotted another Twilight standing at the foot of her bed.

The sight caused the sleepy dragon’s gaze to dart from the prone Twilight to the imposter and back again several times. Eventually, the imposter let out an exaggerated sigh

“Oh Spike…” The other Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes slowly as her irises faded from lavender to a vibrant green. Eventually they locked back onto the baby dragon. “This would have been so much easier if you had just gone back to sleep.”

“Ch-Changeling!” Spike shouted, trying to jump to his tiny feet. However, an aura of green magic seized the blanket off his bed, causing it to wrap around him. It covered his entire body and face, cocooning spike before he could let out another word.

“Teleport her away now, Quadraplex.” Dexter instructed, watching the monitor as the changeling slowly turned away from the baby dragon. After a quick flash of light on the screen the second Twilight was gone.

A second video appeared on the computer monitor, revealing that the second Twilight had been teleported to a distant and empty field. She merely checked her surroundings as a wave of green light washed over her. An unfamiliar pegasus was now standing where the fake Twilight was moments before. Taking one last look at the picture of Dexter she had, the pegasus leapt into the air, disappearing from view.

---

Of course, the following morning was rather eventful.

After seeing the changeling off, Dexter returned to his room in the apple family’s house. He had left his holographic replacement running all night, just in case anyone came looking for him. It was actually writing out a book report on Nightmare Moon, directed to do so by Quadraplex no doubt.

However, it was nearly 5am when he got a knock on his bedroom door. It was big Macintosh, he had noticed the colt’s light was on.

“Dex?” The stallion pushed into Dexter’s bedroom. “What are ya doing up?”

“I, uh, couldn’t sleep,” Dexter answered, before motioning to the stack of paper in front of him. “So I worked on my report.”

“Why didn’t ya say something, Dex?” The stallion tilted his head. “We coulda gave ya warm cider er somethin.” Before Dexter could reply, big mac’s head tilted toward the window behind the colt. “What is that?”

Dexter turned, peering out of the window for himself. Two columns of guards were approaching the orchard. Several more pegasi could be seen flying in formation overhead.

“Looks like they’re sending in the clones.” Dexter quipped sarcastically.

“Wait here.” The stallion instructed before quickly leaving the room. Soon enough he was outside, approaching what appeared to be the leader of the guards. Their conversation was muffled by the glass, and ended quickly enough. Dexter didn’t have the chance to focus on listening. The lead guard had said something to Big Mac, before waving his hoof and shouting a command to the guards. They immediately broke formation and formed several small groups that proceeded to move throughout the orchard.

The intent of the guards was made clear soon enough, they were going to search the entire orchard for any sign of changelings. Dexter had expected such a response, and prepared for it. The entrance to his lab was properly concealed.

It wasn’t long before the guards rounded up the entire Apple family. To say the Apple family was upset by the farm being scoured would be an understatement. However, their confusion quickly evaporated once the guards began to explain the reason for their visit.

Needless to say, Applejack was more than concerned to learn that one of her good friends had been ambushed by changelings last night while trying to make her way to the farm. Not only was she now concerned about her friend’s well-being, but she worried that the farm might not be safe for the rest of her family.

“Do you think there are any changelings on the orchard?” Big Mac asked a unicorn guard, echoing Applejack’s concerns. The guard in question had been the one explaining the situation to the Apples in their home’s kitchen. “Is mah family safe?”

“That’s what this search is aimed to determine,” The guard replied simply. “Guards were also sent to the homes of the other elements to make sure they were safe.”

“Where is Twilight now?” Applejack pressed.

“She’s at the Ponyville clinic.” The unicorn answered. “From what I was told, she was found unconscious and we have been unable to wake her. They transported her to the clinic for evaluation.”

Applejack hardly needed to glance at her brother to convey what she was thinking. “Go.” Big Mac motioned with his head, knowing nothing could stop Applejack from checking on her friend.

The guard seemed to pick up on it as well. “Actually, we have orders to escort you to the clinic as well.” The guard replied, before scanning the room to lock eyes on Dexter. “Along with the colt named Dexter.”

“What?” Dexter feigned confusion. “Why me?”

The guard glanced back at Applejack. “I wasn’t told the reason we are to bring the colt, just that the orders came directly from the Princess.”

The trip into Ponyville was short and quiet; the streets had yet to be filled with the typical morning activity. It gave Dexter time to think about his actions of the past night.

Being honest with himself, Dexter felt guilty for putting the Apple family through all of this. When he ambushed Twilight Sparkle and framed the changelings for it, he knew guards would likely respond by searching the farm.

But he had to be sure that Nightmare Moon had been truly defeated on her return to Equestria. Fortunately for him, Twilight Sparkle was one of the few ponies that were uniquely qualified to answer that question. Twilight had personal experience with Princess Luna, was present during Nightmare Moon’s second defeat, and was also an expert in magic. That, along with the fact that Twilight was the Element of Magic, could guarantee she would be both accurate in her assessment of Luna and free from any forms of magical manipulation.

All in all, Dexter felt justified in his decision. Despite feeling guilty, if his trip to the past taught him anything it was that he couldn’t take chances with the likes of Nightmare Moon.

However, the group of ponies had just entered the town when Dexter was drawn from his thoughts at the sound of his name.

“Hey Dex,” Applejack began, prompting the colt to look up at her. “Do you know why the princess wants ta see ya?” Dexter remained silent.

“Does it have something to do with what you lied to the guards about?” Applejack pressed sternly, her words earning the attention of the escorting guards as well.

“No,” Dexter lied flatly, eliciting a frown from Applejack as she stopped in place. When he noticed she had disappeared from his side, he glanced back over his shoulder before coming to a stop. Applejack’s reproachful grimace caused Dexter to let out an exasperated sigh. “Can you please just drop it, Applejack?”

“Do ya really expect me ta do that?” Applejack approached Dexter, rounding him to stand in his path. “Ah want ta know what you lied ta the guard about, and I want ta know the truth right now. Ya understand?”

“Nothing has changed from our previous conversation. I have nothing to say to you, to the guards, or the princess.” Dexter shook his head, attempting to sidestep the mare and press on. However, he had only gotten a few feet before he felt himself being picked up.

Applejack had sat on her haunches, grabbing the colt with her forelegs before sitting him down on the ground in front of her. Much to his annoyance, there wasn’t much he could do to resist the motion. He was always small, but he was starting to get tired of it.

“Talk. Now. Dexter.” Applejack ordered, keeping her hooves on Dexter’s shoulders. However, Dexter merely responded by returning Applejack’s gaze while folding his forelegs. That’s when Applejack’s ears pressed back against her head. “I ain’t playing around, Dex. Now tell me what ya hid from that guard when you lied to em’.” She raised her voice a little.

Dexter let out a sigh, letting his gaze fall. He didn’t know why, but a part of him felt rather guilty for having tricked Applejack in the past. He felt even worse now as he sought a way to trick her again. Of course, he couldn’t outright lie to her. The element of honesty made a point to him that it wouldn’t let him lie to her anymore.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t withhold information from her.

A part of him felt like he should be willing to trust her with the truth. If there was one pony he was starting to trust, it was her. But trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

“Applejack, do you recall what I said last time you asked me that?” Dexter looked back up at the mare. She was still frowning.

“Yes, an’ I don’t care.” Applejack replied. “I want the truth, now.”

“You should care-”

“I don’t.”

Dexter sighed before speaking again, the stern tone of his voice matching hers. “Remember that I said I wasn’t going to talk because it might draw the attention of the changelings? And that they might hurt you, or a member of your family in their effort to find out what I know?”

Applejack watched at the colt, letting him continue.

“Well, you might not know this. But Princess Luna already confronted me with the same question that the guards asked when I lied.” Dexter explained.

“Then why does she want to talk to you now?” Applejack tilted her head in surprise, eliciting a nod from the colt. “When didja’ speak with her?”

“Yesterday, when I visited the library for a book on Nightmare Moon to use in my report for Ms. Cheerilee.” Dexter went on. “She was in the library, and she asked me the same question those guards did.”

“Did you tell her the truth?” Applejack locked eyes with the colt.

“I am not going to discuss any detail of that conversation with you Applejack,” Dexter refused. “Ms. Sparkle was present when Princess Luna asked me questions. Then that very night she gets ambushed.”

“Now you’re the element honesty, so you should know what I am saying is the truth; and I can tell you for certain that the ambush of Twilight Sparkle occurred as a direct result of her hearing what I had to say.” Dexter went on. “So in the end, nothing has changed. If I talked to you or the guards it would still put you and your family at risk.”

Applejack continued to eye the colt as her grip remained firm. There were a few second of silence while she seemingly processed his words. “Yer not being honest with me, Dexter.” Applejack eventually declared. “Yer hiding something from me that ya should be tellin’ me, an’ yer usin’ that tired argument as an excuse not to.”

“Yes I am keeping things from you, Applejack,” Dexter rebutted. “I said so to your face just a moment ago. But regardless of my personal reasons for doing so, my ‘excuse’ is still true. You or your family could get hurt if I gave you information that the changelings might want.”

“Like it or not, Applejack, you’re the Element of Honesty.” Dexter went on, returning Applejack’s frown. “That makes you indispensable to Equestria. You’re needed in case Discord or Nightmare Moon start causing problems again…”

“Besides… I,” Dexter hesitated for a moment. “I genuinely don’t want to see you, or Apple Bloom, or Big Mac, get hurt.”

“So I am not going to give you any information that will make you a target for changelings.” Dexter finished, attempting to push Applejack’s hooves away. However, she merely tightened her grasp on him.

“I’ll risk it.” Applejack declared. Dexter’s words didn’t seem to alleviate Applejack’s frown, it fact they seemed to make it worse. As far as she knew, the changelings had already attacked one of her friends, and she wanted some answers.

“I won’t.” Dexter refused.

“That ain’t for an eight-year-old foal like you ta decide!” Applejack raised her voice, it was the first time Dexter had actually seen her do it out of anger. “Now quit stonewallin’ me.”

“Look, Applejack. If Princess Luna wanted you to know what I told her and Twilight Sparkle, she would have told you by now.” Dexter replied. “She asked me the same question the guards did, and I answered her. Is it difficult to assume that Luna hasn’t told you anything because it’s better that you do not know?”

Applejack bit her lip, getting fed up. “Alright, fine.” Her response was quick, clearly masking her frustration. “We’ll just have ask Princess Luna about it. If she says so, I’ll drop it.”

“Can’t you just… drop it without asking her?” Dexter asked sheepishly, realizing he may have just made his predicament a little worse.

“No.”

---

The rest of the trip to the Ponyville clinic was uneventful. Applejack was quickly separated from Dexter upon their arrival. The guards were expecting both of them, but only Applejack was permitted to proceed to the room where Twilight was sleeping.

The heavy presence of guards was the only thing out of place for the ordinary hospital room Twilight was kept in. Applejack arrived to find her four other friends were already at Twilight’s bedside, accompanied by the princess and one of the hospital’s doctors. A few of the ponies turned to Applejack before nodding, acknowledging her arrival. Princess Luna, however, took a moment to scan the farm mare with her magic before nodding; satisfied that Applejack was not a changeling.

“Do you know when she will wake up?” Fluttershy asked, her voice filled with concern as she glanced at the doctor. The butter-yellow Pegasus sat at Twilight’s beside along with Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie had taken up a position at the foot of Twilight’s bed.

“It’s hard to say,” Doctor Band-Aid replied. “She will probably wake up in the next hour or so.”

“But she’ll be alright?” Rarity asked.

“She should be, yes. Physically she is healthy.” He answered, attempting to reassure the mares.

“And I found no magic cast upon her.” Princess Luna added.

“However, the reason we cannot wake her is that she has been drugged; with a benzo to be specific” Band-Aid went on.

“Then she’ll be okay.” Fluttershy muttered.

“That’s correct.” The doctor replied. “Benzodiazepines are a very common sedative, we use it here all the time. The dose she received was high but still safe.”

“However, we cannot assess her mental health until she wakes up.” Band-Aid finished. “Which is always a question when dealing with changeling victims.”

“That will be all, thank you Doctor Band-Aid.” Luna dismissed, causing Doctor Band-Aid to nod before leaving the room. “I’m such an idiot, Tia’s going to kill me.”

“Ah beg yer pardon?” Applejack asked, blinking in confusion at Luna.

“I said Tia’s going to kill me.” Luna repeated before letting out a huff. “Not only did I get her personal student hurt, I put an Element of Harmony at risk.”

“What do you mean, Princess?” Rainbow Dash asked, furrowing her brown in confusion. “This wasn’t your fault, the changelings are the ones who attacked Twilight.”

“I was the one who sent Twilight out last night,” Luna explained. “She was investigating a lead for me.”

“It was so stupid of me.” Luna went on, resisting the urge to kick herself. “Twilight was an obvious target for the changelings.”

“She knows everything we learned about the changeling detecting device we found,” Luna went on, listing what came to mind. “She knows about our plans to prevent the escape of the changelings we have as prisoners; and she knows about our plans to catch other changelings that may be hidden in Ponyville. In fact, Twilight even has personal information regarding my sister that might be of value to an enemy.”

“And what do I do?” Luna stomped. “I sent her out in the dead of night with only a few guards for protection!”

“I should have seen it coming. I would have ambushed her if I were in the changeling’s position.” Luna finished, heaving a sigh of disappointment.

“I… was told she was coming ta mah farm last night.” Applejack began. “Does it have something to do with Dexter?”

“Yes, actually.” Luna replied, a note of surprise in her voice. “Yesterday I asked the colt for what he knew regarding a device found in this hospital, as well as a number of other things for which he has earned suspicion.”

“After some persuasion, we indeed got an answer from him.” Luna went on. “But I doubted his honesty. He proved to be… less than forthcoming with his answers.”

“I decided to question him again in the dreamscape,” Luna explained. “But he wasn’t asleep last night. Which prompted me to send Twilight out to investigate.”

“I wish to question him again.” Luna glanced at the sleeping form of Twilight before turning back to Applejack. “He is not allowed to leave until I see him.”

Applejack nodded in agreement, no shortage of frustration with the colt threatening to boil up within her. “He’s down the hall, Ah can go get him.”

Luna shook her head. “Soon, but not yet. I have to be here when Twilight wakes up.”

---

“I don’t see the need for these tests, Ms. Aura.” Dexter complained as the unicorn in question used her magic to place small sensors over various parts of him. The colt was seated at a table, which was completely clear save for one picture book. He had to push away the wires attached to the sensors on his forehead to prevent them from getting tangled with his glasses. “And I also do not have the time, I am already missing enough school as it is.”

Avid Aura had to suppress a chuckle as she plugged the wires into a nearby wall port. The psychologist had seen many reluctant patients, but children who got to skip school typically didn’t complain. “Nonsense, Dexter.” The unicorn replied. “You have plenty of time, in fact we both do given that no one is currently allowed to leave.” She motioned toward a guard stationed by the door.

“Do you even have permission to run these tests?” Dexter challenged with a frown, folding his forelegs.

“Yes,” Aura replied. “Princess Luna wanted you examined, and Applejack had already agreed to bring you back here for a follow-up after that little incident a few days ago, when you got high off that herb from the everfree.”

“Which is why you’re getting a complete work up. The physical we just gave you was at the request of Princess Luna. But while we wait on the results, I’m giving you the psychological exam Applejack and I agreed upon during your last visit.”

“Though I would already be working up a psyche profile on you had you been honest on your questionnaire, but now we have to do this test instead.” Aura added, pointing at the sensors placed across Dexter’s body.

“I didn’t lie, and Luna has no business having me examined.”

“You don’t say ‘no’ to the princess,” Avid answered. “And you did lie on your questionnaire, it was meant to gauge your emotional state and you scored as perfectly balanced.”

“So what’s the problem?” Dexter refuted.

Avid rolled her eyes. “What would be the emotional state for an eight year who has been separated from his parents, lives in a town in the middle of a changeling scare, had his teacher foalnapped by a changeling, and has been dragged into a hospital in the early morning by a bunch of royal guards?”

Aura finished by stopping to look Dexter in the eye. “Scared? Confused? Maybe a little angry? But certainly not ‘normal.’”

“All that means is that I have a strong emotional constitution.” Dexter frowned.

“Oh, so you’re a just little ‘tough guy?’” Avid rebuffed, translating his verbiage. “Well, if that’s the case then this test will just confirm it. But I think it is more likely that you’re a very smart little colt who intentionally skewed his answers to the test in order to manipulate his results.”

What followed was a rather simple test. Dexter was instructed to flip through a book which contained a series of pictures. He was supposed to ‘linger on and contemplate’ each picture for a few minutes before passing onto the next.

Avid Aura then quickly left the room before reappearing in an adjacent room. The wall between them was mostly glass, which she tapped on in order to instruct him to begin looking at the book.

Dexter knew she was using some form of magic to record his emotional responses to each picture as he started flipping through the images. Unsurprisingly, the images ranged from pictures of fierce dragons to puppies with pleading eyes.

“Hey wait a second, the test is not finished yet-“

Dexter’s concentration was broken by the sound of someone opening the door. He locked up to spot Princess Luna pushing into the room. She fixed the colt in a stern gaze. “Dexter.” Her tone matched her expression, letting the colt know she was not going to tolerate any lies or deceit on his part.

Dexter, however, didn’t hear his name. The moment he caught sight of Luna his blood shot to a boil. His breathing became slow and heavy as he fought to keep his composure. He had to press his forelegs against the table in front of him to prevent them from trembling in his anger. He was dreading the moment he would come face to face with Princess Luna. After seeing her as Nightmare Moon during his trip to the past, he had come to hate her.

However, Dexter was not surprised by how much anger he was feeling. He knew he hated Luna for what she had done to him and everyone else as Nightmare Moon.

Dexter felt something break. It came just in time though; he had an outward façade to maintain. The events of Nightmare Moon that he experienced were a thousand years ago after all, but those dreadful nights was less than a day old for him.

“I’m sorry, what was that Ms. Sparkle? I didn’t catch that.” Dexter asked politely, maintaining a voice devoid of anger. Somewhere in his attempt to reign in his emotions, he noticed Twilight had entered the room behind Princess Luna and said something. Though he didn’t catch what it was. “I’m glad to see that you’re well.” He added.

“Thank you, Dexter.” Twilight nodded, appearing to be genuinely appreciative. “And I said that I’m glad to see you’re fine. After being ambushed on my way to Sweet Apple Acres, I was afraid the changelings might have done something to you or the Apples.”

“We’re all fine,” Dexter answered, before glancing at Luna then back at Twilight. The princess had taken to sitting on her haunches on the opposite side of the table to Dexter. She was tall enough that she sat over Dexter, despite the fact she didn’t have a chair and he did. “But why in the world were you on the way to the farm last night?”

“We’ll be the ones asking questions, Dexter.” Luna spoke, causing Dexter to turn back toward her.

Dexter frowned at the princess. “What the heck do you want?”

“You will address me with respect, whelp.” Luna ordered sternly, her scrutinizing gaze was intended to let the colt know she was in no mood for any games. “And you will answer my questions directly and honestly.”

“Or you’ll threaten me again?” Dexter rebutted. After a few seconds of silence Luna’s gaze drifted downward.

“I did not threaten you, Dexter. But I do apologize for scaring you yesterday at the library,” Luna replied. “It was a mistake to be sure.” She looked back up to colt to meet his eyes. “But it was somewhat justified, I needed to know what you were withholding from me, and you weren’t being honest.”

“And you still haven’t been completely honest with me, Dexter.” Luna went on. “However, to make it clear that I do not intend to scare you again, I am extending the offer I made to you yesterday.”

“You can tell me anything, right now, and you will not get in trouble.” Luna offered. “Even if you have done something against the law, I promise you there will be no penalty if you are honest and tell me now.”

“There is nothing to tell, princess.” Dexter folded his forelegs.

“Are you sure that is what you want to tell me?” Luna asked, her tone was that of a warning. Dexter didn’t respond. “My offer of amnesty expires the moment you tell a lie or withhold something relevant from me. Now, can you honestly tell me that you know nothing of importance; that there is nothing you have held back from me?”

“Yup,” Dexter had hardly finished uttering the word before a loud sound of tapping on glass reached his ears. He turned toward the glass window to the observation room, only to find Applejack glaring back at him. Her ears were folded back as she wore a frown, clearly not happy with his answer.

“It seems that Applejack would disagree,” Luna noted. “The reason she isn’t in here already is that I wanted to give you the chance to explain yourself willingly. Are you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”

“Of course I am holding some things back from you, Princess. There are plenty of private things I do not want to share with you.” Dexter began, irritation filling his tone. “If you want an explanation for something I’ve done, or think I’ve done, then please ask more specific questions.”

“Very well,” Luna glanced at Twilight before turning back to the colt. “For starters, where were you last night?”

Dexter sighed. “From the time you let me leave the library to this morning when your guards dragged me here, I was only at the Apple’s farm.” When the colt finished he glanced at Applejack.

The farm pony clearly wasn’t happy with that answer, but she didn’t respond to it. Dexter silently recalled what the Element of Honesty had told him during his trip to the past; that it would guide its future bearer to make him more honest. Which probably meant that Applejack could tell that his answer was technically truthful, though still meant to conceal something from Luna.

“Why couldn’t I find you in the dreamscape?” Luna pressed.

“What?” Dexter titled his head as he furrowed his eyebrows, feigning ignorance. “What were you doing looking for me in the dreamscape?”

“Answer the question, Dex-“

“No!” Dexter pointed an accusatory hoof at the princess. “Not until you tell me why you were trying to snoop around my dreams!”

“You lied,” Luna answered simply. “Yesterday when I asked you about the changeling detecting device, you wouldn’t cooperate with me until after I scared you; and I suspect you still withheld something from me.”

“So you decide to violate my dreams based on your suspicions?” Dexter accused.

“Only to view your memories.” Luna clarified.

“You. Had. No. Right!”

“I have every right,” Luna countered. “Both in my duties as princess, and to forward my investigation here. Now answer the question, why weren’t you in the dreamscape?” Luna ordered.

Dexter merely glared at the princess for a few silent moments. “You already know why,” The colt turned his saddle bags, which were resting against the chair he was sitting on. Soon enough he produced at stack of paper, pushing it onto the table. “Cheerilee punished me by making me write a report about you.”

“I spent all night, or at least the majority of it, researching you.” Dexter finished as Twilight used her magic to retrieve the stack of papers. She wasn’t surprised to find it was in fact a historical report about Nightmare Moon.

“How convenient,” Luna replied, only glancing at the paper in Twilight’s magical grasp. “A perfectly innocent explanation.”

“Hey, that is the truth, everything I did last night was to learn about you.” Dexter replied, pointing at the paper. “If you don’t believe me you can ask your resident lie detector.” He pointed at Applejack through the glass window. She was still frowning. “Happy now?”

“I think you’re not telling me something,” Luna replied instantly.

“In fact, I think there is a lot of things you need to explain.” Luna went on, starting to list off the mysteries around the colt in her mind. “To begin, before two weeks ago there is essentially no record of your existence, anywhere.”

“No hospital records, no birth record, no school records, no records of any kind.” Luna approached the colt once more. “It’s almost like you didn’t exist. Your appearance here seems to be just as sudden and mysterious as the changeling detector found in the hospital room you stayed in.”

“On top of that,” Twilight began, approaching Dexter. “Spike says he saw you fighting the changelings that infiltrated your surprise party at the Cake’s bakery.”

“Spike should have his eyes examined,” Dexter rebuffed.

Luna frowned, disapproving of the colt’s persisting flippant attitude. “That isn’t all Dexter, a little over a week ago I saw a colt with a white coat and an orange mane steal the diagrams Twilight made of the changeling detecting device. This colt also left us with pictures, pointing out that Cheerilee had been replaced with a changeling…”

“Do you know how many colts in Ponyville fit that description exactly?” Luna returned her gaze to Dexter. He offered no reply. “One.”

“And then…” Luna stood before approaching the colt. Her height reminded him how much bigger she was than he. “The one night I decide to visit you in the dreamscape, you are nowhere to be found. When I send Twilight Sparkle to find you, she gets attacked by changelings.”

“And all you have to say is, ‘I was writing a book report.’” Luna finished. “Is that about right?”

“Yes.” Dexter answered, however after a moment of silence he noticed Luna was still casting a stern gaze toward him. “This is insane…” Dexter put a hoof to his forehead, seemingly trying to rub away a headache. “And I suppose you have some brilliant theory to explain HOW I did all of these things you are accusing me of?”

“Simple, you are a magic user.” Twilight answered.

“I cannot perform magic, Twilight.” Dexter replied with a frown. “And even if I could, from what I understand, it takes years to master. There is no way I could have possibly used magic to do all the things you’re accusing me of.”

“That is true. Even I have difficulty believing that a foal as young as you could ever possibly master magic enough to perform feats we have witnessed, or that you have allegedly performed.” Luna admitted. “But during the many years of my life I have seen many strange things. I’ve learned not to exclude any theory when more sensible ones have been exhausted, including the possibility that a smart, clever little foal might be able to figure out how to do some extraordinary things. Especially one that has a masterful understanding of magical principles.”

“Oh, so now I am a master mage?” Dexter scoffed. “This is crazy. I believe the phrase is, ‘have you been hanging out with Lyra or something?’” He took a brief moment to glance at the window, only to find Applejack and Avid Aura missing.

Despite the colt’s façade of ignorance, a part of him was nearly boiling over with rage at the sight of Princess Luna. However, he managed to keep a lid on his emotions. Barely. He just hoped Avid Aura’s emotional monitoring device wasn’t able to see through his façade.

“No,” Twilight smiled, using her magic to put down Dexter’s report before retrieving her own stack of papers. Dexter recognized them instantly, it was the solution to Clover’s Conundrum. “You already proved that you have the potential to master magical principles when you solved Clover’s Conundrum.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Dexter raised an eyebrow. He feigned ignorance as he took and examined the paper Twilight had produced. They let him look at it for a few moments in silence.

“Dexter,” Twilight spoke up once more. However, this time her tone was less confrontational. “I wanted you to know I told the scientists examining your solution where it came from. Even after some… resistance, I insisted on making sure you got credit for your solution.”

“What are you talking about, Twilight?” Dexter feigned confusion, glancing up at the mare.

“Your solution.” Twilight answered, motioning toward the papers. “To Clover’s Conundrum; I told everypony that you were the one who found it. And I just wanted you to know, I always intended to be honest about it… I just got lost in the excitement.”

“I see you’re more delusional than I thought.” Dexter quipped.

“What?” Twilight shook her head.

“I’ve never seen this before in my life.” Dexter replied simply.

“Dexter, what are you talking about?” Twilight replied, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“This isn’t mine,” Dexter retorted, pointing to the solution. “I never wrote this. I did not solve Clover’s Conundrum.”

“Yes, it is Dexter.” Twilight reproached, casting an accusatory hoof at the colt. “I saw you write it out. You solved the entire thing right in front of me.”

“I… think you should have your head examined,” Dexter shrugged. “The changelings might have done something to it to get you to say this. I’ve never even attempted to solve Clover’s Conundrum.”

“You… you…” Twilight began to tremble as he voice became strained. “After you accusing me of stealing credit for it! After lecturing me and calling me tribalist! You won’t even tell the truth to claim credit for yourself!?”

“Do you really think an eight year old child like me could solve that? When the best scholars in all of Equestria could not for nine centuries?” Dexter pointed. The truth was, he could think of a better counter-argument over that tired cliché of a response, but a part of him enjoyed watching Twilight melt down.

“Dexter!” Twilight was grinding her teeth now. “I told the truth! And when I did, I got major resistance from scientists in Canterlot! But I insisted on the truth anyway! I stuck my neck out for this! I went out on a limb for you, to tell the truth like you demanded!”

“If you deny solving this, they’ll dismiss the claim out of hoof!” Twilight fumed. “And then they’ll never believe any claim I make again! My career as a scientist will forever be tarnished!”

“Well…” Dexter fought the urge to grin. “I’m glad to see the scientists in Canterlot have some sense on this issue, but I suggest you immediately write a retraction and an apology as soon as-“ However, Dexter never got to finish. Twilight had reared up on her hind legs before stomping back down onto the ground. However, the instant her hooves returned to the floor, something Dexter had never seen before occurred.

Twilight’s coat seemingly turned white as her mane exploded into flames. At first, Dexter was so surprised by the display he could only recoil, nearly falling out of his chair.

The fireworks lasted only for a few moments, but longer than a few seconds. The fire disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving an overcooked lavender unicorn behind. Despite being slightly singed, the mare was fine.

“That’s it, I quit.” Twilight collapsed to the floor, slumping in defeat. “I give up.”

Dexter merely watched the mare for a few seconds. “Cool!” The eight year old blurted out.

“No… twas not cool but rather heated, did you not notice the flames?” Luna replied, tapping her chin as she glanced over Twilight.

“How did you do that?!” Dexter asked the slumped unicorn, noticing she had not used her horn during the display. Dexter was already hypothesizing on ways he could make the unicorn equivalent of a magic generating potato battery.

Twilight, however, responded with nothing more than a defeated sigh.

“Back to the matter at hoof…” Luna cut in. “Dexter, you need to explain a few things. You need to be honest with us now.”

Dexter frowned once more as he turned his attention back to the princess. “I maintain what I told you at the library yesterday, princess. But I would like to add that I have never used magic.” Dexter emphasized.

Luna maintained her stern gaze on the colt.

“Look, if you don’t believe me you can get the element of honesty in here right now to ask me the same question. Applejack will know I am telling the truth.” Dexter answered, motioning toward where the farm pony was standing. “I can tell you with one hundred percent honesty that: I. Have. Never. Used. Magic. Ever; at least to my knowledge. And I most certainly didn’t use magic to fight changelings at the bakery, to steal diagrams, or anything else you think you saw me do.”

“Now the little fact that I have never used magic should not only allow you to conclude that I didn’t do any of these things you think I did; but should also allow you to safely conclude that I couldn’t have possibly done them.” Dexter stated. “Unless you truly believe that someone could do these things without the use of magic?”

The room hung in a silence for a few moments as Luna continued to watch the colt. He was right about one thing, she couldn’t conceive of anyone accomplishing the feats she and the town had witnessed without the use of magic. Of course she knew that Dexter’s explanation was playing toward her preconceptions about magic, and what one could and could not do without it. However, she couldn’t entirely dismiss what he was saying.

“But wait a minute,” Twilight spoke up, choosing to rejoin the conversation. “The changeling detector device we found didn’t use any form of magic.”

“Correction,” Dexter turned toward Twilight. “You don’t THINK it used magic, but you don’t know for certain.” He turned back toward Luna. “You never fully deciphered how that device worked. For all you know it could have used magic, just a form you were unfamiliar with or simply didn’t detect. Same goes for all the other gadgets you found.”

Luna continued to watch the colt, deep in thought as she considered his words. Of course, she thought a large portion of his argument was irrelevant. The cannon recovered from the fight at the bakery indicated that the user did not use magic, as a unicorn would have likely used spells to combat the changelings and would not have required a cannon or any other weapon.

However, what she couldn’t get over was the fact that the same cannon had been teleported right before her eyes. The very thought of teleportation without magic was inconceivable. And if he wasn’t the one responsible for teleporting the cannon away from her, then at the very least someone else was involved.

“I cannot dismiss the fact that some of the things I’ve witnessed would undoubtedly require magic,” Luna eventually replied. “But that does not mean you are uninvolved. Perhaps someone is aiding you.”

“I do not have a magic wielding accomplice.” Dexter replied.

“Twilight,” Luna’s glanced at the unicorn. “During the thousand years of my absence, has there ever been an instance were teleportation was achieved without the use of magic? Is there a way anypony could have teleported that cannon we had secured from the bakery without the use of magic? Is teleportation without magic possible?”

“No, your Highness. I can’t think of any.” Twilight admitted. “I do not believe teleportation without magic is possible.”

“Okay, if you didn’t do these things, then why does it look like you did?” Luna pressed. “Why does Spike say he saw you fighting the changelings at the bakery? Why did I see a colt with your exact coat color and mane color?”

“If I were innocent, if you finally believe I didn’t do those things, do you really think I would have an explanation for that?” Dexter answered sharply, letting his frustration into his tone. He was smart enough to know that a normal eight year old child in his position, and who was actually innocent, wouldn’t have an explanation. Luna was just baiting him with the question, trying to see if he would offer up some information he wasn’t supposed to have.

The princess was fishing, and gave the colt enough rope to hang himself with. Of course, he wasn’t going to take the bait.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Dexter. I don’t believe you.” Luna answered back. “But you’re a smart colt, why don’t you speculate an answer for me.”

“I don’t know, maybe a changeling was impersonating me...” Dexter shrugged.

“So a changeling decided to impersonate you,” Luna pointed at the colt. “In order to reveal another changeling impersonating your teacher, to beat up a bunch of other changelings at the bakery, and then convenient leave us a cannon only to steal it away later?” Luna listed.

“Hey, it’s your job to figure this stuff out. Don’t blame me if you’re not smart enough.” Dexter shrugged. Luna frowned before letting out a huff of annoyance.

“I grow tired of this, and my patience is spent.” Luna leaned her head toward the observation room, a glow building in her horn. A quick flash of light removed Applejack from the adjacent room and teleported her to Luna’s side. “Applejack?”

---

Several minutes earlier.

“Applejack?” Avid Aura approached the farm pony, who appeared to be intensely focused on the exchange going on between Twilight, Luna and Dexter. Other than a pair of royal guards standing by the door, the farm pony was alone. She didn’t respond until Avid Aura tapped her with a hoof, causing her to instinctively turn away from the display unfolding in the other room.

“Yeah, Doc. What is it?” Applejack asked, turning back to watch Dexter and Princess Luna once more.

“We need to talk.” Avid Aura replied.

“Can it wait? The princess asked me ta-“ Applejack began, only to be cut off by the unicorn.

“No,” Aura interrupted, earning Applejack’s gaze once more. “The results from Dexter’s physical just came back.”

“And?”

“Somepony broke Dexter’s ribs.” Avid Aura answered.

“What?” Applejack recoiled in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Avid Aura answered. “Two of his ribs on his right side were broken, and recently. We know for certain it happened within the past few days, as his broken ribs weren’t present during his last physical” Avid Aura explained. “Which was only a few days ago, when you brought him into the clinic because he was acting strange due to the plant from the everfree he had eaten.”

“Also, judging from the bruising pattern, it would appear that his ribs were broken because somepony kicked him.” Avid Aura finished.

Applejack, having been completely distracted from what was going on inside the other room, glanced back at Dexter with a look of concern. “Why doesn’t he show any signs? Why hasn’t he complained?”

“It also appears somepony used a large amount of magic to try and mend the wound.” Avid Aura explained, turning to observe the colt herself. “Furthermore, judging by how well the ribs have been healed, it must have been a very powerful magic user who did the mending, one who was also extremely skilled.”

“Which means, somepony else knew about Dexter’s broken ribs.” Avid Aura went on. “Has anypony said anything to you about this?”

“What, no.” Applejack shook her head. “I have no idea how this could have happened, and no pony told me anything!”

“I believe you, Applejack.” Avid Aura replied. Just from reputation alone, Avid Aura knew Applejack would have done anything possible to protect a child she was caring for. That reputation also made Avid Aura feel slightly worried about what Applejack would do to the pony responsible for breaking Dexter’s ribs when she found out who did it.

“Do you know who did this?” Applejack asked, a hint of anger hidden in her voice.

However, Avid didn’t reply immediately. Her attention was drawn to a device tucked into the corner of the room. It was the machine she had set up to monitor Dexter’s emotions, and worked by drawing several lines being drawn on a roll of paper, which was continuously spewed out an ever growing sheet. “No…” Avid Aura replied curiously as she approached the device. “I don’t know who kicked him.”

Applejack had turned back toward Dexter, watching him with a mix of concern. However, she quickly frowned as she heard Dexter state a lie.

“This isn’t mine,” Dexter retorted, pointing to a piece of paper. “I never wrote this. I did not solve Clover’s Conundrum.”

“Why can’t he just be honest?” Applejack sighed in frustration, noticing how silent Avid Aura had become. Giving the unicorn a glance, Applejack noted another look of concern on the unicorn’s face. “Something wrong, Doc?”

“He’s… a sociopath.” Avid Aura noted in concern, reading the data the device was spewing out.

“A what?” Applejack turned back toward the mare.

“His emotional responses are consistent with an individual in the middle stages of acquired sociopathy.” Avid Aura replied more loudly, looking back up at the colt. However, noting the equally concerned grimace on Applejack, she decided to explain. “There are two types of sociopathy, innate and acquired. Innate sociopaths are born that way. However, individuals with acquired sociopathy are typically transformed into sociopaths by their environment. Usually it involves some form of prolonged abuse and possibly neglect.”

“From these readings, Dexter appears to be in the middle of acquiring sociopathy.” Avid Aura went on. “Initially he showed all the normal signs of an emotionally healthy individual, with the ability to empathize.” She pointed at the machine that will still spewing out paper. “However, something triggered a sociopathic response in him.”

“Can you... fix him?” Applejack asked, glancing at the doctor once more.

“Yes,it’s not too late” Aura noted sadly. “But it will take time…”

---

“I grow tired of this, and my patience is spent.” Luna leaned her head toward the observation room, casting a spell to teleport Applejack into the room. “Applejack?”

“He lied about not solving Clover’s Conundrum,” Applejack began, turning to face the colt. Her words were to Twilight’s relief. Applejack was clearly angry with the colt, although her grimace also revealed an air of disappointment. “However, he did tell the truth when he said he has never used magic, and that he doesn’t have a friend doing magic for him. But he is definitely hiding something, he is not being completely honest with us.”

“Dexter, what are you not telling us?” Luna turned back to the colt.

“Like I said, there are many things I am not telling-“The colt was cut off by Applejack, who had approached him before pushing him on the shoulder. Her shove turned him toward the farm pony.

“Quit fool’n around, Dex.” Applejack locked eyes with the colt. “Yer gonna answer the princess’ questions directly an’ honestly, got it?”

“Now answer directly, either yes or no.” Applejack pressed. “Do you know where that changeling detecting thing came from? Were you the one who stole Twilight’s diagram?”

Dexter was ready for Applejack. With the Element of Honesty letting her know if Dexter was telling the truth or not, the only way he could prevent her from knowing the truth would be to refuse to answer.

The colt folded his forelegs as he returned Applejack’s glare. He sat silently for a moment before returning his gaze to the princess. “I’m not answering any questions while Applejack is here.” He turned back to the farm pony. “What I told you earlier this morning, Applejack, hasn’t changed.”

“Enough!” Luna stomped, her own emotions threatening to boil over. “I have had enough of your games, Dexter. Now we have been far more patient than you deserve, but I have reached my limits. The safety, and maybe even lives, of my subjects are at stake; and every moment you delay us is another moment the changelings have to forward their goals unimpeded.” Luna’s magic flared once more as she cast another teleportation spell, this one took Dexter from his chair and deposited him on the table. He now sat directly in front of the alicorn. “You will answer our questions truthfully, now. And this is your last chance, or there will be consequences.”

For a few moments Dexter sat in silence, returning the alicorn’s glare with an unyielding glare of his own. “Remember that offer of amnesty you gave me, that promise that I wouldn’t get in trouble?” Dexter asked, getting Luna to give a curt nod. “I think that was the sound of it expiring.”

“Do you really think it wise to test me?” Luna seethed, her voice was echoed with the royal Canterlot voice. Luckily for everyone else’s eardrums, it was still at room volume. “I could have you thrown in a dungeon, exiled, or both if you prefer.”

Dexter stood up, continuing to return the Alicorn’s glare. Even though he stood on a table, Luna easily stood over him. “I am not afraid of you anymore, Nightmare Moon.” Dexter declared, feeling whatever restraint he had holding his anger back snap.

Luna’s anger flared once more, at least until Dexter’s word’s fully registered. He had called her ‘Nightmare Moon.’ The name caused Luna’s heart to skip a beat as the anger that was welling up inside her took a heavy blow, much of her anger being replaced with guilt and even shame.

Luna pulled away, turning away from the colt. She couldn’t exactly tell why being called ‘Nightmare Moon’ by this colt provoked such a response in her, she had been called it many times before by her other subjects. However, it was a surprise to hear it coming from Dexter. After all, he told her that he wouldn’t judge her for the actions of Nightmare Moon. Something which had made Luna genuinely happy.

But there was something else. For a moment, Luna couldn’t help but realize a part of her was acting like Nightmare Moon. She had been on the verge of letting her temper take control again. After Nightmare Moon, it was something she had vowed to never let happen again so much as she could help it. It didn’t matter how angry Dexter made her, just knowing that her temper could still reach such heights made her feel ashamed of herself.

Luna took to pacing, forcibly quelling her temper. As she did so, another wave of familiarity with the colt hit her. She couldn’t place where, but she knew she had met him well before a few days ago.

“Dexter!” Twilight chastised, approaching the colt. “That was out of line, Princess Luna is not Nightmare Moon and you can’t just call her-“

“SHUT UP!” Dexter shot toward the unicorn.

“Hey! Don’t you tell anypony to shut up.” Applejack interjected.

“You just don’t get it, do you Twilight?” Dexter sneered. “The whole reason the Elements of Harmony banished Luna to the moon a thousand years ago, instead of removing Nightmare Moon from her then, was because she is just as guilty as Nightmare Moon.”

“Now you might be naïve enough to believe that Nightmare Moon and Luna are different individuals.” Dexter went on. “But that is not a belief I share.”

“You come in here asking for answers? You want the truth? Here it is: I am not giving you answers because I do not trust any of you, in more ways than one!” Dexter shoved a hoof in Luna’s direction. “But I trust her least of all, and there is nothing you can say or do that will get me to trust that murdering psychopath!”

The room fell silent. Twilight and Applejack where either too shocked or confused to speak. Either way, they were at a loss for words. Luna, however, was still facing away from the colt. He couldn’t see the expression on her face. However, it didn’t take a genius to notice how still the alicorn was.

Eventually the silence was broken as Luna slowly turned back toward the colt. “I thought… you said you were not going to hold the actions of Nightmare Moon against me.” Luna began, trying to hide the emotion in her voice.

“Correction, I said I would judge you based on what I directly observed.” Dexter refuted. “And researching you for Cheerilee’s report has opened my eyes to several things. I’ve seen enough to know what you’re about.”

“And what have you seen?” Luna asked.

Dexter opened his mouth, only to quickly bite down before letting any words come out. He was more than willing to lay out all the things he had witnessed during his trip to the past. But he couldn’t very well admit that he had built a time machine and actually traveled into the past.

“What I’ve seen is someone who has not fundamentally changed from a thousand years ago.” Dexter eventually began. “Just like Nightmare Moon, you’re primarily motivated by the desire to earn the love of your subjects and for everyone to love the night. And just like Nightmare Moon you’re willing to abuse your powers in the dreamscape to get what you want.”

“You’re motivated by the same desires, and you use the same tactics. You’re just less brutal… but there is nothing stopping that from changing.” Dexter went on. “And for the record, you are to NEVER enter my dreams!”

“I am nothing like Nightmare Moon.” Luna countered. “If you had spoken to her with such a tone, there wouldn’t be anything left of you.”

“And that’s why you’re worse than the changelings, isn’t it?” Dexter challenged. “They don’t kill, they can’t feed off of corpses. However, the same cannot be said about you.”

“Dexter, you’re not being fair-“ Twilight tried to interject.

“Shut up!” Dexter repeated, turning back toward Luna. “You told me yesterday you’d never hurt a child. Can you say you never have?”

Luna didn’t answer, standing silently as her gaze drifted toward the floor. Of course, Dexter didn’t need her to speak because he already knew the answer.

“And that’s your problem, isn’t it?” Dexter continued. “Deep down you know there is a part of you willing and able to do terrible things just to satisfy your desires to-”

“Never!” Luna shouted back, cutting the colt off. She paused once more, looking back down at the floor as she wrestled the flood of emotions insider her. “Never, Dexter.” She repeated, more quietly this time. “I admit, a thousand years ago I did some very bad things. Terrible things that I cannot forgive myself for. Things I may never be able to forgive myself for. But I have changed since then. Every night I guard my heart against my negative emotions. I stamp out any traces of hatred, anger, jealousy, and everything else that would tempt me down that path again. I would rather die than be in that place again. I would rather die than be Nightmare Moon again.”

“Would you kill?” Dexter replied, almost instantly. The question caught Luna off guard, causing her to look back up at the colt. “That’s more to the point, isn’t it? Would you kill someone in order to prevent yourself from becoming Nightmare Moon again?”

The room fell silent once more. It was so quiet one would wonder if any of the ponies were even breathing.

There was no good answer to the question, and Dexter knew it.

“You don’t have to answer that princess,” Applejack declared, being the first one to recover. She quickly turned to the colt, locking eyes with him. “What in the world is the matter with you Dexter?”

The answer was simple, he hated Princess Luna.

From the colt’s perspective, it had only been a few days since the alicorn had: broken his ribs, punctured his lung, fractured his spine, tried to torture him, and nearly ended the world. Of course that was over a thousand years ago for everyone else, but that didn’t matter as far as he was concerned.

“If you’re so different from Nightmare Moon, then why aren’t you back on the moon?” Dexter challenged, ignoring Applejack. “Your punishment was eternal banishment to the moon. If you really cared about things like justice, and doing good, you would finish your justly awarded punishment.”

“Dexter that is NOT fair, Luna has changed. She doesn’t deserve to be banished to the moon.” Twilight countered.

“Of course it’s fair! When a criminal breaks out of prison, just like she did, they’re original sentence is not voided.” Dexter rebuffed, turning back to Luna. “Especially when the first thing they do is try to commit the same crime again, just like she did! Normally, justice would see the criminal sent back to prison with an even greater punishment!”

“Which means, in more ways than one, she deserves to be on the moon right now!” Dexter pointed an accusatory hoof at Luna. “Whether she has ‘changed’ or not!”

“DEXTER!” The colt found himself being pulled across the table by Twilight’s magic. It wasn’t until now that Dexter noticed how livid the unicorn had become. “You’re a piece of work you know that? How dare you say something like that to the Princess! She doesn’t deserve that and you know it.”

“Do I?” Dexter challenged, only serving to anger the unicorn further.

“You… may be right, Dexter.” Luna finally spoke up, earning the attention of the other ponies. “I might… deserve to be on the moon.” Luna’s voice trembled slightly. “But I couldn’t bear it…”

“I’ve always struggled with loneliness,” Luna went on, she tried but failed to suppress the pain in her voice. “Even before I was sent to the moon, the bitter pain of loneliness was a constant companion. It is somewhat like a curse of immortality. I cannot form friendships like you do, I cannot have a family like you mortals do. Everyone I meet, I know I will one day lose. The pain of losing friend after friend, century after century, becomes too much; and it is easier to believe that it is best to never have true friends at all. But that becomes unbearably lonely, and being on the moon, alone, was the worst loneliness I have ever experienced…”

“Being trapped on the moon, alone…” Luna paused for a moment, trying to put into words what she was trying to say. “It was like dying of thirst in a desert, yet being immortal I was unable to die. I couldn’t go through that for another millennia, let alone an eternity.”

“I am so sorry for what I’ve done… and you may be right, I might deserve to be on the moon.” Luna shook her head. “But I couldn’t bear that.”

The room fell silent once more. Applejack and Twilight seemed to be stunned into silence, processing what Luna had said while being frozen into silence.

Looking up at Luna, Dexter was surprised by the appearance of the princess. The expression on Luna’s face was clearly one of sadness, mixed with desperation and even a little fear. However, Dexter didn’t care.

All he could hear was Nightmare Moon’s laughter, as his hatred for her surged. He had never felt such a level of hate before in his life.

“Water, water, everywhere, and so the boards did shrink.” Dexter recited. “Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” Luna eye’s widened in response, however Dexter couldn’t tell if she knew what he was getting at. He had to admit she was smart, and probably understood.

“I now see the wisdom of the Elements of Harmony in allowing you to stay. They did administer a worse punishment to you during your second attempt to bring about eternal night, by letting you stay here.” Dexter went on, noting a look of confusion from Twilight and Applejack. “The only thing worse than dying of thirst while stranded in a desert, is dying of thirst while stranded in the middle of the ocean.” Dexter explained.

“By letting you stay, the elements took you straight from the desert and dropped you in the ocean.” Dexter pointed out in realization. “Now you get to see every one of us mortals happily make friends, have families, and even grow old and die together. Its all around you. But you don’t get to participate, do you? Because of your immortality, you’d be forced to outlive any friends and family you ever had. You’d get anguish over watching them die, leaving you forever.”

“You’re just like the person dying of thirst while stuck at sea.” Dexter continued. “You long to take a drink more than anything else, yet you know the moment you do the taste will turn bitter, and ultimately cause more harm than good.”

Luna’s breathing shook.

After another heavy pause followed before the colt let out a huff. For a moment, the colt really questioned himself as to whether or not anyone could ever deserve such a punishment. However, he didn’t have to wonder for long. His near perfect memories conjured up pictures of those who had suffered under the original Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago.

“I’m glad.” He declared. “I hope you live forever, princess.” Dexter sneered. “I hope your suffering never ends, you deserve it.”

“Dexter!” Applejack and Twilight cried in unison.

“Long live the princess!”

“Dexter, how could you be so horrible?” Twilight pulled the colt back toward her, her voice on the verge of trembling as well. “How could you say something like that?”

Dexter opened his mouth to reply, only to hesitate due to a strange sound.

Princess Luna’s breathing had become labored. Dexter returned his gaze to the alicorn to discover tears streaming down her face. She quickly pulled her fore hooves to her face before letting out a sob.

However, the sight of Luna crying didn’t last for long. A pulse of blue magic had the alicorn disappear from the room entirely.

Twilight shook her head. “No princess, wait!” She called out. A purple flash of magic had her disappear from the room as well, leaving Applejack and Dexter alone.

“What screwed you up so badly to get you to be so cruel?” Applejack shook her head, almost at a complete loss as what to say next. “You're broken, Dexter.”

A part of Dexter had to admit, maybe he had taken things too far.

---

Twilight would spend the next few hours searching from Princess Luna. Of course the unicorn knew it would be a futile attempt if Luna didn’t want to be found. She wanted to tell the princess not to place any stock in what Dexter had said. The child had proven to be the biggest jerk she had ever met. So much so, she almost wished she had never met him.

Eventually Twilight had to give up her search, returning to her hospital room. However, by the time she got back it was nearly evening.

She was pleased to find Spike in her room, diligently waiting for her return.

“Hey Twilight, where have you been?” Spike asked, standing when he saw her enter the room. “And what’s going on? Did you bust Dexter?”

“No, Spike. And it’s a very long story.” Twilight replied tiredly. No small amount of anger for Dexter resurfaced within her after thinking about the events of the past day.

“Well, some letters arrived for you.” Spike said, pointing to a few scrolls stacked beside the bed. “They’re from the princess, and marked for you only. So I didn’t read them.”

Twilight sighed, approaching the bed before tiredly falling onto it. “Just open them up and read them to me.” Twilight answered.

“Uh, okay.” Spike replied, reaching for the first letter.

“The first one says,” Spike began as he started to read. “Twilight. What on earth is going on down there? Princess Celestia.”

“What?” Twilight’s head shot up. “Is that all it says?”

“Yeah,” Spike shrugged, turning the letter toward Twilight so she could see for herself.

“What does the next one say?” Twilight asked, causing Spike to open the scroll.

“Twilight, what happened with Princess Luna?” Spike read aloud. “I’ve received word that she’s extremely emotionally distressed. However, she isn’t answering any of my messages, and none of the guard seems able to find her. If you see my sister tell her to contact me immediately. Princess Celestia.”

Twilight shook her head in worry. “I haven’t been able to find her either.” Twilight told Spike.

“What’s going on?” Spike asked, confused.

“I’ll tell you in a minute, just read the next letter.”

Spike nodded, unfurling the last scroll. However, he recoiled in surprise at the sight of the letter.

“Oh wow, Princess Celestia is super angry.” Spike declared, looking over the scroll.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“You know how Princess Celestia tries to hide her emotions when she is writing a letter?” Spike began. “And she tries to conceal her emotions by making her penmanship really precise?”

“Yes, Spike. Everyone knows the angrier princess Celestia gets the better her penmanship is.” Twilight huffed impatiently. “Historians have used that for centuries to gauge the princess’s mood over any given topic.”

“Well,” Spike turned the letter toward Twilight, revealing the most perfectly written letter she had ever seen. It had such perfect calligraphy, it felt like it belonged in a museum.

“Oh, wow.” Twilight said nervously. “That might be the angriest I’ve ever seen her.” Twilight went on hesitantly. “What does it say?”

“Dear Twilight Sparkle,” Spike began. “My guards tell me that you haven’t replied because you have been out searching for my sister. Needless to say, I share your concerns for my sister and I appreciate your efforts to find her. However, you need not search anymore, I was able to get in contact with Luna. She will be fine.”

“However, my guards inform me that the cause of my sister’s distress was a conversation she had with a young colt there in Ponyville with you.” Spike continued. “Some of my guards have relayed to me some of the things this insolent little brat said to my sister.”

Twilight raised both her eyebrows in surprise. “Wow, she really is upset.” Twilight declared, eliciting a nod from Spike.

“How dare this child judge my sister.” Spike went on reading. “He wasn’t there a thousand years ago. He has no idea what happened, or the pain my sister and I suffered through. He is no judge of what happened, and has no right to lay anything at the hooves of my sister. My sister has done nothing to him, and when she bears her heart to this child, what does he do? He drives a stake through it.”

“First, I want you to write me a transcript of everything that was said between my sister and this impertinent child. Then I want you to set up a meeting between me and this Dexter, but do not inform him I am coming. I will arrive in Ponyville in two days. Until then, you are not to speak with him if you can avoid it.” Spike finished. “Signed by ‘Princess Celestia.’”

“That… can’t be good.” Twilight eventually replied.

“Dexter’s finally going to get it.” Spike declared with satisfaction.

A/N:
[IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ]
Now some of you might be very upset with the way Dexter acted toward Luna in the second to last scene. However, before you go on a tirade there is a piece of information you need to have.
For those of you who have read the side story, I have dropped several hints to explain why he was so cruel – even if it was out of character. The biggest hint was probably the line:
All he could hear was Nightmare Moon’s laughter, as his hatred for her surged. He had never felt such a level of hate before in his life.
For those of you who have NOT read the side story: See the spoiler below.
During Dexter’s trip to the past, he discovered that Nightmare Moon turns ponies into ‘children of the night’ by contaminating their minds in the dreamscape. This was actually a process of indoctrination. Dexter was exposed to Nightmare Moon in the dreamscape for a very brief period of time. It was not long enough for him to be indoctrinated, however it was long enough for his mind to be infected by Nightmare Moon. Also, in the side story Nightmare Moon manipulates others by amplifying feelings of hatred and anger. This is the true source for his unrelenting hatred for Luna at present, and thus the cause of his behavior.
Thank you to the pre-readers and proof-readers: Mac349, Malozi, TheLolzKnight, stephen51991, HopeForTheFew, Everglue horace, Starbuck-the-Pegasus, Heidao, Balewood, Blueswat, Hardcore, golarala, and HatePlow.

A Sad Error In Judgement... (part 1/2)

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Author's Notes:

***Please Read***
The biggest criticism/concern I got for chapter draft was its length, sitting at 25k words. Many of the pre-readers asked me to split it in half, so you’re getting the first half now. The 2^nd half will be posted in a few days.

A big THANK YOU to the proof-readers/editors/pre-readers for this chapter: Aburi, A Drunk Soviet, Astromormy, Hawksfive, Heidao, Stelarwand030, Wysteria, and Ultimaexe24. They ended up having to deal with a lot more typos/spelling mistakes than they should have, as I forgot to upload the draft version that I spell-checked. So our poor proof-readers got a deluge of typos to sift through. For that they deserve an extra thank you.

More author's notes after the chapter. As always, go ahead and point out any mistakes and/or typos in the comments. Enjoy!

The walk to Sweet Apple Acres from the Ponyville clinic was completely silent. It had been little more than an hour since Dexter had finished verbally eviscerating Princess Luna, which to Dexter’s surprise, sent the blue alicorn away crying. In truth, he already felt guilty for it.

However, Applejack and Dexter weren’t alone. Despite the fact that Luna had fled from the clinic all together, the guards she left behind thought it a prudent idea to keep both him and Applejack under guard. So four unicorns in blue armor walked with them. From the frowns they carried, it seemed they too disapproved of Dexter’s harsh words.

Dexter also overheard some of the guards declare that they had never heard of Luna crying before.

To that end, Dexter did feel guilty about what he said to Princess Luna. He didn’t know exactly why, but he felt like his dislike of her had exploded into a runaway hatred. Talking with the princess had gotten his emotions to flare beyond his control, in a way that was strange to him.

It was a level of hatred he had never experienced before. Granted, he had experienced high levels of hate for individuals who have harmed him in the past, and the subjects of his hate ranged from Mandark to his crazy sister. However, it was always a cold and calculated abhorrence. This new hatred burned hot, and felt foreign.

It wasn’t until the group had reached the orchard that the silence was broken.

“Can yah give us a minute?” Applejack turned to the guard in charge. “Ah’d like ta talk to him.” She motioned toward Dexter.

The guard shook his head. “I have orders to not let him leave my sight. The guards assigned to protect you and the other elements have a little more leeway,” He motioned toward his fellows before tilting his head in Dexter’s direction. “But we are supposed to keep an eye on Dexter at all times, and report on everything he does.”

“What?!” Dexter’s protest was ignored by the two adults.

“Don’ ya think that’s a bit… extreme?” Applejack asked.

“He has directly refused to cooperate with our investigation here in Ponyville, and in doing so has impeded our pursuit of the changelings. And that’s not counting what he did to Princess Luna.” The guard allowed his professional demeaner slip long enough to cast a seething gaze at Dexter.

“Please, Ah just need to talk to him alone fer a few minutes.” Applejack pressed. “He ain’t going anywhere.”

The guard’s eyes shifted from Applejack to Dexter then back again. After a brief pause the guard grimaced before nodding. “Keep it brief.”

“Thank you,” Applejack nodded before turning and motioning to the eight-year-old colt.

Applejack led Dexter up the path a short distance from the guards, stopping while still in plain view of their escorts.

Applejack turned to face Dexter, regarding him with a weary gaze for a moment. However, it soon shifted to one of determination and maybe a bit of anger. “Ah won’t accept no for an answer this time, Dex…”

“I can’t tell you what you want to know Applejack…” Dexter shook his head, returning her stern gaze. “I’m sorry but you-”

“This ain’t about the changelings,” Applejack interrupted. “An’ it isn’t about what you said ta Princess Luna. Though we will be getting ‘round ta that, don’t you worry.” She promised. The anger in her tone promised it would be unpleasant for the colt. “But first, I want to know one thing: Who kicked you?”

Dexter recoiled slightly in surprise. “How do you know about that?“

“Aura told me,” Applejack explained, sighing in almost disbelief as she recalled the events of the afternoon. “She said they found bruising under yer fur, and when they investigated the spot with a spell they found out yer ribs had been mended by some powerful magic; that it had to have happened in the past few days, and that it was caused by somepony kicking you.” Applejack locked eyes with Dexter. “How in the world did you not tell me about this?”

Dexter bit his lip, trying to think of a good response. Of course, he couldn’t just tell Applejack the truth: that Princess Luna, or rather Nightmare Moon, was the one that broke his ribs during a trip he took to the past. He’d end up having to explain a lot more than just a time machine hidden in his secret laboratory.

Furthermore, nothing about the situation had really changed. Giving Applejack the knowledge she was looking for would make her a target in more ways than one, and she had many family members that could be used against her. Dexter estimated that such a scenario would take place if the changelings even suspected that Dexter was talking to her. The only correct decision was to deny Applejack all information.

“It’s better for the both of us if you didn’t know.” Applejack nearly fell over in disbelief at Dexter’s reply, a feat a lot harder for a four-legged pony. “The threats that you would incur for knowing too much would far outweigh any good you could effectuate.”

“Dexter! That is absolutely crazy! I can’t believe you actually still think that!” Shifting her weight onto her hind legs, Applejack took hold of Dexter’s shoulders. “Yer a smart colt, how could you possibly think such a thing- No… No…“ Applejack shook her head, blinking a few things. She wouldn’t let herself get sidetracked. “Do you know who kicked you, Dex?” Applejack repeated her demand with forced calm.

“Applejack, I can’t-“

“Who. Kicked. You?”

“Applejack if you’d just listen for a second and-“ Dex’s reply was cut off by Applejack lifting his head, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

“I want a name, Dex.” Applejack demanded. “Now.”

“I can't,” Dexter countered. “If it makes you feel any better, I can tell you she won’t do it again.” Dexter offered.

“You got that right. Whoever ‘she’ is she certainly won’t.” Applejack replied, staring intently at the colt. Dexter realized too late what he had done. “So you do know who kicked ya, an’ it was a mare." Her eyes narrowed. “Was it the changeling that impersonated Cheerilee?” Applejack pressed.

“Yes.”

“Don’t you dare lie ta me right now, Dex.” Applejack had frowned instantly when he replied. Her ears pressing against her head as no small amount of contained fury contorted her features. Applejack didn’t need the magic of an Element of Harmony to sense that fib. “Tell me who it was” She asked through gritted teeth.

“You’re missing the point-“ Dexter tried to counter.

“What. Is. Her. Name?” Applejack repeated. When Dexter didn’t answer she stomped a hoof in the dirt path. “Dexter, Ah told the princess this morning that ah wouldn’t give her permission to invade yer dreams; an Ah told her not ta do it again, not while Ah’m responsible for ya. Don’t make me choose between yer safety or yer privacy!”

“Really? You’re threatening to bring me back to the princess so she can pry information out of me with her dream magic?” Dexter asked incredulously, hardly believing Applejack had said such a thing.

“Yer leaving me no other choice, Dex.” Applejack confirmed. “It’s a small price to pay to make sure you're safe.”

“Any of Princess Luna’s attempts to invade my dreams will result in failure.” Dexter replied curtly. “Just like her other attempts to interrogate me. So you can tell her to have at it…”

“Just give me a name, Dexter!”

Dexter shook his head in exacerbation. “Why do you care?” Dexter could see something snap behind the farm pony’s eyes, and regretted his words instantly.

“Why do I-“ She repeated rapidly, her voice rising. “THEY BROKE YOUR RIBS! NOT JUST CRACKED EM’, BROKE EM’! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!”

Dexter recoiled, stunned. This was the first time Applejack had yelled at him. In fact, it was the first time he had seen her yell at anyone in such a manner.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?! YOU COULD HAVE DIED?!” Even the guards, standing a ways away, flinched at the volume. “BUT YOU DIDN’T TELL ME, YOU DIDN’T TELL THE PRINCESS, AN’ FER ALL I KNOW THE PONY WHO DID IT CAN COME BACK AN’ HURT YOU AGAIN!” She motioned in the guard’s direction.

That was when Dexter was able to see, Applejack wasn’t just angry.

She was scared for him.

Applejack huffed a few times, regaining her breath. Dexter merely stood silently, taken aback.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Dex?” Applejack asked, remorse laced her tone as she hung her head. “Why didn’t you trust me enough ta tell me that somepony hurt you?”

“It’s not your fault, Applejack.”

At that, Applejack huffed skeptically. “It was my job to take care of ya… an’ on mah watch somepony nearly kicks ya to death.” Applejack looked up toward the orchard, unable to shake off a crushing sense of guilt. “Most dependable pony in Ponyville… what a joke…”

Dexter shook his head. “No Applejack, you’ve got it all wrong. I was never abused!” A part of Dexter felt like he was now treading through a minefield. He didn’t have to be a genius to tell what Applejack was feeling, and a part of him was kicking himself for not predicting it earlier. The mare obviously felt anger and frustration with the situation, and a sense of helplessness. But what Dexter couldn’t understand is why Applejack felt guilty. “None of this is your fault!”

“Ah trusted you…” Applejack replied sadly, looking down at the ground now. “Ah trusted you when I shouldn’t have, and I failed to earn your trust where ah should have.”

Dexter opened his mouth to rebut Applejack, but he couldn’t find the right words. He knew, from her perspective at least, there was no way to deny she failed in her responsibilities. He had asked her to trust him when he denied her earlier, and she did decide to trust him; and so the whole thing blew up in her face.

She’d probably be crying at this point, if she was any pony other than Applejack.

If it was her goal to guilt trip Dexter, it was working wondrously. He hadn’t stopped to consider for a moment how the situation would impact Applejack, or her family.

“Ya know why the element of harmony helps me tell when somepony is lying?” Applejack asked. Despite the question seemingly coming out of the blue, Dexter was still intrigued to hear the answer. Applejack looked up at the colt, hurt still adorning her features. “It’s not ta force ponies ta be honest. It’s about trust… It’s ta help me know when somepony has learned ta trust me.”

“Ponies tell lies all tha time, an’ I rarely call them out on it.” Applejack went on. “Heck, I even choose to trust em’ even when I know what they’re saying isn’t true. But Ah know when a pony is finally learning to trust me when they stop lying ta me, even those little white lies nopony cares about… It helps me with tha give n’ take that’s a part of building trust; and trust is the foundation of every friendship, Ah’d say it’s the most important part of it.”

“I just don’t know why Ah don’t have yer trust…” Applejack finished, pulling Dexter into a close hug. “Ah’ve never failed so badly in my life…I’m sorry.”

Her words actually gave Dexter pause, a new set of concerns rising in his mind. He hadn’t considered the possibility that maybe it was Applejack’s element that was driving her.

If it was her element at work, then he was contending with a lot more than a simple farm pony; and that was something he neither knew how to deal with nor could afford to at the moment.

Dexter knew she deserved to know the truth, about everything. Now, he had a practical reason too.

“Princess Luna.” Dexter replied after a moment’s hesitation, he looked up at Applejack to gauge her response. His voice was barely above a whisper, as he didn’t want the guards to overhear him.

“What?” Applejack pulled back in confusion.

“Shhh” Dexter hushed, motioning downward before glancing back at the guards. “The name of the person who kicked me and broke my ribs…” Dexter said, only slightly more loudly.

Applejack froze in place, inspecting the colt’s features for the slightest hint of deception, confusion, or doubt in what he was saying.

He was telling the truth.

“It was Princess Luna, or Nightmare Moon, who kicked me and broke my ribs.” Dexter restated quietly, glancing at the guards to see if they reacted in any way. “She also fractured my spine, by using magic to throw me into a stone ceiling…”

Applejack stared silently at Dexter for what felt like a full five minutes before finally saying something.

“I-I don’t believe that… h-how… when?” Apple trying to find her words for a few moments, Applejack finally collected her thoughts. “W-why would she do such a thing?”

“She was trying to kill me…” Dexter stated bluntly. “It’s a long story,” He locked eyes with her. “And I’ll tell you all of it. But I need you to promise me you will keep what I tell you a secret…”

“Ah Don’t believe that…” Applejack shook her head. “It can’t be, You have ta be mistaken Dex. The Princess would never do something like that.”

“There was no mistake, Applejack.” Dexter replied candidly.

“An’ how do you know?” Applejack countered, still in disbelief. “Ah know you believe what you’re saying ta be true. But-“

“It wasn’t a changeling that kicked me, Applejack. I know this because Twilight’s accusations are, in fact, accurate.” Dexter admitted. “I have the ability to discern who isn’t a changeling, in a manner without using magic.

“It was definitely Nightmare Moon who kicked me.” Dexter finished. Applejack continued to stare at him in disbelief, almost missing that he had just admitted to everything Twilight and Luna had been accusing him of.

But that part wasn’t what had Applejack surprised. Not only did she trust Twilight and Luna to be correct in their accusations about Dexter’s abilities, but the sheer number of Dexter’s lies and obfuscations made it apparent he was hiding something critically important.

Unfortunately, Applejack now feared what that hidden little secret might be. Had Princess Luna lost her mind again? What would drive her to try to kill Dexter?

For the farm pony, nothing made sense anymore.

“Explain everything, from the start.’ Applejack demanded.

“No,” Dexter pressed back, locking eyes with Applejack. The four armor clad ponies continued to watch them intently. “Not until you promise to keep what I tell you a secret.”

“Dex, if Princess Luna is really off her rocker again, it’s too big of a problem fer me to keep ta myself.” Applejack insisted.

“Oh come on, Applejack. Stop and think!” Dexter growled in frustration, forcibly hushing his tone. “You just threatened to drag me back to the Princess! Back to the one who kicked me in the first place! Does that not give you a moment’s pause?”

Applejack regarded the colt for a moment, her expression of confusion softening slightly, “Ah didn’t know that, an’ I’m still not sure if Ah’ believe it.”

“That’s fine,” Dexter continued. “I can appreciate your desire to do something, and to protect me, but without understanding the full situation you’re only making things worse. Even right now.” Dexter emphasized. However, he spotted one of the guards now approaching. “Hey, we’re not done!” He shouted defiantly. The guards however ignored him. It wasn’t until Applejack waved to them and asked for a few more minutes that they stopped.

Applejack regarded the colt skeptically for a moment. “There is no other way ta get you to tell me what’s going on?”

“Correct,” Dexter nodded. Though, after gauging Applejack’s hesitation, he continued. “I am only asking you to keep the secrets, Applejack. I am not asking you to promise not to act. You can do whatever you want after I tell you, as long as it doesn’t directly or indirectly expose what I tell you.”

“In fer a bit, in fer a bar Ah suppose…” Applejack finally began, hesitating to continue. “I promise… to keep the secrets you tell me… as long as they remain secrets.” Applejack finally agreed.

“I’ll hold you to that…” Dexter grinned.

“Now tell me what the hay is going on!” Applejack demanded. “From the top.”

“I intend to, right now. But first we have to lose Luna’s little spy squad.” He motioned his head toward the guards before turning away, reaching up to his ear and pressing upon something Applejack couldn’t see. “Quadraplex, scan from my location. Is there anyone attempting to spy on us?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Scan complete” Quadraplex’s voice emitted from Dexter’s earpiece. “Your guard escort is still monitoring you visually from a distance. However, there is no other indication of anyone attempting to spy on you by conventional methods. The area is also clear of any detectable abnormal magical energy signatures.”

“You’re going to have to trust me, Applejack.” Dexter tapped his ear again. “Quadraplex, prepare to swap both Applejack and I out with two holographic replacements.”

“Confirmed,” Quadraplex replied. “I will have to create a holographic wall between you and the guards in order to break line of sight long enough to complete the teleportation and swap. Stand-by, I will create a diversion long to avert their vision.”

“Dexter, who are you talking to?” Applejack asked again, this time more forcefully. Now she was wondering if Dexter had simply just gone nuts.

However, before Dexter could respond, several pony-sized shadows danced across the ground. They came from seemingly random directions, and moved directly toward the guards.

For guards trained to fight the occasionally airborne enemy, rapidly approaching shadows could only mean a rapidly approaching threat. The guards instinctively directed their eyes upward, readying themselves for whatever was coming at them by charging the magic in their horns.

Their gaze was met with nothing but an empty and blue sky.

“What was that…” One of the guards asked as the others refocused their gaze on Applejack and Dexter. “Perform a magic sweep and re-secure those two.” Nothing seemed amiss when Applejack waved for them to follow, apparently finished with her conversation and ready to get going again.

Deep underground, Applejack asked “Dexter, what is this place?”

---

Queen Chrysalis continued to stare at the small photograph of a colt she held in her forehoof. She hadn’t stopped staring at it since the moment it was given to her by one of her changelings.

Thirty minutes ago.

It only took Chrysalis a few seconds to recognize the colt in the picture. The technologically sophisticated armor he wore was very distinct, and Chrysalis had only seen such a suit once before: over a thousand years ago. The damage pattern on the colt’s armor matched what the changeling queen remembered perfectly.

However, Chrysalis had been told that the picture had been taken that morning.

If what her infiltrator had said was true, then the colt in the picture had not aged a single day in over a thousand years.

Which was why Chrysalis couldn’t help but stare at the photograph. The fact that he was still alive would be enough to surprise her, let alone that he was still a foal.

“Um, your Majesty?” One of Chrysalis’s advisers hesitantly began, hoping to draw his Queen from whatever had managed to monopolize her attention. One does not disturb the Changeling Queen lightly. She had a well earned reputation for possessing a temper. The changeling in question was surprised when Chrysalis replied without the usual scathing tone.

“Yes, Chitin?” She asked, momentarily looking up at her advisor before returning her gaze to the photograph.

“The infiltrator who brought us that picture is still waiting in the main hall,” Chitin answered. “She was originally assigned to question the colt after the local team suspected him of possessing information on the origin of the device found in Ponyville. He is also the same colt a second team failed to capture during a party at the Ponyville bakery, which led to the subsequent capture of five infiltrators.”

Chrysalis looked up at her subject, removing her eyes from the photograph for the first time.

“The infiltrator also claims that she was held captive by the colt in that picture for over a week.” Chitin went on. “She also has provided some… strange reports about the colt possessing radically advanced technology and weaponry. She also claims that the colt had a message for you, which is written on the back of that photograph.”

Chrysalis turned back toward the small photo, flipping it over with her magic. She quickly found the small words written there.

‘So long as you behave.’ If there was any doubt in Chrysalis’s mind, it was gone now. This was certainly the same colt she had met a thousand years ago.

She had honestly believed he was dead, given that he had been unheard of and unaccounted for since Nightmare Moon’s original defeat.

“After the failure of our previous team to apprehend this colt, we’ve deployed several more teams to the town.” Chitin continued. “Three teams are currently in position and are going to make another attempt to capture the colt before-“

“NO!” Chrysalis shouted, causing the other changeling to flinch. Chrysalis stood up, taking an aggressive step toward her subject. “Call off the infiltrators, now!”

“B-but your Highness,”’ Chitin hesitantly stepped back, lowering her head in submission to her queen. “Our infiltrators report that this colt can build devices to detect us, if the Equestrian’s find out and-“

“Your teams have no idea what they are dealing with! This child can destroy them, I have witnessed him defeat a small army!” Chrysalis waved a forehoof before pointing it back at Chitin. “What happened to the second team was child’s play. Now call them back!” She ordered. “You’re not to take any action against this foal without my direct approval.”

“Yes, your Highness, right away!” Chitin backed away before darting off; Queen Chrysalis watched as the other changeling left.

Eventually, Chrysalis’s eyes drift back toward the picture of the foal. “So… what could bring you out of hiding after a thousand years, Dexter?”

---

Applejack’s arrival to the lab left her speechless. The technology before her struck her with equal parts awe and confusion.

The lab before them was massive, having grown significantly over the time Dexter had spent in Applejack’s care. The once small basement had grown into a metal jungle. Finely machined metal and plastic devices lined the walls from floor to ceiling down several corridors; each seemed to stretch off forever. Everything in their immediate vicinity was well lit; illuminated by strong fluorescent lights which cast an artificial glow that Applejack had never seen before.

The low ambient hum of the lab combined with the cool stale air was strangely calming.

True to his word, Dexter told Applejack everything she wanted to know. He didn’t lie, or try to confuse her.

Given that Applejack was particularly interested in his injuries, Dexter started off by explaining his trip to the past; where he was indeed kicked by Nightmare Moon. The blow was strong enough it would have killed him if he wasn’t wearing his armor. Unfortunately, all he had to show for the adventure was his now healed ribs and the heavily damaged suit.

He told her about how he invented what was now regarded as the ‘Changeling Detector’ from the Ponyville Clinic.

He told her how he was chased by the changeling impersonating Cheerilee, and how he captured said changeling; as well as the fact that it was him who left the guard the note leading to Cheerilee’s eventual recovery.

He told her how he had crushed the changelings that tried to abduct him at Sugar Cube Corner.

He told her how he had been lying to throw off Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, and everyone else.

He even told her about how it was him who attacked Twilight Sparkle the prior night, and had injected her with a chemical neuronal inhibitor, forcing her to forget everything she had learned.

It took hours for him to fully explain everything that had happened, and they were well into the evening.

All in all, Applejack appeared to be taking in all this information pretty well. For Dexter, coming clean felt therapeutic. Even if it was just to Applejack, it felt good to at least talk about everything that had happened. His recounting of events mainly stuck to the facts, omitting any comment on his own feelings.

Of course, he didn’t tell her about the fact that he was actually human. Nor did he tell her anything about his life before arriving in Ponyville.

She didn’t need to know that.

However, for all the things Dexter had admitted to. There was one thing he had yet to explain.

Why.

And Applejack needed an answer.

“And so, Applejack. You don’t have to worry about anyone kicking me again.” Dexter declared. “If you truly believe that Luna is no longer Nightmare Moon, then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Is that… all of it? Everything that has happened so far?” Applejack asked Dexter, failing to hide a growing flurry of emotions.

“Everything that is pertinent to the current situation, I believe.” Dexter replied simply, tilting his head as he reviewed his memory.

“Then…” Applejack began with a pant, trying to repress the anger boiling up within her. “Do ya’ mind telling why you’ve done all this?”

“I figured that would be obvious…” Dexter motioned toward the laboratory around him.

“No, it ain’t.” Applejack rebuffed. “Fer all yer smarts, you couldn’t figure out a better way to go about everything.” Applejack pinned her ears, failing to hide her growing resentment for the colt’s behavior. “I mean, look at what you’ve done. Ya put me and ma family through the thick of it, you shot and drugged ma’ friend an’ put her in the hospital! Ya did a number on the Princess's investigations of the changelings. Ya half destroyed the cakes bakery – cost’n em’ their livelihood fer at least the next couple of months…”

Dexter pinned his own ears in response to Applejack’s growing list. Though it wasn’t anger as much as it was a defensive reaction.

He could grant that he didn’t make the best decisions, but they were far from the worst.

“You got Twilight to ruin her reputation. You provoked the changeling hive, which put this whole town on lockdown and caused the Princess to summon up an army ta Ponyville! Something you could put a stop to if ya wanted too! Ya accidently drugged yourself. Ya blew up Rarity’s-“

“That one was Quadraplex,” Dexter interjected in his own defense. “I never drugged myself…”

Applejack just stopped for a moment, staring at the colt with incredulity. She shook her head before throwing a forehoof up in frustration. “An’ who the hay is Quadraplex?”

“She’s uhh… the computer.” Dexter said, motioning a large metallic chassis that stood twice the height of a pony. The large screen next to it was larger than any window or screen Applejack had ever seen. “She’s an… let’s just call her an artificial person. I built her.”

Applejack looked up at the device, not knowing what to make of what she was seeing.

“You know… I’m not evening gonna…” Applejack pressed a hoof to her forehead, trying to suppress a growing headache. “But ya haven’t answered my question Dex. Why? You caused a lot of trouble. For what? This?” She motioned toward the lab.

“Applejack, I have to keep this lab a secret-”

“What’s so important about keeping this place a secret? '' She waved a hoof over the lab. “It’s jus a bunch of science stuff!”

“It’s a lot more than that!” Dexter defended.

“It's not worth dying over!” Surprising the colt, Applejack had raised her voice again. “No matter which way you square it, you almost died. You caused me, mah friends, and ponies all over Ponyville a lot of pain. You were absolutely horrible ta the Princess! What you did to her was DOWN-RIGHT WRONG! There is a changeling scare cause you won’t diffuse the whole situation by telling the Princess what she needs ta know.”

“Ponies all over town are locked in their homes scared half to death, an’ the streets are patrolled by soldiers like we’re in the middle of some war!” Applejack challenged. “AN’ FER WHAT? Ta keep some science lab hidden that NOPONY CARES ABOUT?!”

“Keeping this lab’s secrets keeps a lot more ponies safe!” Dexter countered.

“Hogwash!” She continued to glare at him while panting. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Applejack accused. “The only reason ya made me promise ta keep yer secrets was ta prevent the Princess and Twilight from finding out about all this, an’ it wasn’t ta keep anypony safe.” Applejack panted. “Ya knew Ah’d eventually get it out of you, so ya made me promise to keep yer secrets in order to make sure they didn’t find out about all this. And you used my desire to keep you safe as a way to manipulate me into making that promise.”

“Is it? Is that the reason?” Dexter challenged, allowing himself to start to get upset. “You’re the Element of Honesty, remember? If I was lying to you when I said I was keeping my secrets for the safety of others, you would have known.”

When she didn’t reply, Dexter continued. “I know it's hard to believe, because you don’t understand, only think of all this as just ‘sciency stuff.’ But its-“

“Oh, so now Ah’m too dumb to understand?” She took a step toward the colt.

“No, that’s not it at all.” Dexter said, trying to placate her by waving his forelegs. “And once you know, I am confident you will understand how my actions are justified.”

“I’m not sure there is anything that can justify your actions at this point…” Applejack remarked, looking up at the computer once more.

“The technology in my laboratory, and the scientific knowledge inside my head, cannot be released into Equestria.” Dexter declared. “The results could be devastating for the entire planet.”

“Ah don’t buy that…” Applejack replied. “All I see is the occasional fancy gadget.”

Dexter bit his lip, suppressing his frustration. “Applejack, you see that over there?” Dexter pointed to a far off point in his lab with his hoof. “Over there I build rockets with nuclear engines in order to launch satellites into deep space. One engine model I made utilizes uranium two-thirty-five.”

“Now, putting aside the concept of a nuclear rocket. If abused, the Uranium two-thirty-five can be used to create a weapon called a nuclear bomb,” Dexter turned back toward Applejack. “I have enough material back there to make fifty bombs with a fifteen megaton yield each.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, not entirely grasping his point yet.

“A single fifteen megaton nuclear detonation is enough to level a city the size of Manehattan.” Dexter explained. “And is capable of killing several million ponies in an instant. Burning to death, vaporizing, irradiating, or poisoning everyone within a forty-five kilometer radius.”

Applejack’s eyes slowly went wide.

“That’s just the start…” Dexter pointed in another direction. “Over there is the chemical and material engineering portion of my lab. I use it to make materials I need for my experiments. It contains the knowledge required to make chemical weapons that would kill everyone in the entire town in ways too horrific for you to even imagine.”

“Dexter stop.” Applejack shook her head, knowing he was telling the truth as far as he knew it. There was no reason for her to doubt that he knew what he was talking about. “I don’t want hear anymore-“

“No!” Dexter retorted. “You just spent the past ten minutes yelling at me for the lengths I’ve gone to keep my lab a secret. In your ignorance you would have stupidly and blindly go out there and expose everything! No, you’re going to know why I can’t.” Dexter seethed. “Why we can’t.”

“Look over there, Applejack.” Again, Dexter pointed in another direction. “That’s the biological research sector of my lab. I use it to research the biology of flora and fauna, as well as to make cures for diseases should the need arise. However, within it I could create a hyper-virulent super virus capable of wiping out over ninety-nine percent of the global equine population; making the pony species effectively extinct.”

The lab fell into complete silence as Dexter finished. Applejack scrutinized him with equal parts confusion and fear, hoping to sense a lie in his words. She stood perfectly still, staring down at the child.

“In the chemical productions portion of my lab, I can produce canisters of toxic gas that can blanket the entire countryside in chemical weapons so vicious they will liquefy your internal organs and make you vomit up your own lungs!” Dexter shook his head, fear rising within him as well. He didn’t like thinking about these things. “You don’t want to know what white phosphorus can do to a pony…”

…

“And those are the ways some of the basic technologies in my lab could be abused,” Dexter pointed out. “We haven’t even gotten to the more interesting inventions like my time machine.

“With that knowledge, do you really think it wise for me to go outside and come clean?” Dexter pressed. “Should I go outside and tell everyone within reach, psychotic Princesses and changeling infiltrators alike, that such technologies and their capacity for abuse is within a stone’s throw of your backyard?!”

Silence once more fell over the lab as Dexter turned toward Applejack for an answer.

The mare clearly didn’t have one, still staring at Dexter in a state somewhere between shock and fear.

“Do you now see why I keep my lab a secret, at any cost? The only way to guarantee these things aren’t abused, is if no one else knows about it.” When it became clear that Applejack didn’t even know what to say, Dexter sighed, letting his gaze drift toward the floor. “You… should consider yourself blessed that the world at large does not have the scientific knowledge to even conceptualize certain evils…”

Dexter looked back up at Applejack to find that she had taken a few steps closer to him. To his surprise, she was trembling. She pulled him into a hug.

“I’m scared, Dex.” Applejack admitted, her tone betraying the truth to her words. “I’m scared of this lab, I’m scared of what it contains. But I am also scared for you.”

“All I want is to go home, Applejack.” Dexter admitted, a wave of fatigue washing over him as the events of the past few days began to catch up with him. “I don’t want to be the cause of anyone’s suffering. I don’t want to fight with the Princess… or Twilight… or even the changelings.”

“I know,” Applejack squeezed him a little tighter. “Ah think Ah understand now why it’s so important to keep your lab a secret. But if it’s so dangerous, you should dismantle it. For everypony’s sake…”

“Then I might never find my way home…” Dexter looked up at Applejack. “I would never see my parents, or my sister, ever again… and I would have to dismantle Quadraplex.”

Applejack grimaced. Understanding too well what it was like to be orphaned, Applejack hardly knew if she could bear asking him to tear down his lab.

“Dex, I have been around ya long enough to know yer a good pony at heart,” Applejack began. “But would it be possible to remove the dangerous parts of your lab? To remove any potential of abuse?”

“Maybe,” Dexter admitted. “I could remove some things. But technology is like magic, Applejack.” Dexter explained, using an example he thought Applejack would understand. “It is not inherently good or evil, what counts is how you use it. Every technology can be abused.

“I can’t create a power source without creating a potential weapon,” Dexter went on. “I can’t create the tools to cure a disease without simultaneously making tools that could make that same disease worse.”

“Ah think Ah understand well enough,” Applejack nodded. “Unicorns have a saying, the spell ta can cook yer food just as easily as it can burn yer house down…”

Dexter chuckled weakly, another wave of fatigue hitting him. “I’m so sorry Applejack, for everything… it might have been better for all of you had never found me.

“Don’t you ever say something like that Dex,” Applejack chastised.

Dexter sighed. “It's true… Applejack.” The mare’s frown deepened in response. “I am a threat to this world…it still might turn out to have been better for everyone if I had-“

“Enough, Dex!” Applejack cut in. “Yer not a bad pony. An’ there isn’t any sense in wishing yerself gone. Ah… admit ah need tah think about some things.” Applejack finally said, pulling away from Dexter. “But as long as you do what you think is right an’ keep others in mind, yer not a bad pony. No pony can ask ya to do anything more than that.”

“I would understand if you want to send me away,” Dexter admitted, trying to hide a tinge of regret. “I wouldn’t blame you for it.” However, Applejack merely shook her head.

“No. I won’t send you away, Dex.” Applejack shook her head. “Though, if I could ask a favor from ya, don’t shoot, drug, or kidnap Twilight again. Or anypony else fer that matter.”

“I guess I can do that…” Dexter agreed, turning toward and approaching the computer. “I’ll try, anyway. But before you go Applejack, take this.” The colt reached into a drawer underneath the computer terminal. He retrieved what appeared to be a normal dream catcher, however it had a number of runes that Applejack had never seen before.

“This dream catcher was made by Star Swirl the bearded.” He explained. “Place it under your pillow. It will prevent Luna from attempting to ask you questions in your sleep. You’ll need it in order to keep your promise to me.”

“Won’t you need it?” Applejack eyed the trinket before taking it from Dexter’s outstretched hoof. “I’m not certain I’m gonna be able to sleep tonight anyway.”

“No, I ingested some dream inhibitors.” Dexter replied simply. “And take this, put it in your ear.” Dexter said, producing a small device no larger than a bit.

“What is it?” Applejack asked skeptically.

“It’s a radio earpiece, it will allow us to speak to one another even if we are a great distance apart.” Dexter responded. “Should anything happen, just press it. You will hear a chime, and Quadraplex will be able to hear you when you speak. She can then put you in contact with me.”

---

“She has been reinserted into her home without the guards noticing.” Quadraplex declared in her usual monotone voice, reporting Applejack’s successful return to the Apple Household. “I believe you should return soon as well, as the holographic replacement will not hold up to the intensified scrutiny from Princess Luna should she not find you in the dreamscape and choose to investigate.”

“Agreed…” Dexter replied, watching the computer monitor. It showed a tired Applejack preparing to crawl into bed. He was happy to notice she slipped the dream catcher under her pillow. “Do you think… she can be trusted?”

“My analysis indicates she was not deceptive.” Quadraplex stated. “I believe she will not betray you by choice.”

Dexter raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. “I never would have expected a vote of confidence from you…”

“Why did you choose to inform her?” Quadraplex asked after a brief pause. “Your decision to trust her seemed rather abrupt. What changed?”

Dexter looked back up at the computer screen, where the image of Applejack had disappeared a few moments ago. “It’s a bit complicated,” Dexter admitted. “But the short version is, because she is the Element of Honesty; and because of what the Element of Honesty told me during my trip to the past.” Dexter glanced at the spot Applejack was standing mere moments ago.

“That incident occurred a thousand years ago, what possible relevance could they have at present?” Quadraplex pressed, reviewing the entirety of Deter’s trip to the past for the hundredth time in less than a tenth of a millisecond. However, there was no recording of a conversation between the Elements and Dexter. “This conversation was not captured on your mission recording.”

“It wouldn’t have been,” Dexter scratched the back of his head with a hoof. “The conversation happened in my dreams? I think…” Dexter shook his head. “Either way, the Element of Honesty made it clear that it was going to direct Applejack toward… getting me to be more truthful and trusting.”

“That information seems to be a compelling reason to avoid Applejack, rather than trust her.” The computer replied.

“Yes, however, I cannot afford to have Applejack grilling me now that I am at the height of Twilight’s and Luna’s suspicion,” Dexter went on. “When Applejack explained how her ability to sense lies is rooted in her role of building trust within friendships, I realized that building trust was the primary function of the Element of Honesty.” Dexter frowned, tapping his chin. “I realized that her attempts to get me to be truthful and to trust her were actually the Element of Honesty at work.” Dexter’s gaze became unfocused as he was drawn into his own thoughts for a moment. He really hoped that the changelings were wrong about the Elements.

“These Elements of Harmony are still presently active?” Quadraplex asked. “Despite the neutralization of Nightmare Moon?”

“Yes,” Dexter responded simply. “And I cannot afford to become embroiled in a direct altercation with the ‘Elements.’ I am not even sure as to how I would go about combating them.” Dexter explained. “Since I can’t fight them, or block their abilities, it would be only a matter of time until the Element of Honesty drives Applejack to uncover the truth behind everything I have hidden. So, instead of waiting for the inevitable, I decided to leverage the truth for a price.”

“Allowing you to maintain secrecy, at least for the time being” Quadraplex answered.

”Yes.” Dexter confirmed.

“Do you think this will be sufficient to prevent the Element of Honesty from acting further?” Quadraplex asked, sensing something more to the situation than what was being said. “Was the Element of Honesty attempting to do something more than merely get you to be honest?”

“Probably,” Dexter scratched his head. “I cannot say for certain what the motive of the Elements were. However, I think the Element of Honesty accidentally backed itself into a corner…”

Quadraplex didn’t respond, seemingly satisfied with the information Dexter had provided.

“However, speaking of my trip to the past reminded me of something.” Dexter began again. “ Princess Celestia still has my helmet. I want to get it back.”

“Do you know where it is?” Quadraplex responded.

“I believe it is sealed away in the royal vault inside the Princesses castle in Canterlot.” Dexter replied. “I want you to prepare for me to take a trip to Canterlot.”

“Understood.” Quadraplex replied. “However, regarding your armor; After analyzing the record of your trip to the past, I have constructed a new suit with updated features and revisions.”

Dexter raised an eyebrow. Getting a new suit was something he had planned on doing himself, however a part of him was intrigued to see what Quadraplex had come up with. His previous computer rarely ever took this type of initiative, but Quadraplex was making a regular habit of it. “New features? I guess we can try them out when I go to retrieve my old helmet.”

“I insist you wear it now.” Quadraplex’s statement was clearly a demand despite her monotone voice. Her initiative quickly proved troublesome.

“I doubt I can go back to the farm house wearing a suit made of nanotechnology, space-age alloys, and redundant combat systems. Not without attracting the attention of some of the guards sent to watch me.” Dexter rebutted.

“It’s cloaking field has been modified with a space-time dilation generator, similar in design to the one inside your time dilation helmet.” She replied. However, Dexter raised an eyebrow.

“I was planning on doing something like that…” Dexter answered.

“Then you approve.” Quadraplex stated rather than asked. “Aside from making yourself and the armor completely invisible while you wear it, you now have the option of pushing only the armor slightly out of temporal phase. As a result, the armor cannot be seen or felt. Consequently, you will appear as the typically nude pony despite possessing the armor.” Dexter shifted uncomfortably. “Unfortunately, it will offer no protective benefit until you bring it back into phase; which you can do via your neural link with the armor or automatically when the suit detects a threat.”

“You may wear the armor freely, without being constantly questioned by the equines.” Quadraplex went on. “However, it must be properly anchored to you. Otherwise it would simply fall off of you when it is out of phase.”

“You’ve outdone yourself Quadraplex…” Dexter replied. Truth be told, he was already interested in seeing what Quadraplex had built. Unlike most of the previous A.I. Dexter had built, Quadraplex wasn’t only showing initiative and forethought, but also a measure of creativity by engineering improvements to his own designs. “Why do you insist that I put it on now?”

“Because, as you would say, I am paranoid.” She declared candidly. “Now prepare yourself, binding the armor to you will require precision.”

---

“Didn’t the doctors say you should take it easy?” Spike questioned, the young dragon lugging a small pile of tomes Twilight had summoned him to retrieve. With a heave he pushed them onto a small coffee stand next to the chair Twilight was sitting on. The purple unicorn in question didn’t shift her gaze from the book in front of her, not hearing a word he said.

“Twilight?” Spiked began again. “The doctors said you needed to take at least-“

“I’m fine, Spike.” Twilight replied after a moment before using her magic to rapidly flip past several pages. “Besides, we don’t have time to rest. Our investigations are behind as it is, and the Princesses are counting on us.”

“Yeah, but you got foalnapped by changelings! The Princesses will understand if you take a day to rest up.” Spike shook his head.

“I know, Spike!” Twilight said with a huff. “I’ll never hear the end of it once Mom and Dad find out. Hay, Shining might just come down here and drag us both back to Canterlot out of sheer concern.”

“You don’t even remember what they did to you!” Spike countered. “Can you at least take a few hours to-“

“No!” Twilight snapped, looking up from her book. “The more we delay the longer the changelings have to enact their nefarious plans. Who knows what they are trying to do. Delaying will also give Dexter more time to find ways to cover-up what he knows. We cannot wait.”

Spike shook his head at Twilight, growling under his breath. As frustrated as he was with Twilight, the mentioning of Dexter made the baby dragon’s throat burn.

Spike knew Dexter could detect the changelings, after all he witnessed Dexter beat five of them to a pulp. Unfortunately the colt lied about the whole event, going so far as to accuse Spike of being delusional. If Dexter had just come clean the Changelings would be on the run by now. What was worse, Twilight was on her way to the farm to see him the night she was abducted. Twilight’s foalnapping was entirely Dexter’s fault, and Spike’s fury with the colt was only barely contained.

But saving the worst for the last, Dexter had insulted Luna to the point where she cried.

“I wish there was a way we could force him to tell us the truth.” Spike said, unconsciously scraping his claws against the table.

“If we had some concrete evidence to hold over his head,” Twilight thought aloud. “If we confront him with something he can’t deny, it might just be enough to force him to admit the truth to us...” Twilight trailed off, getting lost in her own thoughts.

“But I saw him at the bakery,” Spike eventually replied. “Why isn’t that enough?”

“He disputes what you saw.” Twilight replied while pulling open a pair of saddlebags that were draped across a chair in the main room of the library.

“I spoke to him just after he beat up the changelings at Pinkie Pie’s party!” Spike protested.

“Can you prove that you spoke to him? And if you did, can you prove what you said?” Twilight pointed out. “That is the problem, Spike. We need something material, not just somepony’s word.” Twilight used her magic to flip through the new tome Spike just delivered.

However, a few moments later, the unicorn smiled. “And I think I have just the thing…”

Using her magic, Twilight summoned opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a set of folders. Opening the folder on the desk revealed a set of pristine photographs that Spike quickly recognized. They depicted a series of blue and green nebulas floating in a sea of stars. “These are the photo’s Dexter showed Princess Luna the other night? When he got into that little trivia contest with her?”

“Mmmhmm…” Twilight nodded, using her magic to retrieve yet another folder. “Dexter gave these directly to Princess Luna a couple of days ago.” Twilight recalled. “It was his bid to win that ‘little trivia contest’ with her over astronomy.”

“How are they going to help us?” Spike asked.

“We are going to compare their chemical composition against these…” Twilight replied, opening the folder and allowing its contents to slide onto the table. “These are the pictures somepony, and when I say somepony I suspect Dexter, left at the library a few weeks ago.” Twilight explained, casting a spell on the photograph to make it glow as she continued to scrutinize it. “It was one of several pictures which depicted the changeling impersonating Ms. Cheerilee. They were delivered to the guards following Princess Luna at the time, ultimately leading to Cheerilee’s rescue.

“If they are a match, then that’s proof Dexter was the one who gave them to the guard at the library that night.” Twilight stated. “I’m certain that will be enough to get Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to arrest him.”

“Really?” Spike eyes lit up. “Then you can prove he lied to both the Princess and the guard, they’ll finally get to throw him in the dungeons!”

“Well, maybe. The Princesses don’t like sending foals to the dungeons. And truthfully, neither do I. But if I can prove Dexter can detect changelings… The Princesses will definitely do something.” Twilight added with a glance at Spike.

After writing a short letter to Princess Celestia, explaining her request to have the two photographs analyzed, Twilight carefully wrapped the two photos in the scroll that made up the letter and gave it to Spike. The baby dragon eagerly sent it off to Celestia in a burst of magical green flame.

“How long do you think it will take before they get back to us?” Spike asked.

“Well, that’s what I was trying to read up on.” Twilight pointed toward one of the tomes. “For a chemical analysis like that, a couple of weeks probably. At least, that’s what I’ve read.” She motioned toward the book in front of her.

“Weeks?!” Spike droned. “Changelings could foal-nap the entire town before then!”

“It’s the best we’ve got,” Twilight said with a sympathetic frown. Though from her consoling tone, she shared Spike’s frustration.

“There’s got to be a faster way to get Dexter to tell the truth,” Spike complained. “Can’t he see he is endangering everypony in Ponyville?”

“Honestly, Spike.” Twilight said with a hint of remorse. “I’m not sure if he cares. I don’t think he wants the same thing we do.”

“I would agree with young Spike.” A new voice sounded from behind the small dragon, familiar but sudden enough to cause both Spike and Twilight to jump before turning to face the newcomer. “Unfortunately, confronting Dexter will have to wait.”

Standing before Spike was Princess Luna, seemingly to have appeared beside him out of thin air.

“Princess!” Twilight began after recovering from her surprise, she hastily fell into a quick bow. “H-how long have you been there?” Twilight asked.

Although Twilight was taken aback by the Princess’s sudden appearance, such incidents had become common lately. Ever since the Princess’ altercation with Dexter, she began behaving differently. She wasn’t greeting others warmly anymore, and was generally more aloof.

“I just arrived,” Luna answered. “I apologize for the sudden intrusion. At times I prefer to move unseen and unnoticed, t’is an old habit but it has its advantages. However, it seems I am a bearer of bad news for young Spike. Celestia has agreed that Dexter can no longer be permitted to impede our investigation. She has made plans to apprehend him. You are to take no further action regarding Dexter until Celestia arrives. She has requested, and commanded, to take care of the situation regarding Dexter personally.”

“Princess Celestia is coming here?’ Twilight asked. It was the first time she was hearing about it.

“Yes, Sister will be here tomorrow morning.” Luna continued. “I am afraid I cannot offer you any more information. Celestia only asked me to relay to you her instructions.”

“Princess, we can catch him.” Twilight protested. “I’m certain if we had a little more time to-“

Luna merely raised a hoof to cut Twilight off. “Catch him?” Luna asked. “He is already in our custody, my own guards monitor him as we speak. He is already caught.” Luna pointed out. “However… I would like to know how he managed to elude me in the dreamscape last night, for the second time. I expect him to elude me again tonight.” Luna added. “Our difficulty with Dexter isn’t apprehending him, ‘tis getting him to tell us what he knows. More invasive methods using magic have long since been outlawed, however Celestia…” Luna hesitated. “You are to wait.” The Princess finally instructed.

“So that’s it? Do nothing…” Spike asked in protest.

“I am afraid so…” Luna replied impassively, charging her horn. “I will see you both here, tomorrow. Celestia is scheduled to arrive here during the gathering Miss Pie arranged. If there is nothing else of import, I shall take my leave.”

“Princess wait!” Twilight called, standing up. Luna stopped, looking back at her friend. “I… I just wanted to ask, are you… okay?”

“I am well, Twilight Sparkle. There is no need for concern.” Luna replied, her tone too neutral to not worry the unicorn.

“You have friends here… if you need somepony to talk to.” Twilight offered, eliciting a nod from Princess Luna. However, without another word the dark alicorn left the library in a flash of blue light.

---

“Applejack, why are you bringing me back here? The town is on lock-down and martial law, there is nothing to do here.” Dexter declared, following behind Applejack as she led him deeper into the small town. Aside from the four guards which had been following the pair since they left the farm, the town appeared empty. No one except for the occasional guard patrol could be spotted anywhere on the streets or between buildings.

They didn’t make Dexter comfortable. In fact, their presence made Dexter feel as if something big was about to happen.

“Ah’m about ta do something I don’t think Ah’ve ever done Dex,” Applejack glanced toward the colt. “I’m gonna spoil Pinkie Pie’s surprise…”

“Surprise?” Dexter raised an eyebrow, lifting his head slightly. “Wait, you don’t mean-“

“Yup” Applejack sighed. “She thinks that the changelings ruined yer last surprise party and… well if ya knew Pinkie, her surprise ‘Welcome ta Ponyvile’ party ain’t something she’s jus gonna let go…”

“The town is in the middle of a changeling scare,” Dexter complained, stopping to gesticulate with a forehoof. “This is stupid.” He turned to look up at her after she didn’t respond, only to find her frowning at him. “You know this is stupid. Now isn’t the time to-”

“Ah don’t care how smart you are,” Applejack stopped, pointing at the colt. “yer not ta call Pinkie Pie stupid anymore. She’s one of the kindest, friendliest ponies Ah know. Ah know she can be a little…” Applejack paused, motioning in a circular fashion with her hoof. “But she’s not dumb an’ her heart is in the right place. So don’t treat her poorly. Understand?”

Dexter merely sighed before nodding. “Fine, but that doesn’t stop the changelings from crashing the party again.”

“Yeah, Ah might’ve been worried about that yesterday.” Applejack scoffed, pausing to look at the colt knowingly. “I know ya don’t feel like going to a party, Ah’m feeling the same way.”

“Is the bakery even structurally sound enough to host a party?” Dexter countered. “If I recall correctly, the bakery was missing a wall and had a hole or two…”

“Which is why the party is at the library.” Applejack replied simply. However, she noticed Dexter’s continuing frown.

“How?!” Dexter protested. “They’re all scared of changelings, and Pinkie’s last party was attacked by them. I’d be worried about them attacking again the whole time.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But this time the Princess Luna promised to provide security in advance, an’ it’s just gonna be the girls, you an’ the crusaders…” Applejack replied. “No pony else was allowed to show fer security reasons and what not.”

“Princess Luna is going to be there?!” Dexter stopped in his tracks, eventually causing Applejack to stop and turn her head back toward him. “Nope.” He shook his head, turning away before attempting to retreat. “No.” However, before he could get another step his chest collided with the plated leggings of one of the lunar guards that had been following him and Applejack.

“Pinkie Pie may be try’n ta surprise you, Dex.” Applejack explained. “But tha Princess ordered you to be there.”

He turned back to Applejack with a leer. “I want nothing to do with Princess Luna.”

“Don’t get mad at me, Dex. I don’t have a choice.” Applejack said, anticipating his protest. “Besides, wasn’t Luna who summoned ya. Princess Celestia did.”

“Celestia?” Dexter asked in a surprised but worried tone. Again Dexter stopped in place, causing the group to come to a halt.

Celestia’s involvement would only complicate Dexter’s attempts to extricate himself from the whole mess.

“Do you really think it’s a good idea to put Princess Luna and myself in the same room?” Dexter challenged, pointing a hoof at the guard behind him. “Especially considering what happened yesterday?!”

“Think of it as your chance to apologize to her.” Applejack answered, before continuing forward. “Or have you forgotten what we talked about? I’d do it before Celestia asks you too.”

Dexter growled under his breath before he felt the guard behind him push him forward lightly. With a drawn out sigh, Dexter reluctantly resumed walking behind Applejack.

The pair and their guard escort reached The Golden Oak’s library without any further conversation. The tree which made up the library was surrounded by a perimeter of at least thirty guards. Each entrance was flanked by an additional pair of guards, including each balcony. Half of them wore the blue of the lunar guard, while the remaining were clearly clad in the solar guard’s standard golden color.

Dexter followed Applejack to a small line of ponies at the library’s main entrance. Oddly enough, a few of the guards had queued to get in. However, the colt froze in place when he noticed who stood at the library’s entrance, scanning each pony before admitting them to the library.

The dark blue alicorn had yet to spot Applejack or Dexter. She was solely focused on the pony before her, a white unicorn guard in golden armor. A wave of blue magic from Luna’s horn washed over the guard, and after a few moments, Luna nodded before using her magic to fasten a faintly glowing blue band around his foreleg. Shortly after, Luna stepped aside to grant him entry to the library.

Dexter felt a spike of adrenaline, and was now trembling for it. He hesitated to take a step forward when the line advanced. He couldn’t help it, but images of Nightmare Moon flashed across his mind. The memory of her laughing maniacally as she crushed one of her own guards to death replayed in his mind. The poor pony had been one of the few of her guard that refused to join her rebellion.

“Heyya Applejack,” A rainbow maned pegasus appeared in the air, hovering over the farm pony.

“Mornin’, RD.” Applejack greeted, pushing her Stetson aside in order to look up at the Pegasus. Applejack then stepped aside, giving her friend more room to land. “I’m surprised they’re letting ya fly about, given all the guards an’ the lockdown.”

The line advanced, but Dexter had an urge to run. When Applejack was seemingly distracted with Rainbow Dash, the colt slowly started to turn away.

However, the moment he took a single step back he felt a foreleg on his shoulder, holding him in place. Applejack may have been distracted, but his guard escort wasn’t.

“I… I can’t be here. I have to go.” He knew his excuse was pitiful the moment he uttered it, but he seemed too distracted by the princess to think straight. The stern gaze of the guard indicated he was not amused.

“Right.” The guard replied, holding Dexter’s shoulder he pushed the colt forward with the advancing line. However, he quickly noticed Dexter’s trembling. “What’s wrong with you?”

Dexter’s chest hurt, throbbing with his heartbeat which seemingly tripled in speed over the past minute. He felt dizzy and started to sweat. He instinctively placed a foreleg over the spot where Nightmare Moon had broken his ribs.

However, what shocked Dexter the most was that when he looked back up at Princess Luna, he saw a taller and much darker figure standing in her place. Nightmare Moon was staring at him, her piercing draconic eyes held murderous intent and a dark promise. She was surrounded by the mangled corpses of what Dexter recognized as her victims.

Back in reality, Luna had simply scanned the next pony in line before nodding her approval. She then turned to greet Rainbow Dash with a smirk. The pegasus mare had somehow managed to butt into the line ahead of Applejack.

The guard at Dexter’s shoulder attempted to push the colt forward once more. However, this time his efforts were met with much stiffer resistance. That, and the colt’s shaking had worsened. “Applejack, Ma’am” the stallion said, calling the farm pony just in front of Dexter. She turned around just in time to see Dexter hurl his breakfast.

‘And I’m afraid you’ve seen something I cannot afford to let anypony see…’

Truth be told, he was a hair’s trigger away from activating his suit, as well as a deadly torrent of strength in sheer panic. Though, a part of him knew that what he was seeing and hearing couldn’t be real. After a thousand years those corpses would have decayed.

Yet Luna could become Nightmare Moon again at any time.

“Dex?” Applejack rushed to the Colt’s side, taking care to avoid what was the colt’s mess. The guard at his shoulder had backed off by this point. “What’s wrong? What's happening?”

“Applejack?” The colt asked, his voice rising in confusion as if a part of him didn’t expect her to be there. “Applejack? H-how…”

The farm pony in question placed a foreleg on Dexter’s chest. She held a grimace of both worry and confusion. She flicked her ears to make sure she had heard Dexter correctly. “Dex?” She repeated.

“Where a-are we?”

“We're at the Golden Oaks Library, Dex.” Applejack slightly turned her head, eyeing the colt. “Twilight’s place. We're here for Pinkie Pie’s replacement surprise. Remember?”

A part of him did remember. Though another part of his mind was screaming about how Nightmare Moon was going to kill everyone and that he had to hide.

“They’re clear.” Dexter heard Princess Luna announce from somewhere behind Applejack but a lot closer than he would like. He could sense the resentment and spite in her restrained tone, all but revealing a hidden sneer from the Princess. However, without another word the darker alicorn moved on to scanning the next visitor with her magic.

“Dex?” Applejack asked the colt. Dexter merely looked down to see a band with a faint glow blue on his foreleg.

“Let's just get inside now…” Dexter replied, all too eager to get away.

---

“Surprise!!!” Pinkie Pie cheered upon spotting Dexter in the library, throwing confetti in the air while grinning from ear to ear.

The gathering within the library consisted of only the six Elements of Harmony, as well as the cutie mark crusaders. The guards, of which there were a number, seemingly did their best to stay out of the way. They mostly lined walls and flanked the few doors the library had. Despite this, Pinkie Pie was the only one to shout surprise, startling a few of the guards in the room and earning the gaze of her friends. Twilight, upon spotting Dexter, silently turned away before walking up the stairs, quickly disappearing through the upstairs’ door.

Dexter, however, wasn’t paying attention. Just after setting foot in the library, Dexter had sat back on his haunches, trying desperately to control the shaking in his forelegs.

“You’re… not surprised…” The heartbreak in Pinkie Pie’s voice could kill, as the mare visibly deflated. However, not a second later had she reinflated and cast a frown across the room at her friends. “Alright, which one of you told and ruined the surprise?” She asked, glaring daggers. Her eyes first landed on Fluttershy. The mare had arrived well ahead of Dexter, so she was an unlikely culprit. So Pinkie’s glare next landed on Rainbow Dash.

“Oh no, it wasn’t me!” Rainbow Dash shook her head. She knew the price of ruining one of Pinkie Pie’s surprise parties; and while Dash was brave, she wasn’t suicidally stupid. Rainbow hastily pointed a hoof at Applejack.

“Not now Pinkie,” Applejack shushed. “Dex ain’t feeling right. An’ Ah can tell ya he ain’t in the mood ta be surprised.”

“Is he sick?” Pinkie Pie asked, her tone even more disappointed than before. “Maybe a cookie or a cupcake will make him feel better.” She motioned toward a batch of freshly baked goods she brought for the ‘party.’

However, one of the guards by the door, an all white pegasus in golden armor, stepped forward. “Perhaps you should just get him some water...” He suggested to Applejack. “When he feels better he can try something with sugar in it.” The farm pony nodded, finding sense in the suggestion.

“Ah’ll be right back, Dex.” She said, turning toward the library’s kitchen.

However, just as Applejack got out of earshot, the guard knelt down next to Dexter and whispered in his ear. “You have PTSD” he whispered.

Dexter slowly glanced up at the stallion in question. “What?” He asked in confusion. However, his questions were answered when Quadraplex flashed a message in his glasses, labeling the guard as a changeling. “I don’t have PTSD.” Dexter said, resenting the notion alone.

After all, a genius like him should be above and beyond the annoying concerns of psychological disorders. A part of him resented the accusation alone.

“Judging from the jolt of raw terror you had out there. It’s PTSD. I’ve felt it before.” The guard whispered while motioning toward him. “Your message was received, the Queen wants to talk. Soon.”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to be here?” Dexter whispered back in annoyance, glancing at the blue glowing band around the fake guard’s foreleg. “Did you actually make it pass Princess Luna’s screening?”

The guard suppressed a laugh. “This library isn’t as secure as the ponies believe, and I got the band from its previous owner.” He whispered back with a smile. “I hope you can collect yourself, Princess Celestia has come to confront you. She’ll be summoning you in a-.”

“Hey!” The guard and Dexter found their quiet conversation interrupted by Applejack. The farm pony had returned rather quickly with a glass of water in hoof. “There ain’t nothing you need ta talk to him about.” She said, stepping between Dexter and the guard. She pushed the glass into Dexter’s forehoof while locking the offending guard in a glare.

“It's okay, Applejack. He just…” Dexter sighed, pulling away. He looked down at the glass before taking a sip. “It's fine…” He shook his head. “I think I’m better now.” He said, finally able to stop his legs from shaking.

“I apologize Ma’am, just trying to help him.” The guard replied in a professional tone, before stepping back and resuming his station beside the front door.

“Geez, Applejack… A little overprotective don’t ya think?” Rainbow Dash asked, currently hovering somewhere overhead in the library. She started fiddling with the blue glowing band around her foreleg.

“Can it, Dash.” Applejack retorted, before ushering Dexter forward into the library. Dash rolled her eyes before deciding to hover somewhere else. “Dex, Ah’m going to go talk to tha girls. You stay here an…” She paused, looking over the colt. “Take care of yourself, I’ll be back soon.”

A moment of peace and quiet, enough for Dexter to think, was more than welcome to the colt. However, Applejack hadn’t left him alone. Three fillies and a baby dragon now plagued his company.

“Hey Dexter!” One of the fillies waved as all four approached. For some reason, Spike was grinning.

Dexter could only groan.

---

“Princess,” Twilight gave a short bow before her mentor. The white alicorn returned the greeting with a smile. “Dexter has arrived.”

“Thank you, Twilight.” Princess Celestia nodded, motioning for Twilight to rise. “This is for you.” Celestia said, summoning a scroll with her magic. She levitated it over to Twilight, who quickly took hold of it with her own purple aura of magic.

“What is it?” Twilight asked in surprise, unfurling the scroll. It bore a seal from Canterlot’s University.

“A set of preliminary results on the chemical analysis you requested.” Celestia explained, taking a sip from a pearl white tea cup. “You were correct in assuming it would take weeks to complete, however when I heard you made the request, I personally asked the research staff at the university to make it a rush order. The analysis is still ongoing but they found something interesting I thought you’d like to know.” She motioned toward the scroll. “I already shared the contents with Spike.”

Dear Twilight Sparkle,
This is Shake Flask from the chemical analysis laboratory at RCU. Please forgive the informal nature of this letter, however from what you said in our previous correspondence, I believe getting this information to you as fast as possible is of the highest priority. My team and I have begun the chemical analysis you requested on the two sets of photographs you sent us; with our goal being to determine if the two sets of photographs were produced by the same source. Despite the incomplete analysis at present, I believe we have what we need in order to confidently arrive at a conclusion. When we were attempting to extract ink from the photographs in order to build the chemical profile of the photographs in question, we were surprised to find that we could only extract a significantly smaller amount of ink than predicted. While trying to discern the reason why we were unable to extract the projected amount of ink, we placed the photographs underneath a microscope and discovered something rather profound.
These photographs were not ‘printed’ in any traditional sense, as they appear to be composed of a vastly large array of precisely positioned spots. These spots, or dots, border on the microscopic and are too small to be perceived by the naked eye. Furthermore, each dot is one of only three colors – either blue, pink, or yellow. Individually, under a microscope, the dots appear to be just that – colored dots. However, when viewed with the naked eye, the array of dots forms a perfectly clear picture. From our measurements, each picture contains an array of millions of these dots. All of them are perfectly arranged and colored exactly as needed for a picture.
I can certifiably say that no one in my team, nor anypony that I have consulted, has ever seen anything like it.
These ‘pictures’ are not photographs. They were ‘painted’ using microscopic dots. To make a set of photos using this method would take years, perhaps decades. But more importantly, the level of precision required to perfectly align millions of these microscopic dots is – well, I am just going to say it - way beyond the capability of any creature or magic user.
Given that both sets of photos feature these microscopic dots, I can confidently say they both come from the exact same source. This colt named “Dexter” is the person you are looking for. Of course, you can still wait for the chemical analysis to be completed. When we get the chemical composition and profile of the ink, we can certify this conclusion using more traditional methods.
Best Wishes,
Shake Flask
P.S. Is this “Dexter” the same individual you credited with solving Clover’s Conundrum? If so, please extend to him an invitation to the University; many of my colleagues would be more than interested in discussing his findings.

“GOT HIM!” Twilight cheered, jumping in place. “This proves EVERYTHING!” However, after a moment she quickly apologized for her sudden outburst, hoping that she didn’t startle the Princess. “Oops, sorry!”

“Not to worry, Twilight.” Celestia smiled, having fully expected the outburst.

“Princess!” Twilight began again. “The night Cheerilee was rescued, the guards were tipped off to the fact she was replaced by a changeling by somepony leaving pictures here at the library depicting her abduction.”

“I know,” Celestia nodded, still smiling.

“This letter proves that those pictures came from the same source as the ones Dexter gave Princess Luna When he was showing off!” Twilight went on.

“I know,” Celestia chuckled.

“That means, Dexter at the very least knows how to detect changelings in disguise!”

“It does,” Celestia laughed, still smiling at her student’s excitement. “Or at the very least it proves that Dexter has lied about a great many things; and that he has information we desperately need.” Celestia motioned to one of the nearby guards while her horn lit up. He was an all white unicorn in golden armor. “It is time.” Celestia turned back to Twilight, the mare was re-reading the letter just in case she had missed something. “I wish to apologize, Twilight.” Celestia said, breaking Twilight's attention from the letter.

“For what, Princess?” Twilight tilted her head.

“For doubting your suspicions; or rather, for reigning you in. Your instincts about Dexter were correct. I should have trusted them more.” Celestia explained, placing her pearl white tea glass on an equally white plate.

Twilight shook her head. “It’s nothing, Princess. I admit, I can go overboard sometimes; and I didn’t have concrete proof until now. I understand your reluctance.”

“Still, you’re not that little excitable filly I used to teach in school.” Celestia answered, a part of her regretted the truth behind her words. She missed Twilight.

“What do you have planned for Dexter?” Twilight asked.

“That is up to Dexter…”

Secondary A/N:
Well, it’s been a minute since I’ve updated. I apologize for that. The upload date of the last chapter was literally the day before I got my Masters Degree, so you can imagine my life got busy right after. That, and a number of issues I felt the story had, made updating difficult. But don’t worry; I’ve kept this story and all of you in the back of my mind. Hence this update, multiple years later.
Those of you who have been following me for the past few years know that this chapter went through at least 3 iterations. One of which reached 45k words before getting scrapped. I will be making a blog post discussing those ‘alternative’ timelines for this story, as some of you have begged me to read those drafts.

A Sad Error In Judgement... (part 2/2)

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Author's Notes:

***PLEASE READ***
As I said yesterday, I will post the 2nd half of the chapter today. So here it is. This half of the chapter picks up immediately after where the last half of it left off.

Again, a big THANK YOU to the proof-readers/editors/pre-readers for this chapter: Aburi, A Drunk Soviet, Astromormy, Hawksfive, Heidao, Stelarwand030, Wysteria, and Ultimaexe24.

I know this chapter is a lot of talking, and the typical silliness and comedy are absent. However, several plot threads are coming to a crunch, and I couldn’t find a place to add comedy that would feel natural. I’m still working on those blog posts for you who are interested.

Enjoy, leave a comment and feel free to help out by pointing out any mistakes/typos you find! I’m off to write the next chapter.

“Quadraplex, how many guards are in this library?” Dexter whispered to himself. However, his question was rapidly answered by a monotone voice filtering in through his earpiece.

“Fifteen, with another thirty-five outside.” Quadraplex answered.

“How many changelings?” Dexter rubbed his head. Internally, Dexter scoffed at the idea that he had PTSD.

“Three. Two impersonating guards, One masquerading as a box of books on the second floor.”

“Whatcha sayin’ Dex?” Applebloom cut in, approaching Dexter with the other fillies. “Yer muttering ta yerself.”

“Just thinking out loud, Applebloom.” Dexter lied. However, he quickly spotted a smirking Spike standing just adjacent to the fillies. His arms were folded as he fixed Dexter in a confident gaze.

“What are you grinning about, you underdeveloped saurian?” Dexter asked, casting a glance toward the baby dragon.

“OOooooo, he called you a…” Scootaloo paused her taunt. “sorry’an?” “

Dexter merely glanced as Scootaloo, resisting the urge to facepalm.

“What, Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. The unicorn filly tilted her head after looking at Scootaloo. “Saurian just means large reptile… and Spike is a reptile.”

“That’s not what I heard it meant!” Scootaloo countered in her own defense. “Besides, we can’t all be a walking dictionary!”

“Oh yeah, then what do you think it means?” Sweetie Belle challenged.

“Who cares?” Applebloom shrugged between them.

“I… uhh…” Scootaloo began to stutter, trying to think up something.

“See, you have no clue!” Sweetie smirked, knowing she had her friend pinned.

Scootaloo frowned. “Well I’d look it up if your sister hadn’t stolen all of the dictionaries in Ponyville!”

“Yeah, I’d better get Rarity to give them back otherwise you’ll be illiterate forever!”

Scootaloo growled a response, lowering herself and leaning forward aggressively. However Dexter didn’t bother to pay attention to Scootaloo's reply, turning away silently as he made his way deeper into the library.

Initially, he didn’t want to be here. But now he definitely didn’t want to be here.

Moreover, Dexter didn’t expect such a quick response from the Changeling Queen. She must have really wanted to talk if they were willing to risk exposure in order to pass off that message. It didn’t surprise Dexter that a changeling infiltrator had managed to get inside the library, despite all the hard work the guards and Princess Luna had put into securing it. However, he had to admit he didn’t know how adept the changelings were at infiltrating the guard; for all he knew it was trivial for them.

Another mystery for him to deduce at a later date.

“I’m watching you…” Spike interrupted Dexter’s chain of thought. The baby dragon had followed Dexter away from the now arguing crusaders. “Don’t try anything funny.”

Dexter turned his head to look behind him, annoyed to find Spike still smiling. “Leave me alone.” Dexter’s tone was awash with restrained frustration.

Without a second thought, Dexter proceeded through the bottom floor of the library, eventually finding his way to the library’s back door. It was when he heard Spike speak up again that he realized the infuriating lizard was following him.

“Hey,” Spike walked past Dexter’s side, stepping into the colt’s path. “Where are you going?” Spike locked eyes with Dexter.

A part of Dexter wanted to yell at Spike, but he felt drained and more than unwilling to spend the energy. “Just get out of my way Spike…” Dexter sighed. “I just want to go somewhere quiet…” He shook his head.

“Why?” Spike asked. Dexter turned once more to look at the dragon. The previous confident grin had been replaced with a frown. The baby dragon’s eyes narrowed in frustration. “Why won’t you just tell the truth and come clean to the Princess?”

Dexter rolled his eyes before tiredly uttering his response. “I have been completely honest with-“

The pedantic lie had hardly escaped his lips before Spike interrupted. “Princess Luna, Twilight, the girls, they’re all good ponies! Why won’t you tell us the truth? From what I saw, you’re not on the changelings’ side. We’re the ‘good ponies.’”

Dexter merely stared at Spike for a moment. The colt’s gaze betrayed a moment of thought, though it wasn’t because Spike was finally getting through to him. For a moment Dexter wondered if he had ever been naive enough to believe that the world was so black and white it could be easily broken down into ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys.’

If he could only tell Spike what he saw in the past; of how he saw the ‘good guys’ act in a different era.

“Spike…” Dexter began cautiously. “Without admitting to anything, because I know this place probably has ponies watching and listening to everything I say or do, I’ll answer your question with one of my own.” He locked eyes with Spike. “What if I’m one of the good ponies in all this? What if things are complicated, and that getting what you asked for might hurt more than help? Like, what if the changelings were threatening to hurt innocent ponies if I talked?”

Spike raised an eyebrow, returning Dexter’s gaze with a look of confusion. However, as he contemplated Dexter’s words, his grimace shifted toward a more thoughtful one.

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out…” Dexter said, pushing forward and past Spike.

Dexter only made it a few more steps before the band on his foreleg started glowing a bright blue. Not a second later, a loud pop and blue flash of light appeared before Dexter, placing a new obstacle in his path.

Princess Luna loomed over Dexter, glaring at him with what Dexter could also assume was restrained contempt.

However, despite the fact that he very much returned the sentiment, a part of him wanted to panic at the sight of the Dark alicorn. However, thankfully for his composure, he could feel his anger and contempt for Luna start to rise much more quickly than the fear; allowing him to glare back at the Princess.

“My sister summons you.” Luna’s voice was icy cold, all traces of her previous gentleness were completely gone. “I will escort you upstairs.” She pointed with a hoof back toward the way Dexter had come.

Dexter stepped aside, motioning with a hoof to let the princess go first. “After you…”

“Turn around, and start walking.” She ordered.

“I won’t turn my back on-“ Dexter was cut off by Luna using her magic to trap and lift the colt in an aura of blue.

“WE SHALL TOLERATE NO FURTHER INSOLENCE FROM THEE, NOW MARCH!” Luna commanded in the Royal voice, at volumes loud enough to make Dexter wince in pain and penetrate every part of the library. However, Dexter couldn’t fulfill her command; for at this point Luna simply grasped the colt in her magic and held him aloft before proceeding.

Somewhere upstairs a white alicorn smiled.

As the pair reached the base of the library stairs, Luna stopped to address the Element of Harmony that had apparently noticed Luna’s and gathered in the Library’s main room. “Our sister has a matter to settle with this foal,” She motioned toward Dexter with a forehoof. In response, the colt merely crossed his forelegs as he floated in Luna’s magical grasp. “We are not to be disturbed until Celestia has concluded her business. We shall also be casting a soundproofing spell, so do not be alarmed if we are silent. Celestia does not wish for what we say to be heard by the changelings we hunt.”

When they got to the upper level of the library, Luna shut the door behind them before sealing it with her magic. She then took several paces into the room before unceremoniously dropping Dexter. He hit the floor with a thud, however he didn’t betray any visible or audible wince. His own anger was already burning at his insides.

Much like the main floor of the library, this room was filled with guards. Most of which flanked every door or window in the room. They stood silently, as usual, content to merely watch the colt. On the far side of the room, Celestia and Twilight sat on a pair of large pillows, talking softly enough Dexter couldn’t make out their words. Aside from Twilight, none of the other elements were present.

According to the blip that appeared in his vision, none of them were changelings. However, his glasses did indicate that a box, which was tucked away on the top row of a bookshelf in the far corner of the room, was a changeling in disguise. Dexter would have been fascinated, as it was the first time he saw a changeling impersonate an inanimate object.

“Sister,” Princess Luna greeted as approached Celestia, taking up a place by her side. “I present to you Dexter, as summoned.” Luna didn’t bother motioning toward the colt, merely stepping aside for Celestia to see. “I have also cast a sound-blocking spell over this room, for your privacy. Now I will take my leave.”

“Stay Luna,” Celestia glanced up from Twilight to meet Luna’s eyes. “You’re going to need to know whatever we learn. You’re also owed an apology, you should be here to receive it.” Luna didn’t respond, merely lowering her head in a brief nod. Celestia lowered her magic, setting aside the tea cup and saucer she was holding before turning to face Dexter.

The moment Celestia laid eyes on the colt, she was hit with a slight sense of familiarity. Although she couldn’t pinpoint from where. Fixing him in her gaze for a moment, Celestia racked her memory. She focused her mind on the past decade, as Dexter couldn’t have been more than ten years old. Perhaps she had seen a close relative of the colt, to which Dexter bore a resemblance.

Dexter, however, was waiting with baited breath to see if Princess Celestia would recognize him. Despite a thousand years having passed, Celestia had not aged at all.

The white alicorn was the tallest pony Dexter had ever seen, utterly dwarfing the colt when she stood at full height. Her coat was snow white with a slight pink hue. Celestia’s multicolor mane and tail still waved in a non-existent breeze, imbued with the considerable magic she possesses. Everything about her appearance was exactly as Dexter remembered, even the anger behind her magenta eyes.

Despite the fact Dexter saw Celestia only a few days ago, a thousand years had gone by for the alicorn. He hoped it was long enough for her to forget his face. He knew she never had the opportunity to see his cutie mark during his trip to the past; but from what he could recall, alicorns were supposed to have an extraordinarily accurate memory, much like his own.

He would have hell to pay if she did recognize him.

After a momentary pause Celestia pulled away from her thoughts.

“So, you are Dexter?” Celestia asked, though it sounded more like a statement than a question. Her tone was cold, fully displaying her disdain. “You’re the recalcitrant, contemptuous, captious foal that thinks he has the right to judge my sister?”

“I… am Dexter.” He replied hesitantly, hoping his voice wouldn’t trigger the alicorn’s memory either.

“Well?” Celestia asked coldly, standing as she expected Dexter to correct his faux pax. “I do not know who failed to teach you this, but one usually bows when summoned before Royalty.”

“I’ll stand.” He answered, releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding. However, not a second after his reply registered, did Celestia’s horn light up. Dexter’s body was suddenly surrounded by a golden aura which promptly pushed his chest to the floor with a thump, before pulling him back up into a standing position.

“See?” Celestia released her magical aura which held him. “It’s not hard to pay a Princess the respect she is due. While my sister may have overlooked your impertinence, rest assured, I will not.”

Dexter felt the familiar burn of his rising anger.

“Was that necessary, Celestia?” Luna asked, frowning. However her words surprised Dexter, given her anger toward him.

“You do him no good by failing to correct him. He must learn how to behave properly, just like any other flippant colt his age.” Celestia remained fixed on the colt. “Do you know why I am here today, Dexter, visiting Ponyville?”

“No.” Dexter replied candidly. Holding the Princess’s ire may have been a boon toward his efforts to keep her from recognizing him.

“I am here to escort the changeling prisoners to a more secure location. Specifically, the Canterlot’s dungeons.” Celestia explained. “You will be coming with me. Whether or not you end up joining them in the dungeon is up to you. From this point on, you are no longer under Applejack’s care.”

Now Dexter had a reason to get upset. The idea that Celestia was just going to remove him from the care of the only pony he had come to trust and respect, without either’s consent, was more than enough to spark his temper. However, he gritted his teeth and bit back any response he had for the Princess. She was, after all, the Princess. She had the power to do what she wanted, even if it was far from respectable.

“You will speak when spoken too, Dexter.” Celestia ordered sharply. “You have nothing to say?” Celestia asked. Though Dexter suspected she was trying to leverage his fear of being taken away as a tool to get him to talk.

He wasn’t going to bite.

“I didn’t hear a question, Princess.”

The room went dead silent upon hearing the condescension in Dexter’s use of Celestia’s title.

Hundreds of years of practice as a politician is the only thing that kept Celestia showing surprise at that verbal slap to the face. No one, ever, talked to her like that.

Celestia took several steps toward Dexter, the room apparently jumping several degrees with each hoof-fall. The magenta of Celestia’s eyes were replaced by a golden hue. “Do you think your impertinence is funny? Does this seem to be a joke to you?”

“This seems to be a waste of my time.” Dexter sneered, surprising the solar alicorn for the second time in a row. Celestia’s growing fury actually paused for a moment while she processed Dexter’s words. Then the room spiked several degrees upwards once more.

Celestia glared at the colt silently for a whole ten seconds, her now golden eyes burning into his own. “This is your last warning; choose what you say carefully or there will be consequences. Know this, I am already very upset with you after what you did to my sister.”

Again, Dexter didn’t respond. He forced himself not to smile, pleased with the fact that Celestia apparently had not recognized him at all.

However, the silent tension in the room didn’t break until Celestia spoke again a few moments later. “I take it back, Luna.” Celestia commented, still standing over the colt and staring down at him. “I see what you meant.” Celestia stepped back before lowering her wings, taking on a less dominant stance. The room lowered back to a more normal temperature as the glowing in her eyes receded, allowing them to return to their normal magenta color.

“You’re not the first… malevolent foal that I have met; but like the ones before you, I sincerely hope you are the last.” Celestia went on. “And I will do what I can to steer you on a different path.”

Dexter couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Celestia, momentarily imagining how different their encounter would be had he truly been as malicious as she apparently believed. He had to fight back a scoff, but failed to hold back a slight shaking of his head and repressed grin. Had he been evil, or had he been replaced by a villain such as his rival Mandark, Celestia would either be dead or in a whole lot of pain right about now.

“What, Dexter?” Celestia asked. “You doubt I would try to steer you on a better path?” She eyed the colt. “Or are you under the delusion that you’re not, in fact, evil?”

When Dexter remained silent, Celestia pressed him. “Answer my question,” She ordered.

“Your assessment is incorrect. I am not evil.” Dexter answered curtly. A torrent of dark thoughts passed across his mind, begging the question of how much easier his life would be right now if he were evil. “You do not possess an understanding of my motives, and wouldn’t believe me even if I told you what they are. Now, if you would be so kind as to skip the theatrics and get to the poi-”

Celestia’s horn flashed, and Dexter felt his body seize up as a golden aura surrounded him and hugged his fur, effectively silencing his words. He felt hot, as if he had been suddenly locked into a microwave oven set to its highest setting. The magic Celestia had used wasn’t so much painful, as it was uncomfortable, seemingly paralyzing the colt for a moment.

“I told you there would be consequences if you continued to be disrespectful.” Celestia declared icily. “And next time, I will flank-zap you.” Dexter merely answered her with a glare. It wasn’t the first time a pony threatened to spank him with magic.

“But getting to the point, Dexter, enough of your motives are revealed by your actions. You’re not evil because you lied, nor because you managed to make my sister cry. You’re evil because at every opportunity you had to do good for another pony, you chose not to.” Celestia accused. “Even when those closest to you stood to gain the most, you chose not to help, letting them suffer needlessly. The only thing you did right was revealing the fact that Cheerilee had been taken by the changelings, allowing for her rescue.” Celestia walked back to stand beside Luna, both now facing the colt. “But even that seemingly good deed was only done out of self interest, since you would have been attending the class with her imposter had you not seen to her rescue…”

Dexter ever so slightly shrunk back for a moment, catching himself in his effort to keep up a strong poker face. Celestia’s assured tone and body language set alarm bells off in Dexter’s head; prompting him to actually worry. She must have proof of some kind, and she wanted him to know it.

“But what’s worse, Dexter, is that you willingly corrupt the good within you.” Celestia, using her magic to pull the colt’s head back up, allowing her to lock eyes with the colt. Dexter quickly wished she hadn’t, however, as something snapped behind Celestia’s eyes. Anger, fury, a profound yet well controlled rage, both intensely hot and deadly cold, stirred in the alicorn’s features. “You are clearly a smart child. You possess intelligence well beyond your peers, and well beyond your years.” Again the temperature in the room spiked upwards. “Yet, you use that intelligence to bring forth an unmitigated malice. No child, no pony so new to life as you, would easily discern the source of pain and suffering that makes immortality nigh unbearable! The fact we will lose nearly everyone we come to know and love!” The intensity of Celestia’s magically enhanced voice shook the room. It was so much as loud as it was concussive. Dexter could feel each word within his chest and legs.

Small parts of Celestia’s mane and tail started converting into flame, as if a few strands here and there spontaneously combusted. The gouts of flame would race down her mane before extinguishing at their end. However, with Dexter’s eyes still locked with Celestia’s, he could see her irises started to glow golden.

“Yet you did discern it… and in your genius chose the best words to hurt Luna the most. You so gleefully delighted, celebrated, my sister’s suffering! And unjustly linked her guilt to the cursed side of her immortality… Trying to frame the mercy she was given by the Elements of Harmony as some new twisted form of punishment!”

“Our bodies may not keep scars, but our hearts do! And my sister will carry the one you gave her yesterday forever. She never hurt you. You never saw Nightmare Moon. You had no right to say what you did, nor to judge her. What you said to her, which wounded her, was just a pathetic attempt to distract from your failing lies…”

“You are evil, Dexter. And a genuinely evil child is truly a repugnant thing to behold.” Celestia hissed, punctuating the end of her speech while glaring down at the child she dwarfed. Her wings were extended from her sides, and were tense like the rest of her body. Dexter had seen Celestia this angry before, during his trip to the past.

He didn’t exactly enjoy the experience, as Celestia was much more physical with her displeasure then.

“Well, don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Celestia sneered in disgust; the question itself almost being a reflex from centuries of dealing with foals.

“Yes…” He started, narrowing his eyes at Celestia. He wasn’t unafraid, and he didn’t care if Celestia knew it. If she was surprised, she didn’t show it. “I apologize.” Dexter curtly directed toward Princess Luna, breaking eye contact with Celestia. “What I said to you, Princess Luna, was wrong; and I should not have said it.” Luna raised an eyebrow. “I do not make this apology in an attempt to reduce any punishment your sister intends for me, I am not afraid of her. Nor do I anticipate your forgiveness. But rather because you should have no doubt that what I said was both wrong and incorrect, and that you should not suffer any more anguish over it.”

The room hung in silence once more as Dexter finished. The stillness of the room was only broken by Celestia turning her head to glance at her sister. After another moment, Luna’s face scrunched into a scowl. “Why? Why should I believe this apology is genuine? You made it clear that you hate me.”

“That’s why,” Dexter responded again, quickly and curtly. His stern expression didn’t waver the whole time. “Hatred is why. But not mine… yours.”

“If you’re afraid I have come to hate you, Dexter, don’t worry.” Luna interrupted. “When I leave Ponyville, I shall not give you a second thought; and hopefully we shall never cross paths again. You’re not worth my time and energy to harbor hatred for.”

“You don’t hate me Princess,” Dexter shook his head. “You hate yourself.” At those words Luna froze in place, as if she had turned to stone. “Self-hate is hidden in everything you do; in every word you speak, every smile or frown you give, in the way you carry yourself. It’s as if you are cursing yourself for every second that you live while your victims lay cold and still.” Luna’s scowl faltered, turning away from Dexter before shutting her eyes. Dexter paused, half expecting Luna to come back with a denial of his accusation.

Celestia noted when such a denial didn’t come, before turning to Dexter with a newfound glare.

A warning.

However, Dexter didn’t pay it any heed and simply continued.

“Nightmare Moon was a creature born of your jealousy and hatred; and fed off the pain, suffering and fear of those around her.” Dexter shifted as the memories of his trip to the past were still fresh within his mind, and still so very disturbing. He fought to keep his neutral expression. “And to prevent a resurgence of Nightmare Moon within you, you have every duty to fight all forms of hatred you harbor. Yet, you don’t fight the hatred you have for yourself, because you think you deserve to be hated.”

“But whether or not you deserve it is not the point. You must keep even the faintest hints of Nightmare Moon at bay.” Dexter urged. “And that is the reason why I apologize. My words yesterday served only to feed your self-loathing, and for that reason alone they were clearly wrong. I am sorry. I don’t expect you to forgive me; I don’t even expect you to forgive yourself – unless that is necessary for you to stop hating yourself. But whatever the case is, please, you must stop hating yourself.”

Again the room was filled with silence, for what felt like hours. Luna’s face betrayed her internal monologue, shifting from hurt, to fear, to guilt, and then back into a scowl. However, her anger gave way to a passive and cold grimace. “No Dexter. You were right in the first place, and that’s why it hurt so bad; it was true.” Luna retorted. “I deserve to suffer given what I’ve done.”

“Luna, no-” Celestia interrupted, shaking her head before taking a step toward the other alicorn. Celestia was instantly silenced when Luna’s gaze snapped toward her older sister, threatening her to not say another word. It actually caused Celestia to stop dead in her tracks, before taking a hesitant step back.

“My… self hatred is part of a well deserved punishment.” Luna picked up a forehoof and started to inspect the blue shoe attached to her hoof. “I hate myself as much as everypony else should hate me, since nopony other than you seems willing to.” She put her hoof down to meet the colt’s sight. “But do not fear, I will never become Nightmare Moon again. I. Will. Not. Let. It. Happen. So your apology is both unwarranted and without purchase, and I am free to hate myself as much as I deserve.”

It was Dexter’s turn to scowl in frustration. “You owe it to your victims to make absolutely sure, and the only way to do that is to let go of your hate.”

“I am absolutely sure, Nightmare Moon required my assent. She shall never have it again.” Luna bit back. “Now all my victims are dead. Either by my hoof, or by the passage of time. You can’t speak for them.”

“Wrong,” Dexter countered, “There is a victim of Nightmare Moon, alive, in this room.” Dexter paused. “And she’s standing right beside you.” He motioned toward Celestia with his head. “And something tells me that she agrees with what I have been saying; stop hating yourself.”

Luna’s scowl returned. Celestia would forgive her for anything, unjustly so. “Enough!” Luna hissed at Celestia, the room around the dark alicorn seemed to darken as shadows became more intense. “This diversion has gone on for too long, and we have more pressing matters to attend to. Now do what you came here for sister, we have changelings that must be dealt with…”

Celestia regarded the other alicorn silently for a few more moments, much to Luna’s annoyance.

“We will talk more about this later.” Celestia said, her look of concern was met with a cold stare from Luna. After shaking her head, Celestia turned back toward Dexter. “Nor am I finished with you in this matter.” She remarked much more coldly. “However, Luna is right. We have wasted enough time, Dexter. The purpose of my journey here was to assist in the changeling situation plaguing Ponyville, including your role in it. We know that you have been deeply dishonest with us Dexter.”

Dexter drew in a breath to respond, but Celestia continued before he could. “We know you have knowledge of the device from the Ponyville clinic that could detect changelings, which has since been destroyed. We know you have a means of detecting changelings, despite the fact that you are no unicorn and cannot perform magic. And we know for certain that you were the one who revealed to the guard that your school teacher, Cheerilee, was actually a changeling imposter.”

Dexter couldn’t help but look away. Celestia’s once hostile glare and tone shifted more toward one of judgement. However, it wasn’t Celestia that bothered Dexter. He felt a pang of sadness shoot through him, followed by a tightness in his chest.

He knew this moment, or one like it, would eventually come. A point of no return.

“By withholding this information, or by lying to conceal your possession of it, you have impeded Luna’s investigation into the changelings here. Doing so has put countless innocent ponies at risk, and allowed the changeling enemy to operate freely and unopposed in our homeland. My subjects, and your neighbors here in Ponyville, have been subjected to martial law. All of which could have been avoided had you been honest.” Celestia paused for a moment, letting her words hang as she momentarily hesitated. However, she frowned briefly before staring at Dexter resolutely. “Dexter, you have knowingly aided our enemies, both directly and indirectly. You have sided against us. You have committed treason. You are a traitor.”

“However, it is not too late for you to undo the harm you have done.” Celestia’s cold tone warmed slightly. “Tell us, now, what you know. How did you build that device in the Ponyville clinic, and what about it allowed it to detect changelings? And by what means do you now detect changelings? There is still time to catch the changelings in Ponyville that remain at large, and to uncover their undoubtedly sinister plot before it comes to fruition. But for that to happen we have to be able to find them.”

Celestia stopped, letting Dexter have a chance to respond. She gazed down upon him expectantly, trying to see past a well practiced poker face. She could tell he was troubled; and hoped now he would come clean.

“I don’t know.” Dexter replied curtly, dashing Celestia’s hopes in an instant. In frustration she turned away from the colt, pacing across the room while Dexter finished his denial. “I don’t know how that device in the hospital was made, and I don’t know any reliable method for detecting disguis-”

“DEXTER!” Celestia turned on the colt, her fury returned in full force. “I KNOW YOU’RE LYING, WE ALL KNOW YOU’RE LYING!” She stomped a forehoof, cracking the floor in a similar manner Dexter had seen Luna do before. “Don’t you care about the ponies out there who are suffering?! I know a part of you does, otherwise you wouldn’t have helped your teacher Cheerilee get saved! There are a hundred Cheerilee’s out there suffering right now, why are you lying?” Her eyes narrowed, scanning the colt for any sign that his resolve was going to break. “Don’t you understand…” Celestia's voice faltered. “The position you’re… putting me in?”

“I don’t have the information you seek.” Dexter replied resolutely.

“Dexter, listen to me carefully…” Celestia began again. “There is magic, long since outlawed and all but forgotten, which allows a magic wielder to pry open the minds of others; and forcefully take knowledge from their victim’s mind, or even to dictate their thoughts and actions…” Celestia paused to suppress a shudder, all the while earning a worried glance from Luna. “I hate that I even consider using it, this magic disgusts me…“

“It doesn't sound all that different from Luna’s dream walking,” Dexter remarked, motioning toward the other alicorn with his head. “Why is it any different than what she does on a regular basis?”

“Because this is a different type of magic. It doesn’t simply allow two beings to commune, it dismantles the mind of the victim before the caster.” She locked eyes with Dexter again. “And although it does not cause any lasting damage, it is a violation of the most heinous kind.”

“So, magical lobotomy?” Dexter asked.

“No,” Celestia shook her head, before looking around the room. “No were nearly as damaging, but just as reprehensible in my opinion. Dexter… I beg you… tell the truth.” She turned back to the colt. “If not for your own sake, then at least for mine. As a Princess of Equestria, it is my duty to protect my subjects… it is my duty to extract from you the information which will save their lives. But if I use this heinous magic, I will regret it for well beyond your lifetime. Whatever secrets you are keeping, they’re going to be exposed. There is no reason to keep lying, it will only make me hurt you in a way I hoped never to. Again I beg you…”

Despite his resolve, Dexter was feeling regret for the first time during his meeting with Celestia. His gaze drifted toward the floor. Of course, he wasn’t going to change his mind. He still believed that talking to Celestia would induce a war between the changelings and Equestria, and possibly the destruction of the changeling species.

And Dexter would not be responsible for a war, nor the resulting madness and death therein; and especially not a genocide, even if it was accidental byproduct of the ponies defending themselves.

“Please, please don’t lie to me.” Celestia pleaded. “Tell us what you know.”

“I’m sorry, but I simply don’t know anything-” Dexter began, but he didn’t get far.

“CURSE you and your STUBBORNNESS!” Celestia stomped a forehoof again, this time she knocked a bigger hole in the library’s floor; causing a large chunk to fall through to the floor below. Her irises shifted back toward the color of flames while she spoke through gritted teeth. “You… you… I have not seen such foolish stubbornness in a colt in over A THOUSAND YEARS, you’re even more stubborn than… that…”

At that moment, Dexter looked up to lock eyes with the princess once more. The sense of familiarity she had with the colt surged within her once more. She had met Dexter before today, and now she knew exactly when. The memories struck Celestia like a tidal wave, transporting her to the distant past.

[A thousand years prior.]

“You are the most stubborn child I have ever met.” Celestia sighed in frustration, taking a moment to glance out a gigantic hole in the wall. She had a clear view of the forest in the distance, which was bathed in an orange hue as she pushed the sun into its setting phase. Thick clouds in the distance hung low, hinting at a coming rain.

However, Celestia was brought back by Star Swirl stomping the floor with a fore hoof. “Half an hour of trying to get him to talk and we don’t even have his name.” Star Swirl said before shaking his head.

“Look, it’s not my fault that I have no idea what you’re talking about…” The mystery colt lied. Did he really think he sounded innocent, or that Celestia would believe him?

“Then why won’t you at least tell us your name?” Celestia challenged, lower her head to eye level with the colt.

He merely looked away.

“Listen, young colt.” Star Swirl began sternly. “Clover is like a daughter to me, and every second she is suffering is like a knife in my side. Now I know you know something more about Nightmare Moon, or at the very least you can tell me where you got that prophecy from. I need to know whatever I can, as any small detail about Nightmare Moon could prove useful in undoing her indoctrination magic.”

Celestia could help but agree with the aged wizard. However, her main concern was with finding a way to retrieve Luna from the moon. She loved her little sister after all, despite everything that happened.

The idea of losing Luna terrified Celestia to the core; and in ways far beyond that which normal siblings would experience. As Celestia watched the centuries pass, so too did she watch countless friends pass on. The loss of each one built up over time, creating a mountain of anguish that threatened to crush her every time she thought about it. However, it was all made more bearable by the fact that at least one person would be with her; that there would be at least one person she didn’t have to watch pass away.

But now, it would seem that might change; and the despair she harbored at her new reality threatened to crush her composure even now. Distracting herself with the mystery colt in front of her was all she could do to stop herself from completely breaking down into tears.

“I never said anything about a prophecy.” Again, the mystery colt lied. Star Swirl’s jaw tightened.

“Prophecy?” Celestia raised an eyebrow at Star Swirl. “What prophecy did he speak of?”

“During the first hours of Nightmare’s uprising, he helped Clover and I escape from Nightmare’s guard. That’s when he spoke of a prophecy which stated that Nightmare was to escape from her imprisonment in a thousand years before bringing about another eternal night.”

“What? The Elements said the same thing to me just as Luna was banished.” Celestia’s gaze darted between the colt and the wizard. “A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria,” Celestia began to recite. “Defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”

“That’s it,” Star Swirl shot an accusatory hoof at the colt. “He said those words exactly, less than an hour after Nightmare Moon attacked!”

That was more than enough for Celestia. Somehow this child knew a prophecy from the Elements of Harmony before the elements had even given it to her.

“How did you know this prophecy before the Elements gave it to me?” Celestia pulled the colt forward with her magic before lifting him to eye level. “Do you know anything else about my sister’s fate? How will the stars aid in her return? Will Luna’s mind survive her banishment? Will Nightmare consume her?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I never-“

“Please, please don’t lie to me.” Celestia begged, her eyes starting to tear. She didn’t care if her composure was starting to crack. “I’ve been with my sister for a very, very long time. She is the only one I have. I must know if the prophecy will come true. Will I ever get my sister back? I have to know. When exactly will she come back? How will she come back? Is there anything I can do to bring her back sooner? Is she being… tormented by that ‘Nightmare Moon’ thing right now?”

She needed to know, every fiber of her screamed that she must know; when Nightmare Moon returned, would Luna come back as well - or will her little sister be consumed and destroyed by the monster that had taken over her?

“I’m sorry, but I simply don’t know anything-“ Celestia didn’t let the colt finish his repeated lie, as she finally felt her composure break under the weight of her anguish. However, it was all replaced by a torrent of unrestrained anger.

What this little foal knew could bring Luna back to her side, yet this stupid mortal thought he could deny her this knowledge.

Never.

“DON’T YOU DARE LIE TO ME!” Celestia felt the familiar burn of uncontrolled magic surge through her. The air around her had gotten much hotter, hot enough to be painful to the average pony. But she didn’t notice. “I LOVE MY SISTER MORE THAN ANYTHING. I’VE WATCHED OVER HER FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. I WON’T LET SOME STUPID COLT WITHHOLD WHAT I NEED TO BRING HER BACK TO ME!

She shook the colt in her magical grasp, tightening it with each passing second. “TELL ME WHERE YOU GOT THAT PROPHECY! TELL ME WHAT ELSE YOU KNOW ABOUT MY SISTER! TELL ME HOW TO BRING HER BACK!”

“TELL ME EVERYTHING!”

She felt her magical grasp on the colt dissolve as a counter-spell from Star Swirl’s horn struck the colt from behind. Almost instantly the child was pulled away by a green aura of magic belonging to one of the guards.

“Celestia!” Star Swirl’s horn was still lit, evidently charged for whatever Celestia had planned next. She couldn’t blame him. Her old friend had already seen one alicorn lose her mind, and doubtless he questioned her own mental state now.

And he’d be right to.

“Get out… all of you…” She declared quietly. “But keep a close eye on him...” She pointed to the unnamed colt.

She swore to herself, she would get the information she needed from him. Whatever the cost.

Yet, it was the last time she would ever see him.

---

Not half an hour later, was Celestia’s mourning interrupted by the sound of pounding on the door of her personal chambers. A cynical part of her mind remarked on how useless knocking was, given that the battle damage from her sister’s rebellion left half of the door missing, along with an entire wall and a good portion of the room’s ceiling.

“What is it?” Celestia asked tersely, though part of her was grateful for any distraction from the roiling storm of emotions within her.

“Your majesty!” One of her solar guards approached. “The prisoner and the captain of the traitorous lunar guard have both disappeared! We cannot find them anywhere in the castle!”

“WHAT?!” Celestia was on her hooves instantly.

“We are sweeping the castle, but I believe they have already escaped the castle.” The guard continued. “Two guards watching the bridge to the east were found unconscious. I’ve sent trackers, along with a flight of pegasi, into the forest to pursue them.”

“I will join the chase, myself. Send another flight of Pegasi, and whatever other troops you can spare. We cannot fail to retrieve them. And inform Star Swirl.” Celestia spread her wings, and with a few powerful beats, flew through the hole in the ceiling and into the sky.

---

[A month after Nightmare Moon’s Banishment]

“The armor and equipment he had with him was… incredible. I had never seen anything like it.” Star Swirl said, looking down at the small set of notes he had managed to take during his brief opportunity to examine Dexter’s gear.

It had been a month since the banishment of Nightmare Moon, and the disappearance of the strange colt. All efforts to find him had proven utterly fruitless. The only object the colt left behind was his helmet; which had since been burned by someone that Star Swirl suspected was trying to further sabotage all attempts to find him. But what infuriated Star Swirl was the fact that the sabotage denied him of any clues or technological insights he might have gleaned from the helmet itself.

“Even what is left of this helmet defies my understanding.” Star Swirl went on, looking up at the white alicorn before him. “Despite the sabotage, I cannot identify the substances or alloys used in the helmet’s design. Replicating them is well out of the question. Of course, I had a very small amount of time to examine the helmet before it was damaged.” Star Swirl began to explain.

Of course, Celestia already knew what Star Swirl meant. Taking the helmet off the colt had proved to be surprisingly difficult. When they discovered he was still alive, both she and the old wizard went to work immediately trying to heal the colt with their magic. However, the suit the foal wore appeared to absorb magical energy at an astonishing rate, almost completely foiling their attempts to scan him and determine what his injuries were. What’s more, the suit was nearly completely sealed. It took Star Swirl and Celestia over two hours to break the seals fastening the foal’s helmet to his suit, revealing Dexter’s face for the first time.

“You misunderstood why I gave this to you, Star Swirl.” Celestia replied. “That is not to say I do not appreciate your efforts, but I was hoping you could use this to find a way to locate him. A way to trace the material used in its making,” Celestia motioned toward the charred piece of gear. “Discern some hidden markings, or even trace the minute magical connections between it and its owner.”

“I am sorry, Princess.” Star Swirl shook his head. “I’ve tried every spell I can think of, and I am experimenting with new spells and magic that I am developing. But my efforts have been less than successful.”

“Perhaps you’re not properly motivated…”

With those few words the atmosphere of the throne room darkened, along with Star Swirl’s demeanor. “Princess, I understand that the loss of your sister has been difficult.” Star Swirl frowned. “But it has been over a month, and Clover has hardly recovered at all. Yesterday marked the first day where she was able to go a whole hour without that… thing that’s inside of her rearing its ugly head! Believe me, I am more than sufficiently motivated to find our missing friend. But if the sophistication of his equipment is any indication of the resources he has access to, we need to prepare ourselves for the reality that we may not find him for a very long time, if ever.” Celestia’s eyes drifted away from her old friend, slightly ashamed of the insinuation of her choice of words.

“There… must be something we can do?” Celestia asked. “If your team requires more funding…” Star Swirl silently shook his head. “I refuse to just give up, Star Swirl. And you’re not the type to just give up either.” After a moment's thought, her eyes narrowed at the old stallion. “You’re not… withholding anything from me are you?” She asked.

Star Swirl shifted uncomfortably, recalling the last thing the colt had said to him. However, his body language was enough of an answer for Celestia, and she merely waited for him to reply. “Just a wild theory, your majesty, from something he said. But truth be told, given our young friend’s habit of lying, I doubt I should place any stock in it…”

“And yet you mention it.” Celestia pressed.

“Well, it's just that if there is any merit to my theory, it would require years of magical research and spell crafting before I could gain a hint as to my theory’s merit.” Star Swirl replied. “I’m afraid it might be a waste of time.”

“If all other avenues are exhausted…”

---

[Eight hundred years ago, two hundred years after Nightmare Moon’s banishment]

“Respectfully, Princess, I’m not certain what you expect my guards and I to find out there.” A noble white unicorn in resplendent platinum armor protested. He was one of the few honorable nobles the princess knew, genuinely caring for the wellbeing of the guards under his command. Such was the reason that he now confronted Celestia. “We have searched high and low all over this continent, from ocean to ocean and from the wasteland deserts of the south to the frigid and lost remains of the crystal empire in the north. We have even searched within the boundaries of every nation that would permit us entry. But we have had no sign of any kind…”

“I am aware of the casualties your unit has suffered, I will see to it you are given worthy replacements.” Celestia regarded her captain with a stern and unmoving gaze, entirely unsympathetic to his concerns.

“This is not about replacements; I’m not asking to be reinforced.” He threw up a forehoof. “This crusade you have us on… to search every corner of the world for a pony long dead has proven to be both dangerous and reckless! I always expected to lose some of my guards at one point or another. That’s simply a reality of command, and I can respect the need to take risks, but not pointless ones! This search of yours has no end, and some of my guards have given the better parts of their lives to this… obsession of yours.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. Nobles never changed, no matter their training and no matter their rank. They only complained when they wanted something. “What do you want, Blueblood? Do you require a promotion? An increase in pay? An exception to our latest tax? You’ll have it, if get back out there. You’ll have much more if you find anything substantive.”

“This isn’t about money, or noble privileges!” The armored stallion replied, his lip curling in disgust. “I read the history of this crusade of yours, including the parts you didn’t want me to. I know this little pony hunt of yours started over two hundred years ago with Star Swirl the bearded, and you have combed over every inch of the known world. You even sent several expeditions into the frozen wastes of old Equestria, all of which never returned from such an obvious death sentence!”

“Silence,” Celestia ordered, shutting her captain up instantly. “We may be friends, and your elevated station may grant you certain privileges, nephew; but I will not tolerate reproach from you.” She stood up from her throne to tower over the unicorn. “Yes, I have searched for your target for the past two hundred years, starting long before you were born. And though he may be over a century dead, having expired from old age, he still may have left a clue behind. What remains of him is out there, he did not simply vanish off the face of Equis without a trace. I will NOT stop until I find what I need, now you can either fall in line or stand aside, but I will crush you underhoof if you dare to get in my way.”

“I know how long you have searched, Auntie. I do, and I know what it means to you.” The stallion hesitantly started again. “But you haven’t found a single hint as to where he went in twenty decades, what makes you think that will change now? Not a trace of him has been found by any means, neither magical nor mundane. And even if you did find him, he was working against you. He would have made sure to leave no clues behind.”

Celestia’s glare did not lift, her frown deepened. “Your fore-fathers would not have questioned me. They were more loyal. Perhaps Princess Platinum’s bloodline has diluted too much and grown thin…”

“They also had a chance of finding your target alive!” The captain countered, shifting in his platinum armor. “Now you have us searching for clues in insanely dangerous places. Just last month you ordered us to search the horde of an ancient dragon just because the dragon ‘may’ have been near the Everfree forest the night your target disappeared. I lost three recruits that day and-“

“Enough,” Celestia repeated more forcefully. “My dictates are not requests, they are orders! They are not appeals, they are commands! Now you will do as I say!”

After a moment of silence, the captain slowly started to reach toward his helm. Celestia was expecting for the captain to salute, before turning to depart for his next mission. However, the unicorn instead reached up and took off his helmet. Like the rest of his armor, his helm was platinum with crimson trimming.

“I…” He hesitated. “I cannot stand by and watch as more young lives are sacrificed at the bloody altar of your obsession in chasing a pair of ghosts…” He placed his helm down on the floor before him, before removing his badge of office and laying it on the floor as well. Such was a traditional symbol of a captain’s resignation. He turned tail and left without another word.

He didn’t see the tear rolling down from Celestia’s eye as he departed. She knew he was right. Ever since that colt disappeared like a phantom in the night, she had never found a trace of him. Searching was futile. “Luna… I’m sorry. But he’s right…” She whispered, looking up at the moon hanging in the night sky. She would have to wait for another eight centuries to see Luna again.

Back in the present, Dexter watched the odd display of Celestia going from white-hot-fury-of-the-sun mode to complete disbelief. The glow in Celestia’s eyes, and the heat she gave off, seemingly vanished in an instant as the white alicorn stood silently with her jaw hanging wide open.

It left everyone else in the room utterly bewildered.

However, for Dexter, it was all the confirmation he needed. The worst he feared had come to pass, Celestia had recognized him.

Initially he was hoping to block any magic from prying open his mind, as the princess had threatened, by use of his magic cancelling technology. And once Celestia had given up on her attempts to use magic to read his mind, she would confine him to a dungeon somewhere. After which he would simply escape.

Unfortunately, now he was certain he was going to have to fight his way out. By recognizing him, Celestia now knew he was a lot more than a simple earth pony colt. He couldn’t risk her finding a way to successfully capture and hold him.

“Quadraplex, set condition one. Prep contingencies one and three.” Dexter stated simply. He didn’t bother to hide it or mutter it, earning a strange look from Princess Luna. A symbol flashing in his glasses confirmed his command had been done.

Luna stepped forward, eyeing Dexter for a moment before turning toward Celestia. “Sister?” When Celestia didn’t respond, still staring dumbfounded at the colt, Luna placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Sister?” She asked more forcefully, pushing the other alicorn. “Celestia?”

“Y-y-you… y-y-you?” Celestia worked her jaw for a few moments, causing Dexter to raise an eyebrow. “Y-you… i-it’s you!” She declared in total disbelief. “Your name is… Dexter?”

“Correct.” Dexter replied with a grin. “It’s me, the one that got away…”

“Sister… what is this?” Luna asked in confusion, eyes narrowing as she turned back toward Dexter briefly.

However, Celestia appeared to not even hear her. “H-how… how is this possible?” Celestia asked. “I searched everywhere for you… for two centuries! Even when I thought you had grown old and died, I was obsessed with finding you… in hopes of finding a grave or something… anything…”

“It would be a sad error in judgement, Princess Celestia, to mistake me for a corpse.”

Celestia blinked, while Luna slowly recoiled. “Sister… What is this? What is happening?” Luna asked more forcefully this time, instinctively adopting a defensive stance.

“Luna, it's him!” Celestia managed to blurt out, shaking off her stupor. “From the night you were banished.”

“What?” Luna’s gaze darted back and forth between Dexter and Celestia, before she shook her head in confusion. “Sister, I don’t understand.”

“For the sake of brevity, allow me to explain while Celestia composes herself.” Dexter interrupted, drawing Luna’s attention. “What your sister is trying to say, is that I am one of the many ponies you tried to murder a thousand years ago. You came close too, you managed to break my ribs, puncture my right lung, fractured my spine; and nearly killed me four separate times. Though I was far luckier than your other vict-“

“Silence!” Luna hissed, seething. “You’re an eight year old foal, there is no way you were alive then! I’VE HAD IT WITH YOUR SICK LITTLE GAMES-“

“Remember your first petitioner?” Dexter continued despite Luna’s outburst, however his words managed to pause Luna’s tirade. “The first pony to recognize Queen Moon’s rule outside of the lunar guard? It was a little colt…” Dexter gave a nonchalant glance over his forelegs. “Of course, I was colored brown at the time with a gray mane; an illusion cast by a friend to prevent you from recognizing me right away.”

Luna’s memory from the night of her banishment was fragmentary, however she did recollect enough to recall the exact moment Dexter spoke of.

“Do you remember what I said to you that set you off?” Dexter looked back up at Luna. “The moment you decided to kill me? I told you that ‘you don’t deserve to have a dog, let alone a child.’ You then threw me across your half destroyed throne room, where I bounced off the stone floor.” Luna froze in place, her fury giving way to a mixture of disbelief and astonishment. “No? It’s okay, the suit I was wearing at the time recorded everything.” Dexter stepped aside from where he was standing. “Quadraplex, if you would be so kind, establish a holographic display and play my mission recording at the relevant time point.”

What happened next was something neither of the two sisters had seen before, which was a rarity for them given their age. In the place Dexter had left, what appeared to be a floating glowing glass seemingly phased in from nowhere. However, less than a second later an image appeared on the floating screen, accompanied by sound.

“There shouldn’t be any ‘children of the night’ because you shouldn’t be a mother of any kind! Even if you were to have a foal of your own, it should be taken from you because you’d end up abusing it!”
Nightmare shook the colt furiously. “I COMMAND YOU TO BE SILENT!”
“You’re a monster! And you don’t deserve to have a dog let alone a child!” Dexter nearly shrieked the last of his words, finding himself now unable to speak due to Nightmare’s tightening grip. Her forelegs’ grasp on his barely had become so hard he was starting to have trouble breathing, despite the added protection his hidden suit provided.
Nightmare, however, continued to tremble in sheer fury, scowling at the colt in the mercy of her grasp. She brought the colt’s face close to her own. “I think I see the problem now. You have a sun-loving face!” She sneered, violently throwing the colt across the throne room. He bounced across the stone floor a few feet before finally skidding to a halt.
By the time he could look up, Nightmare had already risen from her seat and was descending the stairs before her. The air around her seemed to darken as the air in the entire hall dropped to freezing. Celestia too had risen from her seat, now looking more panicked than ever.
“Luna, you’d never hurt a child, no matter how angry you got!” Celestia pleaded.
…
“We’ve already hurt many children. You may have spared them from the nightmares, but we have orphaned all those whose parents couldn’t become children of the night.” Nightmare stomped, leaving a crack in the stone floor. “Why not just take the next step?”
“I won’t do this; I won’t let you do this.” The other voice countered, straining as it fought back. “If I hurt him, it would only prove everything he said was right!”
“He will never be a child of the night,” Nightmare shouted. “And when he grows up, I will torture him to death in his sleep.” Her furious glare shot toward the colt. “Why not let me get started early and save us all some time.”
She ripped her head back towards the window, glaring into her reflection. “I will NOT be a foal-killer!”
“You can’t make me do this, Nightmare.” She declared, wrestling against her trembling fury. Nightmare lashed a hoof at the window, shattering it with a crash. “I don’t want this, which is why you cannot get me to do it. I truly don’t want this…”
…
Celestia rushed to Luna’s side.
“Luna,” Celestia placed a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “Luna, please listen to me.” She pleaded. “I don’t care who is better, I don’t care about whatever differences that have come between us. I love you, please stop this.”
However, the more Celestia spoke the colder the dark alicorn’s gaze became. Eventually Luna closed her eyes, starting to tremble as a scowl grew on her face.
That’s when Dexter remembered: Celestia was the focal of Luna’s hate.
“Celestia, you moron, shut up!” he pleaded.
Unfortunately, his warning came a little too late. Luna had opened her eyes once more to reveal a set of cat-like slits for pupils. “Yes sister, do as the little colt says and stop talking.”
Nightmare turned to the white alicorn, grasping her head in an aura of magic before slamming it into the stone floor. The impact left a small crater which grew with repeated blows. “Fight me,” Celestia had slammed into the floor again. “Or be silent.” Another slam. “Don’t talk.”
Nightmare released the white alicorn, allowing her to fall to the floor where she would writhe in pain as he wounds healed.
“Flee.” Nightmare commanded, facing the colt with a deadly glare.

It was now Luna’s turn to stand silently in shock and disbelief. “You’re… alive…” she said breathlessly and wide-eyed. “ How? It’s… impossible…”

“That was your…” Dexter paused to remember, seemingly counting on his hooves. “I believe it was your second attempt of four to kill me. I apologize for playing such a long recording, however I wanted to select something I knew you had the best chance of remembering…”

While Luna and Celestia still stood dumbfounded, Dexter chanced a glance over toward Twilight. The unicorn was also staring in disbelief, however she appeared much more collected than the two alicorns. “Oh, and by the way, Twilight.” The sound of her name seemingly pulled her from her stupor. “You weren’t abducted by changelings the other night; I was the one who took you. You don’t have to wonder if you were brainwashed, hypnotized, or otherwise violated by the changelings. You and I simply talked. I apologize for drugging you, and the other steps I took to prevent you from remembering, but they were necessary.”

“It was you?” Twilight asked befuddled. “But Spike saw-“

Dexter scoffed, recalling the confusion of the absent baby dragon with a smug and self satisfied grin. “Spike saw exactly what I wanted him to see. Those changelings aren’t the only ponies capable of manipulating your perceptions.” He turned back to Twilight. “But considering the circumstances I have a favor to ask you. Please tell Applejack the next time you see her, that I release her from her promise to me. She may tell you and everyone else whatever she knows, because at this rate my secret is blown and her silence doesn’t matter.”

“Applejack knew?!” Twilight asked in disbelief. “About everything? That you foalnapped me?!”

“Not until early this morning, Twilight.” Dexter replied. “And there wasn’t much she could do about it anyway. Though, she was fiercely protective of you, as she is for everyone she cares for.” Dexter hesitated for a moment. “Don’t let anything damage the friendship between you two, especially because of me.”

Dexter turned back toward the Princesses. Celestia seemingly had overcome her stupor, and was now regarding Dexter with a carefully measured grimace. He couldn’t outright tell what she was feeling, hundreds upon hundreds of years as a politician made her very good at hiding her emotions when she wanted to.

It was a good sign; she was no longer displaying what she felt openly. It meant she no longer felt that she was in control of the situation.

“I’m sorry if you feel uncomfortable now, Princess.” Dexter couldn’t help but grin at Celestia. “You may have felt like you were in control. But the reality is, you never were. It’s good you now realize it.” She merely narrowed her eyes at him.

Luna, however, was staring at Dexter with an expression the colt couldn't quite place. The disbelief she held had seemingly passed, and she was now standing with perfectly straight posture directly toward Dexter. Her face was no longer scrunched in its scrutinizing glare, nor did it hold the familiar scowl of animosity she had worn toward him so frequently these past few days. However, Luna’s unwavering stare directly at Dexter set off alarm bells in the back of Dexter’s mind.

Something was very wrong…

“Excuse me while I... put on something more functional.” Dexter turned his head away before briefly muttering. “Quadraplex, phase in my new power armor immediately, then enact contingency four.” A moment later, Dexter’s form shimmered as he apparently grew a whole inch in height. The white fur of his coat immediately disappeared underneath a black metallic fiber mesh, while metal plating appeared across Dexter’s body. The plating itself was also black in color, with occasional dim light around the armor’s lining. The metal plating was shaped to minimize the gaps around Dexter’s joints, but didn’t go so far as to be large enough to inhibit his full range of motion. The armor covered every part of Dexter’s form, with only his head and face exposed. A helmet with a dull blue visor now hung from his chest.

Despite any doubt having long since left Celestia’s mind, now there was no way for it to return. The armor Dexter wore was very much similar to that which he had a thousand years ago. Yet there were differences. This armor was clearly heavier, and more oriented toward fighting than what he wore a thousand years ago.

“Dexter, that isn’t ne-“ Celestia was cut off by the sound of the library door bursting open. A pair of solar guards in golden armor hurried into the room, one of them was a pegasus who was sucking down air as if he had just sprinted a marathon.

“Your Majesties!” The breathless guard saluted. “The changeling prisoners have escaped, and we have reports that as much as a third of the guard forces in and around Ponyville have just vanished!”

“What?!” Celestia turned toward the newcomers. “How did this happen?”

“We don’t know, your majesty.” The guard panted. “We’ve gotten reports that say both the changeling prisoners and the missing guards disappeared in flashes of white light, which occurred nearly simultaneously across all of Ponyville! There are rumors it was some sort of teleportation magic, and that several civilians have disappeared too; but I was dispatched to report you before anything else could be confirmed.”

“Were the prisoners not secured with anti-teleportation magic?” Celestia asked, causing the guard to nod.

“The anti-teleportation magic, and other countermeasures were cast by her majesty Luna, and were validated by our security teams.”

“And how many of the guards are missing?” Celestia pressed.

“Approximately four hundred.”

“That’s impossible,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “If somepony used strong enough magic to teleport four hundred troops complete with weapons and armor, we would have sensed the magical discharge!” Twilight turned toward Celestia. “It has to be an illusion or something...”

Celestia nodded, turning toward another one of the guards in the room. The purple trim on his golden armor indicated he was an officer. “My student is correct. Lieutenant Breaker, get out there and investigate what’s happening. I need to know where my ponies have gone!”

“What about the prisoners, your majesty?” The officer asked.

“My guards come first, find out what happened to them. We can worry about recapturing the changelings later, let's not lose anymore ponies! Unfortunately, I cannot come with you at the moment.” He saluted before rushing out of the room.

However, despite the apparent urgency of the situation, Celestia turned back toward Dexter.

“I… know what happened to your guards.” Dexter admitted cautiously.

“I suspected as much,” Celestia turned to face Dexter with wings out, a clear warning.

“Listen, Princess Celestia, as a show of good will, I am willing to explain some things. In fact, that’s the only reason I’m still here.” Dexter offered, shifting under her new scrutiny. “I have to admit that I am in no small part responsible for the current situation in Ponyville. I don’t want there to be any more trouble for Ponyville, and if I explain-“

‘Where are my missing guards?!” Celestia snapped.

Dexter stopped, staring at Celestia with unrestrained contempt. “Interrupt me again, and you get nothing.” Dexter paused for emphasis. “The missing ponies were not your guards, they were not your subjects. In fact, they were not even ponies.” Celestia merely continued to watch Dexter. “As I was saying, I have decided to help alleviate the changeling problem in Ponyville.

“Now, had your annoyingly persistent student simply left me alone,” Dexter glanced at Twilight before returning to Celestia. “Or had you chosen to not to try to mind-rape me and accepted my silence, I would be in the process of negotiating a de-escalation with the Changeling Queen. Unfortunately, your discovery of my… identity, for a lack of a better term, has diminished my ability to negotiate with her. Predictably she would believe that I have been swayed to your side, rather than be an impartial third party…”

“So you’re not on our side?” Celestia pressed. “Then whose side are you on?”

“I am not on any side,” Dexter shrugged. “I’m on my own. And no changeling is going to attack Ponyville now. Since the chance of coercing Chrysalis into backing down is no longer an option, I activated a contingency plan. It took a few moments for Quadraplex to set up, which is why I bothered distracting you with the video of Luna here trying to kill me. However the plan has come into effect and every changeling within thirty miles of Ponyville has been teleported beyond Equestria’s eastern border. Which is why you’re now missing four hundred guards. They were changelings.” Dexter explained. “So congratulations, the changeling situation in Ponyville is resolved. The town can be free of the terror that once gripped it, and you can go home now...”

“Wait…’ Twilight interjected. “Four hundred of the guard were changelings?! How is that possible?”

“Clearly, our security measures are far more lacking than we could even predict.” Celestia remarked grimly.

“Well, for whatever reason you only scan ponies when securing a room.” Dexter remarked in condescension. “You completely neglect the changeling ability to disguise themselves as inanimate objects. Celestia could be wearing a changeling right now and not even know it,” He motioned toward Celestia’s golden regalia. Every guard in the room wearing golden or blue armor became visibly more tense. “Relax… I teleported all the changelings away, remember?”

“They can pose as objects, not just ponies or another creature?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“Yes…” Dexter replied slowly. “Wait… don’t tell me you didn’t know…”

“No, we didn’t.” Celestia replied. “This explains how they’re able to get just about everywhere without challenge! We thought they could only take on the form of another creature… Luna and I are going to spend days re-securing the Canterlot palace alone. ”

Dexter face-hoofed, which was slightly painful due to the armored hoof he had brought down on his face. “Stupid…” Dexter cursed at himself for the information he let slip.

However, the value of that information was not lost on Celestia. Dexter proved to have way more than she could have reasonably hoped for, both knowledge of how to detect changelings as well as possess the means to subdue a small army of them. She signaled to the remaining guards to flank Dexter, who surrounded the colt cautiously. “Dexter,” Celestia adopted a less confrontational stance, folding her wings before releasing the tension in her body and standing tall. “I am glad to see that you’re well, after all a thousand years is a long time.” Her horn flashed, and the air in the entire room instantly lit up with a faint golden glow. “I have been, well, waiting for the chance to talk to you for a very, very long time. Truthfully, I had given up hope. I wish Star Swirl was here to see this…”

Dexter’s earpiece came to life. “Celestia is emitting some sort of magical energy field.” Quadraplex declared. “It’s interfering with my ability to teleport you, it will take a few minutes to clear it.”

He wanted to curse. Dexter had met the ancient wizard for only a brief amount of time, but judging from the old arcane practitioner’s reputation, he would have undoubtedly studied what little he could of Dexter; and taught Celestia a trick or two.

One which she was now using to stop him from teleporting away.

“Be careful what you do here, Princess Celestia.” Dexter warned, however his words did nothing to phase the look of determination Celestia held him in. “You may have learned a trick or two from Star Swirl, but I too have had ample time to prepare…”

“What are you… Dexter?” Celestia asked, challenging yet not confrontationally. “What being lives for a thousand years, yet stays in size and appearance of a foal? Not immortal, yet still young. How old are you, a thousand years, two thousand years?”

Dexter couldn’t help but grin. “I am just eight years old…”

“I saw you a thousand years ago.”

“Yes you saw me,” Dexter replied simply. “But I built a device that allowed me to travel through time. The whole… Nightmare Moon incident a thousand years ago, from my perspective happened three days ago.” Dexter reached down toward his side. “That’s why the doctors at the Ponyville clinic found out I had broken ribs, and that someone with powerful magic healed me…” Dexter smiled. “If they had the means to detect your residual magic, they might have discovered-“

Another flash from Celestia’s horn, and Dexter felt a twinge in his side and back. Celestia had called to her magic, and was shocked to find a faint resonance of her own power coming from Dexter’s body. It was residual magic from her efforts to heal him. In utter bewilderment the white alicorn took a step back, jaw dropped.

“Now you see why I didn’t give you the information you were looking for a thousand years ago?” Dexter pressed back. “I knew Princess Luna was going to return to you…” Dexter took a step forward, taking the ground Celestia had given up. “And I wasn’t willing to screw up the series of events which would lead to that outcome by telling you what you did not need to know…

“But of course, that knowledge won’t sway your mind.” Dexter went on. “You’ll still demand information from me, information that you don’t need to know...” He pressed. “So know this, if I am smart enough to build a time machine to travel over a thousand years into the past… imagine what I can do to an alicorn that decides to do something stupid?” He let the threat hang in the air. “So I remind you again, be careful what you do here.”

Celestia, having regained her composure, resumed her full height to dwarf the colt. “I will not be intimidated by a child. The last time you faced an alicorn in a fight, you were instantly defeated by a single kick and simple telekinesis.”

Dexter had to admit, she was right. But then again, on that day he hadn’t been planning on a fight. In response he merely grinned. “Yes, I was nearly killed.” Dexter retorted. “But that was only because you refused to fight. So many of your guards, ponies you claimed to care about, died horrible deaths while your maniac sister dove ever deeper into madness. I nearly died putting an end to it. I saved this world from an unending night and ultimately a mass extinction event. So who is in the right, here?”

“I regret my mistake,” Celestia admitted. “And even alicorns change over the course of a thousand years. I know now that I should have- “

“I don’t care.” Dexter declared flatly, causing Celestia to recoil slightly and pin her ears back. “Princess…” Dexter stared at Twilight. The mare in question had stood captivated by the scene before her, having not moved the entire time. “You’re big on friendship, right? Would you like for us to be friends?” Dexter motioned toward himself then back to Celestia. “If I offered it?”

Celestia’s eyes again narrowed, tracing Dexter’s gaze from herself to her student. “Yes… I would.” She answered guardedly.

“Here is my one-time-only expires-immediately offer of friendship…” The colt extended a hoof. “You agree to stay out of my way, to keep your sister out of my dreams, and to keep your student out of my hair; and we can be friends. The type of friends that never speak, never write, never meet, and never have any contact of any kind; but also… aren’t enemies.”

“Do you really expect me to accept that?”

“Well, one can hope; and you don’t want me as an enemy...” Dexter sighed. “What about you, Princess Luna?” He said, turning his extended hoof toward the darker alicorn. However, the moment he looked at her he wished he hadn’t.

The dark alicorn was still staring at him, not having moved a single millimeter since she last spoke. However, now she was silently crying. Two streams ran down her face, despite her eyes being firmly and resolutely set on Dexter.

“Umm… Celestia?” Dexter said, turning his hoof to point at the other Princess. “I think your sister is having a psychotic break… again.”

“Luna?” Celestia reached out a hoof to touch Luna’s shoulder. Luna did respond to the touch, merely continuing to stare at the colt. “Luna… say something...”

Celestia shifted, standing right up next to Luna before shifting to sit on her haunches. She pressed a hoof to her smaller sister’s shoulder. “Luna, forgive me for this…” A pulse of magic from Celestia’s horn struck Luna in the side of the head. It was strong enough Dexter could feel the magical discharge from across the room, as though a soundless thunder had cracked within the room.

Luna collapsed from the magical pulse, instantly falling unconscious as Celestia reached out to catch Luna before she could fall. “I’m sorry, we will talk again when you wake.” Celestia whispered. Celestia hugged the other alicorn to her chest before softly lowering Luna to the floor, gently placing her on her side.

“Offer has expired, Princess.” Dexter was unmoved by the display. “I’m leaving.”

“Seize him.”

Instantly, the closest guards were upon Dexter. They surrounded the colt, and were in the process of pouncing upon him when Dexter uttered one single word. “Quadraplex.” Instantly the guards around him vanished in a white flash. The remaining guards in the room stopped, hesitantly looked at one another before looking to the princes for orders.

“Celestia,” Dexter began, forgoing her title. He slowly turned back toward the princess. “How do you think this is going to end? You're going to demand that I answer questions. I’m going to refuse. You’re going to try to convince me with your reasons, I’m going to reject those reasons. Eventually, we’ll reach an impasse. Then we shall come to blows.” Dexter reached to his face and pulled off his glasses while pulling his helmet up from where it hung on his chest. Pushing the helmet onto his head, his suit sealed with a hiss. His face disappeared behind the visor as it shifted from transparent to an opaque blue. “If it’s all the same to you, I would prefer to save time and skip to the end…”

“I will not let you get away a second time…” Celestia declared. “Not again…”

“I expected as much.” Dexter declared, his voice now distorted by the suit’s synthesizer. Celestia recognized one of his rifle-type weapons as it phased into existence on the back of his armor. He slid it off his back and held it in a foreleg.

“This doesn’t have to happen, Dexter.” Celestia declared pleadingly, as she stepped forward and ignited her horn once more. The glowing aura shone brighter than the sunlight streaming in from the windows.

“Of course it does…” Dexter sighed. “You’ll never leave me alone, not while you think you can control me; and not while you think I have information you want. I have to show you that you can’t control me, nor pry answers out of me…”

With a thought, Dexter activated his suit’s combat systems. “Now… shall we begin?”

Defiant to the Sun (Part 1/2)

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"Now... Shall we begin?"

For a brief, infinitesimal moment, Celestia's gaze dropped from Dexter to the floor. If he could see past her glowing horn, he would have seen a grimace of disappointment and maybe sadness on the solar alicorn. However, it was replaced a moment later with resolve when she turned back up to focus on him.

A few tense seconds ticked by before the two remaining guards jumped into action. Ambushing Dexter from his flanks, both stallions’ horns flared brightly before they released identical spells at him, spells the young colt’s suit instantly registered as stun spells.

Their magic washed harmlessly over the colt, who turned his rifle toward the charging guard on his right, letting loose a blast of blue energy. The stallion seized mid-tackle, toppling past Dexter.

Dexter checked his visor for the position of the other guard now behind him, and with a single fluid movement brought the butt of his rifle back to meet the armored chest of the second lunging guard. The strength enhancement of his suit caused the blow to knock the stallion back, sending him careening into a bookshelf. It collapsed on impact, showering the guard in an avalanche of books and wood. An ugly dent in the guard's armor punctuated his failure to impede the colt.

A large blast of golden magic struck Dexter in the side, causing the magic dampeners in his suit to flare to life. He quickly recognized it as the same spell Celestia had casted on Luna to put her to sleep.

He didn't feel the least bit drowsy, and the visor of his suit indicated that his dampeners had peaked at five percent of their capacity to absorb magic.

Dexter turned back toward Celestia to find her horn still alight, radiating a golden aura. She had taken several steps toward Dexter, wings raised as she studied him with narrowed eyes.

Behind Celestia, Twilight stood dumbfounded, unable to believe what she just saw.

"This isn’t a fight you can win, Dexter," Celestia pleaded. “We can still resolve this without endangering anypony else.”

Dexter took aim and fired, striking Celestia in the center of the chest, just above her ornate gold and amethyst.

She merely grimaced in discomfort before letting loose a more powerful pulse of magic. The suit's dampeners flared to a solid fifteen percent. "Dexter, enough!" Celestia said. "We're not going to hurt you."

"All evidence to the contrary," Dexter scoffed, taking the opportunity to change the output level of his rifle well beyond stun. He wasn't going to make the same mistake Celestia did.

"Not even Nightmare Moon at the heights of her insanity could condone bringing harm to a child." Celestia motioned with a hoof toward where Luna lay unconscious. "I have no desire to fight you, but I will subdue you if you leave me no other choice."

Celestia was answered by a pair of brightly glowing bolts crashing into her.. The first knocked her off her hooves while the second sent her rocketing through the library wall. The impact caused the side of the library to explode outward as a white blur careened into one of the nearby wooden buildings.

Letting his rifle hang from a sling around his neck, Dexter walked toward the library's newest opening. His visor adapted to the brightness of the sunny day outside before his eyes could, removing the glare of the afternoon sun.

The area around the library had erupted into activity as the remaining guards reacted to the explosion within the second floor. Quadraplex displayed a map for Dexter showing how they surrounded the library with more approaching from around Ponyville.

"Kicked the hornets’ nest, haven't we?" Dexter remarked.

Dexter spotted where Celestia had crashed. It was a wooden building whose front face had collapsed inward with the solar alicorn's impact. A multitude of scattered tables and chairs indicated it was a restaurant or saloon of some kind. With a neural command, Dexter activated his suit's sensors, allowing him to see through the rubble and lingering dust. To his relief, there wasn't anyone else in the debris other than Celestia. The build was clear of any bystanders.

However, the alicorn was already rising, pushing wooden debris off of her.

"Be advised," Quadraplex answered. "As hostilities between you and Celestia continue to escalate within Ponyville, the chances of collateral casualties will rise toward one hundred percent."

"Then we'll have to take this altercation somewhere safer. Find a location that is within support range of the lab but secluded, and get ready to teleport the both of us there. Make sure it is well outside of Pony–" Dexter turned, readying his rifle when he heard a groan from his side. Soon enough, he spotted lavender fur poking out from a pile of wood and books. Apparently, the bolts that had sent Celestia flying through the library wall had also been strong enough to throw Twilight into a nearby bookshelf.

A quick scan from Dexter's visor let him know she was unharmed, though she might have a bit of a headache.

But that didn't mean she wasn't a threat.

Twilight coughed, pushing several books away from her before using her magic to remove those that had fallen on top of her. She froze in place when she saw the colt standing over her with his rifle pointed at her face.

"You couldn't just leave me alone, could you?" Dexter hissed. Twilight's eyes went wide with fear as he pressed the barrel of the rifle to her chest. "You couldn't just let things go and focus on the changelings instead of–"

A pulse of purple magic from Twilight's horn hit Dexter. It was another knock-out spell designed to put him to sleep, but it was far weaker than anything Celestia had thrown at him. It failed miserably against his armor.

Dexter laughed as he flicked a knob on the rifle's side, setting it back to stun. Twilight desperately struck him with several more blasts of magic, growing more panicked with the failure of each progressively stronger spell. Eventually, he poked her with the barrel of his rifle a few times.

"Are you quite finished, Twilight?" he asked condescendingly. However, the last spell she cast caused her to disappear entirely with a purple flash.

Dexter rolled his eyes. "Quadraplex, set up a dampening field around the library, then bring her back." He shifted to his haunches at getting back into an aiming stance.

After a good ten seconds, a white flash returned Twilight to the pile of rubble she had just left. Panic instantly overtook her features again. Her first attempt to summon her magic resulted in a purple aura on her horn fizzling, thereafter not alighting again despite her efforts.

"Magic not working?" Dexter mocked, taking aim. Twilight pulled herself up to her hooves. A combination of fear and adrenaline caused the mare to tremble on her hooves. She took several steps away from Dexter before backing up into a wall.

She was helpless, and Dexter couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

Twilight was the root of all his problems. If she had only left him alone, none of this would be happening. He wouldn’t be embroiled in yet another fight. He would have been free to pursue a way of getting home.

But she had to stand in the way of that, and he hated her for it.

Dexter’s grin slowly gave way to a dark chuckle, a faint recollection of Nightmare Moon’s laugh echoed in his memory.

“More power…” Slowly, Dexter reached up to the setting knob on the rifle. The sensation of his foreleg and hoof felt oddly good, faintly euphoric. “...full power…” At this setting, a reactive bolt from his rifle would have enough power to vaporize the entire library, let alone the purple little pony before him. “Yes…”

“She deserves this. Everything would have been fine if it wasn’t for this stupid, purple―”

A memory flashed in his mind. “If I could ask a favor from ya, don’t shoot, drug, or kidnap Twilight again. Or anypony else for that matter.”

“I guess I can do that...”

“No!” Dexter caught himself squeezing the firing lever. He quickly pulled his hoof away from the trigger, while pulling the rifle away from Twilight’s direction.

He could feel a bolt of unrestrained fury shooting through him, yet it was distant and dull to the point he could hardly make out the emotion. It felt foreign.

However, none of that mattered at the moment to the colt.

“I was going to kill her…” Dexter whispered to himself, terrified as he imagined Twilight being blown into tiny pieces. Dexter swallowed, hoping he was misreading the situation. He nervously glanced down at his rifle to check its setting. It was indeed set to its maximum level. Enough to vaporize everyone and everything in the room, excluding himself given his armor.

Dexter could hardly stop himself from dropping the rifle. “What's wrong with me?” He asked under his breath. However, Dexter’s contemplation was cut short when icons indicating approaching guards appeared on his visor display.

They were reinforcements from somewhere within Ponyville. He shook off his stupor to look back up at Twilight.

Twilight had watched the odd display that played out in Dexter, and now stared disquietly at him. Despite the unease, there was something about her expression that Dexter couldn’t quite place. It was like she was questioning what she just witnessed.

"Relax, Miss Sparkle." Dexter slung the rifle over his back before reaching out a hoof toward Twilight. "It's okay," He took hold of her foreleg before pulling her forward, causing her to stumble. "I'm not going to shoot you if I can help it."

"I..." Twilight paused, hesitating while she wrestled her trembling under control. "Y-You attacked the Princess!"

"Miss Sparkle, it’s called preemptive self-defense. If you recall correctly, I was trying to leave. She sicced her guards on me." Dexter shrugged, however most of the motion was lost under the armor he wore.

“What is wrong with you, Dexter!” Twilight demanded. “Why turn this into a fight!?”

“You’re listening now, aren’t you?” Dexter said. "If you would be so kind, please take Princess Luna to a more appropriate location. When you teleported out, you sort of left her behind." He said, pointing toward the prone alicorn. Luna lay untouched from where Celestia had left her, no doubt the fact that she was prone allowed any flying debris to miss her completely. "I do not know how vulnerable she is at present, given that Celestia apparently knocked her out. However, she is one of two individuals that keeps the sky working. So she should be kept safe. Can I trust you to do that?"

Twilight glanced at the alicorn, then back to Dexter. She gave a hesitant but curt nod.

"Good, now I am going to let you use your magic again." Dexter’s tone sharpened to make known his unspoken threat. "Do not attack me with it." Again she nodded. "Quadraplex, lower the dampening field on the library."

Dexter backed away from Twilight, returning to the newly formed hole in the library wall. He braced his rifle against a pile of books and rubble, aiming toward where Celestia had landed. As he expected, the white alicorn had risen from the debris of the ruined shop and was now surrounded by guards who appeared to be in the process of pushing aside the remaining debris.

Dexter flicked the rifle back to a higher setting. It was nowhere near the rifle's maximum output level, but thus far this setting worked well.

Taking aim at Celestia, Dexter waited for a clear shot. Guards both in front of and behind Celestia complicated his shot. He took a second to calm himself and steady his breathing; for if he missed and hit one of the guards, the force of the miniature explosion would tear the unfortunate pony apart.

In the corner of his visor a small map expanded. Icons within the map showed the position of every pony nearby, some of which bore cutie mark symbols he recognized. The icon with Twilight's cutie mark flashed from yellow to red a few times before adopting its new hue permanently.

It was a warning from Quadraplex.

"My rifle is not set to stun anymore, Miss Sparkle," Dexter said ominously, keeping his aim steady on Princess Celestia. The alicorn was now barking orders to the guards. They rushed to do her bidding. "And your magic is useless against me. It is ill-advised for you to try something."

There was a tense moment of silence before a large wooden plank dropped to the floor with a clatter, having been released by a purple aura after hovering near Dexter. Apparently, she had deduced that indirect magical attacks were a lot more effective on him than direct ones. Clever girl. "She thought she was protecting you." Twilight said, almost too quiet enough for Dexter to hear. "Maybe even saving your life." Her words got Dexter to turn his head, his skepticism hidden by his visor. "I told her about your broken ribs before she made her trip down here. She thought–"

"None of that matters at this point!" Dexter snapped. "Go, now" Twilight hesitated, before again disappearing in a purple flash. This time, the spell encompassed the prone form of Princess Luna, causing the sleeping alicorn to disappear as well.

Dexter faced forward again, peering down the rifle's scope. Much to his surprise and pleasure, Celestia, at some point, had leapt into the air. She was hovering just in front of the building while still barking commands to her troops. She was above the heads of the vulnerable guards, with nothing but an empty ruined building behind her.

A clear shot.

"She's ordering them to capture you at all costs," Quadraplex stated through his earpiece. "Though she is also ordering them to capture you unharmed. Furthermore, the guards on the first level of the library have evacuated the other Elements of Harmony and the foals. It appears they had a plan in place in the event of a changeling attack, and are executing that plan now."

Good, at least Applejack and her friends were out of the way.

Celestia had only finished giving out another command, motioning toward the library with a hoof as she hovered over the growing mass of troops beneath her. She and all the guards had turned their heads toward the library, following the motion of their princess's hoof, just in time to witness a blue bolt of energy dart away from the library's second floor. It impacted its target almost instantly, striking Celestia directly in the chest and exploding.

Celestia was sent careening into the ruined wooden building for a second time, causing it to erupt in another shower of splinters and debris. This time, the impact exposed a support beam within the ruined building. Adjusting his aim, Dexter fired again. The shot landed squarely at a joint, causing the building to collapse upon its royal occupant.

However, the guards beneath her didn't scatter as Dexter had expected. Most of them rushed to stand, or hover in the case of the pegasi, between their princess and the source of the attack.

"Idiots," Dexter muttered. "She won’t die if she gets hit by a reactive bolt, but you morons will!" He shook his head silently out of disgust. Celestia was willing to use her guards as living shields, when she herself was immortal?

"There may be a way to convince the guard to retreat," Quadraplex answered his complaint. “Or to convince Celestia to order them to pull back.”

"The short version?" Dexter asked, adjusting the scope on his rifle. The guards were again at work exhuming Celestia. Their pace was much faster this time, as several new arrivals used their telekinesis to lift the larger pieces of debris.

"Celestia declared that you are a non-lethal threat, and that you would not kill." Quadraplex answered. "Naturally, with no risk of death for her guards, her strategy appears to be to use them to overwhelm you. If we convince her and the guards to the contrary, she may rescind their orders to confront you in overwhelming numbers."

"Why does she think–” Dexter squinted in thought, before realization struck him. "She studied how I operated during my mission to the past. She knows I went through great lengths to avoid killing Nightmare Moon's guards; she must be assuming the same thing here."

"You did reveal to her that said events occurred only three days ago from your perspective."

Dexter wanted to curse. That fact was something he had overlooked. "Quadraplex, is that teleport ready yet?"

"Yes."

"Good, but first, for this fight to be fruitful, Celestia has to give it her all," Dexter replied. "Otherwise, she'll still pursue me on a mistaken belief that she might possess the strength to subdue me. We need to motivate her to fight her hardest."

"My plan can be augmented to accomplish that goal, Dexter, such that she is convinced we are willing to kill while also inciting her into a rage…"

---

"Thank you, again, my little ponies." Celestia had just finished pushing the last beam off her body as one of her nearby guards used his magic to pull what was left of a sofa off the princess. Several more guards, pegasi to be specific, stood before the princess and were actively pushing debris away to clear a path for their leader.

Another business the crown would have to rebuild thanks to this whole fiasco.

Celestia rubbed her chest with a forehoof as she stood back up, regaining the sense of feeling as the painful sting of being stuck wore off. Her coat and mane were covered in soot, wooden splinters, and dirt. She stepped out into the street, underneath the brightness of her afternoon sun.

"Are you alright, your Majesty?" A unicorn guard asked. The worry etched on his face was matched by every guard present. She nodded to reassure them despite another unicorn scanning her with his magic. Undoubtedly he was checking for wounds, despite the fact such a check was unnecessary.

"I'm fine," she said, using her magic to brush off some of the wood fragments and dirt from her coat. She glanced at her ruined regalia before using her magic to pull it off. "But we must not delay, let me know when that perimeter has been set up. Then prepare to move on Dexter from all directions simultan–"

"Princess!" A pegasus guard overhead called in a panic, pointing in the direction of the library just in time for it to explode once more. Instinctively, Celestia summoned her magic to cast a shield around herself and guards with her.

When the dust around the library cleared, Celestia’s blood ran cold.

The prone form of Twilight was lying in the street, just underneath where the library was blown open. A new, yet small, crater surrounded Celestia’s student. Twilight’s leg appeared to be broken, and several gashes around her body left blood stains in the dirt street. Shakily the unicorn tried to pull herself up, only to wince before settling into a sitting position. A layer of brown dust from the earth around her clung to her main and coat, and she clutched her barrel with a forehoof.

“Twilight?!” Celestia called in disbelief, as fear gripped her chest and threatened to squeeze the breath from her lungs.

However, she didn’t get to say anything more before an armored figure jumped down from the hole in the library's second floor, landing in the street with a thud beside Twilight.

The armored colt took several steps forward before unslinging his rifle and taking aim at Twilight. Twilight flinched, summoning a shield of magic around herself as her horn lit up. However, after another moment Twilight’s shield flickered before failing; vanishing faster than it appeared.

"No!" Instantly, Celestia cast a teleport spell on the prone form of Twilight. However, nothing happened. Her golden aura didn’t even appear over Twilight, and Celestia sensed the spell matrix collapse before it could take form.

She had sensed this type of drain on her magic once before, a thousand years ago. It was Dexter blocking her magic.

“DEXTER!” Celestia’s voice boomed. The growing panic in Celestia caused her magic to momentarily spike, causing her voice to be enhanced to deafening levels.

The armored colt briefly glanced at Celestia before resuming his aim at Twilight.

The reactive bolt which struck the form of Twilight exploded, spraying a conical smear of blood and viscera across the street.

The world seemingly stopped for Celestia. She was unable to believe, unable to comprehend what she had just witnessed. Fear, shock, desperation, and the tidal wave of growing pain in her chest exploded, before her vision went completely red.

"Y-YOU MURDERER!" Tears streaked from Celestia as her face morphed into the incarnation of pure rage. She leapt into the air, flying at Dexter faster than he had ever seen a pony move.

“Looks like your plan worked, Quadraplex.” Dexter nodded. “She’s angry.”

A blast of magic from her horn hurled toward him, only to fizzle out on his armor. It wasn’t until Celestia was on top of him that a white flash made both ponies disappear from the streets of Ponyville.

---

A few moments earlier.

"Ma'am, please. We have to keep moving." A solar pegasus guard blocking Applejack's path was very quickly becoming a source of frustration for the mare.

"Ah have ta make sure Dex is alright!" Applejack countered, trying to push her way past the guard. However, he stepped into her path once more. "Get outta ma way!"

"Applejack, please," Rarity said from somewhere behind her. "Dexter was with the princesses and with Twilight, they wouldn't let anything happen to him."

"An' what if they need our help?" Applejack retorted over her shoulder. Though that wasn't the true reason behind her concern. She knew the likely case was that she would have to protect Dexter from the Princess, or vice versa, given what the colt had told her. Of course, her promise prevented her from saying any of that.

"Ma'am, we have no idea what is going on," the guard ahead of her interrupted again. "And I have orders to keep you and the other elements safe if there was a security breach–"

"If ya don't know what is happening, then how do ya know there's been a security breach?"

"There were multiple explosions," the guard countered. "I don't have to know anything beyond that."

"I'm with Applejack!" Rainbow voiced from somewhere above, bold as usual. "If not Dexter, Celestia and Twilight might also need our help!"

Without another word, Applejack put a forehoof on the guard's chest, and using her earth pony strength, along with her years of farm work, she began pushing the pegasus in front of her back. With a growl of frustration, he quickly relented. "Fine, but only you two." He waved a hoof to the other guards in his troop. "Take the rest to the safe house, now."

"Pinkie and I will take care of the fillies," Rarity called, eliciting a thankful nod from Applejack before the farm pony galloped back toward the library.

Rainbow flew ahead of Applejack, swinging around to fly high above and in front of the library just as another explosion rocked Twilight's home.

"No!" Applejack quickly recognized Celestia's voice as she rounded the corner, turning in the direction of Celestia's shout. However, her eyes didn't first land on the princess but rather the forms of two ponies in the middle of the street. Just outside the library, Dexter stood over a bleeding and burnt Twilight, aiming his rifle down at her with Celestia standing far in the background and staring in horror.

There was a blue flash from the colt.

Applejack couldn't believe what she saw next, her jaw dropped as she froze in place. Somewhere up above her, Rainbow Dash looked on in equal levels of horror, covering her mouth with her forehooves.

"YOU MURDERER!"

Before Applejack could react any further, Rainbow Dash darted down toward Dexter; both fury and tears in her eyes. Before she could reach the colt, a white flash whisked him away. She slammed into the ground, kicking up her own cloud of dust and debris where Dexter stood only moments before. However, despite the impact she was still on her hooves, shaking with equal parts fury and anguish.

"WHERE IS HE?! WHERE DID HE GO?!" she yelled through her tears.

Applejack was unable to take her eyes off the red smear that was once her friend, slowly approaching the grisly scene. "Twi..."

"It's a deception." A monotone voice in Applejack's ear declared. "Twilight Sparkle is not dead. Her demise was an illusion."

"What," Applejack turned in the direction she heard the voice only to find an empty street. That was when she remembered the ear piece Dexter had provided her, and she instantly recognized the voice of Dexter's computer. "What? WHAT? WHAT THE HAY DID I JUST SEE?!"

The grisly scene in the street before here seemingly phased out of existence with a faint buzzing sound, returning the street to its original condition minus a few new craters. Rainbow Dash, noticing the disappearing blood, jumped away.

Rainbow Dash hovered for a few more moments, her eyes darting around the street then back at the spot where the blood had disappeared.

"ANSWER ME YA TALKING TIN CAN!" That outburst earned Applejack a glance from Rainbow Dash. "Request Granted." Applejack heard in her ear. However, not a second later, another figure seemingly phased into existence from thin air, standing just before Applejack. However, this figure was that of a completely unharmed and healthy Twilight Sparkle. Every inch of her was pristine and was utterly indistinguishable from the genuine article as far as Applejack could tell.

"I apologize, Applejack. However it would be far easier for me to communicate with you both in this fashion." The figment Twilight turned to glance at Rainbow Dash, who was now staring back in confusion. "You both were not supposed to witness that illusion, and I do not believe that Dexter wishes for either of you to suffer any emotional trauma. He instructed me to do what I can to limit collateral damage from his altercation with Celestia."

"Twilight?" Dash flew over, landing next to the figment of her friend. She stretched out a hoof to poke the figment, only to find her foreleg pass through this Twilight as though she were nothing but a shadow. After watching her hoof disappear into the body of the figment and the figment rippled in form around her leg, did Dash quickly pull it back.

"No," The figment glanced at Dash again. "Dexter allowed the real Twilight Sparkle to teleport herself and Princess Luna to the Ponyville hospital. They are both safe and healthy. What you saw on this street was an illusion designed to enrage Celestia."

The figment's words caused a wave of relief to wash over Applejack, so much so that she slumped in place for a few moments as she drew several deep breaths.

"Twilight's alive?" Dash panted. Whether she was still trembling from anger or simply adrenaline was anyone's guess; however, to Applejack, she did sound relieved.

"Yes," the figment confirmed. "You can verify for yourself if you wish, she is on the second floor of the clinic." The figment turned back to Applejack, staring forward while waiting for Applejack to recover from her newfound sense of relief.

"Thank goodness, Ah nearly had a heart attack." Applejack slowly brought herself up to a full stand. "Ah want to talk ta Dexter. Now!"

"I cannot grant that request at this juncture," the figment replied. "This communication was not authorized by Dexter, and he is currently preoccupied in combat with Celestia."

"WHAT?!"

"I initiated this communication with a secondary purpose," the figment declared. "Dexter currently believes that the only way to accomplish his goal–inciting Celestia to voluntarily leave him alone–is through proving to Celestia that she does not possess sufficient strength to overcome or subdue him. To that end, he has initiated a form of psychological warfare against her in an attempt to make her forego all her restraint in battling him."

"That's crazy!" Rainbow Dash retorted, glancing between Applejack and the figment. “What the hay are you supposed to be anyway? Some sort of new changeling?”

"His plan has a high probability of working and does possess substantial merit." The hologram turned back toward Applejack, ignoring Rainbow Dash. Several guards had filed in around the mares. "A psychological profiling of Celestia suggests she would pursue Dexter and repeatedly attempt to capture him. Predictably, she would utilize progressively greater portions of her magical and physical strength until reaching her limit. Dexter had decided to short circuit that process by pushing her beyond all restraint immediately."

"How do we stop him?" Applejack asked.

"You don’t, and I would deploy countermeasures against you if you tried." the hologram stated. "However, this plan possesses significant risks to Dexter. "

"That's right!" Applejack poked a hoof at the hologram's chest. Though her hoof simply went through it. "An' you know Ah care fer Dex just as much as you do. So tell us how ta stop this before Dex provokes Celestia inta hurtin' him. By accident or otherwise."

"False." The hologram disagreed. "You do not care for Dexter as much as I do. However, you do have a point. Dexter has a high probability of achieving his desired outcome, but his actions are not without risk. I wish for you to assist me in a contingency plan to stop this fight should it become necessary to prevent permanent harm to Dexter."

Applejack frowned. " Here’s a hint, stop it now."

"No. Proceed to the Ponyville hospital and reunite with Twilight Sparkle." The hologram pointed in the direction of the clinic. "Then inform her of the current situation. In the event it becomes necessary, I will teleport both of you and Twilight Sparkle to Celestia and Dexter's location. There, the three of you should be able to convince Celestia and Dexter to halt their confrontation."

“An’ what am I supposed ta say?” Applejack nodded. "You know Ah promised ta-"

"Dexter has declared that his secrets have been exposed by Celestia recalling his identity and by his subsequent explanations to her," the hologram answered. "Both by Dexter's admission and by the terms of your promise, you are released from your oath to keep what you know secret. You may tell anyone whatever you wish. It does not matter at this point."

"What the hay?" Rainbow Dash interjected.

"Ah'll tell ya in a minute." Applejack turned back to the hologram. “What's the catch? How do you know we won't jus show up and stop the fight early cause we can?"

"First, I won't let you," the hologram began to list off. "Second, they are outside the teleportation range of your magic users, including Twilight Sparkle. Third, you do not know their current location, so even if you could reach them, you don't know where they are." The hologram curtly phased out of existence.

---

Celestia suddenly found herself standing in the middle of a grassy clearing. The Ponyville streets had vanished along with the world around her only to be replaced by an almost idyllic meadow distantly surrounded by a forest.

She was well acquainted with the sensation of being teleported. The sudden change in orientation and environment had long since ceased being disorientating for her.

However, the change in scenery had almost gone unnoticed; covered underneath a torrent of emotions sweeping through her.

Twilight had just been murdered right in front of her.

The grisly scene of her student's demise flashed across her eyes. Desperation, fear, anger, shock, they all threatened to overwhelm Celestia as her vision turned red.

"I told you I wasn't playing nice anymore," Dexter declared. "Twilight found that out the hard wa–"

Celestia snapped in Dexter’s direction, she could feel what was left of her composure shatter like glass in the back of her mind. "SHE WAS A DAUGHTER TO ME!"

A bright golden lance of magic shot out from Celestia's horn, struck Dexter by surprise. It was wide enough to completely encompass the colt’s form, and caused his suit's dampeners to flare to life. Where the beam missed the colt it carved into the ground, rending a flaming gouge in the grassland.

However, despite the dampeners, the intensity of the beam caused Dexter to fail to notice another pulse of golden magic from Celestia's horn. The ground beneath Dexter flashed in response before exploding upwards, launching him into the air.

By this point, everything around the colt was a blur as the verdant earth mixed with the blue hue of the sky. Less than a second later, he was caught by Celestia’s forehooves. He couldn’t tell if she had teleported or simply charged at him. Either way, she wasted no time in driving the colt into the ground, creating a crater as she slammed him into the ground.

"I'll see you chained in Tartarus for the rest of your miserable life," Celestia hissed, standing atop Dexter with a hoof pressed against his armor’s chest piece. Given the disorientation, it took Dexter a moment to comprehend her words. His suit could compensate for inertial changes, preventing him from being injured from most sudden accelerations or impacts. However, it made hurtling through the air more disorientating than usual by distorting the sensations of his impact.

When he finally came around, he looked up to see a furious Celestia pinning him. He turned his head toward his ion rifle. It had been slung over his back, and landed a few feet from his side. However, Celestia's had noticed it too. With an audible crunch, she brought a hoof down on the weapon, leaving a hoofprint behind where she flattened the frame. It crackled with sparks several times before falling silent.

"Surrender now, Dexter." Celestia increased the force which she pushed down on Dexter, warning icons flashed across his vision. However, it wasn’t from Celestia's crushing hoof. “Surrender, and you will spend the rest of your existence praising the sun for the little mercies I will leave you with.”

"Idiot," Dexter muttered loud enough for Celestia to hear as he sent a neural command to lock his armor and set his inertial dampeners to full. His armor stiffened, and a faint glowing barrier surrounded the colt and hugged his form. Celestia opened her mouth to respond; however, she was cut off by a growing hissing sound, accompanied by a strange metallic whine, coming from the rifle she had just crushed. Glancing at it, she noticed it was now starting to rattle and shake violently to the point where it was jumping off the ground.

"My rifle is a more refined version of my canon," Dexter stated simply. "My cannon exploded, remember?"

Sensing the danger, she cast a teleportation spell on the violently shaking rifle.

Unfortunately, the magic dampener in Dexter's suit flared on her magic's contact.

"Do you practice at being this stup–"

The explosion from the rifle's energy core ripped across the ground, unleashing a blue wave of plasma. The resulting crater was the size of a basketball court, and spread flames much further.

With the rifle beneath Celestia, the explosion launched the solar alicorn into the sky. Her burnt form created a black streak that hurtled into the clouds before disappearing behind them.

Groaning, Dexter tried to shake off the vertigo and disorientation the explosion had given him. The explosion had pushed him further into the ground, burying him under charred dirt and freshly formed molten earth.

Sending a neural command in his suit, he was happy to see that it had done its job. A report showed him to be completely unharmed. The suit itself was another story. Dexter grimaced when several red indicators lit up to highlight damage it had received. The explosion had overloaded several of the onboard systems.

"Inertia inhibitors, shielding, and powered movement systems are damaged and working at less than fifty percent capability," Quadraplex reported in Dexter's ear. "Seventy two percent of your suit's ablative armor has been destroyed, and your suit's power systems have also been drained down to forty percent capacity. You are also unable to lock your armor until repairs are made. May I proceed with repairs now?"

"Yes," Dexter said, shaking his head while gritting his teeth. He began pushing dirt away, starting the slow process of digging himself out.

With a final heave, Dexter emerged from the ground, pushing burnt dirt and ash aside. He stood up, surveying the now destroyed meadow around him. Everything that could be on fire was. He was in the middle of an inferno, which explained why his suit had switched him over to an internal oxygen supply.

It made him want to chuckle. Quadraplex really did think of everything.

"Might I suggest you withdraw?" Quadraplex asked as Dexter brushed off some lava that had cooled and solidified against his armor. "If Celestia believes you perished in the explosion, she will stop pursuing you."

Dexter glanced around the fire once more, deciding on the closest path out of the blaze. "Unfortunately, no, Quadraplex. Celestia is smart enough to quickly realize that had the explosion been capable of killing me, I would have teleported away instead of letting it happen and taking the brunt of it. She also would realize that I stayed in order to prevent her from using her magic to escape herself." He started walking, smothering miniature parts of the blaze with each step. “Besides, one psycho princess already has issues because she thought she killed me. I don't need to up that to two. Well, that is assuming Celestia is..."

"Celestia survived the explosion. It launched her to an approximate altitude of eight hundred meters. However, she still possesses life signs and has started flying back to your location. She will land momentarily." A blip appeared in Dexter's visor, pointing him toward Celestia. "Be advised, the guard forces in Ponyville will eventually notice and discern the location of that explosion. I predict they will send a force to investigate within a few hours. "

"Thank you, Quadraplex. This should be over long before they get here." Dexter paused in thought. "The purpose of this altercation is to send a message to Celestia. I think we can drive the point home quickly."

"How so?"

"Initiate and dispatch my latest Robo-Dex iteration," Dexter ordered, still standing within the blaze as though it were normal.

"Mission parameters?"

"Set its onboard A.I. to autonomous combat. Target: Celestia. Non-lethal force. Feed it data on her capabilities, so it knows how much force it can use without killing her." Dexter started walking forward. "Dispatch the anti-alicorn armament systems to assist."

“Understood, repairs to your armor will be completed momentarily. Then all systems will be back at 100% operational capacity.”

Celestia landed at the edge of the inferno. Her fur, tail and mane were all still charred black. However, the ashes that were once the exterior of her body began to sluff off as new pristine fur grew in its place. She stared into the fire with a mixture of anger and regret. Even though she believed he had killed Twilight, it wasn't her intention to kill the colt.

She was certain nothing could have survived that explosion. At least, nothing other than an alicorn.

“I didn’t want to kill you…”

Which is why no small part of her regret and anger was replaced with disbelief when she saw a colt sized figure casually strolling through the blaze. He had apparently noticed her landing and turned to approach her.

When Dexter emerged from the fire, slightly smoking, parts of his suit began to spontaneously fall from his body before a flash of white deposited clean and uncharred components in their place. Entire segments of blacked and ruined armor fell to the ground before new segments appeared in their place. Soon, the only evidence of the entire fight were a few burn marks marring his armor's otherwise dark blue exterior.

By the time Dexter had emerged from the blaze, Celestia had fought back her stupor. Her fury had returned, though now much more restrained.

"Not the easy fight you expected, Celestia?" Dexter asked, the moment he was close enough to be confident she could hear him over the roar of the inferno before her.

"Don't be so smug, Dexter." Celestia glared at the armored colt. "You're now weaponless, and I have only begun to tap into my strength." She turned to the left of the colt, charging her horn. A pulse of golden magic erupted from her horn, washing over the ground as she swept from left to right. Her golden aura extinguished much of the blaze, leaving only charred earth and burnt foliage behind. Only an area around Dexter remained smoldering. "This is a fight you will lose; and I will make you pay for what you have done."

Dexter shifted, pressing an armored hoof on a smoldering piece of grass underneath him before twisting his leg to make sure the embers were stamped out. "All I wanted was to be left alone."

"You should have thought of that before MURDERING Twilight!" Celestia snapped, as her horn began to glow threateningly once more. “Now I shall never rest.”

Dexter rolled his eyes though she couldn't see it behind his reflexive visor. "Her termination was a necessity." He lied. "A product of your obstinance. You have to realize there will be consequences for pursuing me."

"You will be pursued; justice demands you be punished." Celestia declared. "And I will see it done!"

Dexter scoffed. His impression of Celestia was not that of one overly concerned with justice. "Justice or revenge?" Dexter countered. After a moment he shrugged. "Either will do, I suppose. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re angry Celestia. But that’s a good thing. It has to be this way. You have to be angry enough to give this fight your all." He turned back to Celestia, sensing an opportunity to bait the solar alicorn. " So, when you lose, you know there is nothing you can do. Your motives for this are just as irrelevant as Twilight’s life was."

Celestia's fury redoubled as her eyes flashed with arcane energy. However, what happened next caught Dexter off guard. Celestia had burst into action, moving toward the colt with a supernatural speed for which the colt had no remote chance of reacting to quickly enough.

Thankfully, she wasn’t fast enough to beat Quadraplex’s reaction time. The A.I. activated the time dilation device in Dexter’s suit, causing the blur of speed that was Celestia to slow before coming to a virtual standstill merely a meter away from the colt.

The sudden appearance of a furious Celestia standing over him, frozen mid-lunge with a scowl and glowing eyes, caused Dexter to nearly jump out of his own skin. Given the stance of her lunge, she was intent on delivering another strike to the colt with her forehooves.

"Gah!" Dexter stumbled from his place, frantically backing away.

"I calculated Celestia’s velocity to be approximately three times that of the speed of sound." Quadraplex's voice came through his earpiece. "Although your suit would protect you from the impact, I would have had to begin repairs again if the blow landed. To give you the opportunity to avoid the impact, I activated your time dilation generator and slowed time to approximately a thousandth of normal progression."

"Thank You Quadraplex" Dexter nodded in appreciation, wearily eyeing the monstrous alicorn that had nearly gotten to him. A simple glance at the world around him did reveal that everything was, in fact, frozen in time. "Sometimes I forget that this is how you perceive reality, Quadraplex."

"Not entirely, this is how I would perceive the flow of time if my processors were downclocked by ninety-nine percent. I am substantially faster," the computer corrected. "Now, I recommend that you punch her." A target icon appeared on the form of Celestia in Dexter's HUD. "Your suit's force amplifiers, along with the temporal shear caused by the time dilation device, will amplify the blow immensely."

Dexter walked over to Celestia's side as a grin formed on his face, a horse-shoe shaped device on the bottom of his forehoof began to glow as he settled beside Celestia.

Celestia didn't know what hit her. All she knew was that she had lunged at Dexter with a speed she could only attain at the peak of her fury. Now she lay at the bottom of a crater at the end of a large gouge in the earth. It felt like she had been hit by a thousand freight trains, having seemingly shattered every bone in her body before sending her careening through the blackened and charred earth.

However, the worst of it was that her body was beginning to heal. The rapid healing process was something she appreciated as an immortal, as it would be very difficult to live forever while accumulating permanent wounds. Unfortunately, the mending of broken and shattered bones as they snapped back together was never painless.

At least once it got going it was rather quick.

Meanwhile, Dexter stood at the edge of the crater, looking down. "Good," Dexter let out a baited breath. He had turned off his time dilator. "For a second she really looked dead. I know you told me! But that's not the–"

Celestia let out a cry of rage, causing Dexter to jump back from the edge of the crater. A blast of golden magic launched whatever charred dirt that covered Celestia into the air, before the alicorn burst from the crater. She merely glanced at Dexter with a newfound rage before ascending into the sky.

Dexter traced the alicorn's flight; however, a sinking feeling in his gut told him she wasn't trying to flee. "Computer, how long until Robo-Dex gets here..."

Celesta stopped to hover, well above the charred and blackened ground that had become her and Dexter's battlefield. What happened next both awed and scared the colt. Celestia's body flashed with an aura of golden magic. Shortly after, the sun itself began to move across the sky. The sun settled right overhead, before pulsing in tandem with the magic flowing over Celestia's body. The sun now glowed with an unnatural brightness, seemingly magnified as though it had gotten closer. However, the world hadn't burst into flame, which led Dexter to believe it was some sort of optical effect.

The glow over Celestia's body did not fade as the magenta of her eyes were replaced by a piercing gold. But that wasn’t what worried Dexter. Something within him could feel the raw magical energy build up inside her like a distant yet persisting weight in the air above him.

After another few moments, Celestia's gaze turned to lock onto Dexter.

"Uh oh."

Celestia disappeared in a flash of gold, and the weight of her magic disappeared from the sky. It reappeared right behind Dexter on top of him.

The colt had barely a moment to reach before he felt Celestia grab hold of him as two powerful forelegs wrapped around his barrel. He barely had enough time to twist around to half face Celestia before her legs went tight, immobilizing the colt.

Dexter responded by punching Celestia with his unpinned foreleg, the force amplifier on his forehoof discharging with increasing levels of power against Celestia. However, the now glowing alicorn was seemingly unphased by the blows and responded by swiping the offending limb with her own hoof. The strike broke the device, shattering several pieces of armor covering the colt's hoof. She then slammed Dexter into the ground beneath her, pinning him.

Celestia pushed Dexter into the burnt ground. She squeezed tighter, causing the armor around his barrel to dent inwards. Alighting her horn, Celestia cast a very bright yet very narrow beam of golden energy from her horn into crevasses in Dexter's armor. She was trying to cut through it, starting at his shoulder.

If she managed to peel off a portion of Dexter’s suit, he would be vulnerable; and this fight would be over shortly thereafter.

His magic dampeners flared to life once more. Dexter quickly discovered that the narrow focus and high intensity of the beam prevented his suit’s dampeners from effectively siphoning from the beam. While she could keep him pinned and still, her highly precise magic was still effective. Alarms in his suit blared as the raw magical energy of the beam started to cut through to the inner layers.

Less than a moment later, Celestia's grasp on Dexter vanished as a flash of white light made the colt disappear. He reappeared several meters away, where he jumped to his hooves.

Celestia instinctively rose to her hooves before launching herself into the air with a powerful beat of her wings. Without so much as a glance to her surroundings, she circled in the air a few meters from Dexter.

"I haven’t called upon my sun like this in eighteen centuries," Celestia declared. Her voice echoed with the raw magical energy she was channeling. The golden portion of her eyes glowed like the rest of her. "I hope it's what you wanted."

"Impressive." Dexter motioned upwards with his head toward the sun. "But not as impressive as I had hoped for."

Despite her fury with the murderous child, Celestia couldn’t help raising an eyebrow and pulling her head back slightly in surprise. Dexter picked up on the movement just enough to read it.

Dexter extended the forehoof with the damaged and crushed armor to his side. The entire outer layer of armor on the leg fell from his form along with the damaged forced amplifier. A white flash had fresh replacements attached in their place instantly.

"Don't get me wrong. I've never seen someone call upon the sun in a fight before," Dexter began, replying to her unspoken surprise, "but we've already established that magic doesn't really work against me. Your response to that knowledge was, well, more magic." Dexter scoffed. "I know you're a bit emotional right now, but that is a poor excuse for failing to think.”

Celestia scowled before an incredibly bright yet concentrated beam of golden energy erupted from her horn. It hit the ground in front of the colt before traveling upward to engulf his form. The beam itself burned through everything it touched, creating a new scar in the earth around and behind Dexter.

Another alarm sounded in his helmet as the blast nearly overloaded the magic dampener in his suit, with them having absorbed an amount of magical energy Dexter had previously thought impossible for a single magic user to wield.

"Power level at four hundred percent of standard capacity," Quadraplex declared in his ear as he sent a neural command to his suit to stop the alarm and activated his time dilation. Another warning indicator appeared in his vision, showing him the overcharged state of his suit.

He would have to get rid of the extra energy soon if he wanted to prevent his suit from becoming unstable.

He grinned.

With Celestia frozen in time once more, the colt casually strolled over to where Celestia was hovering. He sent the neural command to activate his force amplifiers once again, devoting to them all the extra energy he now had. It was enough to blow out the amplifiers.

He ordered Quadraplex to prepare another set of replacements as he leapt into the air toward the alicorn.

...

For the second time that day, Celestia found herself staring up at her sun from the bottom of a crater. However, this one was significantly larger than the last. Fortunately, however, her bones weren’t broken this time. Her improved link to the sun had made her practically invulnerable, suffusing her body with magic that easily reinforced her physical and magical strength. Other than mud and charred earth staining her glowing coat, she was fine.

However, it didn’t last, as a dark blue blur appeared in the crater on top of her. With speed she had never seen, the blur began pounding her further into the ground.

Being virtually invulnerable didn't mean the blows weren't painful. She swiped at the blur with her foreleg, only to find her foreleg caught and wrenched away with unfathomable speed before the flurry of blows resumed.

It only stopped when Celestia pulsed her magic once more, creating an explosion within the crater in an attempt to drive the bounding blue blur from atop of her. It worked to some degree, as the blue blur disappeared from its place just as the magical blast was cast.

And again, Celestia was buried in mud and charred earth at the bottom of a crater.

With a flash of her magic, Celestia teleported out of the hole in the ground. She stood beside the crater she had just extricated herself from. The only thing to show for the attack was a muddied coat.

She glanced at the crater for a moment, wondering how much of it was caused by her magic versus the colt’s impossible strength.

"Here," Dexter stated simply, not letting the alicorn wonder as to where he went.

"I can see you, Dexter." Celestia said before turning her head toward the colt. The gold of her eyes still glowed enough for Dexter to see over the brightness of the sun overhead. "Can you not see the futility of this fight? You battle the sun itself, even now my strength only grows."

"Not that I am keeping score, your Majesty, but you've been losing this fight so far," Dexter replied curtly, squaring up toward Celestia.

"You cannot truly hurt me, Dexter," Celestia countered, her voice continuing the echo of the air around her. "I am an immortal. It is only a matter of time before you are defeated."

"Are you sure?"

Celestia paused, considering the colt's words before deciding they were merely a bluff. "Despite everything you've done, Dexter, I still do not want to see you destroyed. Nor do I wish to see a child like you sentenced and chained in Tartarus. Surrender now, and allow yourself to be reformed, and I will grant you a measure of leniency."

"You don't get it, Princess." Dexter shook his head. Again the colt did the puzzling ritual where the devices and armor on his forelegs fell from his form and to the ground. White flashes replaced what was lost instantly. "You’re still not thinking. I'm the hero here. you're the villain. So forgive me if I pass on your offer to be 'reformed.'"

“Does a hero murder one as virtuous and true as my most faithful student?”

“You mean the student of the princess who stood around and watched as her crazy sister murdered countless innocent ponies? If she was as true to you as you were to your subjects, she probably wasn’t that virtuous.”

This time, Celestia didn't scowl. "I studied everything Star Swirl collected about you. In fact, you were the only thing I focused on other than my sister. You have the unique ability to dispel direct magical effects, but you are more than susceptible to the use of magic indirectly.

"But I think there is something you haven't taken into account, after all I know much more about magic than someone, such as you, who cannot practice it." Celestia's horn lit up again. However, it was not nearly as bright as it had been previously. "Your magic nullification prevents a spell from being cast but does it stop one from being withdrawn?" She let the question hang, causing Dexter to grimace behind his face shield.

However, after only a few moments Dexter figured out what she was getting at.

Dexter felt a familiar twinge in his side and back, specifically where he had once been wounded during his trip to the past. Celestia had been the one to use her magic to heal him, enough so that she had left residual magic behind at the site of his wounds.

"Your means of dispelling magic must merely create a barrier between yourself and the world around you, much like your armor. Otherwise, you would be weakened from the magic being drawn out of your own body." Celestia observed as the twinge in Dexter's side and back suddenly got painful. There was a snap and tug, before a loosening, as though something inside his lungs had unraveled. "But what if some of my magic has already made it beyond that barrier?"

"Gah!" Dexter clutched his side as the pain sharply spiked; however, the movement alone caused another jolt of pain to shoot through his spine. He began to cough uncontrollably.

"I may have cast it a thousand years ago, but my magic still answers my call." Celestia said. "And those healing spells are like stitches. They can be removed early or torn out to cause just as much damage as they had been intended to fix."

Dexter continued to cough. He couldn’t breathe, and soon enough, he found himself coughing up blood into his visor, spraying his face shield and covering up portions of his HUD in red.

"Sorry for opening old wounds, Dexter," Celestia pressed. "But how was that for thinking hmm?'"

Dexter didn’t respond. He still couldn’t breathe despite his continuous coughing. A warning indicator in his partially bloodied HUD showed him he had internal bleeding. However, despite this, and in an attempt to breathe, he pulled off his helmet before coughing further into the charged dirt before him. The coughs sprayed blood onto the ground. His face was reddened.

"I've deployed nanites into your bloodstream." Quadraplex came through his earpiece. "They should be able to stop the internal bleeding soon. However, you will have difficulty breathing for significantly longer than that."

"Now it’s your turn to think, Dexter." Celestia approached the colt, standing over him. Without his visor, the glow surrounding her appeared brighter. The weight of the magic imbued in her form felt that much more oppressive this close. "Reason with me, Dexter. Surrender and submit yourself to be reformed. I do not wish to hurt you further, and you cannot defeat me. My magic is already inside you, you cannot win."

Dexter merely coughed again before shaking his head. Celestia scowled.

"Is this what you want?” Celestia motioned to the devastation that was their battlefield. It was the first chance she had to gauge the expressions of his face since he put on his helmet. "Is this what you're hoping for? The suffering you've caused, the ponies you've hurt. The life you ended. If there is any ability to reason behind this madness, use it now. Surrender!" she commanded.

"Reason with you?" Dexter panted. He spat a glob of blood onto the ground. "An o-old quote for you, Celestia, from a wise leader," Dexter panted, pain evident from his gritted teeth, " 'You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!' " He sneered.

The ground beneath Celestia quaked as something titanic slammed into the ground behind her. It landed with enough force to throw Celestia into the air.

Rounding on the new arrival, the solar alicorn froze in place to process what she was seeing. Thirty meters away was a titanic-metallic foot.

It was one of two colossal feet attached to a figure that towered over the whole battlefield. It stood much taller than any buildings Celestia had seen, taller than even the highest tower in her Canterlot palace.

It was bipedal and was armored from head to toe in the same metallic material as Dexter's armor. Its overall style was square as there were hard corners where curves would have normally made up in an organic form.

The sun gleamed off the metallic titan.

"When I picked this fight, I only wanted to convince you to leave me alone," Dexter wheezed, causing Celestia to jump and turn back toward him. Her previous glare of fury and determination was replaced with genuine bewilderment and possibly fear. Though Dexter couldn’t exactly tell; without his glasses or his helmet’s visor he could hardly see. Remnants of his blood remained on the corner of his mouth as Dexter held a new device. He directed a scowl at Celestia. His anger was well beyond the simple contempt he usually held.

"But now… I’m upset." A new helmet appeared in front of Dexter in a white flash, which he quickly stuffed onto his head. He then attached another device to his foreleg before pressing a button on it. It crackled to life, extending an apparent beam of piercing blue energy with a deep humming sound. His visor reflected the blue light of his now ignited plasma saber, which he leveled at Celestia.

"Dext–"

"Target: Celestia," the metal titan said with a booming voice. Its voice was synthetic and monotone, and was rough to the ears. "I've come to destroy you." A gigantic metal fist flew down toward Celestia at speeds she didn't think were possible for something so large.

And so for the third time that day, Celestia was staring up at the sky from the bottom of a crater.

Pulling herself from the ground once again, Celestia summoned her magic to teleport. However, she could feel a certain level of instability in her magic due to the dampening field the titanic machine was projecting. It couldn’t stop her from using magic, but it would foul more intricate spells such as teleportation.

Opting instead to fly, Celestia shot into the air. She wanted to at least get a better view of this new gigantic opponent. Yet her path was traced by the head of the giant robot as a compartment on its shoulder opened to produce a rack of missiles. Each one of the missiles shot out of the robot's shoulder in rapid succession, darting after Celestia and seeking after her like a pack of angry hornets.

In the course of a second, five missiles detonated within two feet of Celestia. The alicorn blasted into the ground, crashing with a slam that echoed throughout the forest.

The immortal alicorn pulled herself up, surprised yet still determined. She was immortal and undefeatable. Without powerful magic, Dexter couldn't truly defeat or kill her.

She would have to outlast him. A simple strategy, one which all immortals could fall back on against any mortal that challenged them.

At least that’s what she told herself.

---

Post-Chater A/N:
Should be releasing the next 16k words remaining in the chapter in 24 hours.
Leave a comment! :)

Defiant to the Sun (Part 2/2)

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The battle continued for hours. Celestia had redoubled her strength, holding the sun directly overhead as it fueled her magic and body. But Dexter and his robot were not showing any signs of slowing down. More craters and gouges in the earth littered the landscape, as spells, missiles, lasers, and blasts occasionally missed their mark.

When the titanic machine exhausted its supply of ammunition, it switched over to energy weapons which seemed unlimited to Celestia.

Dexter opted to stay outside of his titanic creation for the duration of the fight, favoring the quick responsiveness that the time dilation device in his suit gave him as a counter to Celestia's supernatural speed. Unfortunately, that meant for the colt that one hour of battle was really several. He quickly found his own body starting to tire, and began contemplating the use of stimulants to keep him going.

Quadraplex didn't like that idea.

A turning point in the battle came when Celestia finally realized something. The magic dampeners that the giant robot used were similar to that which Dexter had in his suit. Its ability to dampen magic was designed as a form of protection, a barrier between itself and any spell cast from the outside.

However, magic that was already on the inside would still be effective.

That's when Celestia turned herself into a missile, and repeatedly threw herself at a single spot in the robot's armor. After the eleventh blow at supersonic speeds, she managed to defeat the armor of the gigantic robot and force her way inside its chassis.

She immediately proceeded to cast every offensive spell she knew, while tearing and bucking at everything within reach.

"Warning, Dexter.” Quadraplex's voice rang through his helmet. "Celestia has destabilized Robo-Dex's primary fusion core. Core detonation is imminent."

Dexter cursed very loudly, with words that would get him grounded had his mother heard him. "Jettison Robo-Dex's A.I. module, and using the remote pilot activate its thrusters to make it ascend into orbit."

"Jettison is in progress," Quadraplex declared. "When the core explodes, it will generate an explosion of 100 million degrees centigrade. Do not be present when it goes. I will teleport you to a safe location."

"No," Dexter declared, wanting to curse at himself for letting this happen. With a neural command he activated his time dilation device, slowing the world around him until it seemingly froze still. "A nuclear explosion of that magnitude would wipe out Ponyville, and spread fallout to many others further away. I cannot let that happen."

"Not even your suit will protect you from a point-blank nuclear explosion." Quadraplex countered. "You must withdraw."

"I. Said. No." Dexter declared. "My fate will be the same as Ponyville’s. Wait... can you lock onto the fusion material inside the core and teleport it into space?"

"With the magical interference created by Celestia, along with the destabilizing reactor, I cannot get a lock specifically on the fusion material. I would have to teleport the entire compartment."

"Is it the compartment that Celestia is in?"

"Does that matter?" However, it was all the answer Dexter needed.

"I'm going to get that idiot." Dexter pointed toward where Celestia punched through into the gigantic robot. "I don't know if a nuclear explosion can kill her, but I do not wish to put it to the test. With her power being derived from the sun, solar-nuclear fusion is likely the source of her power. A nuclear fusion explosion just might be enough to kill her. "

"On what grounds do you assume this?" Quadraplex asked as Dexter began to scale the side of his giant robot. With it frozen in time, it felt as though he were simply climbing a statue.

"A hunch," Dexter admitted, beginning to climb. "With magic involved, I don’t know enough to guarantee anything."

When Dexter finally made it inside the robot, he found Celestia in the middle of bucking a portion of the robot's support frame. A blast from her horn was in the middle of slicing through power conduits lining the robot's walls.

Dexter grimaced as he tried to figure out how he was going to get the oversized alicorn out of his robot. His first instincts were to simply kick her as hard as he could, and allow the sheer force of his strikes to throw her clear of the robot. Unfortunately, the armor of the robot was just as good as keeping things in as they were at keeping things out.

He quickly deduced that he would have to reason with her.

"I'm going to regret this..." Dexter surmised. “Quadraplex, can you extend my suit's time dilation field to encompass her?"

"Yes, barely. You will have to get your center of mass as close to her center of mass as possible." Quadraplex answered. With a grumble, Dexter climbed onto Celestia’s back before clinging to it His forelegs firmly wrapped around her neck. "I will also extend the magic dampening field in order to block the spell she is casting."

"Alright, I’m ready. Do it." Dexter slowly felt Celestia begin to move, as though she were a statue coming to life. He increased his grip around the diarch's neck, which quickly became a bone crushing grip with the help of his suit.

"Celestia, stop, or you'll kill everyone in Ponyville..." Dexter said, starting to repeat himself as Celestia seemingly came to life. “Celestia, stop, or you'll kill everyone in Ponyville...” He chanted.

With the sudden sensation of a vice around her neck, and the loss of her magic, Celestia froze in place. She quickly heard the colt's repeating words, and craned her neck to spot the armored colt on her back.

She had to fight back the instinct to attack him immediately, hesitating long enough for the colt to repeat in warning once more.

"Explain," Celestia hissed. Her tone promised she had more than enough fight and anger in her to continue the battle.

The colt looked up, the relief on his face was hidden by his new helmet's visor. "My gigantic robot is powered by nuclear fusion, just like your sun is." Celestia raised an eyebrow. "When you penetrated its hull and started attacking it from the inside, you destabilized its fusion reactor. That fusion core is now going to explode with enough force and energy to wipe Ponyville off the map, which is only thirty miles north of here."

"Can it be stopped?" Celestia replied, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. She couldn't help but think that this was all a ploy.

"I..." Dexter began, emphasizing the word at her exclusion. "Already have a solution that will guarantee Ponyville's safety. I just need you to get out of the way; by leaving the robot. Your magic is interfering with my attempts to remove the fusion core to a safe location."

"And why should I believe you? How do I know this isn't some sort of ploy to undermine me now that I have the advantage?" Celestia accused.

Dexter sent a neural command to his suit, causing his visor to become transparent enough for Celestia to see his face. "My actions speak louder than words, Celestia. I was the one who teleported us both away from Ponyville in order to initiate this fight." Dexter countered. "I did it to keep Ponyville safe. If I wasn't trying to keep the other ponies safe, I would be using them as hostages against you. You can rest assured; I wouldn't lie to you about this.”

Celestia's eyes narrowed again. However, after a moment she began approaching the hole she had punched in the wall in order to gain entry. After pushing some of the metal out of the way with her hooves, she was able to squeeze through the hole and into the open air outside, despite the colt still on her back.

"What... is this?" Celestia asked, noticing how the world around her had seemingly frozen. She was also getting the strangest sensation of vertigo. With her connecting to the sun, she could always sense the flow of time. However, now time did not seem to flow at all.

"Time dilation, princess." Dexter answered curtly. "I can slow the passage of time for myself, and those in close proximity. It allows me to do everything from react to your attacks more quickly, to take a much needed break from combat to rest up. Now, please land us at a safe distance from the robot." When Celestia touched down at the edge of the field, Dexter spoke into his ear piece again. "Alright, Quadraplex, we are clear."

"This is impossible..."

Dexter ignored Celestia. He slid off Celestia's back as he deactivated the dilation field. No sooner had he hit the ground did Quadraplex's response arrive through his ear piece. "Teleportation complete, fusion reactor core is in LEO at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers, south-southwest of your current location. Degradation from extreme long range teleportation has destabilized the core further. An explosion is imminent, initiating electron-cascade E.M.P. counter-measures"

"Look," Dexter pointed to the southern sky. Tracing the colt's hoof, Celestia caught the explosion just as the core went off. For a few brief moments, Equestria had a second sun. It was enough to get her jaw to drop. She missed the sight of Robo-Dex tumbling to the ground in a titanic crash. The last of its power finally died.

Dexter let out a sigh of relief as fatigue from the fight started to catch up with him. "Celestia,” Dexter turned to look up at the alicorn, meeting her eyes as she tilted her head toward him. Her posture was tense, but he could tell the battle had worn out parts of her as well. “Whatever happens, even if you end up killing me here today; please, just promise me you won’t tell anyone where that explosion came from. Pretend it was an asteroid or something, or even claim it was your own doing…”

Celestia turned; lowering herself into an aggressive stance while charging her horn. However, she held back. Something in the tone of his voice, a level of sincerity, caused her to hesitate.

Of everything he could have hit her with, his request caught her off guard the most.

“Please...” He pleaded. “Millions could die.”

After a long moment of silence, Celestia eventually released the charge in her horn. The glow of her magic disappeared as she slowly raised her head back to a standing height. “Explain…” She ordered sharply.

“I can’t…” Dexter shook his head. “It’s not safe.”

She regarded Dexter silently for a moment, before looking back up at the sky where the explosion had occurred. “How big was that explosion, exactly?”

“Big enough to kill off the entire population of Manehattan if it occurred in the heart of the city.”

She turned back to eye the colt sharply, trying to discern if the colt was lying though his helmet. “Please, Princess. You can go ahead and do your best to kill me. But please, pretend you never saw that explosion. Act like it never happened…”

And for a moment, Celestia seemed to genuinely contemplate his words, allowing her gaze to wander from the colt for a moment. However, it didn’t last long. Her eyes snapped back to the colt as her frown returned. “Perhaps I would have entertained your request,” The charge in her horn returned. “But you murdered the one of the few ponies that was a daughter to me. I am not inclined to believe anything you say.”

“If” Dexter began again. He raised his voice just enough to get Celestia to pause for a moment longer. “If Twilight’s life is enough to make you reconsider trusting me on this, then I have good news. Twilight’s alive.”

Celestia glare at Dexter deepened, as she regarded him coldly for another several seconds in complete silence. “This better not be another one of your sick little games.”

“Well…” Dexter hesitated. “Twilight’s alive.” He turned away, motioning with a hoof. “Computer, hologram.” The image of Twilight Sparkle fazed into existence.

“What you saw was an illusion.” The hologram declared in a perfect replication of Twilight’s voice. “The actual Twilight Sparkle had teleported away several moments before what you saw.”

“I told Miss Sparkle to teleport both herself and Luna to a safe location, both of them are fine.” He assured.

Celestia took several steps back, seeming to stumble as an unseen weight was lifted off of her. She lowered her head while pressing a hoof to her chest, taking several deep breathes. A single tear escaped her now closed eyes.

Dexter decided to remain silent, giving Celestia a moment. However, she stood silently for over a minute before she managed to recompose herself.

“How… could you do such a thing?” Celestia eventually asked, her fury had returned but it was nowhere near as intense as it was before. “Do you have any idea what your treachery has done to me?”

“Psychological warfare.” Dexter replied curtly. However, his explanation felt like a poor excuse. He was intelligent enough to know the type of wounds his methods dealt to Celestia, and they wouldn’t heal for a long time.

“You… deceived me into believing my student… was dead” She seethed. “You… made believe I had watched you murder her in cold blood…”

He stood silent.

“I… wanted to kill you.” She declared through gritted teeth, still trembling. “I wanted… I was looking for an excuse to kill you.

“Your… tricks would have turned me into a…” The fire like essence aspect of her mane momentarily pulsed brighter.

The sentiment wasn’t lost on Dexter. Turning Celestia into something she both abhorred and reviled would be a terrible thing to do to an being cursed to live with themselves for an eternity.

“If it makes you feel better, you never stood a chance at killing me.” Dexter shrugged.

“Everything you do is a lie or a deception.” Celestia declared. “You can’t be trusted.”

“Million could die, Celestia.” Dexter repeated. “And that isn’t a lie. You’ve seen proof now with your own eyes, so I don’t have to lie about it.” He motioned upward toward the still dissipating explosion. “Put your rage aside, and think clearly.”

“You will explain yourself, once I have you in chains.” The charge in Celestia horn returned as she lowered back into an aggressive stance.

“Back to killing each other, I suppose." Dexter reached for the hilt of his plasma saber, which was currently hanging from the side of his chest.

However, Celestia hadn't let her guard down, and was much quicker to react than Dexter had expected. Dexter swiftly found himself pinned by the larger alicorn once again.

"No more. You are defeated, Dexter." Celestia declared. "Your titan lies in ruins, your weapons have been crushed. You're in no position to keep this fight up. Surrender, and despite everything I will be lenient."

"Please, Princess." Dexter scoffed. "I could build two giant robots in the time it takes for you to take out one. I have not yet begun to fight."

Celestia lifted him up before slamming him into the ground again. Alarms flared in his suit. “SURRENDER" She demanded. However, that piercing narrow beam of magic erupted from her horn again; intent on peeling his armor away.

Dexter reached toward his other side, pulling up a cylindrical object Celestia hadn't seen him use before. He pulled the pin on it before the handle seemingly launched itself away with a loud ping.

"Drop it, Dexter, and give up already..." She eyed the object.

"I'll drop it..." Dexter said, motioning to the now silent device in his hoof. True to his word, it dropped to the ground beside them. However, not a second later it exploded with enough force to throw himself and Celestia several meters.

When Dexter came to a stop, he immediately activated his suit's cloak. His form rippled before coming completely invisible.

"Have you prepared contingency four?" Dexter whispered into his helmet, earning a response in his ear piece.

"Yes, but are you sure you wish to do this? Contingency four could kill her." Quadraplex answered. "You just risked your own life on the chance to save hers, and you can still simply retreat."

"I will be careful." Dexter declared in response. "Aim every magic dampener at her body, we will have only one chance at this..."

The explosion had come as a surprise to Celestia, momentarily disorientating her. However, she was back to her hooves instantly, turning toward Dexter just to catch a faint ripple in the air as he disappeared.

Scowling, her eyes pulsed, as she began to scan the area around her. "You hold far more power than I expected, Dexter."

"Does that mean you'll leave me alone?" A disembodied voice replied, causing Celestia's gaze to snap in its direction. Her horn glowed, covering the area in her aura.

"It means that I cannot afford to. You are too dangerous to let roam this world free of a leash." She replied, scowling as she scanned. "Please, Dexter. You can still be reformed if you just submit. If it is true that Twilight is alive, I will make sure you’re well taken care of. It is not too late for you, you demonstrated that by your willingness to trust me long enough to save Ponyville. I don't want to hurt you!"

"Wrong answer, Princess," Dexter said, much closer now. "Quadraplex... mark."

For a split second, the magic in Celestia seemingly vanished, being drawn away by the same unseen force pulling at her from all sides. It seemingly weakened the glow hugging to Celestia's form. In that same moment, Celestia felt something stab into the nape of her neck. She looked down to see some sort of syringe plunging into her, as Dexter's form reappeared in a ripple at her side. He held a dart gun at point blank range.

Celestia didn't wait to swipe at him with her forehoof, sending him careening across the blackened earth of their battlefield. She sent a pulse of magic after him for good measure, despite predicting it would likely do nothing.

She looked back down at the dart, summoning her magic to pull it out. However, her golden aura seemingly slipped off the dart as though it could not take hold of it. Quickly, she yanked it out with a hoof before tossing it to the ground.

'"What. Did. You. Just. Do?" She hissed, looking up in the direction she had sent the colt hurtling in. When she spotted him pulling himself up off the ground, she teleported over to him; pulling him up by the neck. She then slammed him into the ground beneath her. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!"

A compartment in Dexter's armor opened, from which he extracted a steel blade. He swiftly stabbed it right into Celestia's foreleg.

Celestia merely winced, before pulling him up and flinging him across the charred field, slamming him through a half burnt tree. The tree exploded into a shower of splinters.

"Was it another attempt to hurt me? Poison perhaps?" Celestia again teleported to Dexter. "I cannot be poisoned, Dexter. There is no wound you can inflict upon me that will last. That is the reason why you will lose this fight; and why mortals will always fail at any contest with an immortal. I’m immortal, so I can always outlast you."

Dexter pushed himself back to his hooves, wobbling slightly from the impact. "Are you so sure?" He challenged, bringing the steel blade up to eye level. It was covered in blood. "You're still bleeding." He motioned toward her foreleg.

Celestia's eyes traced to where he was pointing, finding the wound he put into her leg moments ago.

To her horror, he was right. She was still bleeding. The wound had not healed. It should have healed by now.

Celestia merely continued to stare at her leg, eyes wide. The gold disappeared from her eyes as the original magenta returned, accompanying the unadulterated terror that shook both her eyes and her soul to the core.

She could feel the magic leaving her body, as her usually unshakeable connection to the sun seemed to dull and fray.

She felt as if ice had been poured directly into her heart, as an uncontrollable tremor started to work its way through her hooves.

That's when the ethereal nature of her mane vanished, replaced by a natural pink mane which could have been found on any oversized mare.

"You asked what I just did," Dexter went on, dropping the knife. He noticed the glow that had surrounded Celestia diminish. "I ended this." He declared. "If it bleeds, you can kill it." He declared. “You’re mortal now.”

"Dexter wait-"

With a neural command, Dexter again slowed time. He leapt at Celestia in a blur, lashing out an amplified punch straight into her barrel. The blow sent Celestia careening into the ground, where she toppled over herself before scrapping to a stop on charred dirt and rock. Her coat was now bloodied from a myriad of small cuts she had sustained from the landing.

Dexter briefly activated his time dilatator. In an instant, he was standing over her.

"Dexter!" It wasn't the first time Dexter recognized true terror in the alicorn's voice.

He brought down a hoof onto Celestia's foreleg, breaking it just above the fetlock. She screamed in pain before swiping at him with the unbroken one. He caught it with ease, as his armor amplified his strength, before bringing his free foreleg down on it. The second leg snapped like a twig, eliciting another shriek of pain from Celestia.

For Celestia, before the bite of pain was rather dull; but now its fangs were sharp and went deep.

The alicorn summoned her magic, only for her spell to fizzle against his armor; earning her nothing but the equivalent of a backhanded swipe from the colt against her face. Every subsequent attempt to cast a spell fizzled out uselessly.

For some reason Dexter couldn't explain, he was enjoying this. Far more than he should have. He had to fight to keep from grinning.

But he wasn't doing this for fun. He couldn't allow himself to lose sight of his goal: ensuring the safety of the world from an immortal alicorn's reckless ambition.

However, that didn't stop Dexter from slamming down on each of Celestia’s hind legs. They snapped just like the others.

He had to fight the urge to break her ribs, by doing so he would be putting her in direct danger of death.

Dexter backed away from the alicorn mare, both to prevent himself from doing any more damage to her; as well as stop her from attempting to strike him back in any way.

The moment he had stepped away, Celesta pulled forward her wings to hide herself behind them. It was, in his opinion, a pitiful final effort to protect herself.

"Look at me, Celestia..." Dexter sneered, earning no response from the quivering alicorn before him. "Look. at. me. Or I'll break your wings too."

Shakily, Celestia lowered her wings. She was now bleeding from her nose, more so on the side of her face where Dexter had stuck her. Her pink mane was disheveled and matted with dirt, and her coat had ash and mud smears across her formerly pristine white coat.

However, her eyes were pinpricks. She stared forward as though she were being greeted by death himself.

Dexter reached up, and pulled off his helmet. The blood around his lips had long since dried, turning an off brown color. He locked eyes with Celestia, though he intentionally forced the sneer from his grimace.

"Do you feel that, your Majesty?" Dexter spoke calmly and firmly, making sure the alicorn could hear every word. "Do you feel the slow trickle of life abandoning you?" He motioned toward the knife wound in Celestia's foreleg, which was now starting to pool blood in the place it limply hung at a disjointed angle. "Every mortal knows it by instinct, it’s the sensation of dying; and we mortals live in its shadow every day.

"I felt it just three days ago, a thousand years ago from your perspective, along with countless others. And why did we suffer this?” Dexter motioned again. “For an indulgence. To buy you a few moments to try to bargain with a lunatic, when you should have instead been fighting her."

"But despite what you suffer now, you should count yourself lucky.” Dexter motioned to her broken limbs, and the blood flowing from the cut in her leg and pooling beneath her. "Your victims, the ponies you sacrificed while you tried to talk Nightmare Moon down, had it worse. For when they suffered this; it was often while trapped in the dark, often while trapped in the cold, and more often than not - alone.

“And you offer to reform me? What a joke. You chose not to act, in the past, because you valued the company of your sister over the lives of your subjects. Yet in the here and now, you’re willing to tear apart a family, tyrannically oppress an entire town of innocent ponies, and magically rip apart the mind of a child – simply to get something that you want. You haven’t changed, the only thing that has changed is what you want.

"You said your body doesn't bear scars, but does your heart? Let the memory of what you feel here be the next scar, and bear it forever. Let it remind you of a plain and simple truth that you never knew, or had somehow forgotten in the course of your long life:

"You are not a god, Celestia. So don’t play one."

Celestia's terrified grimace remained solely locked on the colt the entire time he spoke, even as her breathing became labored. He tilted his head away from the broken alicorn, asking for Quadraplex to scan her.

"Her condition is stable for the moment; however, she does require treatment if she is to make a recovery." Quadraplex answered, eliciting a nod from Dexter. He turned away from the alicorn to reply. “She is going to pass out soon.”

"Good, prepare the recovery chamber for her. I do not wish to leave anything to chance at this point." The colt turned back to Celestia to find the alicorn still regarding him as though he were the incarnation of pure terror. "Don't look so horrified Celestia. If you were permanently mortal, you'd get used to it..." Dexter shook his head. "But fortunately for you, this state of vulnerability is only temporary."

“Hypocrite…”

“Excuse me?” Dexter scowled toward Celestia.

“Hypocrite.” She accused again. Celestia's voice was hoarse and ragged. However, she paused to take a few more labored breaths. “I was wrong a thousand years ago, but now I do what I must for the good of my subjects. Yet you… you won’t help save your fellow pony from the changelings; because you value your secrets more than your own kind.”

“I am not–,” Dexter started, but he caught himself. His scowled turned into a full-blown sneer, and for the first time he wanted to tell her the truth if not to prove her wrong. “…going to explain it anymore… you saw the danger with your own eyes.”

“I did change,” Celestia countered shakily. “I sent the elements, to do what was necessary to stop Luna… on her return.” Celestia quivered. “I wanted her back… but I sent them, knowing the elements could have killed her… if the prophecy was wrong…”

Dexter turned away from Celestia. "The substance I injected you with is a synthetic agent that disrupts magic at the molecular level. It’s a liquid form of the metal you use to create inhibitor rings for unicorns that you want to block the magic of." Dexter explained. "Originally I intended on using it as a means to prohibit changelings from altering their form.” He turned his head back toward the broken alicorn. “However, Quadraplex decided to repurpose it as a weapon against immortal alicorns, should one go crazy for a second time and try to bring about an unending night. Her theories were sound, since your immortality and ability to heal is inherently rooted in the magic..."

"The hard part was finding a way to formulate it into a compound that your body would absorb, but not permanently retain." Dexter casually continued. "You'll eventually expel it from your body harmlessly by sweating it out. If you live long enough that is. When that happens, your body's magic will reassert itself, and you'll be just as immortal as you were before."

"I... won't die?" Celestia hesitantly asked, lowering her head slightly.

"You'll live." Dexter declared. "But I cannot take all the credit for that. Quadraplex had to run non-stop simulations since I got back to discover the exact formulation that would spare you. Though, if she had her way, the non-reversible version of it would have been used on Luna already. Quadraplex threaded the needle for me, so to speak.”

"W-why?"

"Spare you?" Dexter raised an eyebrow. "Aside from the obvious moving-the-sun issue, making you permanently mortal would be the equivalent of killing you; and as a rule: I don't kill." He finished, letting his words hang. " Twilight’s alive, you idiot. I’m the good guy here, now take her away Quadraplex."

A flash of white light made Celestia disappear.

"Make sure she's comfortable, and give me an estimate on her time to recovery once you have it." Dexter let out a tired sigh. The weight of his armor seemingly doubled as he turned around to survey the battlefield scene behind him. His giant robot still lay where it had fallen.

It was quite the mess to clean up.

But it wasn't anything Dexter had not seen or done before.

"All I want is to go home..." He muttered to the empty air.

---

Luna awoke from her induced slumber. The dullness of the magic that had pulled her away from the waking world was slowly draining away. She could recognize the sensation of someone dispelling Celestia’s magic, removing the wait on her consciousness that had forced her into a dreamless, thoughtless, sleep.

At first, Luna couldn’t remember the events that led to her slumber. She instinctively tapped into her connection with the moon, trying to glean a sense of how long she had been asleep. It had only been a few hours.

Pushing her mind a little further, as the weight on her mind continued to recede, she began to remember. Luna remembered Celestia was close to her, whispering an apology to her in her ear; promising to talk with her when she awoke.

Then she remembered Dexter, standing defiantly despite offering a hoof in her direction.

With the sight of the colt fixed in her mind, the dam holding back her memories broke; instantly forcing her to recall everything.

With a sudden, almost violent burst of will and energy, Luna’s eyes shot open. She rolled off her side and onto her hooves before nearly jumping to a standing position. Her sudden movement caused the surprised purple pony standing over her to let out a startled “eep” before being flung off the lunar alicorn.

Twilight had been standing over Luna, dispelling the powerful sleeping spell Celestia had cast when Luna suddenly and violently shot upright. The suddenness of the motion, along with the healthy nudge Luna delivered to Twilight, caused Twilight to fall flat on her haunches.

“Princess! You're awake!” Twilight said, rubbing the pain from her nose where Luna had run into her. However, Luna didn’t respond. Instead the alicorn’s gaze shot around the room before she jumped to her hooves. “Princess?”

A quick scan around the room let Luna know she was in a hospital room of some kind, probably the Ponyville Clinic. The room was well lit, and the bed she had occupied was the only hospital bed in the room. Two lunar guard’s flanked the door, who seemed to watch on the scene before them with relief. They were obviously glad to see their leader back on her hooves.

“Princess, we need your help to—” Luna pushed past Twilight without a second thought, opening the door to the room with her magic. She stepped out into the hall, sweeping it for her target. Much to her disappointment, the hall was empty. That’s when the alicorn turned back to the room, finding Twilight staggering back to her hooves.

“Where is he?” Luna demanded.

“Princess we need you to—”

“WHERE IS DEXTER?”

“He got into a fight with Celestia and disappeared!” Twilight blurted back. “We haven’t seen him since.”

“Celestia is fighting him? Why would she- Celestia must cease, I will not let her bring harm upon him. Where is she?” Luna turned away, walking quickly for the door.

“But- Dexter attacked her!” Twilight answered after her, hurrying to follow. “Princess, wait! Please!” She caught up just as Luna had exited through the hospital room’s door. “We need you to lower the sun!” She asked, almost pleading. “It’s almost time for nightfall, but the sun has been locked overhead in the position of high noon for the past several hours.” Luna stopped, in place, again surprising Twilight who had to stumble to avoid running into the alicorn. Luna could sense that Twilight was right, it was just about time for the day to end and for night to begin; yet the sun was way out of position. She turned back toward Twilight.

“You are, of course, correct. Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. I shall set the sky right.” Luna frowned, looking up to see the pair of guards following from the room. “You two, who is in charge of the troops occupying Ponyville.”

Both of the guards bowed before the one with the higher rank spoke up. “That would be Captain Stout Valor, Your Majesty. However, she is currently leading the search effort to find her Highness Celestia.” The unicorn stallion in blue armor explained quickly. “She ordered us to relay a request to you. She wanted to forego lowering the sun for as long as possible, as night would make our search for her majesty Celestia more difficult.”

“Relay my apologies to the Captain. I cannot forgo lowering the sun, not after it has been fixed in the position of high noon for eight hours. I will lower the sun immediately. However, tell her she has new orders. No harm whatsoever is to befall the colt named Dexter should she or her troops find him.” Luna declared, her eyes narrowing. “If he is harmed by the guard, we shall have Captain Valor’s head. Make that clear to her, understand?”

The guards, taken aback, hesitated before saluting. Before the guards could say or do anything else, Luna turned back toward Twilight. The purple mare also seemed surprised, if not worried, by Luna’s behavior. “Twilight, you will tell us everything that has happened while we were asleep.” A wave of blue magic from Luna’s horn washed over the two, depositing them on the roof of the clinic.

From the roof they could easily see over a large swath of Ponyville. The once peaceful town was in sheer chaos as a surplus of guards moved too and frow, searching every building, alleyway and even dumpster in the entire town. Flights of pegasi stretched across the sky from horizon to horizon, forming a search pattern intent on scanning every inch of the town and beyond.

“Princess,” Twilight began as an aura of blue magic enveloped the alicorn. “Only your guards can see in the dark, can you at least lower the sun to the horizon? Otherwise the pegasi search parties will have to wait until morning before resuming their search from the sky.”

“I am afraid not, Twilight. Not after eight hours of high noon.” Luna began. Immediately the sun began to sink as the moon rose from the horizon. “While the weather may seem peaceful here, the unending sun would have generated storms elsewhere in the world. The damage suffered by others elsewhere cannot be understated should we permit the sun to stay above us any longer. This has to be done now.” The sun sank out of sight just as Luna finished.

However, the moon now shone brightly overhead, illuminating the young night with a pale glow.

“Now please explain, Twilight. What happened while I was asleep?”

“Dexter attacked Celestia.” Twilight repeated. “He just pulled out a weapon of some kind and shot her with it. At first it had no effect, but the second shot caused an explosion that blew apart the second floor of the library-” She stopped when Luna put up a hoof. “That’s when I blacked out.”

“Do not worry, Twilight. Your mentor, my sister, is immortal. I doubt Dexter has the… unique weaponry that could truly harm her.” Luna said, seemingly trying to placate Twilight’s emotions.

“But, she didn’t lower the sun.” Twilight replied, fear evident in her voice.

“My sister is strong, it would take much to truly harm her. Trust me… I know.” Luna reassured. “But please continue. I do not need a step by step account of what happened right now, just the major details.”

Twilight shook her head. “Dexter let me go after attacking Celestia. But from what Applejack told me, he created an illusion of… killing me…” Twilight shifted uncomfortably. “Apparently, he wanted to convince Celestia that he killed me, to push her into a rage. From what we gathered, he succeeded. Then she attacked.”

“What?” Luna asked almost breathlessly, turning away from the moon and back toward Twilight.

“They then disappeared in a flash of white light.” Twilight nodded. “From what I could sense, the way Celestia’s magic presence disappeared, I think it was teleportation. They were both taken somewhere, and I think it was Dexter. Over the next hour we heard the distant sounds of battle coming from the far south, somewhere very deep within the Everfree. Captain Valor sent pegasi guards. To my knowledge we haven’t heard anything back yet.”

“Then south we go,” Luna declared. “Gather your friends. I doubt we shall have need of the elements, but we should be cautious.”

---

A chilled gust brushed against Dexter’s armor before sweeping across his uncovered face, rustling his main slightly and causing the colt to shiver. He grimaced before looking across the desolate and windswept landscape that was the badlands. The sun had gone down hours ago, letting the dessert bleed its heat into the sky and drop to frigid temperatures.

Despite the discomfort, Dexter left his face uncovered intentionally. He wanted those who could see his approach to know who he was, and hopefully discern that he had no aggressive intentions. Of course, he kept access to his helmet and weapons; just in the event that hostilities did erupt despite his efforts. His armor still bore all the marks from the battle he had with Celestia only hours before, and the saddlebags he carried on his back did nothing to cover up the battle damage.

Tilting his head, Dexter eyed the distant full moon. The moon’s rise several hours ago was all he needed to deduce that Luna had finally awoken from her magically induced slumber. Yet its continuing presence felt ominous somehow, acting as an ever-present sign of an alicorn who was undoubtedly hunting him that very second.

He shook his head, disdainful of the thought that he now lived on a world where the moon was dragged across the sky by a magical talking pony. To him, it cheapened the beauty of it somehow. Rather than be a natural satellite whose motion was determined by a delicate and magnificent dance of gravity and kinetic energy set in motion billions of years ago; the moon’s position, phase, face, along with everything else about it was all determined by the whims of a lunatic who tried to kill him.

Dexter was exhausted from his fight, and the weight of that exhaustion tried his resolve. He was tempted to lie down and sleep for days in the safety of his recently relocated laboratory. However, this was something he needed to do, and the best chance to prevent a war would be for him to strike while the iron was hot.

Which is why he was now walking toward the changeling’s central hive.

If it weren’t for the information Quadraplex was displaying onto his glasses, the rocky outcropping and musty cave before him could have easily been mistaken as unremarkable.

What appeared to be the main structure to the changeling hive rose well out of the ground just over a mile north of Dexter, seemingly trying to pierce the sky with its jagged edges. The moonlight it reflected was the only thing that made it stand out from the dark, as if the ominous citadel were a predator hiding in the dark.

However, like most things made by the changelings, the structure was an illusion. It was probably a decoy, meant to distract or trap anyone who attempted to assault the changeling hive directly. The real changeling hive was here, and well concealed underground.

As Dexter approached the cave, an indicator in his glasses highlighted several rocks on the dusty path before him; revealing them to be more than the simply lifeless stones they appeared to be.

He stepped up to the closest rock before clearing his throat. The rock was easily twice his size, and featured nothing to stand out from the landscape.

“Hello,” Dexter started. “The changeling Queen sent a messenger to me, indicating that she wanted to speak to me.” Dexter shifted underneath the saddlebags, finding a more comfortable hold. “I have come to answer her request.”

A pair of dull green eyes seemingly opened on the side of the rock; locking onto Dexter. The sight almost caused Dexter to stumble backwards, as he didn’t expect a rock to sprout eyes; despite knowing the true nature of what was before him.

A green flame flashed over the rock, instantly replacing it with a changeling that quickly stood up. Flashes of green nearby revealed more sentinels watching over the cave entrance.

“Your name?” The changeling before Dexter asked. She was taller, and stronger built, than the other changelings Dexter had observed. She also bore more scars than most, yet the holes in her legs were less prominent. Dexter took it as a sign she was better fed.

“Your Queen will recognize me.” Dexter asked, motioning toward the cave.

“I didn’t ask you if the Queen would recognize you,” She took a step toward Dexter. “Your name?”

“Dexter.”

The changeling didn’t respond, staring at the colt for several unmoving moments.

“Umm-“ Dexter started, only to get shushed by the changeling.

A few more awkwardly silent moments passed with the changeling just staring at him.

“Are you going too-“

“Shh.” The guard hushed again.

Dexter raised an eyebrow, but otherwise said nothing. A whole two minutes of complete silence went by with the changeling before him doing nothing but seemingly stare at the colt.

He was about to speak up once again when the changelings surrounding him seemingly all relaxed at the same moment, before sharing glances with each other. The changeling right before Dexter even tilted her head slightly, giving away traces of suppressed confusion.

“The Queen shall see you.” The changeling frowned, her tone was almost that of a question. “Follow me. No sudden movements, do not wander off, and do not attempt to go anywhere unescorted. Do not approach the Queen to a distance within fifteen lengths, unless otherwise bidden. Do not cast magic of any kind. Any violation of these instructions and you will be killed immediately. Understand?”

“Understood.” Dexter pointed a hoof toward the cave. “After you…”

The cave network of the hive was much more intricate than Dexter would have guessed at a mere glance. There were hundreds of tunnels, corridors and chambers which extended underground for miles; and it was positively alive with countless changelings. However, Dexter would have observed none of that if it weren’t for the data Quadraplex was feeding him through his glasses. The route the changeling guard before him took him through empty and barren corridors, which were completely pitch black except for the occasional orbs of green magic. His ability to see and navigate were preserved by his glasses, which he had shifted over to a night-vision mode. After ten minutes of walking silently through unlit and barren tunnels, the pair emerged into an area where the tunnels were shaped and carved. The walls no longer bore natural earthen colors, but rather an obsidian black which dully reflected light in a way similar to the chitin of the changelings themselves.

The pair eventually came upon the threshold of a large chamber, where two changelings in blue armor flanked the entrance. They glared daggers at Dexter, seemingly eager to attack should they find even the slightest thing amiss.

The chamber itself was large, with a ceiling that stretched up several stories. However, what caught Dexter’s attention was the apparent throne in the center of the room. Atop twisted and jagged rock sat a large bowl-like structure. It was made of a type of stone Dexter had never seen before, yet it was a fitting black with green tones. The backrest of this bowl-like chair stretched upward, flaring out into points. Several more guards flanked the throne itself.

However, sitting atop the throne was the largest changeling Dexter had ever seen; and this was the first time he saw her in her native changeling form. Like the other members of her species, she was completely black with green tones, and her legs possessed holes and gouges as if they were logs half eaten by termites. However, unlike her kin, Chrysalis’s insect-like wings were whole and appeared healthy; while the horn in the middle of her head was longer, jagged, and sharper than that on the other changelings.

“To think, the last time we met I tried to learn your name, yet I was so frustratingly denied. I have to admit, after all this time, finally wrestling it from you brings… a rare satisfaction. Even if it came at the price of letting you into my home.” The changeling monarch greeted. Her welcome wasn’t one of warmth as much as a grim respect. “Dexter.”

“Consider us even then, I finally get to see what you look like without a disguise on.”

“Oh, our debts are far from balanced, Dexter. There is much to discuss in that regard.” Chrysalis stood up from her throne, taking to the air to fly over the jagged outcrop of rocks beneath the throne. She landed a number of feet away from Dexter, turning to the changeling that had escorted him. At the response to a wordless command, the changeling bowed deeply before backing away and eventually leaving. “For starters, could you have picked a less… horrendously awful hour to answer my summons? This has been the first time my underlings attempted to wake me at this time in centuries.”

Dexter raised an eyebrow before tilting his head. His instinct was to look toward the sky to guess the time, but then he remembered he was underground. “Time?” Quadraplex responded by displaying the local time on his glasses. It read as 3:40 am. “Apologies, Queen Chrysalis. I wasn’t entirely aware. Things have been moving quickly in the past twenty-four hours. I lost track of time.”

“Still have a mysterious friend?” Chrysalis pressed. “Do I get to meet her this time? This Quadraplex?”

Dexter shrugged. “She is not exactly in an amicable mood at the moment. I think my… disagreement with Celestia has her on edge.”

“I heard about that. Celestia has disappeared.” Chrysalis began to circle around Dexter, securitizing him as though he wore a disguise she was trying to see through. “I take it you won? She is finally dead?”

“Yes, I won. No, she is not dead.” Dexter confirmed with a short nod, tracking Chrysalis with his eyes as she moved. Weary of her, he wanted to warn her out of trying anything. “Though she came close, however I decided to spare her.”

“I predicted as much,” Chrysalis scoffed, suppressing a laugh. “The fool is a pushover. I easily defeated her in combat not but a year ago. Simply scorch her horn, and break her connection to her magic, then she folds like a leaf. Her nation along with her.”

“It would seem she has learned to put up more of a fight since you've fought her.” Dexter turned his head to the other side of his body to keep eyes on the changeling monarch as she passed behind him. “Or perhaps she wasn’t as emotionally involved in your fight. That brings me to a topic I would like to discuss with you. However, since you called this meeting, I suspect you have your own concerns which you want addressed first.”

“Indeed, I do…” Chrysalis’s tone shifted toward an icy cold. “I wanted to know where we stand. You have had ample opportunity to expose us, and to teach your means of detecting us to the ponies. Yet you do not. What do you intend?”

“I recognize and respect that changelings have every right to live, even if it involves feeding off of the magic and emotions of other creatures.” Dexter replied curtly. “Consider it an understanding from one predatory species to another.”

“So what then?” Chrysalis scowled. “My species' way of life is preserved by some nebulous sense of commiseration from a wayward child?”

It was Dexter's turn to frown. He didn’t take his eyes off of Chrysalis, and not just because he didn’t trust her. He knew trying to read her expressions was probably useless, but then again he had a knack of noticing things others didn’t even think of. “It doesn’t take a genius to know your species is on the brink of starvation, Chrysalis. Exposing you, or otherwise impeding your ability to feed would push your kind over the brink, resulting in your extinction. Such would be tantamount to genocide.” Dexter paused, grimacing as he recalled the darker portions of human history. For the first time he took his eyes off the Queen. “If you knew the history of… suffice it to say I won’t let myself be guilty of that.”

Chrysalis continued to frown at the colt, openly displaying her lack of confidence in that answer. “Yet you violated the terms of our deal. You built a device that could reveal us and left it where the ponies would find it! And just today, you revealed to the ponies what they did not know, that we could take on the form of objects not just ponies!”

“Both of those… were accidents.” Dexter rebutted. “There were mitigating circumstances. At the time I built the device I thought I was crazy, and from my perspective we hadn’t even made the deal yet. Besides, you managed to destroy it before they could figure out how it functioned. I also had no clue the ponies were so stupid they didn’t bother to check if your species could transform into objects.”

“Excuses!” Chrysalis hissed. “We had to rectify your failures, at the risk of my infiltrators! You also fought and injured several, leading to their capture. I expect recompense for these transgressions!”

“Recompense? You violated the terms of our agreement first.” Dexter bite back, pointing a hoof at the queen. “Or have you forgotten? I agreed to keep the secrets of your detection so long as you and your changelings behaved!”

“And we have!”

“What part of attacking Canterlot could be considered ‘behaving?’” Dexter challenged, causing the Queen to fall silent. “It would seem that you have abrogated our agreement first. Now I have just as much reason as you to regard our agreement as abeyant, and we could choose to abandon it; or we could put these mistakes behind us and reestablish it.”

Chrysalis continued to scowl at Dexter, a feature which the guards around the room shared. Clearly on edge, they were ready to attack Dexter the instant their queen commanded.

However, Dexter already knew the answer the Queen would provide. It was the only answer that truly served their interests.

“Our invasion wasn’t by choice. We were forced to attack Canterlot.” Chrysalis finally continued.

“Oh really?” Dexter offered, openly feigning surprise.

“That business with Cadence and Shining Armor was merely a ruse. The princesses had unknowingly found a way to detect us.” Chrysalis finally admitted. “Princess Luna’s ability to access a pony’s dreams while they slept offered her a way to detect changelings by directly reading their memories from their dreams, especially if they dreamed of the hive or our native forms. My agreement with you would have done us little good if the ponies could discover all of us overnight.”

“And how does invading Canterlot solve that problem?”

“If we could have captured and podded Princess Luna, or found a way to block her dream magic by severing her connection to the dreamscape; it would have solved the problem entirely. Unfortunately, she wasn’t there. So we enacted our contingency plans and retreated by feigning defeat.”

“Wow, that’s some story.” Dexter nodded in feigned realization. “Now do you mind telling me the truth?” He asked without changing his tone.

The nature of Dexter’s mocking wasn’t lost on Chrysalis. “Remember where you are, insolent child.” She sneered. “You’re in my hive, my home. I will not be disrespected so blithely here.”

“Okay...” Dexter dropped the cheeky tone. “I was under the impression that your changeling infiltrators were trained to self-hypnotize their subconscious each night before they went to sleep. By self-hypnotizing their own subconscious, they could effectively program their dreams to correspond to the persona of their real-life disguises, while also preventing nightmares completely.

“A genius solution, really, because it plays into a changeling’s strengths as proficient practitioners of hypnosis; helps hide your identities from Luna while dreaming; and also prevents the sleep-related troubles that would invite Luna’s attention and scrutiny in the first place.”

Dexter looked back up at Queen Chrysalis with a smile, only to find her staring back at him with an expression that slowly morphed from contempt to dumbfounded surprise. “Of course, if that were true, then invading Canterlot to capture Princess Luna wouldn’t make any sense for the reason you claimed.”

Chrysalis slowly opened her mouth before slowly speaking. “How in the…” Chrysalis cursed. “do you know all that?”

“You said I should remember where I am. Allow me to reciprocate the advice. You should remember who you’re dealing with.”

“I don’t! And that’s part of the problem!” Chrysalis stomped in frustration before making a sweeping gesture with her hoof. “I have no idea what you are!”

“Respectfully, your majesty, does it matter at this point?” Dexter gave a tired sigh. “Do names you won’t recognize, and information about a species you will never encounter, matter? Especially when your only source of that information is a person whose word you won’t trust on the topic to begin with?”

“I suppose not.” She growled. “Very well; the real reason we invaded Canterlot was to secure Princess Luna. It was no coincidence that we revealed our existence to the world within a few short years of her return, despite having been content to live in the shadows for all of recorded history. We had to probe Luna’s mind for remnants of Nightmare Moon, to make sure she had no chances of relapsing. I impersonated Cadence to get access to Canterlot and ultimately Luna, and once Luna was hypnotized we were able to test her for any traces of Nightmare Moon; while the rest of Canterlot was none the wiser. Unfortunately, despite the smooth start to the operation, it didn’t stay that way. I had to continue the operation at all costs, as testing Luna took days. That business with Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor was only a ruse to coverup everything else.

“Nightmare Moon was a threat to all life on this world, and if she were able to spread and manifest in ponykind, we would have starved anyway. Which is why the entire endeavor was worth exposing our existence to the world.” She turned back to Dexter. “Satisfied?”

“I recognize the threat that Luna’s psychosis represents.” Dexter nodded. “With that said, I am willing to acknowledge that your attack on Canterlot may have been warranted if your goal was to ensure the planet’s safety from Nightmare Moon. As such, you didn’t abrogate the underlying principle of our agreement.”

“So, you’re willing to recommit to our agreement?” Chrysalis asked, betraying a hint of hope in her voice.

“Of course,” Dexter replied, nodding again. “However at this point,” he sat on his haunches before turning to reach into his saddlebags. “I have a few more questions. Certain matters need resolving.”

Immediately the guards in the room surrounded the colt, getting between him and their Queen.

“I mean no harm,” Dexter raised a steady hoof. It wasn’t enough to placate the guards, however they received a nod from Chrysalis before backing off. “It’s not a weapon.” Eventually he managed to pull a case out of one of his saddlebags.

“I have been looking into your food problem, in an attempt to find a permanent solution. However, I discovered something rather confusing.” Dexter began. “When you were in Canterlot, you were feeding off of Shining Armor’s love, correct?”

Chrysalis gave a curt nod. “His love was as delicious, despite the captain being an absolute fool.”

“How is it that the love of a single unicorn, albeit a powerful magic user, provided you with enough power to defeat Celestia readily; yet your species is still starving?” Dexter asked, pointing out to what he clearly thought of as an inconsistency. “From one individual you had enough to take down Celestia, but not to feed yourself? Was his ‘love’ better than anyone else’s? Why couldn’t you find any other love-sick pony and derive the same levels of power from them?”

“What are you getting at?” Chrysalis asked impatiently. Dexter noticed she didn’t answer any of the questions.

“There is an entire continent filled with ponies out there.” Dexter pointed to the cave behind him. “If the love of one stallion was enough to empower you to defeat Celestia, and another was enough to help you stand up to Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago, then the millions of swooning ponies out there should be an ample supply of food, you should not be starving. I decided to investigate why, and after examining your species’ DNA, I made a rather startling discovery regarding the changeling metabolism and—”

The hostility in Chrysalis’s glare returned with a fury. Before Dexter could continue with his lecture, the Queen turned to the other changelings in the chamber. They cringed before the Queen even spoke, as though some unspoken connection allowed them to sense the coming fury of their monarch. “Out, all of you.” She hissed, loud enough it caused Dexter’s ears to fold instinctively. “NOW!”

“My Queen, we cannot leave you unguarded with the interloper, he may—“

“NOW, OR I’LL SKIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!”

That caused the changeling guards to flee from the room as though it were on fire, leaving Dexter behind with a fuming changeling Queen.

Dexter, who was now standing frozen in place, slowly took a step away from the Queen. “I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?”

“What, exactly, did you… discover?” Chrysalis demanded through clenched teeth. Despite the question, Dexter had a feeling that she already knew where he was going.

“I discovered that… the average changeling body seems to be locked into using a highly inefficient set of metabolic pathways. That is to say, your bodies seem to be locked into a state where they waste a large majority of the energy you consume, even if you’re starving. This allows a changeling to utilize only a tiny amount of the energy he or she absorbs.” Dexter explained slowly. “Less than one percent in some extreme cases.”

Chrysalis continued to glare at Dexter, neither confirming nor denying his analysis.

“It explains why your changelings are stuck in a starvation state, despite having an ample supply of food.” Dexter went on. “Upon further inspection, I discovered that the changeling body has another metabolic pathway which is entirely more efficient. So efficient in fact, it would allow most changelings to survive off of ambient magic caused by general emotions, without the need for direct feeding off of ponies. Its seems that shifting to this alternative metabolic pathway should be part of a natural metamorphosis for your species and—”

Dexter was cut off as Chrysalis hissed again, sounding like a horse sized viper threatening a hated foe. It was loud enough to partially deafen him, genuinely startling the colt into taking a step back.

“You. Will. Never. Tell. Anyling. Ever.” Chrysalis seethed, barring her fangs. “Especially my changelings. Or I promise, I’ll find a way to kill you.”

Dexter couldn’t help but take a step back. The queen could be quite terrifying in her appearance when she wanted to be. It took him a few moments to recompose himself; which was just in time to see an alert pop up on his glasses. “Stand down, Quadraplex.” He looked up to the Queen. “There is no need for threats. Believe it or not, I am trying to help; and I would think a changeling of all creatures would welcome change, especially since it would stop your kind from your perpetual state of hunger?”

“I know of the metamorphosis you’ve discovered, and it’s not what you think.” Chrysalis hissed. “I suppressed knowledge of it within the hive intentionally, at the cost of changeling lives. One of the key factors in stopping that metamorphosis from taking places is for my changelings to not know about it.”

“What, Why?” Dexter frowned, his scientific curiosity now piqued. “You can’t enjoy starving. Why would you want to stop it?”

Chrysalis turned away from Dexter, pacing about the chamber several times before. Dexter decided to wait, hoping the Queen would give him an answer; if just for his own curiosity about the changeling species.

Internally, the changeling Queen was debating what she wanted the colt to know. However, she quickly decided that Dexter would find out the truth of the matter on his own eventually. It would be better for her goals if she made her will on the subject clear to the colt, to prevent him from accidentally spreading knowledge about what he discovered.

Chrysalis turned to the colt, seemingly having made up her mind. “The metamorphosis is the start to the final stage of a changeling’s life cycle. The beginning of the end, so to speak.”

“You don’t want your drones to reach the final stage of adulthood?” Dexter tilted his head.

“Not adulthood; the last stage of a changeling’s life. It’s the end point of our life cycle.” Chrysalis hissed. “It is when a changeling begins to truly age.” She shook her head. “Tell me, do you know how sophisticated our shapeshifting abilities are?”

“Yes, actually.” Dexter adjusted his glasses. “I consider your species one of the greater scientific curiosities I’ve encountered in my time here. You seem to be able to manipulate your form down to the cellular level, at will. Sometimes down to the chemical level, given your ability to emulate a target's scent.”

“For a race with such mastery over our bodies, how exactly do you think we age? How do we grow old? Why not always transform into a more youthful version of ourselves whenever we start getting old?”

Dexter grimaced in thought. The idea of how a changeling aged had not occurred to him, he was too busy studying their abilities and the topic had gone completely unnoticed. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know something? That’s a first.” Chrysalis scoffed, though after a moment she raised an eyebrow. Chrysalis sensed a chance to test the colt’s intellect. “Take a guess.”

Dexter raised an eyebrow. “Well for most creatures there is a definite difference between the young and the elderly in terms of metabolic activity, cellular efficiency, and rates of energy consumption. If I applied that to a changeling, I suspect the aging process would have to include a diminished ability to shapeshift; eventually preventing them from simply repairing the damage of old age by morphing into a younger version of themselves.” Dexter frowned, further contemplating what he had gleaned of changeling physiology.

“So far, you’ve guessed right.” Chrysalis tilted her head, squinting at the colt. “You know, you’re so intelligent it’s dangerous.”

“I reluctantly have to agree.”

“But you’re correct. One of the biggest signs that a changeling has begun to age is a change in the color of their carapace. However, that isn’t all of the changes they would experience” Chrysalis hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with an outsider knowing these details about her species. “Ultimately the specifics aren’t important. The point is that once a changeling undergoes the metamorphosis, they begin to truly age. Normally, they won’t notice it for a few decades; but ultimately, they become unable to shapeshift with the efficiency required for them to rejuvenate themselves. They’ll be unable to repair the damage to their bodies caused by aging; they won’t be able to maintain a youthful form. Their fate is sealed, they will die from old age; just like you ponies.”

Dexter studied the changeling Queen for a moment, trying to detect the faintest hint of a lie. Truth be told, he had not studied changeling aging enough to know if she was telling the truth at this point; however he had no reason to deny her claims. There was a certain logic behind her words, changelings had to age somehow after all.

“So live in misery and starvation forever, or have a full belly but die slowly of old age?” Dexter summarized. “I’m not sure you’ve made the right choice on that front, an eternity of torment by hunger?”

“Or what? Death? I make no apologies. Your princess Celestia would pay the same price if it meant keeping those around her alive and youthful.” Chrysalis snapped.

Dexter stared at her for several more moments, continuing to scrutinize the oversized bug. “Celestia is not my princess.” Dexter reminded her. “I do not have enough information to verify your claims…” Dexter started. “But you can be sure that I will certainly investigate. If what you say is true, I may have another solution. One that allows you to keep your youth and not starve.”

“I would prefer if you kept out of matters of my species.” She snorted.

“Sorry, your majesty.” Dexter chided. “You presented me with a scientific curiosity about changeling physiology. Now I cannot turn away even if I wanted to. But for the sake of my curiosity, how long have you been preventing your subjects from undergoing this ‘metamorphosis’. How long can a changeling live like this?”

“Thousands of years, longer than Celestia’s and Luna’s reign. None of my brood are older than that, so I don’t know how long I can keep this up. I’ll let you know when I find out.” Chrysalis shook her head. “Though, consider the guard that escorted you in here. I never told the hive guard to expect you; I didn’t think you’d show up on my doorstep. The only reason they didn’t attack you on sight was because the guard you spoke to recognized you.”

“Wait…” Dexter hesitated for a moment, however his eyes eventually lit up in surprise. “No way, really?”

Chrysalis nodded. “From a thousand years ago, he was with me when you and I hatched our plan to confront Nightmare Moon.” She grinned. “He was one of the first brood, hatched after the fall of old equestrian and the last hive-kingdom. He is neither royalty nor special, and yet he hasn’t aged a day.” She huffed, still smirking. “Beware, if you cause the metamorphosis in any of my changelings, it will be the equivalent of killing them.” Chrysalis warned, the unspoken promise of retaliation hung behind her words unhidden.

“I see…” Dexter looked at the case he was carrying, before pushing it toward the queen. “Mind destroying that for me? It contains an enzymatic compound that would induce this ‘metamorphosis.’ I don’t think I want to give it to you anymore.”

Instantly the changeling queen seized the metallic case in a green aura, as if her restraint had suddenly snapped. Dexter watched as it seemingly imploded, acting as though it were inside an invisible trash compactor. It then burst into green flames, melting to slag in midair before eventually disappearing in a flash of green light.

“As for our agreement. I am willing to renew it.” Dexter declared, causing the queen to nod again. “I will not provide anyone with the means to detect or capture you, nor will I aid anyone toward that goal. In exchange, you will continue to behave yourselves.”

“Within certain reasonable bounds.” Chrysalis added knowingly. “I reserve the right to act in ways that preserve my hive and our way of life.”

“Such is your right.” Dexter accepted.

“But I wish for you to know one more thing,” Chrysalis added with a tone of warning. “The last time the changeling species nearly died out, the world fell into disaster. It was our absence along with the rise of the wendigo which nearly caused the ice age of the last age, which your ponies remember in their hearts warming eve story. Consider that, if you’re ever tempted to side with the ponies.”

Dexter eyed Chrysalis for another moment. “Mind if I let myself out?”

She nodded, and in a flash of light he was gone.

---

“Princess Luna is there,” A unicorn in blue armor pointed his hoof toward the diarch in question, directing Twilight’s gaze in Luna’s direction. “Though, I don’t think you should disturb her now. She is focused on coordinating the search, and anything distracting her from that might not be welcomed.”

“She sent for us,” Twilight answered, nodding. She too wanted to be searching. “About an hour ago. She may have found a way for us to help.” She tilted her head toward the five friends behind her. “Girls, are you all set?”

Her friends, the Elements of Harmony, responded with a chorus of affirmations. Despite the hour, they were all alert.

The group approached the princess, who was standing outside a tent that was hastily setup next to one of the many craters in the surrounding field. Four guards stood around her in a small perimeter facing outwards. A fifth guard was before the princess, pointing at a map on a table between the two of them. Twilight and her friends stopped just inside earshot of the pair.

"I refuse to believe that the solar guard is this incompetent, Captain." Luna snapped at an underling in golden armor with red trim. "You're telling me that, in all this" She motioned to the devastation around them. "That the only thing you've found after searching the area for two hours is bits of metal slag, and a few pieces of my sister’s regalia? Yet not a clue as to where Celestia or Dexter may have gone?" She motioned toward a large chunk of warped and scorched metal, beside it were a few golden bits that were clearly parts of Celestia’s tiara.

It did not take long for the guard to find the charred battlefield from Celestia and Dexter’s fight. Small guttering fires still littered the devastated forest. Several of the flames were reduced to smolders, but a few were still bright enough to stand out in the night, allowing a flight up pegasi to spot them from a distance.

However, it wasn’t until Luna flew directly over the battlefield that she understood the shocking amount of collateral damage. Almost in a daze of disbelief, she landed on the charred earth; scanning the devastation with her eyes. Despite the darkness of the night, she could see with ease.

The guard had arrived shortly before her, a number of pegasi pulling carts carrying their non-flying peers. They immediately began searching the area for any sign of princess Celestia.

Luna knew they wouldn’t find her here. She would have sensed Celestia’s magic upon her arrival. But for good measure, she let them search. Luna had also cast a search spell with Celestia as its target. Even though it covered several miles in every direction, the spell did not find the older alicorn.

However, Luna didn’t share that with the guards. She wanted them to search anyway, hoping that they could discover a clue that would lead them to either Celestia or Dexter.

"Your majesty, if there is something out here to find, we will find it." The guard replied resolutely. Unfortunately for them, they found little more than shattered earth, charred forest, and metal shrapnel from the various missiles and devices that had exploded during Celestia and Dexter's duel. “But, finding Celestia’s regalia helps us confirm that she was here at one point.”

“Obviously she was here, Captain. Her residual magic is everywhere; and who else could have wrought this devastation upon this forest? We don’t need confirmation that she was here, we need to know where she might have gone.” Luna drew a breath in frustration. She was ready to continue the berating when she noticed the presence of Twilight and her five friends. “That will be all, Captain.” She abruptly dismissed, much to the captain’s relief. “I want another update on the search within the hour. Inform me immediately if you find anything significant.” The officer saluted before leaving.

Luna turned toward the group of six friends. “Good evening girls, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie.” She greeted each by name, locking eyes with each one when she said their names. "I wanted to thank you girls for your willingness to lend a hoof in the search, but I believe there is little you could do to add to the search that the guard isn’t already performing." Luna began. "Furthermore, the wilderness here is dangerous. I do not wish to put you six in jeopardy."

"There must be something we can do to help, Princess." The first to speak was Rarity, as she rose from a bow. "Princess Celestia is our friend too. I think I speak for everypony when I say we want to stay and help."

Luna nodded. "I appreciate your dedication; however, I summoned you here for another reason. I have questions about what has happened, and I need you six to answer them." Luna glanced between Twilight and the elements, before landing on Applejack. “I need you all to tell me everything you have learned about Dexter in your time with him.” Luna glanced back at Applejack. “And when you learned it.”

Applejack frowned, breaking eye contact with the princess.

“Well, everything I knew was written in the reports I sent to Princess Celestia.” Twilight began, taking a moment to reflect. “I can’t think of anything else of note at the moment.”

“I know, I was able to read it. I wish we listened to your suspicions sooner.” Luna didn’t take her eyes off the farmpony. “Though I doubt anypony could have predicted what Dexter was capable of; even so, I am grateful you didn’t hold anything back from us. You should be commended for being so reliable and honest, Twilight.”

“Thank you? Your highness,” Twilight replied befuddled, tilting her head. Luna didn’t offer a reply to Twilight’s confusion, despite the unicorn not catching onto the barely hidden meaning behind Luna’s choice of words. However, it was not lost on Applejack, causing the orange-yellow earth pony to deepen her frown.

There was a long silence between the princess and the elements; Luna was silent, even after Applejack raised her eyes to lock eyes with Luna.

However, after a few more moments Twilight’s eyes lit up with realization. She stepped toward Applejack. “Applejack, Dexter said… that you are released from your promise; that you can tell us everything.” She fought back a frown of disappointment, hoping there was a good explanation for what felt like a betrayal. With Celestia missing, Twilight felt no shortage of anxiety; and the temptation to be furious with Applejack wasn’t easily pushed aside.

“Ah learned late last night, or real early this morn’n, that you were right about Dex, Twi.” Applejack admitted, looking to Twilight.

“Right about what?” Luna asked sharply.

“For jus’ about everything.” Applejack answered, turning back to Luna.

“You knew for a whole day?” It was Rainbow Dash’s turn to interrupt. The pegasus flew to hover above Applejack. “And you didn’t say anything? What the hay, Applejack?! Why?!”

“’Cause Ah made a promise!” Applejack countered, scowling up at the hovering mare before shaking her head and turning back to Twilight. “An’ ta be honest, a part of me agreed with em’ and his reasons fer want ta-”

“I know Twilight told you what was happening,” Luna finally interrupted again. “You knew what the stakes were. What did he offer you, to purchase such an oath of silence? One which required you to turn your back on your friends, your princesses, and your country? What was the price of your honesty?”

“Ah never lied!” Applejack snapped back.

“A lie of omission is still a lie.” Luna countered. “So I ask you again, how were you bought? What did he offer, such that the pony who bore the element of honesty would swear an oath to lie to her friends?” Luna demanded. Truthfully, she wasn’t exactly interested in Applejack’s motives for keeping Dexter’s secrets. However, Luna hoped that impugning Applejack’s character would motivate the farm-pony to be more forthcoming.

Given that Luna had at once bore the Element of Honesty, she knew very well that such a tact could easily work.

“It wasn’t a lie!” Applejack seethed. “An’ if you knew tha circumstances you’d understand that!”

“Then explain, Applejack.” Twilight stepped forward, raising her voice enough to stop any of the others from interjecting. “From the beginning, and tell us everything.”

“Fine,” Applejack agreed. “At first when Dexter came under ma care, Ah’ knew he was keeping something a secret.” Applejack began to explain through her lingering scowl. “However, at first Ah’ thought I should wait ta gain his trust. I wanted ta make him my friend, like Ah do with everypony; thinking he would open up ta me eventually.” Applejack’s gaze drifted as she went over her memories. “We even argued about it once or twice, but Ah didn’t force the issue ‘cause Ah didn’t think… Ah didn’t think you were right, Twilight. The idea that Dexter, an eight year old foal, could built some fancy changeling-detecting device in a single night at the hospital was… outlandish.”

“You know,” Twilight started, after feeling something in the back of her mind snap. Her mounting anxiety and anger threatened to boil over. “I’m supposed to be your friend, it would be nice if you didn’t doubt me on everything.”

“Ah don’t doubt everything you say, Twilight, I jus-“

“Just the things that matter.”

“Twilight.” Luna interrupted, silencing the unicorn with a glance before turning back to Applejack. “Continue.” She instructed.

Applejack hung her head before continuing. “I only did what I thought was right.” She shook her head. “When Ah’ found out about Dex’s broken ribs, that somepony had kicked him, I finally made it my business ta get an answer out of him.” Applejack paused, looking toward Luna. “He told me that you, Princess, or maybe Nightmare Moon, had tried to kill him.” The alicorn’s gaze finally waivered, softening. Though she motioned for Applejack to continue. “Ah’ knew he was telling the truth. I was so confused, I didn’t know what was going on. Then he promised to tell me the truth, about everything; but only if Ah’ didn’t do anythin ta reveal his secret.

“Ah’ knew he was manipulating me, but Ah’ had to know. Ah’ had ta know if somepony was trying to kill him.” Applejack explained. “Or if you had... turned back inta–”

“I understand, Applejack.” Luna said, the harshness in her tone was now long gone. “You’re not to blame. He manipulated us all.”

“Why would you believe him over us?” Twilight replied, still confused but now dismayed. “Why would you even think that the Princess could do such a thing?” Twilight motioned toward Luna. “She would never do something so horrible, despite how terribly Dexter had treated her.” Twilight shook her head. “Applejack, you know he is a liar!”

“You do not understand, Twilight.” Luna replied before Applejack could. “Applejack was right to believe Dexter because she knew he was telling the truth.” Luna nodded toward Applejack. “As the bearer of the element of honesty, she can tell when those close to her, such as her friends, are lying. It’s not an ability meant to pry the truth out of others, nor to uncover their lies, but meant for the element bearer to know when she has earned the trust of those to be her friends, through the fact they’ve stopped lying to her.”

Twilight tilted her head, both surprised and curious. How long had her friend been able to tell to deduce the honesty of her and her friends on a whim? How accurate was this sense?

“Trust is the basis of every friendship.” Luna smiled slightly, remembering the part of her life when she wielded the elements. “And while your element of magic may be the rarest and most difficult to find; the element of honesty, the source of trust which all friendship is built upon, is the most important. All the other elements follow from it.

“Hence, Applejack is not to blame. She knew Dexter was telling the truth, but she didn’t know he wasn’t telling the whole of it.” Luna turned back to Applejack. “Of course, he omitted the fact that my attempt on his life occurred a thousand years ago. In the face of such knowledge, without the critical context, your confusion and alarm were justified. Dexter has proven yet again how manipulative he can be.” Luna nodded. “Please continue, Applejack”

“An’ once Ah promised him, he told me everything.” Applejack continued. “Princess,” The farm-pony shook her head in equal parts dismay and exhaustion. “He has a ‘secret laboratory’ filled with Ah’ don’t know what.

“He told me you were right, Twilight.” Applejack shifted back to the unicorn. “About everything. Dexter knows a way to detect changelings. It was him who fought the changelings at the bakery last week, an’ it was him who tipped off the guards to save Cheerilee.”

“How?” Twilight asked.

“He didn’t explain that far. But he knows a lot more than just how to find changelings…” Applejack shivered, remembering what Dexter had claimed that his lab contained. Her shift in tone caused Twilight to tilt her head. “I don’t know Twilight. Ah’m afraid ta say. Ah’ think… fer everything that’s happened, it might be best just ta get Celestia back and then… leave Dexter alone? At least fer now…”

Twilight had rarely ever seen Applejack spooked, and normally the farm pony didn’t spook easily.

“Do you know where this laboratory is?” Luna pressed, paying no heed to Applejack’s mood.

“Ah… have an idea. Yeah.” Applejack paused, shivering for a moment as she remembered Dexter’s rant about how dangerous his lab could be in the wrong hands. “But, Ah’ really think we shouldn’t go lookin’ for it. Ah’ll admit, a part of me agrees with him that his secret lab should… well, remain secret. From what he told me, it’s dangerous, for everypony.”

Luna raised an eyebrow, however it was Twilight who spoke up first. “Applejack, Princess Celestia could be there! And who knows, maybe Dexter is hurt. We need to find them both, right now!”

“You don’t get it Twilight…” Applejack hesitated. “If you knew-“

“What she knows doesn’t matter,” Luna cut in. “The decision isn’t hers to make. It’s mine. Right now, one of the only two ponies in the world responsible for raising and lowering the sun each day is now missing. My sister’s recovery is paramount, for the safety and security of all who rely upon the sun. If there is a chance we may be able to find her there, then there is no other choice. Now tell us where this ‘secret laboratory’ is.”

Applejack gave a reluctant nod. “Ah don’t know exactly, Ah now it’s underground. But Dexter said it was within a ‘stone’s throw’ from my back yard.” Applejack answered. “So, it’s somewhere underneath the farm.”

Luna turned away, summoning one of the nearby guards before turning back to the elements. “Thank you Applejack, you and Twilight are to come with me. We will start a search of your orchard immediately. The rest of you, I ask that you return to your homes.” Luna ordered the summoned guards to escort the element bearers, minus Twilight and Applejack, back to their homes for the evening.

Applejack and Twilight waited silently as Luna summoned a number of officers, and began briefing them on their new mission of searching the orchard. “Ah’m sorry, Twi.” Applejack finally broke the silence between them, speaking quietly.

“Let’s focus on finding the princess, Applejack.” Twilight hesitated before frowning, adopting the same low tone. “I’m really worried about the princess. We can sort everything else out later.”

“Princess Luna seemed confident in Celestia though, how bad can it be?”

Twilight frowned, biting her lip. “Celestia’s residual magic is everywhere.” Twilight shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything like this, it’s almost as if this entire part of the forest is on fire with her magic. I know Princess Luna is confident in Celestia’s but… I just have a really bad feeling about it.”

“Have you tried to send her a letter by Spike’s dragon fire?” Applejack offered.

"It was the first thing I tried; and I have kept trying it every hour. The parchment merely reappears in front of Spike; something is blocking the magic. Princess Luna is also using her magic to continuously try to message Celestia as well, and she's patrolling the dreamscape should either of them have fallen asleep." Twilight motioned to the dark alicorn who stood several feet away. Luna's horn was glowing a soft blue, however her eyes were glowing as well.

"Should have guessed you already tried that..." Applejack shrugged, kicking at some of the charred dirt in the ground beneath her.

Applejack sat in thought for a few moments, concentrating on everything she knew about Dexter. She knew he was a good pony at heart, but her assurances would do little to comfort her friend. On top of that, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she was forgetting something. However, after a few more moments of pondering, Applejack’s eyes lit up.

"Dex gave me a gadget ta talk to him!" Applejack started.

“Wait, What?” Twilight turned. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?!”

“Just remembered, Ah-“

“Where is it? Do you have it?” Twilight pressed.

“Yeah, it’s in mah’ ear an-“ Applejack reached up with a hoof, however her attempts to retrieve the earpiece was interrupted when Twilight’s magic grasped Applejack’s head and turned it to the side. After a moment, her magic had extracted the ear piece.

The small white disc that made up the earpiece appeared to be unremarkable at first glance, appearing as if it were little more than a miniaturized featureless plate with a gray metallic vent on the inward side. However, with the most minimal diagnostic spell Twilight had started to analyze it, she could sense a lot more to the device underneath it’s surface.

“How would you contact him with this?” Twilight looked up to Applejack.

“He said ta put it in my ear and press it, then he’d be able to hear me and Ah’d be able to hear him.” Applejack rubbed her ear.

“What is this, have you found something?” Luna interjected, turning away from the guards she was briefing and approaching the two mares. Applejack repeated what she had told Twilight as Luna took the earpiece in her own magic, looking over it. “Interesting,” Luna held the ear-piece toward Applejack, levitating it toward her. “Contact him.”

"Let’s see if…" Applejack returned the ear-piece to her ear before pressing it with her hoof. It responded with a chime only she could hear.

"Hey uhh, this thing working? Ah don’t know if it- Oh!” Applejack paused, still holding her ear. “Yeah, Ah want to talk to Dex."

Luna shot a glance toward Twilight, wordlessly issuing a command. Twilight immediately picked up on the princesses wishes. She lit up her horn to engulf Applejack in a purple glow. It was a tracing spell meant to sense and follow any magic coming off of Applejack.

"Whadda ya mean he's 'unavailable?’" Applejack frowned. "Busy!?" She scoffed in disbelief.

"There ain't nothing in this world that makes him too busy to talk ta-"

"Did ya even ask him?"

"Dex said, I'd be able to talk to him using this thing. Yer not gonna make him out as a liar are ya?"

"His... failings with honesty aside, he said he would an- Dex! Where are you? Are you okay?"

Luna and Twilight shared a glance. Twilight sensed nothing with her spell, silently shaking her head toward Luna.

"Ah want tah see you, right now, Dex. Ah need to know yer alright..."

…

"No, face ta face!”

…

“That ain’t true, I ain’t asking just so the princesses can catch you. Ah'm worried about ya." Applejack glanced at the other two mares. "We all are."

…

"Speak'n of Celestia, where is she?" Applejack shifted. "The guard are going crazy look'n fer her an’…"

…

After a moment Applejack looked up toward Twilight, than toward Luna. “Dex says Celestia is okay an-“ She paused, eyes darting toward her side. “Er, he says ‘mostly okay… YOU WHAT?!’”

That got Luna and Twilight to share a glance.

…

“Yeah, Ah’m here with Twilight and Princess Luna.” Applejack continued. "I want to talk to ya. Face. To. Face. NOW."

…

“Ah ain’t taking no fer an answer, Dex, Ah-“ She frowned, listening to a longer reply from Dexter. “There isn’t anything Ah can say ta get ya to come around?”

…

“Yer in your lab? And where is that?” Applejack looks up to Luna. “An’ Celestia is with you?”

…

“Ah’m on my way there now, you stay put.”

…

“No, Dex. Jus-“ Applejack cuts off abruptly, sighing before hanging her head and letting her hoof down from her ear. The device in her ear went silent. However, she couldn’t help but to feel relieved at the fact that Dexter and Celestia were apparently okay. "He's fine, an’ he says Celestia is fine too." She turned to princess Luna. "Though he claims the guard won't find anything useful out here."

"Where are they?" Luna’s eyes were locked on Applejack.

"They’re in his lab, both him and Princess Celestia.” Applejack shook her head. “He says he took the Princess ta heal her. He also said there is a way into his lab through my basement, an’ explained to me how to find it. Ah can show you.”

"Heal the Princess?" Twilight asked, worried. "Is she hurt?"

"I don't know, he claimed he defeated her."

"Unlikely. My sister is immortal." Luna looked into the distance, toward Ponyville. "I doubt she truly needs tending, it’s probably a ploy to keep his attention without resorting to violence. Finding my sister is still paramount, but capturing Dexter remains a top priority. We leave immediately.”

---

“Dexter, be advised: Princess Luna, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and five dozen guards of both branches have teleported onto the orchard.” Quadraplex’s voice announced through an earpiece in Dexter’s left ear.

“Huh,” Dexter looked up toward the ceiling of his lab, as if he could spot the ponies who were deposited on Applejack’s lawn by a blue flash of magic corresponding to Luna’s aura. “Faster than I expected.”

Dexter was standing atop a large device, the size of a small structure. It was actually a chamber currently housing Equestria’s older princess. Dexter dropped from the top of the chamber, the four-meter fall onto the metal floor was absorbed by the powered suit of armor he was still wearing. His helmet was missing.

“Given your instructions to Applejack, I predict they will find and access this facility in approximately five to seven minutes.” Quadraplex declared.

“Celestia’s status? She’s still asleep, correct?.” Dexter approached a panel on the side of the chamber before pulling it open. Inside there was a canister with a small glass window, containing what appeared to be a metallic liquid.

“Scan’s indicate she has been fully healed. After approximately forty percent of the nullification compound was removed from her system, the magical portions of her physiology took over and she began to heal rapidly” Quadraplex answered. “She is simply asleep. Brain activity indicates low probability that Luna has interacted with her dreams, however that is likely a result of the dreamless sleep induced by the anesthesia I administered upon her arrival.”

“How much of the nullification compound has been extracted?”

“99.99% of the compound has been retrieved, and scans indicate no presence of the linked radioactive isotope present within her body. It is safe to assume the unaccounted-for remainder was expelled from her system through blood loss during the battle.”

“Excellent.” Dexter reached into the chamber where he had removed the panel, pulling the canister from the tubes it was attached to. “I don’t want the ponies to get their hands on the nullification compound, lest the alicorn sisters try to kill each other with it one day.” He eye’d the metallic liquid in the canister before magnetically fastened to his side via his armor. He then unfastened his helmet from his chest and slid it onto his head. “Have we forgotten anything?” Dexter asked, looking around the massive room. It was completely empty save for a number of devices collected in a small pile beside the chamber.

“All devices, tools, and assets have been accounted for. The only remaining technology is with you.”

Dexter glanced up toward the ceiling, then down the row of LED lights which stretched on for over half a kilometer. He knew they were now being powered by what amounted to a large battery, one which would only burn itself out in twenty-four hours and become useless.

The colt closed his eyes, shaking his head before frowning. A quick mental check on his own let him know everything from his lab had been successfully moved, save the few devices with him now. Yet, he could not shake the feeling he was leaving something behind; something important.

A knot of hopelessness had formed in his chest. Whatever he was leaving behind, he knew would never be replaced.

“Applejack has accessed the basement entry point. Thirty seconds.” He wanted to stay and explain to Applejack, to apologize, or at the very least say goodbye. “Ten seconds.”

Abhorrent ponies. Stupid mindless animals all!

Dexter shook away his thoughts, fighting to keep his voice level. “Quadraplex, initiate.” He commanded. The devices around him disappeared in white flashes before he too vanished from the shell that was once his secret laboratory.

Post-Chapter A/N:
Hi everyone, so what did you think? Leave a comment below, I really like seeing what you guys pick up on. (Of course, I’ve hidden stuff again in these chapters and I would love to see what gets picked up on.)
Also, anyone remember the strawpoll I posted 5 years ago? Here are the results:

Winner: Option A with 47% - Dexter gets caught and his secrets revealed, but he manages to escape! - You just read how that happened!
Option B with 36% - Dexter gets caught and does NOT get away. Imagine how differently the fight would have gone if this option won out?
Option C with 17% - Dexter doesn’t get caught, and his secrets remain hidden. This was the interesting option, which involved Dexter paying Celestia a visit after introducing another one of his inventions from his own show.
If you all want it, I can give a synopsis of what would have happened for those two losing options had they played out. But I would put it in a blog post. Though, if you want, check my profile for a link to a discord just for this story; its fun to chat with you all!
Thanks again guys for being such an encouraging group of readers. I’ll try to get on writing the next chapter for another update, hopefully I can get it done soon.

Dexter's Lab: Equestria

by RenegadeAlias

The Horror...

Science Happened, My Dear Equine.

I Need A Laboratory

Disbelief (Revised)

Rarity's Revenge

The Pink Monstrosity

Huge Creepy Eyes

Colt Genius vs Changelings

Crossed The Line

Herbal Substances

Walking Nightmare

From the Past, Broken.

A Sad Error In Judgement... (part 1/2)

A Sad Error In Judgement... (part 2/2)

Defiant to the Sun (Part 1/2)

Defiant to the Sun (Part 2/2)