World of Ponies: A Collection of Days

by ShadowWalking18

First published 15th of March, 2016

In days of peace, the little moments are what count the most.

After war, peace has returned to the lands of Equestria and to the lands of the newly formed Empire of Man. In those days of peace, even the smallest events can count for a story.

A Truce between Two Rivals

Scootaloo yawned as she lay in the shade of the tree in the school yard recess grounds. Despite her shade from the sun, the temperature was at that right amount of heat to not be uncomfortable, but just enough to make somepony want to just sleep it away till it got cooler.

Peeking from under her eyes over to her friends Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, who were busy in their own states of boredom as they laid on the ground. It was a state they all shared in recent days; now that they finally had their cutie marks.

Scootaloo traced her hoof down her side and to a point on her flank. Despite the shorts she wore, she felt she could feel the cutie mark that now lay under the fabric. She smiled, feeling that same surge of pride she felt when she had first acquired the mark she had worked so long to get her entire life. She could still remember the look of pride on her mother and aunts faces when she showed them. She only wished that Valen had been there to share the moment.

Scootaloo chuckled, thinking on how Valen got so easily flustered and while it was no big deal to show your cutie mark to somepony you were comfortable with, it wasn't a big deal. But if she showed Valen, she was sure he would probably get a nose bleed or something. Strangely enough, Scootaloo found that image funny.

'I bet he'd like what he see.' Scootaloo thought, blushing but at the same time giggling.

"What are ya giggling about Scoots?" Applebloom asked, looking over at her.

"Oh nothing." Scootaloo said, putting her hooves behind her head and smiling nonchalantly

"Yeah right," Sweetie Belle said with a smirk, "I bet you were thinking about your coltfriend, that human Valen."

"He's not my coltfriend!" Scootaloo shouted in defense, thought she felt her face heat up a bit. Geez, did Sweetie Belle have to say it out for everypony to hear.

"Ah come on Scoots, you can be honest with us," Applebloom said, "Ah mean we both seen ya when ya are around that boy when he is visiting."

Scootaloo choked, blushing and looked away.

"Aww come on, don't be bashful," Sweetie Belle said smiling, patting Scoots shoulder, "I think you two look cute together."

Scootaloo blushed even harder now. Geez, did every pony know? Still, a part of her was glad her friends approved.

"Yeah. He's kinda cute in a human way." Applebloom said.

Scootaloo just looked away, blushing. It was made worse when Sweetie Belle and Applebloom started giggling.

"Am I interrupting?"

Scootaloo looked over, and Sweetie Belle and Applebloom both stopped giggling. The three of them looked over at Tiara, who stood before them with her hooves crossed; behind her was Silver Spoon who smiled and gave them a wave.

"Hi girls." Silver Spoon said.

"Hi Silver Spoon. Tiara." Applebloom said, smiling and giving a return wave.

Scootaloo didn't say anything, instead just looked at Tiara. Ever since they gotten their cutie marks, the dynamic between the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Tiara and even Silver Spoon, had completely changed. Where they had once been sworn enemies, taking jabs and bites at each other whenever they could, now they were friends.

Of course, that did not mean everything was all water under the bridge. When it came to the concerns of a certain human, things were still a tense conflict. And that is what surprised Scootaloo a lot more.

Tiara had always been a player, using her looks and figure to manipulate the school colts, and even some fillies, to get what she wanted. In fact, for awhile she must have gone through at least two coltfriends every month, and at least one fillyfriend every two weeks. So when they had finally returned to school after the war had ended, she had figured that whatever infatuation Tiara had with Valen would have been forgotten.

But it had not. In fact, while Tiara still used her looks and figure to manipulate the colts in the school, word in the school was that every time a colt or filly tried to ask Tiara out she just rejected them. Normally, such a thing Scootaloo wouldn't care about, but for her it was something she worried about.

Considering that, while Tiara was not paying attention to anypony in school now, there was one pony that Tiara gave full attention too. And more importantly that pony wasn't a pony. But a human.

Valen.

Scootaloo felt a flutter in her heart thinking on the boy that had saved her life. In the time after the war, he had kept his promise to visit and every time Scootaloo spent as much time with him as she could, even dragging him with her when she and her friends went looking for their cutie marks. Though like in all of their adventures looking for their marks, it had usually ended with them covered in tree sap or on one occasion getting stuck together by super adhesive glue.

But while it had all been fun and games, and maybe a few moments of innocent flirting and even one time seeing if she could make him get a nose bleed, there had been one little obstacle in it all. Tiara.

Tiara would somehow always appear when Valen showed up, sometimes even dragging Valen away from her and forcing her to look for him. Not too many times had she found her pushing Valen against a wall and using those balloons on her chest to keep him pinned with a red face. When that happened it took all her nerve not to kill Tiara then and there.

And so, even after becoming friends, Scootaloo still felt that things between her and Tiara were not all said and done. The look that Tiara gave her in turn made it clear that whatever Tiara was here for, it was going to involve her. Scootaloo felt that feeling she got whenever a competition was about to start rear up.

"If it is alright, I would like to talk to Scootaloo alone." Tiara said, never taking her eyes off Scootaloo.

"Uh, sure," Applebloom said hesitantly looking between Scootaloo and Tiara, "We'll just go over there."

Scootaloo didn't watch as Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Silver Spoon all stepped back, whispering with each other. Scootaloo stood up, and Tiara approached her. The two of them kept their eyes on each other and anyone watching might see instead of two fillies, see a dragon and a tiger.

Tiara took a moment too look her up and down, "How are you doing?"

Scootaloo blinked, Uh...fine. You?"

"Well enough." Tiara responded.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Scootaloo asked.

"Look, I don't want to beat around the bush. Valen. We need to talk about him." Tiara said.

Scootaloo scowled, "I thought this might come up."

"Look, I know we never got along a lot in the past, but I like to think that now we are friends." Tiara said, frowning slightly.

Scootaloo frowned in kind and nodded, "Yeah. We are, I guess. We did only start all over a few months ago."

"I owe you girls a lot. Thanks to you, I figured out a lot about myself and what I can do, and not just act like how my mother said I should. So, I want to clear the air between us completely."

"How so?" Scootaloo asked.

"Our friendship is important to me, and I don't want it to be damaged because we are fighting over the same colt." Tiara said.

Scootaloo frowned, "Yeah. I mean, we have only been friends for a short while, but I don't want something to come between it as well. So....what do we do?"

"Well," Tiara started, "We could....make a herd."

Scootaloo blinked, and blushed slightly, "A-A herd?"

Scootaloo never thought this type of conversation would happen in her life. Or right now, while she was still in school, it was slightly embarrassing. By the look of the blush on Tiara's face, she seemed to feel the same way.

In Equestria, the population ratio between mares and stallions was for every one stallion there was at least four mares. It was a common cultural practice for ponies to form what are called herds, that usually consisted of multiple mares and maybe one or two stallions. Herds could range from any size from three ponies to the largest recorded in the Equestrian World Record Book of seventy two mares and twenty four stallions.

But to form a herd, that was a big thing. You had to really trust and like the ponies you were forming it with. And that wasn't even getting into the more intimate levels of being part of a herd. The sheer thought made Scootaloo blush further.

"C-can I uh...think on it?" Scootaloo asked. Shocking was that she meant it.

"Okay. Sure." Tiara said, "Uh, we should get back to class. Recess is over."

"Right." Scootaloo said, standing up just as the bell rang.

---

For the remainder of class, Scootaloo found it difficult to focus on her studies. Not that was a problem, frankly she found some of her lessons to be utterly boring.

Though frankly she wished she could focus on her lessons. But the discussion she and Tiara had had, was simply the forefront of her mind. Ever so often, she casted glances to Tiara in class, before looking back at her desk and tapping her hoof on it.

'It wouldn't be so bad I guess,' Scootaloo thought, 'I mean, she is a friend....well now anyway. But would Valen accept it? I mean, he is a human. They do things backward a lot.'

'What would mom think? Or Aunt brick?' She thought, thinking onto her family.

She knew that things were tense between her family and Valen. It was often clear from the look she saw in her aunt or mother's eyes that they did not completely agree with her choice of possible coltfriend; though they never did come out right and tell her to stop. Would that change if she created a herd with Valen?

Then there was Tiara's family. She did not really know much about Tiara's dad, but her mother. Ugh, Scootaloo did not want to think what Tiara's mother would do or how she would react.

All these worries, thoughts, questions and uncertainties were so distracting that it was only by the ringing of the last bell that Scootaloo came back to reality, and realized she had missed an entire lecture without taking a single note.

'Guess I will have to ask Sweetie Belle for her notes. Again.' Scootaloo thought.

Walking out of the school, Scootaloo barely noticed Applebloom and Sweetie Belle sliding up beside her.

"Hey Scoots, ya okay?" Applebloom asked.

"Huh?" Scootaloo said, looking to her friend.

"Are you okay? You seem distracted. Does it involve whatever Tiara wanted to talk to you about?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No. Well," Scootaloo scratched the back of her head, "yeah. Kinda. Look, it's private."

"Oh, well if you need ta talk ya know we are here fer ya." Applebloom said, offering a friendly supportive smile.

Scootaloo smiled back, "Thanks, but if possible I need just some privacy right now."

Scootaloo of course did not want to say that. She would have liked to have her friends nearby to talk to with about all this. But inside, she felt that this was a decision she needed to think on her own and make on her own.

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom nodded, staying only long enough to set up their meeting at their clubhouse. And so it was that Scootaloo found herself sitting on the fence near the school, again deep in thought.

'What if it doesn't work out? Will we still be friends? What if Valen doesn't like it? What if...' Scootaloo grabbed her head and screamed.

"Agh! Why can't anything be easy!?" She shouted, pulling on her mane.

"Geez, can you yell any louder?"

Scootaloo turned her head and saw Tiara standing to her left. Tiara rubbed her ears, wincing.

"I guess you are still thinking about it?" Tiara asked.

Scootaloo frowned, "Yeah."

Tiara frowned, "Look, I know it is a lot I threw at you."

"You have no idea," Scootaloo deadpanned, rubbing her forehead.

The two were silent for a moment, looking at each other or at the ground.

"Look, it is not that I don't want too," Scootaloo started, finding the silence uncomfortable, "But...I'm just worried."

"Well then we are in the same boat." Tiara said, sitting on the fence beside Scootaloo.

Scootaloo smiled, "Well, glad to know. You didn't show it much."

"Years of beauty pageants have given me an amazing poker face." Tiara said, pushing her chest out in pride with a smile.

The two shared a laugh, before that uncomfortable silence appeared again.

"Look, " Scootaloo started, "I just...don't know if I'm ready to start a herd. I mean, we are still somewhat unfamiliar with each other in a friendly way."

Tiara nodded, "That is true. Well, maybe we can start a practice herd."

"A practice herd?" Scootaloo asked.

"We don't make it an official herd. We see how things work, between you and me and with Valen. And if it works out well, we make it official." Tiara said, doing her best to describe her idea though it was clear she was slightly unsure of it.

"And if it doesn't work out?" Scootaloo asked.

"Then we just go back as we were. You and me as friends. Though...I guess one of us would have to let Valen go." Tiara said, frowning.

Scootaloo frowned as well.

"Welll....alright. I guess we can try." She said, giving Tiara a smile of reassurance.

Tiara smiled back, "Great. So uh...any idea how we start?"

"I thought you knew." Scootaloo said.

Tiara shook her head, and Scootaloo couldn't help but laugh. Even better, Tiara soon joined in and the two of them began laughing.

"Well, " Scootaloo said as she fought her chuckles, "I guess we should decide who the Head Mare is."

"Well obviously it should be me." Tiara said.

Scootaloo frowned, "Why not me?"

"Well being the Head Mare is being the leader of the herd. Leadership and control are my special talent." Tiara said, simply stating a fact.

"Yeah, but I'm older then you." Scootaloo said.

"By one day." Tiara said in retort.

The two of them now looked at each other with challenging eyes, until someone spoke up.

"What are you two fighting about this time?"

The two girls looked over, and walking down the road to them and the school was the one they both held affection for.

Valen.

The young stallion, or man as he was called in human terms, was wearing a completely different outfit. Where he once wore hide and fur, now he wore woven fabric, gold color with a white outer edging. The shirt itself was a button up, but the buttons were all undone and so his chest was visably shown. The muscles in his chest making Tiara lick her lips as she looked at them. The pants he wore were a pair of dark blue jeans. At his shoulders were a pair of metal shoulder guards and he had metal armguards on his forearms. His feet were bare, and it was clear that the new clothes made him uncomfortable as he often fidgeted, pulling on the fabrics and readjusting his pants.

"Valen? Wow. You look..." Scootaloo started, trying to think of a word.

"Hunky." Tiara breathed.

"Uh....thanks...I guess," Valen said, blushing a bit at Tiara's words or perhaps how she said it, "Though I feel odd. This....what is this stuff called again? It is not like good fur or hide. I'd prefer my old leather tunics, but the Fi-I mean Ambassador Castus, suggested I wear it."

"But why the shoulder guards? Or the arm guards?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well I am the ambassador's bodyguard. Even if I must wear these strange clothes, I should still have something like normal clothes on." Valen said.

Scootaloo and Tiara looked at each other then laughed. Leave it to Valen to think that armor was normal clothing. Valen merely looked at them confused.

"Why are you here Valen? School is over." Tiara asked.

"I came to greet you as you left. Escort you home if you allowed it. Castus did not need my presence as he is spending the day with the lady Fluttershy and her friends." Valen said.

"Awww, that is nice but you are kinda late. School got out like ten minutes ago. Everypony is gone, well except us." Scootaloo said with a smile.

Valen blinked, and pulled a pocket watch from his pants pocket and looked at it confused.

"This thing was suppose to help me track time. But all it seems to do is make me late." Valen scowled at the watch.

Tiara and Scootaloo laughed again, and both walked over to Valen and grabbed his arms.

"Come on big boy, you can walk us home since we are still here." Tiara giggled.

"Yeah, besides we could use your help." Scootaloo said, earning a look from Tiara.

"If I can help, let me know. I will do whatever you ask of me." Valen said.

"Well, we were wondering if you wanted to start a herd with us?" Scootaloo asked.

Valen looked between them, confusion evident on his face.

"Herd? Like herd of Cleft Hooves?" Valen asked.

Tiara and Scootaloo blinked, looked at each other, and face hoofed. This might be harder then they thought.

Author's Notes:

These will be small side stories to address things in between the main fics. There is no order, and at times the chapters won't connect. Hope you enjoy this.

Anything in particular you might want to have addressed?

Council Days

Politics is universal. A collection of people, talking, debating and arguing ideals, philosophy and policy all based around personal ethics and morals, be it their own or those of the highest bidder. And through it all, each individual striving to cement greater power onto their own person or their nation.

And while in books, movies, comics it seems exciting but the truth is far more humbling.

It is in fact, incredibly boring.

'God, couldn't Rarity have made this suit more breathable. I'm melting here.' Castus thought as he walked through the hall of the Council of Nations building; heading to the main chamber.

The Council building was situated in Canterlot, right next to the embassy's of the other nations outside Equestria. Eventually a new embassy would join them. But that would not be for some time.

Though Castus did not need an embassy, though he was starting to wish there was someone more qualified for the task ahead of him.

'Now I know why politicians back on Earth wore dark suits. I can feel the sweat cling to my shirt under this blasted jacket.' He thought.

His unfortunate sweating was due in part due to the heat of the day, and the fact that the council building lacked anything like actual air conditioning did not help. The other part was his own nerves. He himself had never been a political person, and while he had the memories of his past life, as he called it to spare his sanity, it was not enough to make him feel confident.

It was one thing to know what to do, it is another thing to do what you know. And he would be addressing the diplomats of a bunch of other nations, all who no doubt would see him as just an animal. He would have to prove them wrong, and he couldn't just strong arm them. Such a tactic would not win the Empire any true credible independence and sovereignty.

This would have to be handled tactfully and with calm ease.

Again, Castus was glad the suit was dark. Though he would make a point of asking for more breathable clothing when he had Rarity create the official diplomat clothing for the Empire.

'First we gotta decide on our heraldry. Coat of arms. Colors. Ugh, my head hurts.' Castus thought, rubbing his head at all the extra work still left to do.

When he finally arrived at the entrance to the Council Chambers, Castus took a deep breath and strode in, doing his best to appear confident. As the door opened, he immediately was greeted by the other council members.

There was Celestia of course, representing Equestria. Castus had to say, she looked very beautiful today. Then again, she looked good on most days. Unless she was just getting up in the morning. Before being allowed a more free choice of living quarters he had had to stay at the castle for a time. In that time he had gotten a closer look at the princesses when they were not on duty.

"What is this creature doing here?" A low, rumbling voice said with a low snort.

Castus looked at the speaker, noting them from the conversations between him and Celestia in preparation for this meeting. It was the Speaker from the nation of Tuskany, a heavy set boar adorn in rich clothing.

"It is the human ambassador." Another delegate spoke, this the Saddle Arabian Speaker.

"Oh, yes." the boar Speaker said dismissively.

"Ha, what can an animal speak of? This farce has grown old now, I demand this creature be removed from my presence." Another delegate said. This one, a griffon.

Castus gave the griffon speaker a hard look. He had figured that the griffons would be the most aggressive. The speaker of the Boars looked more uncaring, and dismissive of him. The Saddle Arabian Speaker merely regarding him with uncertainty.

Then there was the Zebra Speaker. Unlike the other races, the Zebra merely gazed at him curiously, like a curiosity. Then there was the Kirin which hailed from the far east, the strange deer like creature with drake like scales upon their bodies and horns that were capable of magic.

'Those two might be allies. Or at the least neutral in any argument that concerns the Empire.' Castus thought. He was not sure what position the Saddle Arabians would take, but given their close alliance with Equestria they might follow Celestia's lead.

Then there was the Crystal Empire's Ambassador. A lovely looking crystal pony mare. The close ties between Equestria and the Crystal Empire would mean that any action taken by one would be followed by the other. So at the very least Castus knew he had some allies, if not officially.

"No one will be forced out of this hall Ambassador Steelclaw. Ambassador Castus is here as a legitimate representative of his nation. And I expect to see civility from you during this meeting." Celestia said, giving the griffon that look that made even Castus shiver.

Steelclaw scuffed, "Oh very well." It was clear the griffon did not see to care much on Celestia's words as he took his seat.

The other Speakers all took their seats, but Castus remained standing, noting that he lacked a seat at the table.

"Forgive the lack of seating Ambassador. I had hoped to have one set for you, but with so much else getting in the way it has been hard to get your spot prepared." Celestia said frowning.

"Perhaps you can sit on the floor, though I' sure we an all wait while we find a stool for you to be brought up." Steelclaw said, his mockery apparent in his tone.

Castus just smirked, and drew on the Wind. The look Celestia gave him was both a worried and a cautionary one. Castus just smiled. He knew what he was doing.

While showing too much force could be diplomatically negative, it could often be a positive. Such as putting a trap on a loud mouthed idiot.

"No need to wait. I will make my own." Castus said, and wove the spell. The marble flooring beneath him as he stepped close to the table began morphing and shift beneath him. Pieces of the stone shot up or molded itself into the form of a throne just the right size for Castus to sit in comfortably without being too gaudy or excessive. The formation of his seat caused the ambassadors to stand and step back, eyes wide with shock. Steelclaw himself stared, beak hanging open.

Castus just sat, crossed one leg over the other and crossed his arms over his chest with a smirk. Celestia sighed, rubbing her head and muttering something.

"Now then. Shall we begin?" Castus asked, his smile never leaving his face.

"Yes. I think we can all focus on the business at hoof." Celestia said, looking to the Speakers and then at him. Castus wilted a bit under that stare. Celestia and him were going to have a long talk after this council meeting.

'Oh well. It was worth shutting that beak of his.' Castus thought

Operation

Marcus looked around as he lay in the bed. At his side were strange devices that were connected to him by strange tube like things. One involved a sharp point sticking into his arm that was connected to a pouch of clear liquid. Around him were ponies all dressed in white with their mouths covered by white cloths.

A small memory of fear came back, and Marcus found himself breathing heavily as he looked at the ponies as they went about, in the room, checking the strange devices or the tubes. The only thing keeping him from a full panic was the presence of Castus, or Ambassador Castus when in public with the ponies.

Though that comfort was slightly off due that Castus was also dressed in similar clothing, and strapping his legs and good arm to the bed.

"Ease yourself Marcus. I can tell your freaking out."

"I am sorry Fire-Castus," Marcus said, the two of them speaking in Valhru, "But....why must we do this here?"

"The Equestrians have a better medical facility then we do. And by that I mean they have one, and we don't. Yet. But until we can work on getting one set up, we need to use theirs. I wouldn't even agree to performing this type of operation without it." Castus said, securing Marcus' last leg and then walking over and moving a light over to the stump of Marcus other arm.

Coming up beside him, a purple wing and horned pony. An Alicorn, and thus one of the reigning leaders of the pony nation. At least that was how Castus had described it. The purple alicorn spoke with Castus in their tongue. Marcus still did not fully understand the pony language, but he had been learning.

"Marcus, I hope you understand what this will be." Castus said, giving him a critical look.

"I do." Marcus said, remembering their conversations.

"Remember, there is no guarantee that this will succeed. I've never done this operation before myself but I have studied it." Castus said.

Marcus nodded, though he took a deep breath.

"I won't sugar coat it, this operation will be painful. The agony could last for hours, which is why I had to strap you down to keep you from moving, fighting back or even tearing out your own eyes. And I can't give you anything to numb the pain, as I need to know I am touching each nerve in your arm."

Marcus gulped, but nodded again. Though he felt shakey.

No. He would commit to this. He wanted to. If he had to be a leader of all the clans, then he wanted to be whole. Or as whole as he could be. Though Castus always assured him that even with one arm he was still strong and able as a leader, Marcus still felt odd with only one arm.

So when he had learned that there was a way to get it back, or at least a new one, he accepted.

"I trust you Castus." Marcus said, steeling himself for the operation.

"Thank you. Then let us begin." Castus said, and he took a small sharp blade from a tray. A pony put a piece of leather in his mouth, and Marcus bit down on it

Marcus watched as the blade as it descended to the stump of his arm.

When the blade cut the flesh, he bit down harder to muffle the screams.

---

Castus tightened the last strap on Marcus, ignoring the doctors and nurses as they checked the instruments. He frankly only needed the nurses, but it seems that the Equestrian doctors did not fully trust his skills. They were right.

Castus himself had never even studied medical practice. But Karsus had. Karsus had studied much in the centuries he lived. Though study and actual practice was different, and while with Karsus memories Castus could perform this operation, it would be without any actual or remembered experience.

'Don'tmessup.Don'tmessup.Don'tmessup.' He found himself thinking, and his breathing quickened as he stood beside Marcus.

"So, what is this operation again?"

Castus turned his head and looked at Twilight, who was also dressed in the proper medical attire.

"I am going to operate on Marcus stump on his arm where it was severed an place an attachment that will allow for a fully functional prosthetic that can be operated by impulses from his brain." Castus said.

"Can you really do that?" Twilight asked, one part skeptical and two parts astonished. The look in her eyes spoke volumes of her curiosty and astonishment.

"Yes. I have studied it and witnessed it." Castus said, though he gulped in some air and wove a small weave of relaxation to calm his nerves.

"Yeah, you still have to tell me what you mean by that." Twilight deadpanned.

"I know, I know. Let me focus on this for now, please." Castus said.

"Oh, right. Well I better leave and get into the observation room. This will be so exciting." Twilight gave a small jump in glee as she left.

Castus rolled his eyes. Leave it to Twilight to be excited by witnessing surgery.

Frankly, Castus couldn't even watch the surgical portions in a House show or any other doctor show.

The irony, if it was such, was not lost on him.

Taking a deep breath, Castus looked down at Marcus. He reassured that this is what Marcus wanted. He had worried that revealing that there was a way to get a new arm to replace the one that Marcus had lost might cause the man to jump at the opportunity without thinking. But even after telling the man of the pain he would be in, Marcus stood firm.

'He has balls. But even balls won't be enough to get him through this.' Castus thought as he picked up the scalpel and made the first incision. He drew on the power of the Wind and as he cut, he began to weave and slowly touch the nerves of Marcus arm.

If he did not need to hear the screams to register the increase or decrease in volume due to pain levels, he would have deafened his ears temporarily during the whole operation. Instead all he could do was steel himself, and try not to throw up.

---

The operation was long and extensive. IV and other medical supplies were carried in and out of the room as Castus worked. At one point the nurses had to add their weight to keep Marcus still, while others had to leave the room; the sound of retching following them.

Castus ignored it all as he worked, finding as he drowned himself in old memories and the power of the Wind that he became less sensitive to the screams, other then their pitch.

The operation he was performing was involved the application of specially created, wind woven connector to the stump of a limb to act as a base and holder for a prosthetic limb; that would also be specially crafted. The connector would be connected to the nerves of the patient, and would thus allow the prosthetic to respond to the impulses of the brain and thus be moved by the brain. It would be like having a normal arm. But instead of flesh, it would be metal.

In short it was almost like Auto-Mail from that Full Metal Alchemist manga back on earth. The Wind would aid in the merging of flesh and metal, so as to prevent excessive pain and agony. The final procedure would give Marcus a new arm, but in order to get this miraculous fully functional new limb he would have to endure pain equivalent to hell itself.

Castus had to use the Wind to not only work and connect the nerves, he also had to use it to keep Marcus from passing out. In short, as he worked and cut, Marcus was being kept conscious to experience every second. The doctors of old Valhrua had once called the procedure a miracle for any who had lost a limb or mobility. But a miracle paved across a path of pain. Both for the patient and the doctor.

It was only when the last bit of the connector was finished, that Marcus finally was allowed to pass out, and Castus released the Wind. He became aware that it was just him and Marcus in the room.

Castus looked down and examined his work.

Where once had been a stump, now was an arm ending in a metallic connector for a prosthetic. Joint and nerve connection points waiting for the new limb to move.

"Finished." Castus said, before turning and hurling the contents of his stomach onto the floor.

---

When Marcus awoke, he no longer felt pain. But his head felt a little dizzy, and things seemed a bit hazy.

"Awake?"

Marcus turned and saw Castus, sitting by his bed. Castus had a smile, though it hid a deep sadness and pain behind relief. There were deep bags under his eyes as if he had not slept for days.

"Yes." Marcus said simply, though he smiled in return, "How long was I out?"

"I'm glad. Sorry if things feel a little fuzzy. The doctors worried that you might be in pain after the surgery, despite my saying you would not, and gave you some pain killers. And you have been asleep for three days." Castus said, yawning.

"Oh," Marcus said, rubbing his face with his hand, "Did....did it work?"

"Look for yourself." Castus said, looking down.

Marcus followed the look, and gasped as he saw his arm now.

At the stump was a strange metal like point that seemed almost fused to his skin. But going down that was an arm. A strange metal like arm that ended in five fingers. Marcus stared at the metal appendage, and sucked in a breath as he lifted his new arm up over to his face. He felt his eyes tear up, as he moved the fingers and used them to cover his face.

"Thank you. Thank you." Marcus sniffled.

"Don't thank me," Castus said, his voice grave, "I had to put one of my best friends through pain unimaginable. I know it was for a good reason, but I still will feel guilty for it."

Marcus frowned and gave Castus the look he knew that Castus often felt pressured by, "Do not think you are alone to blame. I accepted the pain. What is pain for a time, when I can have the mobility of two arms once more for the rest of my days?"

Castus frowned still, but nodded, "Thanks. Though, don't think this is the end yet. You will remain in that bed for a week so I can be sure everything is in order. Plus the doctors demand it and keep telling me to shut up since I don't have a diploma in medical. But after that, the real test will begin. You will need at least three years of physical therapy and recovery."

Marcus nodded, "I understand." He then offered his metal arm out to Castus.

"Thank you. My friend." Marcus said, smiling.

Castus smiled and took Marcus hand in his and shook it gently, the metal feeling slightly cold, "Thank you. My friend."

Author's Notes:

Something light hearted and friendly. Blame my watching FMA Brotherhood, which is way better then the first FMA back in 2003.

Two Scholars(1)

"Twilight. Hey, Twilight." Castus called, as he walked through the twisting halls of Castle Friendship. For such a simple castle, it certainly had its own maze. Three times that Casus had thought he had found the right door, he either opened up a closet jam packed with stuff that fell on him, or he opened that one door leading into the bathroom where Spike was standing at the mirror and flexing.

Embarrassing to say the least. But he had at least managed to get directions this time.

Finally reaching the door, Castus walked into what Spike called The Arcanarum. And the scene he came across was something that could only be described as a combination between a tornado hitting the room, or when Discord had offered to help clean the cottage.

Books stacked at least three stories stood about like towering trees in a forest, sometimes so close together that Castus had to suck in his gut and carefully slid through unless he wanted it to fall on him. Papers, scrolls all filled with Equestrian writing and diagrams of arcane and magical symbols lay scattered on his path, and one in particular was a long roll of parchment that seemed to flow further into the Book Forest.

"Twilight?" Castus called, following the scroll as the sound of quill on parchment could be heard.

Reaching a small alcove in the forest of books, Castus found Twilight standing at a desk, writing on the scroll. It seemed she was reaching the end of it, though other scrolls no doubt just as long stood rolled up on her desk. A large chalkboard with runic writing and magical symbology stood beside her desk, and every so often Twilight paused to glance and move her hoof across the lines as if referencing something before returning to her writing.

Cups of drank coffee sat on the desk, or on the floor and Twilight's mane looked frizzy and unkempt. And as Castus got closer, he caught a slight smell. It was obvious Twilight hadn't bathed recently.

'How long as she been here?' Castus thought, approaching slowly. Best not take her by surprise, she could charge.

"Twilight," Castus called. No response.

Castus stepped closer, "Twilight?" He reached over and tapped her shoulder.

No response. Twilight kept up her writing.

Castus blinked and looked over to a well organized stack of books. Castus calmly put his finger on one, and gently pushed it till it fell over.

The book was immediately caught by a magical aura, and Castus looked over to see Twilight looking his way at the book as she set it right back in place.

"Castus? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked, fixing a pair of glasses on her head.

"Well, the girls had told me you were not out of your castle for awhile. I figured I'd come check on you, though they told me that it was probably nothing." Castus said and looked around.

Twilight blinked and also looked around, then blushed as she tried to fix her hair, "S-sorry, I was just working on a theory in magic and I guess I got distracted."

"I figured. I did something similar once." Castus said, walking over to the chalk board to examine it closely.

"You did?" Twilight said, confused.

Castus blinked, then faceplamed, "Oh yeah, sorry. I mean, Karsus...the guy whose memories I have floating in the back of my mind. Remember. It's just easier on my sanity if I just say it was me in a past life."

"Oh yeah. You told me a little on that, but you never did elaborate enough to make any sense. Do you think you could explain further?" Twilight asked, giving a slight tilt of her head in question.

"What do you want to know?" Castus asked, crossing his arms over his chest, turning from the chalkboard to Twilight.

"Well, how can you have another beings memories in your head? I know you said it had to do with a statue from the Canterlot Statue Gardens, but it still doesn't make sense." Twilight said, moving back to her seat and pulling a brush from a drawer and working on her hair to get some of the knots out.

"Well the statue isn't really a statue. More like it is the calcified, or some form of fossilized form of an ancient Valhruan High Lord Magus during the Third Era of the Valhruan Empire." Castus said.

"Yes, yes you told me that. But how did he get like that?" Twilight asked.

"You know how the Empire fell right?" Castus asked, which Twilight responded to with a nod.

"Well," Castus said, continuing, "The magus, known in his time as Karsus, was just one of three High Lord Magi, who acted as the leaders of the Empire in those times. However, the Empire was constantly in a state of semi civil war, and even the High Lords fought for the right to rule the Empire as a new Emperor. But while the fighting occurred, the Empire was also destabilized by other problems. Natural disasters were occurring with more frequency, and the environment and temperatures of the climate were fluctuating. All of these occurrences in nature might seem like nothing, but they were actually the calling signs of a greater catastrophe."

"What sort of catastrophe?" Twilight asked, taking up quill and a scroll as she wrote down notes.

Castus rolled his eyes at Twilight's actions, but kept going anyway, "There was an instability amongst the alignment this universal plane and a number of others. You know anything about Universal planes?"

Twilight nodded her head, "A little. I think I had an encounter with it. Sometime after you were gone, an pony by the name of Starlight Glimmer tried to use a time travel spell to prevent me and my friends from meeting in a desire for revenge."

"I heard about that, at least this Starlight Glimmer pony. Not that part though." Castus said.

"Well her meddling in time caused some sort of distortion that, when me and Spike returned to our time it was a completely different world. A world where Sombra ruled the Crystal Empire. Where Chrysalis ruled Equestria or even Nightmare Moon." Twilight said, recounting the adventure, "In fact, that was what I was trying to decipher. I wondered why just one little change in events could cause such drastic changes in the future."

Castus looked at the chalkboard, then back to Twilight, "Well that is all based on the Multiverse theory. The Multiverse is where there are alternate universes existing separate from our own on alternate planes. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in very big ways. When you went back to your time, you were actually instead going back to a similar point of time in an alternate reality because by interrupting events in the past you in essence made the world you were from no longer exist. So instead you went somewhere else where you existed in an alternate form, and each time you went back and disrupted your realities time stream you constantly ended up in a different reality because otherwise you as you were would not exist otherwise."

Twilight rubbed her chin in thought, "That does make sense. Though what about the map from the castle. It constantly appeared in each universe I ended up in."

Castus shrugged, "That I don't know. The Tree of Harmony was no doubt behind it since this castle and the map was made by it. Though how it works I can't say for sure. All I can say is, it perhaps was able to sense the distortion and strived to aid you in returning to your reality."

"So what does this have to do with this catastrophe in the past?" Twilight asked.

"Well this theory goes further in that there are worlds that exist on totally different universal spectrums from this and have their own parallel worlds and alternate realities unto themselves. All realties exist separate from each other, in an area normally just called the Immaterium; a sort of plane of existence populated by energies of destruction and construction, and from these energies realties of existence are created and die before being recreated in the Immaterium. Following?"

Twilight nodded.

"Well," Castus continued, "In most cases these realities within the Immaterium exist apart and away from each other, but every so often there are confluxes within the Immaterium that bring the realities of various types closer together and it is in these times where travel between them can occur. During the time of the Empire, a number of different realities were close to this one, and the Valhruan Empire had managed to find a way to travel between them using a complex spell that created a form of tunnel for easy access and travel between worlds. However the times in which these realities stay close enough to travel is limited, and during the time of Karsus life it was weakening and the realities drifting apart."

"But what about the tunnels?" Twilight asked, jotting down more notes.

"That is where the problem lies. Keeping tunnels like that open requires a great deal of energy, and as the realities drifted apart the tunnels became strained. Like the stretching of a cord connecting two entities. The cord can only stretch so far before it snaps and the halves whiplash back on the entities. In this case the energies making the tunnels would have whiplashed back at this world and caused any number of dramatic and devastating damage." Castus explained further.

"I think I understand. So the catastrophe would have been a rebound affect of a broken magical connection?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. Now, even without that there might have been a catastrophe. Realities of existence that come too close do seem to maintain a sort of connection, but it would not have been on a similar scale then what was going to happen if the tunnels of connection the Valhruan mages had made did not exist. In creating the tunnels we actually made the impending catastrophe worse. Karus sought a way to prevent this." Catus said, frowning.

"How?" Twilight asked.

Castus sighed, "He sought to open a sort of breach into the Immaterium and using his vast power, aided by an attempt to draw upon the chaotic energies of universe creation that existence in the Immaterium to not only prevent the separation of the worlds, but to also increase his power by ten folds. In doing so, he would be saving the Empire from a catastrophe that would have more then likely ended its reign once and for all and also set him up as the most powerful mage in the world. Powerful enough to even become emperor."

Castus went quiet a moment and looked up, "or more then that...."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.

Castus was silent, "Never mind. Anyway. It failed in the end. The energies that exist in the Immaterium are of a different nature then that of the energies that exist in this reality that work in the construction of worlds and life. They are....alien. Utterly senseless. Karsus managed to keep the worlds steady for a time, but the chaotic nature of the energies he sought to use proved too much. More so when he noticed that they were leaking through the breach he made into the Immaterium and were causing catastrophic damage in their own right. Warping the physical and metal forms of beings and reality itself and remaking them. Karsus then realized that if he did not close the gap, he risked causing greater harm to the world, but because of the sheer force of the energies at play when he released it, it ended up rebounding on him. The realities tore apart, sending the shockwaves of energy across them. The world was torn apart by intense natural disasters, not to mention chaotic energy storms from the combined mixture of the Wind and the chaotic remains of the Immaterium that remained in the world before fading. Karsus himself was torn apart by these energies, his very body fossilized in quick order."

Twilight gulped and seemed to pale a bit. Castus nodded in kind saying, "Yeah. Not a pleasant way to go."

"So," Twilight asked, "How did he transfer his memories to you?"

"Before he died, he used what little time and power he had left to bind his memories into the stone his body was becoming. The spell was also designed to sense when a recipient Wind mage was in proximity and begin sending minor memories and messages to draw the mage to the statue for the final transfer. All I had to do was touch it and," Castus shrugged, "The rest is history."

Twilight looked at Castus, both surprised and impressed, "So you really have the memories of an ancient magus of a lost civilization?"

"Yes. I just told you that." Castus deadpanned.

"I know, but" Twilight stood, the look on her face between excited and perhaps manic, "It's just the sheer odds, the entire scenario itself is almost unthinkable. Yet if it is true, and I am sure you are telling the truth, then this is the chance of a life time!"

Twilight was starting to hyperventilate, as she started grabbing up scrolls, quills and inkpods.

"We need to compile the notes. Maybe do some discussions. Oh you could answer so many questions that have stumped the scholastic community for years!" Twilight gasped, turning to look at Castus with wide, dilated eyes that verged on insanity now.

"Whoa! Slow down Twilight!" Castus said, grabbing the ever frantic growing princess.

"But-but, knowledge! Science!" Twilight gasped, her body shaking now with excitement. A smile so wide that even Pinkie might have gotten freaked out by it on her face.

"Twilight," Castus said, "Calm down. Breathe."

Twilight took a deep breath.

"Okay. Good," Castus said with a nod, "Now look. I'd be glad to answer whatever questions you got but...well maybe you should take a shower first before we get too in depth."

Twilight blinked, and then turned away from Castus to sniff herself and realized that she did have a slight stink.

"Oh, yeah. Heh, I-I guess that would be good. Goodness I must look a mess." Twilight said, her frantic energy forgotten.

"Yeah. Also, when did you last sleep?" Castus asked.

"Uh," Twilight did some calculations in the air, "Uh...yesterday. No wait a week ago yesterday."

Castus shook his head, "Why not try getting some sleep as well."

"Right. I should go into this with a fresh head." Twilight said, before a slight yawn escaped her.

Castus nodded again, "Right. Just get back to me when you have had a break."

"I will. Thank you Castus." Twilight said, giving him a smile.

"No problem." Castus said, giving a smile.

Author's Notes:

I ship StarBurst*Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst* Cause best name ever.

Home

When Castus woke one morning, on a sunny day in the beginnings of a warm summer day. He let his eyes stay closed, despite his mind and senses being once again awake to the world and allowed himself to view the world in only the senses.

The feeling of warmth encasing his body from the covers of the bed that draped across his body and the soft warmth of the pillow that his head lay upon. The firm, yet comfortable feel of the mattress underneath him. After three years in sleeping in fur rugs and on the ground, though not entirely uncomfortable, it was good to have what he considered a real bed.

A slight motion beside him, underneath his arm, made him only smile more and turn himself onto his side, and sliding his other arm under the presence beside him and wrap his arms around it, laying his hands on the warm fur at the stomach. His face, he pressed into the soft embrace of a long flowing mane of hair, and nuzzle against the back of the neck that lay beneath.

The presence shifted, and Castus felt a soft touch against his hands as the presence shifted closer to him. He helped by pulling himself closer. The warmth of soft fur tickled against the his skin, and added another layer of warmth to his body.

"Good morning." Castus whispered.

The presence shifted again, turning in his arms and instead of mane Castus' face was now close to the smiling face of, in his eyes, the most beautiful creature in the entire world.

"Good morning." Fluttershy whispered in turn, before leaning in and kissing him. Castus smiled and returned a kiss in kind. Not a heavy, passionate compress, or a quick peck. A slow, lingering light caress of lips that spoke its own volumes even long after the kiss was over.

Fluttershy giggled, and tried to move herself back, but Castus tightened his grip around her body to keep her close. Fluttershy still smiled and moved her hooves to wrap them around behind his head and pressed her forehead to his and sighed deeply in contentment.

The two lay there in peaceful silence for a time, content to merely enjoy the others presence more then anything else. The warmth of body and covering surrounding their forms, and the pulse of their hearts each felt by the other by proximity of their bodies.

If Castus had the power, he wished that he could freeze time so that he could enjoy this moment of true peace, a happiness he had not felt in the time that he had been yanked from his own world, and in the three years of exile and the months of war that followed later. Now he had it, and he wished to enjoy every moment for as long as possible.

But time and duties on both of their sides required that eventually they would have to rise. To see the day. In time, and one last kiss, they drew themselves from the warmth of the covers and worked to prepare to face the day. The only benefit of this for Castus was to drink a cup of his second love in life. Coffee. Then after that, it was time to work.

For Fluttershy it was her usual duties of seeing to the wellbeing of her animals in and around her cottage. Then she would go to town, and help in local shelters and veterinarian clinics, and on every other day or so would return with a new critter. A hamster one day. A number of chickens another. And one time she had come back with a young pygmy hippopotamus baby; which would later be given a larger home in an Equestrian wild life preserve where it could grow up to one day return to the wild. Then after all that, she would be the first to return home where she would again see to any needs of the animals in her cottage, help acclimate any newcomer critters.

For Castus it was a more chaotic time. Though the majority of his work in aiding to repair the Equestrian infrastructure damaged in the war was finished, there were still small jobs that seemed to constantly add up further and further. Mostly it required him to use the Wind to aid in increasing the productivity of fields, and thus increase the quantity of the harvest. A skill that, while not his strongest, he knew enough to get the job done. Castus was sure that Celestia was intentionally adding these bits when needed as the harvest grew closer when she had learned, from his own lips during a conversation, of the aid the Wind could give crops. True Earth Ponies could do just the same, but adding both seemed to give even greater rewards.

He did not protest. It felt good to use his powers to build and grow then to destroy and burn. Besides, after some discussion he had managed to weasel a portion of the grains harvested as his payment for this work, which he could send back to the Empire for storage and to turn into seeds to help grow the empires own fields.

After the quick work in Equestria, Castus would then go to the Empire and aid in its work. It was a slow going work. The first job, had been to construct a city where the people could live. To aid in this, a small number of men and women who had shown affinity to use the Wind and whom Castus had taught the barest needs to keep from killing themselves or others by accident, aided in his weaving of a vast construction spell that built the city in nearly the course of a few hours.

After the city had been completed it was all about getting people settled. The people took to the houses with a mixture of awe at the sheer space they and their families had, and uncertainty on the need for such. Even when furnishings had been moved from tents to homes, there were still empty spaces. And only a third of the houses were even remotely filled. The total population of the newly formed Empire only numbered in at least 10,000; combined from the remaining clans and the newly freed humans that Castus had taken from Equestria.

Then there was the infrastructure to build. Castus used the memories of old Valhruan architecture and agriculture to meet these needs, combined with the ideas and ways from the history of his old world of Earth. Fields were plowed, by hand and tool and the power of the Wind. Then the irrigation had to be worked on, and it was on this day that Castus worked on it the most. The seeds of grains planted, and watered. And then there was the need to gather up livestock, and Castus himself went out to bring back several young Clefthoof calves that were placed in pens to domesticate.

Then was the teaching. Politics and other subjects with Marcus and the other Huntmasters, now called Lords. The drafting of a document to officially declare a government format for the nation. Then Wind training for any new or current students. There were not many new students as of yet, and the ones Castus did teach he only taught them things they needed to know. How to control themselves and the power, and in terms of spells he taught basic things that would offer help in the construction of the nation. How to make more prosperous fields and plants. How to control the mind of wild animals to pacify them. They were few spells, and none of them were anything like the war spells that Castus had in his mind.

No. He would not teach those spells. Not yet. If he could, he never would.

But in his mind, he knew that he would not be able to maintain that stance forever. But for now, he would hold onto the dream.

Then, depending on the day, after all this Castus would either return home, or return to Canterlot. When he did return to Canterlot, it was largely to attend to his job as Ambassador to his people. He would arrive via Waygate outside of the council building and walk in, and enter the chambers where the council sat. Then it would be a long eternity of politics, discussion of policy for the council and the endurance of contempt and dislike from a small number of ambassadors.

Then after the meeting, it was a small talk with Celestia, maybe pick through her storeroom of old artifacts from Valhrua to see if anything could offer aid to her kingdom or his, or even both. He had found more Amplifiers and Wells, and a collection of Repositories that held a near total library of old knowledge for him to read. He had found more Spell Stone artifacts, and other old artifacts. He identified and catalogued these, but he never took any out. They were safe here, for now at least.

When Castus finally did return home, it was always to the warm smile and a hug from Fluttershy, who he would kiss in return. Sometimes if he was early he would help make dinner, other times it was already being made when he arrived but he would ask if there was anything needed doing.

After that, the rest of the evening and night were theirs. They would talk, sit close together by the couch and snuggle under a warm blanket beside the fireplace until it was time to head to bed for the night. Castus would watch as she let her mane down, brushing it. Sometimes he would help her brush it. They would hold each other close, and it some days help each other out of their clothes of the day and into their night wear.

On nights like that, sometimes their hands and hooves did not stop at just the shirt, dress or sweater. And before long they would be in bed amongst a scattered pile of clothes and their breathing heavy and tired. Other nights they merely slid into bed quietly, but still lost in the others eyes.

And as the moon shone down, before sleep did take their minds, hand and hoof together they would whisper words to each other.

"Good night." Castus would whisper, as his arm wrapped around Fluttershy's body to hold her close. His lips brushing against her head.

"Sleep well." Fluttershy would whisper in kind, before kissing him gently.

And as their eyes closed, they would whisper a few final words to each other.

"I love you." They would say, before falling asleep in each others arms. In the safety in warmth of their home.

Author's Notes:

Nurse Redheart said I had to give you all a dose of fluff so often. So....*Pulls out a needle* Hold still now.

Two Scholars(2)

When Castus had arrived at the castle in Ponyville, a week and a half after his last visit, he had taken the time between some tough projects to mentally prepare himself for what he was sure to be a tiring task ahead.

A study session with Ponyville's resident princess and all time lunatic in all things science, magic and on one occasion Friendship Reports.

He had been sure that Twilight would go full on crazy time when they finally had managed to arrange a time when both of their schedules were open for this study session. But no amount of preparing made Castus feel fully prepared. This was Twilight after all.

So, when he finally managed to find Twilight's study room in the castle, he was not surprised by what he saw.

There was of course the stacks of papers, scrolls and organized lines of quills and ink bottles. All this was perfectly aligned, and in neat stacks and not the haphazard towers like last time. A pyramid of tomes, all perhaps connected to history or magic, sat beside a number of three sets of tables turned into laboratory sets, glasses and tubes, vials and burners. Three rows of long blackboards, the kind you see in college labs or science classes, the ones that could spin.

With so many tools and equipment, the entire room was literally packed, and in the center of it all stood Twilight, going over a last few documents. Her mane was up in a bun, and she wore a pair of thin glasses and a science lab coat. Castus figured he could call to her, but he figured that whatever she was doing probably had her distracted. And even if she wasn't, he couldn't pass up a chance to have a little harmless fun.

He walked over to one of the books and placed his finger on the corner edge of the book and then just.....gently......pushed it slightly.

"Aaah!" Twilight gasped, and Blinking in a flash and appearing beside him to fix the book. She smiled and gave a slight nod when she was assured the book was neatly aligned once again, before blinking in realization and giving Castus a pouting look.

"Why do you and the girls do that?" She asked displeased.

Castus smirked and patted her head, "Cause its just so cute watching you been all organizy."

Twilight brushed his hand away, but she blushed slightly, "That isn't even a word."

Castus shrugged, "Words are just a collection of sounding vocalizations designed to give meaning to an object that can vary differently depending on the cultural representation of the vocalization."

"Oh and I guess you have some sort of meaning to that word?" Twilight asked, looking at Castus with speculation.

Castus shrugged, "Not really."

"Ugh, can we just get started?" Twilight groaned, though Castus caught a slight smile on her lips.

"Sure. I'd hate for al these preperations to go unused." Castus said, gesturing to all the equipment and notes gathered.

Twilight looked about and blushed harder, "Sorry. I know this is just the first session, but I'm just so excited. This is the first of a once in a life time possibility. The implications could have wonders for the magical and scientific community."

"Yes, yes just....try to breathe normally Twilight. Excitement uncontrolled doesn't do any good." Castus said, holding up his hands as he saw Twilight start to get excited as she spoke.

"Unless you're Pinkie Pie." Twilight giggled.

"You and I both know she is the exception to the rule. Lots of rules." Castus said with a sigh.

The two shared a laugh, before finally Twilight held up a notebook and quill, "So, can we start now?" The look of excitement in her eyes evident.

Castus smiled, "Alright. What do you want to go over first?"

"Well-" Twilight started, but the door to the study opened to interrupt.

"Uh, Twilight? I-Oh! I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"

Castus turned to the voice to see a pony mare with a purple mane with a band of grayish, light aquamarine in between, and pink colored fur.

"Oh, Starlight, no it is alright. Come in." Twilight said, smiling and motioned for the new pony to enter.

"Starlight?" Castus said, then remembered, and hit his fist into the flat of his palm, "Oh I remember. So this is the Starlight Glimmer character who forcefully tore off your Cutie Mark and tried to destroy your friendship with the girls."

Twilight and Starlight, Starlight in particular flinched.

"Oh, sorry. That wasn't well put." Castus chuckled uneasily as he rubbed the back of his head.

"N-No. I-it's okay. It's the truth after all." Starlight chuckled sheepishly. Though it was clear she was not comfortable with the topic.

"I'm sorry. Let's start over. Good to meet you, I'm Castus." Castus offered his hand out to Starlight.

"Castus?" Starlight gasped then as realization came to her, "Oh, Twilight talked about you. You're the human with the strange magic. The one who caused the ruckus in Canterlot three years ago and led the human combatants during the war."

"Uh...yeah." Castus deadpanned with a sigh.

"Heh, I guess we both have things we might regret." Starlight said, giving a slight smile.

"Regret? Maybe. Some things. But if I had the chance to change the things I did in the past, I wouldn't do it. They were what led me to this point." Castus said, "The same can be said for you. You might regret your actions, but they all did lead you here. Right?"

Starlight blinked, then smiled slightly, "I...I guess that is one way to look at it. Thank you."

"Oh this is great. My pupil has made her first human friend. I will definitely have to compile this into your lesson plan." Twilight said, clapping her hooves.

"Oh yeah, you are Twilight's student now." Castus said.

"That's right. I've been working on her possible lessons in friendship, and sometimes we go over magic. I think she has a lot of potential." Twilight said with a hint of pride.

Starlight blushed, and looked at the floor, "I-I'm nothing special. But thank you Twilight."

"I know, Starlight why don't you join us. Castus and I were about to go over some ancient human magic and lore. It might give us all something to bond over." Twilight said, excited.

"I-I don't know. I mean, I don't want to get in the way." Starlight said, rubbing the back of her head.

"It's fine with me. It is no bother." Castus said with a shrug.

"Then it is settled." Twilight said, her horn glowing as she pulled some chairs over from a table for them all to sit in, "So let's begin."

"So what do you want to know?" Castus asked, adjusting himself in his seat.

"Well, I am curious on your magic. Celestia told me what she knew of it, but it wasn't exactly informative. I don't like to say it, but I think her opinion is a bit biased." Twilight said, adjusting her glasses.

"She has her reasons. And she is correct in them. Still, even I can't give you a correct description of the Wind. It is....It is something that defies most conventional explanation." Castus said.

"What does that mean?" Starlight asked.

Castus rubbed his chin, "I guess I should start from the beginning. First with the general idea of what the Wind is."

Starlight and Twilight listened carefully, with Twilight jotting down notes as Castus spoke.

"The Wind is very different from what you as ponies think magic is. Where your magic comes from your bodies, the Wind comes from the energies that make up the world." Castus began, "The Wind is of itself, the energies of creation which make up all living things in the world, from the suns and stars in the sky to the planets and all things that call them home."

Castus stood up and walked to a blackboard and began to draw with a piece of chalk.

"Now, we don't know where this energy comes from. There were plenty of theories, but no exact agreed upon idea. All we know is that the Wind is the forces of creation and destruction that exist within our world. Separate from the energies that form the worlds themselves, this is the energy that forms the life of the world. It is like a river of power, or an ocean."

"But it goes beyond that. It is not a singular energy source, but it is actually a multitude of different streams of energy. Using the river idea, the Wind can be described as the river of water that stems from the mountain top," Castus began to draw a line, "At the beginning it starts as a single entity, but as it flows down the mountain or in this case as the Wind flows through the world, it splits off into various different rivers or streams. The energy of the Wind spreads out, splitting up into the various elements that make up the world. As of the final ages of the Valhruan empire there were a number of known and agreed upon streams or branches of the Wind."

"What are the branches?" Starlight asked.

"Fire. Metal. Shadow, or darkness is another word for it. Heavens. Wilds. Life. Light. These were the designation names given to the branches currently known. Of course there could be hundreds of different branches beyond this, but these main branches are the most common and despite their simple names can compromise a number of various different parts of the world that are connected to these branches in some way. Like metal. It is not just iron, but gold. Silver. Copper. Bronze. Any other sort of metallic element that exists is affected by this. With this branch, a user could melt and mold a metal to their will." Castus said, writing further on the blackboard.

"But wouldn't you need to use Fire in order to melt metal?" Twilight asked.

"You would think that. But the thing with the Metal branch is that it is the control of the metal itself. This includes its structure. I could use Fire to heat the metal to boil, turning it into a weapon, but it is not needed to turn the metal into a liquid. I simply use the Wind to manipulate the molecules of the metal to turn it from a solid to a liquid." Castus said.

"However," Castus added, "This branch cannot affect metal ore. The rocks from which metal comes from. When it is in that state, it falls under the branch of Life, because it is in a natural form. Metal only affects the ore after it is heated and made into a non natural form. So you can see, it is not an easy thing to put a label on the Wind as its abilities to affect the world differ on a number of variables. Like the branches of Life and Wilds. The Life branch consist of al living things. In fact, it is the energy of our bodies that give us life. You, me, all living things have this form of the Wind existing in us because we are alive. But the Life branch cannot say, influence an animal. I could use it to heal a wound, but I could not use it to turn a savage animal into a docile pet. The Wilds branch, or the Beast branch, consists of the mind of all living creatures that are not plant based. With the Wild branch I could, with some work, manipulate the mind of a living creature. To a degree at least. Free Will is the one aspect that is not able to be fully controlled by the Wind. And survival instincts are far stronger then any subtle mental control possible by the Wind. I could make a beast docile, but if I put its life in jeopardy by any suggestions I gave it with the Wind, would break the control I had on it."

"This is confusing." Starlight said, rubbing her head.

"It is a form of power, that frankly is beyond our understanding. Maybe in time, perhaps we will discover all its secrets. But the Valhruan race spent nearly seventeen million years trying to, and still we did not even come close to scratching the surface." Castus said.

"That is amazing! The thought of a whole branch of magic that has endless questions to research. Ehhhhh!" Twilight squealed in joy at the thought, clapping her hooves.

"You might find that it is not worth the risk to seek all of the answers it holds." Castus said, "Not if you value your life."

Twilight blinked, excitement gone and replaced with curiosity, "What do you mean?"

"The Wind is dangerous. It is power. Raw power. To understand it, you must use it. You must immerse yourself in it. And in doing, you risk your life. And doom yourself in the long run." Castus said gravely, eyes serious.

"Can you explain?" Starlight asked.

"Think of it like walking into a raging river of cold mountain water for a drink. The force of the river could sweep you downstream and kill you. Or the cold water could freeze you to death. You are placing your body in danger, when you draw on the Wind. Only proper training can prevent death when one draws on the Wind. And even then there are still risks. A body can only hold so much of the Wind's energy in it, some more then others and some less, but if they draw in too much then their body can hold it is like filling a glass with too much water. The glass over flows and spills. Only in this case, when you overfill on the Wind, you die in any number of horrible ways. Or if you are very unlucky...you survive."

"Wait, how can surviving be bad?" Starlight asked.

"Because you become....damaged. I guess that is a good way to say it. You lose your ability to tap into the Wind. You become severed. That is a fate worse then death. You know the saying, Power is Addictive? In this case that is a literal meaning. The Wind is like a drug. Once you use it, you cannot stop. And if you can never touch it again. Well there isn't a point to live anymore then." Castus said, deeply troubled.

Starlight and Twilight looked at Castus, curious and questioning.

"You don't believe me?" Castus asked.

"Well, it is just hard to understand. I mean, I know about addictive power. During the trouble with King Sombra, I had to use Dark Magic to get pass some of his traps," Twilight shivered, remembering, "It...it wasn't something I liked. It felt like my soul was...dirtied when I used it."

"You used Dark Magic?" Castus said, shocked. Starlight herself looked at Twilight in surprise and horror.

"I've never used it since. I never want to again." Twilight said, holding herself.

Castus frowned, "Well. I guess that is close. But....well it is easier if I show you."

"Show us?" Starlight asked, looking slightly afraid.

"Yes. I will let you experience what the Wind feels to me." Castus said, drawing on the Wind.

"But if it is as addictive as you said, won't we get addicted?" Twilight said, worried.

"No. You have to directly touch it to get addicted to it. You will simply be feeling it through me. Don't worry, you will be in no danger." Castus assured them.

Starlight and Twilight looked at each other, unsure, but nodded.

"Good. Then, draw on your magic, but just hold it in your horn. Don't use it." Castus said, watching the girls as they did so.

"Good. I won't draw too much in, so the effects might not be as powerful. But you will probably feel....odd." Castus said as he wove the needed threads to use the girls as Amplifiers as he had done with Luna.

Twilight and Starlight gasped immediately. Starlights back arched and she gasped, as he tongue lulled out of her mouth and hung at the side. Her eyes wide with a mixture of pain and ecstacy.

Twilight screamed, falling forward and hitting the ground. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and yet she felt cold. So very cold. Yet even in the cold she felt as if her entire body was on fire. Feelings of pleasure and pain mixing through her entire form that she clenched her legs together to try and ignore the burning pulsing ecstact raking across her form. The whole world around her seemed to grow brighter. More vibrant almost. She could smell Starlights perfume more clearly, and the scents coming from Castus.

Faust it was intoxicating and she found herself staring with a hungry desire burning in her now as she gazed at him. But within moments as it had begun, it ended just as quickly. Starlight flopped back into her seat, gasping for breath as she leaned forward with a moan.

"Sorry. You both okay?" Castus asked as he approached the girls and checked their pulses.

Twilight moaned a bit, feeling some drool on her cheek as she lay on the ground, mouth open. Her body still felt sensitive, and feeling Castus finguers brush against her neck nearly sent her into spasms. She blushed, as faded feelings to pounce on him and rip those clothes off and take him in the ways she had read in some of those books she kept hidden in a secret compartment in her night desk, and then drag Starlight into it all came to mind. She felt a warm wetness as well as she curled up, blushing.

Starlight moaned as well, gasping.

"That....what....Faust." Starlight gasped.

"That was merely a background effect. Now imagine if you were exposing yourself to the Wind without me to act as a buffer to its full effects. So you can see. It is not like any sort of power you have felt." Castus said.

"H-how can you...how can you even think straight?" Twilight gasped.

"Hard work. Practice. Training. The key to using the Wind is being able to keep a clear mind, no matter what. True, it can be used without such training, but that is dangerous." Castus said calmly.

Castus looked at the two girls and sighed, "Sorry. I just find it is best to experience something to help you believe it. Sorry for any discomfort or pain. Perhaps we should call it a day. Do you need any help?"

"NO!" Starlight and Twilight shouted at once, but blushed and looked away.

"Uh...yeah. L-lets call it a day. Uh, maybe again next week or so." Twilight said, more calmly.

"Sure. I'll try to be available." Castus said, "So...I guess I'll go."

"Yes. Uh....okay...bye." Twilight said, slowly getting to her knees.

Castus nodded and walked out. When the sound of footsteps faded, Twilight sighed in relief.

"T-that was....I think I need a shower. A nice...cold shower. Ice cold." Starlight said, standing up on shaky legs.

"Y-yeah. Me too." Twilight said.

Trouble in Peace

Castus walked down the cobbled road into the market square of Ponyville. In that walk he came to a single conclusion. He stuck out like a sore thumb. He was starting to wish Valen was around, but the young lad was back in the Empire spending some time with his brother, who had been taken in by a elderly and her family after losing a son in the war. Though if the young man was here, Castus doubted he would be around long before Scootaloo or Diamond Tiara stole him away, before sending him back to him either bruised up and battered with pine needles and tree sap stuck to him, or smelling of cologne and trying with some lack of success to remove a tie from his neck and only succeeding in slowly choking himself.

One time the boy had come back with his cloak rolled up and tossed around his neck and mouth and he refused to lower it, even when it muffled his voice slightly. Castus wasn't sure, but by the smell of perfume lingering and some slightly messed up hair, he was sure he knew exactly what Valen was covering up.

So it was that he had to walk down Ponyville to the market to see if he could find what he was looking for, he had to suffer the stares, glares and amongst some groups hushed whispers. He just ignored them, instead focusing on his task.

'Okay so birthstones....god what were the birthstone months again? Maybe I should ask Rarity.' Castus thought, before his most recent acquisition from Celestia's artifact hoard shot to life. A Spell Stone amulet designed to encase the wearer in a small circle of about ten inches in a light shield. Mixed in was a minor sensory spell that sensed hostile intent. A real master piece of creativity.

The stone thrown at him bounced harmlessly off the shield and clattered to the ground.

Castus cast a glance at the stone, then looked up to find its source. He soon spotted a young pony, and a mare who had her hooves at the child's arms; who struggled against his mothers arms. And directing a look of dislike at him.

Castus turned from his course and walked slowly over to the child. The mare wrapped her arms tighter around the young colt and looked up fearfully.

Castus looked down at the child and extended his hand down, and patted the kid on the head once. The colt managed to get an arm free and whack his hand away.

"You shouldn't throw rocks kid. You might hurt someone." Castus said once.

The colt growled, and swiped at him before shouting, "Give me back my father monster!"

Castus frowned, looking at the child as his mother pulled him closer to her. She looked at Castus with a mixture of fear, and disgust.

"Your father was a soldier?" He asked to the child.

The colt nodded, tears starting to appear in his eyes.

"He died in the war. He was a guard in the caravans." The mother said, clutching her child. Her eyes never taken off of Castus.

"I see. I am sorry. But I cannot return them. Wish as I might." Castus said, standing up.

He turned and walked off, the beginning whimpers of the child only just barely heard as he took a turn.

He kept on his walk, though in a more somber mood now. The encounter had been a sore one. He could not say if the child's father had died by his warriors or the Changelings. But even if it was in some possibility not his fault, he felt he should bear it as his own. It would be easier then to argue.

"Hey! Castus, what's up?"

Castus stopped, noticing that his path was covered by shade now and he looked up to see that a small cloud was over his head. Rainbow Dash lounged on it, looking down at him with a look of concern.

"Rainbow Dash. What's with the cloud?" Castus asked.

"Well, I was just getting ready for a nap when I saw you, but this cloud was just right for napping so I brought it with me. Can't let some other pony get their hooves on it. What's up? You look like Pinkie Pie after she runs out of confetti for her party canon." Rainbow Dash said, giving Castus a look of concern.

"It's nothing to worry about. It is something I need to bear myself." Castus said.

"Is it about the war?" Dash asked, "Is somepony giving you or Fluttershy trouble again? It's Honeydew isn't it? I told her if she didn't back off I'd tie her wings in a knot."

"No Dashie. It isn't her." Castus deadpanned.

Honeydew, a Pegasus mare living in Ponyville, was at the head of a number of ponies who actively seemed to try and give him and Fluttershy trouble. Usually either verbally harassing them with snide remarks, or trying to spread discontent with his presence in town amongst others. At one point, she had tried to have a petition signed and passed in the Town Hall to evict him and Fluttershy from the cottage and the town. Of course it did not get enough signitures, and even after it had been forced to be examined Mayor Mare had pointed out that the plot of land on which the cottage stood was privately owned by Fluttershy and technically not part of Ponyville's grounds. And Fluttershy's position on the Friendship Council, silly a name as it was, gave Fluttershy a political shield.

In fact, his and Fluttershy's positions and friends gave them a great deal of protection. Castus as an ambassador to a foreign country and Fluttershy as a Council member, Bearer of an Element of Harmony though that title was sort of null now but not widely known, and being a friend to the Princess of Friendship.

With all this, Honeydew and her supporters couldn't really do much without risking serious consequences. Largely they were just a nuisance, like a fly buzzing about you. Though sadly unlike a fly, Castus couldn't swap them. Besides, Rainbow Dash usually did the work for him. Her loyalty to her childhood friend, and to him as a friend, were strong. A few glares and growls, sometimes a fight or threat, and Honeydew and her followers tended to back off. For a time anyway.

"Then what is wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I just met a child whose father was killed in the war. Caravan guard." Castus sighed, crossing his arms. Better to give Dash the information she wanted, otherwise she would pester him all day to find out.

"But weren't the changelings raiding those? Why should you be blamed?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Remember. My people were raiding them as well. It could have been me and my warriors. Or the changelings. Who knows. But, if there is the chance that it was my fault in some way I find its better to take the blame then try to argue against it." Castus said.

"But that's not right." Dash said, smacking her hoof on the cloud.

"Not to you. It seems right to me. I'd rather take the blame and work to pay it back, then try to argue against it and bred further discontent." Castus said.

"But-" Rainbow Dash started.

"No buts. That's final. And don't go trying to do anything on your own. This is mine to deal with. If I find out you have been getting into more fights over my account..."

"You'll what? Paddle my flank?" Rainbow Dash said, crossing her hooves over her chest and giving Castus a sly, half closed look.

Castus just gave Rainbow Dash a deadpan look. Rainbow Dash chuckled a bit, rubbing the back of her head.

"Uh, anyway, what you doing today? Don't you usually work at this time?" Rainbow Dash asked, changing the conversation.

"Usually. But it seems the work I do in the fields is being shared now. For the rest of this week, Prince Blueblood is helping plow new fields as a sign of good faith and desire to aid his fellow Equestrians." Castus said, a grinning forming on his lips now.

Dash chuckled, before bursting into laughter. Castus joined her. The two laughed before calming down.

"So what are you doing then?" Dash asked.

"I'm shopping. Figured I had time to get a few things I've been meaning to get but never had the time." Castus said.

"What ya getting?" Dash asked, tilting her head slightly.

Castus smirked, "That is a secret."

"Aww come on." Dash pouted, "You can tell me. I bet it has to do with Fluttershy right?"

Castus just smirked and made a movement of sealing his lips. Rainbow Dash just pouted further.

Castus, followed by Rainbow Dash who now came down from her cloud, walked off to the market. Sometimes a pony would cast a glare, or whisper with another, but Rainbow Dash would match them with her own glare and send them scurrying off. Each time, Castus would tweek her ear and pull her along like a disobedient child.

"Hey. Ouch." Dash would complain each time.

"Just ignore them." Castus would say.

"Fine." Dash would respond, but be right back to glaring not a few moments later if she saw a pony giving Castus a look she didn't find right. Then it would start all over.

Through the market, Castus purchased a few things. Some new books, mostly the Daring Do series by Rainbow Dash's rather fanatical insistence. He figured he could see how good they were. Some history books to give him a better grasp of current Equestrian history and a desire to learn how the world had developed after the fall of Valhrua. He could have borrowed the books from Twilight, but Castus preferred to own books if he could.

"Hey Rainbow Dash. This last stop I need to be alone for." Castus said, hoping he could get her to leave him alone for a time. Not that he did not like Dashies presence, but he wanted the last stop to be a secret. It had to be.

"Oh alright." Dash sighed.

"Thanks." Castus said, smiling.

The two were about to go their separate ways, when a blood curdling, and explosive roar shook the town. Castus was so startled he dropped all his bags, and Dash leaped into his arms, holding him with her wings out in surprise. They looked around, and the roar came again as the sound of breaking trees came apparent and the earth shook with loud powerful steps.

"Whoa!" Dash gasped, and flew out of Castus arms and into the air, "Sweet Faust!"

Slowly a large shadow began to loom over the town, and Castus felt his body shake as a large form of a bear, its body seemed to be made from stars, and purple ethereal glowing fur with large sabre canines stared down and roared again. Castus had to cover his ears, and was left with a slight ringing.

Ponies began running and screaming, this way and that, trying to flee the large monster. An Ursa Major.

The Ursa Major roared, and raised a claw to slam it down. But a beam of magic shot from the castle, and soon out flew Twilight. She flew around the creature, blasting it as it stomped through town. It swiped at her, but she kept her distance from the large, powerful claws.

"Twilight. Hang on!" Dash said, bursting off to help her friend.

Castus watched for a moment as Twilight, and soon Rainbow Dash, did their best to fight off the creature. The Ursa Major roared and swiped at them, but Rainbow maneuvered past the claws to punch and kick the Ursa Major, while Twilight blasted it. Though it was clear their efforts were like the stinging of a bee on a large bear. The bear might retreat, but it would take apart the hive and steal a honeycomb or two before it did.

Castus ran toward the fight. As he did he saw the Ursa's claws step and the back of its foot striking a house, sending its rubble tumbling down at some ponies. He drew the Wind and caught the rubble before it fell and redirected its fall to land harmlessly on the ground around the ponies. The ponies looked up, around and then at him as he passed.

"Go! Get to safety!" He shouted, and kept running.

Castus soon found himself near the Ursa Major, Twilight and Rainbow Dash doing their best to distract it. But their efforts only made things worse, in that it agitated a greater beast of size and strength. It wasn't their fault, they did not know ways to pacify such a beast so easily. But Castus did.

As he prepared a spell, he saw the Ursa take a step, and spotted in its path was a mare, whose legs were caught be debris. A colt tried desperately to pull the debris off his mothers leg. It was the family from before.

The Ursa's foot came down, Castus moved and wove a new spell, pulling on the Wind. With a raising of his hand, he created a large hand from the street to grab the Ursa's foot from falling completely. He then turned to the mare, who looked at him with surprise before looking at the Ursa. He swung his hand, and the debris at her leg flew off. The colt clutched to his mother and the two looked at him.

"Stop standing around and run!" He shouted, and the mare realized the danger and she got up on slightly unsteady legs, scooping her child up and ran. Her step had a slight limp, but either instinct or sheer resolve made it a minor thing in the desire to run from the massive monster.

The Ursa finally managed to free its trapped paw, tearing the stone hand apart. Castus brought up a shield to block some stone, and he wove another spell to grab Rainbow Dash and Twilight from the air and yank them down to him. He had to get them to stop attacking it.

The girls were not prepared for such an action and soon found themselves on the ground, falling onto their flanks as they were yanked down.

"Castus! What are you doing!?" Twilight shouted at him.

"Just wait." Castus said, watching the Ursa. It roared, looking down at him. It raised a paw to strike, "Don't do anything Twilight. I can handle this."

"Are you crazy? Twilight is an Alicorn and even she can't stop an Ursa Major. She told me so herself when we were fighting." Rainbow Dash shouted.

"You just need to know the right way." Castus said, and he reached out to the Ursa's mind with a spell.

The great paw fell, but stopped half way. The Ursa's eyes widened, then seemed to calm and it lowered its paw down slowly, gently. Castus' eyes were closed, as he used the Wind to calm the primal power and mind of the Ursa. He calmed it, and yet found that despite his efforts to calm it there was an underlining pain and anger in the Ursa's mind that refused to listen, but Castus could help it ignore it.

Something was bothering the Ursa.

Castus concentrated, and expressed through gentle motions and emotional signals through his spell to ask the Ursa, what was wrong. That he meant no harm, and that no one would hurt it. The Ursa seemed to listen, and slowly it lifted its left paw.

"I...can't believe...." Twilight whispered.

"Rainbow Dash. Can you go get Fluttershy. She should be at the vet, getting Angel Bunny his monthly check up." Castus asked as he did his best to keep the Ursa calm. To wait while help was found.

Rainbow Dash blinked, then said, "Uh...huh? Oh yeah. Sure." She said, and flew off.

"You said the Wind could influence creatures minds. But I never thought you could calm an Ursa Major." Twilight said, standing up now to look on the scene with awe and wonder.

"It isn't easy as it looks. This creature is its own entity, and it won't listen to suggestions or empthatic signals and calming sensations if it feels that it is in danger. That is why I had to stop you. Doing that helped me in letting it know I was not going to hurt it. And even then, you need years of practice to really work this sort of control. Alicorn magic could probably do it as well."

"I don't think so. Last time I tried to change a creatures instincts, it made things worse." Twilight said, remembering the few times when she had influenced a creatures mind or being with her magic.

"You simply weren't doing it right. You can't change a creature to be something it is not. Such efforts will always backfire. But you can learn to turn it towards more peaceful parts of its nature. This creature isn't naturally aggressive. Its acting so, because it feels it needs to too survive. I simply need to let it know it doesn't have to." Castus said, gently stroking the Ursa's paw.

Soon Rainbow Dash returned, with Fluttershy in tow. Fluttershy gasped, flew over to Castus and hugged him.

"Castus. Are you okay?" She asked.

Castus smiled, "I am. Little tired. This spell is not easy on a beast that's constantly fighting back. Something is bothering it in its paw. Think you can find out what?"

"Um, I've never dealt with an Ursa before. But I can try." Fluttershy said, and she flew a bit to look at the Ursa's outstretched paw.

As she did so, ponies all began to appear. Their fear now lost as curiosity took over. Why was the Ursa not attacking anymore?

Castus continued to work to keep the Ursa calm, until finally Fluttershy flew next to a claw and her hooves seemed to touch something that sent hot flares of pain and fear and agitation through the Ursa's mind. Castus grunted as he worked to keep it calm. Telling it that Fluttershy was helping it.

Fnally the agitation ended, and relief became more apparent as it brought its paw up to lick. Fluttershy landed and held up her hoof. In her grip was a small thorn.

"The poor dear had a thorn in its paw. It must have been causing it no small amount of pain. The poor thing." She said with a frown.

Castus released the Wind and sighed in relief. The Ursa lowered its head and looked at him and Fluttershy.

"Aww, he is happy we helped it." Fluttershy said with a smile and hugged the Ursa's nose. The Ursa growled in a thankful sort of tone, before its great tongue licked Fluttershy, covering her in saliva. Then it licked Castus, leaving him a wet sticky mess.

Rainbow Dash looked ready to laugh as the Ursa began walking off to the Everfree again.

"Awww. It likes us." Fluttershy smiled, not bothered by the wet gratitude of the Ursa.

"Yeah." Castus said, arms out in that way a person might do after being splashed by water and he spat a few times, "I feel so happy."

Rainbow Dash burst into laughter then, but yelped and covered her flank with her hooves.

"Hey!" She shouted, and Castus smirked as he let the Wind go.

With the Ursa gone, work began to assess the damage. Injuries here and there, but no causalities. The real damage was in the buildings, but those could be rebuilt. In many ways, despite the fear the event had not been so bad. At least not as bad as it could have been.

Life seemed to return to normal after that. Though Castus did notice some ponies not looking at him with open distaste. Perhaps uncertainty. But the whispering seemed to go away at least. Even Honeydew seemed to have trouble getting backing in her attempts to run him and Fluttershy out of town or bother them.

The final point of interest, was when Castus saw that mare and her colt again. They did not say or do anything as he passed, though he did nod to them in greeting. The colt said or did nothing, but the mare just gave a brief lift of her hoof. It wasn't anything grand. Or meant an end of any pain from war. But perhaps, it was a start.

In the end, Castus could worry on it later. Because finally, the following day after the Ursa attack he finally bought the one item he so desired. Maybe one day he would find peace amongst the ponies of Ponyville, to those that still held him in distrust or dislike. But on one day, he would need to plan for, he could begin the start of something else.

Author's Notes:

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Think the title needs to change. You?

Heat of the Night

The moon was full tonight, and hung like a beacon over the forest. A crisp spring breeze cut through the prairie grass, a small hint of winter’s chill still doggedly clung to it; a reminder to those who endured it that it was still early in the season. Crickets chirped away in their nightly sonata, their song only slightly interrupted by sudden expanse of air and a crackle of light that expanded into a doorway.

Castus, stepped through the waygate, his bag over one shoulder. Looking down he carefully examined the bouquet in his other hand. The travel through the rift had seemingly done no harm to them and they smelled just as sweet as when he bought them not moments ago.

‘Posies.’ Castus smiled thoughtfully to himself. To even the most novice flower enthusiast the breed was simple, almost juvenile. “A step above dandelions.” The stuffy Canterlot flourish said, trying to bolstered her more exotic selection, eager to convince Castus to part with more of his bits.

He wouldn’t hear it though, he knew better. They were her favorite. A warm smile spread across his features hidden in the early twilight, as he found himself lost in thought to their recipient. ‘I could transmute rocks into gold, crush coal into diamonds, pull down the moon itself.’ He paused looking up the full heavenly pearl. ‘And yet, nothing lights up her face quite like posies.’ He chuckled to himself. ‘Well, almost, nothing.’ A blush crept across his face as he recalled ‘those’ nights, especially that first one. ‘She was so eager, and yet so nervous at the same time.’ Castus thought back to that night of exploration, awkwardness, ecstasy, and experimentation that culminated into one night he would never forget.

Shaking off the more lustful memories he had of her, his mind wandered to her other virtues. Kindness was a given, but it was more than that. It was her sheer gentle grace. She put her heart into everything she ever did, be it wrapping bandages or scrapping pens, everything was done because she cared so much. She was by no means a pushover either. When pushed she could display the fury of a hurricane and yet seldom did she ever raise her voice. Castus was loathed to admit that he had been on the receiving end, to which he would always, always, always, strive to return to her good graces.

Yet despite his own faults, which were many, somehow, she was with him. How he had gotten so lucky, he would never know. Considering they were born worlds apart, the odds were quite literally astronomical. Back on earth he had dated a little, but not one woman had made him feel the way he did for her.

The fact that they were different species was always something that had nagged on his mind... at first. He had seen how many had looked at them when they were together, and not just ponies. Some of his own people would whisper, raise eyebrows, or blatantly express their disappointment in how he was supposedly ‘wasting his chance for a true bloodline’.

In spite of all that though, when they were together, all that seemed to slip away. When he gazed into her eyes; those gentle pools of blue and green washed away any doubt, any fear, leaving behind something that was clean and pure. With her by his side he do could anything, even without the Wind, and he would do anything just to stay in those eyes, forever.

What she saw looking at him, he could only guess. Several months living in secret as a pet, followed by three years living in the wilderness had all but erased the look of “modern convenience” he had when he lived on Earth. Even now, living a more ‘civilized life’, he would scarce to recognize himself.

With a free hand, he scratched at the growing stubble on his face. ‘It's growing in nicer than I thought.” He mused to himself, another recent change she had suggested. He kept it trim but decided to grow it out a little further, one to look and feel more mature for the other diplomats, and two, because she said it felt good.

Not surprising, considering that her natural mate would have fur. As much as that should have bothered him it was greatly outweighed by the way it felt when she nuzzled a cheek against the growing hairs, sending a jolt of sensation through the fibers. Also, a small voice in the back of his mind couldn’t ignore the fact that he was a living a life as a powerful magus and would soon be sporting a pretty dope and deadly Kenobi beard.

Before he knew it, his thoughts had taken him through the clearing and up to the little cottage on the edge of the Everfree Forest. In his heart, this was home, and he had come to know its grooves and curves in the three years he returned here after the war.

‘Speaking of curves.’ He smirked slightly at his own lecherous thoughts as he stepped up to the door of the cottage. Castus noticed that it was very quiet. Now that was not surprising, since it was night time. But living in a cottage of animals, some nocturnal, always gave the cottage some activity even at night. Yet he couldn't hear anything, or see anything. More so, he didn't hear or smell anything coming from the cottage, though Fluttershy normally was cooking dinner at this time when he got home late.

That should have been the first sign that something was off, but Castus merely shrugged and carefully pushed the door open. He figured that Fluttershy must have fallen asleep, and so he did his best to not make much noise so as to avoid waking her up.

What he saw when he entered the cottage, sent a shiver of fear up his spine.

The interior was trashed, the couch up turned and chairs tossed about. The interior was also empty of any animals. Not a sound. Castus pulled on the Wind and prepared a spell, fearing an intruder.

'Fluttershy!' He thought, worried. Though he kept himself from shouting out, instead using the enhanced senses from holding the Wind to listen for the intruder. And if they had hurt Fluttershy in any way or form...

Well there wouldn't be enough left of the body to even identify it as a living thing when he was through with them.

The sound of small pattering feet caused him to turn and prepare to blast a stun blast of lightning, but he saw nothing in his vision. Then he felt something clinging to his leg, and shivering. He looked down and saw Angel, the small rabbit clinging desperately to his leg and shaking with the terror of the ages.

"Angel? What happened here?" He whispered, and used the Wind to coax the rabbits mind.

Angel was an odd bunny, in fact most of the animals Fluttershy had were odd. A lot more complex in thought, so using the Wind on their minds required a more complex weaving. But the fear in the rabbit made things easier, and at the same time a lot harder to get a fix on what the rabbit was trying to tell him.

Mental feelings of fear and terror. Of animals fleeing in the night to get away and hide in secret dens. Loyalty to Fluttershy, yet terror at the prospect of staying. That was the most Castus could get out of the rabbit, the emotions so strong he had to let go of the spell.

So someone or something had broken in. Well, Castus would deal with it with extreme prejudice.

Then he heard a sound. Pots and pans clattering and a low hiss and the sound of something getting crunched. It was coming from the kitchen. Castus turned toward the kitchen door, and slowly crept towards the opening, preparing a spell. He leaned against the wall, listening to the noise.

'Three. Two. One.' He thought, stepping into the kitchen with a turn and prepared to face down the intruder.

Nothing. The kitchen was empty. He walked around, stepping over upturned stools and tossed about kitchen utensils and pots. He also noticed the dried up husks of apples.

There was the sound again, the low hiss. God it was behind him!

Castus turned quickly, a sudden sight of a shadowy figure coming into view and acting on instinct, he fired a bolt of lightning. Just enough voltage to knock whoever, or whatever, it was unconscious. The bolt shot out, illuminating the room in a flash, but the figure was quicker and the bolt struck the floor, before leaving a slight smoldering point on the ground. Castus ran, turning back to the living room.

Nothing.

Now Castus was starting to grow scared. Fluttershy was gone, possible captured or hurt. The cottage was trashed, and there was SOMETHING in it with him. Something that, he felt was stalking him.

Wait. If something was here with him, why didn't he just seek out its mind.

'God I'm an idiot.' He thought. He had been so worried that he had forgotten a most basic spell. Calming himself he used the Wind to seek out the presences around him.

There was Angel, hiding now and still scared, but now he felt the presence of another mind. Feral. Wild. Cunning. Watching. Castus probed the mind, but before he could get anything out of it, maybe coax himself into its mind and exert control over it, he was immediately assaulted by a flood of highly potent emotions and feelings.

Hunger. Desire. Frustration. The thrill of the hunt. The sheer intensity of the emotions caused Castus to release the spell and the Wind or risk being overtaken by it. He gasped, rubbing his head.

The sound of something walking on the ceiling, a low hiss, made his heart stop as he felt that something was watching him from above.

He turned, grabbing the Wind now with a need to defend himself. And what he saw, not only scared the life out of him, it made go still in shock.

It was Fluttershy, or it looked like Fluttershy. The mare was naked, shreds of clothing hanging from her body as if torn at and ripped apart. Her wings and ears looked more like bat wings and ears, or Thestral wings and ears. And jutting just slightly from her mouth were the prick point tips of fangs, a piece of cloth hanging from one of them.

"Fluttershy!?" He gasped.

Fluttershy hissed and swooped at him. Castus rolled away and Fluttershy flew past him and down the hall.

Castus got to his feet, and pulled on the Wind. He didn't want to, but whatever was going on with Fluttershy he would need to subdue her. He didn't want to hurt her, but this was something he had no idea of. He had to get her to Twilight. Or a doctor. Or....something.

"Fluttershy?" Castus said, carefully as he walked toward the hall. All while looking around himself, up and down and to the sides and more so behind him. His heart was racing.

"Babe?" He said, peeking around the hall. Nothing. He walked down, into the kitchen, again found nothing. Then he heard a sound from above.

She was upstairs in the bedroom.

"Fluttershy? Just come out. Okay." He called, as he headed toward the stairs and began to climb them. He pushed the door open slowly, peeking inside through a small crack.

On the bed, he saw a mound hiding under the covers. Castus slowly opened the door fully and stepped through, and gently tiptoed toward the bed.

'Easy. Easy.' He thought, reaching toward the covers.

He yanked the covers off, and was greeted by the sight of the pillows, piled up under the covers.

A low hiss behind him, and the sudden wet feeling of something licking up the back of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

Castus slowly turned his head, and stared into the red slitted eyes of Fluttershy. Or was it Flutterbat? She stared at him with a hungry look, and the smirk slowly going across her face, fangs sparkling in the moonlight. Her breathing quick and deep.

"Clever girl." Castus said, before Fluttershy pounced at him, yanking his body onto the bed. Fangs biting his neck as her hooves tore at his clothes.

Outside the cottage, the sounds of ripping cloth and hisses of deep passion could be heard, followed by moments of screaming pain and the heavy noises of uncontrollable passion. All under the low glow of the full moon above.

Author's Notes:

Credit for this idea comes from one of my fans, Sipioc, who gave me this idea and wrote much of the beginning paragraphs of this chapter. He set it in motion and I finished it. You are a great guy Sipioc. Thank you :).

We got a few other ideas we are working on.

Watch in later chapters for references. If you catch them, congratulations. You are old like I am XD

The Future

Castus and Fluttershy both lay snuggled up close to each other on the couch. A warm, heavy blanket lay around them. Seated in Fluttershy's lap on the blanket lay Angel bunny, who was quietly sleeping. The warmth emitting from the fire place gave the living room a warm, cozy feel added further by the two steaming hot cups of tea that say on the table.

"Hmmmm. So how was work?" Castus hummed a bit, gently moving his hands up to caress and massage Fluttershy's shoulders.

Fluttershy gave a low cooing noise, and she leaned into Castus' treatments as she spoke, eyes close in contentment.

"It wasn't so bad. We had this adorable little puppy brought in. The poor dear had to get his shots, but he was so brave." Fluttershy said with a smile. She always hated having to give a pet shots, mostly cause she hated causing them even the most momentary of pain. But she knew it was for their own good.

"After that, Winona and Applejack came over. Winona wasn't feeling so good and Applejack was worried. She wasn't as active as she use to be." Fluttershy continued.

"Was she okay? Nothing serious I hope." Castus asked. He knew that Applejack cared deeply about Winona and even he had a soft spot for the dog.

Even if she had bit his leg when he had taken the Sweet Apple Acre's human population. And his hand. And his ass.

"Oh she was okay. In fact, she was better then okay." Fluttershy said, smiling and getting a sparkle in her eye.

"How so?" Castus asked.

Fluttershy smiled, and said, "Winona is going to be a mother!"

Castus blinked in surprise, "She is? How?"

Fluttershy giggled, "Oh come now Castus. I'm sure even you know how."

Castus blushed and he slid an arm down to give a playful, pinch of Fluttershy's rear and side. She squeaked, moving away a bit but Castus caught her in his arms and pulled her back to him. He and she shared a chuckle.

"Anyway, I can't really say. Applejack thinks she snuck out of the house and met a male dog somewhere in town. Or she might have run across a wolf. There was a pack passing through not long ago." Fluttershy said, "we won't really know till she has the puppies."

"How is Applejack taking it?" Castus asked.

"Well she was a bit upset with Winona for being as she put it, irresponsible, but she seemed happy at the news anyway." Fluttershy said with a smile and she pressed her head up next to Castus and nuzzled up into his neck.

Castus close his eyes and nuzzled into her mane, breathing in the sweet aroma of her shampoo. The two lay there for a time, until Fluttershy spoke up in a slight hushed tone.

"It's always a joy....when a baby, even puppies are born. Winona will be a good mother." Fluttershy whispered, and moved her hooves down towards her stomach, over her womb. And they began to shake just the barest bit.

"Fluttershy." Castus whispered, feeling a great sense of pain and he moved his hands to place them over Fluttershy's hooves and gripped them to keep them from shaking. Instead now, Fluttershy's whole body shook slightly.

"It...it's okay. I...I'm okay. Really." Fluttershy breathed, though the shaky intake of breath made it clear she was not.

"Fluttershy. I..." Castus started, but Fluttershy cut him off.

"No..I-I know its wishful thinking. I know we were two different species but....but I...I guess I just hoped....that maybe..." Fluttershy began to cry. Gasps of air between moments of tears. Her whole body shaking uncontrolled now.

Castus felt tears in his eyes, and he tightened his grip around Fluttershy. Holding her tight. He did his best to comfort her, stroking her mane. Fluttershy turned, knocking Angel from her lap, much to the rabbits disappointment but hoped up and patted his owners back with his little paw. Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Castus, hugging him tightly and weeping into his shoulders.

It was something they had long come to terms with and agreement. They would never be able to have children of their own. He was a human and she was Equestrian. Their genetics were too different to be compatible.

Once, Castus had asked if Fluttershy had any regrets in concerns of their relationship in this regard. He felt bad inside thinking that he was denying her the chance to have a family.

Fluttershy had slapped him silly when he asked that question. Saying he was an idiot to think that. Later, they both reassured each other that they loved each other without any regrets or doubts.

Perhaps a bit too hard. After all, when a family of mice come barging in and squeaking at you over being too loud apparently, means you are being really loud.

Still, despite her words Castus could see that the fact hurt her. At one time, Fluttershy had apparently taken a pregnancy test and it had come up positive. She had literally been bouncing off the walls, and leaving him stunned. But he didn't question her loyalty, never.

It had looked like for a moment that they had, somehow, told genetics to go screw itself and they were going to have a baby anyway.

But it turned out, after a visit from the doctor, that Fluttershy was not pregnant. A fact she refused to believe until she had taken at least seventeen other pregnancy tests. All of them negative.

It had been a false positive.

Fluttershy didn't leave her room for nearly three days. Outside he could hear her crying, and felt absolutely powerless to help or do anything to make her feel better. It tore him apart inside.

After that, Fluttershy seemed to have returned to normal. But every so often, when the talk of babies came up, she sometimes would break down like this. All Castus could do was hold her close till she stopped crying.

Eventually Fluttershy's weeping became sniffles, and her body stopped shaking as much. She soon looked at him, tear stained red eyes that she wiped, sniffling.

"I'm okay. I'm fine now." She sniffled, "I just....I finally have somepony, someone, who cares about me. Who makes me feel whole. And I can't give him children. I feel so useless."

"You're not useless." Castus said, hugging her tight.

"But...d-don't you want kids? I-I know we haven't talked much about it, but...." Fluttershy sniffled again.

Castus was quiet for a moment. He had never been sure in his desires to be a father. Back in his world on Earth, he had not found the right girl for one. And even then, he didn't feel he would have wanted kids even then; with the world looking like it was going to hell in a hand basket more and more each day.

But now he had found the right girl. The perfect girl. And he wasn't on earth anymore. Maybe....

"Yes. I would like to be a father. Not sure how good of one I would be but...so long as if I was with you I wouldn't mind." Castus said, and he gently stroked Fluttershy's wins.

Fluttershy gasped a bit from the touch on her wings, but nuzzled in close to Castus, "R-really? I think you would be a great father. I...I don't know if I could be as good as a mother as mine was."

"You would be the best." Castus said, lifting her head up with a finger to her chin and kissing her gently for a few seconds.

Fluttershy smiled when the kiss ended, but frowned again and whispered, "But...we can't be parents. Can we."

Castus frowned, but then an idea came.

"Well...maybe we can." He said.

Fluttershy looked at him, confused.

"We could...adopt." Castus said, though now when he thought of it. The idea had its own set of problems.

Problems that he did not want to deal with.

"D-do you think they would allow us?" Fluttershy asked, the same uncertainty in her voice as it was in Castus mind.

And there was the problem. While he was sure that Celestia would back him in a desire to adopt, but he doubted social services and ponies in general might support that. Well maybe some would. Twilight and the others might. Luna. Cadence. Maybe others. But then there would be ponies who would say he couldn't. Especially considering his part in the war.

Best case scenario, they adopted a filly or colt or two without any hassle; or not much anyway. Worse case scenario, this descended into a vicious legal battle and social battle that could cause both him, Fluttershy and Celestia any number of problem.

Castus wasn't sure if he was ready to deal with that possibility. He had so much work already. But when he looked down into Fluttershy's eyes. Seeing the worry, but the deep hope just barely fighting back a deep sadness and despair within. Well, he had always said he would go into the depths of hell for this mare. And he was going to live by his word.

"Yes. Lets adopt. And anyone who says know can kiss my ass." Castus said, tightening his grip around Fluttershy.

Fluttershy smiled, and pulled him into a deep kiss. Castus returned it with equal passion, and allowed his hands to slide across every curve of Fluttershy's form, as she pulled the blanket over them and Castus wove a thread of the Wind to kick Angel out the door.

The little bastard needed exercise anyway.

Making a Home, Making a Family

'Carefully. Caaaarefulllly.' Castus thought as he angled the hammer over the head of the nail, and raised it to bring it down on the metal with all his concentration.

"Hey Castus!"

Castus jerked as he brought the hammer down, but not on the nail.

But on his thumb.

"Yeaaaaaaagggggghhhhh!" Castus shouted, falling backwards as he popped his thumb into his mouth, and tried his best not to shout every curse word in his knowledge.

Turning, Castus growled and looked to see who it was that had said his name. Only to be tackled by the presence, face lost into darkness and squishy, softness engulfing his head.

"Awww, you hurt your finger. No worries, a hug will make everything better." Pinkie said, squeezing Castus with all her might.

"Mmmphinkie?!" Castus shouted in a muffled surprise, and then pushing against her to get free.

But Pinkie just clung to him harder, crushing his back and burying his face further into her cleavage. Castus was finding it a bit hard to breathe now.

"P-Pinkie?"

Castus gasped for air as Pinkie finally freed him, his face red with a blush. He looked and saw Fluttershy looking at them, before she was grabbed into a hug by Pinkie. Her chest and Pinkie's squishing against each other, much to Fluttershy's apparent discomfort, as Pinkie hugged her.

"Hey! Flutters! How are you? The Cakes gave me the day off, and I thought I'd spend it by visiting all my friends and give them hugs, and Castus is at least three years overdo." Pinkie said, finally releasing Fluttershy and bouncing on her hooves.

"O-Oh. Well its good to see you Pinkie." Fluttershy said, once her surprise was over, "Castus are you okay? I thought I heard you scream."

"Yeah. Nice to see you Pinkie." Castus said, using the Wind to fix up his thumb, "And don't worry dear, just had a little mishap with the hammer. It's fine now."

"Say, what are you doing anyway? Oh, oh are you make a boat? No a spaceship? No Skyboat?" Pinkie spoke in rapid succession as she hoped around the wood and beams and boards and such.

"No Pinkie. I'm building an expansion on the cottage. We want to add an extra room or two." Castus said, grabbing the nail again and prepared to hit it with the hammer.

"Oh yeah, you two want to adopt right? Oh it will be so much fun to throw your Just Adopted a Cute Filly or Colt Party. And then their Welcome to your new home party! And then-" Pinkie went on for a time about all the types of parties she would throw once Castus and Fluttershy had finally adopted.

Castus just ignored her, having grown use to Pinkie's behavior at times. Though he could do without the near suffocating hugs. God, he worried what Fluttershy might think. He really had to talk to Pinkie about it, and try to get her to tone it down some.

"Here you go Castus. I thought something cold to drink would help. How is it coming along?" Fluttershy said, holding out a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks babe. And fine." Castus said with a smile, taking the drink.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Fluttershy asked.

"Fluttershy, I said I'd build this with my own two hands and I'm gonna. Trust me." Castus smiled and patted Fluttershy's cheek.

Fluttershy smiled, placed her hoof over his hand, "Okay. I have to go meet Rarity at the spa today. Take care of yourself okay."

"Will do." Castus said, lifting up to kiss her once, "Tell Rarity I said hello."

Fluttershy nodded and after giving one last hug to Pinkie Pie, headed off to town.

Castus watched her go for a bit, before finally turning back to his work.

The process of adoption required a background check and home assessment. Luckily, since Princess Twilight counted as a government official and was a personal friend, it was easy to speed that part of the process along and avoid any possible red tape or lollygagging from the normal officials. A few questions here, a little visit from Twilight who inspected the house. She might have been a friend, but she was going all out professional still, even wore those cute thin glasses and had her mane up in a bun which just made her look cute.

There had not been many issues. The most prevailing was that Fluttershy's cottage, while extensive to house so many animals, only had one major bedroom. Hers and Castus'. If they wanted to adopt a child, they would have to expand the house. A task that Castus was all willing to do himself. After that it was he issue of money. Fluttershy made bits from her work in the animal clinics and shelters, enough for her to live on and still have savings. Castus also had a job, or multiple. Ambassador. Nation builder. City Planner of the Empire. Advisor to Emperor Marcus of the Empire. Did Political Prisoner count? Probably not. Oh and did his help in repairing the Equestrian infrastructure count as construction work? In any case, while most of them weren't paying him, Celestia would send him a collection of bits for his work on the infrastructure at least.

And, though he never stated it, he also had one other way of acquiring income. Even if it did have its dangers.

But the main thing was that he and Fluttershy made enough money to be able to live well and provide the best support for a child. Now he just had to make the house bigger. Which was what he was doing now.

Castus prepared to slam the hammer down, but stopped when Pinkie spoke up.

"So, your building a house?" She asked.

"I'm adding to the one we have. Like how the Cakes added that cupcake sleep in." Castus said.

"Oh, will it be shaped like a cupcake too? Oh no wait, make it a snickerdoodle. Or maybe a éclair?" Pinkie asked, a big smile on her face.

Castus facepalmed, "No." He deadpanned.

"Awww." Pinkie frowned, mane deflating a bit before puffing back up.

Castus got back to getting ready to hit the nail, when again Pinkie interrupted.

"Why are you building it like that?" She asked.

Castus growled, and facepalmed again, "Because I want to build this expansion myself. Its a guy thing."

"Oh like when the Mr. Cake wears that weird muzzle and saddle, whenever Mrs. Cake is wearing her special socks?" Pinkie asked, as always smiling.

Castus blinked, "Wait...what? You know what, never mind. I don't want know. And no Pinkie that's....something else."

"Oh. Well what is it called? Is it called Bananaying?" Pinkie asked again, "Cause they say that word a lot."

"No Pinkie!" Castus shouted, covering his ears.

"Then-" Pinkie started, but Castus placed his hand over her mouth. Pinkie looked at his fingers then began to playfully nibble them.

"Pinkie," Castus said, pulling his hand away from Pinkie's mouth, "Don't you have to be some where?"

"No. Why?" Pinkie asked.

"Well you said you were going to go around town and hug all your friends." Castus said.

"Buuuuuut I also said that you were three years over do for some hugs. Sooooooo...." Pinkie said, then burst into a big smile before tackling Castus again, squeezing him in a hug.

"Mmmmph." Castus muffled, and tried to push Pinkie off of him.

Pinkie released him again, and Castus gasped for air once more.

"Pinkie do you have to do that?" Castus asked.

"Do what?" Pinkie asked.

"That. Hug me that way. Don't you think Fluttershy might be bothered by it?" Castus said, the beginnings of a headache beginning.

"Bother her? Why would it bother her?" Pinkie asked, then gasped, "Oh I know what you mean!"

"You do?" Castus said, feeling relief and yet...doubt.

"Of course! I can't believe I couldn't see it before," Pinkie gasped again, dragging her hooves down her face in shock and looking like the character from the Scream portrait, "I'm always giving you my special hug, but I am always giving Fluttershy my normal hugs. So you're saying that by doing that, I might be making Fluttershy think she isn't special. Which could devastate her poor little heart!"

Castus opened his mouth to say something, but Pinkie leaned into him, muzzle pushing against his nose with a boop, "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. All this time, I've been so blind! But don't worry, I know what to do!"

"You do?" Castus asked, feeling a bit worried now.

"Yes. I have to start giving all my friends my special hug. That way everypony will feel special, and they won't feel like I care about one friend more then the other." Pinkie finished her rant, eyes pinpricks.

"Uh Pinkie...." Castus started, until Pinkie yanked him into a kiss.

Pinkie pulled back, ending the kiss and Castus rubbed his lips on his sleeve, until Pinkie pulled him up to look her in the eyes.

"Oh thank you for pointing that out Castus. You're a good friend, looking out for everyone's feelings. Especially Fluttershy's." She kissed his check this time before giving a big smile.

Castus opened his mouth, to say something, but then decided to just say, "You know....forget it."

When Pinkie jumped to these conclusions it was almost impossible to talk her out of it.

Castus went back to finally putting the hammer to the nail, when Pinkie once more interrupted him again.

"Castus-" She started.

"AGH!" Castus shouted, threw the hammer away and drew on the Wind. He used its power to draw the needed runic symbols into the ground as well as the needed blueprint layout and slammed his fist down, letting the power surge into the materials and symbols.

The materials began lifting, turning and molding like clay, nails sliding into the wood, connecting the pieces with ease, and the wood seemingly to mold itself into place in correction to the pattern and seamlessly with the house as if the cottage itself was simply growing another wing. When the spell ended, the Cottage now had a large expansive additional wing add to it, windows peering into a room that led out to a hall through a door and another door beyond it.

Castus breathed heavily, releasing the Wind and turning slowly toward Pinkie, who looked at him with shock.

"Yes. Pinkie." Castus said with a smile.

Pinkie blinked, "Oh never mind. Hugs!"

And once more, Pinkie engulfed Castus into a hug. All the while, Castus just stood there with a pounding headache.

'I guess using my magic can count as building it with my own two hands.' Castus thought.

Sometime later, Fluttershy returned to the cottage and gasped at what she saw.

Her cottage was bigger now. A whole new section had been added, and had been added with such seemless skill that it looked like it had been a part of the original building. She felt her heart warm up with sheer joy, seeing the work that Castus had put in to help their soon to be growing family.

She looked from the cottage, towards Castus and Pinkie, and then placed her hoof over her mouth to hide her quiet giggle. Somehow she had expected to see this.

Pinkie stood, hooves wrapped around Castus and turning left and right slightly as she squeezed him against her chest. Pinkie seemed to do that to him a lot, and Fluttershy wondered if she and Castus should talk about her and them. But any thoughts on that were lost when Pinkie spotted her.

"Fluttershy! Oh thank goodness. Don't worry! You're special to me too!" Pinkie gasped, releasing Castus, who slumped to the ground and gasped for air like a fish did when out of the water.

"What? Aaaah!" Fluttershy shouted in surprise as Pinkie pulled her into a hug, engulfing her head into her chest as she did Castus. Pinkie squeezed her, her hooves squeezing Fluttershy further into her friends chest, while the sides of her hooves pressed her breasts against each other and squishing against the sides of her head.

'I guess I know how Castus always feels when Pinkie hugs her.' She thought, as she struggled to get free.

Finally, Pinkie freed her head pressed the side of her face against Fluttershy's and rubbed her head up and down.

"Don't worry Flutters. Castus told me everything. From now on, I won't ever let you feel neglected again." Pinkie said.

"W-w-what? But- Pinkie..." Fluttershy stammered, confused and slightly embarrassed. What did she mean by that?

"Oh, look at the time, I still have half of Ponyville to hug. See you two later." Pinkie said, kissing Fluttershy's forehead and speeding off back to town.

Fluttershy stood there, confused and her mane slightly messed up.

"Uh...sh-should we just say its Pinkie being Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked. Not sure how to process the events.

"Yeah." Castus said, still laying on the ground, "My head hurts too much.

Fluttershy nodded, and walked over to help Castus up. The two then laughed, before looking at the cottage and Castus wrapped his arms around Fluttershy, and she leaned in against his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

Their home was bigger now. Now they needed to make their family bigger next.

---

Castus, Fluttershy, Twilight and the girls, walked down the cloud streets of Ponyville. All around Castus could feel the pressure of eyes on him. Though if it was him they were looking at or him and the princess, or even just the princess herself was hard to tell. Though at the back of his mind, Castus could feel mixed feelings of anger or distaste, between confusion and uncertainty. He didn't need the Wind to help him tell him that.

"I'm glad you girls were able to come along. Me and Fluttershy were a bit worried doing this on our own." Castus said as they walked.

"Eh, no problem dude, what are friends for." Rainbow Dash said, tossing her hooves behind her head in a casual way.

"And I couldn't pass up an opportunity to be the first to witness the first in a social change. The first pony adopted by a mixed race couple. This is sure to go into the history books." Twilight said with excitement.

"You will no doubt need a line of clothes for the little darling you will be adding to your lives, and if I can get measurements ahead of time it will make it that much easier to get a head start on them." Rarity said, looking through her purse.

"But do ya think they will even let ya adopt?" Applejack asked, "I mean, I don't doubt your qualifications. But..." Applejack trailed off, fidgeting with her hat.

Castus frowned, and felt a wave of sickness seem to curl up in his stomach.

"Equestrian Law Code G, Section 37q. Specifically states that it is illegal to discriminate against Equestrian citizens, regardless of race, culture, or creed. They have to treat Castus and Fluttershy like any other prospective parents." Twilight said, pulling out a small bound book on Equestrian law from her book bag. She had brought several books and articles for such an occasion.

'But will they try and drag it out? Or some other underhanded tactic?' Castus thought, bitterly.

But an even more bitter thought came to mind. Would any of the children even want to be adopted by them?

The sick feeling that Castus felt before came back with vengeance, and he felt dizzy as the Ponyvilel branch of the Equestrian Orphanage Society, the national orphanage system put in place to help in finding homes for orphaned ponies, griffons and other creatures living in Equestria, came into view. It only grew wore with each step.

'Fluttershy maybe. Hell, and kid would love to have a kind and caring mother like her. But....but me....' Castus bit his lip.

The possibility that any of those children, in this orphanage or others in Equestria, had no doubt been put in there because of the war. A war in which he had led the other side. He had certainly taken his share of lives, even if he hadn't wanted to. And then there was the actions by THEM. He might not have ordered it, but it had still been his warriors. His people. He played a part in that blame.

And now, now he was going to what? Go in and say, 'Hey kids. I know your parents were killed by my kind, but I want to adopt you?' How the hell would that go over?

Castus had suffered a lot, mentally and physically in the times during and after the war. But he always pulled through because he saw a better future in the making. But this was something different.

He was not sure he could live, if he knew that the any child he was raising blamed him, hated him, for taking their parents away.

"Castus? Are you coming?" Fluttershy asked, looking at him with concern.

Castus blinked, and realized that he had stopped walking. He looked up at the building, and took a sharp intake of air.

"I...." Castus said, feeling for the first time a sense of worry he had not felt before.

Fluttershy, sensing Castus discomfort, slowly wrapped her hooves around him and pulled him into a warm embrace. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat.

"You're worried. Right? I am too." Fluttershy whispered to him.

"I just...I, I'm to blame. For any number of kids in there. What do I say to them? How can I even deserve to adopt them, after what I did?" Castus whispered.

"Castus. You always told me, that we can't take back what was already done. But that we should strive to make amends for anything we regret. I know that you if you could have, you would not have wanted any of what happened happen. If you could, you would give back everypony's loved ones who died. But you can't." Fluttershy tightened her grip around Castus as she whispered to him.

Castus didn't say anything, only hugged Fluttershy back.

"But...if we can give a home and love to a child who lost everything, isn't that a way to make up for it?" Fluttershy asked, looking at Castus with a smile now. Though in her eyes, Castus could see an equal uncertainty herself.

She was scared as well.

"But....what if they....what if they blame me? I don't know if I could handle being hated like that?" Castus said.

"Poor dear," Fluttershy whispered, "Maybe they will. But maybe we can change their minds. But you won't get that chance, if you run away."

Castus still did not feel sure, but listening to Fluttershy give her best to reassure him made him feel better.

"Alright...I'll try. Just don't leave me alone in there. Okay." Castus said.

"I'm right beside you." Fluttershy reassured with a smile.

"Hey love birds. You coming or not?" Rainbow Dash called at them.

It took a moment for the two to realize that they were still outside, and that some ponies were beginning to stare.

"Eep." Fluttershy squeaked, blushing and hiding in her mane.

Castus blushed too, and rubbed the back of his head as he and Fluttershy caught up with Rainbow Dash and the others, and entered the orphanage.

---

The inside of the orphanage was neat and tidy. Well kept. At the desk, sat a mare with low rimmed glasses and a grey mane pulled up in a bun. she looked up at them as they entered, eyes widening.

"Princess Twilight? And..." She stopped talking when she spotted Castus, and her eyes seemed to harden.

The mare didn't say anything for a moment before speaking again, "Welcome to the Poynville Orphanage. Was there....something you needed?"

"H-hello, um w-we were hoping to adopt." Fluttershy said, Castus nodding in agreement.

The mare didn't say anything, looking at the two of them for a moment, but most especially at Castus.

"I trust you understand that we generally need to do a background check and home assessment before we can allow you to....adopt?" The mare asked, looking at them speculatively.

"Already taken care of." Castus said, smirking with a sense of satisfaction as he produced two tightly rolled documents from the stack in Twilight's grip; which she gave him with a nod.

The mare took the documents, and examined them carefully. Looking up with surprise at Twilight, and then at Castus and Fluttershy. She placed the documents down.

"Very well. I guess that is all cleared. Well, we have many children up for adoption," The mare said, seeming to put emphasis on the word many when she looked at Castus.

"Come, follow me. The children are in their rooms right now." the mare said, standing and walking down a hall.

Castus and Fluttershy looked back at Twilight and the others, then followed.

'She sure doesn't like me.' Castus thought, noting the mares attitude.

Not that he was surprised.

They soon found themselves at the entrance to a wide room, rows bunk beds within. Some chairs and tables as well. All around, children played or talked. Some read books in their beds, or sat at the tables to draw, or play with toys from a chest of toys.

"Before you go in, I suggest you just go back and forget this nonsense." The mare said, giving the two of them a hard look.

"What do you mean?" Castus asked.

"I know you," The mare said at Castus, "its because of you, and humans like you that many of these children are here. You should do yourselves and them a favor and leave."

Castus clenched his fist, "Thanks, but I think we can make decisions for ourselves."

The mare didn't say anything, and Fluttershy and Castus turned toward the door. Castus felt himself feel hesitant, and he looked to Fluttershy for support.

"I can go in first if you want. Help break the ice." She said to him.

"Yeah. Could you?" Castus asked.

Fluttershy nodded, and she stepped into the room. The reaction was almost immediate. The children stopped their play and all their eyes turned toward Fluttershy.

"O-oh. Uh h-hello." She stammered a bit, not use to such attention.

The children all immediately leapt and rushed her, giving little cheers and some hugging her legs.

"Oh. Oh my. H-hello sweeties. Oh um. N-no I..y-yes. P-please don't crowd around me." She said, feeling a bit nervous with so many small and young ponies around her. Despite this, Fluttershy had a smile on her face.

"N-now everypony. Yes I am here to adopt somepony. Oh you are all so cute. B-but before we continue, I-I'd like you all to meet my Special Somepony."

Castus figured that was his queue, and he gulped as he slowly stepped into the room. The reaction was also immediate, though not at all like Fluttershy's entrance.

The room went quiet, and Castus felt all the eyes of the children on him. Only instead of joy, he saw fear. Uncertainty. The children backed away a bit, some hiding behind their beds or others clinging to Fluttershy before retreating. They made a slight circle around them, all eyes on Castus. He thought he heard a whimper.

"Oh please, don't be scared. He won't hurt anyone. He is a good person." Fluttershy said, trying to win the children over.

Castus sighed, and wondered if this was a good idea. He had always wondered if adopting a pony first would be a good idea, but it seemed the most practical to start with. He was sure that Fluttershy would love a human child as much as a pony, but their living situation would offer a number of challenges on the human child that Castus felt it best to start with a pony child.

But seeing this reaction, made Castus think that maybe it was a lost cause.

Something hard hitting against his head brought Castus out of his thoughts, and he placed his hand over his head and looked down to see a toy block on the ground. He looked over and saw a young filly looking at him with anger, a colt holding her to him in worry.

"Castus! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, coming to him and placing her hoof over where he got hit.

"I'm fine." He assured her, and looked back to the filly.

Fluttershy also looked and she knelt down and moved over to the filly.

"Now that wasn't nice. You shouldn't throw things." Fluttershy said softly.

"Monster! Go away!" The filly shouted at Castus.

"I'm sorry. Please don't hurt her." The colt said, holding the filly tightly.

"We won't. Please, don't be scared." Fluttershy said calmly, and reached towards the filly.

The colt pulled the filly back, and hid them around the corner of the bunk bed.

Fluttershy frowned, pulled her hoof back and stood up.

Castus frowned, and sighed. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

He watched as Fluttershy tried to approach another child, a young Pegasus colt of probably no more then six years. Castus watched as the colt kept backing away now. But then he felt something.

A familiar sensation came over Castus. A feeling that he was being watched. Now, he had some eyes on him from the children but this was different. Like something was watching him, that he couldn't see. It reminded him of the times when Fluttershy was having one of her....episodes....like that one time. Only he didn't get the feeling of hunger. It felt more curious.

He turned, looking behind him and caught the sight of something with a dark mane ducking its head back behind the bed. He blinked, and moved toward it. He heard the patter and clack of hooves on the floor, and he saw the barest sight of a dark tail passing around the corner. Then something brushed his head, and he looked up at the top bunk and saw a tiny bit of bright pink mane sticking out from under some covers.

Castus blinked and stepped up on a bit of the ladder and gently picked up some of the covers to reveal what was hiding and poking his head.

Under the covers, looking at him, were slitted green eyes with a vibrant pink mane atop the head. Long tufted ears twitched. Castus stared back.

"Hello..." He said, and the little creature gasped and crawled backwards through the covers and out the other side. Castus saw it drop down from the other side of the bed, using its leathery wings to glide down.

"Castus?" Fluttershy called, stepping over to him.

Castus pointed to the other side of the bed and made a hush motion. Fluttershy blinked, but stepped over to the side of the bed he pointed to.

Castus crouched down again and moved to the corner of the bed he had saw the tail go behind. He heard gasps and the patter of multiple hooves, as well as a low giggle, before another gasp and screeches of surprise from Fluttershy and whatever it was that Castus saw.

Castus went around the corner, and saw Fluttershy standing in front of the path, as he predicted she would be when he told her where to go, of two small ponies. But unlike ponies, both had the same long tufted ears. Leathery, bat like wings. Slitted eyes. One had green eyes with a vibrant pink mane and tail, and the other had bright sky blue eyes with a dark black and navy blue mane and tail. He recognized them as Thestrals, the bat like sub species to pegasi; though some thought they were a separate species all together.

The dark maned thestral held the pink maned threstral too her close, and looked between Castus and Fluttershy. It was clear she was the eldest, Castus guessed her to be at maybe six or seven. The pink maned thestral, maybe four or three.

"Hello there." Fluttershy said, giving a smile.

The thestrals backed up, but into Castus, they turned and looked at him now. He smiled and crouched lower to be eye level with them.

"Hello sweeties." He said, offering his hand out.

The older thestral pulled the younger one back with her, and looked at Castus offered hand. The pink maned thestral also looked at his hand and leaned forward to sniff it. Then the younger thestral opened her mouth, tiny fangs appearing, and bit down on his hand.

"Ouch." Castus gasped, and the older thestral gasped and pulled the younger thestral off his hand. The young thestral made a whimpering sort of sound.

"S-sorry. Sh-she didn't mean it. Please don't be mad." The older thestral spoke, worried.

"Why would I be mad?" Castus asked.

"Y-you aren't? S-so you won't hurt her?" The thestral asked.

"No. Why would I want to?" Castus asked.

"Ponies say humans hurt ponies when they get mad." The thestral said, ears flattening.

Castus frowned, "Do I look mad?"

"Look siwwy." The pink maned thestral giggled.

Castus smiled, "Yeah. I probably do."

The pink maned thestral giggled again, and looked up at the dark maned thestral with a smile, her tail swishing side to side.

"What are your names little ones?" Fluttershy asked.

"Azure Shadow. And this is Moonlight." The dark maned thestral said.

"Those are lovely names." Fluttershy said with a smile, causing Azure Shadow to blush.

"A-are you here to adopt somepony?" Azure asked Fluttershy, occasionally casting a glance back to Castus. Moonlight looked between the two, a smile on her face.

"We hope so. But...." Castus looked around and sighed.

"Well, we should go." He said, looking to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy looked to Castus, then looked around and sighed before returning her attention to Azure Shadow and Moonlight.

"It was lovely meeting you two."

"Buh bye pwetty wady." Moonlight waved, "Siwwy hooman."

"Moonlight," Azure reprimanded the younger thestral, "I'm sorry if that bugs you." She said to Castus.

"Its fine. Its cute." He reached down and patted the little thestrals head. Moonlight giggled and tried to move away from the pat.

"It was nice meeting you both. Sorry if I scared you." Castus said.

"I-its okay. Um, I hope you find somepony to adopt." Azure said, watching as Castus and Fluttershy walked out of the room. The other children all slowly coming out of hiding.

'Yeah. Me too kid.' Castus thought, though he had some doubts.

"Are you done?" The mare from the desk asked them as they walked out, "I told you it was pointless."

"I-it wasn't so bad." Fluttershy said.

"Well, I suppose you want to meet with any of them in private?" The desk mare asked, though her tone made it clear she thought it unlikely.

"Maybe. Could we have a moment?" Castus asked.

"Of course. Take all the time you need." The desk mare said, before walking off.

Castus pulled Fluttershy aside, "Well...I think that went as expected."

"I-it wasn't so bad. They seemed really friendly." Fluttershy said.

"Till they saw me." Castus sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down.

"Castus." Fluttershy frowned, and placed her hoof on his cheek, "I know it looked bad, but we did meet two fillies that weren't afraid of you."

'Not entirely.' Castus thought, but he nodded.

"Those two thestrals. Yeah, they weren't so bad. Moonlight was a cutey." Castus said, smiling when he remembered the smile on the little bat filly's face.

"And Azure Shadow didn't seem scared of you..." Fluttershy said, "...or well. Not too much."

"Still. Least she was willing to talk to me." Castus said.

Fluttershy nodded, "We've come this far. We should at least see it through."

"I guess we won't know for sure if we don't." Castus said with a sigh.

Fluttershy kissed his cheek, "It will be fine."

---

The ticking of the clock was the only sound that filled the room. Castus sat on a chair, a little too small for him, in what a play room at the orphanage where prospective parents could talk one on one with prospective adopties. A small table with a bunch of toys and blocks stood before him and on the other side sat Azure Shadow, who to Castus' surprise and the desk mare's surprise, had been willing to sit down with him to talk.

It was a moment that Castus thought would not happen, and now that it had occurred, he wasn't sure what to say first.

"Sooo...." Castus started, fiddling with one of those toys where you move the beads through a pathway of metal loops, "Uh...hi."

"H-hello. Again." Azure Shadow responded, for the fifth time since Castus had said hi. It was clear she didn't feel too comfortable herself, as she fiddled with her hooves and tilting a block side to side.

"Oh yeah, well....how are you?" Castus started, trying to end the awkwardness.

"Fine. Um, you?" Azure asked.

"Oh fine, fine, "Castus chuckled a little uneasily.

The ticking of the clock continued.

'Come on Castus. You've faced down armies. Personally dueled two of the other Three High Lords during the Reign of Three of the Third Valhruan Imperium. You were one. Well, I wasn't personally, but...gah....what I mean is that talking to a little girl shouldn't be leaving you mute again. Just say something!' Castus yelled at himself internally.

"W-Why did you want to talk to me?" Azure asked.

"Uh, well I was hoping to get to know you more." Castus said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Why?" Azure asked.

"Well, because...." Castus started, "Well because I hope that....well me and Fluttershy would like to adopt you. And Moonlight too."

Azure looked at him, a mixture of surprise, uncertainty and perhaps the tiniest bit of hope. But then she looked away with a frown.

"Why?" Azure asked again.

"Because Fluttershy and I want to have a family." Castus said, as if that explained it all, but then he sighed.

"And, well...maybe I hoped that I could make amends, for what I did." Castus frowned.

"D-Did you r-really kill ponies? A filly named Butter Swirl said her parents were killed by humans." Azure asked, looking at Castus intently.

Castus bit his lip, "Anything I say, might sound like an excuse. But yes. I have killed ponies before. In the war, myself and other humans killed ponies. But ponies killed humans as well. Even the father of a filly who is a good friend to me was killed in the fighting."

Azure frowned, "Why? Why kill each other?"

"Because we didn't see any other way. Maybe there was a different way, but we were just not seeing it. And as the killing kept going on, it grew harder and harder to see any other way but to fight. I didn't want to fight. And I didn't want to kill anyone. But in the end I did." Castus said, looking at his hands. Seeing the blood on them in his mind.

Azure didn't say anything for a time, before saying, "The other kids think you're a monster. I-is it true that humans burned an entire village?"

Castus clenched his fist, "Yeah. They did. But they won't ever do that again."

"What do you mean?" Azure asked.

"Those humans, "Castus started, "What they did, was unforgivable. Monstrous. I never wanted anything like that to happen. And when I learned what they did, I punished them. Severely."

Azure looked at Castus, and lifted her hoof to his face. Castus blinked, and was surprised to see her wipe away a tear.

"You didn't want it to happen. Did you?" She asked.

"Never. Yet I will shoulder the blame, because someone has too. The memory and all those lives will haunt my mind for the rest of my life. Because I didn't see the hate building in my people." Castus said, tightening his fists and feeling his nails bite into his skin.

Castus kept his eyes on the table, but he looked up in surprise when he felt something brush his head.

He looked up to see Azure, her hoof patting his head.

"Ponies call you a monster. But sometimes, I hear some colts call me one." Azure said, smiling sadly, "but I don't think a monster would cry for what it did."

Castus frowned, "Why would somepony think you're a monster?"

"Cause of these. And these." Azure said, pointing to her fangs, her wings and her eyes.

Castus frowned, and then remembered. Thestrals were historically outcasts amongst Equestrian Society, largely because they were so different from them. And because they have had a long history connected to Luna and in part to Nightmare Moon. Even with Celestia's best efforts and with the return of Luna, it was not easy to end a thousand years of prejudice and superstition.

"I don't think your a monster." Azure said, smiling at him.

Castus smiled back, "Thank you."

"Um...are you, really going to adopt me and my sister?" Azure asked.

"Only if you want us to." Castus said with a smile.

---

Castus walked out of the room, with Azure in tow who had her hooves around his neck as she rode on his back. Stepping into the hall, they saw Fluttershy who held Moonlight in her hooves while the little thestral playfully nibbled on Fluttershy's hoof.

"I trust it went well?" Fluttershy asked, smiling happily.

"Yeah. I think so." Castus said, looking at Azure who smiled back.

Walking back to the main lobby, the four stepped out to the greetings of the girls.

"Hey, so how did it go?" Dash asked first, before noticing the girls, "Oh that's awesome, their thestrals."

"Yes, we sort of noticed." Castus said with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh they are simple darling. And I already have a dozen ideas for a line of clothing for them. I shall call it, Beauty in the Night." Rarity said, her mind already working on a number of designs to draw up.

"Oh this is so exciting, hey do you girls like parties? Ah who am I kidding, of course you do. What kind of cake will you want? What-" Pinkie was immediately stopped by Castus planting his hand over her mouth.

"Let's save that for later eh? We still need to sign all the papers." Castus said, before pulling his hand away.

Castus and Fluttershy turned to the desk mare, who looked at them with surprise.

"Um, of course." The desk mare said.

It did not take long for Castus and Fluttershy, to sign all the needed documents, of which Twilight made copies of with a spell. After that it was just the customary word of a home inspection to ascertain that Azure and Moonlight were being taken care of. By the end of it all, Fluttershy and Castus were walking out of the orphanage and back to the cottage in the company of friends, and with the added addition of Moonlight and Azure Shadow.

Their new daughters.

Author's Notes:

This is the first adoption writing I've ever done. Had to read a few fics about it to see how they do it.

Why bat ponies? Because I can. And cause they are 10/10 super cuddly.

Always Together

Castus and Fluttershy sat together on a bench, overlooking the falls of Neighagra Falls. On any other day, Castus would have made a joke about the name, and maybe find himself in a deep mental debate on the nature of parallel worlds and the nature of places and names like this, but at the moment he could care less about that.

All that mattered to him right now, was the mare seated next to him, head resting against his shoulder and whose wings were wrapped around them both. And the two fillies that lay next to them, resting their heads in their laps in the tell tale signs of sleep.

"They look so adorable when they sleep. Don't they?" Fluttershy cooed, her hoof gently brushing Moonlight's mane as the little thestral filly lay curled on the bench and using Fluttershy's lap for a pillow. Moonlights tail was curled up around her, the end planted in her mouth as she nibbled on it in her sleep.

"Hmmm. Yeah. They do." Castus said, looking down as Azure Shadow nibbled on his palm as she slept. She too lay curled up, though ever so often her wings would twitch as she slept.

The family had decided to take a weekend trip, given that Castus could open a Waygate to nearly anywhere in Equestria or beyond if he so wished, it made such travel easy. Fluttershy wanted their first weekend together as a family to be special, and Castus was willing to do whatever he could to make it so.

They had walked through a number of trails, all of which Fluttershy saw a number of flora and fauna she gushed over, and with a little persuading from Castus, they all got to see a rare species of bird land right on Fluttershy's shoulder. She was so excited she nearly fainted. Moonlight and Azure also had fun, though they enjoyed the tour in a crystal cave where one room was full with crystals the size of trees. After that, they had a nice family dinner at a local restaurant on one of the outdoor balcony tables, giving a gorgeous view of the sunset and the falls.

And through it all, Castus didn't receive many dirty looks. Oh true, some ponies looked at him with suspicion, but others either ignored him or in one case of a few tourists, were too busy taking pictures of him that even if Castus could have seen their faces behind their cameras the flashes had done enough to momentarily blind him anyway.

At the end of the day, with the moon beginning to rise and the stars beginning to appear, the family of four now sat to rest and watch the stars.

"This was a nice day. We should do something like this again next year." Castus said, resting his head against Fluttershy's as she snuggled in closer.

Fluttershy smiled, "That would be lovely."

Castus smiled, and then thought of the item he had hidden in his coat pocket. He had bought it some time ago, but things had never seemed like the right time to give it. But now, here in what was claimed as the most romantic place in Equestria, with the mare he loved and with the new daughters now in their lives; was now the right time?

'Do ponies even do this? I mean, I don't know much on their culture when it comes to things like this. I guess I should just get it done and see.' He thought, feeling apprehensive and a little worried.

Not that he had any reason to be worried, but he felt it was just that instinctive feeling of worry that came when someone was going to do something they knew would change their life forever, even if they knew or thought they knew what the answer would be. But, but he knew the answer? Right? I mean, its not like he had any reasons to doubt what he felt the answer would be, so why would he be worried?

Right?!

"Castus, is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked, looking at him with worry.

"Wrong? Why do you ask?" Castus asked, looking at Fluttershy.

"Well you feel tense under my wings. Is everything okay?" Fluttershy asked, worried still.

Castus had forgotten that Pegasi wings were sensitive, though he never imagined they be that sensitive. He cleared his throat and ran his hand through Fluttershy's mane.

"I'm fine dear. Really, but...can we talk? Over there a bit?" Castus asked, pointing to a area closer to the falls, but not far from eyesight of the bench they sat on.

"O-okay." Fluttershy said with a nod, and she and Castus carefully moved, placing their coats under the girls heads to give them something soft to lay on; with Castus slipping the item out of the pocket and stuffed it into his pocket.

The two came to the spot, and Fluttershy looked at Castus curiously, and worried.

"Castus?" She asked.

Castus took her hooves in his hand, feeling his heart beat faster. She looked at him intently.

"Fluttershy. You know I care about you. Deeply. And the girls too. You all mean more to me then anything else in this whole cosmos." He started, wondering if that was too corny or cheesy. God why does this have to be so damn difficult?

"I know. And you know I love you too. And the girls love you as well." Fluttershy said, smiling softly as her hooves gripped Castus hands.

"I know, and nothing makes me happier then knowing that," Castus said, "Which is why...which is why..."

He felt his heart beat racing now, and he thought it was harder to breathe. Castus mentally screamed at himself, 'Come on Castus, you bastard, just say it!'

---

Discord sat near the t.v. eyes glued to the screen. He wasn't really one for such lovey, dovey, stuff like this. In fact, even watching this much was making him ill, but the suspense was killing him. This was the climax of this part of his new live action, drama, horror, comedy action film and t.v. show. And here was one of the main cast, taking his sweet loving time on such a critical moment. It was maddening.

"Oh come on Castus. Just say it!" He yelled at the t.v. screen, before sucking away at the soda's in his soda hat, the entire hat and then the straws slowly vanishing as he did, even as the cans sat in empty air above his head.

---

Castus took a deep breath and slowly got down on one knee. He wasn't sure if this is what ponies did, if they did this at all, but he figured it was the best, and he pulled out the box from his pocket and held it out. Fluttershy looked down at him, hooves over her mouth and tears in her eyes.

"I...confess, I don't know how ponies go about this sort of thing. But for me, as a human, we do something like this when we find someone we care deeply for. Want to spend the rest of our lives with." Castus said, feeling as if he was going to pass out at any moment, and it was sheer will power keeping him composed.

"Castus..." Fluttershy breathed, tears running down her eyes now.

"I love you Fluttershy. And no matter what happens, that will always be so. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and if you will have me...well...." He gulped and said the last few words with shaky hands.

"Will you. Marry me?" He asked, feeling his stomach clench and doing back flips as he opened the box.

Within was a golden hoof bracelet, adorned with bright diamonds and the center stone was Fluttershy's birth stone. The bracelet lay comfortably in the box and in the middle of the bracelet, lay the silver chain and stone of a necklace, the stone was a deep ocean blue, Sky Crystal, a rare gemstone that was in Pegasus culture very symbolic as it was magical in nature and thus very hard to cut. Luckily, Castus knew a gem expert who knew an expert in cutting gems. Though it had been a pain trying to keep his reasoning's a secret and he was sure she was able to guess his intentions even then. Luckily she kept quiet about it.

Fluttershy made a sound between a cry and a sound of glee, as Castus slowly took the bracelet out and placed it on her left hoof. Then he stood up and put the necklace around her neck, the gem resting just above her chest.

Fluttershy's whole body shook, looking from the bracelet, to the necklace and to Castus.

Castus gulped, and waited.

He didn't need to wait long, before Fluttershy flung herself at him and locked her lips to his, as they fell to the ground. The two lay there for a moment before releasing each other and looking in each others eyes. Castus brushed away the tears in Fluttershy's eyes with a smile.

"Yes. Yes! This is the happiest day of my life." Fluttershy whispered, new tears appearing.

'Oh thank god.' Castus thought, feeling relieved. Of course, he had nothing to worry about....right? Someone really needed to do a study on this pre-proposal anxiety.

The two smiled at each other, before once more kissing each other, unknown to them watching were two sets of slitted eyes, from two little bat ponies who watched with smiles on their faces.

Azure felt a sense of happiness, feeling more then ever that she and her sister were now part of a real family. Even if her new father was a human and her mother was a peasus, and she and her sister were thestrals. They were a family.

And they would all, always be together.

Author's Notes:

A short sweet little chapter, with a little dab of comedy in it.

Mare Talk

Fluttershy slid herself gently into the hot waters of the spa's hot spring. The wide pool was designed that as one slid further into the pool, the water's temperatures began to rise with the warmest at the edges and the center being near scalding hot.

"Oh this is simply lovely," Rarity moaned in delight, as the waters warmed her body, "These natural spring waters are said to have minerals that will simply do wonders for our complexions."

"Can't say I see the difference," Applejack said, stretching her hooves up as she slid further into the water, "But this sure does feel mighty fine to these barkin’ dogs."

“Eh, it's just hot water." Rainbow Dash said, placing her arms behind her head and leaning back against the edge of the pool.

"Actually, it's water that's locked deep below the ground, and leaking up from a natural fissure all the while being warmed by the heat beneath the crust of the earth." Twilight noted, looking up from a book she had with her, a spell on it to prevent the water from ruining the book.

"I think it's great!" Pinkie shouted in enjoyment, before dunking her head under water and holding it there for a time before popping up with a splash, "Weee!"

"Ugh, Miss Pie, must you splash about," Rarity complained, "and while some of you might not understand the benefits of these waters, I think you must see it Fluttershy darling."

Fluttershy felt all her friends eyes on her now, and she hid in her mane some, sinking into the water further. Even after all these years, she never could stand being at the center of attention.

"Um, well it is nice, um, " Fluttershy stuttered, "And I-it did say on the brochure the waters are healthy for you."

Starlight wiped at her mane, having been splashed by Pinkie during her play, “It was nice for you to invite us all as your guests Fluttershy. This place is really marvelous.”

"I still can't believe you won this trip. Nopony never wins those grand prizes." Rainbow Dash said.

Fluttershy blushed, thinking back to the events. She had gone into town to buy some groceries and had seen one of the stands throwing a competition. The aim was to roll a wheel fast enough and depending on the type of colored bead that came out, you won a prize. Mostly ponies were rolling out a red bead, and winning a pack of tissues. Fluttershy normally wouldn't partake, out of fear of all those eyes watching her, judging her! But maybe it was the bracelet on her hoof that gave her courage, and the feeling she could do anything. So, once she had waited for other ponies to play, and saw a pattern to the game, she stepped up and took a chance at the roll.

She had expected to get a red bead like everypony else, and frankly she might have preferred it. But when the gold bead came out, well Fluttershy had been glad when she finally escaped all the shocked eyes, with a two day pass for her and a group to Equestria's most expensive and gorgeous health spa.

Naturally she wanted to bring Castus and the girls with her, but Castus had been unable to come due to some problems in the Empire that needed his help with. Azure and Moonlight were glad to come, and Fluttershy felt it would be a great chance to bond. And of course she was also able to bring her friends along as well and their sisters as well. The whole trip became a sort of Girls Weekend trip for them all.

At the beginning they had all been together, but as the night came the younger girls had either gone to sleep or were back in their rooms. Leaving time for just the adults to talk and relax. It had been awhile since Fluttershy and her friends had been able to have time like this to themselves. In the last few years their respective careers had made it difficult to plan such a thing.

Her hoof went to the spot where the bracelet had been, she had wanted to wear it and the necklace both with her, but Rarity had told her it would be safer to leave them with her clothes in the changing room, just to prevent the heat of the water from damaging them or prevent from losing them without her knowing.

"Hmm, thinking about someone darling?" Rarity asked, looking at Fluttershy's hoof.

"What? Uh, well...maybe." Fluttershy blushed, sinking further into the water.

"Oh don't be bashful darling," Rarity said, coming over to her friend and easing her back up, "I think it's simply romantic. It's clear that Castus really cares about you."

Fluttershy smiled, and yet she could not help but feel a sense of doubt in the back of her mind.

Why did Castus care about her so much?

She knew he loved her. There was no doubt in that. But why, what did he see in her?

Fluttershy found herself looking at her friends, as they talked, and silently began comparing herself to them.

There was Rarity. Absolutely gorgeous. Shapely, curved and elegant, with the personality of a Canterlot noble lady. Out of their all their group, Rarity was most certainly the most stunning, and practically had stallions tripping over themselves when she wanted them too. Her business was profitable and expanding further and further and becoming one of the top five fashion designers in Equestria.

Then there was Applejack. Honest. Strong. Her body was tone from the work in the orchard. And while she had only ever heard of it, she understood that when Applejack wanted she could act like a regular Manehatten debutant.

Rainbow Dash. Her best friend, for as long as the two of them could remember. She was everything that Fluttershy felt she never could be. Independent. Assertive and not scared of anything. Her body was lithe and athletic from all her races and training as an official member of the Wonderbolts.

Twilight was a princess and an alicorn. She knew that she and Castus would meet to discuss magic, or science or history. She had sat with them once to join in their discussions, and not even halfway through she had been completely lost while they spoke. Twilight was cute, and her bookish personality was endearing.

And of course Starlight herself was as much of a scholar as Twilight. Plus her figure was just as eye drawing as Rarity’s. But from what she understood, Starlight was seeing her old friend Sunburst.

Then there was Pinkie Pie. She was funny, giddy, and excitable. Always ready to laugh and with a joke to spread the laughter. And her entire figure, curvy, even with her entire diet of sugar, she never gained more weight, and what weight she did have seemed to only accent her figure more. Especially her flank. Pinkie could be rather, surprising at times, especially when she once hugged both her and Castus into her breasts, nearly suffocating them both. She still didn't understand why she was doing that now.

"Fluttershy? Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy blinked, looking up and seeing Rainbow Dash in front of her face. Her friend looked at her confused.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry. I was...well I guess I just got a little lost in thought." Fluttershy said, blushing.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and moved to sit beside her friend, sending a small ripple of water over her shoulders as the fellow Pegasai slumped down next to her, "Geez, you had me worried a moment. Anyway, I was asking if you wanted a drink?"

Rainbow Dash offered out a small cup, that looked like a tiny bowl, and held up a small white jug. The others also had similar cups, and pouring the contents of a similar jug into the cups.

"U-Um, wh-what is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Eh, some Kirin drink from overseas." Rainbow Dash said, pouring a clear liquid into the bowl, "Come on, drink up. We are suppose to be relaxing."

"It's called ‘sake’, Rainbow Dash." Twilight said, sipping from her cup, "though I've never tried it before." She said in a strained voice as she fought down a cough.

"It does have a rather exotic taste to it." Rarity said, sipping her cup as well, her more refined tastes better preparing her for the drink’s bite.

“It’s,” Starlight coughed as she took a drink, “it’s definitely unique.”

"Tastes kinda plain ta me. Nothing like a good hard cider." Applejack said, swirling her cup around.

“Sore wa ikutsu ka no yoi sakedesu!” Pinkie said, downing an entire cup and pouring a second, then a third.

“...Say what now?”

“Just read the subtitles, Appurujakku.”

The girls stared silently at Pinkie Pie with confused expressions. Rainbow Dash with a shrug, suspended it as she offered a cup and bottle to her yellow friend. “Sooooooo Flutters, sake, no sake?

"Oh uh well....maybe one drink." Fluttershy said, bringing the drink to her mouth.

---

"So, Fluttershy darling," Rarity started, setting her cup down beside her as she brushed her mane back a bit, "tell us, what is life like with Castus? You two have been together for awhile now, two adorable daughters. But what is life like now?"

Fluttershy blushed, "Oh well, i-it is different back when I lived alone. Waking up next to somepony every morning is rather nice and it makes you feel so warm inside. He is caring and always is willing to help, even when he has so much to do himself. He will even stay up late when the girls are having a hard time getting to sleep to read to them. But other times he can be rather silly. One time, Fuzzy Legs had come up with our breakfast as a surprise, and when Castus woke up the first thing he saw was a big spider right near his face; he woke up the whole house when he screamed."

Fluttershy giggled, remembering the moment. The girls joined in, laughing.

"So, the big bad human mage is afraid of spiders?" Rainbow Dash chuckled, "I'll have to remember that."

"Oh, I wouldn't say afraid," Fluttershy said, "though, maybe a bit terrified."

Fluttershy smiled, thinking on it all as she took another sip of her drink, before frowning, "But sometimes, even when he seems happy I can tell he has a lot on his shoulders. He puts a lot of blame on himself from the war, and he refuses to talk about it. Sometimes it is so aggravating."

"Don't fret over it so much sugarcube. That's how stallions are. Pony or human I guess." Applejack said knowingly, "just let ‘im know ya'll be there fer him and he'll tell you eventually."

Fluttershy smiled, giving Applejack a nod.

"Well it is good to see you are happy dear. Though I a curious, how is Castus? I mean, how is he?" Rarity asked, looking away a bit with a slight flush.

"How is he?" Fluttershy asked.

"You know....intimately?" Rarity asked.

Fluttershy blinked, then her face went bright red when she realized what Rarity was asking.

"O-oh, u-um w-w-well uh...oh my." Fluttershy stammered.

"Oh don't be bashful darling. We are all mares here, you can tell us. It is a rather important topic after all." Rarity said, taking another sip of sake.

Fluttershy’s mind went into a frenzy. On the one hoof she was absolutely flustered that she was even being asked this. On the other hoof, part of her felt...thrilled. She had wanted to talk to her friends about this matter but was unsure how to bring it up, and low and behold the opportunity happened to fall right into her lap. But could she really go through with it?

“W-well, h-he's...nice.” She mentally kicked herself for being so generic almost to the point she felt it was kind of hurtful to her stallion’s reputation.

“Nice?” Chirped Dash as she slugged another cup full down.

“Y-yes, very...passionate and…re-ceptive?” It was then that the butter mare realized she was more than a bit out of her depth.

“Receptive’ huh?” Chuckled Applejack as she poured herself another cup. “Well, no offense to Castus or yerself, sugarcube, but I'll keep mah stallions of the equine persuasion.”

“Ahh yes, Applejack how is the Lieutenant?” Rarity teased causing the apple filly to sputter her drink and turn to the fashionista with a blushing glare. This elicited a round of chuckles from the gathered friends, and put Fluttershy at ease, now that the focus was taken off her.

“Anyhow,” the orange mare said pointedly, “Alls ah'm sayin’ is; a filly don't grow up raisin humans on a farm without seeing some...tools, every now and again.” She said blushing a bit more prominently. “And if we're bein honest, I think our boys have a bit of an ‘advantage’.”

“That's true, the human male phallus is proportionally smaller than an equine stallion’s, even with the height difference.” Spouted Twilight expertly before she realized what she saying. “T-though it's not by that much! I’d say it's on average seventy percent as big. Not that I researched that! I-it's common zoology! Well, biology. Anatomy. Somepony, please talk so that I stop!”

“Why?” Smirked Rainbow, as she tried to contain her laughter. “This is hilarious!” Another round of laughter followed certainly louder this time as the mares laughed at the madly blushing Princess’ expense.

After a while the laughter subsided once more and Rarity reached for the bottle from the Multi-hued speedster. “So, dear your love life is doing well then?”

“Oh yes.” The butter mare said with a start as the conversation switched back to her. “It's a very satisfying and loving. Though lately we have to be a bit more discreet, you know with the girls.”

“Yeah,” Rainbow remarked slyly with noticeably rosie cheeks,” I had you pegged for a screamer.”

Another bout of giggles ensued, Fluttershy among them in spite of herself. She tried to stifle her giggles with a hoof but found it pointless as they continued to slip out. No doubt the drink they were passing probably had something to do with that. She had to admit, she kinda liked it. After a moment she composed herself and put her cup down.

“Well, it can be a wild seven minutes.” She added with a remnant giggle only to be met by silence.

“Seven...minutes?” Piqued Twilight, her eyes wide, her book slipping from her hooves and was now currently floating it's way to the bottom of the pool.

Looking around Fluttershy saw that her friends were looking at her in a way that she couldn't quite place. Shock?

Fluttershy looked around at her friends, and shrank slightly into the water at their stares. Oh dear, had she said something wrong?!

“F-Fluttershy, darling, are you saying that...when you and Castus are...being close, he lasts for seven minutes?” Rarity’s own eyes had the expression of shock and disbelief.

Fluttershy worried she had said something wrong, and quickly stammered as she tried fix the situation. “Oh-uhhhhh yes. But it's okay sometimes he can last twice as long if we...you know...go again.”

“Go again?!”

“Twice as long?!”

Fluttershy flinched a bit from the shouts of surprise, "U-uh y-yes, one time we went for at least an hour."

"What!?" The girls shouted.

"Y-yes," Fluttershy said, "I-is that bad?"

The girls all went silent, and they all looked at each other, slight blushes on their faces.

"N-no," Starlight said, "That's...it's just surprising is all."

"Y-yeah, don't fret sugarcube," Applejack chuckled uneasily.

Fluttershy smiled slightly, "O-oh, okay. I was worried I said something wrong."

"Oh it isn't wrong at all dear." Rarity assured her friend.

"Though it's definitely unfair." Rainbow Dash mumbled.

Fluttershy blinked, "U-unfair? Why?"

This innocent question was met with the same silence as before until the Applejack coughed awkwardly and explained in the best way she could.

“Well...Sometimes, when a mare is ‘workin’’ with her stallion, he-well, not all the time mind you,” she refused to make eye contact with anypony present and seemed very interested in the cup she fiddled between her hooves. “Sometimes he brings his cows home...before you're done...paintin’ the barn.”

This explanation only proved to confound the already confused pegasus, as her expression followed suit.

“That isn't to say they don't do a good job, or they aren't...helping.” Starlight jumped in, a sense of agreement falling over the other mares present.

“Of course,” Rarity concurred, it's just that sometimes…” She seemed to know the words but didn't want to come out with it. “Girls; help.”

“The Race seems to be over before the bang goes off.” Chimmed in a somewhat sullen Rainbow Dash whose reddened face matched a few strands of her multihued mane.

“I-I still don't…”

“Shometimes yah gotta sshay ‘kloppit’and Buck yourself!” Slurred an equally red faced Pinkie who seemed to be having issue holding up her head.

“PINKIE!” The other mares responded all now completely red in the face.

“Wwaaaaaaah-tever, I'm drunk already, hee-hee(-hic)!

Pinkie's slumped against the edge of the pool, her head lulling back as she giggled, an occasional hic up every so often.

"Ugh, Pinkie. You are such a light weight." Rainbow Dash groaned, rubbing her head before chuckling.

"Um, Twilight, perhaps you can best explain it?" Rarity asked.

"Twilight?" Rarity said again, "Twilight?"

Twilight stayed absolutely silent, her entire position still as it had been when her book had slipped from her hooves.

Twilight was lost in her thoughts, and was finding herself in a conflict with herself. All of them centered around a single person. Castus.

Since they started their weekly meetings and scholastic discussions, and she had come to greatly enjoy their time together. They shared an equal interest in magic and history. She had come to look forward to their weekly meetings, but as time had gone on she had started feeling not just excitement to discuss magic or science, but she had found that she more then anything started looking forward to seeing Castus himself.

And in this, came her conflict. Originally, she had just assumed her excitement had been from merely her friendship with the man. Her respect for his knowledge and academic mind. At least, that is what she had told herself.

But now?

Now she was not so sure, if that had been the case. Learning of how long a human stallion, uh man, could last. And in part, learning of the love life of her two friends, Twilight felt a mix of wonder, and jealousy that she felt ashamed to admit feeling. Learning how long Castus could last, brought back a memory of when he had shown her the intensity of the magical energies known as the Wind. The magic had nearly made her catatonic, as her mind and body was lost in what she could only describe as a primal power unlike anything that unicorns or alicorns had. Her body had felt on fire, and while it had been painful it had been a pain that had been masked by unimaginable sensations of pleasure that had caused her body to react in multiple ways. Even after it had ended, she had wanted nothing more then to drag Castus to the ground and violate him in every possible way and let him do the same.

And now, learning this and recalling that, she was starting to wish she had. And felt ashamed that she felt jealous of Fluttershy because she could do what she knew she couldn't.

'I shouldn't feel this way though. She is my friend, and she has finally found somepony, someone, who makes her happy. She deserves to have that without any trouble.' Twilight thought, trying to banish the negative feelings.

She should be happy for Fluttershy. She had a wonderful stallion. One who could hold her when she was sad. Who cared for her. Took care of her. Could wake up next to every morning. And never have to fall asleep alone every night.

"Stop it!" Twilight shouted, splashing the water.

"Ahh!" The girls shouted, stepping back from the outburst.

"Oh, we are sorry darling. But we were worried. You were so quiet." Rarity said.

Twilight blinked, "N-no, I shouldn't have yelled. I'm sorry."

"Oh, don'tcha fret Twi," Applejack said, placing her hoof on her friends shoulder before adding, "I think we've all just 'ad too much of this sake stuff. Whats say we call it a night?"

"Hmmm, yes I suppose. While this water is so delightful, I'll start to prune if I stay in any longer." Rarity said, getting out of the water and wrapping her towel about her form, her magic to wrap another towel about her mane.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both had to help Pinkie out, whose constant giggling and motion was making it hard to get her towel around her.

"Hehehehe, hey," Pinkie giggled, "That tickles."

Pinkie giggled, before her head lulled back and her whole body went limp in Rainbow Dash's hooves. Snores replacing her giggles.

"Gah, Pinkie wake up. AJ, give me a hoof." Dash complained as she tried to keep her friend up.

AJ chuckled, shaking her head, as she helped Rainbow Dash carry Pinkie out.

The girls went into the changing room, where they dried themselves and Pinkie off, before switching into their robes and headed back to their rooms. As each of them left their group to go to their rooms, soon only Twilight and Fluttershy remained, as their rooms were right next to each other.

"The girls seem to be asleep." Fluttershy said with a warm smile, hearing the faint sound of snoring from within as she pressed her ear to the door.

"Your definitely a great mother Fluttershy," Twilight said, smiling, "I'm glad you found happiness. I'm glad to know Castus makes you happy."

Fluttershy smiled, "Yes, it is wonderful. But you know, sometimes its me that takes care of him."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, curious.

Twilight's question made Fluttershy think back on moments of her life with Castus. How some nights, she would wake up to the sounds of him crying. Sometimes because of his family back on his world, how he never got to say goodbye. How he couldn't see them any more. And other times, he wouldn't say anything; only cry. All she could do was hold him, and whisper to him till his tears passed.

"Well, just like Castus is there to protect me. I'm there to protect him. As long as we are both there for each other, I know that no matter what we will always be happy." Fluttershy said.

Twilight blinked, before giving a slight frown, "It sounds rather nice. I....hope one day I can feel that way as well."

Fluttershy looked at her friend confused, "Twilight?"

"Uh, well good night. See you and the girls at breakfast." Twilight said, smiling as she turned to enter her room.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, but Twilight was in her room before she could.

"U-uh, yes. See you at breakfast." Fluttershy said to nopony, before slowly entering her room and sliding into her bed.

In the other room, the lights off and surrounded by darkness, Twilight slipped out of her robe. She slid herself slowly into her bed, under the covers, and rested her head on her pillow.

Despite the warmth surrounding her, she felt a slight shiver, and curled her legs up and pulled the covers tighter around her. She turned, gazing at the empty side of her bed.

A stabbing pain in her heart, made her clutch her pillow and tried her best to banish thoughts of a young man crawling into bed with her, and wrapping his warm arms about her form in the night.

Just like he did with the mare next door to her almost every night.

'I'm a horrible friend.' Twilight thought, clutching her eyes tight, turning again and fighting to get to sleep.

Author's Notes:

I have no idea if its better to take jewelry off before entering a hot tub, but I usually do.

Thank you Sipioc for helping with this chapter. A lot of this will be excellent material to look back on should I ever do similar chapters for this in future fics.

Mother's Day Special

Valen immediately knew that something was strange about today.

He first noticed something was off when he and Castus had returned from the Empire to Ponyville. He had came along this day to see Scootaloo and Tiara, given that he had not been able to for nearly two weeks due to his assignment to help a patrol scout the north border mountains. It would be good to see them and share his tales with them. Scootaloo especially loved it when he talked about his little adventures as she called him.

Normally he and Castus would walk through a Gateway Castus made, maybe chat a bit, and split up once they arrived. But today, Castus had not opened a Gateway to Ponyville, but instead to Canterlot; much to the shock and gasps of many a rich pony. Valen couldn't help but smirk.

But when Castus began purchasing flowers, a box of what ponies called chocolate and even making something called Reservations when they stopped at one of those places ponies went to eat food at, resteraunts if he was correct. All this told Valen that something important was happening today.

At first he figured it was something to do with the Lady Fluttershy. Valen knew that Castus dotted on his wife, he had even met her a few times and found her to be a kind soul, and he could see why Castus cared about her. So based on his original thoughts, he figured it was not worth asking about as he was sure it was a private matter.

But, after taking his leave from Castus when they did finally arrive at Ponyville, Valen noticed the ponies were also acting strange. Some stallions carried flowers with them, and he even spotted children carrying these big heart shaped cards. He saw stands offering gifts, flowers or cards and other things. And he kept seeing a word on some signs of advertisement.

Mother's Day Sale Today.

'Mother's Day?' Valen said to himself, looking at the word.

Was it some sort of holiday? Maybe the girls could tell him about it. Whatever the case or reason, he pulled a number of coins of the newly printed Imperial coinage, mostly some coopers and a few silvers, and purchased some flowers. He was still not sure how money worked, and something was telling him that even with this sale thing, he felt the pony was cheating him. Still, at least he would have something for the girls when he met them.

Since Scootaloo was the closest, he figured he would go to her first. Though even after these few years, going up to her house always made him tense. Memories of the pain he had caused Scootaloo's family rearing their ugly head.

Still, he took up his courage and knocked on the door and hoped Scootaloo answered.

Usually she did, but sometimes it was either her mother or aunt. When it was one of the others, it was always an awkward moment. If it was Scoot's aunt, she would usually give him a hard eyed look, before sighing and letting him in. Though never once did she seem to lose a tension in her body. Just as well, Valen never stopped feeling tense till he was safely with Scootaloo.

If it was her mother, Valen would see her give him a smile, yet in her eyes he could tell she was still mourning. And it only made him feel terrible. They never spoke to each other, except maybe a greeting. Again, he was glad when he finally saw Scootaloo.

"Hello? Valen!" Scootaloo said, answering the door to Valen's relief. She jumped him, giving him a hug and planting a kiss on his lips.

Valen flushed, but wrapped an arm around her and lifted her up, careful to hold tight to the flowers with his other arm, and causing her to make a noise in surprise, before returning the kiss.

"What brings you here? I thought you were patrolling the Everfree?" Scootaloo asked, that glint in her eye that told Valen she wanted to hear about whatever adventure he had.

"We finished somewhat early. We didn't get as far before we had some unusual encounters. So I decided to come visit you and Tiara. I brought these." Valen said, holding up the flowers.

"Oh these are perfect! I didn't know you knew about today." Scootaloo said, looking at the flowers with a smile.

Valen blinked, was today something special? He was sure that Scootaloo's birthday was last month, and Tiara's wasn't for another two weeks. So what was today?

"I know mom will love these. Come in, she and aunty should still be in the living room." Scootaloo said, practically dragging Valen in.

"Huh?" Valen said, confused. Before he could even ask, he found himself standing at the entrance to Scootaloo's home living room. Within he saw her aunt and mother sitting on a couch, pieces of colored paper stuffed neatly into a bag, and an assortment of gifts and some cards sat on the coffee table.

Scootaloo's aunt and mother looked up as he and Scootaloo entered. And Valen gulped, feeling that usual tension. But from the two older mares, he got looks of surprise.

"Hey, mom look. Valen brought you flowers for mothers day."

"He did?" Scootaloo's mother said, confused, and gave Valen an even more curious look.

"Why?" Scootaloo's aunt asked.

"Cause he is a cool and caring guy." Scootaloo said, nudging Valen in the side with her elbow.

Valen grunted, and looked at Scootaloo confused. His eyes darted among the gifts and saw a similar word of Happy Mother's day on them. Was this what it was about? Ponies giving gifts to mothers and to the mothers of their loved ones? Valen didn't know, the look Scootaloo gave him told him to act.

"Uh...yes. Uh, here." He said, uncertain and confused as he offered the flowers that had been for Scootaloo to her mother. Scoots mother took them and sniffed them.

"Oh, they are lovely." She said with a smile, "Thank you...Valen is it?"

"Uh, yes." Valen said with a nod.

"Well thank you, this was very thoughtful." Scoots mom said, setting the flowers down carefully.

"Didn't even know you humans had mother's day." Scoots aunt said.

"Uh, well," Valen started.

"you don't even know what it is do you?" Scoots aunt deadpanned.

Valen nodded.

Scoots aunt and mother looked at each other, before giggling and chuckling. Valen flushed, feeling embarrassed.

"Oh don't fret. This was still nice." Scoots mother said, reassuringly.

"But, uh what is Mother's day?" Valen asked.

"Its the day when ponies young and old give gifts and warm wishes to their mothers. You know for taking care of them and raising them. Or in the case of husbands and herd mates, to show appreciation to the mothers of their children." Scoots aunt answered.

Valen blinked, and thought on this. And a feeling of hurt, began filling his heart.

"Oh, really?" Valen asked.

"Yes. So now you can go home and give your own mother a gift. Might surprise her." Scoots aunt said.

"Aunty!" Scootaloo shouted, looking at Valen with worry.

"What?" Scoots aunt asked, before the look of remembrance came to her eyes and she planted a hoof over her mouth.

"Oh, dear," Scoots mom said to Valen, "She didn't mean..."

Valen bit his lip, and looked at the ground, fighting down a swirling twisting in his gut, "Its-its alright. Um, I think I should go...there is...it was nice meeting you all again. Um, Happy Mother's day."

Valen gave Scootaloo one last hug, before making his way out. He need to be on his own for a time and settle his stomach. But he knew that he couldn't just see Scootaloo and ignore Tiara. So, once he felt he had some control over his head again, he bought more flowers, though extras this time and a few other things; before heading over to Tiara's.

Standing before Tiara's mansion always had him feeling very small. And uncomfortable. Every time he visited he had a feeling that even the maids and butlers of the house looked at him like he was inferior; even if they would never voice such thoughts.

He knocked on the door, and like always was greeted by an old pony butler.

"Oh," The pony said, "Its you. Come to see the young lady Tiara again? Well she is away for this weekend with her mother on a trip to a spa in Canterlot."

Valen frowned, "Oh. Well, give her these to her and her mother both when they get back? And my wishes to her mother to enjoy her Mothers Day."

The butler pony looked at him oddly, taking the offered gifts, "Hmmm. Yes, I will try to remember."

Valen scowled, dug into his pockets and pulled out one of the few gold coins he had, flipping it to the butler, "Maybe you will remember better?"

The butler caught the coin, bit it, "Hmmm, yes I might. Good day." And with that, he shut the door in Valen's face.

Valen growled, but turned and headed back toward Castus and Fluttershy's home. He still had flowers and a few other items on his person. They weren't for Tiara or Scootaloo however. But he needed to return home to the capital before he could give them to their true recipient.

He found Castus and Fluttershy, along with their two bat pony daughters. Valen was still amazed by that, he had never seen a bat pony before and while they looked frightening, he had once had to look after little Moonlight once and had found the dear girls charm simply heart warming.

Castus seemed surprise by his rather short visits, but did not press when Valen asked to be sent home now. Walking through the Waygate, Valen soon found himself standing in the middle of the streets of the Capital of the Empire. The City of Val. He began walking down the streets, passing by people who paused to give him curious looks. Some asking why he was carrying so much. Valen didn't respond, focusing on getting to his destination.

Before long, he stood before the single most respected and cherished building in all of the City. The Hall of Ashes, the resting place of the Great Ash pearl, and where the dead were properly laid to rest. Since its construction, it had also become the place where many people now set their Ash Pearls, in the stone hand of statues specially carved in the likeness of the dead. The Great Ash Pearl was different, standing on an ornate alter at the end of a hall, where statues of those whose ashes formed the pearl stood in line on the way to the alter. To one of these statues, did Valen walk towards.

Finally reaching the statue, Valen stopped and looked at it, feeling again that twisting feeling in his stomach.

He stayed silent as he kneeled down, setting the flowers at the base of the statue in a vase he bought, filling it with water. He set a card down as well next to the flowers and then just sat there before it, looking up at the stone features of his mother. His hands clenched his knees as his body started to shake.

"Happy Mother's Day. Mom." He whispered, as tears began falling from his eyes.

Author's Notes:

A little special chapter for mother's day. Lots of feels I hope.

The Next Generation

Author's Notes:

Note, some strong language in this chapter. You have been warned.

Within the royal stable of the Imperial City of Val of the Empire of Humanity, a scream of fear and terror shook the once calm quiet, followed by a bloodthirsty screeching roar. A number of guards on patrol nearly dropped their weapons in surprise, before rushing to the scene.

"Help! Help!" A young stable hand shouted, as he clung desperately to a tree. He felt something sharp tear at the bottom of his pants, and he screamed as he tried to climb higher.

Below him, the beast that had sent him scurrying up roared, slamming its bulk into the tree and causing it to shake. It reared up on its hind legs and swiped its great claws and tore bark and small tree limbs off as it tried to get at the poor young stable hand.

The guards paused in their charge and gapped with shock at the beast before him. Standing twice the height of a full grown man, heavily muscled body and legs that ended in great sharp claws as thick as a sword. But at its head, was that of a hawk or eagle. Black feathers, with red fringe, decorated its top half, before giving way to dark grey fur.

The guards felt froze in fear from this creature, but the shouts of the young stable hand threw them to abandon fear and do their duty to protect a citizen of the Empire and a fellow human being. They leveled the great halberds they held, grateful for the distance the weapons would give them. But this surety was lost when, as if sensing them, the beast turned and roared. Its great bulk soon charging, leaving gouges in the earth as it roared a blood cry.

"Hold!" The captain of the troop shouted, as they leveled their weapons. Their forms shaking, even as they worked to keep the weapons steady. Who could stand in the face of such a monster charging them.

"Wait!"

From the edge of their vision, a small girl of perhaps no more then ten summers, rushed out and positioned herself between the guards and the charging beast.

"Don't hurt him. Stop!" She shouted.

The guards watched, to utter amazement and shock, as the charging beast stopped, just inches from the girl, its towering form standing before her and it lowered its head and roared at her, the very volume of the beasts voice causing the young girls hair to flick about as spittle slammed on her face.

The beast's head, inches from the girls, glared at her as it lowered itself till it was eye to eye with her small form. A low rumbling growl, growing in its chest.

"Girl, get away from that monster!" One of the guards shouted.

"He isn't a monster." The girl said, looking from the guard to the beast before her, "Stop that."

The beast growled low, before huffing and lowering itself down into a resting position, like a cat would. It flick its tail and lowered its head to the girl, who slowly placed her hand on its head and petted the creature; who gave a low rumbling sound that almost sounded like a purr.

"See. Put your weapons away, or you will scare him." The girl said, looking back to the guards.

The guards looked at the girl, then the beast, then each other, but they did not lower their weapons.

"Do as she said."

The guards turned and they quickly stood at attention, "Emperor Marcus. Lord Castus."

"Did you have to have them start calling me that?" Castus groaned, rubbing his head.

"You made all our people call me Emperor," Marcus said to his friend, "Now we both can feel uncomfortable."

Castus sighed, "Fine. Anyway, you men stand down. That creature will not harm you, as long as you don't give it reason to. Do as Sarah said."

The guards blinked, again looked at each other, before nodding and taking a step back, but never taking their eyes off the beast who now nuzzled its feather head against the little girls hand.

"There, see, no one will hurt you." Sarah said.

"Emperor Marcus, what is that creature?" One of the guards asked.

"A new addition to the Imperial stables. And the first of what will be the Empire's first order of knights and mounts." Marcus said, approaching Sarah.

The beast looked up and growled at Marcus, causing him to step back and hold his hands up.

"Once we, work out a few things." Castus said, "Um, Sarah how do we approach it again?"

"Its not an it, its a he. And his name is HighClaw." Sarah said, turning from the beast, "And you first need to bow. Like this." Sarah gave a slight bow, as a demonstration.

Marcus and Castus looked at each other, then at the beast, who eyed them like one would food.

"If you don't bow before getting close, he will think you are challenging him." Sarah said, stepping to the side as the beast stood up.

"Right." Marcus and Castus said at the same time, and both bowed slightly to the creature named HighClaw.

HighClaw tilted his head at the two, before lowering its head slightly to them in a form of bow.

"There. See, now he knows you aren't going to challenge him. So he won't attack you." Sarah said smiling.

Marcus and Castus looked at Highclaw, and slowly approached. Highclaw stood there still, but his eyes never lost that look of predatory power.

"Was that why he was attacking the stable hand?" Marcus asked, directing the guards to go help the man down and attend to any injuries.

"Probably. Or maybe he was hungry. HighClaw can get testy when its feeding time." Sarah said with a shrug.

"Hmm. I thought we asked you to keep him confined to the southern stables. We don't want him hurting anyone." Castus said, slowly reaching to pet the Highclaw.

"Highclaw doesn't like it there. He likes this stable, because when the wind blows right he can smell the flowers from the garden." Sarah pouted.

Marcus and Castus rolled their eyes.

"I guess we better make the arrangements. And you young lady, had better tell every stable hand how to properly approach HighClaw. We don't need another incident." Marcus said.

"I will Emperor." Sarah said, giving a curtsey.

With that, Sarah placed her hand on the leg of HighClaw, and Castus sensed the smallest hint of the Wind, flowing from the girl and to the beast. Highclaws head looked around, then down to Sarah, before the two of them began walking back towards the pens.

Marcus watched, shaking his head, "I still cannot fathom. A tiny girl like that, able to so easily tame such a powerful creature from the Everfree."

"Its all she can do with the Wind, but in this case its our advantage. Sarah will prove to be a great aid to our countries military and might even make a powerful knight once she gets a little older." Castus said, "Sarah may be small, but her inner strength is without bounds."

Marcus nodded, and thought on the sight of grown men cowering before HighClaw, "Hmm. I suppose one should not be judged by size alone."

---

Strike. Strike. Block. Dodge. Strike. Repeat.

Strike. Strike. Block. Dodge. Strike. Repeat.

Over and over the rhythm of the movements played in Valen's head as he swung his practice sword in time with other recruits in the drilling grounds set aside from the city. Here he, and every other man and woman of fighting age from the various clans, or Imperial Districts as they were being called now as each clan was assigned to an area of the Empire to live in and build upon, drilled and practiced combat.

The sounding of the bell ended the drills, and Valen was glad to finally take a break after a long day in the heat of the summer sun. The sun seemed especially brutal today, perhaps to make up for lost time during the winter?

Valen caught up with his friends on the way back to town, where they talked of their patrols or other minor things. Some times they talked of the future, and their thoughts on the new nation of the clans. But eventually, they all parted ways and Valen found himself walking the streets of Val alone.

A quick smell of his body told Valen that perhaps a bath would be the first thing. He made his way to the first bath house of the Empire, which really was nothing more then a walled and hall filled building with a number of large pools, fed by the new aqueducts that brought fresh mountain water. Cold, but refreshing. Valen supposed he could have a hot bath prepared, but he didn't want to have to wait while the water was heated up.

"Hey, give it back!"

Valen stopped and looked down a street and saw three young men surrounding a small boy. The boy jumped as high as he could, trying to reach for a book held in one of the young men's grip, above the boys head in a taunting matter.

"Why don't you try and take it small stuff." The young man mocked, his companions chuckling.

"Please, that book is really important. I had to wait months before I could buy it. Give it back." The boy pleaded.

Valen growled, recognizing the three young men. Eldoth, Edwin and Lucas, soldiers like him who he sometimes drilled with during training. They weren't the brightest sorts, and often bullied the younger soldiers by virtue of their seniority. Valen disliked them, and seeing this, now he hated them.

"Hey, leave him alone." Valen called as he rushed over.

Eldoth and his friends looked up and Eldoth smirked.

"Well, if it isn't the horse fucker." Eldoth sneered.

Edwin and Lucas chuckled, as Eldoth pushed aside the boy and stepped up to face Valen. The book held in his grip and hung out in front of Valen.

"What? You want this now? If they baby wants his silly paper he should be a man and fight to get it back." Eldoth laughed.

"Please. Help." The boy begged, looking at Valen with tears in his eyes.

Valen scowled, "Look Eldoth. Give it back to the boy and walk away. I don't have time to deal with you."

"Oh," Eldoth said, mockingly, "Is that so?"

Eldoth looked to Edwin and Lucas, "Hear that boys, the horse fucker says we should give this back."

Eldoth jiggled the book and smirked at Valen. Valen growled, fists clenched as he tried not to punch the mans lights out. But if he kept calling him names, and no doubt mocking the girls he cared about, he might end up spending a day in a cell.

"Tell ye what, we will give it back, if you can take it from us." Eldoth said, pulling a dagger out. Edwin and Lucas also pulled daggers and laughed.

Valen sighed, and with some effort, he worked to do as Castus had taught him. He felt that well of power, the ocean of energy that waited beyond his rich. That threatened to consume him. Even after his training, that feeling always sent a chill of fear up his spine.

Carefully he drunk from the power of the Wind, and wove it in the almost natural way as he could, until a blade of light and fire seemed to burst in his hand. The appearance of the blade causing the three trouble makers before him to jump, dropping their daggers and the book.

"Fine. You first?" Valen said, pointing his blade at the three.

Eldoth and his friends ran, and Valen sighed as he released the Wind and the blade vanished. He felt relieved to release that power, and yet sad as the world seemed to grow duller because of it.

Picking up the book, Valen walked over to the boy, who looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Are you okay? Hey, your Hendar's, the Forgemaster's, son. Right?" Valen said, finally recognizing the boy.

The boy blinked, rubbed at his nose and nodded, "Y-yes. Wh-who are you?"

"Valen. Here. Who are you?" Valen asked, as he gave the book to the boy, who took it and held it tightly to his chest.

"V-Valen. Oh, my father spoke of you. Did you really kill the changeling commander in the war?" The boy asked before adding, "O-oh, my name is Kanithar."

Valen blushed and rubbed the back of his head. Since the war ended, talk of how he had slain the commander of the changeling forces had spread amongst the clans. It had made him something of a hero for a time. The workings of building the Empire had take the attention of most however, which Valen had preferred. All that attention made him uncomfortable.

"Uh, yeah. Though it was a close thing." Valen said, thinking back on that day. It had been too close, cause if he had not been able to use the Wind...well he didn't want to think on that.

"Th-thank you for helping. I-I feel so ashamed though. I should have fought back." Kanithar said, sniffling.

"No, that would have been worse. Eldoth and his cronies are the kind that like to pick fights, especially when they know they can win. Fighting would have just made them hurt you." Valen said.

Kanithar sniffled still, "I-I just wish I could be strong. If I could learn to fight, I know they wouldn't pick on me."

"Well, you look old enough to start. What is stopping you?" Valen asked.

Kanithar frowned, "M-my heart. The healers say I have a weak heart. Even running leaves me exhausted. They said there isn't anything they can do, because I was born with it."

Valen frowned, even with the addition to the Wind in their healing arts, it seems that the healers of the clans and the empire still could not heal everything. Then again, Castus had always said that would be the case, had always been the case.

Valen could see that the boy was troubled, so he decided to change the subject.

"So, what is that book?" He asked.

This seemed to brighten Kanithar's mood, "Oh, I had to save up my allowance, but I was able to buy this from a Zebra trader who came into the city a week ago. See." Kanithar smiled as he held the book out for Valen to read.

The title of the book read: Condensed Sciences of the Natural World. It was written in Equestrian.

"I just learned to read the pony language in school and this book has so many pictures in it, but I couldn't read what it said about them until today. I was heading home to read, when those three ran into me. They said I was a baby, and that my book was just gibberish." Kanithar frowned, holding the book tightly to his little chest.

Valen frowned, "They are just saying that cause they can't read. Most of the older men and women can't. You should be proud you can read, especially something like this."

Kanithar smiled, but frowned again, "But...is it okay? Its from the ponies."

Valen frowned. Though the war was over, trust between humans and ponies was still low. The two nations had some minor trade, but over all they stuck to their lands and left the other alone. Only Castus, Emperor Marcus and himself had any real extensive time in contact with Equestrians.

"I can't say I know much of what's in that book. But I know that the ponies are more advanced in things we can't even imagine. As are the other nations. If we can learn what they know, that will only serve to make us stronger. Maybe by reading and learning what's in that book, you can help to bring its knowledge to the rest of our people and make us all stronger for it."

"R-really? I could make everyone stronger?" Kanithar said, smiling.

"Lord Castus once told me, the strongest blade is not a sword, but an educated mind." Valen said, patting the boys head.

Kanithar smiled and hugged Valen, taking him by surprise, but he smiled and returned the hug.

"Thank you. I'll read the whole book, and more books. And one day, I'll teach what I learned to everyone in the Empire." Kanithar said, pride and determination in his voice.

"I'm sure you will. It's getting late, so how about I walk you home. Besides, Eldoth might show up again." Valen offered.

"Oh that's okay. My home is just down this road there." Kanithar said, pointing to a house down the street. It was not far from their location. And Eldoth had ran in the opposite direction.

Valen nodded, "Okay. Stay safe Kanithar."

"I will, and thank you." Kanithar said, as he made his way home.

Valen watched the boy walk off, and felt a smile on his face.

Kanithar might not grow to be a strong warrior. But Valen felt that he would grow to be strong in other ways. And that might do more to improve the Empire then anything he could do with a sword.

Two Scholars(3)

Twilight paced back and forth, her mind a whirlwind of worry, anxiety and excitement. Today was the day for her and Castus' usual Scholastic meeting, but more importantly it would be one when they were here in the castle.

Alone.

Starlight usually joined them, but she was visiting Sunburst. And probably a whole lot more. Spike was also away, seeing a Hoofball game with Big Mac. All save for the fact that she had to take care of any refreshments, nothing she couldn't handle, this day was a day she had grown to fear coming and now it was right before her.

She would be alone. Right here. In her home. With Castus! The excitement and nervousness she felt, made her stomach twist and clench up in a way that was beginning to make her feel ill.

'M-maybe I should cancel. No, what if he had set aside something important for this meeting, I can't just cancel it now. But maybe-' Twilight groaned, holding her head as she tried to figure out how to proceed.

It was not that she did not want to see Castus. These meetings were so informative, and she found his presence both comforting and warm. But that was the problem. Since her realizations of her own thoughts and desires, the thought of being around Castus now only made her feel uncomfortable.

What if she did something stupid? What would he think of her? Why did she care so much about what he thought of her!?

"Aggh, Stop it!" Twilight shouted, "I can't be feeling these things. He belongs to Fluttershy, and she doesn't deserve to have me just coming in and demanding to have the one person who makes her happy! I'm her friend for Celestia's sake!"

Twilight facehoofed and sighed, trying to get herself to calm down.

"Okay, just calm down," She said, breathing in and then out as she extended a hoof as Cadence showed her, "just breathe. Now, this is just an ordinary meeting between two friends and fellow minded scholars. There is nothing romantic or otherwise about it. None."

Feeling calm once more, Twilight looked at the clock and realized that for all her worrying she had not yet fully dressed herself. Or even taken a shower. Luckily, Castus would not be here for another hour, and she quickly went to the bathroom first to wash up. And the hot water would help her to relax and clear her head up.

Once she was cleaned and her mane and tail brushed, Twilight then went back to her room to choose something to wear. All the while, telling herself once more that this was just a meeting between friends. Nothing more.

Even if she wanted it to be. NO! No, she would not go there.

"Come on Twi, just focus on what to wear." She said, as she rummaged through her drawers and closet.

But as she did, she came to a conclusion. She did not have much variety in her wardrobe. All her clothes were largely the same. Long skirts that ended just at the knee. Pants and white button up shirts. Some sweaters. She had the gowns that Rarity had made her. But unlike her fashionista friend, Twilight realized that she had largely worn almost the same thing her whole life.

A sudden feeling that it would not do. Not today of all days. She scowled as she started digging, pushing shirts and dresses aside as she looked. Today required that she looked exceptional.

'No, no I don't. I can look just like I always do. Castus wouldn't care what I wore.' Twilight thought, even as she kept looking, 'Would he?'

Would Castus judge her by her appearance? She knew that he would never do such a thing as shallow as that. But she did know that appearances were the first phase in any minor judgment of a pony's character. And if she was always wearing the same thing, what did that say about her to him? Did he find it....boring?

No, no she was not boring! She was smart and intellectual. And she knew for a fact that she was cute. Not to mention she was a princess. A cute, smart princess. What could possibly be boring about her?!

But was she sexy? A voice in the back of her mind seemed to say. And Twilight paused in her search for clothes.

'Wh-why would I care if I'm sexy all of a sudden?!' Twilight thought, feeling foolish. Never the less she looked up at her mirror and traced her hooves down her naked form, over her breasts and down her hips.

Well, she wasn't exactly the most fit. Well, she was not fat, but she figured that in comparison to Rainbow Dash or Applejack she did not compare. They were both athletic and more in shape then she was. Still she could not help but grip her stomach and sides, and worry.

Her breasts weren't exactly much to look at either. While she was certainly not almost flat like Rainbow Dash, she did not come close to the others. Especially not to Fluttershy or Rarity, both whom had well endowed figures, yet not overly so as too seem ridiculous. Though she thought such a thing unimportant to the larger picture of finding somepony special, she could not deny that it helped in attracting prospective glances.

Her flank was not much to look at. If anything, Pinkie Pie won out in that category before any of them. Even with her diet, she somehow managed to keep her body between plump and yet sexy. How she did it, Twilight could only guess and now that she thought about it she wanted to find out.

With all this, did she stand out as sexy among her friends or to others when they saw her?

She knew that Castus found Fluttershy sexy. He probably would stare at her with desiring eyes every morning, every movement of her form sending pulsing waves of lust and desire through his mind and body. Then when he couldn't handle it anymore, he would take her in his arms, pressing her form against the wall and himself against her in a deep passionate embrace of two beings and then-

"AGHH! No!" Twilight shouted, throwing her hooves out and ripping the shirt she held in them in half, trying to banish the images out of her mind. And finding it impossible to do.

She growled, tossing the torn up shirt aside and dug further, looking for something to wear. She would not let her mind betray her again. She was a calm collected princess and an alicorn. She was a scholar with at least several awards for academia and nominated thrice for advances in the magical and scientific field. She had won every science fair back in school and was now a mentor of her own student.

She was successful. Intelligent and she could do sexy just like everypony else!

She could do it better!

---

The knocking on the door into the study, where Twilight waited in a chair, told her that Castus had arrived. While he had no doubt just let himself into the castle, she found it rather charming that he would so politely knock on this door. She found it cute.

"Come in." Twilight said, moving in her seat.

"Hey Twilight, so wha-ahhh! Is this a bad time!?" Castus shouted, as he came in. He stared at her with wide eyes, before quickly looking away at the ceiling.

"What are you talking about? And what is up with you?" Twilight asked, getting up from her chair.

"I-I just, this is the day we meet right?" Castus asked, looking at her slightly. His face seemed to get red before looking away again.

"Of course. Why?" Twilight asked.

"Uh well, its just...uh....well why are you wearing that?" Castus asked, peeking again.

Twilight blinked, what did he mean by that? She was wearing what she always-Sweet Celestia!

Twilight felt her heart stop as she looked down and realized what she wore. Instead of her usual clothes, she found that she wore instead a pair of purple underwear, only these were thin stringed and almost hardly covering. On top of that she wore an almost transparent nightgown. She had completely forgotten she even had this.

Twilight screamed, and threw her hooves around her chest and lower regions to cover herself. Castus screamed too.

"Uh, m-maybe I should go. Um, come back another time." He stammered, taking a step back.

Twilight gasped, and grabbed Castus shirt and yanked him in, "No!" she pulled him into the room, and right up to her. Her chest pressing up against his, her nose pressing up against his. Eyes locked right on each other.

Twilight screamed a few moments later, and threw Castus behind her.

Castus screamed, before hitting a wall and sliding down onto the floor. Twilight gasped and ran over.

"I-I'm sorry! Sorry!" She stammered, before realizing she was still indecent.

"I-I, just stay here!" She shouted, before teleporting away.

Castus just laid there, eyes spinning, as he groaned.

"Ugh, what just happened?" He asked.

A few moments later, Twilight teleported back. Her mane was slightly a mess. But she was wearing normal clothes now. Her body was now covered by a simple buttoned up purple shirt, thought it was slightly misbuttoned and she was in the process of trying to fix it. She wore skirt now, thought it was on backwards.

"S-sorry. Sorry I-I uh...just forget about what you saw!" Twilight shouted, face flushed with embarrassment.

Oh stupid! Stupid! Stupid! she thought to herself. How could she do something so stupid!

"Ugh, Wh-o-okay? Just don't throw me again." Castus said, rubbing his head.

Twilight came over, "S-sorry. I-I was...uh- anyway!" She pushed him into a chair and sat in her own, "Uh what were we discussing last week?"

---

After awhile into the meeting, it seemed to Twilight that the beginning embarrassment had been quickly forgotten. Castus seemed to be back to his normal self, as he talked and wrote on the blackboard a magical theory. Twilight found this both comforting and yet irritating.

'He could at least have said something. Or at least maybe make a glance to me.' Twilight thought, before shaking her head, 'No. No. This is good. That was simply embarrassing.'

As Twilight listened, she stood up and walked over.

"But if the energy flows this way, and the circle of runes is placed in this design with an equation of transference like this, wouldn't we get a similar or greater force of power?" She asked, as she took the chalk from Castus' hand and wrote on the blackboard.

"Uh, y-yes. Um Twilight?" Castus stammered.

"Yes?" Twilight asked, looking at him.

"Why are you leaning against me like that?" Castus asked.

Twilight blinked, and stepped back with a blush as she realized that she had been leaning herself against Castus back, her form pressed against his back while she had been writing.

"I-I-Uh, no reason!" Twilight stammered, looking away. Stupid, stupid! he wouldn't buy that!

"Um...o-okay." Castus said, confused, "Well uh...now that I look at it, I think your equation does have some insight I didn't see. But we should take into account-" Castus went on as he explained, but Twilight was ignoring him now.

'He just went on? Not even a word?" Twilight thought, feeling surprised yet at the same time angry. And even angrier when she realized she was getting angry with his lack of mention.

Twilight sighed, and steeled herself for a long day.

---

And so it went. Everytime Twilight felt she had herself under control, she found herself doing something else that was simply stupid. Casually brushing her hoof across Castus' hand. Leaning against his back, pressing her chest against him. All the while lecturing herself and telling herself to stop and taking her concentration away from the discussion or even own movements. One time, she was so deeply engaged in lecturing herself for doing something stupid that she had tried and plowed right into Castus and sending them both down to the ground, with her right on top of him.

'Oh, now he must think me a klutz.' She thought, embarrassed.

By the time it was time to part ways, Twilight felt firmly sure she had not only made herself an idiot, but had probably freaked Castus out so much he would never come back. She had prepared herself to hear him say that this would probably be their last meeting.

"So, uh...same time next week?" Castus asked as he opened the door to leave.

"Huh?" Twilight said, looking at him in surprise.

"Well?" He asked, looking at her questioningly.

"Oh, Uh...sure. Yeah." Twilight said, "Always."

"Good. I should be free that day unless something comes up. See you later then Twilight." Castus said, giving a wave goodbye.

Twilight stood there, watching as Castus left.

"Um bye." She said, even after he had left.

Twilight flopped down into her chair and sighed, rubbing her head as she felt a headache come on. Despite this, she could not help but smile. She would still get to see him and they could still keep having these discussions. She had worried she had ruined one of the few things in life she had come to enjoy more then anything else.

But never the less she knew she could not keep going as she was. She needed to deal with these feelings and banish them. But how?

"Um, I wonder if there is any books on dating?" Twilight asked herself.

---

Castus stood in the shower, using the Wind to make the cold water even more cold. He was probably risking hypothermia, but he wanted to cool himself off completely.

'Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Buddha.' He thought, 'I'm so glad we weren't using magic for experiments this day. I don't think I could have trusted myself if the Wind was in my body.'

The downside of the Wind was that it amplified peoples sensations of the world, and its primal powers seemed to affect peoples more baser instincts. And they way that Castus had been feeling the whole meeting, he didn't trust himself to keep control even with nearly nine hundred years of previous past life experience.

'God, why am I thinking about this. This is like cheating in the brain!' Castus thought.

He loved Fluttershy. Till death he would, but after today he also felt stirrings. And even as the cold water washed his form, his mind was starting to get ideas. Depraved and debauched ideas.

And most of them were centered around a cute little librarian princess.

'Gah, stop this. I will never betray Fluttershy's trust like that.' he thought, though the idea of maybe getting her involved as well starting conjuring up other images now.

'God,' Castus thought, finally letting the Wind go and stepping out of the shower. He noticed his lips had turned blue, and he was shivering a lot, but he could not think on it as clearly as he should.

'What do I do?' Castus thought. He worried of what the future would hold as he was starting to feel...attracted.

He could only hope that this was a one time thing. Yeah, that was it. Just a momentary slip of judgment. It wasn't his fault, she was practically throwing herself in his direction. Why, he didn't know. Was she doing some experiment? Twilight could often do strange things when she did experiments.

Yeah that was it. That had to be it.

Right?

Twilights 150 First Dates

It all made sense. After days of confusion and mental infighting, Twilight had finally figured it all out. She wasn't going crazy, there was a perfectly normal, rational explanation for it all.

In the recent months, all her friends had slowly begun moving towards longstanding relationships, or at the very least were dating more actively. Rarity would speak of her nights out at dinner with stallions from Canterlot, such as Fancy Pants, though as far as Twilight knew at the moment she had not yet settled on any stallion in particular and was still seeing a long line of suitors; from all over Equestria now that her name was out there as one of the top fashion models and designers.

Applejack was seeing a stallion in the military. Though it was a sort of long distance relationship at the most due to the stallions active duties. Still, it was certainly more then Twilight had.

Pinkie Pie, well Twilight wasn't sure on Pinkie's love life. But she knew that Party Favor and Cheese Sandwhich would often show up, sometimes both at the same time. The story was to help her with party planning, which sometimes it was. But Twilight suspected it wasn't the only thing they were doing.

And as for Rainbow Dash, well it seems that the Wonderbolts were more then just an elite group of fliers, but by the way she would talk about it an elite herd as well. Though she would always blush when asked for further details.

In short, all her friends by and large were seeing somepony or more. And since she herself was single, it only made sense that Twilight would start to feel jealous and then begin seeking a partner for herself. And given she spent a lot of time around Castus, it was only natural that she would express that jealousy on him as he interacted with her on a regular basis.

So that was the answer. All she had to do was interact with other males, and all her problems would ease away. All the thoughts, the worries the embarrassments. Once she exposed herself to a wider range of stallions, she would find that it was all just mental jealousy and would find a stallion for herself as well.

It all made sense!

Yet how did she proceed? Twilight knew nothing of dating. In all her life, she had been so busy with studies, or unwilling to meet other ponies that she had practically no dating experience. And she could not find any books at all to help her, which only made her worry grow.

And so, lacking a book she instead turned to an oral presentation and overview. She figured that Rarity would have hade the most experience and would not only know of where one could find dates in Ponyville, but how a mare should go about it.

Rarity had proven excited in helping Twilight with her love life, and took it on herself to not only provide her with a new dress, but to take her to take her out on the town to help her.

"Oh Twilight you look simply ravishing, you will knock the stallions dead and the mares wild with jealousy." Rarity gushed over her work as she and Twilight entered into the finest bar and club in Ponyville. And from what Rarity had said, held a form of dating called Speed Dating.

"Thanks Rarity. I'm hoping I can meet somepony. So, what is this Speed Date again?" Twilight asked, smiling sheepishly.

"Well dear," Rarity said, "the premise is that each couple will be given a set amount of time to talk. Usually after the allotted time has passed, they leave and go to another table to meet a new stallion or mare and it starts all over. Sometimes you walk away with an address or never leave the first table at all. The organizers won't interrupt a pair if they seem to be really enjoying each others company."

Twilight nodded, "Well it sounds easy. What will you do?"

"Oh I will be partaking as well. If we should be paired up please fill me in and I'll offer any tips if you need them." Rarity offered as the two of them signed a form at table to participate in the Speed Dating.

"Right. Thank you again Rarity. You didn't have to come, and especially making me a new dress." Twilight said, looking at her new gown.

"Oh nonsense darling. If one is going to go out on the town, one should look their best." Rarity said with a smile.

As other daters arrived, the speed dating soon began. Twilight was the first to arrive at her table, and she spotted Rarity not far. Rarity gave her a wave and Twilight waved back, before focusing her attentions on her first date.

It was a unicorn. He wore a thing pair of glasses and was dressed in the style of a scholar. His body was thin, and he had a book in his hooves as he sat.

"Hello, my name is Scholar Scroll." The stallion said.

"Hello, I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said with a smile.

This was perfect, a fellow intellectual. This was starting out perfectly.

---

"-But the studies show that Starswirls method is the more classical variation of the equation. I especially find his algarithims in the use of magic for mass teleportation to be a hallmark of genius." Scholar Scroll drooled on.

"That's great." Twilight said with a sigh, her mind starting to grow numb.

It wasn't that she did not find this interesting. It was nice to see a fellow learner of Starswirls theories, but it lacked....well all he did was go on, and on and on about the theories but never seemed to offer his own variations. If anything he seemed to be praising them without any desire to examine further the applications of the theory or to study an alteration of the equation to discover new examinations.

'Is this how I sound to the girls when I talk about stuff like this?' Twilight thought.

"Hey, um," Twilight interrupted, "That is great and all, but what else do you do? Do you compete in any sports? I know I love a good Running of the Leaves race now and then."

"Oh, no. Never," Scholar said with a shake of his head, "I don't have time for such things. And even then, I don't feel that physical exertion like that is worthwhile in the long run."

Twilight frowned, "Oh."

Twilight frowned, looking at her hooves while Scholar went on, then an idea came to mind.

"Um, excuse me. I understand you spoke of Starswirls Circle method?" Twilight asked.

Scholar fixed his glasses, "Of course, its the key theory in magic that allows for a greater sum of energy to be formed and used in the spells. Its what allows for the mass teleportation. The key factor relies in the gathered unicorns to combine their magics and each one to carefully thread the spell as they follow a central spell leader. This allows for each unicorn to take up part of the spell and-"

"Yes," Twilight interrupted, "I know. What I mean was, that I recently learned that the way Starswirl postulated his method was not the full extent of the limit. While a spell can be individually split, the level of risk increases as each unicorn is required to be exact and perfectly timed with their spell weaving. But, it is actually possible through a spell and when each unicorn is at an equal strength to actually unite their magics to a single point, in this case the central lead pony. The central leader weaves the full spell, while using both his own and the connected unicorns as wells of extra energy. This not only helps to prevent mistakes in the weaving but actually helps lower the stress and exhaustion that can occur when committing to a circle spell."

Twilight began explaining the full details, and noticed that Scholar seemed rather impressed. She smiled, feeling that she had finally found a ground to stand on in this date.

"I say, that is rather marvelous. Where on Equestria did you read on such a theory?" Scholar asked.

"Oh, me and a friend complied the material. You see he-" Twilight stopped, as her mind went to memories of the event. Where she had Castus had compiled the theory she had just explained. She remembered the excitement she had felt, talking over the theory. The theory had been formed using a similar system of shared energy that Castus and other Wind users could us. Taking his knowledge of the ancient past, and mixing it with her own to create a new theory of magical use that unicorns could use had been the best day in her life. She remembered the joy she had felt and the smile on his face. How she had hugged him and he her.

"Oh...um. Yes. We...complied it....together." Twilight finished, sad.

"Incredible. Do you think you could write down the equation?" Scholar asked.

"Sure." Twilight deadpanned, using her magic to fill out some of her pieces of paper meant for addresses and to give Scholar the equation.

"Oh, excellent." Scholar said, taking the notes. He then stood up and rushed out of the bar.

Twilight sighed, but perked up a bit at the ringing of the gong.

'Okay. Perk up Twilight. So the first date didn't go well. I'm sure the next one will work out.' She thought, smiling and banishing her previous remorse.

---

Twilight sat at her table, waiting for her next date. Well sat was a kind word. In fact, she leaned against the table, her face planted on it in a bored and crestfallen sort of way.

This speed dating thing wasn't working out so well.

Her date after Scholar had been Caramel. A nice stallion, and he had been very charming and polite. A little shy, but she had found it rather cute. She felt sure that she had found a date that would work out. But Caramel always seemed to look around, as if expecting or hoping to see somepony else. And their conversations always seemed to drift back to be about Applejack.

In short, she left the date once again addressless, and feeling a bit bad for the stallion. Still she perked herself up, convinced that the next date would work.

The next had been with Bulk Biceps, who took any question about what he or she liked to do and turning it into a near ten minute seminary of a grueling work out regiment so that she could "bring out the beast" in her.

That was three dates down the drain.

She had noticed a rather handsome and good looking yellow Pegasus with cut short blue mane. But he and his date, a unicorn with red and yellow mane, seemed so lost in each others eyes that they didn't even seem to hear the gong telling them to move. Twilight looked away with a sound of disgust as they soon began locking lips.

"Twilight?" A voice said in a surprised tone.

Twilight looked up, "Lyra?" She said, equally surprised.

Before her was Lyra Heartstrings. One of her old friends from back in Canterlot. After having reconnected with Moondancer and the others, she had also gone to rekindle her friendship with Lyra. It had been awkward at first. Lyra, while a famous musician herself, was also something of a human fanatic. She seemed devoted to studying everything about them, and until recently after talking with Castus about the Ancient Valhruans, had been considered a conspiracy nut when she went on about an ancient race of humans that populated the world and made ponykind.

"So, you're with me?" Twilight asked.

Lyra smiled and sat with a nod, "Guess so."

Twilight smiled, "Well it is nice to sit with somepony I know, but uh...I was kinda hoping to meet a stallion here."

Lyra smirked, "Heh you and me both." She took a sip from her drink, which she had brought with her.

"Really? Are things with you and Bon Bon on the fizzle?" Twilight asked.

Oh you don't know the half of it." The mare said with a frustrated sigh. "I mean, I know she went out of retirement so she could do secret 'whatever' in 'need to know'vile. But seriously!" She said slamming her hoof on the table, causing it to shake and for some ponies to look their way a moment. "When she comes home after being on the road for weeks, would it kill her to tell me something! I mean she gets to see the world while I'm stuck at home laying in bed wondering if she is gonna come back at all!!"

Lyra took a long, heavy gulp from her drink before slamming it down and giving a pouting sort of face.

Twilight tried to hide from the glances this outburst was causing. "That's pretty rough, I know my brother was away for a long time when he was in the service. And I can only imagine how Cadence must have felt."

"Yeah well, 'Sweetie Drops'," Lyra said that name while making air quotes with her hooves, "Can buck off for all I care!" Lyra said despite a hurt look. She sniffed and rubbed her muzzle.

The two of them sat there in silence for a moment, before Lyra finally spoke up again.

"Say...Twilight?"

Twilight sighed, "Yes Lyra?"

"Is it true that your friends with that human? Castus?"

"Y-yes..."

"Is it true what they say?" Lyra asked, an excited look now in her eyes, "You know about human stallions lasting..."

"LYRA HEARTSTRINGS, I KNOW YOUR HERE!" A booming voice came from entrance of the hall.

"Oh man, speak of the she-devil." Lyra said with a pout. Lyra ducked down, trying to hide from the view of her two tone partner, who stomped over with a glare in her eyes. Though everypony had turned to watch, no pony was brave enough to interfere.

Twilight shrank back, as Bon Bon stood before her table, glaring down at the spot where Lyra was. Slowly, Lyra stood up. She planted her hooves on her hips and met her partner eye to eye.

"What the HAY are you doing here?!" Bon Bon snarled. "And is that MY DRESS?" Her eyes further bulged as she recognized the blue cocktail dress the unicorn wore.

Lyra rolled her eyes, "Oh don't be so pissy, you always said it looked better on me."

"Don't skip the real question?" Bon Bon glared at her. "What are you doing here with-", the 'confectioner' paused as she saw Twilight for the first time, "Oh! Hey Twilight!" She said, giving a smile and a small wave, her tone taking on her friendly one as if she hadn't just been causing a scene.

Fighting down sheer mortification, Twilight didn't even make eye contact as she waved passively, "Hi Bon Bon."

"Don't you talk to her!" Lyra snipped at Bon Bon. "You are interrupting our date!" Lyra said as she returned her seat facing Twilight determined to ignore her seething mare friend. She then moved her chair closer to Twilight, and pulled her closer to her.

Twilight just blushed, feeling embarrassed.

"Date my flank!" Bon Bon laughed "only loser's go speed dating!"

As if on command, all eyes now snapped towards Bon Bon, with a pained hiss and glaring looks. Others with looks of indignation and crushed hope. Bon Bon looked around, noticing the attention and chuckled uneasily, "Uhh, I-I mean..."

"How do you even know I was here anything, do you have me bugged or something?" Lyra demanded, checking herself.

"You wrote it on the damn calendar genius!" Bon Bon shouted.

"Oh. yeah." Lyra said, embarrassed, "W-well you aren't the boss of me. I'm a grown mare, and if I want to go out on a date I can. So there."

"Without even bothering to consult with me?!" Bon Bon shouted, "That was not how we agreed this relationship would work!"

"Well we also never agreed that we would be keeping secrets!" Lyra shouted back, slamming her hooves on the table as she stood up.

"Uh..." Twilight started, noticing that all eyes were on them again.

"I thought we had that cleared up!" Bon Bon shouted.

"Back then you were retired. But now ever since you went back to work for the Agency, you've never told me anything! Nothing at all about what you are doing or where you are, even if you are gone for weeks at a time!" Lyra shouted, sniffling.

"Keep your voice down!" Bon Bon hissed, looking around as if expecting a spy to be about.

"Oh? Why start now?" Twilight asked before planting her face on the table and placing her hooves over her head. Trying to be as invisible as possible.

"No! I'm so sick and tired of all the secrets now. Do you even stop to think how I feel?!" Lyra shouted, tears now in her eyes.

"L-Lyra..." Bon Bon started.

"Do you even know what it's like, laying in bed alone at night, wondering about where you are. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Will I even see you again!?" Lyra shouted, sniffling as tears ran down her face, staining her makeup.

"I-I can't keep doing it. It's too much." Lyra sobbed, sitting down and cover her face with her hooves.

Bon Bon stood there, mouth open. She felt like her whole heart was breaking. Here was a mare she cared so deeply for, and yet she had not even noticed how she might have been affecting her when she went back to her old job. Lyra always seemed so strong and assured, that she didn't even think about anything like this.

"Lyra..I-I'm sorry." Bon Bon said, her own eyes starting to grow blurry from tears. She approached her mare friend and wrapped her hooves around her. Lyra wrapped her hooves about Bon Bon in return.

---

Discord sat in his couch, belly extended out and about, as he wore a simple, yet soda and grease stained wife beater shirt. His beard had grown stubbly and he scratched his belly as he watched the t.v.

As he watched the tender moment, he pushed a button and a sign above him went on. It read, in big, bright neon lights: Go Awww.

---

After some silent sobbing, Bon Bon and Lyra finally released each other. They gave the other a smile, before Lyra reached up and kissed her mare friend squarely on the lips.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I was doing. I promise, I'll try to be more forthcoming about my missions." Bon Bon said.

"Really?" Lyra asked, smiling as she wiped away some tears.

"Well, I can't tell you everything. Confidential and oaths and all. But, I'll try to tell you what I can. And maybe I'll bring back souvenirs from now on."

Lyra smiled and nodded, "Okay. I guess that will work."

"So, can we go home now?" Bon Bon asked.

Lyra smiled nervously, "Uh, well...I kinda gotta admit. I was sort of here to maybe find a stallion. You know, to add to our herd."

"Why?" Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lyra blushed, "Uh well...any stallion would do...but I was kinda hoping one of those humans might be here. I uh...well I read something and-"

Lyra leaned in and started whispering into Bon Bon's ear.

Bon Bon blushed, "W-what? But I-. That- Oh my."

Lyra kept whispering.

"Oh dear." Bon Bon whispered, her face growing more red.

Lyra whispered some more.

"They do?" Bon Bon looked at her mare friend in shock.

Lyra nodded, her own face flushed.

Bon Bon gulped, "Uh well, maybe we can talk about this at home. Later."

"Uh yeah. But, hey the night is still young, so how about some drinks?" Lyra offered, "Once I fix my make up."

"Sure. I think I could use some good cider after all this." Bon Bon said.

Taking hoof in hoof, the two stood up and walked over to the bar, with Lyra departing to the restroom to fix herself up.

Twilight sighed, both out of relief that that was all over, and that once again another date down the drain.

---

Later into the night, all the speed dates were done. Ponies all around left with other ponies, talking and laughing. Some even kissing and by the number of drinks, probably on the way to do more then kiss.

Bon Bon and Lyra both looked especially flushed, laughing and giggling even as they pulled a surprised, and confused looking Caramel with them, who they had sat with at the bar when they saw him looking depressed.

Twilight stood near the exit, waiting for Rarity as she finished writing down a number of addresses she had acquired.

"Well Twilight, how did it go?" Rarity asked as she put the list into her purse.

"Uh...not so good." Twilight started, as she told about her dates.

"Oh dear. I'm...really sorry this didn't work out for you dear." The ivory unicorn said to her lavender friend

"It's alright Rarity." Twilight said chipperly, giving a smile. "One couldn't say it wasn't at all an interesting night."

"Quite so, darling." Rarity said with a smirk. "Well, as they say "the night is still young"! What can us two fabulous ladies get into yet, hmm? A club? A coffee house? Or perhaps a little fun at a Stud Show?"

Twilight shook her head, "N-No. I think I'm just gonna make my way back to the castle, I got a lot on my mind. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course." Rarity's worry was evident in her reluctant acceptance. "Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"Matters of the heart are always troublesome, but don't be discouraged. I know their is somepony out their for you." The fashionista placed a hoof on the Princess' shoulder, a small smile bolstering the act.

After a moment it was met with a small and reassure hoof laid atop from Twilight.

"Yeah...some pony." Twilight said, though in her heart she felt that such was not the case.

Not that she did not feel that she would find somepony. But the painful truth was, she was not interested in meeting somepony.

What she wanted. Was someone.

Going their separate waves with a last hug goodbye for the night, Twilight walked down the moon shrouded roads of Ponyville. And tried to pull herself out of the well of tortured emotions she felt herself trapped in.

As she passed a sign, she stopped and looked up. It was one of the local taverns in town. Deciding that maybe having a small drink before going home couldn't hurt, she walked in. The door ringing a bell as she entered.

The tavern was not busy, with only a few ponies in. Some sat at tables and talked, while others played at the pool table. One pony laid on the bar, nursing a drink.

"Oh, Princess Twilight? In my bar? Welcome! What can I get ya?" The tavern owner asked, looking surprised and excited.

"Oh um, just something to drink. Maybe some cider?" Twilight asked. Frankly she did not know much on alcohol.

"Of course. Always glad to serve the princesses." The bar keep said, filling a mug with cider from a large barrel. He set the mug on the bar infront of Twilight; who pulled some bits from her purse and paid for the drink.

"Thank you." She said, smiling as she picked up the mug and slowly poured the contents into her mouth.

As she drank, Twilight began thinking back to her dates, and the gnawing feeling of failure. She had thought that if she had just dated around, eventually she would move on. But all she seemed to do was not only feel embarrassed, but felt her longing only grow. She groaned in despair as she ordered another drink; quickly making it vanish down her throat.

After that, things started to get a little fuzzy. At first, Twilight felt fine and got another drink. After the third she started to feel a little bit better, and so ordered a fourth. Then a fifth. Then a sixth. But then things started getting depressing. She remembered the dates previously, and felt both foolish and stupid. How could she not get a date?

How could she not get Castus out of her mind? She hated this feeling. Hated herself for feeling these feelings. Hated herself for even feeling them at all.

Seven. Eight. Twelve drinks. Twilight sat at the bar with a sigh, feeling completely worthless. When she felt somepony sit beside her. She looked over and saw a stallion, who gave her a smile and an appraising look.

Not long after, Twilight found herself stumbling out of the tavern with the stallion, whose hoof was wrapped about her body. She knew that something was not right though, that she needed to go home. But her mind was just so clouded, and it was difficult to concentrate.

Not soon after, Twilight felt the stallion press her up against the side of a building, just behind the entrance to an alley. She moaned instintualy, as the stallion licked down her neck and moved his hooves down her body and begin lifting the hem of her skirt up. She heard the clinking sound of a belt coming off and falling to the ground.

'W-wait..' She thought slowly. Her mind slowly putting two and two together.

"I-I.." She started, before the stallion kissed her, silencing her.

But the kiss ended as the stallion was soon roughly yanked from her, and thrown to the ground.

"What the hell do you think your doing?" A voice said in a tone that promised a painful death.

Twilight slumped against the wall, slowly sliding down. She groaned again, lifting her head up and her blurry eyes catching sight of a familiar form before her. But in the darkness of the alley, it was difficult to see his face. Or was that the drinks making her vision cloudy?

"Hey, who the buck are you!? Get lost!" The stallion growled, and pulled a knife from under his coat.

"I'm someone you don't want to piss off." The familiar form said, lifting a hand.

The stallions knife soon went limp, and the metal dripping off like ice cream in the hot sun. The stallion jumped, and looked from the now useless weapon to the figure before him

"Scram. Before I do to you what I did to your knife." The figure threatened.

The stallion ran.

Twilight watched as the stallion ran, before looking up to the figure standing before you.

"Twilight? What the heck happened to you?" The figure asked.

"I-I..." Twilight started, slowly getting up. She stumbled slilghtly and the figure caught her and placed her hoof around his neck.

"Come on. I'll escort you home." The figure said, and helped Twilight out of the alley.

As she stumbled in her walk, the light from the moon made the figure more clear to her eyes and Twilight felt her eyes widen as she saw it was Castus.

The one responsible for all of this.

Without thinking, she shoved him away, and caused herself to stumble and nearly fall to the ground.

"Ow." Castus deadpanned as he got up, dusting himself off, "What gives?"

"Why did you butt in!?" Twilight shouted, pointing her hoof at him. Her vision went a little wobbly, but a shake of her head cleared it up.

Well a little bit. How much did she drink again?

"What? Twilight, he was going to rape you."

"N-No he wasn't. I was in complete acceptance to it. I-I even pulled him into the alley myself." Twilight huffed.

"Twilight, your drunk. Your not in your normal state of mind." Castus said, crossing his arms.

"I-I am not. I am perfectly fine." Twilight hiccupped, placing her hoof over her mouth as she blushed.

"Twilight, just calm down and let me take you home. Before you get into more trouble." Castus said, walking over to Twilight.

"Stay away from me!" She shouted, her horn flaring and pushing Castus away.

Castus blinked, and Twilight glared at him as her vision became blurry.

"Y-you just stay away from me and don't butt in on my business! I was perfectly fine with that stallion and you had to come and mess it up!" Twilight shouted, sniffling as she wiped at her eyes.

"Twilight-" Castus started.

"It's all your fault. All of this. If you had just stayed away I...I would have.." Twilight's legs shook as she felt to her knees, fighting back her sobs.

"I would have felt wanted." Twilight sobbed.

"Wanted? Twilight, why would you say that?" Castus asked, moving a little closer now. Still, keeping some distance incase she lashed out at him with more then just a push.

"Because all my friends are prettier and sexier then me. They all have stallions or mares that love them. That hold them. But I-I just wanted that." Twilight sobbed, placing her hooves over her face.

"Twilight..." Castus started, moving over to the sobbing mare and kneeling down to hug her.

Twilight stiffened, but leaned against him and continued to cry.

"Twilight. You're plenty pretty. Gorgeous even. And you shouldn't compare yourself to others. You will find some somepony who will love you for who you are, not what you compare too. You just have to wait, and not go looking when your drunk." Castus said.

Twilight sniffled, wiping at her eyes. She leaned back and looked at Castus with tear stained eyes.

Castus gave a slight smile, "Now come on. Lets get you home." He stood and held out a hand to her.

Twilight looked at the hand, and then looked down and mumbled, "W-will you...carry me?"

Castus blinked, but nodded, "Okay. Probably be easier then letting you stumble around."

Kneeling down, Castus turned and Twilight slid herself onto his back, wrapping her hooves around his neck. She shivered slightly as she felt Castus' hands grip her legs.

"Hmmm. Your lighter then you look." Castus said as he stood up.

"Are you saying I'm fat?" Twilight demanded.

"N-no. No." Castus stuttered.

Twilight didn't say anything, merely resting her head against Castus shoulder. She stayed quiet as Castus began to walk.

As the two made their way down the road, with the castle just in sight, Twilight found herself smiling as she nuzzled her head against Castus' shoulder; enjoying the moment of just the two of them.

"Castus?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah?"

Twilight bit her lip, "Am....I sexy?"

Castus stumbled a bit in his next step, but fixed himself quickly.

"I-that uh...Why do you ask?" Castus stammered.

Twilight frowned, "Just answer. Please." She begged, her heart craving to know.

Castus frowned, feeling Twilight's body shake with his silence.

It was something of a conflict for Castus. How did one answer a question like this? He couldn't keep quiet, out of fear of how Twilight would react. But what did he say?

Eventually he made a choice, "Well, yes I think so. In your own way Twilight."

"Really?" Twilight asked, tightening her grip.

"Yes. Really." Castus answered.

"Really, really?" Twilight asked again.

"Yes." Castus said, getting a little exasperated now.

Twilight was quiet for a moment, before saying, "Thank you. Even if you don't mean it."

"Twilight, I do mean-mmmph." Castus was muffled as Twilight pulled herself up a bit and with her magic, turned his had to plant a kiss on his lips. It did not last long, before Twilight's head lulled back, her eyes closed.

Castus blinked, and after fixing Twilight so that her head was turned toward the side against his back, he continued carrying her home. With the Wind, he opened the door and carefully carried the sleeping Twilight up to her room. He used the Wind to slip her dress off, covering his eyes as he did so, and hung it up in her wardrobe. Then he placed her into her bed and placed the covers over her.

He looked down at her sleeping form for a moment, leaning over to gentle kiss her forehead.

"Good night Twilight." He said softly, and opened a Waygate into the front yard of his home. The Waygate closing behind him as he entered.

Inside he found Fluttershy sitting before the fireplace, reading a book. A box of tissues sat next to her on a table, as well as some medicine. She looked up and smiled, "Welcome back. Did you enjoy your walk?"

"Yeah. Though it would have been better with you." He said, coming over and kissing her.

"I wish I could have. I'm sorry." She said, turning away to cough a bit.

"Hey don't feel bad. We all get colds." Castus said, as he slid himself next to Fluttershy.

"Your so sweet." Fluttershy smiled, sliding herself ontop of Castus and throwing her blanket over them both as the cuddled close together, "But aren't you afraid you will get sick?"

"We'll all get the same cold eventually. It always happens in families." Castus said, nuzzling her neck.

Fluttershy giggled, "So nothing happened on your walk? Did you run into any pony?"

"Well I saw Rarity. She seemed to have gone to some speed dating thing. I saw Bon Bon and Lyra dragging Caramel into their home. And..."

Castus stopped as he thought on the last part.

"And?" Fluttershy asked.

"W-well...I kinda ran into Twilight as well." Castus said.

"Oh? How was she?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, she was drunk." Castus said, trying to decide how much he should say.

"Drunk? Why was Twilight drinking?" Fluttershy asked.

Castus looked away, "Don't know. But I walked her home, to make sure she didn't get hurt or anything."

"That was sweet of you," Fluttershy said, "But she didn't say anything about what she was drinking?"

"No. Not at all." Castus said.

Fluttershy frowned, and looked at Castus steadily a moment.

"Well, I hope she is okay." She said.

"Well, she probably won't be happy in the morning. That's for sure." Castus said with a slight chuckle.

---

Spike sighed as he carried a tray into Twilight's room. On it was a large glass of water and beside it a mixed drink of tomato juice and other things. A recipe he had learned for such an occasion as this.

"Geez Twilight. Didn't you learn the last time you drank so much?" He said, as he walked up to Twilight's bed and set the tray on the night stand.

Twilight groaned under the covers and a hoof slid out to grip the drink. Her head following, mane a mess and eyes slightly bloodshot.

"Thank you Spike. You're so good to me." She moaned in pain as she drank the hangover cure.

Spike sighed with a roll of his eyes, "What made you drink so much anyway?"

With her drink finished, Twilight vanished under the covers again.

"Its complicated." She groaned.

"Is it a guy?" Spike deadpanned.

"N-no." Twillight stammered.

Spike rolled his eyes again, "Maybe you should talk to Cadence. She is the Princess of Love after all."

Silence from under the covers, before Twilight popped out.

"That's it!" She shouted, before wincing and covering her ears and eyes, "Agh! My head." She vanished back under the covers.

Spike sighed and faceclawed. He better write Cadence a letter. Twilight wasn't in any condition to do so and knowing her she would want him to in five. Four. Three. Two.

"Spike...could you write Cadence a letter."

'Right on time.' He thought with a smirk, "Sure thing Twilight."

A Talk About Love

It came to Twilight that perhaps being a genius was often a disadvantage then an advantage. While she could come up with an advanced magical, alchemical equation based in the later verse of antiquarian runic script on the bases of transportation magic, she could often find it difficult to grasp basic solutions to her problems.

At least, that is the conclusions she came to after last week.

Frankly she could kiss Spike for his ability to look past the complex and focus on the basic. She was lucky to have such an assistant who was there to offer a point of view that did not let itself become clouded by distress. Or emotional uncertainty.

Not that she had any!

Still, never the less the fact that she did not think of this sooner was somewhat of an embarrassment. But perhaps it was also due to a desire to not burden another pony with her problems. She was a princess after all, shouldn't she be able to solve her problems on her own? How could she be expected to handle other tasks put to her if she was not able to solve one, tiny, slightly impossible, utterly heart draining and hangover inducing, problem?

Besides, with Flurry Heart and an entire empire to run, Twilight didn't want to add more to Cadence's troubles.

And yet here they were, seated in her study, enjoying a warm pot of tea. The fact that Cadence was able to answer her letter was both a blessing and a worry for Twilight. Even after almost an hour of drinking tea, she had not yet started the conversation she feared to start.

'So....um...how do I start?' Twilight wondered.

"So," Cadence started, as she set down her tea cup, "How are things Twilight?"

Twilight blinked, looked at her sister in law, "Huh?"

Cadence looked at Twilight confused, "I asked how you were? Twilight, is something-"

"Oh," Twilight gasped, "I-I'm fine. How are you and Shining? How is little Flurry Heart?"

Cadence smiled, "Flurry Heart is doing fine. Though she seems to become more energetic by the day. If it wasn't for Sunburst's spell, I think Shining and I would be nervous wrecks."

Twilight giggled, "Yeah. Having an Alicorn baby can't be easy. I only watched her for a short time, and yet even I was pushing my limits to keep her from blasting things apart."

"It certainly isn't easy. But every time I see her sleeping, it all feels worth it." Cadence said with a smile.

Twilight smiled, "It's good to know everything is okay."

"Yes, but what about you?" Cadence asked, "In your letter you said you wanted to talk about something. It surely can't just be about how me and Shining are."

Twilight gulped, "W-Well, um...."

"Twilight." Cadence said, then took in a breathe and let it out slowly.

Twilight did the same, and once she felt calm she started again.

"Well, I kinda need your advice about love..." Twilight said, blushing.

Cadence coughed on her tea, setting her cup down and looked at her sister in law in shock.

"Twilight? Are you in love?" She asked, then smiled, "Oh this is wonderful news. Who is it? Is it a stallion or a mare? Are you starting a herd?" Cadence leaned in, eyes wide with excitement now. This was her area of expertise after all.

Twilight leaned back, "N-no, no no! I-I'm not seeing anyone. I-I mean I hope to one day, but I am having some dating trouble is all. Y-yeah that's it."

Cadene blinked, tilting her head as she sat back, "Oh. Well, how can I help?"

With an additional calming breath, Twilight began. “I need you to remove my affections toward someone.”

The silent pause that followed lasted so long, one could have heard a pin drop.

Cadence simply eyed the younger Alicorn before her. “You...want me...to make you...not like someone?”

“Precisely.” Twilight said resolutely with a nod.

To say that the Princess of Love was taken aback would be a grand understatement. She would’ve taken the request as an insult on par with a slap in the face had it not come from her friend and sister in law. “Twily...I can't...do that.”

“Yes, yes you can actually!” The purple mare said encouragingly.

With a pull of her magic, Twilight brought over a number of scrolls and held them out for Cadence to see. Perhaps a bit to close, as Twilight stood up and started leaning in towards Cadence.

"I've done the equations, and with a simple harmonic reversal we should be able to turn your Affection Enhancement spell into a Affection Nullification spell. I have charts and graphs made to show the exact wave length of the spell and everything!" Twilight said as she stuffed the charts into Cadence's face.

Cadence pushed the charts out of her vision, "Twilight," She gasped, "What would make you even think I would use magic to force another pony to feel a way they shouldn't?"

"But you did it to that one pony couple back in Canterlot when I was a filly." Twilight said, still leaning in.

"Oh," Cadence said with a wince, "Th-that isn't what it looked like. I mean, sure my spell can often make ponies feel affection for another pony they normally wouldn't, but I am simply amplifying emotions that are already there. And they were fighting, if they didn't really love each other it shouldn't have worked as well as it did."

Twilight pouted, putting away the charts. She sulked a moment before another idea came. She smiled and pulled more charts and books, "Well in that case, I have a better idea!"

'Oh no.' Cadence thought with worry. What could be better then magical mind control?

“I did some research, and while I did have to crack open some of the more forbidden texts in the Starswirl wing, as well as a bunch of medial text books, but its just as possible to surgically remove feelings physically as well as magically!” Cadence couldn't ignore that manic look she saw in the purple mare’s eye, the one she knew all too well, and it scared her every time. “It's just a matter of brain chemistry!” She continued in a mentally strained voice, one of her eyes twithing.

Cadence gulped, leaning into her chair in slight worry and fear. She had to remind herself to have a talk with Spike about contacting her when Twilight needed help. The little dragon could be very intuitive with Twilight's problems and having him contact her sooner might help prevent things like this.

“All you need to do is just SCOOP those chemicals out! And everything with be hunky dory!” She punctuated with a maniacal chuckle to herself.

‘Much sooner, Spike much, much sooner.’ Cadence thought, fear being replaced with dread.

“So as you can see! YOU CAN! Let's get this started…” Twilight chirped as she pulled a cart over to Cadence's chair, unveiling a number of medial instruments; half of them Cadence had no idea what they were used for.

“WHOA! WHOA!” Grabbing hold of Twilight's hoof she sat the mare back down. “Let me be clear; I am NOT gonna DO that.”

Oblivious the grisly task she was asking to be inflicted upon herself Twilight seemed crestfallen. “But-But it will work! Let me show you the-”

“Twily…” The pink princess said in her best stern motherly tone. “I am not going to open your head and take a melon baller to your brain.”

“I-it's a hypodermic…"

"No!" Cadence interrupted with a shout, pushing the cart away. She set her sister in law back on her chair with a sigh.

Sitting back down herself, taking calming breathes, Cadence asked, "Twilight. Why do you need me to take away your feelings for someone?"

Twilight bit her lip, "B-because...because. Ugh! Because its getting in the way!"

Cadence blinked at the outburst, but Twilight kept going.

"I've tried everything to forget about him. I even went on speed dates. The first time failed, but I figured that I needed to try again. So I went to Canterlot. Then Manehatten with Rarity when we were helping set up her shop there. I must have had twelve hundred and seventy four dates. None of them ever worked out, because I always end up think about Ca-uh him."

Cadence smiled softly, placing her hoof on Twilight's, "Twilight, love is not something that just goes away. And it isn't based in quantity, if you truly care about someone, then no amount of dates or magical brain washing will make it go away."

"But I have to make it go away!" Twilight shouted, before sobbing into her hooves.

Cadence blinked in surprise, before moving over and wrapping Twilight into her hooves and asked softly, "Twilight. Why do you need to do that?"

"Because he already has somepony and I can't just go up and tell her that I want him too. She doesn't deserve that after finally finding someone that makes her happy." Twilight sobbed, "So I have to make these feelings go away."

Cadence rubbed Twilight's back, "Twilight. It's okay to have feelings for someone, even if they are with another. But you first need to come to terms with what your feelings are for this person before you can do anything else?"

Twilight sniffled, "Come to terms?"

Cadence sighed, "Love is a wonderful thing Twilight, but too often ponies confuse lust, or desire for it. A lot of young fillies often find their hearts broken because of this inability to differentiate between love and lust. Even in herds, some ponies are only in the herd for the sex, and care little for the others. Those herds always end terribly. So you need to ask, how does this person make you feel?"

Twilight lifted her head, wipe at her eyes with a sniff, "W-well...H-he is an intellectual scholar. He understands more about magic and alchemical algorithm then anyone I've met. He never laughs at any of my theories, and he is always willing to experiment with already proven facts; unlike most other scholars."

"He sounds like a smart one." Cadence said with a smile.

"But its more then that," Twilight said, looking up at her sister in law, "He's a caring person, always willing to help and he never lashes at ponies when they are mean to him, but he also won't let them hurt the pony he loves. But despite the animosity that ponies feel for him, he still tries to help them and doesn't ask anything in return. In fact, a lot of the new theories we've created were meant to make life easier for ponies in Equestria and beyond."

"Oh, he sounds like a shining knight." Cadence giggled.

"Well, no...I wouldn't say that," Twilight said, biting her lip.

"Oh?" Cadence tilted her head, "Why?"

"Well," Twilight started, "He's done a lot of bad things. He regrets a lot of what he had to do, you can see it in his eyes when he talks about it. He's has a lot of emotional pain he keeps inside."

"Well, he sounds like a complicated man." Cadence said.

"I know, but that's what I...what I find so attractive about him. How he can keep such a happy smile, even despite everything he has to deal with. How he can act so...normal. He always make little faces when he is concentrating on a difficult task or problem," Twilight giggled, "And when he holds a baby, he talks to them in this adorable voice and uses baby talk. He does the same thing to kittens and puppies."

Cadence giggled.

"Oh and one time, when all of us went out to a bar to celebrate Rainbow Dashes birthday, she challanged him to a drinking contest. Of course, he never bothered to tell her that human alcohol has a stronger percentage then equestrian alcohol," Twilight chuckled, "Dashie wasn't happy when she came to the next morning and found out. She still demands a rematch."

Twilight sighed, "Frankly, I'm amazed at how normal he can appear and act. And when he has to be a leader, he goes about it with confidence. Sometimes I'm jealous of the confidence he has. I'm an Alicorn, but sometimes I feel like I'm failing in my responsibilities as Princess of Friendship."

"Oh, you do wonderfully Twilight," Cadence hugged Twilight, "you're still young, but as you mature you will improve in your role as a princess. I felt just like you did one day, just like Celestia and Luna."

"Thanks," Twilight smiled, hugging Cadence back.

"Still, you said that this person is with someone else. Who is she?" Cadence asked.

"She's a shy pony. Sometimes, maybe too shy," Twilight giggled, "But she has a strong heart."

Twilight frowned, "But still, that didn't stop ponies from treating her badly in the past. A lot of them have stopped, but there are still a few who mistreat her simply because she found someone who loves her. But despite that, I can see that as long as she has him, she can endure anything. And he cares the same for her. They have even started a family. Only a monster would try to tamper with that happiness."

"Is that why you won't talk to her?" Cadence asked.

Twilight winced, and looked down, "Sh-she doesn't deserve to have me just come up and say, Hey I want him too. She might feel pressured just because I'm a princess. And I'm her friend, what kind of friend just goes up and says that?"

"Well, what about a herd? Have you asked her about that?" Cadence asked.

Twilight blushed, "A h-herd? Th-that...I-I mean, I didn't...but I don't think I could....I don't even know if she swings that way. Or if he would even consider it. He is...different."

Cadence sighed, "Oh Twilight. I can see that you don't understand the real meaning behind a herd."

Twilight blinked, "What do you mean? Isn't that what herds are? Ponies coming together in an informal group of equal minded sex partners to help increase fertility and genetic spreading to help avoid inbreeding? That's been the historical pretext of the herd for Equestrian history given that our population has a higher percentage ratio of mares to stallions."

Cadence sighed, "Yes...there's that. But that's only the physical side. I know most books only talk about that, but there is more to the Herd then just sex Twilight. Let me explain."

Twilight nodded and listened.

"Herds are more then just ponies grouping up for multiple sex partners," Cadence said, smirking as Twilight blushed, "True herds, real long lasting herds, are made up of ponies who care about each other not just for sex, but because they are about the well being of that pony. Old or young, a real herd is more of an extended family then just an informal orgy group. Herd members need to be there for their fellow members through tough and happy times, to offer a shoulder to cry on. A hug when they need it. Just like your immediate family would. When you invite a pony into your herd, your not only asking them to be family to you and yours, but telling them that you trust them on a very personal level. That's how the best herds survive for so long, sometimes generations at a time."

"Oh. That does sound nice." Twilight said, smiling.

"Yes, in fact you could say you're already in one." Cadence said.

"I am?" Twilight asked, confused.

"Your friends. You all trust each other. You care about each other. You help each other in the hard times. Applejack shows it the most I think. Remember when you told me about the Flim Flam brothers and how you and your friends all worked to help the Apple Family keep their farm. Applejack considered you part of her family, and that is just like being in a herd." Cadence said with a smile.

Twilight frowned, "I never thought of it like that."

Cadence smiled and nuzzled Twilight, "Oh Twilight. I know you're scared. You're worried that maybe you will mess up your friendship. Or worse, being rejected. But you have to talk with Castus and Fluttershy and tell them how you feel. Especially Castus. Either you will be accepted or rejected, at least then you will be able to move on. Otherwise, you'll tear yourself apart from the inside."

Twilight sniffed, "I-I guess-WAIT!"

Twilight shot up, a look of horror on her face, "Wh-h-how did you know I was talking about Fluttershy and Castus!?"

Cadence rolled her eyes, "Come on Twilight, I'm the Princess of Love and I know both Fluttershy and Castus. It wasn't hard to figure out who you were talking about."

"I-I-I-Oh dear." Twilight slumped in her chair, blushing.

Cadence laughed, "Oh Twilight. Dear, sweet, innocent Twilight." She reached over and hugged the blushing alicorn.

The study door opening, made the two separate and look to see who was entering. It was Spike, leaning in through a crack in the door.

"Hey," the purple dragon said, "Sorry if I'm interrupting Twilight, but someones at the door."

"Who is it Spike?" Twilight asked.

"It's Castus."

"-Eeeeep!!" Twilight sank into her chair, "Wh-what is he doing here?!"

"Uh, its your weekly get together. Remember?" Spike deadpanned.

"What!?" Twilight shrieked, and she pulled out her scheduling book, and to her horror saw that she had scheduled Cadence's visit on the same day as Her's and Castus' meetings.

"Spike!" Twilight shouted, "Why didn't you tell me!?"

Spike shrugged, "I thought you were inviting Cadence to join. You did have Starlight over a few times, and I think you said something about having Moondancer over as well."

"Oh nononononononnoononononono!" Twilight started to panic, "What do I do!?"

Cadence giggled, watching as Twilight panicked. If she needed any proof that the bookish alicorn was in love with the human Castus, this was all she needed.

Twilight continued to look around in a panic, before that look of an idea came to her face, "........just....tell him I'm not here."

"He's...." Spike started

"Yeah," Twilight flew over to Spike and leaned in against his face, "that's it! Tell him I stepped out for important business in the Crystal Empire, that kinda works right?"

"Twilight....." Spike started again, leaning back with scared eyes.

"No wait, he might use that waygate to check on me if it sounds really important." Twilight bit her hoof as she tried to think of another reason.

"Tell him it's a family matter, I needed to talk to Cadence about a personal matter!" She said again, her face looking a cross between manic and worried

"Twilight, I already..."

"No! No!" Twilight pulled on her mane in frustration, "That sounds like I have some kind of disease! After the last time we talked, I don't want him to think that I...."

"If we need to reschedule." Castus said, walking in

"EEEEEEEK!!!" Twilight shrieked, flying into the air and back into a book case.

"I already let him in." Spike deadpanned, face clawing.

Cadence burst into laughter, wiping a tear from her eyes.

"Hello Castus," Cadence said, once she had collected herself.

"Hello Cadence," Castus said with a nod as he stepped over, "how are Shining and Flurry?"

"Oh they are doing good. Flurry Heart will be starting her first day in magic preschool." Cadence said, smiling in delight of her daughter's first day of school.

Castus chuckled, "Good. Maybe I'll suffer less second degree burns when I see her again."

Cadence groaned, "Oh will you ever let that go. We said we were sorry, we didn't realize that she had managed to counter act her normal inhibitor spell."

"Oh, three hundred years more or so." Castus said with a smirk.

Cadence giggled, "Oh don't be ridiculous now."

Castus chuckled, before looking up, "So uh...is this a bad time again?"

---

Castus sighed as he rubbed his head. He was still trying to figure out what to do after coming back from Twilights; who they had both agreed to put their meeting off for tomorrow. She had looked like she wanted to say more, but she seemed to flustered or scared to say so. So after a few last bits of conversation with Cadence, he had gone home with more questions, and suspicions.

'Twilight. What am I going to do with you?' He thought.

He was sure by now that Twilight had a thing for him. And he would be lying if he didn't find her attractive in her own right. He had to come to terms with that. But whatever they had, had to remain as friends. He had a woman, er well mare, that he loved and two beautiful daughters. He wouldn't compromise that for anyone, or anypony.

'I'll have to let her down gently. Twilight's a good friend, but....damn it things like this never work out.' He thought with another sigh of defeat.

"Something wrong?"

Castus looked up and saw Fluttershy sit down next to him. For a few brief moments, he focused more on the lingerie she wore and how its veil like fabric clung to ever curve of her.

"Girls asleep?" He asked, licking his lips.

Fluttershy nodded, "Yes."

Castus smiled and slid his arm around Fluttershy's waist, and pulled her as he leaned back on the couch. She followed, laying on him as she planted a kiss on his lips.

"Mmm, you know," Castus said after the kiss, "I know a spell that can...make a sound barrier around a room. No one could hear us."

Fluttershy giggled, "Tempting. But lets wait. I want to know how your meeting with Twilight went."

"Are you sure you want to know, or do you just like teasing me?" Castus smirked, sucking a breath as Fluttershy grinded gently against him.

She giggled, "Just tell me." Her slow motions of her body coming to a stop.

Castus rolled his eyes, "Well, it was uneventful. Cadence was there today. We had a nice chat."

"Oh, how is Cadence? Is little Flurry Heart doing okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh she's fine. And Flurry will be starting Magic Pre-school soon. Hopefully she can learn to keep that magic of hers under control. It will do the world a lot of good," Castus rubbed his face, "Or at least keep me safe."

Fluttershy patted his cheek, "It wasn't so bad."

"You weren't the one getting blasted from a tiny sneeze." Castus smirked.

Fluttershy smiled, "And what about Twilight?"

"Oh, Twilight was okay. As well as she can be." Castus said with a shrug.

"What did you talk about?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, nothing much. We didn't talk long, we had to reschedule the normal discussion for tomorrow."

Fluttershy tilted her head, "Oh? Why?"

"Eh, complications." Castus said.

"What kind?" Fluttershy asked.

"Its nothing. Just some minor things she and I gotta work out." Castus said, kissing Fluttershy's forehead.

"Hmmm," Fluttershy hummed. Her hoof traced small circles on Castus' chest.

"Castus, what do you think of Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

Castus blinked, "Huh? Uh, she's fine."

"Fine? That's all?" Fluttershy looked at Castus intently, "You don't think she's pretty?"

Castus blinked again, "Waaait. This is that game you girls like to play right? You ask me if your friend is pretty. I say yes, you get mad at me. I say no, you get mad at me. Right? That trick question thing."

Fluttershy playfully slapped Castus chest, "No. I really want to know. I promise I won't get mad."

"You sure?" Castus asked cautiously.

"Yes," Fluttershy said with a roll of her eyes, "Now tell me."

"Okay, okay. What do I think of Twilight?" Castus asked again as he thought, "Well she is good with magic, and she is a hell of a fellow minded scholar."

"And?" Fluttershy asked.

Castus sighed, "And she's cute. In a librarian sort of way. Heck, she's gorgeous in her own way. But nothing compared to you babe." Castus kissed Fluttershy once more.

"Mmmm," Fluttershy hummed as the kiss ended, "Oh? but she's a princess. And an Alicorn. I'm just a simple Pegasus."

"Your my Pegasus though." Castus said with a smile.

"And you will always be my human." Fluttershy smiled back, "Still..."

"Still what?" Castus asked.

"I was wondering. That....well..." Fluttershy started to blush, and she hid her face in her mane; as she always did when she wanted to talk about something she was shy about.

"Hey, come on babe," Castus said softly, pushing back Shy's mane, "You can tell me."

Fluttershy smiled, but the blush never faded, "Well. I was just thinking that...maybe we should ask Twilight out on a date."

Castus blinked, "A date? Like a date as in hanging out, or a...date, date?"

"A date date silly. To see if she wanted to start a herd with us." Fluttershy said, giving a shy smile.

Castus blinked, "Uh? Herd? You mean a ...herd, herd? Or a..."

A knock at the door made the two lovers jolt up, and look to the front door.

Looking at each other, Fluttershy pulled the quilt on the couch up and around her, while Castus stood up and walked toward the door.

Slowly, he opened and peeked outside.

It was Twilight.

"Twilight?" Castus said, surprised as he opened the door fully.

"H-hi Castus. Fluttershy. Oh!" Twilight blushed, as Fluttershy came into view.

"Hello Twilight." Fluttershy smiled.

"I-I'm not interrupting anything...am I?" Twilight asked, looking down with her cheeks flushed.

"Uh, no. What brings you out here at this hour?" Castus asked.

"Uh, well...um." Twilight coughed, cleared her throat and looked up at the two of them.

"Castus. Fluttershy. There's uh....something I need to talk to you about." Twilight said.

Author's Notes:

Thanks Sipioc again. Such a lovely little bit of help in making Twilight even more crazy then we all know she already is XD

A Talk with a Queen

"Alpha Squad, take the left. Beta, the right. Today we take down this Hive once and for all." The Equestrian commander whispered as she gave orders to the soldiers under her command.

With a nod the soldiers all moved towards their posts. The liquid glow of Changeling Hive Structure surrounding them in the darkness of the tunnels taken over by the changelings. Since the years following the attack by the changelings during the war, Equestria had sent soldiers out in the hopes of finding their hive and taking it down before another changeling army could be bred; and to capture or kill the changeling queen behind it all.

The fact that there was another changeling queen out in the world was a cause of worry among the higher ups, given the changelings ability to rapidly reproduce.

The army had worked for awhile now, searching for the hive since the end of the war, and yet for the most part had come across only small outposts or false hives. Their target was crafty, and quick; often managing to evacuate just before the army arrived when they had managed to pinpoint her location.

But this time was different.

The soldiers had dispatched a number of scouts and perimeter guards, before finally reaching the main tunnel entrances. And as the signal was given, they charged forward; surging into the hive main hub.

And stopping dead in their tracks as some of their soldiers ran into a magic shield, and were sent flying back.

The soldiers were stunned and shocked by the spell, but a quick order of the unicorns in the squad to come up and dispel the shield was given. But even as the battle mages came up and began their spells, a cruel and amused laugh seemed to echo around them in the cavern tunnel.

"Oh, don't bother. That shield spell is nearly unbreakable."

The soldiers stepped back, getting into battle posisitions as on the other side of the shield wall, a lithe black form slipped up to them; flanked by several large changelings. These were Changeling Elite guards, from what little was known of the species.

And the lithe, sensual form before them was none other then the Queen herself.

"Welcome Equestrians to my domain. I hope it is," The changeling queen giggled, "A pleasure."

"Changelings," The commanding officer called, "You are found in violation of Equestrian law and charged as an enemy of the nation. If you surrender now, we will spare your life and the lives of your hive."

The Queen smirke, showing a fanged smile, "Oh, such delightful terms. Mmmm, the thought of being strapped down and carried off by some of those stallions there is....appealing." The changeling queen licked her lips as she slid her hooves down her form, her eyes glowing a crimson red.

"But I'm afraid I can't," The queen said, turning with a sway of her hips, "my hive is ready to leave you see. I just came to see if any of my pursuers might be worth my time taking into my chambers. Sadly, it seems that Celestia is keeping all the good stallions to herself. Greedy little whorse she is."

A low growl went out amongst the troops, the anger apparent at the brazen insult to their princess.

"But, enough chatter. I have places to go, good bye." The Queen said with a casual flick of her mane as she and her guards walked off.

"Mages, get this shield down now!" The officer ordered.

It took several hours for the unicorns to manage to take down the shield, and of course by then it was already too late.

Once more the Changeling Queen had escaped.

---

Celestia frowned as she looked over the report. Once more the changeling queen of the rogue hive had managed to evade capture. It was beginning to become a common thing, and it showed that this Queen was more cautious and skille in guile. Still, the fact that the soldiers had for once found the main hive instead of decoys was a small victory; after pulling up nothing for a long time.

They could at least find her, but this issue with a shield spell. For one thing, if it was as tough as the unicorns made it out, that would mean that this changeling queen had a shield spell that was just as powerful as her own, if not more. But worse of all...

...changelings weren't suppose to be able to do magic.

Shape shift magic was their own special ability, and changeling Queens did possess enough skill in magic to make basic attack spells. But advanced shield defense spells were, as Chrysalis herself had shown through both interrogation and study, impossible. At least for Chrysalis.

So why could this Queen do such a spell.

Celestia needed to find out, but the thought of dealing with that creature again did not sit well on her mind. Chrysalis could be impossible to work with, or even talk to. But never the less she would have too.

Sighing as she put down the report, Celestia gathered herself and with her escort of Royal Guards, made her way once more to the prison in which the famed Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings lay held.

---

"Ah, Celestia," Chrysalis hissed with a smirk, "Come again to visit? Have you brought me a tasty snack perhaps? Perhaps a nice, strong and handsome stallion?"

"No you parasite," Celestia said, "I am here concerning the other changeling Queen."

Chrysalis huffed and sat on her couch, crossing her hooves under her breasts, "Oh, you're no fun. But I don't see what you need me to tell you that you don't already know from having your scientists and mages poke me with their horns."

Chrysalis smirked, and she lounged back, lifting a leg and letting her dress slid down the lithe, delicate looking limb and exposing the full leg, "Although, they weren't exactly poking me in the right places for me to like it. Maybe they can try again."

Celestia rubbed her head, "Does your depravity know no ends?"

Chrysalis paused, placed a hoof to her chin in thought, "Hmmmm. Nope!" She finished with a shake of her head.

Celestia huffed, "Look. My soldiers found the queens hive."

"Oh, then why are you here? Shouldn't they have captured her?" Chrysalis asked, though the smirk on her lips told Celestia she knew more then she was letting on.

"The queen had a shield spell up. How could a changeling, even a queen, have access to such a spell. I want answers!" Celestia glared intently at Chrysalis as she finished.

Chrysalis smirked, then sighed, "Oh, I suppose it can't be helped. I guess I can tell you, but I first you need to do something for me."

"What?" Celestia asked, feeling cautious.

"I want you to bring me Cadence and Shining Armor here." Chrysalis said with a shrug.

"Why?" Celestia asked.

"Oh, its a personal matter between us three and us alone. Let me talk to them in private. Then I will tell you what you want to know." Chrysalis said, smiling.

Celestia looked hard at the changeling queen. She turned and walked away from the cell.

"Star Bolt," Celestia said to one of her guards, "send a message to my niece, informing her to come with her husband as soon as possible."

---

Cadence and Shining Armr looked around uneasily, as they walked through the hall. To say that they were confused by the summons they had recieved was an understatement. Cadence didn't mind if her aunt wished to see her, and she had brought Flurry with them to see her Aunt Celestia.

But the fact that this trip was to see another craeture, did not rest easily on their minds. Especially considerng the history said creature had with them.

"What could she possibly want to see us for?" Cadence asked her husband.

"I don't know dear. But if Princess Celestia is asking us to come, we should try to get this over with as soon as possible." Shining said with a huff, then he turned to his daughter in his wife's hooves.

"And then we can go show everypony in canterlot the cutest, best, most adorable filly in the whole world." Shining Armor said in that voice all adoring parents use with their infant children.

Flurry giggled, before going back to sucking her hoof.

Taking a turn, Shining and Cadence saw Celestia and her guards before them. Cadence rushed over, and hugged her aunt with a hoof, while Celestia wrapped both of hers around her niece.

"Aunt Celestia," Cadence said with a smile, "Its so good to see you again."

"And you too little niece," Celestia smiled, then looking down at Flurry Heart and nuzzling her nose against Flurry's nose, "And it is so good to see you too, my darling little grand niece."

Flurry giggled, and placed her hooves on Celestia's face and nuzzled her back. Celestia giggled, and continued the adoring nuzzle before looking to her former Captain of the Guard.

"Shining Armor. You are looking well." Celestia said.

Shining Armor saulted, "Princess Celestia. It is good to see you again."

Celestia chuckled, "Please Shining, you are my nephew in law now. We can be informal with each other in private."

Shining Armor chuckled uneasily, "Uh, sorry force of habit."

Celestia smiled slightly, before frowning, "I'm sorry this visit is not of a more family oriented nature. But..."

"We understand. We will see her," Cadence then held out Flurry Heart to Celestia, "Here, why don't you spend some time with your grand niece. It's been awhile since you saw her."

Celestia smiled, and took the young alicorn in her hooves, "If you need anything, my guards will not be far."

Cadence and Shining Armor nodded, before going down the hall toward Chrysalis' cell.

Celestia watched them go, before looking to Flurry Heart.

"Come along little deary, let us see what little game we can play hmmm?" Celestia said with a smile.

Flurry Heart giggled and hugged her grand aunt.

---

"Ah, I wondered if you two would actually show up," Chrysalis said, as she stood up from her couch and moved over to the bars at her cell. She slide and wrapped a hoof around one of them, and leaned against it as she raised a leg, "Shining, its especially good to see you."

"Sorry, the feeling isn't mutal Chrysalis." Shining said with a glare.

"Oooh," Chrysalis, placing a hoof to her lips in a pout, "so mean to little old me."

Chrysalis smirked, licking her lips, "But then again, I love a mean stallion. They can be so rough," Chrysalis sucked in a husky breath, "aggressive. Especially in the bed."

"Enough of your games Chrysalis," Cadence snapped, "You asked to see us, now what do you want?"

"Oooh, don't sound so harsh Cadence," Chrysalis pouted, "Is it so bad to want to see my two favorite ponies in the whole world. I must say it was quiet fun playing as you. Though, I must say I found working with a...inferior figure to be somewhat boring."

"Inferior figure!?!" Cadence shouted in rage.

"Uh, sweetie..." Shining Armor started, but Chrysalis cut him off.

"Of course," Chrysalis said, standing straight, with a shrug, "I mean lets face the facts, compared to me you are just simply lacking."

Cadence growled, and Shining stood between her and the cell.

"Now, Cadence you know she is just-Agh!" Shining Armor started, before Chrysalis grabbed his tail and yanked him toward the bars of her cell.

Shining Armor went frozen, as he felt two strangly soft orbs surround the sides of his face, a beat of a heart felt just barely through fabric. A hoof wrapping around his chest as a tail wrapped about his leg.

"You must see it, don't you Shining darling," Chrysalis said, griding herself against Shinings back through the gap in the bars, her chest moving Shinings armor side to side with her breasts.

Shining Armor was stiff, mouth hanging agap, unable to speak.

Cadence was seeing red.

"I'm well more endowed then your dear little wife, and my hips are fit for bearing babies. And the fact is, Celestia needs to keep the guards of my cell down the end of the hall just to keep them safe from me." Chrysalis said, lowering her mouth to breathe warm air against Shining's ear.

Shining felt a shiver run down his spine.

Cadence started to grind her teeth.

Chrysalis chuckled as she kept going, "And I have years of experience in the bed. I can take any male through a whirlwind of delights that leaves them almost brain dead. Frankly Cadence, in terms of being a lover, you are still just a novice."

Steam started to come out of Cadence's ears as her eyes ignited into burning flames from the lowest depths of hell.

"And," Chrysalis turned Shining around so that he was looking up right at her, even as she pressed him against her body. His attempts to push away, useless as he soon realized that the changeling queen was alot stronger then she looked.

"And," Chrysalis went on, I can become any female of any species. You must be getting so bored of plowing the same, old-"

Cadence twitched and slammed her hoof through the wall of the prison, leaving a small hole.

"-alicorn." Chrysalis finished, nibbling the tip of Shining's ear, "What do you want Shining dear? Something exotic?"

With a flash, Chrysalis form changed to that of a zebra mare, "Or perhaps something more, interspecies? Hmmm, I bet you would love to do some BDSM with a griffonness?" Chrysalis form changed again into the form of a griffonness, "Or maybe you have other desires? Maybe some intimate fantasy's?"

Chrysalis changed her form and she became Celestia, then Luna. Then a number of well known noble mares in Canterlot.

"Unhand him!" Cadence shouted, her horn flaring as she yanked Shining from Chrysalis grip, and pulled his face right into her chest.

"Mmmph!" Shining Armor said, muffled.

"Don't listen to her Shining. She is an evil, seductress whorse!"

"Ouch." Chrysalis deadpanned, flicking her mane back, "No need to be rude." She stuck her lips out in a pout.

Cadence started to grind against Shining, wrapping her tail around his leg, "My husband could care less about that...bug body of yours or whatever body you can take. He choose me to marry, and this body to bear his children and do all sorts of things with, every night! Every day too. And...and...and every other weekend as well."

Cadence looked at her husband, "Right Shining, this is the mare you chose to indulge every perveted fantasy you could think of. And these are the hips that have and will continue to bear your babies." Cadence gripped Shining's hooves and moved them down her body.

Shining Armor just blushed, unable to say anything.

"Right!?" Cadence shouted, glaring at her husband.

"Mph!" Shining muffled, nodding his head vigorously.

Cadence smiled, and then stuck her tongue at Chrysalis.

Chrysalis chuckled, "Oh don't be so childish Cadence. Why don't you come over here, and put that tongue to some real work."

"What!?" Cadence gasped, releasing Shining and covering herself with her hooves.

Shining Armor slupped to the ground and leaned against the wall, hold his hooves over his nose and crossing his legs.

"Oh don't be shy. I must admit, you do have qualities one can enjoy. Such a sweet innocent filly, it would be so delicious to teach you everything I know." Chrysalis said, wrapping her hooves around a bar of her cell door, and leaning against it like a mares working at a strip club would, the shoulder strap of her gown slipping off to show her bare shoulder.

Cadence blushed, eyes bulging in a look of pure shock.

Chrysalis soon burst into laughter, clutching her sides, "Ahahaha, oh you should see the looks on your faces."

Cadence still looked flustered, but she growled and stomped up to the cell.

"Look, you cheese legged insect," She started, sticking her hoof through the bars and into Chrysalis' face.

Chrysalis laughed, holding up her hooves, "Take it easy princess, I'm just having some fun. You can't imagine how boring this cell is, and I rarely get any entertainment."

Cadence scowled.

Chrysalis sighed, "Fine. I've had my fun, now I guess I should hold up my end and give you the information you want. Well, go get Celestia."

Cadence huffed, and with a nod she walked off, Shining Armor following behind her.

Chrysalis watched the two go, and licked her lips as she watched their flanks.

---

"Well Chrysalis," Celestia said.

"Yes, yes Celestia. I'll tell you what you want to know." Chrysalis said with a huff.

"Thank you," Celestia said, and looked to her niece, "And thank you Cadence. I won't ask what she wanted to talk to you about; but I'm sure it was not pleasant."

"Hey, no need to be rude." Chrysalis deadpanned.

"At least something came from it," Cadence said, "Aunt, I can hold Flurry if you wish."

"Nonsense. I haven't seen the little dear in a long time. I'd like to hold her a little bit longer, if it is alright." Celestia asked, tickling Flurry's tummy with her hoof.

Flurry giggled and gripped Celestia's hoof and popped it into her mouth.

Cadence smiled, "No, it is alright."

Celestia smiled at Cadence, then returned her gaze to Chrysalis.

"Now Chrysalis. The other changeling queen. I want answers." Celestia stated.

"Yes, yes." Chrysalis sighed, "I know. Fine, where do I begin."

"Your relation to her would be a good start." Celestia stated.

Chrysalis flicked her mane, "Well, what is there to say, other then that she is my daughter."

"Your daughter!?" Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armor all shouted in surprise.

Chrysalis smirked, "What? You sound surprised."

"But how can she reproduce? It was learned that all other changelings but you are infertile drones." Celestia demanded.

Chrysalis chuckled, "Well, that is where a biology lesson comes into play, so..." Chrysalis shifted her form again, now looking like a school teacher, with a pair of glasses and a tight fitting pink shirt and short mini skirt. Her mane tied up in a bun.

"Now class, listen well," Chrysalis said, looking intently on Shining. Cadence growled and wrapped her hooves around her husband protectively.

Chrysalis laughed, "Well, lets start with the basics. As you know, changelings are divided into a number of categories. There are the worker drones, males and females of smaller stature that work to spread the Hive Structure and prepare food and other such duties, like cleaning, garbage disposal and the like. Then there is the warrior class, you know them well and then a sub category known as the Elite Warrior class. After that come the Handmaiden class, all of whom are female and act as my personal guard and caretakers when I am laying eggs. All of these drone types are infertile, and are incapable of reproducing. I as the Queen, am the only changeling who reproduces with the help of a special class of changeling, the High Males."

Chrysalis went over to a bulb of Hive Structure, within the sleeping form of a large male changeling, "this is a High Male, and his sole duty, is to prove himself superior to all other High Males to become my consort and in doing so, be the one to mate with me to imprint on my eggs when I am laying. But of course, all of the changelings born from such a mating will either be infertile drones, or other High Males who will challange his superiority to be my consort."

"Wait, wait, wait," Cadence said, "if you birth the High Males, does that mean that you are...."

"Reproducing with the equivalent of my own sons?" Chrysalis said, "Yes. You could say it is something like that."

"Ugh! That is revolting!" Cadence gasped.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, "Oh, don't act like that. We changelings have a different genetic structure from you ponies. We don't suffer the same consequences of Interbreeding as you ponies do."

"But," Celestia started, "if all of your children born with a High Male are infertile, then how do you preserve the species if you should die Chrysalis?"

Chrysalis smiled, "A good question. It's really simple, since High Males can only produce drones, we Changeling queens must seek other a different source of genetic material in order to breed a new queen. In short, we must mate with a male that is not a changeling High Male. When we do that, a special egg I produce in my body is fertilzed and a new Changeling Queen egg is produced. The new queen will always be a changeling, no matter what species the father was."

"I see. But that still does not explain her ability to use a shield spell that only a few ponies could even muster." Celsetia stated.

Chrysalis shrugged, "Oh, that is easy. You see, the fertilized Queen Egg, while birthing a changeling, will retain certain abilities from the species of the father. So like, if I mated with a dragon, I would birth a queen who could breathe fire or something. Frankly, the abilities that new Queen acquires is difficult to tell, and I've only ever had one daughter queen in my lifetime so far."

"So then you mated with a pony, and the resulting queen acquired the ability to use Equestrian magic." Celestia said, feeling a sense of dread.

Chrysalis smirked, "Does that scare you Celestia?"

"It worries me. And I can only pity whatever poor stallion you seduced." Celestia scowled.

"Oh, don't be so mean. You might hurt his feelings." Chrysalis said with a smirk, showing her teeth as she gazed at Shining Armor.

Cadence and Celestia blinked, and they looked at Shining Armor. Then to Chrysalis. Shining. Chrysalis. Shining. Chrysalis.

Shining's eyes bulged andhe choked on a gasp.

"No..." Cadence said, shaking her head with wide eyes.

"Th-that...you can't be-" Shining stammered, looking at Chrysalis in shock.

"Oh, don't be so embarassed Shining. You should be proud of our daughter. She is really a smart little changeling." Chrysalis said, before bursting into laughter.

Shining Armor choked, and looked to Celestia and Cadence. He felt his heart stop, as he saw the disapproving look in Celestia's eyes, and the look of pain, and yet intent murder, in his wife's eyes.

"W-wait. I couldn't have! This is just another game of hers." Shining said quickly in his defense.

Cadence blinked, then frowned and looked at Chrysalis, "He is right. It would be just like you to say something like this as a cruel joke."

Chrysalis chuckled, "Oh Shining. Do you recall a night, the day before the wedding. When you thought that the Cadence with you, was the real Cadence?"

Shining Armor blinked, "Uh....yeah."

"And," Chrysalis continued, "do you recall a little bottle of wine you brought with you, and half way through you began to pressure Cadence about a little....premarital intimacy?"

Shinin Armor felt a sudden feeling of dread, "Uh...y-yes...."

Chrysalis smirked, "You were really an animal that night. I still think about it when I'm lonely at night."

The silence that followed, you could have heard a pin drop.

Shining Armor, rigged and stiff with fear, slowly looked to his wife.

"C-C-Cadence-" He started.

"Shining you jerk!" Cadence shouted, as her hoof connected with Shining's face, sending him flying into the wall.

"AGGH!" Shining Armor shouted, as blood shot from his nose as he hit the wall, then the ground.

"ShiningArmor,Ican'tbelieveyouwoulddosuchahorriblethingtobetrayme.Youbeast,youbrute.Youonemindedhorndog!Ihateyou,Ihateyou.Youevil,evil,evilstallion!Ican'tbelieveyouwoulddosuchathingtome!" Cadence shouted as she began to beat Shining Armor to a pulp.

Chrysalis laughed, and Celestia groaned, rubbing her head. Flurry Heart giggled, sticking her foot into her mouth.

---

Shining Armor lay on the ground, both eyes black and puffy. Bruises all about his body, and just barely concious. Cadence stood over him, breathing heavily.

"Oh, don't blame him too much. If it means anything, I was using a pheramon to get him into the mood. I was hungry that night." Chrysalis said, looking at her hoof.

"You...couldn't...have said that....sooner?" Shining Armor gasped.

"Oh. Silly me." Chrysalis giggled.

"Well, I think this has been....eye opening." Celestia started, "Good bye Chrysalis."

Chrysalis blinked, "W-wait! I have a proposistion!"

Celestia stopped, and turned, "What kind?"

"Let me out." Chrysalis said simply.

"Why the buck would we do that!?" Cadence hissed.

Chrysalis sighed, "Look. I know we don't get along, but I can't stand being bound in this cell. My hive can't survive forever in stasis. They need to be free. You must be having trouble finding my daughter, let me go out and do it for you."

"And why would you do that? And how could we even trust you?" Celestia asked.

"Besides being free? I know we didn't get off to a good start, but if it means saving my drones, I will gladly swear any oath. Besides, my daughter and I have a little fight to settle. We didn't exactly leave on good terms, and she did steal something from me." Chrysalis said.

Celestia looked intently at Chrysalis. Her mind, deep in thought.

Chrysalis looked with begging eyes at Celestia, "Please. I swear, I will never try to take over Equestria again. Just allow me and my hive to go free. In return, I will help you capture my daughter."

Celestia bit her lip.

"Auntie?" Cadence said, looking at Celestia curiously.

"You will give your word, that you will never seek to harm my little ponies or seek to take over Equestria ever again. And you will obey my every command in the hunt for your daughter." Celestia said.

"Aunt Celestia!" Cadence gasped, "You can't be serious?!"

"I am. This new changeling queen has proven difficult, and more powerful then I realized, and if we wish to capture her, we need every advantage." Celestia sighed, "even if I am loath to do so."

Chrysalis smiled, "Believe me Celestia, the feeling is mutual. Still, if it means getting out of this cell. Fine. I swear to never seek to conquer Equestria, or harm her citizens. Even if it means we will need to find a new food source."

"We can work out your need for love later." Celestia said, as she opened the door to Chrysalis cell.

Chrysalis took a tenative step out, before stretching, "Ahhh, it feels good to be out of that cell."

"I am serious Chrysalis. Do not make me regret this. Or I will end you, and your entire species. Do you understand?" Celestia leveled a glare at Chrysalis.

"Yes, yes. I know when I'm beat." Chrysalis sighed, she turned to her cell and her eyes glowed, causing the Hive structure pods to glow; and slowly each changeling within the pod slid out, covered in goo as their bodies slowly regained conciousness.

"I will first need to establish a Hive base you understand." Chrysalis said.

"The cavern system under Canterlot will do. I will be able to keep a closer eye on you that way." Celestia said.

"Keeping me on a short leash? I like that. Don't expect me to bark though." Chrysalis said with a smirk.

When the last of the changeling's in the pods was awake and active again, Celestia handed Flurry over to Cadece,and she and Chrysalis walked out, with the changelings following behind their queen.

"I hope you know what you are doing, Auntie." Cadence said, holding Flurry tightly to her.

Now just her and Shining, Cadence looked down at her husband.

"C-Cadenec. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I swear I didn't know." Shining begged, tears in his eyes.

Cadence frowned, and sighed, "I know. I shouldn't blame you so hard."

Shining Armor smiled, but Cadence pointed a hoof down at him.

"But," She hissed, "You will be sleeping on the couch for a whole year. Do you undersand?"

"Yes dear." Shining Armor said with a defeated sigh.

"Good," Cadence said with a nod, "Now, lets go home."

And with that, Cadence walked out of the prison, carrying her daughter in her hooves. And dragging her husband behind her with her magic.

A Double Date

Castus felt like the tie around his neck was trying to choke his breathing, but he fought the urge to sink a finger down and fiddle with the fabric. He had worked hard for almost an hour for this date, more time then any date he had had before. Not to say he did not make himself presentable those times before, but this time the date was something outside of his league.

"Castus," Fluttershy giggled, lightly slapping his hand from going to his tie, "you look fine. Stop worrying."

Castus grunted, "I'm sorry dear, I just....this is...what do I say when she gets here?"

Fluttershy smiled, "Well, a hello would be a good start. Just don't be too forward."

"Oh," Castus said, blinking in surprise, "Oh, yeah right. Uh..a hello. That's what I'll say when she gets here."

Castus looked around, "Uh...she isn't here yet."

Fluttershy giggled, "We did get here a little early. Don't be so worried."

"I'm not worried. Who said I was worried," Castus asked, "I'm just out on a date with my wife, and one of her friends who is romantically interested in me as well and my wife is totally fine with this and even suggested this. Why wouldn't I be fine?"

Fluttershy leaned up a bit and kissed Castus' cheek, "You will be fine."

Castus sighed, "I'm just not use to this. Frankly I'm jealous you can be so calm."

Fluttershy shook her head, "Oh, I am a bit worried. This is our first date with Twilight, and we are all in new territory. But I know we will all have a good time."

Castus sighed again, still feeling nervous, "I hope so. It's just...this is all so strange. I'm still wrapping my head around how it all happened."

---

Castus sat on one of the lounge chairs in the living room. He looked from the cup of tea in his hands, to the two mares sitting on the couch; each with a cup of tea as well.

"Mmm, this is good Fluttershy," Twilight said, after sipping her tea.

Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you. I hope I didn't add too much sugar."

Twilight shook her head, "No, no its just right. Umm...so how are you both? I'm sorry if I came so late but..."

"You wanted to talk to us about something?" Castus asked, taking a sip of his tea.

Twilight blushed, looked into her cup and nodded, "Y-yes. M-mostly to you Castus. But, Fluttershy...you deserve to hear it as well."

Twilight gulped, "B-but...please...no matter what is said. P-Promise we will still be friends. Please!" Twilight said the last with an almost desperate plea in her voice. She was scared, and Fluttershy and Castus both frowned in seeing someone they cared about so afraid.

Fluttershy placed her hoof on Twilight's, "Twilight. We will always be friends, no matter what. You've experienced too much, done too much together for anything to separate us. Whatever you have to say, you can tell us and whatever it is we will work it out."

"Yeah," Castus said, smiling, "So just get it off your chest."

Twilight blushed a bit brighter, "Oh thank you. W-well...."

Twilight took a deep breath.

"CastusIloveyou!" Twilight shouted in almost one breath, taking both Castus and Fluttershy by surprise.

Castus made a shushing sign, as Fluttershy whispered, "Twilight. The girls are asleep, please keep your voice down."

Twilight blinked, "O-oh," she blushed again, "I'm sorry. I...I just got so...I'm sorry."

Fluttershy patted her hoof, and Castus cleared his throat.

"So uh...what was that again?" He asked. He heard what she screamed, but he wanted to think he just misheard.

Twilight gulped, "Castus. I..I love you. I tried not to, but I can't deny my heart. I love you. I'm sorry."

Castus stopped mid sip of his drink, and slowly set his cup down.

"Uh....s-say again?" Castus stammered, gulping.

"Castus," Fluttershy said, exasperated, "Don't make her say it a third time. You are embarrassing her."

Twilight looked at her hooves, fidgeting, and a blush still on her face.

Castus rubbed the back of his head, "Oh, s-sorry."

"I-I will understand if you don't return my feelings. I just...I tried so hard to make them go away, but each time only made me feel even stronger for you." Twilight said, "So I...I had to tell you. And I had to let you know Fluttershy; I'm sorry I'm such a horrible friend."

"Twilight. You're not a horrible friend." Fluttershy said, wrapping Twilight in a hug.

"Y-yeah," Castus said, still feeling surprised by this love confession, the slight feeling of insult that Twilight tried to not fall for him, and the fact that Fluttershy had so far seemed so fine with it, "W-we can't pick who we fall in love with."

"We were actually talking about it before you arrived." Fluttershy said.

Twilight looked at her friend in shock, "Y-you were?!"

"Yeah," Castus said, rubbing his head.

Twilight placed her hooves over her face, "Oh this is embarrassing."

Fluttershy patted Twilight's hoof, "Twilight, I...sorted of started to suspect that you might have a crush on Castus; after he told me about the...incidences."

"You told her!?" Twilight shouted, looking at Castus in shock.

Castus held up his hands, "Hey, she's my wife. I'm not going to keep secrets like that from her."

"E-even the one where I was..." Twilight blushed and covered her face with her wings.

"Twilight." Fluttershy said, carefully pulling Twilight's wings out of the way.

"Would you be willing to go on a date with us?" Fluttershy asked.

Castus gasped and coughed as his tea went down the wrong way, "WHAT!?"

"WHAT!?" Twilight shouted as well.

The two then looked at each other, and Twilight gripped her hooves and looked intently at Castus now. Fluttershy did as well, and in this moment of both shock and realization Castus saw that he held in his hands Twilight's heart. Not physically, but emotionally.

Depending on what he said next, would either make her happy, or shatter her.

Castus bit his lip, and Twilight started to shake as he kept silent. Finally, fearing Twilight might take it the wrong way, and the expecting look on Fluttershy's face, Castus gave the only answer he felt he could.

"Uh....yeah. Why not go out with us." He said.

He jus hoped it would all work out.

---

A delicate cough, and a nudge to his shoulder, broke Castus from his thoughts and he looked from Fluttershy, to who coughed.

It was Twilight. She wore a silver circlet adorned with a small gem that looked similar to the star of her cutie mark. She wore a amethyst shoulder less dress.

"Um, sorry if I'm late." Twilight said, looking to the two of them.

"No, your not late. We just got here only a short time ago." Castus said. He had to admit, Twilight looked gorgeous.

"Twilight, you look great." Fluttershy said, standing and offering her friend a hug.

Twilight returned the hug, before sitting down at their table across from them, "Thanks. I-I don't really have a lot of dresses for things like this, but I hope this is okay."

"It looks lovely Twilight." Castus said, offering her a smile.

Twilight blushed, "Th-thank you."

Not long after, the waitress soon came over. Castus noticed the odd look he got, though the real surprise was that a princess was here. The waitress seemed eager to please and offer Twilight anything she wanted, even some special wines that were normally kept in reserve for special guests; such as her.

"Um, n-no that's okay." Twilight stammered, clearly still uncomfortable receiving special treatment.

Once the waitress had their orders, she left, promising a quick return. Not soon after, a waiter came with a wine bottle and some glasses. A special gift from the manager for the princess.

Twilight could only blush, feeling embarrassed, and accept the gift and ask to give the manager her thanks.

"Oh, this is so embarrassing." Twilight groaned, once the waiter was finally gone.

"At least they aren't bowing their heads to you and making offerings to stone idols of you." Castus said.

"Huh?" Both mares said, looking at him curiously.

Castus sighed, "During the first year or so after I freed all those humans and went into exile with them, some of them started to think I was some sort of god or divine being. It took me months to pound that notion out of their thick heads."

At that point, Twilight looked fascinated, "Wow. We ponies do something similar with the alicorn race. Since our earliest known history, we've held them in an almost divine like status due in part that they were the race that gave us culture during our prehistoric years. I wonder if its a common trait in species to deify creatures whom they view as mystical or...oh, but that's not something we need to discuss. Not on our date."

"Oh its fine Twilight. As long as you feel comfortable, I don't mind what we talk about." Fluttershy assured her, smiling.

Twilight smiled, "Thanks, but I want to talk about something we can all share in."

"Like what?" Castus asked, as he poured himself and the girls a glass of wine.

"Thank you." Fluttershy and Twilight said, as Castus offered them their glasses.

"Um, well I guess there is something I wonder about," Twilight started, "why do you want to start a herd with me? I don't want to feel like I'm coming between you two. Especially not you Fluttershy."

Both Castus and Fluttershy looked surprised. Castus rubbed the back of his head, as he thought of what to say.

"Well...I will admit, that this isn't something I am use to. In fact, on my world things like this were usually looked down on, or a quick way to end a relationship." Castus said, "In fact, most relationships were monogamous."

Fluttershy and Twilight looked at him surprised, "Really?" The both asked.

"Yeah. But, then again the population ratio was kinda equal between males and females. So..." Castus shrugged as he finished, and took a sip of his wine.

"Well, I guess that would make sense. Even here, humans seem to be more equal in ratio between males and females as well. So I can understand that your culture might be different from ours on your world. Though, I do wonder how you will shape the culture of humans here on ours." Twilight said, rubbing her chin at the thought. No doubt formulating a number of studies in her mind.

Twilight then looked to Fluttershy, "But, what about you Fluttershy? Why? I hope I don't make you feel pressured, because we are friends, or that I'm a princess."

Fluttershy giggled, then smiled, "Twilight, I told you, you don't need to worry or feel bad."

Fluttershy placed a hoof on Twilight's, "Too be honest, though, I did feel a little worried. Nopony in my family was ever part of a herd, so when I figured out that you had a crush on Castus, I guess I did worry about what it would mean for us all."

Twilight frowned, and Castus placed a hand on Fluttershy's hoof, giving it a squeeze. Fluttershy smiled, and kissed his cheek.

"Don't worry. I don't feel that way anymore. I know you both would never want to do anything to hurt me, just as I would never want to do the same to you."

"But," Fluttershy continued, "I care about you both. Twilight, you've been my friend for years, and we've both faced so much. All I want, more then anything is that all my friends are happy. When I saw the bond that you and Castus had growing, a part of me was happy because I saw that it made you happy. That's why...that's why I want to start a herd with you. You both made me happy, and I want to do the same for you."

Twilight smiled, "I-I worried that I might be coming between you two. That I would ruin the family you made."

"Twilight," Fluttershy placeda hoof on Twilight's cheek, "You aren't ruining our family. Your adding to it."

Twilight smiled, and she and Fluttershy hugged each other. Castus watched the two and smiled.

Author's Notes:

Happy birthday to me.

Flutter Brutter - A WOP Adaption

Castus took slow steady breaths as he stood before the door. He worried that maybe he should have worn his formal wear for this meeting, but Fluttershy had insisted his normal day clothes would work fine. Never the less, he had thrown in a jacket; mostly because it was freezing up here in the clouds but also because it was a informal, formal jacket.

Or at least that's what Rarity said when she had made it for him at his request.

"Castus, they won't know we are here if we don't knock." Fluttershy said, elbowing him in the side. In her hooves she held Moonlight and standing beside her mother, Azure looked up at him.

"Yeah come on slowpoke." Dash said, elbowing his other side, a bit rougher then Fluttershy.

Castus gulped, "I-I know dear. I just...what if they don't like me?"

"Ugh," Dash groaned, "Come on. What's not to like?"

Fluttershy smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek, "Now don't be silly. They will love you. They already know about you."

"Um, but is it okay for us to be here?" Azure asked.

Castus and Fluttershy looked down at their daughter. Rainbow Dash also looked at the Thestral confused.

"What do you mean Azure?" Fluttershy asked, "Don't you want to see grandpa and grandma?" Fluttershy frowned.

"N-No!" Azure stammered, "I mean, I just..."

Castus smiled, "You're worried about what they will think of you? Because you're and Moonlight are Thestrals?"

Azure blushed, looked down and nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm just...worried."

"Oh dear, there isn't anything to worry about." Fluttershy handed Moonlight to Castus, and knelt down to hug her older daughter, "Mom and dad will love you. I wrote them all about you and your sister, and they absolutely demanded that you come for lunch as well. They will love you, so put aside these worries."

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash kneeled down and patted the filly thestral she considered a niece on the back, "Their gonna love ya. I've known Mr. and Mrs. Shy almost as long as Fluttershy and I can tell you that they are gonna be excited to see you and little moony here. One hundred percent."

Azure smiled, and hugged her mom and Rainbow Dash. Dash blushed a bit, looked around, before returning the hug in kind.

"Heh," Castus chuckled, "With the two of us, we make a good pair of worried warts don't we?"

Azure smiled and giggled, "I guess so."

Fluttershy also giggled, "And I thought I was suppose to be the frightened one."

They all laughed, and Castus held Moonlight out, who eagerly knocked on the door.

"We're here! We're here!" Moonlight shouted with glee, before giggling.

"Heh, the kid could give Pinkie Pie a run for her bits in excited greetings." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.

Not long after, the door opened and before the group stood two pegasi.

The first was a mare, whom Castus was sure was Fluttershy's mother. The mare looked good for her age, and she and Fluttershy shared an almost similar appearance in body type; though it was obvious that Mrs. Shy had the maturity of years that Fluttershy still had to acquire.

The stallion was no doubt Fluttershy's father, and for some reason Castus got the reminder of mint ice cream for some reason. Then again, Rainbow Dash sometimes had him thinking about skittles and Pinkie Pie cotton candy. He wonder if there were ponies out there that would remind him of coca cola.

"Fluttershy. Welcome." Mrs. Shy said, hugging her daughter.

"Come in everypony. Or, everyone I should say. Its so good to see you all." Mr. Shy said, as he stepped aside for everyone to enter.

---

"Mom, Dad," Fluttershy said, hugging both her parents, "It's so good to see you."

"And its good to see you sweetie." Mrs. Shy said, smiling softly.

"You must be Castus. We've read a lot about you from our daughters letters." Mr. Shy said to Castus, and offered his hoof out to him.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Shy, and you as well Mrs. Shy." Castus said, shaking Mr. Shy's hoof.

"Oh, there isn't a need to be so formal Castus," Mr Shy said, "We're family now. So feel free to call us mom and dad."

Mrs. Shy nodded and offered Castus a friendly smile.

Castus smiled, and rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, readjusting Moonlight, "Thanks. Frankly, I'm glad that you two are taking this so well."

"Oh, we did have some doubts and worries when Fluttershy first told us about you. But we trust our daughter to make decesions for herself and trust she knew what she was doing. Besides, meeting you face to face I can see you have a gentle heart." Mrs. Shy said, giving Castus a hug.

"I agree," Mr. Shy said with a nod, "One shouldn't judge someone by race alone."

Castus felt warm inside, and felt all his previous worries fade away as he returned the hug.

Mrs. Shy soon ended the hug, and her eyes then locked onto Moonlight, who smiled, showing one of her little fangs.

"Hi Grandma!" Moonlight cheered.

"Ohhhh, you are simply adorable." Mrs. Shy cooed, taking the little Thestral and holding Moonlight up before hugging her to her chest.

Moonlight giggled, and wrapped her hooves around her grandma.

"Well, we're never getting her back." Castus whispered to Fluttershy. Fluttershy giggled.

"And who is this delightful little angel?" Mr. Shy asked, looking down at Azure, who clung to Castus' leg.

"Uh-um, I'm Azure Shadow." Azure said, stepping out with a gulp.

"Well, I think that's a lovely name. Won't you give a hug to your grandfather?" Mr. Shy asked, kneeling down and holding his hooves out.

Azure blinked, smiled softly and wrapped her hooves around her grandpa's neck, and he around her.

"Oh she is simply darling Fluttershy. They both are." Mr. Shy told his daughter.

Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you. They are the lights of my life."

"Say, how about later we show you girls the garden and my cloud collection." Mr. Shy asked Azure.

"Garden? I didn't know flowers grew on clouds." Azure said, surprised.

"Oh, it isn't easy. But with a little love and a tender hoof, a pony will always be rewarded." Mrs. Shy said, holding Moonlight in her hooves.

"Careful, or you might lose both of them." Rainbow whispered to Castus and Fluttershy.

The three chuckled quietly as they took off their coats and mounted them on the coat rack.

"Oh, we have food set up in the kitchen. I wasn't sure what to make for you Castus, but I hope you like it." Mrs. Shy said, as they all walked into the kitchen.

"Oh don't feel troubled on my account. If your cooking is anything like your daughter's, then I'll be fine." Castus said, taking a seat at the table. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sitting at his sides, with Azure sitting between Mr. Shy and Dash, with Mrs. Shy still holding Moonlight, who smiled contently as she snuggled up against her grandmother.

"It's so nice for you all to come up and have lunch with us. It's so good to see you all." Mrs. Shy started.

"I'm so glad you asked." Fluttershy said.

"And it was super awesome to invite me too," Rainbow Dash stated, "Things have been so busy with the Wonderbolts lately, its great to get a chance to relax someplace quiet."

"That's exactly what I intend to do now that I've retired," Mr. Shy said as he set a plate of food down, "In fact, I've convered the back house to showcase my cloud collection."

"I have my clouds," Mr. Shy said, a hint of pride at this, "Your mom has her flowers. You've got your animals. And your brother..."

Mr. Shy paused, and took a moment to think.

Castus noticed this pause, and felt a slight alarm going off.

"Zephyr Breeze," Mrs. Shy said, ending the silence, "has his...interests."

"Like what?" Azure asked, looking between her grand parents confused.

Mr. and Mrs. Shy looked uncertain how to answer, biting their lips. Even Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head in thought and embarrassment.

"Uh, dear," Castus asked Fluttershy, but was cut off by Rainbow Dash laughing.

"Heheh," Dash chuckled, as she spoke to Azure, "I'll say kid. One time, he thought that square shaped clouds were gonna be the next big thing." Dash laughed again.

Azure blinked, tilting her head confused, "Huh?"

"That sounds funny!" Moonlight giggled.

Mrs. Shy smiled before saying, "He's matured a lot since then."

"Actually," Mr. Shy slid beside his wife and placed his hoof on hers, "It's funny you bring Zephyr up."

Both parents looked toward their daughter with nervous smiles.

Fluttershy noticed the smiles, and as realization came on, "Oh no. Not again." Fluttershy facehoofed and rubbed her head with her hooves, feeling a headache coming on.

"Again? As in more then one time?" Castus asked, starting to get a sense of where this was going.

"Shush." Fluttershy hissed at him, taking Castus by surprise.

"It's just for a little while dear," Mrs. Shy said as she tried to ease her daughter's worries, "till he gets back on his hooves."

"Wait," Rainbow Dash started, herself starting to get what the Shy's were getting at, "You don't mean-"

Just then, the door leading into the kitchen burst open, and in stepped a tall, lanky stallion. He wore a tie-dye shirt, and shorts, and had a five o'clock shadow.

"Guess whose's home?!" The stallion cheered. This was without a doubt, Zephyr Breeze.

"That's right big sis, its your one and only little brother." Zephyr declared.

The groan from Fluttershy was all Castus needed to know that this day was going to get weird.

---

"Hi Flutter Butter. How's the bestest big sister ever?" Zephyr asked, hugging his sister.

Castus covered his mouth, fighting back a laugh.

"Flutter Butter?" He snickered at the adorable nickname.

Fluttershy gave him a sharp look, which only made Castus even more amused.

'Oh this is gonna be good.' He thought. He loved Fluttershy to death, but who couldn't resist the chance to get some embarrassing info on their spouse?

Zephyr ruffled his sister's mane, before heading over to his parents and hugging them around their necks.

"I'm just surprised. When you left, you said that mane therapy was your calling." Fluttershy said, as she fixed her mane.

'Mane therapy?' Castus thought, snickering under his hand. Sounded like a crazy word for hair stylist.

"Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny too when I heard it." Rainbow Dash whispered, and she and Castus started snickering until Fluttershy gave them both a glare that said, "Can it."

Zephyr went on about why he left Mane Therapy school, pulling out his test dummy with what Castus assumed was a style. Though it looked more like a raccoon's nest.

"Blegh." Rainbow Dash gagged, seeing the mane design.

"Well if it isn't Rainbow's-the-best-flier-that-ever was- Dash." Zephyr said, leaning in against Dash.

'No way.' Castus thought, biting his cheeks now to stop from bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, 'He isn't-He is!'

Castus watched as Zephyr flirted, or attempted to flirt, with Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"Zephyr has a bit of a crush on Rainbow Dash. Ever since he was a school colt." Fluttershy then gave a smug smirk at her friend on how the tables had so turned.

"-and know the whole, super awesome best flier bit is just to impress me." Zephyr said, making Dash gasp in surprise and look at him in shock.

Now Fluttershy and Castus were the ones biting back a chuckle, earning a glare from Rainbow Dash.

"And hey, who are these two?" Zephyr asked, finally noticing Moonlight and Azure.

"Oh, uh Zephyr, these are my daughters, Azure Shadow and Moonlight." Fluttershy said, introducing the girls.

"Um, h-hello Uncle Zephyr." Azure said, giving her eccentric uncle a wave and a shy smile.

"Hi!" Moonlight cheered, waving excitedly.

"Whoa, Fluttershy, you never told me you were a mom. So whose the lucky stallion?" Zephyr asked, looking around.

"That would be me." Castus said, finally composing himself, "though I can't say I'm a stallion."

Zephyr blinked, and looked at Castus in surprise, "Whoa! He talks."

"Yeah, I do." Castus deadpanned.

"Whoa, totally dig it. You must be one of those fancy new humans that are walking about? Well glad ta meet ya." Zehpyr said, gripping and shaking Castus hand.

"Like wise I guess. Names Castus."

"Well, good ta meet ya Cactus." Zephyr said, before releasing Castus hand and complaining on the lack of other ponies for his home coming.

Castus just stood there, mouth hanging open. Beside him, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash giggled, and even Azure giggled in kind.

'He did not?' Castus thought, shocked.

The giggles turned into a chuckle from Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, and now Castus leveled a glare at them. Though this only made them laugh more.

But finally, Fluttershy turned serious and as Zephyr moved into the living room and began to move the couch, she confronted her parents.

"Mom, Dad," She whispered, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Mrs. Shy handed Moonlight over to Castus, yet he almost had to pry the little filly from her grandmother's hooves, before she finally let go and walked into the hall with her husband and daughter.

Moonlight giggled, grabbed some of her father's hair and held it up like spikes.

"Now daddy looks like a cactus." Moonlight then giggled.

"Bahahahahaa!" Rainbow Dash burst into laughter, head hitting the table as she held her sides.

'Nooooooo!' Castus thought in dismay, a look of pure defeat on his face. Not Moonlight too. Not his precious little girl!

---

For some reason, the lunch couldn't have ended soon enough. What had originally be an enjoyable evening, had turned into a near nightmare that had only ended when Zeph had gone upstairs to take his siesta as he put it.

Of course, it hadn't been so bad. Watching Zeph fail in his flirtations with an unamused, and unresponsive, Rainbow Dash was amusing. Castus was going to have plenty to tease her with when they hung out.

And of course, learning Zephs nickname for his sister was a real treat. He still giggled when he thought on it.

'Heh. Flutter Butter.' He thought, as he looked up from his book to check on Moonlight and Azure as the two played in the front lawn. They were playing a Thestral game that involved wearing a blind fold and using their echolocation to try and tag the other. Castus though worried they might hurt themselves, so he kept an eye on them just to be sure.

He especially worried when they started flying. He clung to the Wind, expecting at any moment he would have to respond by catching one or both of his daughters. But, they never crashed, and Castus just expected he was worrying over nothing as most parents did. Well, he was a parent so he could do this.

The three of them all waited for Fluttershy to return, who on the way home from her parents house, had gone back to stick up for her mother and father after running into Pinkie Pie and AJ and told them about the meeting with Zeph.

"Hey Castus."

Castus looked down the path from the cottage and saw Rainbow Dash walking up. The evening soon beginning its descent on the horizon.

"Hey Dash. What brings you over?" Castus asked.

"Auntie Dash!" Moonlight cheered, landing and removing her blindfold when she heard Rainbow Dash. She rushed over like a bullet and wrapped her aunt in a hug.

"Whoa! Heh, nice flying their kiddo." Dash said, ruffling Moonlight's mane, "And you too Azure. Keep it up and maybe you could be in the Wonderbolts."

Azure blushed, "Oh, thanks. But I'm not nearly as good as you Aunt Dashie."

Dash puffed her chest out and rubbed a hoof on her shirt, "Heh, well not many ponies are. I am pretty awesome."

"Yeah. Like during that time when you kicked that dragon?" Castus said, smirking.

Dash gasped, "Who told you that!?"

Castus could only chuckle.

Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled her eyes, "Anyway. I just came over to talk to Fluttershy and see how it went. Is she back yet?"

"No. But hopefully soon, it is getting late. Still it's her parents. Fluttershy might be more assertive now, but if her parents are anything like how she use to be it might be awhile." Castus said.

"Heh, tell me about it," Rainbow Dash chuckled as she sat down beside Castus and set Moonlight in her lap, "When I first met them, I had to strain my ears just to ear all three of them talk. But I have faith that Fluttershy will toughen them up."

"We will see." Castus said, pointing up to the sky. In the distance was Fluttershy, flying towards them.

---

Castus and Rainbow Dash listened as Fluttershy told them of her confronting her brother, and how she managed to convince her brother to move out of her parents.

"Ah babe," Castus said with pride as he wrapped his arms around Fluttershy and pulled her back against his chest, "I love it when you get assertive like that."

Fluttershy giggled, and pushed Castus back a bit, "I just told them what they needed to hear. I know I've had times where I needed the same thing."

"So, where's Zeph gonna go now?" Dash asked.

Fluttershy frowned, and rubbed her arm, "I'm not sure," She bit her lip, worried over her little brother now, "Oh, I hope I did the right thing."

"Are you kidding," Dash asked, "One hundred percent."

Castus rubbed Fluttershy's head and placed his against hers, "Rainbow Dash is right dear, you did the right thing. Your brother will be fine."

'After all,' Castus thought, 'What sort of idiot doesn't have a friend to stay with for a few days.'

"Hey, Si-I-is!" A very familiar voice sang.

'Oh god.' Castus thought.

And just like that, Zephyer Breeze burst through the back door.

"Your new roomie is here!"

Castus face palmed.

"Okay, maybe like seventy percent." Rainbow deadpanned.

Fluttershy looked from them to her brother and frowned.

"So, where's the little ones eh? I bet they'll be excited to see their favorite uncle again." Zeph said as he walked in, as if he was already welcomed.

"Their outside in the front playing." Castus said, before looking at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy sighed, before saying, "Zephyr, when mom and dad told you to find some place else to live, I don't think they meant here."

"Well," Zeph said, with a tone of victory, "It's not their house, so by definition it's someplace else." With that he dug into his bag and set a bunny shaped gnome beside Angel, who held his carrot defensively.

'Well, there's one rabbit I can tolerate.' Castus thought.

"Am I right Rainbows?" Zeph asked, leaning in against Dash before wrapping a hoof around her shoulders.

Castus snickered, okay that was still funny. He wondered how long Zeph had been hitting on Dash. Years probably. Dash gave him a quick glare that said, don't say a word.

"Stop ogling me and help settle this." Zeph went on, lifting his brows to Dash a few times.

Dash sighed, "You know what?" Her wings extended.

"I totally forgot that I proised to help Pinkie Pie sprinkle....something." Dash finished, before taking off like a bullet from a gun.

Zeph blinked as Dash left, before placing a hoof around Castus' shoulder.

"Well, I'm sure ya can understand Caspus," Zeph said, "We're family now. And we fellow wanderer's gotta stick together."

"I'm gonna go check on the girls." Castus said, before darting away from Zeph and toward Fluttershy.

"Good luck." He whispered to her.

"Don't worry. I'll sort this out." She whispered back.

Castus nodded, and then slipped past his wife to head out front.

---

Castus groaned in his head as he sat on his favorite chair, with Zephyr Breeze lounging on the arm of the chair and going on about something from Mane Therapy School.

When he had come back in with the girls, who were both covered in dirt, sticks and leaves. He had expected to see Zeph on his way out or at least staying for dinner.

But noooooo. Zeph would apparently be staying longer then that, as Fluttershy had whispered to him as she took the girls to help get them cleaned up for dinner.

'Just take it easy Castus. He is your wife's brother and he needs some help. Besides, its not like he won't be doing anything. He is suppose to get a job if he wants to stay.' Castus thought, remembering that part of Fluttershy's agreement to let Zeph stay.

Zeph would have a job if he wanted to stay here. And he would damn sure be paying rent.

Now if he could just stop him from rearranging the entire house....

Castus sighed, and pinched the bride of his nose. Thoughts of the future interactions with Zeph starting to come into play. Birthdays, Holidays, pop in visits, if he ever moved out of the cottage, no doubt requests for money. The list could go on. Castus felt his eye go from a twitch to a full on spasm as Zeph carried on about his problems with Mane Therapy School.

With a deep breath he held up his hand, "Zephyr...."

"...but those hacks clearly didn't see my real talent..."

"ZEPHYR!!!" Castus added more sharply, clearly biting back more he wanted to say.

"....uh, yes, Cassius?" The robin egg stallion foal queried, adding insult to injury by mispronouncing his name.

Again.

For the third time!!!!

"Would you excuse me for one minute?" Castus said with a gritted smile.

"Sure thing." Zeph shrugged, before planting himself on the couch and kicking his legs up.

Castus stood up and walked outside, the cool night air doing wonders to help ease the headache he now had.

But it wasn't enough, so drawing on the Wind he opened a Waygate and stepped through, out into a dry, barren desert where nothing was around.

Castus took a deep breath...

...and screamed.

The sound reverberated for miles, and even a lizard stopped to look in the direction of the sound, and lick its eyeball.

---

Castus smiled and chuckled, as he dug around the covers for the fleeing, giggling form underneath. He finally grabbed it and started tickling the sides through the covers.

"ahahah, Daddy that tickles!" Moonlight laughed as she finally popped out from under the covers and kicked and turned herself to get away from Castus' tickling fingers.

"Ahahaha, you can't get away from the tickle monster. Grrr." He made a comical growl, and grabbed one of Moonlight's foot hooves and tickled it.

Moonlight laughed even harder, kicking to get away, "Ahh, No more! Mercy! Mercy! Ahahahahaha!"

Castus laughed, and released his daughter who was panting for breath as she moved her head onto her pillow.

Castus smiled and placed the covers over her, "Now sleep well tonight okay. And no midnight snacking or playing this time. You got an early day tomorrow for school."

Moonlight smiled and nodded, "Okay. Good night daddy." She reached out for a hug, and Castus hugged her, receiving a kiss on the cheek. He kissed her on the head, before stepping back.

As bad as the dad had gone, with the introduction of an unwanted house guest, these girls made every night worth living. He slowly closed the door, leaving just a slight crack, before heading into Azure's room.

The older Thestral sat in her bed, reading a book. She looked up and smiled, setting the book down on her nightstand.

"All ready for school tomorrow?" He asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.

Azure frowned, "Umm...a little. Are you sure I can't do night classes?"

Castus sighed and patted his daughter's head, "I'm sorry dear. There aren't any other thestrals in Ponyville, so the school doesn't really have that service. But don't worry, you'll have fun. And make plenty of friends. Miss Cheerilee is a good mare, you'll love her."

Azure smiled, "Well...okay."

Castus smiled and leaned in to kiss Azure's forehead., "That's my little Night Guard." Azure blushed at her nickname, given to her when she had told her father of her dreams to join Luna's Night Guard one day. She even had a poster of them in her room.

"Sleep well okay." Castus said, tucking Azure in.

"Dad," Azure said, "Why is Uncle Zephyr staying with us?"

Castus frowned, "He...well....Zeph just needs a little help and your mother wants to help her little brother is all. He just needs...special attention. That's all."

Azure blinked, "Is he a bum?"

Castus blinked, and opened his mouth to say something, but the words were lost.

Finally he just said, "Uh...good night." And with that he walked out of the room, closing the door gently.

Down the hall from the girls room to the main cottage area, Castus could hear the sounds of furniture being moved and something falling and breaking.

"Lord almighty," Castus groaned, dragging his hands down his face, "Give me strength. Lord give me strength."

---

Fluttershy sighed as she brushed her mane, and jumped slightly as she felt a pair of hands slide onto her shoulders and start to knead them gentle.

"You're looking tense." Castus said, moving his fingers along the sore points of Fluttershy's shoulders, using the Wind to help him pinpoint where to apply pressure.

"A little. Mmmm," Fluttershy hummed in pleasure, "That feels good."

"It's about Zephyr right?" Castus asked.

Fluttershy sighed again, "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot of trouble."

Castus leaned in, kissing Fluttershy's cheek, "Hey, don't fret about it babe. He is your brother and so long as he gets a job....and maybe pay rent."

Fluttershy moved her head a bit, giving more areas for Castus to rub along her neck, "Let's start with the job first. I have a few ideas. Thank you for understanding though. Mmm, yes right there."

Castus smiled, kneeling down as he moved his hands down a bit lower towards her chest, and earning a gasp from Fluttershy.

"I only do it for you," Castus said, before licking Fluttershy's ear and whispering, "Flutter Butter.

Fluttershy then elbowed Castus in the gut, and Castus laughed as he stepped back. Fluttershy then turned to him, and Castus thought he might have caught a slight sight of Fluttershy's eyes turning red? No that was just a trick of the light, still Fluttershy walked toward Castus pressed a hoof against his chest; pushing him back towards the bed.

"You are the best. And for being so nice, how about a little," Fluttershy pushed Castus onto the bed, before crawling and straddling him; letting her nightgown slip down her shoulders and leaving the top half of her naked body exposed, caught gently in the cracks of moonlight that flowed into the room.

"How about, a little taste of my butter." Fluttershy finished.

Castus sucked in a breath, heart beating as his blood rushed all over his body. He cupped her face, letting her lean further onto him as his hand slid up the lower skirt of her night gown, tongues sliding out to meet each other as their lips closed on each other.

Then the door opened.

"Oh!" Fluttershy gasped, covering her chest as she threw the covers on over herself, only her face peeking out of a small hole.

Castus looked up, and leaning up and crossing his legs, glad that his pajama pants were still on. His first thought was to ignite the bone marrow of whoever was interrupting his special time with his wife, when he looked down and saw the sleepy forms of two thestral girls.

"Mmmm, can't sleep." Moonlight groaned, before yawning as she rubbed an eye with her hoof. She clutched her teddy bear in her hoof.

Azure also rubbed at her eyes, before looking up, "S-sorry. But we can't sleep. Uncle Zeph keeps moving things around downstairs."

The covers surrounding Fluttershy shifted a bit as she worked to recloth herself under the covers, and Castus sighed as he stood up and walked over to the girls. He listened, and sure enough he heard the sound of Zeph's....redesignment.

He looked down at the girls, who rubbed their eyes in exhaustion, then to Fluttershy who smiled softly, now reclothed again.

Castus smiled, and lifted the girls up in his arms.

"Sure. But we all go right to sleep." He said, but the girls were already leaning against him and back to sleep.

Castus smiled and walked carefully to the bed, setting Azure and Moonlight down between him and Fluttershy. Fluttershy slid close to Azure and wrapped a hoof around their elder daughter and nuzzled her.

"Sleep tight my little night angel." She whispered, before closing her eyes.

Castus slid himself into bed, and Moonlight wrapped a hoof around his arm and started to kneed on his forearm like a cat would often do. He smiled and used his other hand to pet her head before using the Wind to pull the covers over both of them.

Castus then closed his eyes, smiling as he felt Moonlight snuggle up closer, her little legs kicking a bit. Sleep slowly coming, and with a little weave of the wind, locking the door and setting up barrier to muffle any noises coming from downstairs. And two more to lock the girls room.

Hopefully Zeph would go to sleep soon, but if not he would at least be staying out of their rooms. He might be a guest, but some things were just not allowed. And room redesign was one of them.

---

The following morning, Fluttershy woke up early to drag a tired Zephyr Breeze to his first job offer. Castus stayed asleep a little longer, but eventually he had to wake up alongside the girls and get ready for the day.

Once he and the girls were cleaned and dressed, the first thing he did was walk the girls to school. In the years since the Ponyville school had grown, with some help from Twilight. Azure would join the Middle Classes, and Moonlight the Younger Classes. He even ran into the CMC, who had advanced to the Advanced classes and would soon graduate. Once the girls were in class, Castus then went to his own devices.

There was no meetings or tasks needed to be done by him. It was Prince Bluebloods turn in the fields. Manure day. Maybe Castus would pop over to watch.

He chuckled evilly.

"Yo, Castus. How's things with your new uh...guest."

Castus looked up and saw Rainbow Dash on a cloud above him.

"Uh, I'm adapting. Say, aren't you usually napping on your days off?" Castus asked.

Dash nodded, "Yeah, but Fluttershy wants my help in getting Zeph a job. If the other two don't pan out, I'm taking him down to Wonderbolt HQ for a job."

"Think he will be up for it?" Castus asked.

Dash grunted and rolled her eyes, "No idea. But it's so simple and easy, even a Diamond Dog could do it. And if he even tries to weasel out of it I'm gonna zap him with a storm cloud."

Castus smirked, "You sure do crack the whip."

Dash smirked, "Ya gotta do that with Zeph. Ever since he was a kid, he's been a hoofful."

"I noticed. He sure seems to like you." Castus said with a smirk.

Dash shivered, "Ugh, don't remind me. But he's done that since like the first day I met him. Somehow he thinks its destiny that we be together. I'm almost ready to just yell it in his face that I'm not interested, but I don't think even that would work. He can be rather mule headed."

"Oh," Dash gasped, "No offense."

Castus blinked and looked to his side to see a mule.

"None taken." The mule said, before walking off.

"You gonna help Zeph out as well?" Dash asked.

Castus shrugged, "Not many jobs I could offer him. And none in the empire that a pony would fit in right now. Things are still sort of tense between humans and ponies."

"Oh yeah. Well, it's probably best. He would probably mess up and end up getting in trouble." Dash said, laughing.

Castus laughed, "It probably take all my effort to keep him from the death penalty."

The two laughed, until the heard Fluttershy in the distance, glaring at her brother.

Dash sighed, "Looks like he failed Twilight's job. Geez." Dash facehoofed and shook her head.

"Good luck." Castus said, as Dash flew over.

Castus stood back, and walked over to Fluttershy after Zeph and Dash flew off The shape of Zeph trying to fly close next to Dash, who shot ahead or knocked him away each time.

"Any luck?" Castus asked.

"Nope." Fluttershy responded.

"Think this will work?" Castus asked.

Fluttershy sighed "I really hope so."

Castus smield and wrapped her in a hug, "Well, we can worry about it when it comes."

He then whispered, "You know...I did never get that Flutter Butter you promised me."

Fluttershy blushed and whispered, "Well...we have some time. But first we should clean the house. Zeph left a bit of a mess."

Castus smirked, and the two began walking back home.

The two expected they would have some time, after a quick cleaning, but not half way into cleaning the house, and fixing the furniture that Zeph moved, that said pony burst through the door with his mane and tail looking like he had been stricken by lightning.

'Damn. Dash doesn't make light threats.' Castus thought, smirking.

Still, it seemed that once again Zeph failed at another job.

Castus watched as his wife put her hoof down and kicked Zephyr out and Zeph walking out towards the woods.

'He won't last five minutes.' Castus thought, turning to see Rainbow Dash coming into view.

"Hey, did Zephyr come this way?" Dash demanded, looking around with a hard glare.

"Yeah. We just kicked him out. He went off into the woods." Castus said, as he let Dash in.

"Really?" Dash said surprised, looking at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy frowned, and nodded.

Dash frowned, "Aww, cheer up Fluttershy. I know it was hard, but you can't let Zephyr do to you what he did to your folks."

"Yeah. Sometimes needs to be left to drag themselves out of their own hole. It's the only way they will learn." Castus said.

"I guess so." Fluttershy sighed, still looking down.

Not soon after, a bird appeared and chirped to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy smiled and approached the bird, "Oh hello Constance."

The bird began chipring into Fluttershy's ear.

"What?" Fluttershy said, then her ears flattened, "Oh dear."

"Zeph?" Castus asked, checking the clock.

"Yes." Fluttershy nodded.

Dash sighed, "Well, I guess we better go get him."

---

It didn't take long to find Zephyr. With Constance the bird directing them, they soon found Zeph in a grove in the woods, in the process of sliding into madness only the Castaway could come close to.

They watched as Zeph tore his camp apart in a fit, and when his make shift tent collapsed on him, they all approached. With a knock on one of the leaves, Zeph's head popped out and he looked at them all in surprise.

"F-Fluttershy, hey!" Zeph said, "Uh, I was just cozying up in my sleeping bag."

Zeph patted the pile of leaves and sticks, "Such an exhausting day, you know."

"It's noon." Dash pointed out.

"You know me. Siesta!" Zeph said, as a stick fell on his head.

"In the middle of the Everfree Forest?" Castus pointed out.

Zeph looked at them all with a pitiful look, "Oh, I can't do this. I can't do anything."

Fluttershy sat beside her brother and patted his head, "Zephyr, you're smart and talented You could do anything if you just tried."

Zeph sighed, "And what if I give everything I have and I still fail. Honestly, I think it's best not to try at all."

"But then you won't ever do anything." Dash said.

"Yeah. If you fail, just get up and fail again and keep failing till you get something right. Otherwise, how can you say you lived." Castus said, crossing his arms.

Zeph sighed, "I don't expect any of you to understand."

He looked at Dash and Fluttershy, "You tow have saved Equestria at least a dozen times, and you-" He looked at Castus,"-You're a super powerful magic human from what I've heard. You're helping build a nation. When have any of you ever failed."

"I was worried I would fail every time I helped save Equestria," Fluttershy said, "Sometimes you have to do things, even if you might fail."

"And just because someone seems successfully, doesn't mean they haven't failed in the past. All our successes are often built on numerous failures. Even I've failed," Castus said, clenching a fist as images of falling cities, and humans turning feral. Of a body of a man whose memories now filled his head turning to stone as he watched all that he had loved and cared for, an empire he had sold himself to preserving and saving, falling and burning into rubble.

All by his own misguided hands.

"Sometimes," Castus finished, "in ways I can never forget."

Zeph looked at them, before saying, "But failing is the worst."

Fluttershy looked into her brother's eyes, "But quitting doesn't feel much better, does it?"

"No." Zeph said in agreement.

"So here's the deal," Fluttershy said as she stood up, "You can come back with me and Catus, but you have to do exactly what I say. No exceptions."

Zeph looked down, then said as he looked up at them, "I will literally do anything you ask me. if it means I don't have to stay here."

Castus, Fluttershy and Dash looked at each other and smiled.

---

It was a few days after, with Zeph finally gone and having successfully completed Mane Therapy school. he was living with his parents again, but he wasn't tearing their house apart to suit his own needs this time. And he was even offered a job at a Cloudsdale mane Styling agency. Fluttershy looked very happy when she spoke of it with Castus.

"Looks like your brother is finally going places." Castus said, smiling. He was glad to see a smile on his wife's face again.

"I know. I'm so proud of him," Fluttershy said, "And thank you for sticking by me and helping me sort Zephyr out."

Castus smiled as Fluttershy came over and wrapped him in a hug, "You know I would do anything for you Fluttershy. Besides, Zeph might be annoying, but he is family now. Family looks out for each other."

Fluttershy smiled, and pulled Castus into a kiss, which he eagerly returned. Castus stopped and then asked.

"So, do your parents really think that Dash is in love with Zephyr?" He asked, with a smirk.

Fluttershy giggled, "You're not going to try and use that to tease her are you?"

"Would I do that?" Castus said, smiling innocently.

Fluttershy smirked, and looked at Castus with half closed eyes, "Yes. I think you would."

Castus laughed, "Well, maybe a little." He then kissed Fluttershy again, pulling her into bed with him.

Author's Notes:

Heh. Flutter Butter. Who didn't laugh at that nickname? Though I'm probably the firs to try and turn it into Innuendo.

After watching that episode I had to do this. had to watch it multiple times.

Mr. and Mrs. Shy are best pony parents. 'nough said.

Fluttershy, I know what you go through for this episode. I unfortunately have my own Zephyr to deal with. Lord help me.

Finished this at 3 am. I need sleep.

The Emperor and Mare in the Moon

The seas of politics and statecraft are lock in a twisting maelstrom of churning chaos and confusion. Where one sees what might be a small wave, soon turns to a tidal form of danger. Danger turns to pockets of calm that allow breathing space, before giving way once more to torrents of churning water that threaten to tear apart all caught in its grip.

Through it all, Emperor Marcus, first of his name. Emperor of Humanity. Hero of the Changeling Wars. Hero of the war with Equestria. Marcus Ironhand. The First Freed; felt that he was part a single man a drift in this torrent of chaos, struggling to hold onto the flimsy piece of wood forged for the lessons with Castus on dealing in politics, and his own will.

And yet even this foundation felt ready to break each time he delved in the dance of nations.

It was easy to deal with his own people. The Hunter Lords were men, and the first woman Hunter lord elected after the war, that he knew and trusted; either through fighting beside or from the years wandering the lands before the formation of the Empire. And they, like all of the people of the empire, were largely honest and straight forward folk. if there was a disagreement, they would let it be known. Sometimes in a fight, with a fist thrown or two before it being broken up by clearer heads. Others with shouts and arguments that would soon give way to mutual agreement once the thought of tarnished honor or pride was forgotten. But with others, well it was simply a blessing that Marcus had thus far had little interaction with the other leaders of the world. Though what little he had so far, showed that he was not prepared to enter into such a world.

The lies and deceit. The twisted words and half truths. The almost daily attempt at turning words and making a simple comment on one's dress into a long sentence of support or mutual agreement on one form of argument or another.

And the constant feeling of eyes, judging him. Mocking him. Eyes that saw him as a lesser being. The snide remarks and casual brushing aside would have made younger hunters feel their blood boil. But Marcus could not act against such insults as he would wish, least he paint his entire people in such a light.

In short, Marcus felt that he was not ready to enter into such a world. And yet he was thrust into it, with only a bare minimum of internal support and even what support and aid he could gain from Castus was limited; for again politics came into play. Marcus must navigate the unfamiliar waters of court room procedures, least he seem like a figure head or puppet.

Marcus sighed, feeling defeated.

'Am I even worthy to lead my people?' He thought, gazing out over the city from his room balcony in Castle Val.

Sometimes he missed the simple days of wandering the land with his clan. Hunting when food was needed. Gathering and fishing. The Moot during the winter months. With only the barest worries of acquiring food to feed the clan; a task he could often do all on his own if his luck was good during a hunt; and the Hoof Beast he stalked was not to bright.

But now, the sense of confidence felt less apparent. Marcus wondered....

...did he deserve to rule?

What if he messed up? Made a mistake? True, Castus often told him that mistakes would be made, but he drew on an ancient knowledge that Marcus could only barely begin to fully understand. Castus was strong and confident, and more able to mauenver such mistakes to an advantage.

Marcus did not feel the same about himself. What would he say, if his actions, innocent if they seemed to him, started a war that his people were not ready to face?

The feeling of pressure weighed further on his mind, and he groaned as he placed his hands on his head; glad at least that the weight of the gold and silver mixed crown, adorn with jewels of various colors in a rainbow pattern that formed a tree at the center between his eyes, was not upon his brow.

He would never forgive Castus for such a thing. A crown simply seemed so....well it did not seem right for him. Yet he must wear it, he had to wear it. Or risk any number of possible things thought and felt by others.

Marcus groaned again, and he felt so utterly helpless. The only time he had felt this way before, was after the attack on the Moot during the war in which his only daughter had been killed. She had not been related to him by blood, she had been one of the children freed during the Great Escape and had not had a family with her; so he had taken her in as his own. She had been named Lilitha.

He had buried her under that great willow tree by the river that she loved to sit under and sing.

Marcus closed his eyes, and merely let himself listen to the sounds of the night; hoping the mixture of sounds would help ease his mind.

The night of course was quiet however, save for a soft tone in the air. The soft melody of someone singing, or humming, near by.

Marcus looked around, wondering where the sound was coming from. It was such a soft and tender melody, and it seemed to float on the night winds and lunar light of the moon.

Marcus soon looked down, getting a sense that the sound was from below him.

Sure enough, standing on the balcony below him, clad in a midnight colored gown she had worn during the courtly gathering was, as the Equestrians called her, The Princess of the Moon. Or the Lunar Princess.

Or to him, as simply Princess Luna.

The princess' horn was a glow in the soft moon blue light that often accompanied her magic, her eyes fixed on the skies in intent concentration. Curiosity took hold, and Marcus looked up from the princess to the night sky.

What could be up there that took such concentration?

He sucked in a breath, as he watched as the heavenly starlights above began to shape themselves, forming delicate patterns that seemed to form shapes if he looked closely and connected each point of light. A sense of awe came over Marcus, as he looked down at the princess of the night.

Marcus leaned against the rail of his balcony, watching the princess as she worked the night sky; every so often glancing up to watch as the clouds parted to keep the clear night sky in view. And so often the moon, moving across the sky. The last sight was such that he leaned against the stone railing, eyes alight with wonder.

But as he leaned forward, his meta hand chipped away at some loose stone, and Marcus looked down as he heard Luna gasp and look up.

The two stared at each other, before Luna gave a curtsy and bowed her head.

"Emperor Marcus." Luna greeted him.

Marcus looked down, nodding, "Princess Luna. Forgive my intrusion."

Luna shook her head, "There is no intrusion Emperor Marcus. This citadel and all the lands below are rightfully yours. We are only here at your willing invitation."

"We are honored to have you and your sister as guests." Marcus said, relieved that he had not caused any offense.

Luna frowned, "Somehow I feel that not all feel this way."

Marcus frowned, remembering the sense of hostility that the Lord Hunters and other people who had been present when he had greeted the Princesses.

"Fear and mistrust is to be expected," Marcus said, "But in time, it shall pass."

Luna smiled, "It will be our duties, to work for such a time then. But, I should not disturb you further. I will retire to my quarters."

"No." Marcus said suddenly, taking himself by surprise even as Luna looked up at him.

Luna looked up at him, waiting, and Marcus added, "I would, like to talk with you further. If it is no bother."

Luna looked up at the human emperor, before nodding, "It is no bother. But, may we talk at a more level plane." Unfolding her wings, Luna flew up and carefully landed on the balcony that Marcus stood upon.

The two looked at each other then, and a momentary silence fell on them. Marcus rubbed the back of his head, as he suddenly felt foolish asking for further conversation when yet he did not know what to talk about.

Finally, a question came to mind.

"What-What is it like, out there?" Marcus asked, looking up at the night sky.

Luna followed his gaze, and was quiet for a time before speaking softly.

"Silent. Cold."

Marcus frowned, "Is that all?"

Luna looked at him, "Should there be more to an endless void of space?"

Marcus frowned, then looked up once more at the night sky.

"An endless void," Marcus spoke softly, "I have little memories preserved before my awakening. But, I can recall looking up at the sky at night, when other Lost Ones slept. Even caged as we were, the clear glass ceiling allowed me to watch the stars. That much I can recall, and a sense of peace that it brought me. And even after my awakening, as Lord Castus and I wandered the lands with the clans, drifting off in separate directions as we moved, never settling down in one place for long. That night sky, still seemed to remain the same no matter where I walked. It was a comforting feeling, and a sense of the only true stable thing we had in our lives. A sense of home. A sense of freedom."

Luna looked at the human, at Marcus. She felt a touching sense in her heart, as he spoke those words. Few could understand the true feelings of the night and the sky above. And yet, this human seemed to understand it almost as well as she could. Luna could not help, but give a slight smile.

"Thank you Emperor Marcus. You are very wise, even as young as you are."

"I'm thirty one. Or at least that is what Castus has told me during our travels when he was checking the clans health." Marcus said.

Luna chuckled, "We alicorns live for a long time, so to me you are still so very young."

Marcus frowned, "Hmmm, still young or old, I often wonder if I am as wise as you think." He turned and looked down at the city below.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked, stepping up beside him; though maintaining a polite distance.

Marcus sighed, "There have been so many changes in my peoples lives, especially now that we are a nation instead of a band of roaming clans. We have duties and tasks. Myself more then anyone. I have to lead my people to a better future, where we won't need to worry of our survival or if our freedoms will be taken from us."

Marcus clenched the railing tightly, "Sometimes, I feel I am not good enough to lead. I am not wise in the court as Castus. Or as you or your sister. And even aong the other Lord Hunters, I feel that I am not as bold, or that I am too cautious. Sometimes...."

Marcus took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, "Sometimes I feel that I am not fit to lead. That another would be a better ruler then myself."

Marcus looked away from the city, "But, you wouldn't understand. I should not put my problems on you like that. Forgive me."

"I do understand." Luna said, looking at Marcus. Marcus looked back at her, confused.

"I understand how you feel," Luna started, "It has been over a thousand years since I returned from my imprisonment in the moon. In that time, I have often wondered on my role in Equestria."

Marcus blinked in surprise, "A thousand years? Imprisoned where?"

Luna looked up at the moon, and Marcus followed her gaze. He felt a sudden feeling of shock and awe as he looked back at the princess before him.

"The Equestria I find myself in today, is not like it was a thousand years ago. Though my subjects are more accepting of me, my role in their lives is almost nonexistent. Even when I watch over their dreams, and help them best their nightmares, on the larger political scale it is still my sister who stands at the forefront." Luna said, running a hoof through her mane to push it back behind her ear.

"I can understand how it feels to think you are unworthy to lead, or unable to." Luna finished.

Marcus frowned, "But you have a thousand years of experience and knowledge."

Luna nodded, "Yes. But even with such wisdom as I have, even the best of leaders can feel that they have fallen short of their expectations. Even my sister feels such ways at times; though do not tell her I told you that."

Marcus thought on that, "How do you stay strong then? How do you know if you are still leading properly?"

Luna moved and stood next to him as they both looked out at the night sky, "I can stay strong, because I know I am not alone. I have my sister beside me, and ponies I trust to help me when I need an outside look on my decisions. Surely you have such as well."

Marcus nodded.

"Then let yourself lean on them when you need support. A king or queen is not an island to themselves. Let your friends and allies help you and in turn help them. A sense of support, will often help ease the tension of leadership." Luna said, offering Marcus a friendly smile.

Marcus thought on that, "I...suppose. But will that not make me seem weak, if I must have others council me or aid me?"

Luna scuffed, "Only a fool thinks they can lead without advice. Even my sister listens to her advisors before she makes a decision. Listening to others, who might see or feel for things in a different way then you is not weakness dear Emperor. It is wisdom."

Marcus thought on those words for a time. Before turning to Luna and bowing his head.

"Thank you, Princess Luna. I think that such words were what I needed to hear." Marcus said.

"Often we only need a few words of confidence, to help ourselves stand firm," Luna said with a smile, "I know in the past, I need such words as well."

Luna then gently patted Marcus' hand, and Marcus was surprised by the soft and warm feeling of her fur on his hand despite the could night breeze. Luna offered him a smile.

"You are a kind man Emperor Marcus. I have seen it in your words and how you treat your subjects. I am sure you will prove to be a good leader for your people. "

Marcus smiled, "Thank you Princess Luna. I can only hope I can be as wise a leader as you."

Luna chuckled, "Well, you should not try to be completely like me. A thousand years in the moon can leave you feeling completely out of sorts when your return. Especially when you must get use to all sorts of new technology."

Marcus chuckled, "Well. I must confess, even I find myself confused by much of what the empire is acquiring from Equestria in trade."

Luna smirked, "Hmmm. Well, a word of caution then. Try not to sneeze if somepony is taking a picture of you. The press can often be an annoyance with such things."

"Press?" Marcus said confused, tilting his head.

Luna laughed, "Well, perhaps you do not have to worry yet about that. Good night Emperor Marcus."

"Good night Princess Luna. Though you may call me Marcus if you wish. The title of Emperor is still something I am not comfortable with." Marcus said with a nod.

"Then you may call me Luna. It has been good to talk with you." Luna said, before sliding off the rail and gliding down to her balcony. She waved up in farewell to Marcus as she entered her room.

Marcus watched, waving good bye. Then he looked up at the night sky with a smile.

A Diamond Surprise

Rarity woke with a yawn, stretching her hooves out as she removed her sleeping mask from her eyes. The morning sun, shining through her window.

"Ah, such a beautiful day." She said, as she slid out of her bed and headed toward her bathroom. The first step towards a splendid day was to make one look stunning and clean.

Carefully folding and placing her night gown into a carefully folded and piled set of dirty clothes that would need to be washed later, Rarity took a brief moment to examine herself in her mirror. Her body was still as well shaped and pristine as it had ever been, a fact she was very proud of as she got older. True she was not yet in her middle ages, it was none the less a blessing to see that all her work to care for herself continued to pay off.

Turning on the hot water, Rarity took her usual hour of cleansing, washing and drying. Once she was dried, it was time to pick something to wear.

'Hmmm. I have to meet with the girls at Twilight's for breakfast. Oh, perhaps this will do; and of course I will need a sunhat to keep my skin from being burnt.' Rarity thought, as she selected a dress and hat. But of course, she first had to put on her undergarments.

And it was there that Rarity received a most strange sensation.

"Mmm, ow." Rarity groaned, as she had started to tighten her bra around her breasts. Removing the fabric, she carefully placed her hooves against her breasts and gently pressed against him, and squeezed them.

Once more they felt sore and tender.

"Hmm, how odd." Rarity wondered, confused on why her chest should feel so sore.

'Hmmm, could it have been Hoity Toity?' Rarity wondered, recalling the previous night before with one the famed Fashion Critic. The stallion could often be a little rough when they were intimate. Though it could have been that night with Fleur and Fancy Pants; the two could be rather deviant behind closed doors which had surprised her.

Hmmm, well it was a mystery for later. Rarity ignored the soreness of her breasts, as she could not go out without a bra on. And it was not so severe that she could not ignore it.

Once she was fully dressed, Rarity made her way toward Twilight's castle. The thought of time spent with her friends giving a smile on her face, and making her forget the strange soreness in her chest.

It was probably nothing.

---

Rarity smiled as she sat down at the table with Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. It was good to have some quality girl time with her friends, just the six of them. It seemed that they had less time to see each other as their career paths took greater amounts of her time

Rainbow Dash was going to more and more shows as a Wonderbolt, sometimes even traveling for months across Equestria. And she herself was often busy with meetings, business advertisement parties. Twilight was often busy as she got herself settled into her royal stance as a princess.

Sure they had spa days, but it was often difficult to schedule one for all of them. So having a day where they could all meet and talk with each other was always a pleasure to be appreciated more then anything.

"...and bam!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she told them about one of the shows she had performed at, "We burst through the clouds and a sonic rainboom explodes behind us even as we come to a stop at the landing path. That part was kinda not in the original flight pattern, but it was a totally awesome addition."

"Awww, I wish we could have seen it. Seeing you do a Sonic Rainboom is always so much fun." Pinkie complained.

Rarity nodded, "Indeed. You should really try to get us some tickets to your next show sometime Rainbow Dash."

Dash smiled, "Sure. It isn't easy. Spitfire doesn't like us playing favorites with parents or friends; even if she does always try to have her mother in the audience to watch her. But don't tell her I told you that." Dash chuckled.

"Waffles are here."

The girls turned, and saw Spike come in, pushing a tray that was lined with plates filled with waffles.

"Thanks Spike. This look delicious." Twilight said.

"Oh hello Spikey Wikey." Rarity said, pinching Spike's cheek as he passed.

"Ah, h-hello Rarity." Spike stammered, though he looked a little embarrassed by Rarity's cheek pinching. Rarity soon released his cheek and Spike quickly got to setting the table.

Rarity smiled sadly a bit as the pre-teen dragon set the table. She had known about his crush on her for awhile, since he had been a baby dragon. At first she had simply accepted it, expecting him to eventually move on as he got older as she believed it was nothing more then a childhood crush that so many young children got. But over time, when she saw that Spike's crush wouldn't just go away, and a talk with Twilight, Rarity had decided that it was best to let the little dragon know the truth.

She liked Spike. She really did. He was always so dependable and willing to help. But she just did not hold any romantic feelings for him as he would hope. Suffice the say, though Spike tried to cover it up with a tough guy front, he had been hurt with that revelation. For almost a week after, he had stayed in is room.

Twilight had assured her that Spike just needed space and time to think. Eventually he did come out of his room, and seemed his usual chipper self. He even came over and offered to help Rarity, as simply a friend, to find any gems.

With their usual deal of getting to keep the ones she didn't want to snack on later.

Rarity was glad to see that her friendship with the little drake was still intact, and she knew that eventually that he would find somepony or somedragon or whoever, that he would feel just as strongly for, if not more, as he had once for her.

The girls all thanked Spike, as they soon set to work setting waffles onto their plates. Rarity herself used her magic to place a number of waffles onto her plate, and breathed in the delightful aroma.

Or she would have, if the sudden smell of the waffles up close set her stomach into a flipping mess and she shot a hoof over her mouth and bolt out of the room.

The girls and Spike all watched in surprise, as the sound of retching could be heard.

---

"Blaaagh!" Rarity retched again, her head held over one of the many castle bathroom toilet bowls. She was glad to have found one close by where the dining room was. It would have been improper to empty her stomach onto freshly cleaned castle crystal floor.

Rarity groaned as she lifted her head, using a towel to wipe at her mouth. What on earth could have caused her to such an act? All she was doing was about to enjoy some waffles.

Waffles. The sheer thought of them brought back the memory of that suddenly repugnant smell, and Rarity soon threw up again into the toilet.

Rarity groaned again, holding her stomach, even as she heard a knock on the door.

"Rarity," It was Twilight, "Are you okay in there?"

"Just fine darling." Rarity answered, as her stomach finally seemed to calm down and she lifted herself up and proceeded to wash her face and rinse her mouth out.

Using her magic to help straighten her mane out and a last swashing of water through her mouth to get the taste of stomach acid out of her mouth.

Finally, once she was sure she was presentable, she flushed the toilet seven times, then left the bathroom to see all her friends waiting for her. All of them looking at her worried.

"Are you okay Sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

"I'm just fine Applejack." Rarity said, "Now anyway."

"Are you sure? You sounded like you were throwing up your whole stomach in there." Dash asked, looking skeptical.

Rarity blushed, "Oh, well. Perhaps I am simply coming down with a slight stomach bug."

"You should really see a doctor Rarity. Just to make sure it isn't anything serious. I've read about a number of horrible disease that have stomach nausea as a symptom." Twilight added.

"Now Twilight, I'm sure it is nothing more then a slight bug that will go away within a week. I must have caught it when I was out of town. Goodness knows travel can expose a pony to any sort of illnesses, especially when one is around numerous ponies at once." Rarity said, trying to ease her friends.

"Still," Rarity added, "Perhaps I should see a physician. Just to be sure."

"That would probably be best." Twilight said with a nod.

"Buuuut," Pinkie said, "First let's eat. A little food should help you beat that nasty bug."

Pinkie then rushed to the front of her friends, and offered a plate of a single waffle up to Rarity.

Rarity looked at the waffle with horror, and her hooves went over her mouth and she rushed back into the bathroom.

"Bllllaaaaaaaaargh!" The sound of her retching once again coming from within the bathroom.

Pinkie blinked, before she downed the waffle instead, "Hmmm. Maybe she likes French Toast instead."

---

Rarity sighed as she sat on the doctors table, waiting for the doctor to return.

When she had arrived at Ponyville General, she had been glad that her stomach had finally settled down. Though she had taken the long way around, avoiding Sugarcube Corner and other bakery style shops in town. While she suspected that she just had a slight bug, she had to worry that other forms of baked goods besides waffles might cause her to sicken up.

After some tests, and telling the doctor of her symptoms, she had only to wait for the results.

'I'm sure it's nothing. This will probably be just a little bug and Rainbow Dash will no doubt find a way to make a joke about it.' Rarity thought.

"Miss Rarity, we got the results of your test back." The doctor, a mare named Healing Hooves, said as she entered with a check board with some papers on it.

"Oh? What were the results?" Rarity asked.

"Well, we have figured out why you were throwing up. Congratulations!" The mare said, offering her hoof out with a smile.

"What?" Rarity blinked in surprise.

"You're pregnant." Healing Hooves said.

Rarity stared at the doctor for a moment, her eyes dilating as the realization of her words dawned on the Fashionista.

"WHAT!?" Rarity shouted, and it echoed all the way outside the hospital and making ponies stop and look in its direction.

---

Rarity sat on a bench in the park, beside her a list the doctor had given her to help her with her prenatal care, and some suggestions for her. Rarity could only ignore it though, as the news of her condition weighed on her mind. Subconsciously, her hooves moved over her stomach and though she was suppose to be only a few weeks into her pregnancy, she thought she could feel the baby that developed inside her.

'A baby. A foal. I'm going to be a mother?' Rarity thought, feeling shocked by the notion.

How could this happen? Well...well she guessed she knew how it happened. But she had always been careful, not letting any stallion even come near her when she had been in heat. She thought that would be enough.

But apparently it wasn't. As the doctor had told her.

"While most mares are unable to become pregnant unless they mate while in heat, it is possible for some mares to become pregnant through sex, even when they are not in heat." The doctor had told her, "In a way you are kinda lucky. It only happens to one in four thousand mares."

Rarity sighed, and placed her hooves to her face.

She had so much she had to do. Plans to make. She had to tell her parents. Her mother and father would no doubt be glad, they had always hoped for grandfoals. And Sweetie Belle would be ecstatic to be an aunt.

But what about the father? WHO was the father? Rarity felt like some sort of scarlet mare now. True she had only ever lain with stallions that were part of her herd once she had joined it with the invitation of Fleur De Lis, somehow it simply felt unlady like to have a child and not know who the father was.

'I...I guess I will have to tell them.' Rarity thought.

Well, she was suppose to go to Canterlot in a week and meet them. The herd she was in was not a largely formal one, but a collection of like minded ponies in the fashion and upper crust society. In fact, to be part of it had been somewhat of a prize for it was not a large herd due to its strict entry requirements. Only her budding friendship with Fancy Pants and Fleur and her business dealings with Sapphire Shores and Hoity Toity had made it possible.

Well, at least all of this meant that the conversation for their monthly herd get together would be....interesting.

Rarity once again found herself gently stroking her hooves on her belly. And while she still had some worries and thoughts on this. She could not help but smile.

This was her baby that was growing in her.

'Oh with a mother like me, he or she is sure to be good looking. And will certainly have a love of fashion. Oh, and I need to give him or her a noble sounding name. One that will truly reflect their spirit.' Rarity thought, ideas already rolling through her head on names and classes to sign her child up for to be sure it received a proper upper standing education.

Oh and the baby would need a good outfit line. OH! She could use this to inspire a whole line of youngster fashion lines. Why should only adults get to dress up with style?

All the thoughts had Rarity in excited mood.....

...at least until she suddenly felt like emptying her guts again.

---

In the week that followed, leading up to her trip to Canterlot, Rarity had broken the news to her friends and family.

Her mother and father had been, predictably, excited. Her father going on about showing all his hoofball moves to his future grandchild. And her mother making suggestions on what to eat and drink, such as making the offering of all natural almond milk. Sweetie was of course excited, and had had her hoof on Rarity's stomach the entire visit to her parent's home; despite Rarity telling her that the baby was not developed enough yet to be felt.

Her friends were also excited. Twilight had drawn up a number of lists for her to follow, and had even supplied her with a number of prenatal and child care books. Dash was nonchalant about it, though every so often she would worry whenever she so much as hugged Rarity as if hugging her too hard would threaten the baby. AJ was perhaps the most normal, giving her well wishes. Fluttershy also managed to keep her excitement in check, giving her congratulations. It was Pinkie who was the worst. She had practically jumped around the walls, and was quickly planning her a baby shower, first ultrasound party, first one minute year old party, and a Congratulations on Becoming a Mother party all in one.

Of course other soon leaned the news. Ponies in town would give her congratulations, but the most surprising was Castus.

"I understand congratulations are in order." He had said, when he had stopped in for some new clothes he paid for.

"Yes," Rarity sighed, "Everypony in town has said such. Frankly, I am starting to grow a little tired of it."

"A new life entering this world is always a glorious thing. Besides, knowing you this baby is probably going to become the number one owner of every fashion line in all of Equestria when they grow up." Castus said with a laugh.

Rarity chuckled, "Oh well I highly doubt that. All of the world would certainly be enough."

Castus laughed, "Well, you certainly aim big."

"Ambition is an important trait in a business mare as myself." Rarity said, with pride.

Castus chuckled, as Rarity brought out the suit he had ordered.

"I must say, it is not every day I design formal wear for a foreign dignitary. Shall I expect a fine review in any fashion related material in the Empire?" Rartiy asked, fluttering her eyebrows.

Castus laughed, "Rartiy. As far as the Empire goes, you could write the first fashion catalogue. We haven't exactly gone that far yet. We are still securing our borders."

Rarity thought on that, "Hmmm. Well that might be a good idea. Goodness knows I have seen what passes for clothes for you humans in the Empire. It is hard enough having that fine boy, Valen yes, to stay still for a measuring."

Castus smirked and went behind a screen to change into his new clothes. When he stepped out, Rarity had to admit that he did look quiet handsome.

'Hmm. I can see why Fluttershy fell for him. When he dresses like that he certainly has a certain air about him.' She thought with a smile.

"Thanks Rarity. I needed a new suit to wear during Council meetings. Hopefully this shuts that beak of that annoying griffon." Castus said as he admired himself.

"So, how much do I owe you?" Castus asked.

"Oh darling, think nothing of it. I certainly get enough clients that I can offer my friends a few dress our suit every so often." Rarity said, waving her hoof.

Castus frowned, "Now come on Rarity. I need to pay you something. If you keep giving me free stuff like this I'm going to be in debt to you for the rest of my life."

Rarity smirked, "Well, it pays to have a powerful human mage that owes you a favor or two under your sleeve."

Castus smirked, "haha. Very funny. But come on."

Rarity sighed, "Oh very well. I suppose I can sell it to you at half price."

"Fine," Castus said, "Half price. Though that still means I owe you half a favor."

Rarity smirked, "So it does. Well don't you fret dear," Rarity patted his cheek, "I'll have you repay me those favors in time. A little public appearances here. Perhaps a little help in setting up a new shop or two. I still would like to pick your brain on Old Valhruan fashions. I am sure I can start a completely original line in new Retro Antiquarian line."

The nervous smile on Castus face, had been enough to make Rarity laugh.

But now, the true task came as she sat at a table with her herd mates, Prim Headline. Hoity Toity. Fancy Pants. Sapphire Shores. Fleur and even Photo Finish.

Normally, Rarity would listen intently on the conversation, but today her mind was too focused on what she had to say.

"Rarity..."

Did she take it slowly? Or did she announce it out right?

"Rartiy!"

"Huh!?" Rarity looked around, and realized that everypony was looking at her with concerned looks.

"Is there something wrong Rarity?" Fancy Pants asked.

"Wrong?" Rarity said, "N-no. No, why would anything be wrong?"

"Vell, you do seem a bit distracted." Photo pointed out, lowering her glasses.

"Yes, and you haven't talked all day. Are you sure you're okay?" Fleur asksed.

"Perhaps she is feeling stressed. Goodness knows she has certainly moved up in the Fashion world, with three new store openings in the last month." Hoity Toity said.

Sapphire brushed her mane back, "Oh, well Rarity if that's what's troubling you then look no further. Sapphire Shores knows just what you need. I could use a friend during my trip to the East and I bet you could find all sorts of new ideas there. And they have some of the best hot springs you can imagine. They will simply take all your worries away."

"Perhaps," Prim Headline spoke up, "We should let her tell us herself?"

All eyes now focused on Rarity, and Rarity gulped and took a shaky sip of her tea.

"Well...uh," Rarity stuttered, before taking a breath and saying quickly, "I'm pregnant!"

Rarity placed her hooves to her mouth, before clearing her throat and setting them on the table and looked around.

Everypony looked at her in surprise, and Hoity Toity and Photo Finish had their glasses off. Fancy Pants' jaw hung open, before Fleur closed it.

"Oh vondful news!" Photo Finish then decreed and she got up from her chair and wrapped Rarity in a hug, "Darling, vhy did you not tell us sooner?"

"Well," Rarity said, a bit surprised, "I was not sure how to go about announcing it. To be truthful I was a little worried."

"Oh nonsense Rarity, Sapphire said with a wave of her hoof, "This is fantastic news. You shouldn't be worried about telling us."

"Indeed." Prim said with a nod.

"Oh this will be so exciting!" Fleur declared, clapping her hooves, "Have you thought of any names yet? Oh I wonder if it will be a colt of a filly."

"Um, but who is the father?" Hoity asked.

"Well, it would have to either be you or Fancy Pants, Toity." Sapphire said, as if it was obvious.

"Indeed, unless Rarity has found another stallion that she has been keeping secret from us, and all to herself." Prim Headline said, giving a playful smirk.

"Oh, like you never did that Prim." Fleur said, looking at the mature mare.

"Well," Rarity interrupted, "I don't really know yet. I suppose we will need to wait till the foal is born."

"But how did you even get pregnant?" Photo asked, "You alvays said that you weren't ready yet to be a mother."

"Well, it seems that I'm one of a hooffull of mares that can get pregnant even when I'm not in heat." Rarity said.

"Oh, I have a friend who is like that." Fleur said, "Its suppose to be incredibly rare for a mare to do."

"Well," Fancy Pants declared with a clap of his hooves, "I say we all go out and celebrate. I dare say, it will certainly be delightful to see a youngster among us."

"Oh we should go to that new restaurant in town. It looks so delightful." Fleur added in, even as she hugged Rarity.

"Uh, just as long as they don't serve waffles." Rarity said hesitantly.

"Hmmm, my mother had a similar symptom only it was pancakes." Sapphire said, "but she always said that a cup of warm ginger tea always helped her out."

"Ginger?" Prim said shocked, "Oh don't be silly. The best cure for pregnancy nausea is a cup of warm milk."

"Pfft, yeah maybe from the stone age darling." Sapphire teased Prim Headline.

Rarity smiled, and felt rather silly that she had been so worried before. Knowing that her herd mates would be so supportive made her feel that she could face the rest of this pregnancy.

---

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" Rarity shouted, as she squeezed her hooves.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" Hoity Toity and Fancy Pants both screamed, as they held Rarity's hoof.

"AHHH I can't do this I'm gonna die!!!" Rarity shouted again.

"Just keep pushing Rarity. We're almost done." The doctor said, even as Rarity screamed as another spike of pain hit her.

"AGH! One of you did this to me! I'll kill you both!" Rarity screamed, grabbing the two stallions by their necks and strangling them before tossing them away and grabbing the rails of her bed as she pushed harder.

Hoity and Fancy both laided on the ground, their eyes spinning.

"One more push. Push! Push!"

Rarity screamed one last explosive scream, before slumping against her pillow.

There was a momentary silence, before a small cry was heard. And then followed by a second cry.

---

In the waiting room, a strange mix of waiting visitors sat.

All the members of Rarity's herd sat waiting, watching the clock. Rartiys parents and sister both waited as well, with their father pacing back and forth.

And all of her friends, waited as well. Rainbow Dash read a Daring Do book and Applejack busied herself with knitting. Pinkie Pie was practically bouncing in her seat. Twilight sat with Fluttershy and Castus, who had a hand on each mare's shoulder.

"So," Dash said as she and other ponies sat in the waiting room as they waited for the news, "Think Rarity killed Hoity and Fancy?"

"Hmmm, probably." Prim, "My own mother almost threw my father threw the wall during her childbirth. But she is an earth pony."

"Oh, I wonder what the baby will look like." Fleur smiled excitedly as she clapped her hooves.

"Oh, I hope Rarity gets through it okay." Fluttershy said, worried.

"Don't worry. Rarity might be all prim and proper, but she is one tough cookie." AJ said, assuring her worried friend.

"We just have to wait. And hope." Castus said, as he watched the door.

Finally, the doors opened and a nurse showed up, causing everyone to stand.

"This way please." The nurse said, leading them all to Rarity's room.

There Rarity laid in her bed, and in her hooves she held two wrapped bundles. Beside her, their hooves wrapped in bandages and kept straight with splints. As well as a neck brace each, stood Hoity and Fancy Pants.

"Hey, she didn't kill them after all." Dash chuckled.

"Oh Rarity." Rarity's mother said, pushing through the rest to rush to her daughter with a smile; and to see her grandkids.

"Hello mother. Everyone, I want you to meet my sons. Onyx and Comberbund."

Rarity moved her hooves to show the swaddled form of two pony colts, their horns and faces the only thing not covered and sleeping soundly.

"Awww." Everyone went.

Rarity smiled and kissed both the boys heads, "Welcome to the world. My little gems."

Author's Notes:

Thanks Sipioc for pointing out a few things and what could be better. Thanks :)

Not that I care...!

Spike yawned as the first morning light of the sun shone through into his room. He lifted a leg and scratched at his head, before standing on all fours and shaking himself away. Then he stood up on his hind legs and stretched, his joints cracking as he did so.

"Man, I slept like a baby." Spike said, as he rubbed his back, pausing briefly to feel at the nubs that were growing out of his back. He took time to feel those nubs, and thought they had gotten bigger since yesterday.

Finally, he would soon have wings! Then he could learn to fly!

Spike grinned at the thought. Once he could fly, he wouldn't be considered a baby dragon anymore.

Soon he could drink cider and stay up late. He could even go see all those horror movies that Twilight had said were too scary for him. Well now she couldn't say that anymore. In fact, since it was Nightmare Night, he was going to have a horror movie night marathon.

Stretching once more, Spike went to the shower to wash up. He didn't know when Twilight would be back, she had gone out with Castus and Fluttershy last night...but she hadn't come back last night.

Did she stay the night at Fluttershy's? Well they were friends so he guessed it made sense.

Well either way, a shower was the best way to start the day.

---

After a good, hot shower, Spike felt like a million bits, and went down to the kitchen to make himself some breakfast.

As he entered into the kitchen, Spike saw a note on the fridge, which he snatched up and looked at the contents.

It was from Twilight, guess she left it for him before she left for her date last night.

It was a list of things to do to prepare for Nightmare Night tonight. Strange it did not look very long though. Spike scratched his chin, and slowly slide a claw to the edge of the paper, and not to his surprise he saw that the note was folded up, and as he unfolded it the list became a little bit longer.

"Now it looks like a Twilight List." Spike said with a smirk.

He set the list on the counter, as he began digging around for something to eat. He was feeling like having an omelet today. He liked how he could add anything to it, especially gems. Getting to work, Spike began making his breakfast, mixing in some gems stones into the eggs as he poured it into the pan. Of course, as he grew older he soon found that he needed a more protein based diet in connection with gems, so he added anchovies and some cheese, pepper jack today, as well as some jalapenos. Oh and some more gems.

"Mmm, this is going to be good." Spike said, licking his fangs as he smelled the cooking omelet.

"Mmm, something smells good."

Spike turned, and saw Twilight entering the kitchen. She was wearing what she wore last night, only this time with a jacket around her.

"Hey Twilight. Did you just get home?" Spike asked as he flipped his omelet to cook the other side.

"Yeah. Hope you were okay spending the night by yourself." Twilight asked as she went to the fridge and pulled out the orange juice to pour herself a glass.

"Eh, I was fine. How was your night? Did you have fun?" Spike asked, turning to Twilight.

Twilight flushed, "Oh. Yes it was...enjoyable." She giggled.

Spike blinked, "So what's with the jacket?"

"Oh," Twilight looked at the jacket she wore, "Oh, Castus lent me his before I left. It's a chilly day today."

"That was nice. Did you want an omelet? I can make another, this one has gems in it." Spike said as he placed his finished omelet onto a plate.

"That would be nice. Extra hay please?" Twilight asked.

"Sure thing." Spike said, setting the plate down on the counter and going to the fridge again.

"So, what do you plan to do today?" Twilight asked as she drank her juice.

Spike closed the fridge as he got out some more eggs, "Well I found your list. Figured I'd get started on that after breakfast."

Twilight blinked, "Oh yeah, today's Nightmare Night. I almost forgot."

Spike chuckled, "I'm not surprised. You were practically jumping off the walls on the day of your date with Castus and Fluttershy."

Twilight rolled her eyes, "I was not jumping. I was simply excited."

Spike smirked, "Right."

Spike paused, and thought he saw something on Twilight's neck, "Hey Twilight, what's that?"

Spike pointed at an area of Twilight's neck, that looked a little red and as if something had nibbled on it.

Twilight gasped, and threw her hoof over it, "Uh. N-Nothing! J-Just a bug bite. Y-yeah that's it."

Spike blinked, but shrugged, "Okay. If you say so."

Twilight chuckled nervously, "S-so what else do you have planned?"

"Well, I was planning on a Horror Movie Marathon after some Nightmare Night candy gathering. I already know what I want to watch." Spike said, as he cooked.

Twilight frowned, "Spike, you know you aren't old enough-"

Spike turned, cutting Twilight off, "Twilight," He said exasperated, "I'm not a baby anymore. Look, my wings are coming in. You have to realize that I'm growing up. I'm practically a teenager now."

"But-" Twilight went, but sighed at the look Spike gave her, "Oh you're right Spike." She approached the dragon and gave him a hug, "I guess I just didn't want to admit it. But you are growing up. It just seems to be happening so fast."

Spike smiled and returned the hug, "Thanks Twilight. But don't worry I'll always be your number one assistant."

Twilight giggled, "That you will."

The two hugged each other tighter, before Spike sniffed a scent.

"Hey Twilight. Why do you smell like Castus?" Spike asked.

"No reason!" Twilight shouted, releasing Spike and stepping back.

"Hmm, it's probably the jacket." Spike said with a shrug.

"Y-yeah. That's it. The jacket. Ehehehehe." Twilight chuckled nervously, a deep blush on her face.

Spike just lifted a brow at the pony. He then just shrugged and got back to work making her breakfast. He was use to Twilight acting weird by now.

---

Later after breakfast, Spike set to work on completing the list of things to do for Nightmare Night. He spent the better part of the morning, with some help from Twilight after she washed and changed, decorating the castle exterior. Twilight had prepared a spell to help make it look dark, and covered in cobwebs. While Spike set up carved pumpkins and some spooky props.

Next was getting the candy. Unfortunately they were low on candy at the castle, so Spike had to go to the store.

On his way, he spotted the CMC, alongside Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon. It was still odd seeing those five together after years of hating each other, but it just went to show you that time could make enemies into friends. Spike was also surprised to see Valen here today.

"Hey Spike!" Applebloom called, waving to him.

"Hey Applebloom. Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo. Tiara. Silver Spoon. Valen." Spike said, greeting each, waving as he walked over.

"Hello fire drake." Valen said, bowing his head to the dragon.

"Geez, you can just call me Spike. It is my name." Spike said, blushing a little.

Ever since he had met the human Valen, he would often bow his head and call him fire drake as a term of honor. Spike was at first flattered, but now it was a little embarrassing."

"Sorry." Valen said, "How are you...Spike?"

"Fine, thanks for asking," Spike said with a smile, "What brings you here."

"I came to visit. The day before I asked the Fire Man to bring me to Ponyville with him before he left the Empire. Though I was not expecting to be here during a festival." Valen said, looking around.

"It's not a festival Valen dear," Tiara said with a smile, "Its called Nightmare Night."

Valen just looked confused, "What's Nightmare Night?"

"Uh," Silver Spoon scuffed in surprise, "Only like the best holiday ever. The whole town throws a big party with games and scary haunted houses and hay rides. And ponies go around to houses collecting candy and dress up in costumes."

Valen just blinked, "Costumes?"

"Yeah," Spike said, "this year I'll be going as a hydra."

"Oh Valen you should totally go as a Viking." Scootaloo said, "That would be awesome."

"You'll love my costume," Tiara said with a smile as she leaned in against Valen, "I know you will."

Valen blushed, "I-I'm sure it will look good on you."

"Will you be going to any of the haunted houses tonight Spike?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nah," Spike said with a wave of his claw, "I got something better planned."

"Like what?" Applebloom asked.

"I'm gonna have a Horror Film marathon. Now that I'm old enough, Twilight can't say no." Spike said, feeling proud.

"Ooh, that does sound fun." Applebloom said.

"What's a movie?" Valen asked.

The girls and Spike all looked at Valen like he was nuts.

"Are you kidding," Silver Spoon gasped, "Don't you humans have movies?"

"No." Valen deadpanned.

"A movie is like," Spike paused and thought of how to explain it, then an idea came, "I know. How about I show you. Come to the castle later tonight and you can watch the movies with me."

"Is that alright?" Valen asked.

"Totally," Spike said, "We can make it a party."

"Oh!" Sweetie Belle called, "Can we come. Do you have Camp Diamond Massacre? Rarity would never let me watch that."

"Oh what about Night of the Timber Wolves?" Applebloom asked.

"I want to watch Nightmare on Mare Street." Scootaloo called.

Spike thought on it then nodded, "Sure. You can all come. The more the merrier I say."

The girls cheered, though Valen still looked confused.

"Meet you all later tonight." Spike said, waving goodbye.

"Bye Spike. See you later." the girls called, waving bye. Valen giving a silent wave in farewell.

Spike smiled, feeling excited. It would be a lot better watching his movies with friends. This night was going to rule!

Spike was so excited and so deep in thought on what movies to watch, that he didn't see who was in front of him before bumping into them, knocking them both to the ground.

"Ah, hey watch where you're going runt."

Spike got up, dusting himself off, "I'm sooo sorry, I-wait..." Spike knew that voice.

"Ember?" Spike said, looking up from his claws as he dusted himself off and saw the blue scaled dragoness standing before him.

Ember looked like she had the last time he had seen her some years back during the Gauntlet. Well, maybe she looked a little bigger, and her form and thinned out a bit and curved a bit more. But she was now only a head taller then him.

"Duh, who were you expecting?" Ember said, crossing her claws over her chest.

"Well, I'm just surprised to see you is all. I thought you were in the dragon lands. What brings you to Ponyville?" Spike asked.

"No reason, I just came here to see Twlight. So don't go thinking this has anything to do with you, cause it doesn't." Ember said, looking around and not at Spike. All around ponies looked at them, or at Ember mostly.

Spike blinked, "Uh okay. Well it's nice to see you. Are you here for Nightmare Night?"

"Nightmare Night?" Ember asked confused.

"You know. Nightmare Night. Famous holiday. Uh getting candy and haunted houses. and...you know?" Spike rubbed the back of his head as Ember just looked at him with a blank look.

"Uh, well you should totally stay. I'm having a get together later at the castle. Why not come." Spike said.

Ember blinked in surprise, the huffed, blowing some smoke from her nose, "Maybe. But not cause you said I could. I just don't get these pony holidays and I might as well have you show me."

"Uh, sure. Whatever you say. Well I have something's I have to do for tonight. Twilight should be at the castle if you need to talk to her. See you later." Spike said, walking off as he waved bye to Ember.

Behind him Ember watched as the purple dragon walked off and huffed, feeling angry.

'The little runt could have at least asked if I wanted to help.' She thought, casting a glare at some ponies who began to whisper to each other. That sent them running.

With another huff, Ember turned to look at the castle in the distance. So that was where Spike lived. Well, it looked decent. Nothing like a good cave, but it was fine.

Figuring it would be best to wait there instead of hanging around to be gawked at by ponies, Ember flapped her wings and flew over to the castle.

---

Returning to the castle sometime later, with bags of candy in his claws, Spike was surprised find Ember and Twilight in the throne room, sitting at the Friendship table drinking tea. Or well Twilight was drinking tea and Ember just looked at her cup in confusion.

"Spike, Ember came to visit." Twilight said with a smile.

"I know. I ran into her in town. She's gonna stay for my movie marathon. The CMC, Valen, Tiara and Silver Spoon are coming too." Spike said.

"CMC? Valen? And who are Tiara and Silver Spoon?" Ember asked, looking at Spike critically.

"Oh, their my friends. Don't worry you will like them. Though Valen is a human, just a heads up." Spike said as he set the candy down on the table, "Be right back. I gotta grab some bowls."

Ember blinked in surprise, even as Spike left. She turned to Twilight, "A human? How can you be friends with a human?"

Twilight smiled, "A lot has happened in recent years Ember. But it's an amazing tale. You see it all started when a human named Castus came into our world-" Twilight began to tell the tale.

Ember listened only partially, though she did blinked and listen more intently on a few interesting parts. Especially about this Castus person and how he could use magic. How could a human use magic? She would have to meet him, just to make sure he wouldn't pose a threat to her or other dragons in Equestria. But really, her mind was on the thought that others would be at Spike's party.

'The little runt didn't tell me there be other girls there.' She thought bitterly.

Not that she cared. She just didn't want a bunch of whiny pony girls spoiling things. She had heard of movies, if only partially enough to know what they were. But had never seen one herself. Last thing she wanted was for some pony girls to scream and cry over something scary and spoil it.

'Stupid runt. inviting stupid pony girls and stupid humans.' Ember thought angrily, huffing out smoke from her nose. Well okay, the human would be interesting to meet. Even if to her humans were just tasty little snacks.

"Um, Ember are you okay?" Twilight asked.

"Huh?" Ember said, looking at Twilight.

"W-well you just seem mad. Smoke keeps coming out of her nose. I didn't say something to offend you did I?"

Ember blinked, "N-no. No. I was just thinking is all."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked.

"I'm fine." Ember snapped.

Twilight leaned back, then leaned in and patted Ember's leg, "Ember. If something is troubling you, you can tell me. We are friends."

Ember frowned, feeling a little bad she had snapped at Twilight. Maybe...maybe...wait...

Ember leaned in and sniffed Twilight, then leaned back with a blush, "Th-that smell!? I smell a human on you! Did you-!"

Twilight leaned back, blushing , "N-n-no! I mean...your just smelling his jacket is all. I th-thought I had washed it away!"

"Well its harder to smell, but I can still smell....that on you." Ember said, blushing herself and looking at Twilight in shock.

Twilight blushed even further, "O-oh dear this is so embarrassing." Twilight covered her face with her hooves.

Ember cleared her throat, "Uh, don't worry about it Twilight. I mean, I've smelled that a lot of times. Especially from my dad back when he was dragon lord. Though I bet Spike was just as surprised."

Twilight blushed, "Oh well um...S-Spike didn't really realize...um...he...uh...I still haven't..."

Ember blinked, "Wait. You haven't even talked to him about that? He is almost a teenaged dragon. All dragons know about that when their wings start coming in."

Twilight held her hooves up, "I-I just never had time and well it always seemed a little embarrassing. I've practically raised him myself, so I guess I wasn't expecting to have to give him the Talk just yet."

Ember groaned, face clawing.

'Great. That just makes it worse!' Ember thought.

"Back. So what were you girls talking about?" Spike said, coming back with a stack of wide bowls which he poured and mixed candy into.

Ember and Twilight looked at each other, then at Spike and they both blushed.

"What? Why are you both blushing?" Spike asked.

"I'm not blushing!" Ember shouted suddenly, pointing a claw at Spike.

"But.." Spike started, but Ember stood up with a huff.

"I'm gonna go sit in the sun a bit. Don't you dare follow me." She growled at Spike, before quickly walking off.

Spike blinked, watching Ember go, then he looked at Twilight, "What did I say?"

---

Later that night, Spike was putting the finishing touches to the room he had sectioned off to use for the movie. He had set up the projection screen needed, and the movie projector and had a pile of movie's set up beside the projector. All the lights were off, save for a small lantern that Spike had. He set a cooler with cider, non alcoholic, and other drinks and bowls of chips, some candy and other snacks on a table, with plates beside the bowls to use to hold the snacks, he had some low glowing mage lights to allow everyone to see the treats without interrupting the light from the projector.

"So, this is where the movie is gonna play?"

Spike turned and nearly jumped as his lantern shined on Ember, who looked down at him with a smirk.

"Sorry, did I scary ya runt?" Ember asked with a chuckle.

"What? N-no, I was just surprised. And do you have to call me a runt, I mean I'm only just a head shorter then you now." Spike asked.

"Still makes you a runt." Ember said with a smirk, "Anyway whats with the get up?"

Spike blinked and looked down at himself. He wore a costume of yellow colored fake scales and long yellow tubes that ended in look alikes of his head, with little flaps in them to allow his claws to move in and out of if he needed to grab things.

"It's my costume. I'm a hydra." Spike said proudly.

Ember rolled her eyes, "Well it looks ridiculous."

Spike sighed, "Whatever. Anyway, yeah. The others should be here soon, so feel free to wait here if you want."

Ember crossed her claws over her chest, "Nah, I want to see these friends of yours."

Spike shrugged, "Well okay. Probably best if you meet them first anyway. Come on."

The two left the room and went to the main doors to the castle. A knock at the door told Spike that someone was there. He smiled as he opened the door.

"Hey Spike." Scootaloo greeted him.

"We're here." Sweetie Belle sang.

"Hey everybody. Come on in." Spike said, motioning for them all to enter.

Spike took a moment to admire his friends costumes.

Scootaloo was dressed as daring do, even going so far as to dye her mane gray. Sweetie Belle he had to admit looked cute in her witch costume. Applebloom was dressed as a skeleton. Valen of course was dressed in furs, with a fake axe at his back and wearing a horned helmet; though he did not look at all comfortable.

"I still don't see why I would wear this? These horns are something an enemy could easily grab and hold my head down with." Valen said, poking the fake helmet.

"It's just a costume Valen. Geez, it isn't suppose to seem realistic." Scootaloo said with a roll of her eyes.

"Yeah. Just have fun." Tiara said, stepping in and wrapping her hooves around Valen's arm. She had on a nurses outfit, though she had the chest part buttoned a little low and her mane tied up in a bun.

Valen went stiff and still, looking up at Tiara with a gulp. Then at Scootaloo who gripped his other arm in her hooves.

Spike chuckled a bit, pitting the poor human.

"So, where's the movie at?" Silver Spoon asked. She wore a pointed princess hat and gown and hoof gloves, in the style of old Victorian Equestrian style, she even had an umbrella in her hooves.

"This way. But first I want you all to meet a friend of mine. This is Ember." Spike said, as he turned toward the dragoness.

Everyone looked, now noticing the female dragon.

The girls all jumped, and all but Valen took a step back.

"Sh-she's a dragon?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Gee, no really?" Ember deadpanned, claws crossed over her chest.

"Don't worry. She's cool. She just acts tough." Spike said with a chuckle.

Ember growled at him, then looked at the ponies before her. She growled a bit, making them step back a bit.

'Ppfft. Cowardly ponies. Them and their stupid curvy bodies and their fat butts.' She thought, eyeing them all.

Then her eyes settled on the human. She guessed this was Valen.

She eyed the human up and down, who looked back at her with a critical eye.

"So. Human." She said.

"Yes," Valen said, "And you are a dragon."

Ember recoiled a bit, still not use to hearing a human talk. Still she stepped forward, "You know I've eaten humans like you."

"Ember." Spike said, holding his claws out to stop her and looking at Valen.

"You would have a hard time with me. I'm tough to chew." Valen said.

Ember and Valen glared at each other now, before Ember smirked.

"Well, you look like you have a spine." Ember said, and turned.

Spike just blinked, "Uh...so everything's okay."

"Yeah. Now shut up and lets go see these movies already." Ember snapped at Spike.

Spike chuckled uneasily, and the girls all looked at him with confused and questioning expressions.

"Uh, so anyway this way." Spike said, leading them all in.

---

Ember sat, claws crossed as she watched the movie that Spike had playing on the projector. The purple dragon sat next to her, tail wagging as the movie played, a bowl of popcorn in his claws.

Ember cast a glance at Spike, and slowly eased her tail closer to his. When his tail touched hers, he blinked and looked behind them before looking at her.

Ember sucked in a breath and yanked her tail back.

"Watch your tail runt." She whispered a hiss at him.

Spike blinked, then looked away, "S-sorry." He curled his tail away.

The music on the screen picked up as the mare in the movie noticed the shadow behind her. Slowly turning she then screamed as a cloaked figure brought a knife down on her again and again.

Everypony screamed, covering their eyes. Well, except Ember and Valen, who just sat their watching.

The ponies Tiara and Scootaloo both clung to Valen, and Applebloom and Silver Spoon hugged each other as they screamed. But the one called Sweetie grabbed Spike in her hooves and shrieked. But worse, Spike also screamed and hand his claws around that stupid unicorn pony.

Ember let out a low growl. Stupid Spike. Stupid unicorn. She just had to sit next to him didn't she? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Finally as the scene ended, and the girls all stopped screaming and let each other go, though Scootaloo and Tiara leaned against Valen, Spike looked up at Ember.

"Not scared Ember?" Spike asked.

Ember blinked, "Uh no. I mean, that was kinda scary but..."

"Why didn't she fight back? She had several opportunities to grab his hoof in hers, or jump back from the blow. And that stabbing motion is not exactly a good way to land a killing blow." Valen said.

Everyone, but Ember sighed.

"Well don't worry. That's just the first movie. We got plenty of others." Spike said.

"Uh, great." Ember said, before looking back to the screen. Though her eyes gazed to the side, to glare at the unicorn and Spike. Did she have to sit so close?

When the first movie wrapped up, Spike got up to put in another. During this, Ember slid her tail over to Sweetie Belle, and jabbed the pointed end into her fat, pony flank.

"Yeow!" Sweetie Bell shrieked, jumping. Ember retracted her tail quickly and pretended to not notice.

"Sweetie, what are you doing?" Scootaloo asked.

"Something poked my flank." Sweetie Belle said, looking around.

"It was probably just a bug. Sit down, the movie is starting and your in the way." Scootaloo said again, motioning for her friend to sit.

Sweetie Belle frowned, but sat back down. Though not in the same spot. Once the movie was playing, Spike sat back in his spot. Ember smirked, Sweetie was still a little close then she would like.

"This one ought to scare you Ember. And you too Valen. It's regarded as the scariest movie in Equestria." Spike said, giving the two a cunning look.

Ember smirked, "We'll see runt."

Everyone focused their eyes on the screen, and once again Spike's tail was wagging. Once more Ember felt her self sliding her tail towards his, and once again his tail hit hers, but this time it managed to hit a sensitive part causing her to jump and blush.

When Spike looked at her, she glared at him, "Watch your tail runt." Then she looked away and wrapped her tail into her lap. Though the blush still remained.

"Oh, uh sorry Ember." Spike said, rubbing the back of his head before looking back to the screen. He moved his tail to the side, and it started wagging again, but now it was wagging especially close to Sweetie Belle's tail.

Ember growled, 'Stupid runt.'

---

It was well into midnight when it was time for everyone to leave. Everyone yawned, in different levels of exhaustion.

"Thanks for inviting us over Spike." Sweetie Belle said.

"Yeah, those movies were awesome." Scootaloo said, before yawning. She leaned against Valen for support.

"We should to this again next year." Applebloom put in.

"Yeah, that be cool." Spike said with a smile. He was glad his get together had gone so smoothly.

Spike escorted them all to the door and they all waved goodbye as all of the went their separate ways. Spike smiled as he closed the door, stretching and turning to head to his room.

Only to back into someone.

Spike paused, stepped back and looked up at Ember, who looked down at him.

"Oh, Ember. You aren't leaving?" Spike asked.

Ember growled, "Why? You that desperate to see me leave?"

"Uh, N-no I just...well it is late so I thought you were leaving." Spike said, nervous.

Ember huffed, "Whatever. If you must know, Twilight is letting me stay the night. But that's only because I don't have a place to stay and I don't want to have to find a cave this late at night. And that's the only reason. Got it!"

Spike leaned back as Ember leaned in on him with a glare, "Uh, right. Right."

Ember leaned back and huffed, "But...I don't know where my room is."

Spike blinked, "Oh, well I can show you to the guest rooms."

Ember huffed, but followed as Spike led the way.

Though the halls of the castle were dark, the two dragons eyes were able to see clearly through the halls as if it was still daylight. As they passed a slightly open door, Ember caught sight of a bed, just big enough for her with a bowl of gems beside it.

"This will do." She said, and walked into the room.

"Huh? Ah wait!" Spike called, following in.

He stopped and blinked as he watched Ember crawl into the round bed and curled up into it.

"What? Is there a problem?" Ember demanded.

"Uh, no but...well," Spike said, "That is my bed. This is my room."

Ember blinked, and looked around, "Hmm. Whatever. This bed is just fine for me. I doubt any normal pony bed would be comfortable for me. I wouldn't want to accidentally rip up the mattress."

"Uh, well. I guess, but-" Spike started.

"I am your Dragon Lord Spike. You should be honored I even think that your bed is worthy of me to sleep in. Or are you going to argue with me further?" Ember demanded, glaring at Spike.

Spike winced, "Uh...well..uh fine. I guess you can sleep in it." He sighed and turned to leave.

"But." Ember stated.

Spike turned, expecting that maybe she decided to let him have his bed instead.

"But, this is your bed. And you have been a decent host, so you may sleep in it as well." Ember said, looking away. Were her cheeks red a bit?

"Huh?" Spike said, tilting his head confused.

Ember growled, "I said get in here! Now do it!"

Spike jumped, and moved to obey. A mixture of fear, though he didn't think Ember would actually do anything to him, but also an instinctive need to obey that seemed to stem from her title as Dragon Lord. He crawled into his bed, his form curling up inside the circle that Ember's body made. He curled up tighter, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"D-don't mistake my motives alright!" Ember growled, "I-I just think that you shouldn't have to leave the bed your comfortable with. And besides, you smell too much like pony."

Spike rubbed the back of his head, "I..well...it's just."

Spike gulped as he realized how warm that Ember's body felt. He blushed a crimson red.

"Just...just shut up and go to sleep. Runt." Ember snapped, and closing her eyes.

Spike watched her, and he looked around. He moved himself a bit, hoping to keep a little space between him and Ember. He then closed his eyes, and tried to get to sleep.

But it was very difficult, especially when he felt one of Ember's wings slip over him.

A Reluctent Queen

Rainbow slammed her mug of cider onto the bar counter with a refreshed gasp.

"Awww yeah!" She declared, "That hits the spot."

Dash leaned against the bar, and then checked the clock and sighed.

She was late.

'Wish Castus was here. Least then he could massage my wings. Practice was killer today.' Dash thought, rubbing her wings.

And if Castus was here, she could have someone to drink with and shoot the breeze. Oh and massage her wings. It wasn't anything big, it was just something he offered her one time when he had seen her sore from practice and she just took advantage of the free massage. It wasn't like she was asking him to preen her feathers.

But sadly, her best drinking friend was away on business in the Empire tonight, as Fluttershy had told her. He was expected to be gone for a week. But she could live with that. Besides, tonight she was meeting someone that she hadn't seen in awhile and had left on two differing terms so Dash was glad for the privacy she had to get her mind straight.

The bar she was in was called the Five Mug Stallion, a small and quiet Draught style bar in Ponyville run by a mare named Full Kegs. And despite her name the mare was as flat as her, much to Dash's surprise when she had first met her; but her flank was big enough to even make her lick her lips. But she was a nice enough mare, who knew what her customers wanted and when they wanted privacy and when they wanted to talk.

Full Kegs didn't talk much herself, but when she did you could always expect a well meaning ear and if needed a good pep talk. Tonight though, Kegs could tell that Dash wanted to be alone and only after giving her another mug of cider did she hang back and clean a glass.

'It's been so long since we last met. I wonder how Gilda is doing.' Dash thought.

When she had last seen Gilda, they had made up for hurt feelings and a sour separation so long ago. She had been glad to have an old friend back, but they had never had a time to really sit down and talk when they had left her back in Griffonstone to help fix the griffons there up. So when Dash had received a letter in the mail stating that Gilda was visiting, and wanted to meet Dash at the Stallion, well Dash was quick to reply and say she would be there.

It would be the best time for them to talk and really reconnect properly. Yet she was late.

Dash looked up as the door to the bar opened, and she waved as she saw Gilda walk in.

"Hey Gilda. What kept ya?" Dash asked, as she motioned to a chair beside her.

Gilda smirked, "Sorry. Been awhile since I've been in this town. Got a little turned around." Gilda sat beside her friend and order up a drink.

Dash smirked, "Yeah. Ponyville has been getting bigger the past few years. I think it has to do with Twilight being a princess now, it really put the town on the map."

"So I understand congratulations are in order. Miss New member of the wonderbolts" Gilda said, taking a drink from her mug once Kegs brought her drink. She gave Rainbow Dash a pat on the back.

Dash winced, "Ah, easy, my wings are a little sore today."

Gilda smirked, "Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestria, complaining over sore wings?" Gilda feigned shock.

Dash laughed, "Yeah well my wing massager is on vacation. And its not like you never complained about wing cramps. Remember Young Fliers Camp."

The two laughed, and clicked their mugs together and each took a heavy pull back on their cider. Then they sat there, smiling for a time as they remembered old days of the past.

"Can't believe its been that long. It all still feels like yesterday." Gilda said, swirling her drink.

Dash sighed, "Yeah. Whoever thought we would be here now," She took another swig of her drink and turned to Gilda, "You sounded like you wanted to talk about something in your letter. Is something wrong?"

Gilda winced, and she clutched her mug with both claws, "Um, well....I...."

Dash blinked, surprised by her friends hesitation. This wasn't like Gilda, and this had her worried. She placed a hoof on her friends claw.

"Gilda. You know you can tell me anything. We are friends. You can tell me anything and-"

"They want me to be queen!" Gilda blurted out suddenly, before throwing back her entire drink down her throat, "Another please." She said as she slammed the mug down. Keg's took it without saying a word.

Dash sat their, mouth wide open as she stared in shock at her friends words.

"W-whoa, wait pull back a moment," Dash said, "Say again."

Gilda sighed and placed her head on the bar and covered it with her claws, "Griffonstone. All the griffons there want to name me their queen. They think I should lead them. I already have suitors lining up asking for my claw in marriage. And my uncle is already telling stories to fledglings about Gilda the Unifier."

Dash blinked, "Uh....wow that's...."

"It's terrible!" Gilda groaned, grabbing the fresh mug that Keg's brought and downed it all.

"Well, I would have said awesome." Dash said, "I mean, I don't get a lot about griffon politics right now, but doesn't that make you like ruler of all griffons or something?"

Gilda looked up at her friend, "Are you serious?" She deadpanned.

Dash smiled nervously and shrugged, "Eh, not really up to date with everything in the griffon kingdom."

Gilda sighed, straightened herself and rubbed her beak, "Okay. You know about King Grover, and how after the Goblet was taken his reign ended and Griffonstone fell into dismay."

Dash nodded, "Yeah."

"Well Griffonstone was just one territory of what was once a larger kingdom, and its functioning capital. Once Griffonstone fell apart, the rest of the Griffon Kingdom fell apart. Without the unity the Goblet offered, and some other political reasons like a lack of an heir, led to rebellions, civil war and all that leads up to the disorganized collection of dukedoms and territories in what was once one whole nation who are still today fighting each other to get everything." Gilda explained.

Dash was surprised, "Wow. I uh...didn't know that."

"My uncle told me it. There currently aren't any new books about current griffon history now these days." Gilda sighed.

"So, whats the problem?" Dash asked, "So you become queen of a territory in the Griffon Lands, sounds like a good deal to me."

"But I don't want to!" Gilda shouted, slamming her mug on the bar, "I can't lead a city. Especially not the historical capital of my people."

Dash leaned back, holding her hoof up, "Hey, take it easy Gilda. Keg's will blow a fuse if you break her bar."

Gilda blinked, and leaned back from the hard glare that Full Kegs leveled at her for a moment before cleaning a glass once more.

"S-Sorry." Gilda apologized before sighing, "I just....I don't know why they want me? I'm not queen material."

"Well you must be if all of Griffonstone wants you. They sure didn't seem willing to listen to anyone else when I last saw them." Dash said, patting her friends back.

"All I did was just get them to stop fighting each other and work to rebuild the town. It's not a dump anymore now, but I don't see why that makes them think I should be a queen." Gilda sighed, rubbing her.

Dash sighed, "Look Gilda. I'm not really a professional about this sort of thing. But from what I can tell, you brought what was once a city of bickering griffons that was falling apart back together. You pulled them together, like how a flight leader needs to pull her team together to accomplish a complex maneuver. That's pretty much the same thing as being a queen. I guess."

"I just did what you helped me figure out and what I thought was right. What if I mess up? What if I suddenly make things worse for Griffonstone?" Gilda said, fear apparent in her voice.

"How can it be worse then what it use to be?" Dash asked.

"Trust me. It can." Gilda said, a hard look in her eyes.

"Well, maybe you will mess up. I mean, I know I've messed up on things. When I first entered the Wonderbolts I made a fool of myself, and totally messed up my first show. But after that, I figured out the things I was worried about weren't worth worrying about. You've been doing good so far right?"

Gilda bit a talon, as she thought, "Well...yeah."

"Then just keep doing that. And if you ever need a hoof, just give me a call. I'll be there to help you all the way, just like I know you would do the same for me." Dash said, wrapping a hoof around Gilda's shoulders.

Gilda smiled, and wrapped her talon around Dash's shoulders and hugged her close, "Thanks Dash."

"No problem. What are friends for." Dash smiled, as she and Gilda clicked their mugs together once more and down their drinks.

"I still don't know about this. But....well...I do know that there doesn't seem to be any other griffon who wants the job. Probably nogriffon else who would. I put a lot of work into Griffonstone, I don't think I want to see it go to waste." Gilda said, rubbing the back of her head, "Maybe...I'll think about it a little more."

"You should ask Twilight or even Castus. They could probably give you a way better pep talk about this then I could." Dash said, sitting back down.

"Castus? That's a weird pony name." Gilda said.

"Well he isn't a pony," Dash chuckled, "He's a human."

"A human? Are you serious?" Gilda said, sounding skeptical.

"Come on, you must have heard about the Empire of Man by now? You know, populated by those intelligent humans?" Dash asked.

Gilda tilted her claw side to side, "Eh, not a lot. Not a lot of news gets into Griffon Lands these days right now."

"Well, I got a story to tell you then. It's gonna sound crazy, but I swear its the truth." Dash started.

Gilda smirked, "Lets hear it."

Dash smirked and started telling Gilda about Castus, about the human revolts. She didn't know how Castus made other humans like him, but she knew from talks with him how he felt when he became their leader. She told about the war, and the changelings and ended with the peace between Equestria and the new Empire of Man.

"You're right. That is crazy." Gilda said, sipping her drink.

"Heh, yeah it is. But I drink with the guy almost ever other week." Dash laughed.

Gilda smirked, "Hmmm. Still seems odd. But, if from all that I guess maybe he might have some advice that might be worth hearing."

"I'll try to set up a time when you guys can meet each other. If you want." Dash offered.

"Eh, I don't know. Maybe." Gilda said, uncertain, "I kinda got a lot on my plate already."

"Yeah, you do. Can't say I envy you." Dash said, "But I know you Gilda. You'll do great. After all, you were the second best flier back in Flight Camp."

"Second best?" Gilda said shocked, "If I remember I beat you in the graduation race."

"No, I passed the finish line first. I left you in the dust." Dash smirked.

"Oh yeah? Want to try again?" Gilda challenged, crossing her claws over her chest with a challenging look.

"Try me." Dash accepted, placing money onto the bar.

"Sure your wings are up for the task." Gilda mocked, as she and Dash walked out of the bar.

"My wings are fine," Dash laughed, "And I'll prove it when your eating my cloud stream."

Dash then playfully shoved Gilda back as she ran out the bar and into the sky.

"Hey! Cheater!" Gilda laughed, chasing after her friend.

A Daddy Day Gift

Moonlight smiled as she added some glitter to her Super, Secret Project. She had the door to the crafts room that daddy had made for them and mommy locked and Mr. Bearcular, a stuffed bear with fangs she had added on, sat in front of the door to leap at any would be intruders.

Nopony could ever see this. It could destroy the entire world if it was discovered!

"There. All done." Moonlight said with a smile, as she looked down at her hoofwork.

It was a big picture of her family. Crayon colored shapes of her and Azure, standing beside two taller figures that were colored to look like mommy and daddy. A big red outline of a heart surrounded the little stick figure family and the words: Happy Daddy's Day to the Bestest Daddy Ever, was drawn underneath. Pink glitter surrounded the edges, making the whole picture sparkle brightly in her eyes. And it covered the entire work bench.

"There. See Mr. Bearcula?" Moonlight said, hoping down from her chair to grab her bear and show the stuffed creature her work, "Daddy will love it. Now all we have to do is put it in an envelope."

Moonlight reached out to grab the envelope she had gotten just for this occasion, when she realized something. It was a big, massive piece of an envelope that Uncle Discord had made for her when she had asked for the biggest envelope to hold the biggest, bestest card in the world.

But as Moonlight struggled to pull and place the big piece of paper down, she came to a conclusion that perhaps next time she should try something easier.

Of course, once she had the envelope ready, she carefully folded her card, glitter flaking off slightly and getting all over her hooves and dress. But soon enough she had it neatly in the envelope and ready to seal.

Sticking her tongue out, Moonlight began to lick the area of the envelope to wet the glue. It tasted nasty, and as she came barely a few inches from the first corner she realized that it might take more then one licking to get the envelope tightly sealed.

"Ugh, next time I should use tape." Moonlight groaned, dragging her tongue along her fangs. Trying to get the taste of glue off of it once she was finally done. Still she could not help but smile, knowing that she had made the best gift for daddy in the world.

Grabbing up her bear, and gripping the monstrous envelope, Moonlight unlocked the door and proceeded to exit the room. Daddy would be home soon from work, and she wanted to be the first to give him his card.

But, then the envelope got stuck between the door.

"Awww. Come on." Moonlight whined, pulling on the envelope, trying to get it unstuck.

---

Azure smiled, looking down at the cake she and mom had made. it was a small sized chocolate cake, with a vanilla, buttercream frosting. Dad liked chocolate.

"Good job." Mom said, wiping her hooves on her apron before giving Azure a hug.

Azure smiled, "You think dad will like it."

Mom smiled, "Of course. He has a bit of a sweet tooth, just like you."

Azure blushed, "I...I don't like them that much."

"Oh?" Mom smirked, "I seem to remember Pinkie Pie telling me how you helped her eat a whole plate of Double Trouble Truffle Bon Bons she made."

Azure blushed harder, "W-well they were good. And she offered, it would have been rude."

Mom chuckled and kissed Azure's cheek, "Oh, I'm just teasing you my silly little nightingale."

Azure smiled, "So, what now?"

"Now you can decorate it. I have all the items set out for you here." Mom said, showing Azure a line of candies, decorating cake gels and more.

Azure smiled and immediately got to work.

---

Castus groaned, finally glad to be home. It was late, he was sure everyone was asleep by now. His time in Canterlot was nothing short of a pain. Nobles bugged him. Hell, sometimes he even felt sorry for Blueblood. All the lies and half truths. The sucking up. It could make a person wonder if any of those noble ponies had any real friends. Maybe some did, but the most all seemed intent on power plays.

'God. And I was the king at that crap.' Castus thought with a sense of irony as Karsus memories came to mind.

He wondered when the Empire would see its own version of that. It was going to happen, like it or not in a few generations. Still, it was a blessing to be back home where he could relax.

"Happy Father's Day."

"Happy Daddy's Day."

Castus jumped in surprise, as he opened the door and stood before his two daughters, Azure and Moonlight. The two thestrals looked up at him with big smiles, and each had a present for him in their hooves.

Azure had a plate with a small cake on it. It seemed his eldest daughter had her sweet tooth take control as it was covered in all sorts of candies and the like, with a message of We Love You, written in cake jelly on it. And where on earth did Moonlight get an envelope that big?

Then Castus realized something. It was father's day.

He smiled, looking down at his daughters and carefully hugged them both. He felt rather silly to have forgotten about the holiday. He had been so busy, that it had slipped his mind. But his daughters had remembered, and that made him feel a warmth in his heart.

"Aw, thank you girls." He said, smiling as he kissed their foreheads.

Both the girls kissed his cheeks, and hugged him. Azure had to be careful with her cake, but she managed a one hoof hug for her father. Moonlight wrapped both her hooves around Castus' neck and squeezed with all her little body could give in strength.

Finally Castus turned to the gifts. He cut himself a slice a cake, and offered one to his daughters. The three of them sat down and ate, while Castus worked on trying to open the envelope. He had to practically use a kitchen knife like Michael Myers had just to get it open; since a normal letter opener was just to small. The card inside made him smile, though they were going to need a bigger fridge.

Eventually though, he had to send the girls to sleep. Still, he had to consider himself a lucky father to have such loving daughters. But as he entered his room, he soon found that he had one other gift waiting for him.

"Oh, your home."

Castus stopped in his tracks, eyes widening and his mouth falling open as he stared at the sight before him.

Twilight, and Fluttershy both sitting on the bed. Both girls at on their knees, hooves around each other and both were tightly bound with a bright red ribbon that wrapped around their bodies. Seated on the nightstand was a bottle of wine and three glasses. Castus gulped, looking at the two as they looked at him with half closed eyes.

"Why don't you close that door and come unwrap your presents." Fluttershy said, as she licked up Twilight's neck and kissed her briefly, when the kiss ended the girls mouths were still connected by a thin line of saliva.

'God. I really am lucky.' He thought, shutting the door and casting a silence spell.

Author's Notes:

A short, cute little chapter with a sweeter bit at the end. I didn't have time for a big one, since I had a school paper to write, but wanted to get out a Father's Day special.

Punishment Enough

Blueblood was miserable.

No miserable could not even begin to even come close to how he felt.

He was tired. Exhausted. Dirty. Smelly. His hooves were chipped and dirt and mud was stuck under them. His mane was frizzy and unkempt. And his pristine white coat and matching suit were ruined with grass stains! He looked like some dirty farmer pony in some backwater town.

How could his aunt do this to him!? Him!?

He was a noble of canterlot! He was one of the wealthiest nobles in all of canterlot and Equestria, next to Smarty Pants himself. He was Duke of Golden Hills, the main supplier of gold and other rare metals in Equestria.

Yet here he was, working in the mud and dirt like some poor plebian!

Blueblood could only wonder what sort of reason for this unbearable torture his own aunt was putting him through.

As the Pegasus chariot came to carry him back to Canterlot, after another day in some muddy fields in the hot sun. He would be glad to be home and in a hot bath, with some imported bath salts and a hooficure. With the wind at their back, they made good time and Blueblood made his way quickly to his manor.

He was only half way into Manor Row, where all the top nobles of Canterlot lived, when he heard somepony call his name.

"Blueblood. What a delightful surprise."

Blueblood stopped, and turned to see three ponies approach him from behind. Two were stallions and the third was a mare.

The two stallions were twins, Lucky Star and Golden Star. The mare was Crystal Dancer.

Blueblood felt embarrassed and angry that these three had to find him on his way home.

"What do you three want? I have a bath to get too and a plate of some freshly picked exotic fruit, so I don't have time to humor you." Blueblood turned to move off, but the three stepped up beside him and followed.

"Oh, whats wrong, don't you want to walk about a bit. Maybe we can find a nice mud pit for you to frolic through." Crystal Dancer said with a snicker.

"Oh do leave him alone Crystal. But Blueblood, my gardener is off on vacation for a week. Perhaps you can stop by my mansion and see if you can do a little work here and there." Lucky Star snickered and he and his brother burst into laughter.

Blueblood gritted his teeth, but choose to ignore them. Standing up to them would only make things worse. Once he was safely in his manor he could forget these three. So he kept walking, enduring their jibs and snickering remarks on his working in the fields like some commoner. He finally had enough and ran, their laughter following him as he burst through the door of his manor. He ignored his servants, and did not stop running till he was in his room and slammed the door.

Ruined! He was ruined! His whole image as the top of Canterlot nobility, dashed to pieces by some smelly apes.

It was not how he had planned at all when he had agreed to going to war. Frankly, he had never wanted too in the first place. War was smelly and just a bunch of mares beating each other with sticks. He was far too superior for such a thing, but the chance to finally get his aunt off his flank on his required military service and earn some social points and standing in ponies eyes as a hero had made him choose the path of war.

It should have been so simple, beating those primitive pink monkeys. He should have been a hero. Instead he was branded as a failure and at worse a criminal! Forced to work hard manual labor without magic, like...like...like some dirt farming earth pony! His allowance was cut, and he was cut off from nearly all his assets as punishment.

Blueblood spat, deciding that first he needed a bath. He ordered his maids to make his bath quickly, at least the ones that remained. Most had left for better jobs when he could not afford to pay them all. Only his family held servants had remained, but only a few were in the manor at Canterlot.

First he would get a bath and then he would write to his aunt. It was time he stood up to this barbaric punishment. Before his image in Canterlot was ruined forever.

---

Celestia sighed as she read the letter her nephew sent not a few days ago. Once more complaining on his punishment for his crimes during the war between the humans and Equestria.

"Something up?"

Celestia looked from the letter to her guest. The Ambassador Castus. The two of them sat in the Royal Garden having tea, something they did ever other two weeks as an agreed upon meeting where they could talk and discuss policies between the two nations they represented. It was also a way that they could learn to coexist, even if they did often argue more then they discussed things. Still, neither of them ever struck at each other, so even when things grew heated they were at least respectable.

Perhaps it was the start of a friendship. Or at the least a mutual understanding.

"It is Blueblood again. He complains constantly of the punishment I gave him. Frankly I am tempted to tell him it was farm work or face the gallows." Celestia sighed, rubbing her head.

Castus smirked, "I take it he isn't like his predicament."

"Of course not," Celestia said with a roll of her eyes, "He hates farm work. He has always spoken ill of farmers, despite the fact they grow the food he eats during one of his lavish parties. And like so many of the younger nobles in Canterlot, his image and standing are important to him. And his work in the fields is, in his eyes, ruining that. Frankly I have heard some of the nobles snicker at him in passing."

"Good." Castus said, sipping his tea with a smile.

Celestia frowned, "I must ask something Castus, why do you take such delight in my nephews social suffering?"

"Because its the best way to hurt him." Castus said, setting his cup down.

"I am rather curious why you accepted such a punishment as being forced into hard labor alongside you. A few officers faced court martial, and some were required to go off duty for a few years. All as punishment for their roles in the atrocities against your kind during the war. Frankly, the Council Laws label the death penalty for any convicted of war crimes. Yet you argued for lesser, but still harsh punishments in their favor. Why?" Celestia asked.

Castus sighed, "Because who am I to judge? My people did similar things. Hell, we've done worse in the past both in this world and my own."

Castus took another sip of his tea before continuing, "On my world, the nation where I lived did something similar, called the Wounded Knee Massacre. The soldiers slaughtered hundreds of innocent women and children. And in this world, my peoples Valhruan ancestors committed atrocities that would make you white with horror. We exterminated entire cultural and ethnic groups."

Castus sighed, "So...who am I to be a judge of what Blueblood and your military did. Hell, in my past life I did similar things. Demanding they die won't make up for it."

"I see." Celestia said with a frown.

"There is a debt of blood between our nations Celestia," Castus said with a serious tone, "But paying blood with more blood will not level the debt. So I will not demand Bluebloods death, even if part of me wants nothing more then to tear the flesh from his body, strip by strip and tendon by tendon before igniting the marrow in his bones."

Celestia went a little white at the hot, viciousness in Castus words.

"However, I still desire to see him suffer. And I know individuals like Blueblood. I've dealt with them in the past. The Valhruan Past anyway. Blueblood builds his entire existence and standing on the perception of others have of him. Ruining that and making him do something he hates is a great way to make him suffer."

Celestia hummed, "I see. There is some wisdom in your words. Still, if blood cannot repay the debt between our people, why did you slay half of your own after their own atrocity?"

Castus sighed, "Celestia. Your soldiers were just military men following orders of their generals. We know the changelings had some hand in it, and we both know now how they manipulated the reports you received. Otherwise I feel you would not have allowed such a vicious attack."

Celestia nodded, remembering the horror of learning after a difficult search and a even more difficult purging of the ranks of the changeling infiltrators; some who had managed to escape with documents. To learn that some of her trusted advisors had been replaced by changelings was horrible. They still were unable to find the real ponies; and they were assumed dead or kept in the changeling hive as food.

"They were just following their orders in a time of war. I won't demonize your soldiers. But what Krul and his clans did.....I never order such a thing. he did it on his own accord and did not have any regrets. In fact....he had enjoyed it. I could not allow his presence to corrupt the other tribes and in doing so corrupt the culture that I was trying to build for my people. Krul was a stain on our culture that had to be purged." Castus finished.

"I suppose I can see your logic." Celestia said.

"Even if you didn't, you don't have too," Castus said, "We humans are building a culture along side a nation. What we do will be how all other races and nations see us. I want to make sure that in the future to come, that this image is a good one."

Celestia and Castus were silent for a time, sipping their tea. Finally their meeting was over, and Castus and Celestia stood up to leave.

"Oh yes. I trust you and the Emperor will be at the Grand Galloping Gala?" Celestia asked.

"Of course. We are honored guests. Not sure if its a good idea though." Castus said.

"You invited me and my sister over, surely we can do the same." Celestia said.

"I just hope it doesn't turn into a disaster." Castus said.

"I doubt it can match having my entire castle flooded with green slime." Celestia said.

"We'll see. Till then." Castus offered a bow to Celestia, and she gave him a curtsey.

Author's Notes:

Feeling a little sick. Need rest. Hope this addresses enough on why Blueblood didn't face a firing squad.

A Sunny Surprise

Starlight woke with a yawn, stretching her hooves with a pop and crack, before rubbing her eyes. She felt a form shift beside her and she looked down to the two ponies that shared the bed with her.

Sunburst, lay sprawled on the bed, his hooves splayed out with one resting near where Starlights head had been when she was resting. The other was wrapped around the sleeping form of another unicorn. Her best friend, Trixie; who had her hooves wrapped around Sunbursts torse, and nuzzling her head into his chest.

Starlight smiled, and slowly slid out of bed, picking up her nightgown from the floor as she did so. It was wrinkled a bit, having been tossed aside last night, but it was better then walking around naked; even if they were in Sunbursts house.

Careful not to wake her herd mates, Starlight made first for the shower, doing her best to straighten out her gown as she went before setting it down on the sink counter. She then entered the shower, and enjoyed the feeling of the warm water flowing onto her body.

As she bathed herself, she let her mind wander as she liked to do on events of the past. Usually she would remember little embarrassing things she did when she was younger and give a growl of irritation or facehoof herself. But this time, she remembered a happy memory, one that had led to her current life with two ponies she cared about.

---

It was a sunny day in the Crystal Empire's restaurant lane. Seated in a chair in the outside seating area, sat Starlight and Trixie. Start was smiling as she examined her menu, but Trixie sat with a worried expression.

Starlight looked up from her menu to her friend, "Trixie, why are you so nervous?"

"Nervous? Who said Trixie was nervous?" Trixie asked, "The Great Trixie is never nervous."

"Really?" Starlight asked, "Then why are your hooves shaking?"

Trixie looked at her hooves, and groaned as she saw they were shaking.

"Trixie," Starlight said, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder, "Whats wrong?"

Trixie sighed, "Trixie is just worried on meeting this friend of yours. What is his name again, Sunsport?"

Starlight giggled, "Sunburst. Sunsport was his father's name."

"Oh yes," Trixie chuckled nervously, "Trixie just worries he will not like her."

"What? Why would you think that?" Starlight asked.

"Trixie just doesn't know what to say. Trixie has not had much experience with stallions." Trixie said, fidgeting.

Starlight hugged her friend, "Don't worry. I know you and Sunburst will get along just fine."

Not long after, Starlight saw the tell tale sign of Sunburst coming around the corner, wearing his trade mark cap. She waved him over.

"Sunburst. Over here." Starlight called, giving her childhood friend a smile.

"Starlight. It's good to see you again." Sunburst said as he gave Starlight a hug in greeting.

"Same. Sunburst, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Trixie, she is a well known magician." Starlight looked to Trixie.

Trixie raised a hoof and gave a small wave and stuttered a little, "H-hello."

"A pleasure. I'm Sunburst. It's nice to meet a friend of Starlight." Sunburst offered his hoof to the mare, who accepted it gingerly and shook it.

"Uh, Trixie likes your cap." Trixie stammered a little.

Sunburst blinked, "Uh, thanks. Your's is nice too."

Trixie blushed, looked at her cap, then pulled her hat down.

Starlight saw her friend was feeling embarrassed so she quickly sat down and changed the subject.

"So Sunburst, how is little Flurry Heart?" Starlight asked.

"She's growing up fast that's for sure," Sunburst said with a chuckle as he sat down, "I had to rework the spell I gave her parents to keep her power in check. Her magic keeps getting more and more powerful."

"Uh, Flurry Heart is the alicorn foal yes?" Trixie asked.

"Yes," Sunburst answered with a nod, "She had caused quite the stir when she was born. But she is a charming little filly."

The three took a moment to order their food and drinks, when Starlight noticed that Trixie wasn't talking much. This was odd, because usually Trixie was a talkative pony.

Leaning in to her friend, Starlight whispered, "Trixie. Say something."

"But what does Trixie say? What if he has heard of Trixie's past?" Trixie whispered back.

"Trixie. Sunburst won't care about your past even if he did hear about it. He accepted me and my past. He will do the same for you." Starlight whispered assurance to her friend.

Trixie bit her lip, before opening her mouth to say something, when Sunburst spoke up.

"Uh, so Trixie. Starlight said your a magician." Sunburst asked.

"What?" Trixie said, "Oh, y-yes. Trixie is a travelling magician. It's mostly stage magic though, nothing like the real magic you must do."

Sunburst blinked and rubbed the back of his head, "Uh. Well, I-I'm not the most magical of unicorns. I mean I can do a few small spells, but I don't have the energy reserves for the big spells I know of. Uh, what sort of magic can you do?"

"Oh you know. Disappearing acts. Pulling rabbits out of hats or rope tricks." Trixie said, nervously.

"Oh, tell him about the Moonshot Matincoure Mouth Dive." Starlight said.

"The what?" Sunburst asked, confusion evident on his face.

So they told Sunburst of the magic trick, and both smiled at the shocked and look of awe on the stallion's face.

"Wow. You two do make a good team. I don't think I could even get close to a manticore, let alone let myself be blasted into its mouth." Sunburst said, fixing his glasses.

"Well, maybe Trixie did have a little something to drink before she went into the canon." Trixie said with a blush, rubbing the back of her head, "So Sunburst. You are a wizard in the Crystal Empire?"

Sunburst blushed, "Uh, well not really. I am a scholar, but I'm not really cut out to be a wizard. But I am the Royal Crystaler, which has its own set of responsibilities."

"Like what?" Trixie asked.

"Well, besides showing Flurry Heart to the empire, I'm also her legal guardian and eventual magic teacher once she is old enough." Sunburst said, before giving a nervous laugh, "Truth be told, I'm a little afraid of the day when she can learn to use all that power she has. Young unicorns can often cause a lot of mayhem with their first spells; I shudder to think what a filly of Flurry's ability could do."

Starlight gave a slight shudder, "Yeah. I remember the mayhem she caused as a baby."

"Was it really that bad?" Trixie asked.

"You don't know the half of it." Sunburst and Starlight said at the same time, looking at each other before laughing.

After their food was brought, the three of them stopped to eat and engage in minor conversation. Starlight had felt good, allowing her two friends to meet. But more so, she wanted to know if Sunburst and Trixie would get along.

She loved them both, and felt they all had so much in common. And she had felt stirrings, fluttering feelings, in her heart when she was around the two of them. She knew what it meant, after some soul searching.

She loved Sunburst. And she loved Trixie. And she knew they loved her, or felt they did. She felt though, it would be best to proceed slowly.

Maybe it was her time as a village leader. Sure a village leader of a cult of brain washed ponies, but she knew the need for careful preparation and planning. And what she wanted for all of them, wasn't something she felt could be rushed.

So she did little things. Finding days and times when they could all be together. Having lunch, going to shows. Sometimes attending festivals together.

One especially fun memory was when Trixie had her and Sunburst as her assistants for a show. She helped Trixie with escape artist tricks she felt unable to do, and Sunburst would help her form new spells for special effects with each trick. Sometimes she and Sunburst would be on stage with Trixie to help with a trick. She still laughed every time she remembered when Trixie had her in a basket and started putting swords through it; unknown to all outside she had carefully cast an ethereal body spell, allowing the swords to pass harmlessly through her body. Once the last sword was in, she would leap out and appear whole and unharmed. Sunburst had been so surprised he had fainted.

Starlight had giggled at that.

---

And now here they were, a few months later, a herd. True, not a full time one. Sunburst had to stay in the Crystal Empire and Trixie would often travel around. Starlight sometimes had to return to Ponyville to continue her training, but they always found time to be with each other.

And last night they had done some....experimenting. She blushed, remembering the events of last night.

She had no idea Sunburst could be so wild when he was pushed over his edge. She still felt a little shaky in her legs. And Trixie...goodness she had a dirty mouth.

Starlight shook her head and focused on the now. She finished washing herself and dried off. Then she slipped into her nightgown and went to make some breakfast.

She was already setting the plates with a full load of scrambled eggs, tofu and some grass waffles, when she heard the yawns and hoofsteps of her herd members.

"Good morning you two." Starlight said, turning with a smile.

"Good morning Starlight." Sunburst said, yawning again. Trixie groaned, leaning against him; trying to stay asleep.

"I made breakfast. Dig in."

Trixie's nose twitched, and she suddenly woke with a start and lunged for the table, grabbing her plate and devouring the contents.

"Mmm, this is delicious." Trixie said between bites, "Strange. Trixie feels hungrier then usual."

" This looks great Starlight."

"Thank you. It was the least I can do." Starlight said, then leaned in to Sunburst to whisper.

"Especially after that little treat you gave me last night." She whispered, nibbling his ear.

Sunburst blushed, and looked into his food now. Starlight giggled and sat down with them and started to eat.

However, after the three of them started to eat. Starlight started to feel......dizzy. And her stomach felt like it was doing jumping jacks.

Trixie pushed her food away, and placed a hoof over her mouth.

"Trixie....doesn't feel-" Trixie stopped, planting her hooves over her mouth as her cheeks bulged and she ran out of the kitchen to the bathroom.

"Blaargh!" Came from the bathroom.

"Trixie?" Starlight and Sunburst called, worried.

"What-Excuse me!" Starlight shot up, and ran to bathroom as well.

"Blaargh!"

Sunburst sat there, worried.

"G-Girls are you okay?" He asked, standing up and rushing to the bathroom.

"BLARGH!" The girls responded, as they both threw up into the toilet.

---

Starlight and Trixie sat on the hospital bench, holding their stomachs. Trixie leaned against her friend, who leaned her head against Trixie's.

"The doctor should be back soon girls. Oh, I hope you both are okay." Sunburst said, taking their hooves in his.

"We're fine. I'm sure its nothing." Starlight said.

When the doctor came in, she had a smile on her face.

"Well, Mrs. Trixie. Mrs. Starlight. We have the tests back and we know what was behind your sickness." The doctor said.

"What is it?" Sunburst asked, worried and eager for news.

"Congratulations." The doctor said with a smile and shook Sunburst's hoof, "You're going to be parents. I'll leave you three alone to talk about the news while I get some forms."

With that the doctor left, leaving the three ponies alone.

The three blinked in surprise, and Starlight and Trixie both looked at their stomachs.

"B-but how? W-we never... I mean I know how but...I don't think we ever...y-you know..did that when they were in heat." Sunburst said, blushing, "Not that I'm upset. I'm just....wow this is a big surprise."

"Uh..." Trixie went.

"Uh?" Sunburst looked at the two girls.

"Y-you remember that time....a few weeks ago." Starlight said, recalling the day.

"When you girls jumped me?" Sunburst said, "Wait. Was that why you two were riding me like that?"

Starlight and Trixie blushed, "Well..." They said in unison.

"Partially. Me and Trixie use to have separate heat cycles. But well this was out of our usual cycle, and it happened at the same time." Starlight started.

"They must have synced up. Normally, we tried to avoid being around you when we were in heat. We were not sure if you wanted foals or not."

"What are you talking about? I would love to be a father." Sunburst said.

Starlight and Trixie smiled, "Well. It looks like you will be."

Sunburst paused a moment, "Wait...so was all of that stuff we did your idea or the heat talking? Because I still have bruises from that crop you know."

Trixie blushed, "Uh well....maybe Trixie wanted to....try something she read about."

"Um...and...well me too. I mean...I always heard that rope made it more kinky." Starlight said.

"Yeah, well next time can I not be the one tied down." Sunburst asked, rubbing his shoulder. Remember that night.

Geez what a night that had been. Enjoyable, with some slightly humiliating parts. Yet still interesting.

"So, what ideas do we have for names?" Sunburst asked.

Author's Notes:

I would drink a whole bottle of rum before I let myself get blasted into a manticore's mouth myself. It's called liquid courage for a reason :P

By the way, check out my first horror one shot. I'm expanding my genre of writing. Let me know what you think. Its called, What Lurks Behind The Door

A Rough Heat

Applebloom groaned, holding her hooves between her legs.

"It's hot." She groaned.

"I'm sore." Sweetie Belle groanded, holding her legs to her widely growing chest.

"Should we try to play a game." Silver Spoon asked, her face in front of a fan and another fan blowing air up her skirt, between her legs.

"What I want is a big.....meaty...." Tiara began, drooling.

"AGH! STOP!" Scootaloo shouted, "It's bad enough without your constant sexual references!"

Diamond Tiara blushed, "S-sorry. I'm just....ugh, I just can't stand this!"

All the girls groaned, their bodies wrapped with hormones and burning nethers. They had not expected to have a synchronized heat cycle, let alone their first one. But it made sense, since they had been friends for awhile now. But worse beside the biological pains of heat, it was the middle of summer and it was a scorcher today.

At least they could all suffer together.

"I'm surprised we could all meet here today." Applebloom said, grabbing a hoof fan and flapping it as hard as she could to try and cool off.

"Rarity was ready to lock me up in my room in the boutique for the entire week. The only way I could get here was to Pinkie Promise to not go near any colts. That and I had to let Twilight cast a Spy Eye spell on me till I reached the club house."

"My mother had my door locked and barricaded. The fence around our mansion had a barbed wire added to it. Luckily I was able to climb out from the window and use a little escape hole I made in the fence." Tiara said.

"I just told my mother I was spending time with Tiara." Silver Spoon said with a groan.

"What about you Scoots?" Applebloom asked.

Scootaloo blushed, "Well my mother and aunt didn't want me out as I am. Mom had my room on lock down and auntie was on patrol, she sees everything."

"So how did you escape?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It wasn't easy," Scootaloo said, remembering the adventure. She was sure when she got home she was going to be grounded for months.

"So, what do we do now then?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It's too hot to be running around." Tiara sighed, fanning herself and removing her blouse and tying it around her waist.

"What about the lake?" Applebloom asked.

"What if we run into colts?" Silver Spoon asked.

"What about the squid?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I heard that squid is one of Fluttershy's pets. She said it wouldn't hurt us." Scootaloo said, "Though I'd rather not run into it again."

"Yeah, that had been scary." Sweetie Belle shivered, remembering when they had tried for a diving cutie mark.

"If we do see any colts, we can always run back here." Apple Bloom said with a confident nod.

"Are you sure?" The girls asked.

Apple Bloom nodded again, "Totally. Besides, would ya rather sit here and melt or jump into some nice, cold water?"

"But we don't have our swim suits?" Scootaloo pointed out.

"So? We can just swim in our underwear. It ain't like a swim suit would cover more then what our bras and panties do already." Apple Bloom said with a shrug, "We got towels here in the club house, so we don't need ta worry about that."

"Why do you have towels here?" Silver Spoon asked.

"With all the times we ended up with tree sap on us, we took to keeping some on hoof after we came back here to wash up." Sweetie Belle said with a blush.

"Well it's better then just sitting here." Tiara said, wiping sweat from her head.

---

"Cannon ball!" Scootaloo shouted as she leapt from the rocky outcrop and hit the water with a splash.

"Hey!" Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle shouted as they were splashed.

"Ah, I'm alive again!" Tiara gasped as she surfaced from some underwater swimming and shook her wet mane about.

"See, told ya this was a good idea." Apple Bloom said, as she floated on her back.

The girls had found the lake empty of ponies, much to their delight, and had even found a spot on the beach that was covered on one side by a rocky outcropping to act as a natural barrier from anypony seeing them. And it made for a great place to dive from.

Scootaloo burst from the water and shouted, "Yah! Surprise attack!" She then wrapped her hooves around Tiara's waist and lifted her up before tossing her into the water.

"Ahh!" Tiara shouted, hitting the water with a splash before surfacing with an unimpressed look.

Scootaloo only giggled, before Tiara splashed her with a big wave of water.

"Hey!" Scootaloo laughed, before splashing back.

"Ah! Silver Spoon, help!" Tiara giggled.

Silver Spoon turned and splashed Scootaloo from behind to help her friend. Soon Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom joined in. The five girls laughed as they splashed each other. The girls kept up their playing, before they all ran up to the shore and dropped onto their towels with a sigh. They laughed, sitting there in the sun to dry off.

The girls then just laid there, until Silver Spoon looked up when she noticed something was blocking her sun and casting a shadow from above.

"Ah!" Silver Spoon screamed, as she saw the dark sillouette up on the outcrop, looking down at them.

"Peeping tom!" She shouted, and threw a rock up at whoever it was.

"AH!" The figure screamed as the rock hit it in the head, and it fell back with a thud.

All the girls looked up, before Tiara and Scootaloo stood up.

"Wait, I know that voice." Scootaloo said, and she ran up and climbed up the rocky outcropping with Tiara.

Silver Spoon, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked at each other and followed.

Once they reached the top, the girls saw Tiara and Scootaloo kneeling besides the prone and dazed figure of a human, clad in a pair of short pants.

"Valen! Are you okay?" Scootaloo asked, worried as she lifted the humans head into her lap.

"Wait? That's Valen? That human you two are dating?" Silver Spoon said, surprised. She then blinked, and her ears went flat as she said, "Oops."

"Wow, ya got him right in the head Silver." Applebloom said, noticing the bump that was developing on Valen's forehead.

"Shouldn't we get a doctor? He might have cracked his head." Sweetie Belle said, worried.

"Ugh....my head." Valen groaned, eyes spinning as he lifted a hand to his forehead; wincing as he touched the bump.

"Valen dear, are you okay?" Tiara asked.

"Who...what?" Valen rubbed at his eyes as he refocused and looked around.

"Scootaloo? Tiara?" Valen said, looking at the girls before his face went bright red and he leapt to his feet and turned around to look away.

"AH! Wh-why are you not wearing clothes?!" He stammered.

The girls all blinked, before Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle screamed and covered their wet bras and panties and rushed down the out cropping to wrap their towels around them. Only Tiara and Scootaloo stayed up on the rocks with Valen.

"Geez Valen, you don't need to get so flustered. I mean, you've seen us naked before, and we're still in clothes. Just our underwear." Scootaloo said with a shrug.

Valen turned his head, blushed and looked down, "wh-why?"

"We were swimming. But that isn't important. Are you okay? You were just hit in the head by a rock?" Tiara said, moving over to gentle check the injury at Valen's head.

Valen looked to the side, face still red, "I-I'm fine." He stepped back, "I've had worse." He then placed his hand over the bump and with a look of deep concentration and what seemed to be a great physical exertion, the bump slowly vanished before Valen was left gasping and sweating.

"Wow." Scootaloo said, surprised.

"Uh, sorry if I interrupted your swimming," Valen said, "I will go if you want." He looked a little desperate to leave.

"No, you can stay if you want. Why don't you join us?" Scootaloo offered, grabbing Valen's hand and dragging him to join her and the girls down on the shore.

"Are you sure that's smart Scoot?" Tiara asked, moving up to whisper into Scootaloo's ear.

"We are in heat after all." Tiara whispered.

"Don't worry. It's not like he can get us pregnant. Besides, he would be too flustered to try and start anything." Scootaloo whispered back.

Tiara stopped in her tracks then, and so did Scootaloo. They both then looked at Valen with a more predatory look.

Valen looked between the two, and he pulled his hand back as he took a step back.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, feeling suddenly like prey.

Scootaloo and Tiara looked at Valen more intently now. They had been able to ignore the heat building up in their bodies before because they had worried he was hurt. But now that it was shown that he was fine, their bodies were now telling them one thing.

Valen was male. And they really, really wanted a male. The girls started breathing in a little deeper now as their faces flushed red.

"Hey girls! Me and Tiara are gonna take Valen to the doctor." Scootaloo called down, never taking her eyes off of Valen.

"What? But-" Sweetie Belle's voice called.

"We'll be back soon." Tiara called, cutting off Sweetie Belle as she took a step forward. Valen took a step back.

Tiara and Scootaloo slowly started circling around Valen, who quickly turned and leapt from the other side of the rocks and hit the ground with a roll and started running.

"Get him!" Scootaloo shouted, leaping after Valen and using her wings to glide ahead of him. Tiara following, climbing down careful to avoid falling.

On the other side of the rocks, Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom both stared up at the rocks where their friends had been, all looking surprised by the shout that Scootaloo had given.

Sweetie Belle's face was red, her hooves over her mouth in shock.

"Oh my."

"They aren't seriously-" Silver Spoon said, mouth hanging open.

"I think they are." Apple Bloom said, looking surprised.

---

Valen turned as Scootaloo landed in front of him, her eyes hungry and looking at him like a cut of meat. He rolled and took down a field, running with all his might.

What the hell was wrong with these girls?

He kept running never the less, confident that his years of hunting would make him a lot faster then Scootaloo or Tiara. But as he looked back, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he saw Tiara and Scootaloo coming up behind him at a speed he didn't think they could run before.

Tiara then leapt, her hooves grabbing Valen's legs and causing him to hit the ground.

"Hold still!" Tiara growled as she tried to climb up Valen's leg, tongue hanging out in pants.

Valen rolled and kicked his legs, managing to get Tiara off of him and back to his feet, before he felt Scootaloo plow into him and send them both rolling into some bushes. When they came to a stop, Scootaloo was mounted on Valen's chest and had him pinned.

Valen struggled, but in a surprising feat of strength, Scootaloo kept him still eve as her hooves went to the bra at her chest.

"Don't worry. We promise, you'll like this." Scootaloo breathed, leaning over Valen and breathing onto his ear as she pressed her bare chest against his.

Valen went stiff, as Scootaloo licked his neck and nibbled at it.

"I know it's what you've always wanted." Scootaloo whispered, before biting down and suckling on Valen's neck.

Valen sucked in a breath, and he looked from Scootaloo to Tiara, who crawled into the bushes with him. She then straddled his hips and gasped.

"Oh my...is that a spear in your pocket, or are you just happy to see us?" Tiara asked, giggling as she started taking off her few pieces of clothing.

Valen tried to struggle free, but he could do nothing as the two girls began tearing at his pants, practically ripping the clothing into shreds.

The only thing he could do, before Scootaloo locked her lips on his was shout one word.

"HEEEEEEELP!"

---

A few hours later, Valen laid there staring up at the sky through the bushes, his arms around the sleeping forms of Tiara and Scootaloo.

He was sore. Everywhere.

He couldn't really move his legs, and he had bruises all over his chest and hips. His neck was covered in an assortment of bite marks and hickeys and his face was bright red.

His mind was still trying to process the events of a few hours ago, and yet despite the rather....forced nature of what had occurred...

...well he wasn't going to complain. In fact, after awhile he had actually started to like it. And it wasn't like it was just the girls taking charge the whole time.

He looked at the two girls and just sighed, deciding that this was one of those things that came with being in love with a pony girl.

He wondered if his body would survive it.

The girls soon woke with a yawn, and both kissed Valen's cheeks.

"Hey uh....sorry that we jumped you." Scootaloo said, blushing with a smile.

"This was our first heat. So we were kinda..." Tiara rubbed the back of her head.

"Heat?" Valen asked, looking at them confused.

"It's when we mares get uh, oh this is embarrassing," Tiara blushed, "Uh...sexually active."

"Very active." Scootaloo added.

Valen blinked, "I see."

"Of course we don't just do it with whoever. We wanted it to be you." Tiara said, snuggling closer to Valen.

"Yeah. We might be sex crazy like this, but we do have some self control." Scootaloo said.

"Well, its over now right. I don't think I can move right now." Valen said, chuckling.

Tiara and Scootaloo looked at each other, then at Valen with a giggle.

"Uh...sorry Valen. But heat doesn't just go away after one time." Scootaloo said.

"Huh?" Valen said confused.

"Yep. I'm afraid it lasts for about a week." Tiara added as she and Scootaloo slowly lifted themselves up.

"Huh?" Valen said again, getting worried.

"And since you can't move-" Scootaloo started.

"-That means we can keep you right here with us. For the whole week." Tiara finished.

Valen gulped, this was going to be a very painful week.

Author's Notes:

There was an alternate ending where all five would jump Valen. But I wasn't sure that would work.

Grand Galloping Gala - WOP

Castus took slow breathes as he paced back and forth between the line of people before him in the entrance hall of Canterlot's Royal Ball Room of the Grand Galloping Gala. In a few short moments, they would be entering into unknown waters that would be navigated carefully and with delicate skill.

He turned to the four other people waiting beside him as they waited for the couriers to announce their presence.

"Okay. One more time." He said, giving his best smile.

All four of the others groaned.

"Castus. You are worrying too much." Marcus, Emperor of the Empire of Man, said calmly to his friend as he moved to place a hand on his shoulder, "We went over this seventy three times already."

"One more can't hurt!" Castus snapped, eye twitching before taking a calming breath, "Sorry."

"Very well." Marcus said.

"Now," Castus started, "Remember, when we get in there. Act polite. Don't cause any fights. And please, for the love of god, don't kill anyone!" He addressed the last sentence to two individuals in particular.

"So long as no ponies try to stab me, I won't." Garrick, a young Lord Hunter elected to lead his clan after the war, and one of the youngest ever put into that position, said with a puff of air blowing up to his hair. He fidgeted in his clothes, adorn in the white, gold colors of the empire in a overcoat, vest and pants.

"No promises." Hana, another young lord hunter, or in this case Lady Huntress. In fact, she was the first woman ever to hold that position and had proven herself worthy of it to any doubters both in her skills as a warrior and in the number of jaws she had broken.

Valen sighed, "I'll try to keep them in my sights."

"Don't kill anyone. This has to go perfect, because if we can show to these stick up their asses nobles and dignitaries that we are more then just the barbarians they see us as, we secure our position as a sovereign power. So behave!" Castus growled, giving them all a hard look. All four nodded.

Castus sighed and rubbed his head, trying to banish the headache. At least he hadn't had to worry about the clothes, but having a rising star in the fashion industry of Equestria had its advantages. Though after the work that Rarity had gone through to get Garrick and Sara's measurements he was sure that he owed the unicorn mare at least seventy new favors.

'I'm never getting out of debt to her am I?' He thought somewhat grimly.

"Announcing the Emperor Marcus of the Empire of Man and his entourage!" A voice of a court courier called.

"There's a signal. As we practiced." Castus whispered and all five of them got into place.

Marcus and Castus went first, with Garrick and Sara following with Valen at the rear, so he could keep his eyes on the two young Lords and help keep them out of trouble. Castus hoped he had confiscated every knife those two had. At least Valen had willingly given up his, but he had to force Garrick and Sara.

Still, all doubts and fears aside, Castus and Marcus entered into the entrance hall to the castle, looking grand in their formal wear. Their group ascended the stairs, where Princess Celestia, Luna and Twilight stood to greet them.

"Welcome Emperor Marcus. Ambassador Castus. We are glad you and yours could attend this Gala." Celestia greeted them with a small smile.

"Indeed. We are glad to repay the hospitality you once showed us." Luna said, offering her hoof out. Marcus took it and gentle placed a kiss on the hoof, before letting it go.

"It is an honor to be here Princesses." Marcus said with a bow of his head.

"Indeed." Castus said, bowing his head to Celestia and Luna, before offering his hand out to Twilight.

Twilight smiled, a faint blush on her cheeks and offered her hoof out to Castus, who took it and placed a kiss upon it as well. Along with a slight flow of the Wind, making Twilight shiver slightly ad blush harder. She pulled her hoof back, and gave him a look that made Castus smirk a bit.

Valen, Garrick and Sara, all bowed their heads to the princesses, before following Castus and Marcus into the central hall.

As he passed, Castus leaned in to whisper to Twilight, "See you in there soon?"

Twilight smiled and nodded before whispering, "The girls are already inside. Go say hello, I know Fluttershy will be glad to dance with you. You look very handsome."

"And you look gorgeous. I hope to dance with you as well." Castus whispered back before giving Twilight a wink and moving off to the central hall.

"Okay. That went well." Castus whispered with a sigh of relief.

"See. Relax." Marcus said with a nod.

"I'll relax when we are all home." Castus said, looking around as they entered the hall and all eyes turned on them.

Despite the confidence in his voice, even Marcus wilted slightly against the stares before remembering words that Luna had shared with him and straightened and did his best to look confident. Castus also cleared his throat and straightened as he cast a glance about.

While Castus and Marcus were more adapet in dealing with the pressures of such a gathering, it was Garrick and Sara who tensed up, hands sliding to weapons they did not have on instinct. Even Valen felt like prey suddenly, but he took a calming breath and used the calming practices that Castus had showed him during his first days of learning to use the Wind. Valen placed a hand on Sara and Garrick's shoulders and shook his head.

The two young lord hunters looked at Valen before frowning and nodding, their bodies loosening up...if only by the slightest fraction.

"Remember. Don't kill anyone." Castus whispered behind him. Sara and Garrick merely huffed.

"Castus! Over here!"

Castus looked, as did all others, and to his not at all surprised eyes, he saw Pinkie Pie at a table with the others girls. She was practically standing on the table, waving him over. Leave it to Pinkie to have no sense of grace at an event like this.

Then his eyes made out Fluttershy at the table, and he smiled. A push against his shoulder made him look to Marcus, who merely smirked and nodded toward the table.

Castus looked around, then at Valen who nodded, and Castus nodded back.

"Just remember-" He started.

"We know." Marcus, Valen, Sara and Garrick all whispered.

Castus blushed slightly, before moving off from the group to head to the table where his wife and friends were.

Marcus smiled and watched, before looking around.

"I suppose we should....what do they call it? Mingling?" He asked.

Sara, Valen and Garrick merely shrugged.

---

'Something's going to happen. Something's going to happen. Oh I know something bad is going to happen.' Castus thought, casting glances to Marcus and the others. Each step further away making him feel he had less control over a delicate situation.

He hated not having control.

But as he grew closer to Fluttershy and the others, his mind went from worry to wonder.

There, standing to greet him, Fluttershy looked radiant like a star standing in her ball gown. A forest green color shoulder less dress, that helped make her seem a forest sprite or dryad queen. His eyes were glued to her, and a soft blush came to her face as he drew closer.

"You look lovely." He said softly to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her to a kiss. Fluttershy met his lips with a delicate, shy eagerness. And it was only a slight cough from the other girls that ended the kiss.

"Hey, keep your shirt on big boy." Rainbow Dash chuckled.

Fluttershy and Castus both blushed and Castus chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"S-sorry. It's good to see you all. You all look great." Castus said, as Fluttershy motioned for a seat between hers and an empty seat. Twilight's Castus guessed. Castus sat on the chair between the two, and he slid his hand across Fluttershy's leg to hold her hoof.

"Oh thank you Castus. I think these are some of my best this year," Rarity said with a smile, even as she let her eyes roam appreciatively over Castus "And I must say, you really wear your ensemble well."

Castus chuckled uneasily, "Well I do owe you for making it, and for the others you made."

"Oh think nothing of it." Rarity smiled.

"So, whats the plan for tonight?" Castus asked.

"Eh, I'm just waiting till Spitfire finds me for the show later tonight. I think Gilda is suppose to be here, so I might try to find her and talk a bit. Still can't believe she went through with it." Rainbow Dash said.

"I think she'll be a great queen of Griffonstone," Pinkie said, "Sure she can be a grouchy pants, but anyone who can make scones like that has got to be good." Pinkie rubbed her stomach as she licked her lips, remembering those scones.

"Eh, I never know what ta do at this hoity toity parties. I'll probably keep an eye on Applebloom and her friends. Last time she almost drowned in goo, and if this Gala's gonna be like any other then something bad is sure ta 'appen." Applejack said, chuckling slightly at the thoughts of the last few Gala's they had been too. From total chaos, to goo floods it seemed that anything that could happen here did.

"Oh don't be such a bore Applejack," Rarity said, "I think I saw a certain military stallion about who might like a dance."

Applejack looked at Rarity in shock before blushing, and Rarity and the others all giggled.

"What about you Castus?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, I don't know really," Castus said, rubbing his chin in thought, before smiling and offering his hand to Fluttershy as he stood, "But perhaps I will see if a lovely mare will be willing to dance with me this evening."

Fluttershy giggled and placed her hoof in Castus' hand, "I think she would."

"Ugh, get a room you two." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes with a chuckle.

Castus only smiled as he escorted Fluttershy out to the dance floor, slowly moving with her to the tone of a ball room song.

"How are the girls?" Castus whispered as he danced with his wife.

"I just hope mom will give them back when we get back home." Fluttershy giggled softly.

The two kept up their dance till the song ended, and the two of them moved off for a drink. As they moved to the drinks table, Castus looked around.

"Looking for someone?" Fluttershy asked.

"Eh, I just want to try to keep an eye out for trouble. Two of the Lord hunters with me and Marcus are somewhat relatively new to the floor of politics." Castus said, "I want to avoid any...distrubances."

"Why didn't you bring along people that were older?" Fluttershy asked.

"They were the only ones willing to come." Castus sighed.

"Oh." Fluttershy said, and the two cut the conversation off.

"And maybe I'm just watching out for Discord." Castus said as they reached the drinks table and Castus took two glasses of wine and offered one to Fluttershy.

"Hmm, I haven't seen Disord here yet. I know he was invited, but so far he hasn't even said hi." Fluttershy said, looking around curiously with a frown.

"Probably up to some mischief." Castus said with a shrug.

"Now is that anything to say about a friend." Two voice said, one Discords but the other more....feminine.

Castus and Fluttershy gasped, and Castus wrapped an arm around Flutterhy as she clung to him, as something long slithered around their bodies. It was Discord's body, extended and stretched like a snakes to wrap around the two of them in some sort of hug.

"Oh its so good to see you two." The duel voices of Discord and a female counterpart said, as his head appeared between the two. Or was it two heads.

"Discord?" Castus said, confused, as he looked at one of the two heads that stared down at him and Fluttershy.

One was Discord's head, but the other looked like a female version of Discord. As if one wasn't bad enough.

"D-Discord, what happened to your head?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh this?" The two Discord heads said in unison, "Oh well you know how they say two heads are better then one. It certainly makes greeting ponies a lot easier."

"Well cut it out. It's freaking me out." Castus said, not sure which head he was suppose to talk to.

"You know, ponies have been telling me that all night." The Discord heads said, before fusing back into one.

"Oh it's just so good to see you two. You look absolutely adorable." Discord said, hugging the two.

"It's good to see you as well Discord." Fluttershy smiled, giving him a hug.

Discord smiled, before releasing the two, "Well I would love to chat but I have something's to do."

"What sort of things?" Castus asked.

"Oh this. That. You know." Discord said dismissively as he walked off.

---

Emperor Marcus, First of his name, Emperor of the Empire of Man, Protector of the Realm, The Hero of the Battle of Three Armies, walked amongst the halls of Canterlot Castle, surrounded by nobles of all sorts. Boars. Zebras. Griffons. Ponies. And even an odd creature called a kirin.

He felt constricted, and an outsider despite the well made clothes and golden circlet upon his head. He was, to these creatures, not even an equal. He could tell by their cast sideway glances, the sniffing of their noses and the quick turn of their glances away and the general ignorance of his presence.

He could not stand it. He was past youthful pride, but even he felt insulted by this. But he ignored it and kept walking, seeking only a place that he could relax. Every step had to be precise. Every movement of his body straight yet fluid like. He had to radiate power and authority even if he did not feel it.

Eventually, he found himself standing at the railing of a balcony over looking the royal gardens of Canterlot. Below, he saw more ponies and other creatures mingling amongst the wide opening in the gardens. But on this balcony, Marcus saw that he was alone and he sighed in relief as he finally was able to escape the eyes of others.

Despite what he had promised, Marcus could not bring himself to mingle long with these ponies. These Zebras. These Griffons. All of them nobles. All of them looking down upon him and his kind. Marcus held no doubts that while he wore a crown and robes, they saw only animal. He could not stay out here on this balcony forever though, he would have to mingle as it were eventually.

Still, he could at least prepare himself for the indignity he was sure to face. He could only trust Valen could keep Garrick and Sara from lashing out, for they would all be feeling such shames.

"Emperor Marcus. We are glad to see you could come."

Marcus turned, hands reaching for a blade he did not have, but he softened and smiled as he saw the figure before him.

Standing between the door leading out to the balcony, stood dressed in a midnight blue gown of glittering lights like stars, was the princess of the night herself. Princess Luna.

Marcus felt a soothing air about her. He could trust Luna, to not look at him in a lesser eye. They understood each other in a way.

"It is a honor to be here Princess Luna," Marcus said with a deep bow, "Know that I and my fellows nobles from the Empire are gracious to attend this Gala."

Luna smiled and curtsied, "And it is an honor to have you here. Though you need not be so formal with us out here."

"I don't think that would be proper." Marcus said, hesitant.

Luna chuckled and stepped up to stand beside him, looking up at the night sky.

"It is alright. It us just us two out here." Luna said with a smile as she looked at Marcus, "Besides, we shall both surely be given our fill of flattering social speech from shallow nobles. We can at least be plain spoken with each other. We are friends yes?"

Marcus blinked, before smiling lightly, "Yes. If you do not mind being friends with a human."

"Only if you do not mind being friends with a pony." Luna answered.

The two chuckled, before looking out to the gardens.

"Do you deal with this like all the time?" Marcus asked, looking down at the assortment of nobles. It was nothing like to the gatherings in the Empire. Here he could see whispered conversations and sometimes hear shaded language, hiding insult behind flattery. Flirtation and intrigue.

Nothing at all like back home. They were plain spoken and open. Though the Lord Hunters always bowed and held him in regard, they were not afraid to call him a fool on policy. He did the same in kind, and not too often fights would break out among the younger members before either he or an older Lord Hunter had to smack their heads together. Sometimes warriors or people from the city would also stand in attendance in the Assembly Hall to listen, or call out their opinions on matters to their Lord Hunters.

It was more simple. Though perhaps to others also barbaric. Perhaps it was, but Marcus felt he preferred it to this...duplicity of speech.

"We deal with much like it. Though mostly it is our sister who faces the day to day chores of such pandering foolish ponies with too much money in their pockets." Luna said with a sigh, "To be honest, normally we do not attend these Gala's."

"You don't?" Marcus asked, looking at Luna confused.

"No," Luna said with a shake of her head, "The night is our time to see to our duties. Dreams that must be watched over and nightmares faced. As well, there are monsters that become more active at night and wander out of the Everfree. I and my Night Guard often must face them down least they pillage unsuspecting villages."

"Hmmm, a noble pursuit and a thrilling hunt. I must say I envy you. I have not been able to hunt since I became emperor." Marcus said, sighing as he remembered the days when he hunted with his clan. The danger. The excitement. The line between life and death held by his spear and his reflexes.

"Yes well...at least you think so." Luna frowned, "Though most do not understand or care for the roles we play. Some ponies I might contact in their sleep, if they need special help with a nightmare. But mostly I am just an invisible guardian. And many of the beasts I have slain in the physical world, must often be kept confidential from the public."

Luna sighed, but smiled, "But, I think I prefer it. It is hard to find my place within society, but when I see my sister and the bags under her eyes some days her popularity amongst ponies can cause I feel I lucked out."

Marcus chuckled, "I did notice she seemed slightly tired."

Luna smiled, but spoke in a serious tone, "Yes. You know of the Changeling situation."

"Which one? The rouge Hive or the Chrysalis Compact?" Marcus asked

The Chrysalis Compact was a recent agreement between all nations, even the Empire that had taken Marcus by surprise and even Castus when he brought it to him to sign. Apparently there was a changeling queen that Celestia had kept as a captive, but now sought to use to hunt down the rogue hive. She would also be placed under magical lock and tracking, to prevent her from moving against Equestria or the other nations. In return, Chrysalis and her hive would be allowed to live in the tunnels in the mountains near Canterlot. Marcus and Castus did not ask on what they would eat, but Castus had said that there were some nations who had too much in terms of prisoner population that this accord would help....deal with.

"Yes. Chrysalis, despite her word and the magic upon her, still continues to be her infuriating self. She refuses to work with us, unless Shining Armor or Cadence or both are with her. For what reason we cannot say, but she seems intent on driving my poor niece mad with jealousy." Luna huffed, shaking her head.

"Can we trust a changeling?" Marcus asked.

"No. Deceit is their nature. But Chrysalis is also a mother to her hive, and she will seek what is best to keep them safe and fed. The agreement is that way. We can at least trust her to do that much." Luna said.

Marcus frowned, but nodded. Then he and Luna both turned from the night sky to the dance hall, as the low sounds of music began to play. He turned to Luna and bowed, offering his hand.

"This talk should be saved for later. If we must attend this gala both, let us at least try to enjoy it," Marcus said, "If you wish Princess Luna, will you dance with me?"

Luna blinked, looking at Marcus hand in surprise, before smiling and placing her hoof in his hand.

"We accept Emperor Marcus." Luna said with a smile.

Marcus smiled and the two walked to join others on the dance floor. Their presence catching all nobles in shock, as they watched the two dance, the light of the moon outside seeming to follow them as they moved.

---

Valen looked left and right, where were they?

"Marcus and Castus are going to kill me." He whispered to himself, as he tried to find his missing charges.

Lord Hunter Garrick and Lady Huntress Sara.

He did not know how he had lost them, they had been by the food table, trying to find something that looked like food. Or at least something with meat on it. He thought he had spotted Scootaloo and the other girls for a moment, but if he had they were lost in the crowd. But in that moment when he had looked away, Sara and Garrick were gone.

'If I don't find them quick...' Valen didn't finish that thought. He didn't want to think what might happen if Garrick or Sara felt insulted. He knew Garrick and Sara personally, being they were the same age and had sometimes hunted together back when the clans still wandered during the Moots. Since then, they had also begun sparring on the practice fields set up for the army's training regiments.

He was sure they wouldn't do anything crazy, but being that both had a temper, he didn't want to risk failing Castus and Marcus by not keeping an eye on them. If he didn't find them soon, who knew what sort of trouble they could get into.

---

"Hmmm. This stuff is good." Garrick said, as he pulled back on the strange glass cups with the thin stem handle on the bottom. The red liquid in the cup draining down his throat in a hearty gulp. When Garrick had first tried the liquid, he was sure some pony called it wine, it had been a surprising taste. Nothing like the drink back home in the empire.

It didn't even make him feel dizzy. Still, it tasted good. Somewhat. Sadly, the glass cups didn't seem to hold much at all, so he would have to go back through that damn crowd of ponies to get more.

Garrick sighed and turned to walk back down the hall toward the main ball room, when he felt someone grab his arm.

Garrick turned, ready for a fight. But he blinked in confusion as he saw a pony gripping his arm. Normally Garrick would be giving this pony a glare to send her running, he could tell it was a mare by the low cut of her dress revealing the line of her ample cleavage. She had no horn or wings, and by the few lines on her face she must have been about middle age? This pony only confused him further as she leaned against him, looking slightly tipsy. He went stiff when she leaned further, placing her breasts against his arm.

"Well, what have we here. You must be one of those humans right?" The pony woman said, tipping back a glass of wine to her lips, "I can't say I believed it when I first saw ya. How did a bunch of smelly brutes like you even manage to clean up?"

Garrick growled and yanked his arm back, causing the pony woman to laugh. Garrick growled, fighting an urge to slap this pony woman but restrained himself and turned to walk away.

"Oh don't be like that." The pony said, wrapping a hoof around Garricks waist and pulling him close with surprising strength, "Its a party. Have a drink."

Garrick looked at the wine glass offered to him that the pony woman had. He looked at her confused, her face flushed as she continued to press the wine to his lips. Sighing, Garrick let himself drink from the glass; if only to make her go away before he decided to slap her.

Besides, not that he would say it, but she was starting to freak him out.

He had only intended to sip a little of the wine, but as soon as his lips touched it, the pony woman dipped the glass back and nearly choked him as he swallowed the entire glass. He shoved her away and coughed viciously.

"Try that again and I will personally...!" Garrick growled, turning on the pony woman when something felt...off.

He felt warm. It felt like his blood was running faster and he was sure that his heart was beating faster.

"What did you do to me?" Garrick growled, looking around for any help. He would be loathed to ask a pony for help, but if this woman dared to poison him...

"Ooh, rough. I like that." The middle aged pony woman purred as she got up and straightened her dress, fixing the top that covered her chest, or maybe lowered it. For some reason Garrick could not help but stare at those luminous, lush, mounds.

'What am I thinking?!' Garrick thought in horror as he tore his eyes from the pony woman's chest and turned to run and find Valen or Castus. Something was in that wine, and he needed to get it fixed.

Then he would kill this pony.

"Oh, what's the matter little man. Afraid of a strong, mature mare?" The pony woman said, giggling.

Garrick stopped, his heart racing and his whole body feeling like it was on fire. He glared at the pony woman, "I fear nothing wench!" He snapped.

"Oooh, such a foul mouth on you. I always figured you humans were animals." The mare giggled, "Why don't you show me how much of an animal."

Garrick wasn't sure he liked how this pony was talking to him, but for some reason he couldn't really focus on it. He was too busy staring at her assets and her hips. Was she pushing him towards a door, yes she was. Her chest pressed against his, with a challenging smirk on her mouth as her scent filled his nostrils.

"Animal? I'll show you animal." Garrick snarled, kicking the door behind him open even as the middle aged mare grabbed his hair and yanked him down to a kiss. Garrick lost all control then, grabbing the mares shoulders and turning to push her into the room. A part of his brain was telling him something was wrong, but whatever was wrong with him was making it hard to focus on that thought.

All he could think right now was ravaging this pony woman in every way possible. He slammed the door, the room the two of them in a small closet, and get to work.

Outside a passing maid, would pause a moment and place her ear up to the door when she thought she heard a noise. A sudden blush erupting to her face a few moments later and she fled, trying to cover her face.

---

Sara, First Lady Huntress of the Empire, looked around as she left a hall and stepped out to a wide staircase leading into a garden party portion of this Grand Galloping Gala thing, with a wide porch area nearby with tables to sit at.

'Ugh, where am I?' Sara thought, frowning. She had just taken a step out of the main ball room to use the bathroom, something that had been difficult to find at first but a somewhat helpful pony maid was able to help. But now she was utterly lost, the wide, twisting halls of this castle leaving her confused. Maybe she should have gone left down that fork in the hall instead.

She wanted to find the main hall cause that was where the food and drink was, and where Garrick, Valen and the others were. She had no desire to be alone amongst ponies and other such creatures.

Sara sighed and decided to sit down at one of the tables, and kick off these blasted heel shoes that she was required to wear. How did any creature walk in something like this? It was hard to stay balanced and they were horrible for running down prey. She would take a good pair of fur boots or no shoes at all any day.

And worse this skirt almost tripped her at least seven times this night, the only way Sara could walk was taking slow small steps to avoid stepping on the fabric. She still couldn't understand why she couldn't wear her hunting furs, they would have been more comfortable.

Sitting down, Sara groaned as she kicked off the heels and reached down to rub her feet; and half way considered just leaving them under this table when she left, but it would be rude to leave something that was given to her as a gift from the pony who also made her this dress. Sara didn't understand dresses, but she understood gifts. You never tossed aside a gift, even if it was from a pony, it would be rude.

And well...okay so maybe the pony Rarity wasn't so bad.

Once she was fully rested, Sara went to put on her heels again, leaning down and lifting aside the table cloth to reach for them when she heard the sound of footsteps, or in this case hoofsteps, coming closer.

A hunting instinct came to mind and Sara ducked low, peeking from cover. It seemed foolish, but years of hunting had placed this reaction into her, especially when she was in alien territory such as this castle. Still it was foolish, and Sara sighed and was going to stand up, but she went stiff as she saw someone or somepony she thought she would never see.

White fur and blond hair. Those eyes. That face. It was the pony man who had led the attack at the Moot during the war. The one who was responsible for killing her sister!

The pony looked miserable, hunched over with a glass of wine in his hooves as he walked up the stairs to the upper balcony. He did not seem to have noticed her, and Sara slowly disregarded her heels and pulled up the skirt of her dress and tied it up. It was probably going to, what had Rarity worried about, wrinkle it? Sara didn't care.

She was hunting now.

---

Valen sat in a chair at a table and rubbed his head. He hadn't been able to find Sara or Garrick. He was going to be in so much trouble. Valen pulled at his hair, groaning.

"Valen?"

Valen's head shot up, and his mouth nearly dropped at who he saw before him.

It was Scootaloo and Tiara and their friends.

And they. Looked. Gorgeous.

Valen just stared, though he didn't realize he was staring till Tiara reached over and pushed his mouth closed.

"Valen dear, your drooling" Tiara giggled.

Valen blinked, then blushed, "Uh, s-sorry. I-I just... wow. you all look. Wow."

The girls all giggled, and Valen blushed. He then remembered his manners and stood up.

"Uh, wh-what brings you here?" He asked, somewhat nervous.

"Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack brought us as their plus ones." Scootaloo said.

"Mine and Silver Spoon's parents were invited by some business friends of theirs." Tiara said, "I'm just glad Scootaloo and the others are here as well. Though from what they've told me, I'm half expecting something bad to happen."

The girls all giggled.

"Yeah," Applebloom said, "I still remember last time with the Smooze."

"The what?" Valen asked

"Oh that was fun. Did you see your sister when Discord vacuumed her clothes off." Scootaloo laughed, elbowing Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.

Valen felt sure he was missing something, but he didn't think on it much as Scootaloo and Tiara both pulled him up from his chair and hugged him.

"Oh don't worry about it. Why don't you come dance with me." Scootaloo said.

"Hey, I'm first." Tiara whined to Scootaloo and the two shared a competitive look.

"There's only one way." Scootaloo said, smirking.

"Bring it." Tiara smirked.

"Uh girls?" Valen said, looking between the two confused and worried.

Scootaloo and Tiara ignored him, as Tiara reached into blouse of her dress, between her breasts and pulled out what Valen was sure was a very warm, coin.

Tiara then flipped the coin, and all the girls and Valen watched it almost on instinct.

"Tails." Scootaloo called.

Scootaloo caught the coin and pressed it over her hoof. When she pulled back her hoof it showed an image of Celestia's head.

"D'oh!' Scootaloo grumbled.

"Yes." Tiara cheered, spinning on her hoof and grabbing Valen's arm and pulling him onto the dance floor.

"I get him next and this means I get him first next heat cycle." Scootaloo said, pouting.

"Fine." Tiara sighed, but smiled again once she and Valen were out on the dance floor.

"Uh T-Tiara I don't...." Valen started.

"Don't worry. I'll show you how to dance. Just follow my lead okay." Tiara assured him with a smile.

Valen gulped, looking around as ponies, griffons, Zebras and other foreign dignitaries about stared at him and Tiara, some of them whispering.

"But ponies are staring. And I have to find some people." Valen started, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Tiara looked around, then looked back at Valen.

"Let them look. And I'm sure you can dance one song with me. Can't you?" Tiara looked up at Valen with wide, almost sad eyes now.

'Not the look. Not the look.' Valen thought as he looked into those luminous eyes and felt his confidence shaking.

"W-well...I guess one dance can't hurt." He said, smiling uncertain.

"Oh your the best." Tiara said, standing on her tip hooves and planting a kiss right on Valen's lips. A shocked gasp coming from all other party attendants alike.

Valen sort of lost his focus when that kiss came. His whole body melted and he allowed Tiara to show him the steps as the music started. He was soon dancing with her, or at least no longer stepping on her dress or hooves, with Tiara resting her head against his chest.

As he danced, Valen thought that perhaps he was worrying over nothing. Reckless as Sara and Garrick could be, they knew they had to behave. How much trouble could they get at a fancy party like this anyway?

---

Garrick shoved the door to the closet he was in open, and gripped the sides as he tried to pull himself out. His hair was a mess, his shirt unbuttoned and torn. In fact some of the buttons had been lost when the pony woman behind him, who was now wrapping her hooves around his waist to drag him back in, had ripped his shirt open. His face was covered in lipstick kisses and his neck and shoulders were looking bruised and dotted with hickies.

"Get back in here. I'm not done yet. I'm soooo close. I need more!" The pony woman hissed, with an almost insatiable need.

"He-mmph!" Garrick went to scream, but the pony clamped a hoof over his mouth and with strength beyond him yanked him back in and threw him to the ground.

"If you got strength to scream, you can use that to put your mouth to better work. Don't worry, I'll give you the same treatment." The mare hissed the first, before saying the last part in a husky, hungry voice.

The mare then slammed the door shut, leaving a maid standing dumb struck and blushing madly.

---

Sara crouched low, as she approached the pony who had taken her sister from her. He sat, hunched over the rail of the balcony sighing, an untouched glass of wine beside him.

Sara knew that she should stop, that she would be risking any number of consequences if she killed this pony. But the sheer sight of him, disgusted and infuriated her that she could barely think.

It would be so easy to shove him over, make it seem like an accident. But she was a warrior at heart. She would not kill him from behind; much as she wanted.

Snarling, she stood and approached the pony and grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Wh-" The pony stated, before Sara turned him around and slugged him across the face. The blow sent the pony staggering and hitting the ground.

"What!? How dare you strike me! I will have the guards on you!" The pony said, "Is this how you humans act in public."

Sara growled and looked down at the pony, "You don't recognize me do you."

The pony blinked, nursing his cheek, "Am I suppose to?"

Sara growled and moved on the pony, causing him to cringe and back away like a coward. That only made Sara angrier, didn't he have the balls to even stand up to her?

"If you strike me again I will shout for the guards. They will have you and your emperor and ambassador in chains before you can blink." The pony threatened, though his voice was shaky and scared.

"So you can kill a bunch of children, but when a full grown warrior faces you you grovel like a coward. You're pathetic." Sara snapped.

"Children? What do you mean?" The pony asked

"The children at the Moot. The ones you and your army killed during the war," Sara growled, "You killed my sister."

The pony's eyes widened as some sort of realization came to mind.

"Wh-wait, th-that was in the past. We have a peace agreement. I was already punished for my crimes." The pony said as he scrambled to his feet and held his hooves up.

"I don't care. Words on paper won't give me back my sister. Now fight me. I could have thrown you over the railing, but I will fight you like a warrior." Sara said, taking a step toward the pony.

"W-wait you can't do that." The pony said, looking around.

Sara didn't say anything, sending a kick into the pony's gut and sending him staggering back. She didn't give him time to adjust, rushing and slamming a left hook across his jaw. Then she grabbed him by the mane and yanked him and threw him to the ground, into a table. The table tilted over, sending the cloth and the chairs about.

Sara moved on the pony, who was curled up and crying.

"P-please please I'm sorry. Don't kill me. Don't hurt me please." The pony sobbed.

Sara looked down at this pony, anger bubbling up. Didn't he have any guts or bravery?

Sara looked at her hands, stained slightly with some blood. The she looked at the cowering form of the pony before her.

"You're pathetic." she snapped, and walked off, snatching the wine glass and downing the contents before shattering it on the ground.

Behind her the pony watched her as she went.

Above, looking down from an upper balcony, two guards watched the events unfold.

"Uh, shouldn't we arrest her or something. She was assaulting royalty." One guard asked.

"Maybe. But being able to watch Prince Pain in my ass get his flank kicked in was totally worth it. Besides, she didn't kill him and we are on break." The other guard said.

"If you're sure." The other said and the two of them went back to their drinks.

---

It was well into the night, as the festives of the Gala started to end. Nobles and dignitaries alike began to leave. Celestia and Luna of course bid them all farewell. But as the party from the Empire of Man began to leave, did Celestia and Luna join with their niece Cadence and her husband and Twilight and her friends as they all bid the humans farewell.

"We were glad to have you at this Gala Emperor Marcus. I hope that this can be a sign of better relations between our two nations." Celestia said to Marcus, offering a curtsy. Luna did the same, though she gave Marcus a friendly smile.

Marcus returned the smile and gave a polite bow, "The pleasure is mine and I too hope that our two nations can put aside our past and move forward."

"Under your guidance, I think that will be truth." Luna offered, again a shared smile between her and Marcus.

"I hope you will be able to attend the Crystal Fair this year as well. It would be an honor to have you." Cadence said.

"We would be honored." Castus put in, bowing.

"Oh this was such a lovely night. For once we could attend the Gala and not have some sort of crazy disaster occur." Rarity said, with a smile.

"Ugh not so loud." Dash groaned, resting against Fluttershy's shoulder and nursing her head.

"I told you to not drink so much after your performance." Fluttershy whispered to her friend, before giving a smile to Castus.

"Hey Castus, can't you fix this." Dash asked.

"Nope." Castus smirked. He could, but he wouldn't. Some pains had to be endured in order to be learned.

"Say, anyone seen my sister and her friends?" Applejack asked.

"I think they went with Valen to help him find someone." Twilight said.

"Oh I hope they didn't get into any trouble." Castus sighed, rubbing his head.

"We found them."

Everyone turned, and saw the CMC and their friends alongside Valen escorting two humans. Sara and Garrick.

Sara looked....well drunk, leaning against Silver Spoon who seemed somewhat burdened by the human woman's weight. And Garrick looked bruised along his neck with kiss marks all over his face. He seemed trying to hold his torn and loose shirt from falling off. Beside him, the CMC giggled at his expanse. Even Valen would look at Garrick and smirk, causing Garrick to blush even harder.

"Whoa? What happened to you?" Castus asked, as Garrick walked past without saying anything.

Celestia giggled, "I think your young Lord Hunter ran afoul of a Lady Neighstasia. She is somewhat known for her appetites for young stallions. Or humans in this case." Celsetia then burst into a laugh.

Castus blinked, and then laughed as well.

Cougars. They lived in every world.

"Well, I better make sure everyone gets home safe. It was good to see you all." Castus said to them.

Then Castus turned to Twilight and Fluttershy, and whispered.

"And I will see you two at home in a bit." He whispered, causing the two to blush.

The Princesses and the girls waved good bye. With Valen getting two last minute kisses from Scootaloo and Tiara.

As the party of humans passed through the Waygate, with Marcus helping carry Sara through, who was now mumbling. Castus and Valen walked beside Garrick, who had a look of irritation and shock on his face.

"So..." Valen started, chuckling.

"Don't." Garrick snapped.

"Was it fun?" Castus asked, snickering.

"Shut it." Garrick snapped again.

Castus and Valen looked at each other, before bursting into a laugh.

"Uuuugh, Noth so loudth." Sara slurred.

A New Apple

The two stood in silence. The colt leaning on one hoof, then the other, clearly uneasy about being where he was just now.

The filly stood with her arms crossed, hugging her waist. She was a bit more relaxed than the boy, but there was still some trepidation about her.

“I-I don't think I can do this.” The colt finally said, breaking the silence between them.

“A deal is a deal.” the filly said firmly. “You made a bet, and you lost.” She said with further conviction.

“I know! I ain't no welch!” He said defensively before his features softened again. “It's just...I didn't know you would want me to….ya know.”

The filly’s own figure tensed at the mention of her own terms, but there was no going back now.

“Welp, that's too bad!” She said taking a step toward the colt. Her eyes narrowing at him.

For a moment, he looked as though he would step back himself, but he steeled himself and remained planted as the filly came another step closer.

Green eyes met Amber ones, the latter only partially obscured by a pair of thick glasses.

The filly searched his eyes. She was good at reading ponies, Pa always says that about her. Right now he was unsure, conflicted and...afraid?

Perhaps she had pushed this too far? Perhaps she was coming off too desperate? Perhaps… The last thought felt like a rock of ice in her stomach when it began to take shape in her mind.

‘Perhaps he thinks ahm...ugly.’

Just before that thought could truly take hold, she jumped a bit as the boy leaned in and placed his lips to hers. Immediately her face began to burn and her eyes shot open.

Time seemed to stop. This was it. This is what kissing felt like.

She had seen Momma and Pa do it loads of times, and much like her brother was right there to express their distaste of the act, citing the dreaded ‘cootie disease”. But when she turned nine and learned that cooties were just an old school yard tale, she didn't seem to mind all that much anymore. Dare say some of her friends were getting a bit curious about that, and though she told them she didn't go for that whole froo froo thing, she couldn't lie herself when she realized she was a mite curious too.

Now here she was, lockin’ lips with her brother’s best friend, an older stallion! Okay, older by two years, but she needed someone she could trust.

Just when she started to get used to it and lean into the kiss he pulled away. Part of her was relieved it was over and yet another part was a little sad that it was over so soon.

Looking up she couldn't help but giggle at the sight before her. The few heavy breaths they shared so close together had completely fogged the colt’s glasses, this was only made worse no doubt by the beat red blush he wore on his own face.

---

Applebloom crept silently as best she could, moving slowly through the halls of the house toward her room. If she was caught now, she would be in so much trouble she would never see the outside world for the rest of her life; so it was important that no pony heard her coming in, three hours after curfew. Granny Smith could normally sleep through an earthquake yet at times she had those strange moments of clarity where she could hear a pin drop and react to it just as quickly. Big Mac wouldn't be any trouble, staying over at the Pie's Rock farm to help out with their harvest, alongside his new marefriend Cheerilee. Applebloom was still surprised how those two turned out, even after her and her friends uh...tampering. But she suspected that Mac and Cheerilee were also getting to know a certain shy mare by the name of Marble Pie.

Applebloom had to work to suppress a giggle. Out of all the relationships in her family, Big Mac's had been the most surprising. He had always been so quiet, that Applebloom found it hard seeing him act all romantic or putting the moves on a mare.

And speaking of relationships.

Applebloom blushed viciously, and clamped her hoof over her mouth to suppress the embarrassed giggle; her thoughts going back to the reason for her coming home so late after curfew and risking being grounded for life.

A blush graced her features when she thought about the colt she had risked being grounded into flour for. Last night though was special, because now they weren't just friends, but special some ponies. She was almost giddy at the thought. She had never had a coltfriend before, but had always wanted one as she saw her friends finding their own special someponies or human in some cases. But now it seemed that her and Tender Taps were really starting to pick up steam. Not that she was easy. No sir, she wasn't some needy bit of arm candy like some of the fillies back in school. She knew when to lay on the steam and when to pull back on the reins. And Tender Taps, Celestia bless him, he seemed to understand that.

He was so sweet, funny, and cute, and now...he was hers.

Applebloom giggled, placing her hooves to her cheeks as she blushed even harder. It was so exciting!

Of course she wasn't a silly filly, believing that this was true love, that they be together forever. But so far, it seemed it might be that way. And a part of her did hope that maybe it would be true. But she kept that part in check.

But still!

Applebloom was so excited. She could barely contain herself, she wanted to shout it out to the world. In fact, she just might have to. Vultures everywhere, especially in school. Any number of fillies might try to steal her Tender Tapper, she was going to have to be quick and stake her claim before any of them made a move. She just couldn't keep it in, she had to tell somepony.

Without even thinking of the consequences, Applebloom ran down the hall, giggling as she burst through the door into the one room she feared the most and declared.

"Applejack I-!" Applebloom started, but stopped at the sight before her.

Applejack looked toward her with wide eyes of surprise, and only clad in a thin silk night gown that was almost transparent; something Applebloom was sure she got from Rarity. That wasn't surprising of course, Applebloom had special underwear like that as well, most fillies probably did. And she certainly wasn't surprised to see Applejack almost naked; heck they had taken baths together when they were younger.

No, what Applebloom was surprised by was the notable bump that was peeking out from her stomach. At first, Applebloom thought her sister had been hitting the fritters a bit too much, she had been eating a lot more recently, but that idea was short lived. They were farming ponies, and even Applebloom was in top physical condition for her age due to the work around the farm.

So if it wasn't fat, then did that mean....

"Uh, whada' say ya don't tell anypony 'bout this," Applejack started, pointing at the bump on her stomach, "And I forget that ya'll came back way after curfew."

"Deal." Applebloom said, smiling two parts nervous as she realized what she just did and two parts excited.

---

The following morning, despite her wishes to sleep in, Applebloom still could not shake the excitement of her discovery.

She was going to be an aunt!

It was such an exciting thing, to know that soon there would be a new apple to their family. She wondered if it would be a filly or a colt.

As she came down to the kitchen, Applebloom gasped in shock.

"Applejack!"

Applejack, adorn in apron, turned with surprise before smiling.

"Well, good mornin' there sugar cube," Applejack greeted her sister as she flipped a pancake, "I-"

But before Applejack could say more, Applebloom rushed over and snatched the spatula from her sister's hooves and guided Applejack to a chair and sat her down. Applejack was so caught off guard, she could only stare in confusion and shock.

"Applejack, ya should be working so hard. I'll make breakfast." The youngest apple said, puffing her chest out in pride as she turned to do just that.

"And why shouldn't I be making breakfast?" Applejack asked, raising a brow.

"Don't fret about it big sis," Applebloom said, giving a smile to her sister, "You and the little one just sit there and rest."

Applejack's mouth fell open, and she sucked in a breath and stood up.

"Now see here little filly," She started, "I ain't so far along that I-"

"Eh, far along what?"

Applejack shut her mouth, as she and Applebloom turned to see Granny Smith moving slowly into the kitchen and to her chair at the table. Though the elderly mare now needed a cane to help her walk, she still showed herself capable of moving on her own.

And that cane could be used to give a few bumps to the head to anypony that thought otherwise.

"Uh nothin'. Nothin' at all Granny." Applejack stammered, sucking in her lips as she did when she tried to lie.

"Eh, why ya makin' that face Applejack?" Granny Smith asked, looking at her eldest granddaughter curiously.

"What face? I ain't makin' a face." Applejack said again, looking to the ceiling now.

Applebloom, sensing that her sister was failing miserably, cut in, "Oh Granny, how many pancakes do you want?"

The elderly mare blinked, then smiled to the youngest apple, "Oh don't ya worry about me Applebloom. One or two will do, these old chompers just ain't what they use ta be."

"Now Applebloom, I said I could-" Applejack started again, trying to snatch the spatula from her sister.

"Oh now just sit down and let yer sister make breakfast. There comes a time when every little filly needs ta learn ta cook. Especially an Apple." Granny Smith said, grabbing Applejack's hoof to pull her into her seat. Even old as she was, Granny still had an earth ponies strength.

"But...oh pony feathers." Applejack huffed, sitting down and crossing her hooves.

---

Applejack looked at the apple tree before, the first of a whole acre she had to buck for today. The thought of physical work and the future satisfaction of a job well done, apple style, brought a smile to her lips as she readied herself to give the tree a good kick that would shake the whole crop right off into the baskets set up.

"Wait!"

Applejack yelped, taken surprise by the shout, that her kick went off target and she nearly threw a muscle. She grabbed her leg and rubbed it, before looking to the pony that had shaken her concentration.

"Applebloom, what are ya doing?" Applejack said, giving her sister a hard look.

"Well I couldn't just let my sister stress herself out bucking apples. So I decided ta come help ya." Applebloom smiled, as she walked up to the tree and gave it a good kick; sending the apples off.

"Now look here little filly, ain't ya got yer own chores ta do today?" Applejack started, giving her sister an annoyed look.

"I know, and I plan ta get em all done. But I'm a big pony now, and I can handle a little extra work." Applebloom said, still smiling as she went to another tree, "Besides, I don't want ya to tire yerself out. I gotta do my part to help make your pregnancy easier."

Applejack clamped her hoof over her sister's mouth before Applebloom could react.

"Now keep yer mouth shut on that ya hear. No pony else knows about that." Applejack hissed, looking around in fear.

Applebloom pushed Applejack's hoof from her mouth, "Wait, not even Quill?"

Applejack blushed, "Wh-who said it was Quill's?"

Applebloom gave her sister a deadpanned look, "Come on Appejack. I mean, yer not that type a pony. Besides, I've seen how you get when Quill stops for a visit when he ain't away on patrol."

Applejack blushed harder, "Oh alright so it's his. But I don't need everypony in Equestria knowing that."

"Knowing what?"

Applejack jumped again, and she turned with wide eyes as she saw Granny Smith coming up the hill.

"Granny!?" Applejack said, surprised, "Aren't ya usually takin' yer nap at this time?"

"Oh fiddle sticks, I can't be sleepin' my life away." Granny said with a wave of her hoof, "I figured a little walk would be good fer me. Now eh, what was this about knowing somethin'?"

"Uh, Uh I was just uh..." Applejack stammered, trying to think of something.

"Oh, uh Applejack was just showing me her way of Apple bucking." Applebloom cut in, and gave a tree a kick; dropping all the apples from the tree.

Granny Smith smiled, "Oh, look at ya, precious thing," Granny ruffled Applebloom's mane, "you're becomin' a right good applebucker just like your sister. Now you pay attention, your big sister be one o' the best applebuckers in our family."

Applejack blushed, "Aw shucks."

"You two get to it then. I'm a-..uh what was I gonna do again?" Granny Smith paused, before walking back to the house with a confused look. What had she been doing again? Oh well, it was time for her nap anyway.

Applejack and Applebloom both smiled as they waved bye to their grandmother, before Applebloom smiled and said, "Sooo, I think it be rather suspicious if Granny didn' see me learnin' ta applebuck as good as you."

Applejak scowled, "Oh alright. I'll let ya help me."

Applebloom cheered, while Applejack sighed once more.

---

Applejack sighed as she was regulated to nothing once more. Despite her best efforts, her little sister seemed intent on doing all the trees she had to buck on her own. Try as she might, Applebloom seemed right there to do the work for her and as much as she lectured her, Applejack couldn't get her to stop.

Yet, Applejack could see that her little sister couldn't keep up the work for long. She didn't have the reserves of energy that came with years of applebucking. Eventually she would tire out and then that was when Applejack could get to work herself.

And of course setting her sister on her OWN chores. Just cause she might be trying to help didn't mean that she could get out of that; tired or not.

"Uh, hey Applejack," Applebloom huffed, as she finished another tree and bent over to catch her breath.

"Yeah sugar cube?" Applejack asked.

"I was wonderin', well when did ya know that you and Quill were...well when did ya start dating?" Applebloom asked, causing her older sister to blush red like an apple.

"Well, uh..." Applejack chuckled nervously as she pushed her hat down over her face to hide her blush, "Well, that's sorta a long story sis."

"Aww come on Applejack. Tell me." Applebloom begged, doing her best to copy the look that Sweetie Belle taught her when she wanted Rarity to do something with her.

It worked, because soon Applejack sighed and started the tale. Applebloom listened with wide eyes of excitement.

"Well," Applejack started, "It didn't start as anything romantic. We'd know each other fer awhile, but things didn't really start getting serious till I saw him again when we were much older..."

---

Several Years Ago

A young Applejack walks into Quills and Sofa's store, with the ringing of the bell over the door signaling her arrival. As she entered an older unicorn mare looks up from a book on the counter to give the young applejack a smile. Applejack herself smiles and waves.

"Morning Mrs. Flourish."

"Oh. Hello Jacquelyn."

Applejack walks up to the counter and sets an order receipt onto the counter, "Ahm here to pick up Granny's new rocking chair, has it come in yet?"

"-sigh- I'll check with my husband, just wait here, and don't touch anything." Mrs. Flourish takes the receipt and heads to the back of the store, where her husband should be.

Applejack sighed and leaned against the counter as she waited. Despite herself, she took the liberty of touching a small little bobbly head character of Daring Do on the counter. She hoped the wait would not be long, she had a lot of chores left to do.

As she waited, he door chime opens and a stallion enters dressed in a recruit hat and guard blues.

AJ blinked in surprise at the new comer, and being at that age when fillies start to notice the stallions, she could not help but find the uniform and hat to be rather appealing to this stallions figure.

The stallion gave a wave to Applejack as he noticed her, "Morning."

Applejack felt a blush as the stallion took notice of her, "Mornin." She said quickly, hiding her blush as best she can with her hat.

"They in the back?" The stallion asked, pointing at the empty counter.

"Yup."

"Okay." The stallion nodded and began walking to the back room door.

"Hey what are you doing? You can't go back there!" Applejack shouted as she ran to put herself between the stallion and the door.

The stallion stepped back, blinking in surprise, "But....I live here."

Applejack blinked, confused herself. She didn't recognize this pony. She only knew of three ponies that lived her. Mr and Mrs. Flourish, and-

No...it couldn't.

"Q-Quillpoint?" Applejack gasped, surprised.

Quillpoint laughed, rubbing the back of his head, "You didn't recognize me did you Jackie."

"I-I uhh, what hap-" Applejack stammered, her mouth hanging open as she examined the well muscled and toned form of the pony who once had been a scrawny wuss back in grade school.

"It's amazing what boot camp does after 6 months, huh Jackie?" Quill laughed again.

"Ah...yeah." Applejack answered, finding herself staring at the now hunky stallion.

---

Applejack chuckled, "Reckon ta say, things changed after that. I mean, I always thought Quill a friend but I had never considered him attractive when we were younger."

Applebloom giggled, "Gosh, ya sound love strucked sis."

Applejack blushed, "Well, maybe a' little. I did try ta spend a lot o' time with him when I could. Course, I didn't come out and say it. Since he and Big Mac were best friends, I just sorta tagged along when they went ta do things. Course, Quill had to leave when he started active duty, but we kept in touch through letters."

"When did you told him ya loved him though?" Applebloom asked.

Applejack frowned, "Well sugarcube, I almost thought I wouldn't have. Ya see, the day I did spill the beans, something terrible happened when Quill was on a mission."

---

It was a beautiful midsummer day, with the sun hanging high in the horizon casting warm embracing presence on the lives of Ponyville. Something that had for a time felt never to occur again, but since the end of the war barely a month ago between the newly formed Human Empire and Equestria and the Changeling attack on Ponyville, the once abnormal winter ended and quickly shifted to the summer it should be with the help of Pegasus weather teams and magic from Canterlot's best weather mages.

Things were rather busy in town, with ponies filling the streets with carts of limber, thatch, and other various supplies being pulled to one building or another. Others had set up leanto's for shade to cover resting stallions while mares and fillies and colts passed out glasses of lemonade. Though the town had managed to avoid serious damage in the attack and battle that followed, buildings had still been damaged; mostly houses that had been impacted by magic or burnt in fires.

In short the town looked like many war torn cities often seen in photos in history books, yet unlike the photos the ponies of Ponyville did not stand with shocked expressions but worked together to set about rebuilding their hometown. For Applejack, and Big Mac, it was a heart warming sight.

The Cakes shop had taken a hit in the attack, with a large gaping hole standing in the side of the building leading into the kitchen. They with Pinkie, had set up two large tables that they filled with all sorts of baked goods and coffee along side Berry Punch's famous Four Berry Fruit Punch, for all the workers to help themselves too for free to keep up their strength and for ponies whose homes had been lost in the fight.

Rarity's boutique had managed to survive serious damage, though shingles from the roof had been torn out and the windows busted in. Though even this did not stop her from setting up a sign outside that told ponies to take whatever they needed from prepared baskets of blankets, hats and other clothes for ponies who might have lost any clothing in the fires or large blankets to cover up holes in the walls or to cover themselves at night with.

Aloe and Lotus' Spa was offering free massages to the workers despite having large holes in their roof and had turned out their large bath tub for ponies to use to keep clean. Town Hall had become a temporary home for ponies who had lost theirs. Filthy Rich had opened his stock of tools and construction supply to the city to help with the rebuilding, and his daughter was personally leading a team of school fillies and colts alongside the CMC with reconstruction help; something that Applebloom was skilled with.

It made the farm mare smile, as she and her brother finished dragging their own cart of supplies to some construction ponies at work.

"Thanks Applejack. Big Mac." A gruff stallion thanked, wiping at his brow.

"Any time partner. Y'all are doing mighty fine work. We will be back with a big round o' our best cider in a few hours." Applejack said with a smile. This got a few cheers from some of the ponies as they turned to head back to the farm and get to work on said cider.

"It's sure good to see everypony working together. Eh Big Mac?" Applejack asked her older brother.

Big Mac nodded and gave his characteristic, "Eeeyup."

As the two of them worked their way down one of the roads, Applejack caught sight of a pair of ponies she knew quiet well. It was Quills parents, and owners of Quills and Sofas. They seemed to be going somewhere, if the two heavy suitcases beside them seemed a give away. Mr. Flourish seemed to be talking to somepony, while Mrs. Flourish dabbed at her eyes with a kerchief.

The two Apple siblings looked at each other curiously, before walking over.

"-Should be back in a week or so." Mr. Flourish finished speaking to the pony, who Applejack recognized as one of the store workers.

"Right Mr. Flourish. I'll keep an eye on the store, no problems." The worker pony said, before noticing Applejack and Big Mac and giving them a wave.

Big Mac was the first to speak, "Evening Mr. and Mrs. Flourish., I don't mean to pry but us everything alright."

The Flourish's turned, surprised to see the two. Mrs. Flourish bit her lip, while Mr. Flourish cleared his throat before answering, "Oh, Macintosh, yes hello, uhh well,". He paused as he regarded his wife, who clenched her eyes fighting down tears. "No...no I suppose everything isn't alright."

AJ felt a sudden dread creeping up. She couldn't explain it, but somehow she knew what was coming next. It was Quill, it had to be. Something had happened to him. But despite all her desire to burst out and demand to know, she kept her lips shut tight.

Mr. Flourish regarded the Apple siblings quietly before sighing, "You two have been Quillpoint's friends since we moved here all those years ago, I suppose you deserve to know what's going on."

Applejack felt herself practically trembling, biting her lower lip to the point of drawing blood. Her orange coat almost pale white as snow.

"Quill was...was out on a patrol near where they suspected the Changeling Hive to be. Th-they were ambushed. He led his troops out but..."

The elder stallion simply look to the ground. "I'm...I'm not gonna lie, they say it doesn't look good."

Applejack felt numb. Utterly numb, she hadn't felt like this since...since...they died.

Mac frowned, "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope everything will be okay."

"Thank you Big Mac." Mrs. Flourish whispered, her voice trembling.

"We will contact you when we get to Canterlot. Let you know how he is." Mr. Flourish added, placing his hoof around his wife's shoulders before they both picked up their bags and headed off toward the train yard.

Applejack watched them go, her vision starting to get a little blurry. It was only when she felt her brother's hoof on her shoulder that she shook her head and rubbed at her eyes.

"Come on. We should get back home." Big Mac said, his voice solemn.

Applejack blinked, then nodded, "R-right."

The two headed back to the farm and entered the farmhouse quietly. All the way, AJ was silent as the dead. She couldn't focus on anything, as all the while memories of her and Quill as kids played back in her mind. The kiss, swimming, him trying to tutor her in math, her finding their stack of playcolts in the tree house and how furious she was, at Quill especially.

And now....

"I'm gonna be taking the last train to Canterlot, stay the night up there, let Quill know we're all pull in' for 'em." Big Mac said suddenly to AJ quietly.

"...sure." She answered quietly, her hooves working slowly, almost machine like as she tried to press apples that had not yet been peeled.

"I hope you can get by without me for a day or two."

"....sure.."

More recent memories flashed before her, stepping into the store after six months away, how she elbowed her way into going out bar hopping with him and Mac, how she wore that froo froo yellow sundress on his send off back to duty. Celestia, the look he had when he saw her. She didn't know if she should have bucked him or blushed.

"I'll send a letter letting y'all know how things are." Big Mac added.

Applejack nodded blankly, "...sure." The night during last years gala where they ran into each other, the flask of Sweet Apple Acres Moonshine he had hidden in his jacket, the bigger flask she had strapped to her inner thigh.

"Get going sis." Big Mac said, thrusting his wallet of bits into her hooves.

"...what?" Applejack asked, looking confused as she held the wallet.

"The train leaves in 15 minutes if you run you can make it."

Applejack blinked, looked at the wallet then felt tears filling her eyes as she threw her hooves around her big brother and hugged him tightly. Big Mac returned the hug for a few moments, before turning AJ and practically pushing her toward the door.

Applejack shoved the door open and made out like a Fruit Bat out of an apple tree toward town and the train station.

---

A train ride later, in which she had met up with the Flourishes, and a worried run to the Canterlot Military Hospital, the three ponies soon found themselves in a small hospital room with a large single bed next to any number of machines that checked pulse and other things to give them an understanding of the pony who lay silently in the bed an idea of his condition.

"He just came from surgery, so he might still be out of it. I'll leave you three alone." A nurse who had shown them the way said, before leaving.

"My baby." Mrs. Flourish sobbed immediately, rushing to her son's side, "Don't worry, mommy is here now."

Mr. Flourish walked up, grabbing two chairs that he pulled over and set his wife down into one. Applejack only walked toward the bed and stare at the silent, prone form of the stallion she had known since childhood.

A stallion that she loved.

Though the hospital gown and bed sheet covered the wound, Applejack could make out an small area uncovered that had a large bandage wrapped around it. Another small area had the sight of stitches peeking out from just near the neck. Applejack clenched her hoof, fighting back tears.

'Y'all better pull through. Ya have to.' She thought, as she sat down.

Four hours, the three of them sat there, hoping that Quillpoint would come to and say something. But all they got was the steady beep of the heart monitor; the only thing telling them he was still alive.

Applejack kept her eyes on Quillpoint, only stopping to watch as his parents stood up to use the rest room. When the two disappeared around the door, Applejack stood up and moved closer to Quillpoint.

"Come on sugarcube. I know ya can hear me. Just wake up and say somethin'." Applejack whispered, slowly placing her hoof to Quillpoint's face.

Quillpoint said nothing. Applejack bit her lip, rubbing at her eyes.

"Come on Quill. Ya can't just leave me hangin' here. Everypony back home will want to see ya." AJ kept on, hoping that maybe talking to him would make Quill wake up.

Still no response.

Applejack's eyes started getting blurry now.

"Damn it Quillpoint, you can't go dying on me. I'll bring ya back and buck yer flank half way ta Tatarus and back if ya do. Just please, please just say something."

Quillpoint stayed silent. Applejack rested her head on her hooves on the edge of the bed and sobbed.

"Please, Sweet Celestia please, just say something. I just need ta know yer gonna wake up. Because.....because I never even told ya....never told ya I..."

Applejack looked up, and slowly moved to place a kiss on Quillpoint's lips, before whispering, "I never even told ya that I love you."

"I love you too." A whisper came from Quillpoint's lips, as his eyes slowly fluttered open.

Applejack gasped, blushing as she stared at Quillpoint in shock.

The groggy soldier, looked up at her with a smile and said, "Howdy there cow girl."

---

Applebloom sucked in a gasp as she finished the last tree with a hardy kick. She sucked in deep breathes before saying, "That's so romantic sis. Then what happened?"

Applejack chuckled, though she had to admit that she was rather impressed her little sister had finished every tree. Of course the sun was starting to set so it was time to head back to the farm house...and of course have Applebloom go and finish the rest of her chores that she missed.

As the two headed back home, Applejack continued.

"Well he got better and let's just say, I was more than a might happy he was alright." She gently rubs her stomach as she opened the door.

"Oh!" Granny Smith gasped, as Applejack walked into her. The two stumbled, but Applejack caught herself and her grandmother and helped set her straight.

"Oh sorry Granny!" Applejack gapsed, "I didn't see ya."

"Oh no harm there," the elderly apple answered with a wave of her hoof and patted her granddaughter's head, "I'm just fine and....wait...."

Granny Smith then grabbed Applejack's left hoof and gave it a shake, causing Applejack's right hoof to go up and down like a wave.

"Uh, Granny.." Applebloom started, watching the strange behavior.

"Shush." Granny Smith said, tapping Applejacks head. Prodding her sides, taping her elbow with a fork and chime and holding the chime up to her stomach. Granny then gasped and leveled a hard look on her eldest granddaughter.

"Jackly Marie Apple," Granny Smith exclaimed with the authority only the matron of the Apple clan could muster, "Are ya keeping a secret from me?"

Applejack jumped, shocked, "I-I don't know what ya mean Granny."

"Oh don't give me that, I may be old but I know from experience when a mare be expecting." Granny Smith stated, pressing her hoof against Applejacks nose.

Applejack smiled nervously, "Uh....well..."

---

Quillpoint

Quillpoint stretched as he got off the train. Celestia, he couldn't stand being confined to a bench for hours some days. It was good to finally get out and stretch his muscles. With a final grunt of stretching, he lifted up his bag and headed toward Sweet Apple Acres. With his parents gone on a trip for their anniversary, he could probably even stay the night with Applejack.

He wondered if she would be up for a little pony riding tonight?

He couldn't help but smile, feeling like the luckiest stallion in the world when he thought of her. As he walked, he caught sight of something that still to this day brought back unpleasant memories and made him feel awkward.

It was the human, Castus, and he was out with Applejack's friend Fluttershy and their two Thestral daughters. Oh it was certainly a cute sight to see a loving family like that out together for a walk. The way Castus had his hand around Fluttershy's shouldesr and held her close as they walked, with the two little Thestrals clinging to their hoof and hand respectively made Quillpoint imagine himself and Applejack in a similar situation. Maybe a few little fillies or colts of their own.

Still, given his history with Castus, it was an awkward moment. They did once go from enemies, in which he had been assigned to capture said human, and how said human had left him tied up with ropes and hanging upside down from the Sweet Apple Acre barn ceiling when he had stolen all the humans on the farm. But that was the past, they were neighbors now.

Though it did make conversations at the bar rather strange.

But Quillpoint took his mind off it, as he spotted another familiar face. A mare he knew well from the military, and had served under during his time in Special Ops. Though her agent name was Sweetie Drops, most ponies in town knew her by her civilian name.

Bon Bon.

"Commander!" Quillpoint called, waving as he walked over.

Bon Bon, who had been standing behind a small street booth that offered various candies, looked at Quillpoint surprised before smirking, "At ease Major, when I'm here in Ponyville, I'm a civie."

"Hard to imagine you as a civie, ma'am." Quillpoint laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, I found this hard to imagine to." Bon Bon said, stepping out from behind the counter to reveal her very wide and heavy stomach peeking from under her dress.

Quill's eyes widened "Whoa! That is hard to imagine....no offense ma'am."

Bon Bon chuckled, "Non taken Quill, this seems to be going around these day with folk our age, or haven't you noticed?"

Quillpoint turned around, seeing Miss Rarity walking down the road, pushing a twin stroller with her two boys in it. "Uhh a little. I guess it's only natural. Congratulations, ma'am."

"Yeah Major, to you too!"

"What?"

"Nothing," Bon Bon said quickly, "When you are through with your business in town,and still breathing, lets you and me get a drink tonight, to old glory and fallen comrades."

"Definitely ma'- if I am still what? And you still drink?" Quill said, both surprised and slowly growing worried.

"Saspirilla, hated the stuff before but this kid loves the stuff." Bon Bon chuckled, before waving Quillpoint off. Quillpoint continued on his way to Sweet Apple Acres, but where he had once been excited now he was starting to grow scared.

"Did something happen while I was away?" He wondered, knocking on the door and was greeted by a sour faced looking Granny Smith.

"Oh, hey Granny-" Quill started, before feeling a resounding crack of a big wooden spoon slamming ontop of his head, "Ow!"

Granny SMith then grabbed Quill and yanked him in with strength surpsiing of her age and sat him right on the couch.

"What's going on!?" Quill demanded, "What was that for?"

Quill then noticed Applejack sitting in a chair opposite of him, and she looked nervous.

"AJ? What's going on?" He asked, trying to ignore the hard look that Granny Smith was giving him, her spoon twirling menacingly in her hoof.

"Ugh...Quillpoint," Applejack started nervously, "Sugarcube uh....there's something I gotta tell ya."

Author's Notes:

Sipioc this chapters if for you :) thanks for the help.

For anyone who wonders about this pairing with Applejack, I did it because Sipioc has helped me a lot with my writing and does a lot of work with cover art so to reward that I paired Applejack with an OC of his. Which is good cause really I had no idea who to pair her up with.

Wedding Adventures - The Party(1)

Fluttershy - Bachelorette Party

Fluttershy watched meekly as her friends all pointed and talked with excited voices over their little get together tea date. Normally, Fluttershy did not feel shy with talking with her friends. But this time things were a little different, because the topic of conversation was of a matter very personal to her.

Her Bachelorette party.

"We should totally hit Bucking Broncos! It's the best Stud House and Casino in Las Pegasus!" Rainbow Dash declared with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Ugh," Rarity scoffed, "Please Rainbow Dash, establishments like that are too seedy. I suggest a fine evening at a number of high class establishments. This is an important night for Fluttershy after all."

"Umm, well...I just thought..." Fluttershy started, lifting a hoof.

If any of the girls heard, they didn't make it known as Rainbow Dash glared at Rarity.

"I know this is important, and that's why we gotta make it a wild night!" Dash said, "I mean come on, I'm sure Castus will be going wild. Especially with Discord heading his stag party."

"Bachelor Party." Twilight spoke up.

All the girls, but Fluttershy, looked at Twilight confused. Twilight blushed and chuckled nervously.

"Uh well," the bookish princess said, "I mean, I talked with Castus about it once and he said that its called a bachelor party for humans."

"Oh. Well, Stag or Bachelor a party is a party," Pinkie stated, "and any party has to be wild and fun!" Pinkie cheered, throwing her hooves out with a burst of confetti and horns.

"Um, well maybe we could just-" Fluttershy started again, though her quiet voice was once more unheard by the others.

"Try ta remember that some o' us can't be gettin' wild at the moment Dash," Applejack deadpanned, a hoof subconsciously trailing over her stomach, "And Fluttershy wouldn't be interested in somethin' like that."

"Oh well, I mean it might be fun but-" The timid bride to be started again. But again her voice was lost as her friends started arguing about the party.

Fluttershy hid herself in her mane a bit, unsure what to do. She was so nervous right now, that she nearly jumped out of her fur when she felt a hoof on hers.

She looked and saw Twilight, gently patting her hoof with a smile. Fluttershy smiled back.

"Now girls, this is Fluttershy's party. Maybe we should let her decide." Twilight spoke up, hoping to ease the tension and relieve her friend and herd partner.

Though Fluttershy knew her herd mate meant well, the sudden feel of all her friends eyes on her made the whole situation a lot more tense for her.

"Oh of course, I'm so sorry Fluttershy," Rarity said, placing a hoof on Fluttershy's, "This is your special night. We should seek your opinion."

"Yeah, and I know you are just dying for a wild night on the town." Rainbow Dash declared, nudging her childhood friend with her elbow.

"Oh, uh well..." Fluttershy started.

"Now Dashie," Rarity scuffed, "You should know better then all of us that Fluttershy would prefer a more quiet and controlled evening out; and not in some crazy den of debauchery."

"Well, I mean it could-" The timid Pegasus mare whispered again.

"Debauchery!?" Dash gasped, the speedster shocked, "You mean fun! And what would you suggest?"

Rarity giggled and flicked her mane, "Why I know of a delightful restaurant of high society in Las Pegasus that is situated next to an elegant theater house and art gallery opening night with works from all over Equestria and beyond on showing."

"Ugh that sounds toooootaly lame," Dash groaned.

Rarity scoffed, "Well, why don't we let Fluttershy decide."

Fluttershy gulped, once more the center of attention.

"Uh...w-well....I mean, I'm not really a heavy party mare." She started.

"Ha!" Rarity laughed, sticking her chin up at Rainbow Dash who scowled.

"-But," Fluttershy continued, "I- I mean it might be good to cut lose a little bit."

"HA!" Dash laughed, pointing her hoof at Rarity who merely rolled her eyes.

"Um, m-maybe we could try to do a little of both?" Fluttershy finished, hoping to be diplomatic.

"Oh! That sounds awesome!" Pinkie cheered, shaking her hooves in excitement.

"I reckon that could work. Then we won't 'ave ta hear either o' these two complainin'." AJ smirked, looking at Rarity and Rainbow Dash.

"Well, it might need a little planning-" Rarity started, but was cut off by Twilight.

"Oh! I can do that!" Twilight shouted, an excited, almost manic look in her eyes now at the thought of scheduling a duel themed event for her herd mate's bachelorette party.

Dash huffed and crossed her hooves, "Fine."

Fluttershy sighed and smiled, glad to see that the tension was past. While she had managed alright, she wondered how Castus was doing with his own party preparations.

After all, he did have an.....unorthodox Best Stallion.

---

Fluttershy bit her lip as she looked through the sample selections for flower arrangements that she had ordered from the Flower Trio's Flowershop. She had a number of ideas that had been sent, but she could not make up her mind.

Casting a glance over to the table, where her husband to be sat with a cup of coffee in his hand and a scroll of some report from the Empire in the other, Fluttershy decided maybe he would know.

“Castus, what do you think of these ideas for arrangements that Roseluck gave me. Do you think they might clash?” Fluttershy picked up the sample pictures and placed them in front of Castus to examine.

Castus, set down the report from one of the Imperial Agents, concerning troop movement in the duchy of Silvertalons, the griffon duchy that sat on their northwestern border, and looked at the arrangement ideas, “I really wish I could tell you, babe. But, I haven't a clue. Couldn't you ask Rarity?” He paused to sip his coffee.

Fluttershy sighed, “Oh I would but she has been super busy with the twins, plus she still needs to get all the dresses ready. I don't want to overload her.”

Castus chuckled, “I suppose not… Those boys certainly keep her on guard, I imagine it's more chaos then she is use to.”

“My ears are burning!”

With a pop, Discords long serpentine head and neck popped out from Castus left ear, sending the human magus screaming and falling onto the ground as Discord struggled to pull himself out.

“GAAAAH!”

“Hold on. Tight squeeze. Give me a second. Scooch, scooch.” Discord grunted, before finally popping out and growing to his full size.

“Nyaaaagh.” Castus rubbed his ear fervently as the serpentine lord of chaos righted himself and stepped in to the floor of the cottage.

With a bow Discord went on, “Greetings everypony, and dear Castus too, speaking of which you might want to see a doctor. I've seen candle shops with less wax.”

As if on que, the excited clatter of hooves rushing down the hall could be heard, as Moonlight and Azure Shadow burst into the kitchen and leap at Discord to wrap him in a hug on each claw.

“UNCLE DISCORD!!” The girls cheered, hugging him tight.

For a brief moment, a smile appeared on Discord's face that showed true, touched happiness as he wrapped his two adopted nieces into a hug and his head split into the two separate heads he had during the Gala, “Heeelllloooo, my little Angels of mayhem!” The two Discord heads then kissed each girl on the forehead.

“We missed you!” Azure giggled.

“Can we do the crazy stairs? Puuuhwease?” Moonlight begged, her eyes wide and pleading.

Discord released the girls and fused his two heads back into one as he rubbed his chin, “Weeeeeellllll, I dunno-sure!”

With a quick snap of his finger, the kitchen was soon replaced with a scene remiscent of an Escher drawing, with staircases and doors going every which way.

The girls cheered, and began running up and down stairs, going through one door and out others in totally random ways.

Fluttershy could only giggle, as she flew down to the balcony that Castus was stuck on with Discord. It always made her happy to see her daughters having fun.

The Lord of Chaos then clapped his claws together, “Sooooooooooo! I heard the news, congratulations are in order! Castus you old so-n-so! Finally popped the question the whole ‘cosmos’ wanted to know?”

His confusion at his new surroundings forgotten, Castus chuckled and rubbed the back of his head nervously, “Heh, yeah I- wait, what did you say?”

Discord looked away quickly, “Nothing-Fluttershy, my dear sweet friend, let me see!”

Without asking, Discord lifted Fluttershy's hoof to see the bracelet that Castus had gotten her as part of his official engagement.

Discord examined it with a jewelers eye, “Oh! It's lovely! And it's suits you so well!”

“Thank you Discord. It's actually a good thing you're here.” Fluttershy said, smiling as she pulled her hoof back.

Discord blinked, looking surprised, “It is?”

“Yes. Castus, isn't their something you want to say?” Fluttershy looked at her husband to be expectantly.

“Quite a few things.” Castus crossed his arms, looking at Discord critically.

“Come, come now, my boy if it weren't for Dis-old-Coord, you wouldn't be saying anything at all.” Discord said, patting Castus on the back.

The human magus sighed, “Yeah, yeah. I haven't forgotten. I haven't forgotten some other things too. But I have to admit, despite everything that's happened, it was you that made all this possible. I have a beautiful mare who I am going to spend the rest of my life with, two wonderful daughters I adore, a fledgling nation I am helping to prosper, and peace and harmony still reigns supreme.”

The Spirit of Disharmony's face went green and he covered his mouth as his cheeks bulged for a moment, “Yeck. Don't remind me. It was all so much more interesting when you were trying to lay low and not blow yourself up from the inside out, all the while their was that “will-they won't-they” tension, between the two of you. I suppose there's always reruns,...or fanfiction. Oooooh! How do you feel about a taught romantic drama with you and Sunset Shimmer?”

Castus raised a brow, confused, “I...don't...know who that is-anyway, what I am trying to say is; I have a good life, and I owe that in part to you.”

“Oh golly you're gonna make me blush.” Discord gave a Goofy like chuckle, even as a red coated paint brush painted his cheeks red.

“Right," Castus sighed with a shake of his head, "Well, it would honor me, and Fluttershy, if you would do us the honor of...being my best man?”

Discord went still, eyes wide.

“Wuh-what?” He stammered, mouth hanging open.

With a poof, the kitchen returned to normal, leaving Azure and Moonlight floating in midair for a few moments before falling to the ground. With practiced skill from months of flying practice mishaps, Castus moved and caught Azure in his arms, while Fluttershy deftly snatched Moonlight up with her tail, before pulling her into a hug, out of the air eliciting a giggle from the little Thestral.

“Y-you want......me...best man?” Discord asked again, sticking a claw into his ear and out the

“Or best stallion, or...no offense, best-whatever you are.” Castus added with a shrug.

“I-I'm a Draconequis,...do...do you mean that?”

Castus sighed once more, rubbed his head, “I may regret it, but yeah, I do.”

Discord looked to Fluttershy, who smiled and noded to him.

Discord cheered and threw his arms out, “Doooooooh, come here yah big lug!”

Castus stared to walk back, arms up, “Uhhhh, That's not necessar-WHOA!!!!”

Before he could say more, the poor human was soon wrapped up in a big hug from the Spirit of Chaos himself, much to Castus dismay as he tried to struggle free of the grip.

“I am sooooo touched you want little old me to be your best Stallion!" Discord started, before gasping, "there's sooooo much to do sooooo much to plan! First they're tuxes, the other grooms stallions, or men for you I suppose," another gasp, "THE STAG PARTY!!! No wait. Let's do a bachelor party, less speciesly, incentivity. First things first…” With a flick of his wrist, two big white gloves appeared and covered Fluttershy's, Azure's and Moonlight's ears, causing them to blink in surprise even as Discord went on, "how do you feel about exotic dancers, because I know these fillies, well fillies most of the time, sometimes they have fins, anyway, they sing and dance and I swear you are under their Spell.”

“I-I uhhllllready, regret this.” Castus groaned, still trying to get free.

“Oh don't be like that Cassie! I’ll promise I’ll be the best best stallion in the history of best stallioning.”

“That's not a thing.” Castus stated.

“Yes it is- I'll be your Robin to you're Bat Mane, your Peanut Butter to your Jelly, you Anakin to your Kenobi…”

“Uuuhhhh…..” Castus gave Discord and uneasy look now.

“I mean, before the unpleasantries, like all three of those prequels. OHOHOHO This is gonna be legen- wait for it...” Discord quickly added before snapping his tail hand.

With a flash, Discord vanished and the Shy Family looked around, confused. Slowly Fluttershy and Castus set their daughters onto the ground as a knock came from the door.

Castus and Fluttershy looked at each other, before haeding to the front door and opening it.

"Mail call!". A gray, cross eyed mare declared, offering out a letter.

"Thanks, Miss Hooves." Castus said, taking the letter. He looked at it confused, noting the address.

"Sure thing, Mr. Cactus." Derpy said smiling.

"It's not 'Cactus' its..., never mind." Castus sighed, closing the door as Derpy flew off and he headed back into the kitchen with the letter.

"Mail? Is it from my mother." Fluttershy asked, moving over to look at the letter.

Castus shook his head, "No this one is from..."

"...Just open it." Fluttershy said with a giggle once she saw the mailer address.

"We don't have to. We could just set it aside, worry about it in a few years?" Castus said, looking at his wife with wide eyes.

Fluttershy shook her head at her husband, "He's just gonna send more until you do."

Castus facepalmed, "yeah, yeah, I know. Okay."

Slowly, he tore open the letter and with a burst of confetti, Discord burst from the letter with a cheer.

"DARY!!!!!!"

Castus brushed some of the confetti off of him and he looked at his soon to be wife, "....Is it too late to elope?"

---

Discord could be a bit of a hoofful, but Fluttershy felt confident he could handle anything that Discord threw at him.

---

Castus - Bachelor Party

Castus was worried. Very worried. It was worrying enough that he had to have the Spirit of Chaos as his best man. But to have him plan his bachelor party was something else entirely. God knew what that mad mind would come up with.

Castus feared even trying to guess, for fear of delving into madness on par with Cthullu.

Yet so far, his day had been frankly...surprisingly....well...nothing. Not even a memo.

Not that he did not mind the lack of attention. A part of him kinda liked the idea of a surprise. It also helped him focus on his paper work. Dozens of reports, mostly surveyor reports of the various minerals, quarries and the like that were being planned for as the Lord Hunters took their clans to designated sectors of the empire to oversee as part of the larger establishment of the Imperial bureaucracy.

But amongst those reports, were concerning sights from scouts on the border to the Griffon lands. It was probably nothing, but he would send a team to establish an outpost to keep a watch on them.

Well with all of that to keep him busy, Castus couldn't bother to worry too much about Discord.

Or so he thought.

As he went to open the door to his office, instead of walking into his study of oakwood desk, chair and personal library of scrolls and books, he walked into a wide open room adorn with streamers and a big large flag with Castus figure sewn into it in a style of him holding a globe in his hand as a halo of gold surrounded his head and a ball and iron chain on his leg.

A the center of the room was a large dance floor with tables around the edges with chairs. At the edge of that were large tables and coolers filled with drinks and food.

"Surprise!"

"AH!" Castus jumped as Discord, dressed in an orange tux and fedora hat.

"Oh Castus, so glad you could get here," Discord said, slithering up to grab Castus into a hug, "I was just about to come get you. I hope you like the décor."

"Uh...thanks Discord." Castus said, dumbfounded.

"Oh, the other guests should be here right about.....now!" Discord tapped his watch, as dozens of doors suddenly appeared in the room and in walked dozens of surprised party guests.

Shining Armor. Valen. Soarin of the Wonderbolts. A large yak, that Castus recognized from Twilight's story of the visiting Yak prince; Prince Rutherford. Spike. Big Mac. And dozens of others.

"Welcome party guests! Let's raise the roof!" Discord cheered, to the surprised and perplexed newcomers.

The various, and no doubt unwilling, attendents, all looked around confused and perplexed as Discord himself went about putting fedora hats on everyone's head. Castus himself got a big hat with a large feather that made Castus think of a pimp hat.

"Oh the Captain of the Guard and consort to the princess of love," Discord said as he approached Shining Armor and placed a hat on his head as he snapped and made his guard helmet and armor disappear, "We're so honored you could attend this party."

"Discord you have some nerve!" Shining Armor snarled at the draconequis, knocking the hat away.

Only for it to reappear on his head with a flash; much to Shining's surprise.

"Oh please Shoe Shine," Discord dismissed with a wave of his claw, "it's not like any of you were doing anything important."

"I was in the verge of locating the rougue changeling hive!." Shining Armor shouted in a combination of anger and exasperation.

"I had to spend weeks in the field to get that information!" Another pony in a similar guard attire. Castus slightly recognized him as Quillpoint, Applejack's fiancé.

Though....Castus couldn't help but think he had seen the pony elsewhere. Though where and how he couldn't recall.

"-pssssh- no you weren't. Also who are you?" Discord asked, looking at Quill

Quill raised an eye brow "....seriously? We met when you helped Tirek for Luna's sake."

Discord stuck a claw into his ear before pulling it out and flicking some wax away, "Oh well, its so hard to keep track of background characters."

Quill's mouth fell open, eyes bulging.

"Anyway," Discord laughed, "fellas it's like this. We are here to enter the bonds of brotherhood in honor of our dear friend Castus Thelonious Maxillious Meridious Smith."

"That's your full name?" Spike said looking at the bemused human.

Castus facepalmed and sighed, "No. It isn't."

"Oh," Spike said, rubbing the back of his head with a nervous smile, "So uh...what is it then?"

Castus sighed, "Its-"

"-not important!" Discord declared, cutting Castus off, "I just want to make sure your send off into the suffocating stranglehold that is matrimony is done proper! And all your guy friends, plus who ever that guy is want to give you a night to remember."

"I only barely know half of these guys. And I know I've never met the yak." Castus said, pointing to the Rutherford as he sampled some of the food.

"Hey! Salsa not Kiwi Mango! Yak destroy!" Rutherford shouted, before destroying the salsa bowl, and the table.

"Oh he does look like a fun one. We should totally take him to the casino." Discord laughed, snapping his tail hand to create a new table to replace the one destroyed. With the same food that caused its destruction.

"Casino?" Soarin asked, looking at Discord confused.

"Oh yes, oh and all sorts of bars, and dance halls in Las Pegasus. All the delights of the night life," Discord said with glee before leaning into another guard pony, "Even the naughty sides."

The guards eyes went wide as a faint blush went over his face.

"Uh, not to dash on the parade Discord," Castus said, stepping up, "But...how can we go to anything like that when we are in a room with no doors?"

Discord blinked, then face palmed and laughed, "Oh silly me. I forgot the doors."

With a snap of his lion claw, around the walls of the entire room, doors of various colors and sizes appeared with various designs. Some were simple and did not look out of place. Others looked like the doors of a casino, with a slot machine design, even the knob looked like a slot machine lever. Some were shaped like drinks, and one or two doors in particular were decorated in red lights, jazz music playing around them and empty stripper poles stood at the sides of the doors; few had to make a guess of what was behind there.

"Pick a door, any door." Discord chuckled.

"Ugh, look this is all too last minute," Shining Armor groaned, "We have to get back to work and find the Rogue Changeling Hive."

Around him, Quill, Soarin and the other guards with them all nodded in agreement.

Shining looked at Castus, "I mean, I don't want to ruin your night. If this was a different day I'd be glad to join your bachelor party, but this is all just too last minute."

Castus held up a hand, "No problem. I agree. To be honest I was sort of expecting some better planning."

The Spirit of Chaos crossed his claws over his chest with a pouty face, "Oh not you too Castus?" He groaned and looked at Shining Armor with a pouty face, "Oh fine party pooper. How about I make a deal with you?"

Shining looked skeptically at Discord, "What kind of deal?"

"If you all lighten up, and enjoy the party, then I'll tell you where they are."

Shining did not seem convinced at Discords words, "....Exactly where they are? Currently? The Changeling Hive we've been looking for?" Shining Armor leaned forward, his brow raised skeptically but clearly tempted.

Discord groaned, exasperated, "Yes, yes, the one run by that 'Love Child' between Chrysalis and..."

"NOT ONE MORE SYLLABLE!" The pony captain forcefully cut the draconequis off, his horn pulsing with intent. His magic gripping Discords beard and dragging him down to eye level with the Guard Captain, a hoof straying to the sword at his side.

A thin grin curved Discord's face as he narrowed his eyes, meeting Shining Armor's murderous glare with one of his own. "Soooooooo~?"

Shining Armor regarded this creature before him, all the while weighing the options. This was more than likely a trick or Discord would find a way to slither out on delivering what they actually wanted, but after three months chasing false leads and finding only recently abandoned caverns, the Equestrian guard clearly needed a break.

"....fine..." He relented with a huff.

"WONDERFUL!!"

With a snap of his claws, the guards and Wonderbolt members with them, all had their armor and uniforms replaced with casino suits, informal party wear and some with party hats and party streamers. One guard had both and blowed on the streamer in confusion.

"Hey, not bad." Soarin noted, the second in command of the Wonderbolts taking time to examine his new suit.

"Uh, sir," Quillpoint spoke up, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Shining Armor, now decked in a wide brim Fedora hat and suit, sighed and looked at his solders as he ordered up a huddle.

"This seems a bit out of place sir." One guard brought up.

""If any pony knows where the rogue hive is, it would be Discord." The Guard Captain muttered. "We may not have a choice."

"Sooooo your saying that we NEED to play along and get blitzed?" Lt. Commander Soarin added, failing to hide the anticipation in his voice.

Looking around at his subordinates, Shining then looked at the hall they found themselves in, rife with exotic food, drink, and how some of the other, non military, guests were now peeking into one of the doors that looked like the entrance of a Red Light distract business, and rush in with a cheer.

Others were now drinking, talking, and some going into what sounded like Casinos when they went through other doors.

"We can't give him an excuse to go back on his word, so I suppose we should..." His voice trailed off as he turned back to find himself standing alone with Quill, and a few dust clouds.

Shining blinked, looked to Quill who shrugged before walking over to the drink table, and leaving Shining alone.

The oldest of the Sparkle family sighed. He hoped this wasn't a bad idea.

---

Fluttershy - Bachelorette Party

Rarity

Rarity sighed in pure bliss as she lifted her opera glasses to her eyes to watch the final scene. Beside her, Fluttershy and Twilight watched, though Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all sat in different degrees of boredom. Pinkie and Applejack both at least tried to seem interested, but Rainbow Dash looked absolutely miserable.

Rarity could only roll her eyes. Honestly, Dash could try to at least enjoy a little culture. This was one of the top ranked operas in all of Equestria. But, such was the way of things. She certainly did not feel sure of whatever Rainbow Dash had planned for the second half of Fluttershy's Bachelorette party.

She still remembered what they all finally decided upon. Fluttershy, the dear sweet mare, unable to possibly disappoint her friends, came up with an idea that took both hers and Rainbow Dash's ideas. They would use the day and evening at a five star café that Rarity knew in Las Pegasus, followed up by a light dinner and a stop at the Opera house before returning to their hotel room for a change in clothes and hitting the night life where Rainbow Dash would take command. No doubt with a list of seedy joints in hoof.

Well, she would have to endure. Something she had gotten very good at since the birth of her two jewels.

The thought of her two sons made the fashionista mare smile fondly, and her motherly mind wondered how they were doing. It seemed like only yesterday she was holding them in her hooves after their birth. For a few moments, her life seemed so blissful and pure.

Until she got home. Rarity prided herself as being able to stand out in the world as a confident and independent mare, but raising two boys alongside of her career was a challenge she had never faced before; and it had certainly not been easy. Perhaps the most memorable was the feedings, sometimes for hours her breasts would feel sore after either pumping or directly breast feeding the boys; who only seemed to get hungrier by the hour.

Not to mention the fact that she had to resize all of her clothes to take into account for her increase in chest size due to producing milk. Or the aches it caused her back.

Thank Celestia they were moving up to soft foods now.

But then there were other challenges. The nearly constant waking up in the middle of the night, planning immunizations, keeping on eye on them once they had started to crawl. Not to mention the piles of bits on clothes, food and other supplies; not that she had to worry about money given her success in the fashion world.

Still, with all the extra work she was glad to have such devoted friends and family. Pinkie Pie, being skilled in watching young colts with her experience with the Cake twins, made an excellent babysitter when her parents were unable to watch the twins. And Celestia knew it could be a challenge to pry them away from her mother when she visited; something that would certainly be even more of a challenge since she had left the boys with her parents for the whole day she was gone.

But still, though the days had been tough and challenging, Rarity wouldn't give up those two gems for the whole world. She had a whole bank of precious memories, some even rather humorous when she thought back on them.

Like the time Spike had come over to help with the boys during an especially busy season. She certainly made a better attempt to label things in her fridge after that. Or the time when she came home to her whole house covered in cake batter, with Pinkie trying her best to clean the boys who were covered in buttercream frosting; she still never did learn how THAT had happened.

Still as much as she loved her sons, it was good to get a break and enjoy herself and her friends. Especially on such an important day as this.

She always knew that she would one day partake in her friends bachelorette parties, but she never expected Fluttershy's to be first; or that she would be marrying a creature years ago she had considered as savage, wild monsters. It was certainly a bit of gossip in town, something that Rarity nipped in the bud when it entered into grounds she considered rude. Though she still found it hard to fully grasp the changes that have occurred in humans, she wasn't going to deny that when she saw Fluttershy and Castus together she saw a real and passionate love between the two. She was almost jealous at times.

Though she herself found it an odd match, she would support her friend's choice. Fluttershy was happy, something that Rarity was glad to see after those years of near constant abuse from all of Ponyville. And Castus, though certainly with a rough history, was certainly a gentlecolt....or gentleman. Though as she and the other girls all let him know during a private talk after he and Fluttershy had publicly announced their engagement, if he did anything to hurt their dear, timid friend he would wish he was locked away in Tartarus for his own safety.

As the opera came to an end, Rarity found herself out of her thoughts and she clapped alongside the audience with Fluttershy and Twilight.

Ah Twilight. There was another odd match. When the bookish princess had come to her for relationship advice and help, Rarity had never guessed it was Castus she was infatuated with. Oh sure, she suspected, but to actually hear about it was certainly surprising.

Though while Fluttershy and Castus were more open with their relationship, Rarity noted that Castus and Twilight seemed to keep theirs more private. Something she suspected was due in part to the politics involved between the two. She could only imagine the gossip and scandal that might occur if the general public learned that one of the princesses of Equestria was with the human who had years ago been one of the most wanted criminals in all of Equestria.

"Ugh, finally. Lets get back to the room and get changed. This dress is making my muscles stiff." Rainbow Dash said, plucking at the formal dress Rarity had made for her and the girls for the occasion.

"Oh come on Rainbow Dash. It wasn't that bad." Twilight said, offering her friend a smile.

"Yeah. It was worse." Dash groaned, stretching and rubbing her back, "wait till we get changed. I'll show you all what a real party is like."

Rarity rolled her eyes, "Obviously Rainbow Dash, you will never understand real culture. Still, at least you kept in your seat this time."

Dash stuck her tongue at her friend for a moment before they all walked out of the Opera house and headed toward their hotel.

As they walked, Rarity looked at Twilight once more and could not help but frown as another thought came to mind.

Though Twilight had explained the reason why she and Castus kept their relationship secret to most ponies, in her eyes Rarity could see the desire to openly express it for all the world to see; regardless of what they thought. And perhaps most importantly, to openly marry the stall- er man- who made her happy.

And yet she couldn't.

Twilight noticed Rarity looking at her, and looked back curiously.

"Rarity? Something up?" The princess asked.

Rarity quickly smiled, "Oh, nothing darling."

Rarity focused on reaching the hotel now, and changing into more....casual clothing. Something she wouldn't worry about getting stained by countless amounts of alcohol from countless silly mares and stallions who thought it wise to dance in crowded groups with drinks in hoof. Something dark, yes that would be best. No doubt many ponies would be wearing dark or black colored clothing, but really only a pony of lose morals would wear anything that could end up see through when wet.

Yes a simple black gown. That would be suitable for the decadence sure to come.

---

Rainbow Dash

"Awww yeah, now this is where the real fun starts." Dash cheered, pumping her hoof as she and her friends stood before one of the biggest strip joints and nightclubs of Las Pegasus. The Gelded Stallion.

The loud music, the lights, the drinks. Dashie took a moment to breathe it all in, and her wings twitched in excitement.

"Well what are we waiting for, lets go." Dash called to her friends, as she led the way for them all to enter.

The first thing that hit them was the warmth given off by the combined body heat of mares and stallions, followed by the smell of alcohol and sweat with the sight of scantly cladded stallions and mares dancing on poles. Some carried trays, dressed in skin tight latex clothing and wearing bunny ears.

"Ugh, really Rainbow Dash your choice of venue could be a little less....uncouth." Rarity said, as the girls found themselves a table.

"Oh get the bridle out of your mouth Rarity."

"Oh, I-it isn't that bad," Fluttershy said, though the evident blush on her face as she saw a mare dry humping a stallion as he gave the mare a lap dance made it clear that the shy mare was way out of her comfort zone.

"This is certainly an...interesting look in the more liberal actions of Equestria." Twilight said, adjusting the glasses and dress coat she wore to hide her wings, herself blushing yet at the same time looking curiously in a way that Rainbow Dash knew as Twilight's Must Study look.

"I think this looks super, duper fun!" Pinkie cheered.

"Long as we all 'ave a good time I say lets go for it." Applejack said with a smile.

"That's right," Dash said with a nod, "Lets make this night one to remember!"

---

It was not long after arriving that the girls had all sorted into their own little niche for the night at the strip joint. Rainbow Dash was into her third cider, and was excitedly shoving some bits down a stallions under wear, while Rarity sat with Applejack at their table; the cow pony herself was drinking water, given her pregnancy. Twilight was with Rainbow Dash and, much to Dashies amusement actually taking notes of ponies around her.

"Twilight, the point of a strip joint is to have fun ya know." Dash pointed out.

"I-I know," The disguised princess stammered, "I mean...I'm just taking notes to better blend in with ponies here."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Well if you want to blend in..."

Taking out some bits from her purse, Dash called over to one of the dancers, "Hey, my friend here could use with a lap dance!" She called as she tossed the bits to the stallion who caught them with practiced skill and proceeded to Twilight.

"W-wait! D-Dashie!" Twilight stammered, blushing viciously as the stallion proceeded into the dance. Twilight's mouth fell open and she looked around, feeling insecure and unsure. Dash could only chuckle at her friends predicament as she got up and went over to the bar to find Fluttershy.

It wasn't hard to find the shy mare, as she was trying without success to quietly assert herself to the bar passed a crowd of ponies; but always letting somepony else get ahead of her.

With Twilight taken care of, Rainbow Dash had one more friend to mess with. And besides this was Shy's bachelorette party.

"Hey Fluttershy, I got a surprise for you. Come on." Dash said, grabbing her friends hoof.

"Huh?" Fluttershy asked confused, even more so as Dash took her to one of the private booths.

"Wait here." Dash said, setting Fluttershy down in the booth.

"W-wait, Dash whats going on?" The shy mare asked, but Dash ignored her as she quickly gathered a ground of stallions and mare dancers and brought them all up to the booth. At least seven in total.

"Aright everypony, the little filly here is tying the knot soon so lets give her a send off she won't forget." Dash shouted to the dancers.

The dancers cheered and moved into the booth, with Dash smirking as she watched Fluttershy's eyes go to pin pricks.

"O-Oh my-" Fluttershy gasped, hiding in her mane.

Dash laughed as she released the curtain of the private booth and went off to grab some more cider. She was going through her bits rather quickly, what with the drinks, the lap dances and the private session for Fluttershy but as she saw it; it was all worth it.

"Hmmm, I wonder where Pinkie went?" Dash pondered, realizing the party mare was no where to be seen.

It took time for Dashie to finally find Pinkie, who much to the wonderbolt mare, was carrying two heavy bags of bits now.

"Wha? Pinkie Pie, where did you get all those bits?" Dash asked, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"Oh," Pinkie clenched and shook the bit bags, "Well you know that funny pole game on the dance stage? Well when I went on it, bits started flying onto the stage by my hooves, and then as I started dancing, more bits fell. So I danced and danced, and danced and before I knew it I had all these bits."

Dash's eyes bulged and her mouth hung open, "Uh Pinkie..."

"What?" Pinkie asked, smiling.

Dash closed her mouth and shook her head, "Never mind. Now, did you get the special surprise ready?"

"Of course!" the bit heavy party mare cheered, "Just another twenty minutes and it should all be ready."

"Perfect," Dash clapped her hooves together and rubbed them with a sinister smirk, "I'll keep Fluttershy busy till then."

Pinkie saluted and left off to the bar, with her bag of bits.

Rainbow Dash chuckled and went back to her seat. She decided to get her own entertainment, turning some stallion into her servant!

Using some of her few remaining bits, Rainbow Dash got herself a personal dance from a rather hot looking stud of a stallion and a few other drinks. It was only when it was time for Fluttershy's session to be over with that she had to shove the stallion away and go get her friend.

Rainbow Dash chuckled, "Hey Fluttershy, I'm back, How...are..you....doing?" Dash started, slowly going quiet as she pushed aside the curtain.

What she saw was...not what she had expected.

"...I just wish ponies he would understand my point of view. I know what I do isn't glamorous, but when the light's on me and the music starts I feel like im a young buck again instead of thirty two." One of the male dancers said, rubbing his eyes with a pink handkerchief that Fluttershy offered.

"Dude, don't let what others think get to you. The only reason I started working here was because of you." Another stallion said, moving over to pat the older stallions shoulder.

"R-really?" The older dancer said, surprised.

"Yeah. Corset as well, right?" The younger stallion said, looking to a mare, dressed in a tight corset.

The mare nodded, "Yeah. You're a legend in the business and even though all my friends said I should look for something more respectable, you just seemed so free and happy, and I wanted to feel that too. I don't have any regrets."

"I...I don't know what to say...I just thought you youngsters were just out to replace me." The older stallion said.

"What?" The younger dancer said, shocked, "No way man. We all love you. You're like a mentor too all of us."

Around them, the other dancers, mares and stallions, all nodded.

"You see, sometimes all you need is time to just talk and you will see that you have more friends then you thought." Fluttershy said, smiling as she sat in the middle.

Fluttershy turned as the curtan was opened and smiled toward Dash.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, do you think you could give us a few more minutes. We just had a major break through here, and I know Corset has somethings to say to a certain pony here." Fluttershy offered a motherly smile to the mare dancer, who blushed slightly and nodded shyly.

Dash just stood their, mouth hanging open, "Uh...sure Shy."

Rainbow Dash reached for her purse, only for one of the male dancers to hold up a hoof.

"Oh, please allow me." The stallion said as he reached into his jockstrap and pulled out a hoof full of bits, which he handed to Rainbow Dash. They felt warm, and somewhat sticky....Dash tried not to think about why.

"Uh..thanks." Dash said, before stepping back to pay for the extra minutes.

As she did, she tried to wrap her brain around it all. How had Fluttershy, shy, bashful Fluttershy, turn a private dance at a strip club into a....a...well into a council meeting for strippers to talk about their feelings.

---

Applejack

Applejack groaned inwardly as her hoof delicately traced over her stomach. Though she wasn't far along into her pregnancy, she was starting to show a visible bump, and she could tell ponies around her could notice. It made her feel a little awkward, that and this dancing and drinking wasn't her thing.

Oh sure, she liked a mug of cider at the tavern with friends, but nothing like this environment. In a tavern a pony could hear themselves think, unlike in this loud music that sometimes a pony had to scream to even be heard by the one next to you.

That and since she had to subsist on water, it made the night rather difficult to enjoy. What she needed was something to do.

Applejack sighed as her eyes scanned around, doing her best to keep her eyes on her friends in case they got to drunk.

As she scanned around, her eyes spotted a lone table in the corner of the club, where a crowd of stallions and some mares were gathered. A loud cheer from some of the stallions, as they parted to show one stallion besting another in a hoof wrestle. The loser slammed his face to the table in shame before moving off; with the winner standing with his hooves raised in a challenging way.

Applejack smiled and got up, this might just be what she needed. A good hoofwrestling match would make the night a little more fun. Besides, she'd like to see what any of these Las Pegasus bucks could do. See if they could put up a match against the hoof wrestling champion of Ponyville.

"Howdy there. Mind if I join?" Applejack asked, stepping up.

The crowd of ponies all looked at her with surprised eyes, before a number of them snickered while the winner of the last match openly laughed.

"Hey, uh lady. Don't you think you should be taking it easy? I mean I wouldn't want to put any stress on a mare in your condition." THe stallion laughed, pointing at Applejacks baby bump.

"What, surely a strong stallion like yerself is afraid o' little old me? If ya want, I can go easy on ya'll." The cowpony taunted, knowing how to get under this stallions skin.

As she suspected, the stallion looked at her crossly, before laughing again.

"Ha, I like your guts. Well, if you're up for it. Go ahead. Take a seat." The stallion offered the seat opposite of his as he sat down, a cocky, confident smirk on his lips.

Applejack smirked, and eased herself into the chair, perhaps leaning back and holding her stomach a bit more then she really needed. She didn't consider herself a jokester, but she did find it fun in throwing the wool over the eyes of overconfident stallions.

The stallion put his hoof on the table, and Applejack gripped his.

"Now, try not to strain yourself. I don't want to make you go into labor." The stallion said snidely before laughing again, just as the match started.

The laughing stopped when Applejack slammed his hoof onto the table in an instant.

The stallions, and the ponies around them, eyes bulged.

"Why, I think I won." Applejack said, innocently. Trying not to smirk.

The stallion looked at Applejack and slammed his hoof up.

"I went easy on you. This time for real." The stallion snarled.

AJ shrugged and took the stallions hoof again.

"Go." The Stallion shouted, and pushed immediately on Applejacks hoof. The sudden force took her by surprise, but she stopped the downward motion of her hoof half way and began pushing the stallions hoof the other way.

Till finally his hoof hit the table. Once more.

The ponies eyes all bulged, staring again speechless at the victory.

"Anypony else?" Applejack asked, chuckling as she rubbed her baby bump.

---

Pinkie Pie and Rarity

Rarity sighed in contentment. Delicately twirling the wine glass in her hoof before sipping the red tincture within. She was rather surprised to find wine at such an establishment as this.

Oh it certainly was not top quality, but it would have to do. It was certainly better then the normal swell that most bars sold.

Rarity slowly set her glass down to examine the area for her friends, spotting Dash near the dancing poles cheering on a dancer who was engaging in a rather vulgar action with the pole with her tongue, and Applejack was over by a table having a hoof wrestle with a stallion; who had three other stallions pushing on his hoof to help him beat AJ who was smirking as she slowly pushed all four hooves down to the table.

Twilight was by the table, writing something down. Rarity smiled and took her glass and moved over, giving a slight sway of her hips as she passed a few stallions; who of course watched her pass with their jaws on the floor. Rarity smirked as she settled herself onto the table next to Twilight.

"Twilight, why are you sitting her alone?" Rarity asked.

Twilight looked up with a shock, readjusting the glasses she wore as they became crooked, "Oh, Rarity uh well...I..I was just uh...well I was noticing how some of the dancers seem able to engage the stallions and mares uh.....sexual, erogenous reaction by their movements and I was just...oh well I was taking notes in the...." Twilight blushed viciously now as she started rubbing her hooves together nervously, "I thought....Castus might like it if I did it to him."

Rarity blushed, but chuckled, "Oh Twilight, darling, there are far more couth and subtle ways to making a stallion, or human in your case, a drooling mess in your hooves. Don't demean yourself to this level."

The fashionista quickly snatched up the paper of notes, and to her horror several well drawn diagrams, and crumpled it up and tossed it into the recycling bin near the door.

"If you really want to know the true art of seduction, then I can arrange for us to go over a few when we have time." Rarity offered, "A true lady should always strive for the best."

Twilight blinked, "Uh well...okay."

Rarity nodded as she tipped her glass back for another drink, when a bright pink and curly maned pirate suddenly jumped onto the table, causing her to drink her wine down the wrong way and send her into a coughing fit.

"Arrrrgh!" The pink pirate scowled, "Avast ye landlubbers. This place be filled with booty!" The pirate then giggled.

"Wha? Pinkie!" Rarity and Twilight said aghast, as they soon realized it was Pinkie Pie wearing an eyepatch....

...no wait....

"Uh....Pinkie Pie, what are you wearing over your eye?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie grabbed the jockstrap, which she wore as a makeshift eye patch, "Oh I got this from the stage."

"Pinkie, darling, that isn't-" Rarity started, only to shake her head. This was Pinkie Pie after all.

"Pinkie, why don't you take that off and sit down with us." Rarity offered.

Pinkie paused, thinking.

"Um..okay. Just for a bit, I have to go check on Fluttershy's big surprise soon." Pinkie said, before tossing the jockstrap off and away and sitting down across from Rarity and Twilight.

"Yes. What is that anyway?" Rarity asked.

The party mare giggled, "You know I can't tell you that silly. Anyway, what are you girls doing?"

"Oh, I was just agreeing to teach Twilight the finer ways of seducing a stallion." Rarity put in a she sipped her wine once more.

"Pfft, that's easy. All I have to do is just put some cupcake icing on me and Cheese Sandwhich goes nuts." Pinkie said, causing both Twilight and Rarity, who coughed once more on her wine, to look at Pinkie in surprise.

"Uh....where exactly?" Twilight asked, blushing.

Pinkie smiled, "Oh well sometimes I put some on these," Pinkie cupped her rather large breasts and jiggled them a bit, "And sometimes I put some down-"

Rarity quickly shoved a hoof into Pinkie's mouth, "Pinkie Pie!"

Rarity coughed, "Darling...uh...maybe you should keep that private. A-A lady doesn't talk about such things so openly after all."

Pinkie shrugged, as Rarity removed her hoof.

"Pinkie, I hope you are taking proper precautions when you engage in uh.....intimate acts," Twilight said, "Especially if your in heat. You don't want to end up with a foal until you're ready."

Pinkie seemed to twitch. It was subtle, almost unknowable. Twilight didn't seem to notice, but Rarity had a long history of reading even the faintest body movements or language.

Pinkie was bothered by something.

"Oh," Pinkie started, biting her lip, "Uh..y-yes. Uh...I need to go check on that surprise now. Excuse me!"

Pinkie quickly took off, much to Twilight's surprise.

"D-Did I say something wrong?" Twilight asked, worried by her friends sudden exit.

Rarity shook her head, "Don't worry darling. It wasn't you. Though I will go and see if she is alright."

"Should I go too?" Twilight asked.

"No, no. This is a delicate matter. Don't worry, I can handle this." Rarity said as she stood up and followed after Pinkie.

---

Rarity found Pinkie in the bathroom, wiping at her eyes.

"Pinkie, darling. Are you okay?" Rarity asked, walking up to her friend.

Pinkie turned, surprised and she quickly rubbed at her red rimmed eyes, "Oh R-Rarity. I must have gotten something in my eye from that eyepatch."

"Both eyes? I believe you only had one covered." Rarity pointed out.

The party mare smiled nervously, "Uh...w-well..."

Rarity placed her hooves on her friends shoulder, "Pinkie Pie...is something wrong?"

"N-No...why would you say that?" Pinkie said nervously, her eyes darting around avoiding Rarity's.

"Pinkamenia Diane Pie." Rarity said softly, "You can tell me. I'm your friend. I know something is wrong. I noticed your little twitch when Twilight brought up pregnancy and foals."

"You saw that?" Pinkie looked down, her body starting to shake.

"Pinkie?"

Pinkie shook more before throwing her hooves around Rarity and started to cry.

"I can't! I can't!" Pinkie wailed, her legs giving out from under her and Rarity had to struggle to keep them both from going to the ground.

"You can't?" Rarity asked, though she suspected.

"Foals....I-I can't have foals!" Pinkie gasped between her sobs, tightening her grip of her friend, "I went to seven different doctors, and they all told me the same thing!"

Rarity rubbed her hoof down her friends back to sooth her. She was not sure what to say for such a thing. For Equestrians, given their population ratio problems, the ability to have foals was an important one. Though less problemantic in today's world, there was still a large social stigma around inability to conceive.

To learn that terrible fact....especially a pony like Pinkie Pie, Rarity was not surprised her friend was so devastated by it.

"What do I do?" Pinkie muttered, digging her face into Rarity's shoulder, "Cheese and Party Favor...they don't know. What if they leave? What if other ponies find out?"

Rarity sighed and nuzzled her friends head, "Pinkie Pie. Your stallions love you, if or not you can give them foals. And you can always adopt. And who cares if other Ponies find out. It isn't their right to judge."

"But-" Pinkie started, only for Rarity to hush her with her hoof once more.

"No buts. Now...we need to fix your make up a bit. It isn't right for a lady to be found out crying." Rarity started as she opened her purse to get her make up kit.

Pinkie sniffled, but did not stop her friend as they spent time fixing her appearance. Once Pinkie was what Rarity considered presentable, Pinkie gripped her friends hoofs once more.

"What do I tell them?" She asked softly, Rarity could guess who.

"The truth. If they really love you, they will stay no matter what. And if they don't, they were beneath you." Rarity stated, "And no matter what, your friends are here for you."

Pinkie tightened her grip, and said in a soft, meek voice, "I'm scared."

"I know. But, do you remember what you told us when we first went into the Everfree?"

Pinkie smiled softly, "Giggle at the ghostie?"

Rarity smiled and nodded.

Pinkie smiled softly, "I'll try...thank you Rarity."

"Of course darling. That is what friends are for."

---

Fluttershy

Fluttershy stepped out of the private booth and waved to all the dancers, especially Corset and Stocking. The dancers all waved and smiled goodbye.

"See you later Fluttershy." The older dancer, Garder Shoe, said.

"Thanks for everything." Corset said as she hugged Stocking, another mare dancer who blushed but also waved.

"We hope we see you again." Stocking said, gripping Corsets hoof.

"Be sure to come by and visit." The other dancers said, amongst their goodbyes.

"Oh thank you. It was so nice to meet all of you. I'll be sure to write and visit again someday." Shy said, smiling.

"Oh and congratz on getting married. Make sure you follow those pointers I gave you." One mare said, giving a wink which caused Fluttershy to blush.

"Oh, oh dear I mean...I'll try but I don't know if he would like that." Fluttershy stuttered, blushing intensely.

"Pfft," an older dancer said, "Honey human or pony, all guys love that. And you got the assets to make it work."

"Go and make him your slave!" Another dancer shouted with excitement, cracking her crop on the table.

Fluttershy blushed hard, but laughed as she gave a final goodbye and went to find her friends. The first she found was Rainbow Dash, who was starting to look a little flushed in the face.

"Heey, Flutters. I see your done. Have fun?" Dash asked, before pulling back on her drink.

"Oh yes, it was such a delight to talk with the workers here. They're such nice ponies." Fluttershy said, even as Dashie rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, cause you're totally suppose to talk to the dancers at a strip joint," Dashie said, "But anyway, come on we got one more surprise for you."

"Oh dear..." The timid bride to be said to herself, as her best friend took her to a private party room.

In the room, seated in a circle with wide plush chairs, sat all her friends.

"Hey! Are you ready for the funniest, most exciting surprise ever?" Pinkie cheered, jumping from her chair and wrapping Fluttershy in her special hug for a few moments.

Fluttershy grunted with some effort to free herself from her friends chest, fixing her mane some before smiling meekly.

"Grrreat!" Pinkie cheered, thrusting her hoof up before rushing out the door.

"Where is she going?" Fluttershy asked, as Dash eased her into the center chair.

"To get the surprise. Now just sit back and relax." Dash said, even as Pinkie returned with a rather large cake on a cart.

"Surprise!" Pinkie called, as she set the cake in the center of the semi circle of chairs, much to Fluttershys surprise.

"Oh my. Um, but isn't a cake a rather odd thing to have in a place like this?" Fluttershy asked, taking a small plastic cake cutter from Twilight.

"Oh don't question it, and just cut a slice." Dash said, patting her friends back.

Fluttershy still looked unsure, knowing that Dashie and Pinkie could often be pranksters, and slowly moved to cut a slice of cake carefully.

---

Pinkie Pie

Pinkie watched with excitement, and could not surpress the giggle rising from her tummy. Beside her, Dashie leaned in to whisper.

"Hey good job on the cake design. Its gonna be so funny to see her face when the surprise pops out."

Pinkie giggled, "I know. It's gonna be so much fun. I just hope I cooked the cake long enough. I know from experience that undercooked cake can be ...mushy."

Dash chuckled, "Heh, yeah that's-" Rainbow Dash's eyes suddenly bulged and she turned to look right at her party planner friend with shocked and frightened eyes.

"-Wait, you cooked a surprise cake with somepony inside it at 350 degrees?!" Dash whispered harshly, mouth hanging open.

Pinkie blew at her mane, "Well duh. I mean what sort of cake doesn't need baking?"

Dash looked to the cake, biting her hoof as Fluttershy cut into it. Would they soon find the crispy remains of somepony within?

Just as the cake cutter touched the cake, from the top burst out an overly muscular minotaur who looked slightly golden brown and steam rising from his body as he collapsed onto the cake and floor, gasping for air.

"Water!" The minotaur gasped, before planting his face onto the ground. Fluttershy, having jumped back in shock from the sudden emergence of the minotaur, and the rest of the girls all stared at the cooked minotaur in shock.

Then at Pinkie.

Pinkie looked around, then held her hooves up in a shrug, "What?"

---

Twilight

About an hour later, after an ambulance was called and the unfortunate minotaur dancer was taken away with a rather severe case of dehydration, and over cooked buns, the girls were once more heading back to the hotel to rest and call it a night.

Applejack had won a large bag of bits from her hoofwrestle, having beaten ever stallion and even some mares in the game. She carried the bag with pride. Fluttershy and Pinkie had to work to keep Rainbow Dash up and moving, after the speedster mare had had a bit too much to drink. When all six of them had made it back to the hotel, they were all ready to relax.

They all took quick showers, with Rainbow Dash herself being placed on her bed when it was apparent she was unable to keep herself awake. Even Pinkie and Fluttershy turned in for the night; followed by Applejack and Rarity. It was only when all her friends were asleep that Twilight herself was ready to turn to bed.

But before she did, Twilight took a moment to watch her friends as they all slept in the three large beds their deluxe suite had. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie in one, with Applejak and Rarity in the other. She shared a bed with Fluttershy naturally.

Twilight watched her friends sleep, and a melancholy smile came over her face.

It was these moments she cherished the most. Days and nights having fun with her friends. Her time with Castus, their moments of passion. Her time with her family. So many memories. Each one precious to her.

It made her both happy and sad. Because one day....all she would have left of them would be memories.

She understood now what Celestia and Luna, even Cadence, must feel now when getting close to ponies since she became an Alicorn. That she had gained a near immortality.

Like Celestia. Luna, and even Cadence, Twilight would live for perhaps thousands of years, four or eight at the most. Of all the lessons she had, this was perhaps the hardest to fully come to terms with.

To know she would outlive her friends. Her mother. Her father. Even her brother. It was hard enough to think of that, and she could only guess how Cadence must feel.

Sometimes she tried to ignore it. To forget about that fact. Yet now that she stood here, in the quiet while all her friends slept, she could not shake the sense of foreboding prophecy. That this silence that was only of sleep. Would soon be a silence of the grave.

Twilight bit her lip, as she slowly slid herself next to Fluttershy and looking at the window.

She had to make every moment count. Every memory. Because....

...they would be all she had. One day.

And as her eyes closed, she now understood what Castus had once told her.

"Longevity, is the most terrible of curses."

Author's Notes:

What is it about wedding chapters that everyone wants to see. Whatever happened to nice quiet ceremonies that happen in the background and no one ever sees? :P

Bachelor party will be next, and the events of the next chapter happen alongside the events of this one if you are wondering. I was gonna put them together, but this was taking forever.